i'm craig melvin. thank you so much for watching "early today.">>> good morning to you. it's 4:30, also friday and i'm scott mcgrew. >> you can say that again. >> it's also friday. >> i'm laura garcia-cannon. lot to get to. let's get to the friday forecast with meteorologist christina loren. >> better stop doing my happy dance, i'm on camera now. it's still early on a friday morning, i can tell you right now look at what's coming our way as we head throughout the weekend. we're talking about really heavy rainfall totals and we've got more on the way through next week so a lot to talk about this morning. i want to make sure you bring that umbrella. i'll time the system. there are three more on the way. time them

craig melvin is here with your highlights. ♪ ♪ ben! ♪ [ train whistle blows ] oh, that was close.'t lying. let quicken loans help you save your money with a mortgage that's engineered to amaze. and better is so easy withrning you cabenefiber.o something better for yourself. let quicken loans help you save your money fiber that's taste-free, grit-free and dissolves completely. so you can feel free to add it to anything. and feel better about doing it. better it with benefiber. still running in the morning? yeah. getting your vegetables every day? when i can. [ bop ] [ male announcer ] could've had a v8. two full servings of vegetables for only 50 delicious calories. >>> now let's get the latest in sports from my friend, craig melvin. good morning. >> good morning to you. the elite eight halfway there now as the brackets keep getting busted. number one arizona's late rally edged them over a feisty san diego state. they led 32-28 at the half. in the second, arizona's t.j. mcconnell, getting the layup. putting the wild cats on top. san diego, though, keeps fighting as xavier nails a t

good morning, craig melvin. >> hey, there, betty. good morning to you. the elite eight halfway there as the brackets keep on busting. number one, arizona, late rally edged them over a feisty san diego state. san diego state leading 32-8 at halftime. in the second, t.j. mcconnell laying it up putting the wildcats on top. san diego kept fighting as ex af yor thanks nails a three to keep it tight with less than a minute left. arizona prevailed, 70-64. >>> ucla did not make it easy for overall number one, florida. the bruins, norman powell, sprinted, sprinting down the court to keep the game close. later, scotty wobican, you can see him there hustling in the paint for two. the gators take it from there. florida reaches the elite eight for their fourth straight year. dayton continues to be the surprise in this tournament with an upset win over stanford, 82-72. they advance to the elite 8 for the first time since the reagan administration. for the first time since 1984. they celebrated like it has been 30 years since they made it to the elite. that right there

holmes in today for craig melvin. you are watching msnbc as we watch two huge stories happening right now. two dozen countries joined the hunt for flight 270 as the search seems to be growing larger by the minute. also this -- >> russia's isolated in the world. >> we have to move in hard now with sanctions. >> the question now is, does putin move in to eastern ukraine or does he leave it alone? >> the votes are in. no real surprise here. early indications show crimea sides with moscow. washington and the west, they're not trying to hear that. also after 12 years and more than 2,000 american deaths, afghanistan's president says, he doesn't want u.s. military help anymore. also, on this day, two stories, two terrifying ordeals, two very different outcomes all in one city with one indelible impression. >> comes down to being able to identify yourself in the parade. that's what it's all about. >> and on this most irish of weekends, who's and is not walking right now in one of the most famous st. patrick day parades of all

holmes in for craig melvin. you are watching msnbc.he mystery of what happened to flight 370 deepens now. if someone on the plane flew it far off its intended path, the big questions now, where did they go and why? >>> russia cannot change the fact that moving forward in blatant defiance of the international rules of the road will have consequences. >> the ball is now firmly in russia's court. >> very tense times in ukraine today amid rumored russian troop movement and diplomatic roadblocks at the united nations. >>> the world searches for a path to peace in syria. millions of children are caught in the middle. a look at the heart-wrenching conditions in which they are forced to live. >>> it is wrong, deadly wrong to deny any of your fellow americans the right to vote in this country. [ applause ] >> plus, a look back at the speech which kicked off the push for the landmark voting rights act of 1965. >>> also today's big idea is an offer of money to get people to save money. we'll explain that ahead. >>> but we begin with the latest on

