it's no joke. an april fools' day storm barrels into the northeast, lashing some areas with up to a foot of snow. exit strategy. moammar gadhafi may be looking for a way out, as reports emerge of secret talks in london. and gaining ground. today's jobs report expected to show the second straight month today's jobs report expected to show the second straight month of solid gains. captioning funded by cbs happy april fools' day. thanks for joining us, i'm betty nguyen. well it may be april 1st but for residents of the northeast, our first story is no joke. a springtime snowstorm. it's moving over the northeast and new england, bringing snow,

rain, and in some areas, gale force winds. this morning's commute is expected to be a mess from new york north. a snow/rain mix is expected along the coast. but snow is expected across much of the southern new england area, and in some places, up to a foot. >> the snow is going to be very heavy and wet. there's going to be a danger for downed trees, power lines, and power outages. >> winter storm warnings and advisories are in effect throughout the region. meanwhile, folks in florida are cleaning up after a wild wind and rainstorm. look at that. in lakeland, hundreds were gathered at an aviation festival when the strong winds knocked over a tent. at least six people suffered minor injuries. in largo, wind gusts of up to 85 miles per hour caused severe damage at a trailer home park. one man and his wife were inside their home when it blew over.

>> we called out to each other and realized that we were both okay, and there's an emergency window on the side. by that time the neighbors came over and helped us climb out of there. >> the storm also caused extensive damage in tampa. across the state, tens of thousands lost power and roads were flooded. now to the latest on the crisis in libya. it is reported that a trusted aide to moammar gadhafi's son is in london for what is described as confidential talks with british officials. the guardian newspaper reports gadhafi may be looking for a way out. in public gadhafi remains defiant, though. and his message to the libyan people yesterday was that he should not resign but that western leaders should. joel brown is in washington with more on this. good morning, joel. >> betty, good morning to you. with suggestions from the white house that gadhafi's inner circle is crumbling around him, we saw libya's leader on state television last night in what appeared to be another bid to hold on to the loyalists he still has. these cheering supporters

refused to leave moammar gadhafi's tripoli compound, so they can stay on as human shields. >> we are not surprised with the no-fly zone. we will always protect our leader. >> reporter: on state tv thursday the ruler released a statement saying he's not the one who should go. but that's exactly what rebel forces are demanding. they fired rockets to try and retake the oil town of brega. still their weapons proved no match for gadhafi's better-equipped troops. officials estimate about a quarter of gadhafi's forces have been knocked out of action. but still have a 10-to-1 advantage over the rebels. >> what the opposition needs as much as anything right now is some training, some command and control, and some organization. >> reporter: on capitol hill thursday, top military leaders acknowledged the rebels need help. but said if anyone is going to arm or train them, it shouldn't be the u.s. >> do you know if there's any time in the future that there are going to be boots on the ground in libya? >> not as long as i'm in this

job. >> reporter: now that nato is officially in control, the pentagon said american jets will stop conducting air strikes by saturday. that drew scathing criticism from lawmakers. >> the idea that american air power is grounded unless the place goes to hell is just so unnerving i can't express it. >> reporter: while officials insist they're trying to avoid a full-scale commitment, some accuse them of abandoning rebel forces. right when they need help the most. so when it comes to arming libya's rebels, the official white house position remains that president obama is still making up his mind. betty? >> all right. joel brown in washington for us. thank you, joel. another top official in the libyan government has defected. the country's ambassador to the united nations reportedly defected to egypt yesterday. earlier this week, foreign minister moussa koussa defected to london. he's being questioned about the inner workings of the gadhafi regime. and it is believed koussa played a key role in the bombing of pan am flight 103 over lockerbie,

scotland. >> moussa koussa was personally responsible for the actual organization of it. the orders to do it clearly came from moammar gadhafi himself. >> british officials say koussa left his family in libya, and described his state of mind as, quote, fragile. koussa is not being offered immunity. it's reported that japanese government plans to bail out the tokyo electric power company, which owns the crippled fukushima nuclear power plant. a japanese newspaper reports this morning that the government plans to inject tepco with public funds and offer debt guarantees. but will not nationalize the company. gotten into groundwater under-the-fukushima plant. in the u.s., traces of radioactive iodine have been found in milk in two states, california, and washington. but officials say it poses no threat to the public. john blackstone has more. >> reporter: the amount of radioactive iodine measured in milk on the west coast was so small that it did not rise above

