this morning on "early today," down to the wire. president obama's health care plan picks up another vote but faces another delay. shopper shocker. the store announcement that has walmart customers and officials outraged. and doggy deja vu. why a randed dog had to be rescued from an ice floe not once but twice. captions paid for by nbc-universal television hello and good morning. i'm lynn berry. today we begin with the clock ticking. with time running out before

president obama's deadline for health care reform democrats are chasing votes and financial figures. last minute snags delayed a report on the bill from the congressional budget office until at least some time today which has in turn held up the formal release of the legislation and since democrats have promised to give the lawmakers and the public 72 hours to review the bill and its financial impact, that means the soonest congress can vote will be sunday, the last minute. nbc's steve handelsman has the latest. this is a defining moment. >> reporter: the outspoken cleveland liberal democrat dennis kucinich had vowed to vote no. kucinich complained the plan doesn't go far enough. but on monday when president obama went to ohio to push his plan, on air force one, he took dennis kucinich and gave him a shout-out at the big rally.

>> your own congressman, who is tireless on behalf of working people, dennis kucinich. >> reporter: vote yes, somebody yelled. >> did you hear that, dennis? say that again? >> reporter: kucinich said he will. >> i've decided to cast a vote in favor of the legislation. >> reporter: a good sign, said president obama. >> that's a good sign. >> what did you tell him? >> i told him thank you. >> reporter: a bigger problem for the president and house speaker pelosi is roughly 30 conservative democrats who they're still lobbying hard to vote yes. proreform doctors and nurses put on the pressure. >> trust me when i tell you that we cannot afford to delay meaningful health care reform. >> making affordable health care available to many millions of patients. >> reporter: republicans are urging democrats who voted no last fall to hang tough. >> we've asked the president, scrap the bill, let's start over. we can do this together. >> reporter: the vote count and the outcome still too close to call.

i'm steve handelsman, nbc news, capitol hill. well, idaho has become the first state to require its attorney general to sue the federal government if a health care reform bill is passed. he signed the idaho health freedom act into law wednesday. under the bill the state of idaho must sue the federal government over its mandate requiring residents to buy health insurance. similar legislation is being considered in 37 other states, though legal experts say the measure is mostly symbolic since federal law prevails over state laws. president obama's expected to sign a significant job creation measure this morning. the bill passed yesterday by the senate in bipartisan vote is a $17.6 billion package. intended to spur hiring nationwide. the measure offers tax breaks to companies that hire the unemployed and a tax credit if they retain the new worker for at least 52 consecutive weeks.

in addition, the bill transfer s $20 billion into federal highway and mass transit funding programs in hopes of jobs jump starting construction projects. well, volunteers reached their goal of stacking 1 million sandbags to contain the fast rising river in north dakota and neighboring minnesota. thousands of students including firefighters and inmates all contributed to the massive sandbagging effort. officials expect the red river to crest about 38 feet, which threatens to swamp roads. federal officials have been working on plans for possible emergency rescues as well as preparing supplies for up to 20,000 evacuees should it be necessary. now here's a look at other stories making the news today in america. this little guy has nine lives, but it's not a cat. this dog in new york was rescued from frigid lake erie twice in one day. the canine was stranded overnight on an ice floe that then began to break up. the rescue crews plucked the pooch by helicopter, but when they brought him back to shore,

he just ran back out into the water. so they took the helicopter back out and saved him once again. in texas families at a local beach got quite a square when a plane zipped directly over their heads. witnesses captured video and photos of the joyriding pilot who they say was flying no more than 50 feet above them. the federal aviation administration plans to interview the pilot and could revote his license. a virginia company got an unwelcome surprise in the mail. workers from the razor manufacturer didn't recognize a bar code on what they thought was just a normal shipment. instead of blades the boxes were filled with $2 million worth of marijuana. the sheriff's office doesn't believe the drugs were connected with anyone at the company. and while some people celebrate st. patrick's day by layering on the green, some have something taken off. each year they line up to have