>>> good monday morning, everyone, i'm craig melvin in for tamron hall, and this is "news nation."ing developing news about today's deadline to sign up for health insurance under the affordable care act. with just 13 hours to go now until that midnight deadline, millions are rushing to sign up, flocking to enrollment centers around the country. the unprecedented surge in demand even caused the healthcare.gov website to go down once again temporarily this morning. it was quickly brought back online, but many users were put in virtual waiting lines and reminded they could also sign up by phone. the 1-800-number hot line is also flooded with calls. in the last week alone, the call center took in more than 2.5 million calls. that's compared to 2.4 million for the entire month of february. more than a quarter of a million people called on saturday. overall, the administration says more than 6 million have signed up on those new exchanges. and in the past hour, vice president joe biden continued to push to get young people to enroll by appearing on "the rachael ray show." >> any young pe

i'm craig melvin. you're watching msnbc. the prime minister of ukraine says russian troops in crimea amounts to a declaration of war. so, what's the next move? >> at the end of the day, russia needs to be isolated. >> call it what it is. this is a government of liars, the russian government. >> i would like to create a democratic noose around putin's russia. >> what's vladimir putin really up to? we'll talk to a former ambassador and get some expert insight. plus, live reports from the region. meanwhile, back here in the united states, snow is now more unpopular than congress and there's yet another winter storm baring down on much of this country right now. this one could wallop as many as 139 million people. then, later -- >> this is an issue of national importance. it is as important as any issue that i work on. it's an issue that goes to the very heart of why i ran for president. >> president obama's new initiative to help young black men, what the post-racial president's announcement this week could mean. also, the new

craig melvin is off today. you're watching msnbc. the french say they have a new lead from their satellites. and that has now reenergized the search more than two weeks after the flight vanished. >> we need to be a little bit tougher with this -- with putin or he is going to continue to take territory. >> so important that we take actions to deter further russian aggression. >> tough talk from politicians in d.c. as russian troops take over one of the last military bases under ukrainian control in crimea. more than a dozen people are missing after a mountain dew southern 500 slide. look at this thing, folks. crashed into a town in washington state. at least three people dead. >>> plus, how's this deal for you? college costs you nothing now. and you don't have to pay it back. but you do have to pay it forward. you got to hear this one. it's the big idea today. >>> also -- >> this is really a small price to pay given the fact that there are a lot of people who are handcuffed to poverty and unable to get basic health care in the richest

i'm craig melvin. you're watching msnbc. chris christie is in las vegas right now where he's betting that a scandal won't hurt him with one of the deepest pockets in the gop. new jersey's governor set to speak in a few minutes. if yesterday was any indication, he will not be trotting out that "i'm sad and disappointed" line anymore. mojo, swagger, whatever you call it, does he have it again? >>> now we're having an aftershock. it's definitely a good, healthy aftershock sequence. >> a 5.1 magnitude quake along with a slew of aftershocks strikes southern california. it's the second earthquake there in less than two weeks. now experts say there could be a sign of something bigger. >>> also, a firsthand account of what it takes to sift through 40 feet of mud and muck when we talk to a had you had and wife team searching for loved ones in washington state. >>> and no european citizen in no country of the european union can feel safe in the present condition. >> nervous ukrainian leaders in top level talks later this weekend, just

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i'm craig melvin. you're watching msnbc. they are on their way right now to search for flight mh-370 as the questions about what happened. as those questions grow, now we want to know, who was on that flight? >>> back in washington, president obama has been on the phone with world leaders about the crisis in ukraine even as the tensions in crimea grow thicker. >>> millions of american teenagers are playing the s.a.t. game today. but the change s coming to the test could also change the way that kids get into college. let's start with the breaking news overseas where rescue crews from several countries are still searching for that missing malaysian jetliner. the plane vanished two hours after taking off from kuala lumpur on its way to beijing. there were 227 passengers on board. three americans were on board. the airline's issued a new statement saying it has been more than 24 hours since we last heard from mh-370 at 1:30 a.m. the search and rescue team is yet to determine the whereabouts of the boeing 777 aircraft. also at t

