sparkling dishes without rinsing first. see for yourself why millions have switched. join the finish revolution. this morning on "early today," testing the limits. the u.s. supreme court look at the legality of arizona's tough immigration law. buyer beware. surveillance video catches a purse snapping. bird brain, why was a rubber chicken sent the edge of the earth's atmosphere. captions paid for by nbc-universal television blooip blooip. this is "early today" for april 26th, 2012. hello, very good morning to you i'm veronica dela cruz. the u.s. supreme court heard arguments on the government's challenge to arizona's immigration law.

from the questions and opinions they expressed most of the justices sounded inclined toward ruling the law constitutional. nbc's steve handelsman has details. >> reporter: supporters of the crackdown on illegal immigration gathered outside the supreme court. and opponents who charged the arizona law would target hispanics the obama administration dropped that charge. >> the government conceded no it's not about racial profiling. >> reporter: the case is about requiring police to determine the immigration status of anyone they stop and suspect is illegal and to detain them while they check with the feds. obama administration lawyer argued arizona is working to drive illegal immigrants out of the state. but conservative justice anthony ska leah noted arizona is not trying to kick out anybody, the federal government has already said does not belong here.

it seems to me, said john roberts, the federal government doesn't want to know who is here illegally and who is not. swing justice anthony kennedy asked must the state accept in the borders lil migrants? liberal just stis stephen breyer asked -- sonya the sotomayor warned him about the case. jan brewer left the hearing encouraged. >> arizona has the right, i as governor, i felt, was somewhat insured that i had a right to check the citizens of arizona. >> reporter: brewer charged president obama sued her state to get a boost with hispanic voters. i'm steve handelsman, nbc news, washington. nbc news confirmed newt gingrich plans to suspend his campaign next tuesday.

the former house speaker will make the announcement in washington. it is likely he will endorse mitt romney. there was more dramatic testimony on day three of john edwards trial. the alleged plot to use campaign funds to hide his affair with a former staffer. jay gray has more. >> reporter: andrew young described a plan was implemented by john edwards to hide his mistress, rielle hunter, from his wife and public during his run for the white house. the defense got the first shot at the state's star witness in the high profile case. attacking in consistencies between his testimony and tell-all book he has written about the affair. at one point the attorney said to mr. young "you really hate mr. edwards, don't you" his response, "i have mixed feelings." young was also pushed about

commissions from political organizations that he falsely submitted under his wife's name. the overall effect of the aggressive and many times effective cross-examination, a grilling, was likely to undermine andrew young's krd built in the eyes of the jury. >> reporter: they have to tread litly after several comments that could help the defense. young has said repeat edly money from rachel mellon was given to edwards for personal use and expected nothing for return for those donations. he indicated edwards didn't believe he was doing anything wrong. >> every time andrew young questioned john edwards about the lawfulness of it john edwards said i thought about it, i looked into it, it's perfectly okay. >> jay gray, nbc news. here is a look at other stories making early today in america. in florida, purse snatchers dragged a woman more than 150 feet you can see her hanging to the passenger side before

falling off. then circles around her before the attack. the woman suffered minor injuries and lost her purse in the assault. in philadelphia, call her a bad samaritan, a woman picked up a wad of more than $2,000 in cash, after the man in front of her unknowingly dropped it. instead of giving the money back, police say she stole it looking around to make sure no one saw her do it. police arrested the woman who purportedly confessed. in indiana, boom went the dynomite as crews demolished part of a bridge leaking the hoosier state with kentucky blew up ramps, a new bridge will be ready next year. in pennsylvania, this week's wild weather meant one last blast for skiers and snowboarders. a resort in somerset county, got a foot-and-a-half of snow. they were able to reopen for one

last day, the latest they have ever finished a season. they also claim to have been the last ski resort on the east coast open this year. now for a look at national weather here is bill karins, i can't make any sense of what is happening weather-wise this year. >> it's flipping back and forth, right? it was warm in the east in march now cooler and now the middle of the country is baking on high. take a look at west texas, yesterday. the hottest april day ever. we never have been this hot in the month of april in amarillo, abilene, lubbock, childress. 104 yesterday in lubbock. incredible heat for this time of year. it wasn't widespread, it was right over here, the area in west central texas, san antonio at 94 wasn't exactly chilly. that is where we're dealing with some of the heat. more clouds spilling that way so keep temperatures down a little bit today compared to yesterday.

