this morning, on "early today," round two. tornado battered down the midsection brace for more severe weather. road hazard. tense moments as a teenager opens fire on a tennessee police officer. and free falling. nasa carries out a vital test and the next generation of space vehicles. captions paid for by nbc-universal television hello. good morning. i'm veronica de la cruz. today, we begin with more trouble on the horizon. the national weather service warns more punishing storms could be on the way in parts of the midwest and the south where a devastating tornadoes have

already taken a heavier toll earlier this week. nbc jay gray reports. >> reporter: night fall can't mask the devastation here or hide the twisted metal, splintered wood for miles. earlier the sounds of survival echoed through harrisburg. crews pulling out or piling up debris although many can't clear away chilling images of the deadly storm. >> i'm nervous. i'm shaky. i'm tired. i just don't even have words for everything that you feel. >> reporter: words can't really describe the overwhelming sense of loss. at least 13 dead across five states. six of those victims in harrisburg. more than a hundred injured in the storms. and now, as survivors search through what 180-mile-an-hour winds left behind they must also worry about the latest forecast

which includes the possibility of even stronger storms in the next 24 hours. >> we do not want to go through this again and we will do everything we can to protect our people. >> reporter: many battered by the tornadoes, but determined to rise from this mangled mess. >> my husband looked at me and he said, well, i'm going to ask you this question, do you want to build it back? i said, why, sure. we have been here since 1972, you know? we're not going anywhere. >> reporter: even though so much here is now gone forever. jay gray, nbc news, harrisburg, illinois. nbc meteorologist bill carins has the latest on the severe weather expected today. good morning. >> good morning. getting words of some schools are closing in preparation for the severe weather event that a kid traveling home this afternoon as the storms blow up especially in areas of kentucky and tennessee. very important to make sure you continue to watch your local nbc station as we go throughout the severe weather event, especially later this afternoon and this evening for the local warnings.

watch severe weather as far north of detroit and moderate risk of severe weather in the red area. we expect the worst condition and the best chance of isolated, strong tornadoes. that is what we expect later today. tornadoes this afternoon and wind threat overnight. more details to come. >> thanks, bill. we will check back with you in a second. the senate upheld president obama's new rule on health coverage for birth control and covers employees even if their employer rejects on religious grounds. the vote almost blocked a vote by the republicans to overturn the president's compromised policy. nbc steve handelsman has more. >> reporter: senate democrats saved the obama birth control plan. after republicans failed to kill it. >> a sad example of election year politics. >> reporter: hospitals and universities run by religious organizations will have to

include contraceptives free as part of employee health care coverage even if they are catholic organizations. >> it's a moral and religious issue that should not be interfered with by the federal government. >> and these men are waxing eloquent about birth control and the fact that, oh, it's just a moral issue with them and they don't think women should have the right to have it. >> reporter: they see a winning political issue for the fall. >> we will make sure that women across the country are aware. >> that we in the democratic caucus will stand up to fight for their rights, as we always have. >> reporter: president obama say democrats struck the right balance on the birth control rule and won the fight to have it stick. i'm steve handelsman, nbc news, capitol hill. here is a look at some of the other stories making news early today in america. police dash cam video shows how close one tennessee police officer came to being killed. the officer suffered a serious leg wound when a suspect jumped

out of a stolen vehicle and followed his shotgun. the 18-year-old fled but was later arrested. he is currently on trial for the shooting. the halls inside one north carolina high school may have been cleared in record time following the arrival of an u n uninvited guest. a deer crashed through a window. the animal's visit ended when it found an exit. luckily, no one was injured. to show loopholes in the voter registration system, the man successfully registered his dog buddy using a false name and social security number. unapologetic, authorities say they may charge the albuquerque man with voter fraud. finally, one connecticut couple will celebrate their we hadding nuptials like in 1962. the famous waldorf astoria has agreed to let the couple spend the weekend at the slinky hotel

for the same rate they paid on their honeymoon. $16.80 for an entire weekend. wow. now for a look at your national and regional weather, here is meteorologist bill karins with a look at the forecast. >> the tornadoes won't be until later today. an important point. let's see who is at concern now. potential for large hail. this is the warm front trying to lift to the north. warm front is coming up from arkansas into missouri and they are knocked down at the surface and higher up than most thunderstorms. hail is the threat and don't have to worry about tornadoes with these storms. a watch box that includes st. louis and all of central missouri. large hail is your threat. as far as breaking down the timing. this is the warm front that lifts north. the bright red, thunderstorms, hail possible up into the northern ohio valley and kentucky and ohio and indiana two rounds of storm. first one the warm front and

