new unemployment numbers out today may have stalled things if they read 600 pages out loud will they see relief any time? >>. the leader of the catholic church is in the air right now to iraq. why now? george floyd's murder trial is on next week. it has many on edge. and the amount of taxpayer

money that's stolen. and you'd better check that glove. the fan blooper that's got people smiling as we kick off your friday. "early today" starts right now good i'm phillip mena. >> i'm glad yo u with us i'm phillip mena after 10 hours and 43 minutes the entire covid relief bill has now been read up loud on the senate floor. >> in determining such reallocation. >> licensed facility. >> this brings a $1.9 trillion package one step closer to a full vote, but there are still a few more hurdles to get over in the senate tracie potts joins us from the hill where does the relief bill stand now? >> reporter: waiting for debate, frances. they want to cut it down significantly so we can see

chain changes. the 628 page us was read that's because senator ron johnson insisted on it >> chuck schumer said that's fine, they want americans to know what's in the bill. now that that's wrapped up, they move on to the next step it includes income limits for the $1,400 direct payments, president biden signingoff on that, lowering the people who would get the payments the republicans still think it costs too much and has a lot not directly related to covid relief, while progressive democrats say it doesn't go far enough. >> i will be offering an amendment to raise the federal minimum wage from $7.25 an hour, which i believe is a starvation wage, to $15 an hour over a five-year period five years. >> this is not a covid bill.

9% of this bill focuses on covid spending 91% is a partisan wish list paying off the democratic special interests that got them elected. >> so starting this afternoon, there will be three -- or starting this morning, three hours of debate, not the 20 that they were originally allowed they've cut that down. the vote -o-rama and then the final vote. >> we'll see thank you. the warning that this pandemic definitely isn' governor kay ivey did extend alabama's mandate for one month but said it will officially end in april connecticut will dramatically roll back restrictions starts

march 19th sports and entertainment venues will also be lifted. ohio's governor says it will lifted when the numbers come down. each day the u.s. is now averaging over 2 million shots that's a lot of progress thanks to mass vaccination sites. we're now joined live outside one of those centers in philadelphia. >> reporter: i'm here in the heart of downtown where you can see there's a much more muscular federal approach to administering vaccinations here. you can see behind me, these are marines running the show here, checking people in for their vaccinations if you go inside, you would see that the majority of these people inside arl

workers, dod workers they're here with one goal, to get the vaccination into the arms of more individuals i had an exclusive interview with someone from fema they said they're using all kinds of data to decide where they're going put these sites. they've spent $4 billion so far to stand up similar sites to this all the way across the country like the bronx for people who may have a hard time getting to their vaccination sites and who are also at risk of contracting covid, and when they contract co-virkd getting it worse than anyone else. you can see a lot of diverse faces, a lot of elderly. this is an attempt to take some of the race that you see out there regarding racial disparities and turn it around. >> thank you. the u.s. senate is expecting to take up a sweeping police

reform bill named after george floyd as minneapolis braces for the most anticipated police murder trial in memory here's nnbc's gabe gutierrez. >> the bill passed in the house but only needed some republican votes to pass in the senate. with tensions high in downtown minneapolis ahead of next week's jury selection for the murder trial of derek chauvin over placing his knee on george floyd's neck, it passed. louisville banned no-knock warrants after breonna taylot he officers banning it at the federal level is along with the form bill including the choke hold and

police misconduct. >> in 2021 we don't have a federal database that tracks police officers in america killing people. >> reporter: the house passed a similar bill last year but failed in the republican controlled senate. many republicans now favor more limited reforms and argues this bill goes too far. >> it will lead to police officers not taking the decisive actions, rendering it impossible to do their job. >> reporter: for george's brother, it's the right move. >> the officers sat there on his neck like it was okay. it's not okay to hurt somebody like that. we shouldn't have to go to court for anything like this we shouldn't have to >> reporter: chauvin's attorney