their hair shaven off for what's called st. baldrick's. they get friends to donate money for them and they sheer off the locks. all the money goes to a good cause. it goes to childhood cancer research. and now for a look at your national and regional weather, here's nbc meteorologist bill karins with your weather channel forecast, who we tried to convince to do this, but he just figured all of you at home would be a little nervous. >> i figured i'd donate the money and save the hair. yesterday was probably a nine out of ten, almost nearly perfect. today around the country, i may put a stamp on this thing. it's a ten out of ten. this is probably going to be one of the nicest days of the year coast to coast. the only exception is down in the southeast where we still have the pesky clouds and cooler temperatures, but the rest of the nation is just fantastic. there's no big storms to talk about at the current time, and we have mild air in place from maine all the way back down to new mexico. there is one little caveat though. we're going to see a very interesting weather event taking place in denver over the next couple of days. the cool air is arriving with a

weak storm system, and in denver we get the wild roller coasters. today's forecast, nearly 70 degrees from d.c. to new york, mid-60s through detroit and chicago and cincinnati. it's going to be cooler in florida than it will be in northern new england. that's because of those clouds. we're also watching beautiful weather from denver to chicago. denver, 65 today. tomorrow, snow. we'll have more of that later in the show. that's a look at the national forecast. here's a look at the weather outside your window. sunshine today. beautiful conditions around milwaukee. 61 degrees. atlanta's going to be 62 with mostly cloudy skies. nashville, same for you at 66. washington, d.c., one of the best days of the year today. near 70. lynn, it's amazing in denver how they can be 68 degrees one day and snow the next, but that's what's going to happen tomorrow. >> prepare for it. well, thank you, bill.

well, bailout payouts, big ben on banking and political protest italian style. your early morning business headlines are straight ahead. plus tabloid headlines straight ahead. the cavaliers are play-off bound, a cy young pitcher is suspended, and the president makes his tournament picks. you're watching "early today."

good morning. welcome back to "early today." i'm lynn berry. here's some of your top headlines this morning walmart executives are red-faced after a shocking racial incident. at one of its stores in southern new jersey. on sunday customers heard an announcement over the public address system ordering all black customers to leave the store. authorities investigating the case say it's still unclear who made the announcement. detroit's public school system is the latest to announce drastic cutbacks. on wednesday the district's financial manager called the plan to shut down as many as 45

area schools a, quote, overhaul of the system facing dwindling attendance and tight budgets. the plan could put more than 2,000 out of week. week-long protests in cuba deteriorateds when when police got physical for the first time with members of a dissident group. police forced the so-called ladies in white into a bus after they laid down in the street. the women plan to march again today, the anniversary of the imprisonment of their male family members jailed for opposing the cuban government. and a close call for dozens of moscow residents forced to evacuate their homes after they stumbled upon world war ii artillery shells. the road was closed off while the shells were trucked off. at least 28 of them were still armed. here's a look at how wall street will kick off the day. the dow opens at 10,733 after gaining 47 points yesterday. the s&p nudged up 6 points, and

the nasdaq added 11 points. taking a look at overseas trading tokyo tumbled 102 points, while in hong kong the hang seng shed 53 points. the dow lead it yet with the longest streak this year. the main catalyst was a drop in the february producer price index. prices at the wholesale level plunged by the largest amount in seven months. investors felt that further supports the feds' recent decision to hold interest rates for the foreseeable future. coal miner massey energy announced its acquisition of privately held cumberland resources. hartford financial services gain gained almost 5% after announcing a plan to repay the u.s. treasury. discover financial services also announced a repayment plan for

government bailout funds, but its shares fell on the news. elsewhere, arguing against a senate bill that would strip the federal reserve of its power to oversee certain banks and financial companies fed chairman ben bernanke says they need it in order to set interest rates and gauge the economy. the environmental protection agency is developing stricter testing for products treating cats and dogs after they discovered they're killing hundreds of pets each year and injuring tens of thousands. today keep an eye on nike, after the bell shares jumped. kraft foods will cut salt in its products by an average of 10% over the next two years to appeal to health conscious consumers. and finally we've seen a lot in the raucous health care debate, but nothing like what happened yesterday in rome, italy, where 50 politicians dropped their trousers on the steps of city hall to demand

passage of the 2010 budget. see, things could be worse. the celtics straighten out, the raptors beat the clock. and bean balls in spring training. plus lebron and the cavs jam their way into the play-offs. your early morning sports headlines are straight ahead. >> this is the best forecast i've seen from coast to coast in a long time. your fabulous forecast is coming up. you're watching "early today." if you've taken your sleep aid