hail potential and 3:00 p.m. on the cold front we see the tornado threat beginning here in areas of western kentucky, western tennessee, then by about 6:00 pc.m., we should be the midst of our possible tornado outbreak later today and through central tennessee and central portion of kentucky and definitely northern alabama and through the overnight hours that is when we watch definitely a big wind threat down there into the southeast. so fars today goes, we're going to watch all of that severe weather and okay in the northeast and okay today in the middle of the country. that's a look at the national forecast. now here's a look at the weather outside your window. obviously, it's an active weather day anywhere from the tennessee valley to the ohio valley and down to the gulf coast. areas of louisiana could even see strong winds with storms late today right through mississippi and late tonight heading into georgia and the carolinas. we go through event like this probably maybe 20 times a year with these big moderate risks and sometimes they pan out with devastating storms and sometimes they don't.

we won't know for sure until tomorrow morning. >> appreciate you watching it. thanks, bill. the links one airline will go to to help you sleep. your early morning business headlines are straight ahead. we're going to tell you all about it. can a grumpy creature fighting to protect his world conquer the box office this weekend. coming up, the heat dominate. kevin durant makes his pitch for the mvp and the worst shoot-out attempt ever! you're watching "early today."

good morning. welcome back. i'm veronica de la cruz. here are some of your top headlines this morning. hundreds of grieving students marched through chardon ohio where classmates were shot and killed on monday. classes resume today. charges were filed thursday against the student accused of the shooting. a man allegedly fired a rifle at a high school two miles southwest of phoenix, arizona. one teenage student was slightly injured and a suspect was

arrested soon after the incident. fbi director robert mueller says the agency needs help from private sector professionals to combat cyberthreats. mueller says that cybersecurity will likely surpass terrorism as america's number one concern in the future. nasa has done a successful test drop of this that will bring astronauts back to earth in the next generation space vehicles. from 25,000 feet, a parachute safely carried the capsule back to earth. now here is an "early" look at one of your top health headlines on msnbc.com. a government study says that hiv infection has fallen by 50% the past decade. the report found that 9% of iv drug users were infected by the virus that causes aids compared to a rate of 18% in the 1990s. the decline may be related in a growth to needle exchange program. for more information on this and other health stories, 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 12,980 after adding 28 points. the s&p was up eight points. the nasdaq gained 22. taking a look at overseas trading this morning. in tokyo, the nikkei nudged up 69 points. while in hong kong, the hang seng gained 174. on thursday, investors welcome news that at least some parts of the economy are on the mend. the number of first time applicants for job applicants fell to a four-year low and at the same time automakers reported fastest pace in four years. that news is partly offset by unexpectedly manufacturing growth last month and the first slip in spending construction since july. a surge in the price of crude fueled caution on the street after what turned out to be a false report of a pipeline fire in saudi arabia which set off a buying frenzy.

elsewhere online yelp public offering at $15 a share and kodak selling its business to shutterfly to nearly $24 million. at&t customers who thought their plans were grandfathered in when the carrier stopped selling data plans in 2010 will see their service slowed down if they exceed monthly usage limits. boeing landed $1.4 billion order for dream liners. and say good-bye to continental airlines. signage for the carrier will vanish this weekend after its merger with united officially takes effect. finally, one airline is taking its paergssengers need f sleep seriously. virgin atlantic has hired a whispering coach to train cabin crew to speak in a hush soothing voice between 20 and 30 decibels.

hhhmm. what will they think of next? the seminoles have a buzzer beater and devils drop fourth straight and this cost his team the game. your early morning sports headlines are straight ahead. after today, severe weather outbreak much quieter weather over the weekend. your forecast is coming up. you're watching "early today."

good morning. if you're just waking up, this is "early today." in sports the thunder big man kevin did your apartment put a spell on the magic leading oklahoma city to its seventh straight win. here is fred roggin with an early look at all of your sports headlines. good morning. the last two decades, only three players have won the all-star in regular season mvp awards in the same year. kevin durant is making a case to become the fourth with another impressive outing. let's go to orlando. durant started off slow but got it going in the second half. give and go to russell westbrook and finished with authority. the magic's dwight howard always a candidate for the mvp. he had a team high 33. however durant was simply too much for orlando and scored 18 of his 38 in the final quarter and thunder won it 105-102. lebron also won an all-star and regular season mvp award and like durant he had 38 points last night. the heat dominated the trail blazers from start to finish and miami won nine straight and beat portland 107-93.