refused to comment governor cuomo is facing dueling controversies. "the new york times" says his aides reflected a report to reflect a lower death poll there was a statement from a special counsel who said the statement didn't alter the court's conclusion despite growing requests for him to step down, in a quinnipiac poll, 55% do not want him to resign >> reporter: a day after an true cuomo tried to extinguish the scandal engulfing him -- >> i feel awful about it, and, frankly, i am embarrassed by it. >> reporter: two of the three

women accusing the new york governor of sexual harassment speak out, both former employees. >> without explicitly saying it, he implied to me that i was old enough for him and he was lonely. >> reporter: 25-year-old charlotte bennett was an executive assistant to cuomo in june she said cuomo asked her a series of intimate questions, including whether she had ever been with an older man. >> i thought, he's trying to sleep with me, the governor's trying to sleep with me, and i'm deeply uncomfortable. >> reporter: another former aide, lindsey boylan, said the governor made inappropriate marks during her tenure and gave her an unwanted kiss in "harper's bazaar," boylan said i want it to stop it's a different story in the state capitol where the attorney

general is expected to appoint an independent investigator to look into the claims anne thompson, nbc news, new york. the pope is headed to the middle east this morning and this papal visit is said to be a historic one the pontiff is traveling there to ease muslim christian tensions and the trip comes at a very davis time. nbc's raf sanchez joins us with more. >> reporter: good morning. the pope is going to a region that's seen so much war. this is going to be a busy trip. hundreds of thousands of christians have fled the country in recent years heechls going to areas once controlled by isis and he's going to meet christians who survived the dark time on saturday he's going to the holy city, meet one of iraq's

top shia muslim clerics. as you aid, this trip is not without risk the pope is 84 years old he's been vaccinated but iraq still very much in the grips of covid and there's been all this fighting in recent weeks between the u.s. military and iranian-backed militia groups. the pope was asked at one point, would you think about canceling this sflip he said, no, the people of iraq are waiting for us. >> millions look up to him for inspiration and hope raf, thank you so much for the update. let's turn to nbc meteorologist janessa see what kind of wee going to have. is it going to be a big bulky coat one or light one? good morning >> i was looking at some of our long-term models do not be fooled by the warmer air you're seeing. the long-range models shows the

cold staying in place going into late march and right now you're seeing it and feeling it across the northeast. the feels-like temperatures in the teens. this aftnooner the windchill feel like single digits miami, 78 degrees. mostly sunny across charleston, schlkt weekend forecast coming up guys >> i like the sound of that, janessa. thank you. which players made the nba's starting team for the all-star game plus unemployment fraud. billions stolen from those who really need it friends in awkwa? [sneezes]

stick with zyrtec. zyrtec starts working hard at hour one and works twice as hard when you take it again the next day. zyrtec. muddle no more. and try zyrtec-d for proven relief of your allergies, sinus pressure and congestion. how did kellogg's combine crunchy oat clusters with a touch of honey... plump, juicy raisins and tasty fiber into one delicious cereal? it took a lot of bran-storming. get it? kellogg's raisin bran crunch. two scoops of delicious. ♪ pepto bismol coats and soothes your stomach for fast relief get it? and get the same fast relief in a delightful chew with pepto bismol chews.

don't settle for products that give you a sort of white smile. try new crest whitening emulsions for 100% whiter teeth. its highly active peroxide droplets swipe on in seconds. better. faster. 100% whiter teeth. crestwhitesmile.com want to brain better? unlike ordinary memory supplements— neuriva has clinically proven ingredients that fuel 5 indicators of brain performance. memory, focus, accuracy, learning, and concentration. try our new gummies for 30 days and see the difference. we do it every night. like clockwork. do it! run your dishwasher with cascade platinum. and save water. did you know certified dishwashers... ...use less than four gallons per cycle, while a running sink uses that, every two minutes. so, do it with cascade. the surprising way to save water.