the normal background level of radiation. still, it's the first evidence that radiation from japan's damaged nuclear plant is making it directly into food produced in america. >> radiation can be a scary word. but i think it's important to remember that actually we live surrounded by radiation every single day. >> reporter: some of our most common foods, potatoes, carrots, bananas, contain radioactive potassium. the radioactive iodine detected in milk, though, can be more dangerous, because it concentrates in the thyroid. still, the amounts measured are 5,000 times lower than those that can cause health damage, even in growing children. but for many, fear remains, and that can cause its own problems. >> we actually see health damage, not from the radiation, but from the fear of the radiation, and it's very real. >> reporter: everything imported from japan is already tested for radiation at ports and airports, and on hundreds of rooftops across the country, a network of radiation detectors takes

constant measurements. >> it's very sensitive and should be very reassuring to the public. >> reporter: although only tiny amounts of radiation from japan have been detected in air and in milk, the fear of radiation is so great, even figures meant to reassure can instead cause alarm. john blackstone, cbs news, san francisco. just ahead on the "morning news," that missing cobra has been found. plus, prince william talks about his pre-wedding jitters, and why he won't wear his wedding ring. this is the "cbs morning news." [ male announcer ] there's a place where everyone feels at home. where the company, the conversation, and the food make all who enter feel welcome. a place that feels as warm with a crowd... as it does with just a friend. it's a place you'll find town house crackers. because they're part of what makes your place the place. ♪ welcome to town house. where good times reside.

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safer. the number of people killed on the nation's roads dropped dramatically last year to just over 32,000. that is down 3% from 2009. it is the fewest highway fatalities in more than 60 years. several factors are being credited, including efforts to stop drunk driving, better safety equipment, and more people wearing their seat belts. the battle over ohio's new law limiting bargaining rights for 350,000 public union workers is not over. governor john kasich signed the bill into law thursday. it sparked weeks of pro-labor protests. opponents say they will try and put the measure on the ballot in november, so voters can strike it down. the labor department releases the march jobs report a little bit later this morning, and most analysts expect it to show the country added around 185,000 jobs last month. the unemployment rate is projected to stay at 8.9%. now, if those forecasts prove right, february and march will mark the best two-month stretch for the labor market since the

recession began. on the "cbs moneywatch," a big jump in pay for ceos. and tax time, right around the corner. are you ready? ines ferre is here in new york with the latest on that. good morning, ines. >> good morning, betty. who is ready for tax time? let's take a look at the asian markets. they were mixed this morning. tokyo's nikkei went down slightly while hong kong's hang seng edged up, and oil cashes out at over $107 a barrel. today, besides the government jobs report, wall street gets the march auto sales numbers. thursday, stocks finished mixed. the dow lost almost 31 points, the gymnast gained 5. that closed the books on the first quarter for wall street and the best start to a year in more than a decade. since the start of the new year the dow jones industrial average is up 6.5%. the nasdaq has rallied nearly 5%. toyota is raising the sticker prices for nearly every 2011 model. the price tags on most new vehicles are going up at at least a couple of hundred

dollars, despite the supply problems in asia, tokyo says this -- or toyota, that is, says this actually has nothing to do with the earthquake and tsunami in japan. toyota blames the increases on unfavorable exchange rates. and the rich get richer. "usa today" reports the average pay for a ceo jumped 27% last year. as compensation worked its way back to pre-recession levels. the average worker saw just a 2% hike. and just over a couple of weeks to your tax deadline. the irs says the average refund this year is about $3,000. they've already received a little more than 75 million returns so far, with about 65 million qualifying for some money back, betty. >> i want to get that money back. first of all, i have to send in my taxes, which i have not done yet. thanks for the reminder. ines ferre here in new york. thank you. so that missing cobra, back in its cage this morning, thank

goodness, at the bronx zoo here in new york. the poisonous egyptian cobra disappeared a week ago. it attracted worldwide attention, and even had its own spoof twitter page. zoo workers were finally able to lure the snake out of hide iing the reptile house with wood shavings used by mice and rats. >> the scent of the mice and rats would be on the shavings themselves, as a lure. because snakes hunt. olfactory means. so it was really the scent of the rodents that we hoped would bring her out. >> before the cobra is put back into the exhibit, vets are checking her out. britain's prince william admits to some jitters about his wedding to kate middleton later this month. >> i was setting at the house the other day and my knees started going quite nervously. it's quite daunting prospect. but very exciting. and i'm looking forward to it. but there's a lot of planning to be done in the last few weeks. >> it's also been revealed that prince william will not wear his wedding ring. royal officials call it a