college hoops. florida state and virginia. cavaliers pulling the upset when frustration. james kicked terrace in the stomach and thrown out of the game and that sparked fsu rallying from 11 points down. ian miller pulled up' hit the go ahead three with a second left in the game. florida state won a thriller 63-60. how about overtime hockey? devils and bruins tied at three. david krejci two goals in regulation and i wouldn't mention that unless he didn't get the hat trick and september the devils packing with his third of the game. bruins win 4-3. wild and canadiens ended in a shoot-out. he needed to score with you the game was over. instead he did this. overskated the puck and slammed on the brakes and lost the edge. not exactly how you want to end the game. he was the fallguy as the canadiens slip past the wild 5-4. >> that is your early look at sports on "early today." have a terrific weekend.

i'm fred roggin. a fan kisses justin bieber on his birthday. well, almost. chardon students enjoy a setback towards normal. you're watching "early today."

welcome back to "early today." a concern for tornadoes in the nashville and chattanooga and

lexington through columbus and indianapolis and cincinnati. if you're anywhere near those locations, make sure you have your tornado plan and your safety plan for your family just in case the worst heads your way later on today. as far as the weekend forecast goes, those storms will be heading off the east coast early saturday morning with some strong gusty winds and then it all calms down to what should ab pretty nice sunday, with the exception of rain in florida. if you're watching us on wbal tv 11 in baltimore, maryland, in nearby salisbury, celebrate women's history month with carving made over the last sendry. making her mark at the ward museum. that is your "early today" event of the today. >> girl power, i like it. >> i'm all for it. >> i am too. here is an early look at this morning's headlines in entertainment. as for a race this weekend at the box office, well, you can forget about it. instead the experts say we can expect a coronation. the 3d animated favorite starring the voice of danny devito is a dr. seuss story published in 1971 and a lock to

be crowned box office king with most experts expecting a take of about $40 million which would make it the year's top opener so far. the weekend's other new wide release is "project x." it's about a group of teenagers who document a wild party and expected to take in between $15 million and $20 million. this year's big oscar winner "the artist" expands into nearly double its previous theaters and looking to expand its domestic take-up to $33 million. check this out. yesterday in honor of justin bieber's 18th birthday, hollywood unveiled a wax bieber complete with a 14-year-old contest winning fan who gave the wax heart throb a birthday kiss. is that really him? >> it's a new haircut he had the last year, the big boy haircut. >> it doesn't look like justin bieber to me. try again, maybe? this comes to from us

channel 3 in cleveland, ohio. a community in need of healing three days after a horrific school shooting found some on a basketball court. chardon high school's first game since the shooting what some called a therapeutic attraction was a playoff game last night. before the game both teams wear arm and arm and the opposing team wearing chardon black t-shirts. people who felt they had to be there rooted on chardon to an extra sweet victory. i'm veronica de la cruz. this is "early today," your first stop of the day today on your nbc station. consumers today have a legitimate concern about the chicken they eat.

they want to know more about how they were raised, what they were fed. we spend a lot of time on the feed because a chicken is what it eats. [ jim ] this seal verifies we feed my fresh all-natural chickens an all-vegetarian diet including corn, soybeans, and marigolds. we actually ask the usda to come check us.

we have never fed steroids or hormones and never will. no blood meal, no meat and bone meal. yuck. no animal by-products. it means when you put my chicken on the table, you know where it came from. 4:28, 48 degrees on this friday, march 2, 2012. i'm joe krebs. >> i'm eun yang. it is friday, march 2. this morning police are investigating a double shooting in southeast washington. it happened at the intersection of benning road and h street. we're told one of the victims was shot inside a restaurant. the other victim was found outside the building. both victims were taken to the hospital. their names and conditions are not being released at this time. so far no arrests have been

made. a man accused of killing a 17-year-old in 2005 is a free man. a jury found jarvis tyler not guilty of murder. news4 was the only station there when he was released last night. he was accused of killing stacy seton of bowie, maryland, as part of a murder-for-hire plot. moments before the verdict, the defense team offered prosecutors a plea deal in exchange for 30 years behind bars, but the prosecutors rejected that. >> there was no plea deal in this case that would have for us served justice. today's verdict was not what we had hoped for, but we respect the process. we also respect the jury's verdict. >> stacy's mother said, "we face as though stacey has been killed again. i'm going back to 2005 all over again. stacey was betrayed by the justice system." people in the midwest and south are bracing for