1.2 million people filed for pandemic assistance last week, but undernight is a huge unemployment fraud jo ling kent has our investigation. >> this is a national pandemic to go along with our own pandemic. >> reporter: when orange county prosecutors raided this strip mall store in southern california, they found clothes and bags stuffed with bills. prosecutors say a kpaul called nguyen social services cost taxpayers an estimated $11 million alone. >> government programs have long been targets of scammers how is this different? >> it's not different. any time you have an opportunity where people are moving quickly and they have not put safeguards in place, there are people lying

in wait. >> reporter: state fraud has been staggering. in colorado, officials disclose they've seen more fraudulent claims than legitimate ones. an audit in nebraska found nearly 70% of the c.a.r.e.s. act unemployment money was misspent in the last year alone they refuse to tell nbc how much they lost. the main suspects? crime rings, prison inmates, and cyber criminals. >> experts say the real amount could soar wiell above $100 billion, bigger than the bernie madoff scam. >> the pandemic unemployment

assistant program allows you to take basically any avenue and you can get $20,000 on a debit card there really is no other prize like that for organized as thee debate as third round of unemployment relief, a warning about fraud sters' next move. >> they have their next scheme about how to rip us off already in place, and we don't see it coming. >> a lot of people want to know who's going to bear the crisis in all of this fraud, and i hate to say it. it's probably going to be taxpayers. prosecutors tell me it will take generations to recoup this money. a lot of it has disappeared. this is money for people who lost their jobs during the pandemic. >> tough headlines to come out of this. >> it happened to me i had no idea someone applied for unemployment under me.

it's a huge problem. still to come, we have a consumer alert dog food there's a recall. plus we go live to cnbc for the jobs report. has longer lasting vitamin c. plus, herbal and other immune superstars. only from nature's bounty. hey, you have to wash plus, herbal and other immune superstars. jason alexander hoodie. that looks clean to me. is it though? ♪ look at what has happened to me.♪ ♪ i cannot believe it myself.♪ that's my face! you can't just wear my face! you've been through so much, jason alexander hoodie. it's dirtier than it looks. try new tide hygienic clean. how did kellogg's combine crunchy oat clusters with a touch of honey... plump, juicy raisins and tasty fiber into one delicious cereal? it took a lot of bran-storming.

get it? kellogg's raisin bran crunch. two scoops of delicious. why walgreens? because our expert pharmacists know you and your medications. get their advice on your medicare prescriptions and get back to what you'd rather be doing. who's a good boy leo! ♪♪ did you know that some aluminum free deodorants only mask odor? who's a good boy leo! secret aluminum free helps eliminate odor instead of just masking it. and is made with 3x more odor fighters. with secret, keep it fresh every day. secret.

we're back with a consumer alert. bravo packing has issued a recall of its ground beef and performance pet dog food

it came frozen in a 2-pound and 5-pound plastic sleeve they were shipped to brick and mortar stores nationwide. we look at what's ahead for the economy and markets. cnbc's geoff cutmore has a preview. good morning. >> reporter: good morning. 210,000. that's the number pen sild in for january. the one proviso, what impact for the texas deep freeze even as vaccinations are helping people back into service sector jobs. unemployment rate expected to sit at 6.3%, but as always at the moment, it is always about the jabs back to you, frances and phillip. >> thank you so much. the best of the best ready to leave it on the court for the all-star game.

>> and who more to talk about "becoming. delayed-release foa that helps it pass through the tough stomach acid. it then works to turn down acid production, blocking heartburn at the source. with just one pill a day, you get 24-hour heartburn protection. prilosec otc. one pill a day, 24 hours, zero heartburn. how did kellogg's combine crunchy oat clusters with a touch of honey... plump, juicy raisins and tasty fiber into one delicious cereal? it took a lot of bran-storming. get it? kellogg's raisin bran crunch. two scoops of delicious. ordinary tissues burn when theo blows. so dad bought puffs plus lotion, get it? and rescued his nose. with up to 50% more lotion puffs bring soothing softness and relief. a nose in need deserves puffs indeed. stressballs gummies,

with herbal ashwaganda help turn the stressed life into your best life stress less, live more with stressballs yeah, i mean the thing is, people like geico because it's just easy. bundling for example. you've got car insurance here. and home insurance here. why not... schuuuuzp.. put them together. save even more. some things are just better together, aren't they? like tea and crumpets. but you wouldn't bundle just anything. like, say... a porcupine in a balloon factory. no. that'd be a mess. i mean for starters, porcupines are famously no good in a team setting. geico. save even more when bundle home and car insurance. kim is now demonstrating her congestion. save it slimeball. geico. save even more i've upgraded to mucinex. we still have 12 hours to australia. mucinex lasts 12 hours, so i'm good. now move! kim, no! mucinex lasts 3x longer for 12 hours. ever notice how stiff clothes can feel rough on your skin?

