today," the gloves are off. mitt romney and newt gingrich come out swinging in last night's florida republican debate. deadly collapse. residents in rio run for their lives when a 20-story building suddenly comes crumbling to the ground. and spectacular skies. the northern lights put on another re and dramatic display. captions paid for by nbc-universal television hello. good morning. i'm lynn berry. today we begin with a fight in florida. it was a verbal battle in jacksonville between mitt romney and newt gingrich in the final

debate before tuesday's primary. they sqaubleed about many issues including housing and immigration and even a colony on the move. nbc's steve handelsman reports. >> reporter: mitt romney, through the first punch at newt gingrich for calling romney anti-immigrant. >> you tell me what language you would use to describe somebody who thinks that deporting a grandmother or a grandfather from their family. >> our problem is not 11 million grandmothers. our problem is -- all right? >> reporter: florida's housing crisis is severe. many blame freddie mac. >> speaker gingrich was hired by freddie mac to promote them. i think instead we should have had a whistle-blower and not a horn tooter. >> frankly i've had about enough of this. we discovered to our shock governor romney owns shares of both fannie mae and freddie mac. >> you also have investments from mutual funds that also invested in fannie mae and

freddie mac. >> all right. they thought about spending on states and going to the moon. >> i do not want to be the country having gotten to the moon first, turned around and said it doesn't really matter, let the chinese dominate space. >> that's what got us into the trouble we are in now. we have got to say no to this kind of spending. >> reporter: ron paul and rick santorum piled on. >> we he have got to be responsible in the way we allocate our resources. >> well, i don't think we should go to the moon. i think we maybe should send some politicians up there. >> reporter: gingrich cried uncle. >> i will be glad to have a truce here. >> reporter: no deal with four days to go. i'm steve handelsman, nbc news, washington. well, a former u.s. marine has pleaded guilty to shooting a gun at the pentagon and other military targets last year. 24-year-old malaku entered a guilty plea. prosecutors released a guilty he made which shows him in his car waving his gun at the camera. at another point in the tape, he begins firing. the shots could be heard and you

can see the muzzle flash from the gun. he also recorded himself wearing a mask. no one was hurt in the shooting. he was arrested last june and admits to five separate shootings in october and november of 2010. twice at the national museum of the marine corps and once each at the pentagon and at coast guard and marine corps recruiting offices in virginia. prosecutors say he intended to strike fear throughout the he will region. maluk agreed to a 25-year prison term and will be sentenced in april. here is a look at some of the other stories making news early today in america. dramatic video shows a nashville police officer attacked at a gas station after he responded to a report of a man causing a disturbance. police say the man punched and choked the officer. the store clerk tried to intervene. other officers showed up in time to save their colleague and arrest the suspect who now faces attempted murder charges. in california, a man police are calling the evil clown

bandit due to his mask was stopped in the middle of a convenience store robbery. the store's owner and his father, retired police officer in his 70s, visiting from india, caught the robber, ripping off his face mask and forcing him to leave empty-handed. the suspect is still on the loose. in san diego a suspected drunk driver was arrested three times in five days. video shows in one case where the man pulled up to a gas pump and forgot to put his suv in park causing it to roll backwards right into a van. and a pennsylvania middle school is just saying no to uggs. that's right. the popular boots have been banned because officials say kids are using them as a place to hide cell phones and food! really? students will still be allowed to wear them to and from school but they have to change out of the uggs once they are on campus. now for a look at your national and region weather, here is meteorologist bill karins with a look at the

forecast. good morning, bill. >> i understand the food. but the phone? you don't want to get it dirty. >> yeah, exactly! couldn't you put it in your pocket? uggs, really? >> a lot of high schools they search the kids and not allowed to have cell phones or anything else. they are smuggling. >> contraband! good morning, everyone. a great friday morning. weekend is almost here. it's a wet day in many areas of the country. we're watching a storm system dragging a lot of warmth and moisture off the eastern seaboard. thunderstorms in florida. the only areas dealing with snow is northern new england and up through north dakota. the first stop is northern new england. burlington now at 33 degrees and warm enough now but from portland to maine we get a couple of inches of snow before it changes over to sleet and then rain. the morning commute is going to be rough. all southern areas. from boston to albany and hartford warm enough. just all rain and a lot of warm air. we could get into the 60s today from areas of coastal maryland,