the storm system kicking down through illinois and indiana that is sparking off showers and thunderstorms overnight in the early morning hours. that is probably the worst of it this morning, no problems in the middle of the country. northeast looks good, so does the southeast, the ohio valley through the mid-atlantic, three complex of thunderstorms, one that is exiting fort wayne heading for the greater columbus area. a lot of lightning strikes with that. a good line of storms head down through southern portions of west virginia, even severe thunderstorms with strong gusty winds through owensboro. now here is a look at the weather outside your window. today, in areas like new york city, philadelphia, chance of showers late in the day. your morning will be dry. washington, d.c., virginia all the richmond area, back through the mountains of virginia you're going to have a good chance of rain throughout the morning. so quick moving storm systems with thunderstorms, give you an

update later. >> how big that is chance of rain are you saying, 10% or 60, 70? >> for you, here? your personalized forecast? >> carrie the umbrella for dinner time. thanks, bill. >> having it your wage cage-free the business headlines are straight ahead. you won't believe who the latest actress is linked to ashton kutcher but she says no way. coming up game 7 between the caps and bruins goes in overtime could calvin johnson's season be over before it starts? you're watching "early today."

. very good morning welcome back to "early today" i'm veronica de la cruz. here are top headlines this morning. after days of white house pressure, the republican led house is expected to vote on a bill that would prevent interest

rates on student loans from doubling. john boehner argues the bill should be paid for by cutting money from president obama's health care overhaul. connecticut became the nation's 17th state to abolish the death penalty yesterday. the measure, however, only applies to future cases, and not to the 11 men already on death row. u.s. marine who criticized president obama on facebook is being given an other than honorable discharge. 26-year-old sergeant gary stein will lose most of his benefits. with the help of california school children, nasa launched a special probe to study the sun's most intense radiation storm since 2003. a weather balloon equipped with a rubber chicken, camilla wore a space suit equipped with sensors to measure radiation. now here is another look how wall street will kick off the day. the dow gained 89 points. the s&p added 18, nasdaq sky

rocketed upwards 68 points. overseas tradeding in troek yo the nikkei up a fraction the hang seng rose 163. investors will be watching numbers. apple's big report sent stock soaring back over $600 giving the nasdaq composite index the biggest gain of the year. exxon-mobil raised, the latest job data is expected to show a slight decrease in unemployment claims from last week. ben bernanke said the central bank plans to leave interest rates at the current level until 2014 but they are prepared to take action if necessary. foreclosure activity increased in half the nation's cities in the first quarter according to realty trak, it was down compared to last year.

facebook will beef up security against hackers and spammers, offering free anti-virus software to 900 million users. protesters marched outside the jenny electric share how older meeting calling on the company to pay their fair share in taxes. ge my for tee owner of nbc universal says the tax rate of 25% has been paid. a whopper of an announcement from burger king, the first u.s. fast food chain to have all the eggs and pork come from cage-free chickens and pigs by 2017. a movement to placate animal welfare critics. a new member joins the 400 home run club. plus, washington caps off round one of the stanley cup playoffs in overtime. the "early today" headlines are

ahead. incredible record breaking heat continues in texas, the forecast is coming up you're watching "early today."