personal preference. it's a decision kate is apparently happy with. she, by the way, will wear her wedding ring. straight ahead your friday morning weather. and in sports, the boys of summer are back. all the highlights from opening day, including something that has not happened in 42 years. [ female announcer ] sometimes you need tomorrow to finish what you started today. for the aches and sleeplessness in between, there's motrin pm. no other medicine, not even advil pm, is more effective for pain and sleeplessness. motrin pm. 8% every 10 years.age 40, we can start losing muscle -- wow. wow. but you can help fight muscle loss with exercise and ensure muscle health. i've got revigor. what's revigor?

it's the amino acid metabolite, hmb to help rebuild muscle and strength naturally lost over time. [ female announcer ] ensure muscle health has revigor and protein to help protect, preserve, and promote muscle health. keeps you from getting soft. [ major nutrition ] ensure. nutrition in charge! with the rising price of fuel, guess which way shipping costs are going? the u.s postal service has no fuel surcharges. combine that with low online pricing... and your shipping costs... ..could head in a whole new direction. it's time to rethink your shipping. here's a look at the weather in some cities around the country. new york is going to be rainy with some snow, 44 degrees.

miami, showers there, 85. chicago, showers, as well, 47. dallas, mostly sunny, 87. and l.a., 84. time now for a check of the national forecast. the latest satellite picture shows cloudy skies across the northwest, while the southwest is mainly clear. later today, though, a major winter storm develops across new england. the southwest, and deep south stay dry and sunny, with temperatures, get this, in the 80s and 90s. and some rain and snow showers in the midwest. in sports, opening day in baseball, and milwaukee gets off to a powerful start against cincinnati. the brewers ricky leaks hits a lead-off homer then carlos gomez knocks one out of the park. but it was not enough. a ramon hernandez walk-off homer in the ninth gives the reds a 7-6 victory over the brewers. first game between the dodgers and the giants. l.a. got off to a great start, striking out nine. but san fran catcher buster posey makes a throwing error.

the dodgers score and end up beating the world series champs 2-1. the yankees and tigers trade great plays. in the first curtis granderson makes a diving catch. look at that. then in the fifth detroit's ray rayburn returns the favor. the yanks come out on top, winning their home opener 6-3 over detroit. and in college basketball, youtube's dunking sensation jacob tucker, proves he is the real deal. tuck tucker a perfect 50 in the college slam dunk championship. and get this, he is only 5'10" tall. tucker got in the competition through a facebook vote and is the only nondivision i player in the competition. he definitely has game. he also takes home the trophy. and march madness continues tomorrow. coverage of the final four begins at 4:00 eastern right here on cbs. the tip-off between butler and vcu is at 6:00. when we return, another look at this morning's top stories. and beating the odds. the seven workers on the biggest

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on the "cbs morning news," here's a look at today's weather. a winterlike storm will bring gusty winds and snow to new england. snow and rain are also likely across the midwest. and the southwest and deep south will remain dry and sunny. here's another look at this morning's top stories. a messy morning commute in the northeast. an april fools' snowstorm is hitting the region and it is no joke. some high elevation areas could get up to a foot of snow. and the labor department releases the march jobs report later this morning. most economists predict the economy added about 185,000 jobs last month. if so, that would follow strong gains in february. and seven lucky coworkers can quit their jobs. they collected their big checks

thursday from last week's huge mega millions lottery. and after taxes, get this, they get $19 million each. jim axelrod reports. >> reporter: they took their first public steps into their new lives as multimillionaires. seven new york state workers. >> we've been doing this every time one of the jackpots usually gets above $100 million, we go around to our coworkers in our office and ask them if they want to get in. >> reporter: this time, seven did. beating long odds to hit a $319 million jackpot. a triumph of good luck over bad manners. with an assist from a sweet tooth. says the guy who bought the ticket. >> so i reach over, you know, and i started like pulling myself out of the line to get the candy bar, this guy jumps in front of me. i'm thinking later on, after all this went down, what if that guy would have won the ticket instead of me. so i don't know. you never know. >> reporter: the albany seven could have easily been the albany eight. or nine. or even ten. >> there's several other great