delaware and up through new jersey. ridiculously warm once again. but watch a line of showers and storms coming through and that is right now and into the mountainous areas of west virginia and harrisburg and roanoke. d.c. need the umbrella and rimm richmond. tampa you're about to get trenched and during the heart of the morning commute located over the top of i-4. the forecast we do have snow showers up to the northern plains. a little colder today in denver. the east coast, an umbrella that's a look at the national forecast. now here's a look at the weather outside your window. a chance of a thunderstorm this morning in florida. eventually work its way down through southern florida later on today. cooler in areas of the northern plains and this is a warm weather map. 60s today in charlotte, north carolina. weekend forecast coming up. i think we're going to like it. >> our favorite one. bill, thanks so much. also coming up, unemployment

nudges up. caterpillar hums. your early morning headlines are straight ahead. is this actor about to relive his favorite film role? incredible crash at the x-games and the only draft where you want to be selected last. you're watching "early today."

good morning. welcome back. i'm lynn berry. here are your top headlines this morning. the international organization doctors without borders has stopped its work in detention centers. in the libyan city of misrata saying it was asked to care for prisoners who were being tortured. the group medical team said they treated fractures and tissue bones from electric shocks and kidney failures to beatings to see them go back for further

detention. the united nations got unexpected delivery earlier this month. 35 pounds of cocaine. the narcotics stuffed inside a hollowed out textbook were intercepted at the u.n. mail room inside four pouches with no return address. u.n. officials say the packages originated in mexico city. there were some tense moments for australian prime minister when she was dragged by security guards from a protest that turned violent. dozens of riot police and one swift-handed bodyguard came to the prime minister's rescue as she stumbled on to the way of her awaiting car. a 20-story building collapsed and crumbled taking down two more buildings with it. rescuers have pulled at least six bodies from the rubble. more than a dozen people are still missing. finally. this week's spectacular light show continues in northern europe.

look at that. thanks to the biggest solar storm in six years, folks no in norway were treated to this amazing display of the aurora borealis. now here is another look at one of your top health headlines on msnbc.com. a new government reports home births in the u.s. are up nearly 30% to almost 30,000. the latest numbers show that home births in 2009 were at their highest level in the 20 years since they began collecting the data and since more women with kids are having home births they had a lower risk profile of hospital births. for more information on this, check out the health page at msnbc.com. now here is an early look at how wall street will kick off the day. the dow opens at 12,734 after losing 22 points yesterday. the s&p, down 7 points. the nasdaq lost 13. taking a look at overseas trading this morning.

in tokyo, the nikkei fell eight points, but in hong kong, the hang seng gained 62. today we will get fourth quarter numbers on the economy as the commerce department releases the report on gross domestic product which is expected to show growth. transocean, the owner of the rig that exploded in the gulf of mexico in 2010, is off the hook on pollution claims, according to a federal judge's ruling. the number of people filing for unemployment benefits rose last week from a nearly four-year low. still, economists say the long-term trend is pointing to further job gains ahead. the average rate for a 30-year fixed mortgage rose from the lowest level on record, but it still remains below 4% for the eighth week in oo a row. orders for durable goods rose 3% last month due to a rebound in business spending on machinery and equipment. among positive earnings reports, caterpillar profits jumped 16%.

profits were up 3% for 3m on higher demand for products for the home office and the car. strong smart phone sales for samsung profits jumping 17% for the fourth quarter. a plan to reinvent jcpenney and cut prices sent shares for the chain soaring 19%. taco bell is now selling breakfast burritos and hash browns at some of its restaurants. starbucks profits are up 10% and they are adding stores but the very first starbucks location on the east coast in washington, d.c. will close forever this weekend to make way for an upbeat shopping center. coming up, the magic blow a huge lead. a couple of bombs from way downtown. and remember when the all-star game used to be just the all-star game? plus, it's what speed and thrill chasers watch the x games

for monumental wipeouts. your early morning sports headlines are straight ahead. unless you live in the pacific northwest your weekend forecast actually looks dry and pretty nice. you're watching "early today."