it's because they rub against you creating friction. and your clothes rub against you all day. for softer clothes that are gentle on your skin, try downy free & gentle. just pour into the rinse dispenser and downy will soften your clothes without dyes or perfumes. the towel washed with downy is softer, fluffier, and gentler on your skin. try downy free & gentle. recognized by the national psoriasis foundation and national eczema association. we like this fairly quiet weather pattern we're in, and it continues for your weekend across much of the u.s., you can see warm temperatures continue for the plains the chill is still in the air for the northeast. give it time to transition into spring, but we're seeing that march sunshine for your sunday afternoon across the deep south. we're in the upper 60s, low 70s, guys >> thank you. when we return, one baseball

fan learns to get a grip that p all your prescriptions all on the same day... we make filling your medicare prescriptions... ...go like clockwork. so you can get back to what you'd rather be doing! ♪ up at 2:00am again? tonight, try pure zzzs all wnight.u'd rather be doing! unlike other sleep aids, our extended release melatonin helps you sleep longer. and longer. zzzquil pure zzzs all night. fall asleep. stay asleep. how did kellogg's combine crunchy oat clusters with a touch of honey... plump, juicy raisins and tasty fiber into one delicious cereal? it took a lot of bran-storming. get it? kellogg's raisin bran crunch. two scoops of delicious. rinsing the dishes before they go in the dishwasher? well, new cascade platinum has 50% more cleaning power, get it? so you don't have to. its food-seeking enzymes break down food into particles so small they can flow right down the drain. plus, it's powerful enough for the quick-wash cycle.

new cascade platinum with 50% more cleaning power! in today's feel good friday, zya wade t daughter of nba's dwyane wade met her idol michelle obama the conversation is something we all want to hear growing up? what do you think about teens? >> your job now as a teenager is not to have it all figured out but to give yourself space and time to learn and grow so that means you want to try a lot of things on you want to read a lot of good books.

you want to -- you know -- >> that's all good advice. mrs. obama urged wade to explore and embrace the new and connect with different people. what better advice to get. >> if you get a chance to listen to the whole thing, it's words of wisdom not just for teens i'm hanging on to everything >> it's something to watch. spring training is a time for the pros to shake off the rust one mets fan needed training of his own. ryan zimmerman hit as ball and the fans scramble to catch this home run you watch this one fan, gets his glove under the ball celebrates the catch except small little detail, the ball popped out of his glove and another fan walked away with it. look at him. head's really bowed down there he learned that valuable lesson hopefully to squeeze the glove for the catch before you

celebrate. >> two hands that's how you now you've got it. the nba are officially on their all-star break they nabbed the explosive back court. they got chris paul and dame lillard off the bench. kyrie irving and james hard listen be there. they join others they didn't really want to play this game. they were under protest because they didn't really get an offseason. they wanted a chance to rest they're out there anyway. >> it's so complicated. this creature is fascinating. psyched to introduce the new born of their family a rare okapi they're native to the rain forests of central africa.

distantly related to giraffes. also zebras, right you've got the nickname african unicorn because they're hard to find beautiful creature to see that kind of hybrid. >>

right now at 4:30, coming up short. santa clara county may have to cancel vaccine appointments starting today because there's not enough shots to come around. after news sutter health care is also scraping thousands of appointments. coming up, what vaccine sites could be impacted. we'll tell you all about it as "today in the bay" starts right now. good friday morning to you. thanks for joining us. i'm laura garcia. >> even and i'm marcus washingt. you said it right, friday

morning and a special day indeed