good morning if you're waking up this is "early today." in sports last night the capitals eliminated the defending champions boston

bruins to move on to the second roubd of the stanley cup playoffs. here is fred roggin with an early look at all sports headlines. good morning, there is one thing better than a game seven, that is overtime in game seven, let's go to boston, caps and bruins, winner moves on, loser goes home. tied on, sudden death overtime. 3:00 in, drove to the net, tim thomas first save couldn't make the second. joel ward slammed home the rebound and with that, the door was slammed in the bruins season. the caps took out the defending champs with the dramatic 2-1 win in ot. more where that came from, two more game seven's tonight, range range rangers and senators. panthers and devils from florida. the race for the scoring title in the nba came down to the final game. kobe bryant will have to score 38 tonight in sacramento to win the third scoring title. kobe, the ball is in your court. baseball, white sox paul

konerko, his 400th career homer. the fourth play near team history to reach the mark. oakland tied with it a two-run shot, a bloop single ended it. in came the winning won. they won 5-4. billy butler put an end to the royals 12 game losing streak, pair of homers against the indians. kansas city crushed cleveland, 8-2. the lions calvin johnson will be on the cover of the mad en13 video game. beat out cam newton with 52% of the vote. it's an honor and curse. the majority of players featured have been injured or suffered drastic decline in their careers. the lions have been through so much over the years it will take more than a curse to get them down. that is the early look at sports on "early today" i'm fred roggin.

>> mirror, mirror on the wall who is the fairest woman of all? the entertainment news is straight ahead. getting a glimpse of baby owls, views are that very rare and very cute. you're watching "early today."

welcome back to "early today." if you're in areas of virginia, from richmond to d.c., bring the

umbrella, not raining yet but will shortly. heavy rain around roanoke. thunderstorm in rally and push through areas of central ohio, too, we have stormy weather to deal with as we go throughout early this morning. forecast-wise will be a decent day in the southeast, looking hot in texas once again, dry in the northern plains. really that rainfall we have to watch out for this morning heading to the east coast. if you're watching us on wcau, nbc 10 in philadelphia, see 100 specimens of clams, scallops conck and more. marveling at moollusks. >> sounds good. >> sea creatures. let's move on to some headlines and entertainment news. rumors of a relationship from the 70s show becoming reality are not true. mila kunis shot down reports she is dating ashton kutcher says it's absurd, a friend is a

friend. what do you think, bill? >> no way. >> lindsay lohan was late for her guest shoot on glee. a cast member said some people show up late and throw a wrench in things, not cool. people named beyonce's the world's most beautiful woman for 2012. she said she feels more beautiful than ever because she has given birth. >> after successfully rein rigor rated journey to the center of the earth, mummy and fast aif you're yas, dwayne johnson are referring to him as franchise viagra. finally, the beach boys kicked off their 50th anniversary tour last night in tucson. the first stop on a five-month 56 show tour. >> i have to catch that i've never seen them perform many. >> i would like to see that. >> what is your favorite beach boy song? >> there are so many.

>> this comes from pull man, washington a group of baby owls are on the mend after getting a rude push out of the nest. they are being cared for by washington state university. five of the little critters were knocked out of the tree after someone cut it down. four more owls nest came down after a home renovations. it's rare for humans to get a close look at owls so young. so cute. i'm veronica de la cruz, this is "early today," just your first stop of the day today on your nbc station.

>> live, local, late-breaking, this is wbal-tv 11 news today. >> good morning. we have some rain to contend with on this thursday. it is not very heavy. we have some rain showers around the beltway and up into harford county. scattered sprinkles into the western suburbs. we will start out into the upper 40's and low 50's. off and on rain swers and the possibility of a rain shower. we'll come back and check the forecast going through the weekend. >> 51 degrees on tv hill. >> up next -- >> breaking news.

police say they've made an arrest in the phylicia barnes case. ivots todent obama privet the general election. the latest is coming up. >> we have an early morning accident.

[captioning made possible by constellation energy group] captioned by the national captioning institute --www.ncicap.org-- >> live, local, late-breaking, this is wbal-tv 11 news today. >> good morning. i'm mindy basara. >> and i'm stan stovall. thanks for joining us for 11 news today. >> a little bit of rain to start today. it may pick up in intensity. that is good for the beginning of the drive time. it could affect the traffic. doppler radar is showing some light rain around the city, especially south of