good morning. if you're just waking up, this is "early today." in sports, they are having a

tough season and then there is the embarrassing why even brother to show up season. well, so far, that's the way it's been for nba's orlando mag magic. here is fred roggin with an early look at all of your sports headlines. good morning. there is just something about the celtics that brings out the worst in the orlando magic. days after scoring a franchise low 56 in boston, the magic blew a 27-point lead to the celts last night simply fell apart in the fourth outscored by 19 in the quarter. it's been a forgettable week to say the least. magic lost 91-83. clippers in memphis wore some of the ugliest jerseys you'll see but nothing ugly about this. rudy gay with a buzzer beater at the end of the first quarter but not enough. clippers went on to win. if you like that, you'll love this. north carolina state brown threw up a prayer and it was answered. nailed an 80-foot bench shot at the buzzer but unfortunately the only bright spot for the northpack. even if you don't like hockey

you have to love the way the nhl splits up the all-star teams. each team has a captain, one by one, they pick the all-stars for their teams. it's like playing in the park and choosing sides but in this draft, you want to be selected last. that's because the final pick gets a brand-new car! and, no, it was not a zamboni. the sharks logan couture never heard his name. no problem. he gets a giant key to a new honda. even if they thought he was the worst all-star, logan gets the last laugh and drives away in style. the winter x games under way and spectacular moment. no matter how bad it looks he the rider is okay. he attempted a holy grab and holy molle! lost his grip and down he went. amazingly he bounced right back. a few more looks and you can see how lucky colton was. he took the fall on his back and in fact, better than okay. he got back on the snowmobile and won the event.

the word crazy doesn't even begin to describe these athletes. >> that is your early look at sports on "early today." have a great weekend. i'm fred roggin. >> well put, fred. coming up, the favorite. the wild card and the dark horse at the box office this weekend. your early morning entertainment headlines are straight ahead. plus with all of the stress you face these days at airports, it's amazing it's taken this long for one to introduce a zen zone. you're watching "early today."

welcome back to "early today" on this friday morning. it's an umbrella day for almost all of new england. throughout areas like new york city and philadelphia, even d.c. this morning. the afternoon should fine but, this morning, showers are around and heavy rain in central florida. as we go through your weekend we dry it out and cold air that comes into the northern plains and sweep into the great lakes on sunday but, overall, most areas are going to be dry in at least average temperatures. if you're watching on wdib local 4 in detroit, michigan, classic stories like moby dick at once upon a time at the detroit institute of arts. that is your "early today" event of the today. i never read moby dick. i need to do that. >> welcome to american literature. here is an early look at this morning's headlines in entertainment. no box office block busters this weekend but between new films and holdovers, it shapes up top a super close battle. a safe choice of many is last

weekend's champ underworld awakening eking out a second straight win 12 to 13,. the wild card choice based on liam nissan's box office thriller with 14 million. the pg-13 action comedy "one for the money" is also drawing underdog support. this comes up my allealley. the only true date movie and some experts think it could win big. classic. "man on a ledge" starring sam worthington seems to have it all except good reviews. minor details. be lucky to open in the top five. putting together the clues from a youtube teaser video that appeared yesterday. it seems matthew broderick may be reviving his "ferris bueller" character for a commercial in the upcoming super bowl. >> i thought there was going to be like a real sequel.

like a 20-year anniversary or reunion or something. i'm disappointed. thanks a lot. >> wa-wa. from the bay area in california, in san francisco, at the international airport, you can do what many travelers only dream of doing. relax. the airport has opened a yoga room where flyers can stop by and stretch out. it's free and yoga matter are included. yoga instructors are not. all they ask is that you keep your voice down and you allow positive energy to flow in. fittingly the new yoga room can be found just past the security line. i'm lynn berry. this is "early today," your first stop of the day today on your nbc station.

our time now is 4:28. we have 60, 60 degrees out there. this is stupid weather. good morning, i'm joe krebs. >> did you say 60? >> 60 degrees outside now. >> by the way, it's january 27. >> the last weekend in january. >> goodness, gracious. i'm eun yang, good morning. >> i'm joe krebs. today the woman convicted of killing a co-worker tlululemon store was sentenced to life.

norwood's family and friends are fighting for her chance at parole. if norwood is given life with a chance for parole, she would have to serve at least 25 years before having a parole review. right now police are trying to remove a body found in a well in prince george's county. an anonymous tipster told police that they could find a body in the 11900 block of old fort road in ft. washington. last night investigators brought in portable lights and set up a tent to protect evidence. police say removing the body from the 20-foot-deep well is a complicated process. >> we've got to excavate around the well. that requires a lot of equipment. it requires a lot of manpower. there is the potential for a well collapse. >> alexandria police are also on the scene. they believe the body is that was community activist lenny harris. he has not been seen since september. his brother sherman harris told news4 that detectives contacted him about the remains but said they won't