people that we work with, and some of us got in, and some of us didn't. >> reporter: which raises the question, if you play the lottery every week with a group from work, and one week you hit, would you share the wealth with one of the regulars who happened to take that week off? >> you lose, you lose. >> reporter: what about if you were one of the five? >> i'd be pissed. >> reporter: you've got to be in it to win it. jim axelrod, cbs news, new york. >> yes, you do. okay, so this morning on "the early show," the latest on the spring storm that is slamming the northeast and new england. i'm betty nguyen. this is the "cbs morning news." [ female announcer ] can you define radiant skin? glowing. smooth. flawless. [ female announcer ] aveeno positively radiant with active naturals soy now treats all five factors of radiance; tone, texture, blotchiness,

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♪ good morning. i'm andrea roane. >> i'm mike hydeck. happy friday. angie is here with traffic and the lovely anny hong is in for howard this morning. >> kind of a drizzly, yucky day, just like it was yesterday. today, the same thing. bundle up yourself and the kids as you're heading outside. the day planner for today. we're looking at cloudy and light rain for this morning. 40s by 9:00. noon, it should be tapering off. we'll get to around 50 by 3:00 then we'll dry out for the latter part of the day. live doppler 9000 hd, we've got green on there which means we need light rain for most of the d.c. metro area. especially the delmarva getting pounded since last night. here is a look at the satellite radar picture where you can see the rain came in. it is moving up to the east and toward the cape cod area where it is going to turn to snow in

parts of maine. 39 for downtown. 37 in manassas. 34 in frederick. we're watching the temperatures north of us around the mason dixon line. highs for today around 50 for d.c. 54 manassas. culpepper, you're the warm spot at 56 for today. places like hagerstown around 47 degrees. it will be a cold day. here's angie with your traffic. >> all right, thank you, anny. we kick off the friday morning although it is wet out there, we still have the green light. let's move it outside. show you 270 headed southbound, drivers hitting the pavement out here. little wet camera for you. frederick, down to 118 germantown. switching on over to virginia, 66. it looks like the eastbound lanes inside the beltway wide open. both loops in virginia from the wilson bridge past 236 all the way up to the american legion, no incidents. still ahead, a look at 95 in

virginia. mike, andrea, back to you. >> here are stories we're following for you this friday morning. libyan rebels are cheering the defection of moammar gadhafi's foreign minister. >> top u.s. military leaders warn gadhafi is far from beaten at this point. admiral mike mullen told congress while coalition strikes have seriously hurt its fighting power, gadhafi's forces are nowhere near close to collapsing. >> seven coworkers in upstate new york are suddenly in the megamillions spotlight after coming forward to claim their record jackpot. >> as manuel gallegus reports, they may just owe their super win to a craving for a candy bar. >> smile, yeah! >> reporter: the seven shy state workers are america's newest megamillionaires and they're overwhelmed. >> it has been a blur. >> just hasn't sunk in. >> still in disbelief. >> they pitched in just $20 each for 14 quick picks. >> looked at the numbers and looked at them and looked at them and i'm like is this for real? >> reporter: now, each one takes home $19.1 million after

taxes. they can buy anything they want. but they haven't made any big decisions yet. >> i just want a dishwasher. >> mike barth. >> mike barth bought the winning ticket in downtown albany just down the street from where the group works. and barth's sweet tooth may have sealed their fate. >> barth was waiting in line to buy the tickets when he reached down to pick up a snickers bar. that's when someone cut in front of him and bought a ticket ahead of him. the next one out of the machine was the megamillions winner. >> i'm thinking later on after all of this went down, i wonder if that guy would have won the ticket instead of me. i don't know. >> reporter: a nervous john hilton was in charge of holding on to the piece of paper worth $319 million. how about this for a hiding place? >> they put it in two ziploc bags, in a five gallon bucket of bird food and hid it in my basement. i didn't know what to do with it. >> the group nicknamed the

albany seven hasn't been back to work and hasn't decided if they'll ever return. would you? manuel gallegus, cbs news, albany, new york. good morning and welcome to 9news now. we did not win so we're here with you today this friday, april 1st. i'm andrea roane. would you continue working? >> i'm mike hydeck. >> we did