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good morning. if you're just waking up, this is "early today." and in sports lebron james and the cleveland cavaliers secured a spot in the play-offs last night by clinching their second straight division title with a win over the pacers. here's nbc's fred roggin with an early look at all of your sports headlines. good morning. you know the old saying. it's not how you start. it's how you finish. well, after a slow start to the season, the cleveland cavaliers clinched their second straight title with a victory over indiana. mo williams served it up and lebron threw it down. huge alley-oop, good enough for a second look. williams lobbed it up high and james climbed the ladder to get it. james with the play-off spot. wouldn't have been st. patrick's day without the celts. they had their best game together in more than a month. pierce had 29, garnett chipped

in with 22. celts, 129-107. to toronto the raptors wearing green jerseys for the holiday. they had the luck of the irish on their side against the hawks. under ten seconds to play. chris bosh nailed a baseline jumper. the raptors led with two seconds left. hawks with the last chance. jamaal crawford for the win. air ball. raptors won a thriller, 106-105. the baseball season hasn't even started, and we already have our first suspension of the year. the mariners chris lee. both benches cleared, no punches thrown. lee suspended the first five games of the regular season putting his debut with the mariners on hold. finally the basketball tournaments started yesterday afternoon. mr. obama has kansas, kentucky, villanueva, and upstart state to the final for. who has it when it's all said and done? kansas. we should note last year he picked north carolina to win it all and the tar heels came

through. now the pressure is on the jayhawks to follow suit. that's your early look at sports on "early today." i'm fred roggin. well, kim car da shan's show may get canceled, and you're not going to believe why. your early morning entertainment headlines are straight ahead. plus folks give a hoot working to save these three cutis. you're watching "early today."

welcome back on this

thursday. very interesting setup in the central plains. it's going to be in the 60s today from denver to kansas city, but, yes, this is the snowfall forecast over the next 48 hours. into the front range we get the upslope enhancement. we could see some areas with 6 to 12 inches of snow. even downtown denver is going to see accumulating snow, probably significant snow. and then as the storm system moves through missouri, the backside of it, we could get a band of snow, accumulating snow over the top of kansas city, even local. that's friday into saturday. if you're watching us on wdsu news channel 6 in new orleans, take your tots on one of their first adventures where they climb, crawl, and explore a world full of toys and games at the louisiana children's museum. that's your early today event of the day, lynn. >> thank you, bill. well, now here's an early morning look at this morning's

headlines in entertainment. sandra bullock suddenly pulled out of a premiere after a mag zaen claims her husband blindsided her. a model claims she slept with gentlemency james for five years while she was filming the blind side. the statement from bullock only said she could not travel abroad at the moment, quote, due to unforeseeable personal reasons. shooting in venice for the johnny depp/angelina jolie film, it was shut down yesterday due to fans who showed up trying to take their own pictures. and finally for those of o you who feel kim kardashian has already had her 15 minutes of fame, get this, after five years of keeping up with the kardashians, the show may die, not due to the lack of ratings but because the network can't afford to pay her. it's not because of bad ratings.

>> you'd be surprised to know i have watched a couple of episodes. >> of course. people think you're a professional meteorologists. >> my wife watches it and i happen to be in the wife. >> don't blame your wife. that's not sure. >> this comes to us from wptv channel 5 in west palm beach florida. blustery weather apparently blew the three great horned owls from their nest and they were found hungry and emaciated so an animal sanctuary took them in. toll minimize human contact, a foster mother is raising one of the young ones so she'll teach them social behavior and how to find food until they're eventually released back into the wild. i'm lynn berry, and this is "early today," just your first stop of the day today on your nbc station.

>> good morning, everyone. i am tony pann. the weather is nice and quiet this morning. another beautiful day today. it is a little chilly just like yesterday at this time. we are in the latow 30's. a high temperature near 67 degrees. we will take a look at the seven-day forecast in a few moments.

over to the news desk for now. >> here is a look ahead to 11 news today. >> an 18 year-old is in critical condition after being struck in a hit and run. details are next. >> the count them to what may be a weekend vote on health care reform. that story is coming up. >> if you are getting ready for your morning commute, we have an accident ♪ let's take a look at the stats. mini has more than double the fiber and whole grain... making him a great contender in this bout... against mid-morning hunger. honey nut cheerios is coming in a little short. you've got more whole grain in your little finger! let's get ready for breakfaaaaaaaaaast!

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[captioning made possible by constellation energy group] captioned by the national captioning institute --www.ncicap.org-- >> good morning. >> thanks for joining us for 11 news today. >> another great callday