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i'm craig melvin. you're watching msnbc.ladimir putin just got the okay from his parliament to send troops into ukraine. some are already there. the latest from moscow, crimea and the united nations straight ahead. >>> plus -- >> take a look at how deep this mud is. four feet in some areas. that basketball rim, ten feet high. the concern is all of this rain and more mud which authorities fear over the next 48 hours could slide right downhill. >> a muddy mess in southern california where they've gotten more rain in the last three days than about the last 13 months combined. >>> health care reform and the need for it is bigger than any one person in our country. >> and some new insight into the woman who might be president. what the new documents from the clinton library could mean for the former first lady. >>> later, inside the zimmerman trial, what happened, what can we learn and what it means for "stand your ground." >>> plus -- it's the winter of potholes, thousands of them causing billions in damage to our cars. but wher

holmes and craig melvin is off today.c, and this could be the latest clue in the search for that missing malaysian airplane and now can they find it. >>> it is akin to looking for a box in the rocky mountains with a flashlight. >> that is what it is going to be like for searchers to find anything in the water. and now this the -- >> russia! russia! >> a tense day in eastern ukraine as thousands call for the return to mother are russia, and the ukrainian troops are trying to hold their ground in crimea. >>> back in washington, the gop is trying to implement the autopsy from the last election, and we will talk to one of the key people in charge of doing just that. >> and with nine days left before the deadline to sign up for health care, how is the white house selling the signature initiative? >>> first, we are continuing the follow the developing story of the investigation of the malaysia flight 370. 15 days since that jet disappear and maybe a potential lead with what happened to that jet with 239 people on board, and you

i'm craig melvin. you're watching msnbc. today, search crews off the coast of australia have seen more than they have in the three weeks since flight 317 went missing. so now what? >> you can't get them to go home. they're looking for loved ones. mental toll is just having to sift through this and what they're finding. >> the number of missing in the washington state mudslide drops dramatically. significant news this afternoon in the grim search. >>> and in presidential politics, the push is on to put another bush in the white house but would jeb really want to move to washington? >>> and he is not only listened but learned and now he is taking action. >> owner of washington's nfl franchise making a move to make amends with native americans but many say it is just not enough. and what if you could capture, capture solar energy in outer space and beam it back here to earth? it may sound out of this world but it could be a reality and it's today's "big idea." whole heck of a lot to get to this afternoon but we start with the l

i'm craig melvin. you're watching msnbc.minister of ukraine says russian troops in crimea amounts to a declaration of war. so, what's the next move? >> at the end of the day, russia needs to be isolated. >> call it what it is. this is a government of liars, the russian government. >> i would like to create a

holmes in today for craig melvin.hing msnbc as we watch two huge stories happening right now. two dozen countries joined the hunt for flight 270 as the search seems to be growing larger by the minute. also this

i'm craig melvin. you're watching msnbc., search crews off the coast of australia have seen more than they have in the three weeks since flight 317 went missing. so now what? >> you can't get them to go home. they're looking for loved ones. mental toll is just having to sift through this and what they're finding. >> the number of missing in the washington state mudslide drops dramatically. significant news this afternoon in the

craig melvin is off today. you're watching msnbc.ch say they have a new lead from their satellites. and that has now reenergized the search more than two weeks after the flight vanished. >> we need to be a little bit tougher with this -- with putin or he is going to continue to take territory. >> so important that we take

craig melvin reports. >> i'm ronald mcdonald jr.ld's finds a few guys named ronald mcdonald to profess their love. >> and i love taco bell's new breakfast. >> reporter: the eye-raising ad is the latest punch in the high-stakes battle for fast-food breakfast supremacy. >> taco bell is taking a stick and poking the 800-pound gorilla. >> reporter: in response to mocking their mascot, the counterpunch. >> i don't have my coffee yet. >> reporter: starting today, mcdonald's is giving away free small cups of coffee during breakfast hours for two weeks at participating locations, and the fast-food behemoth isn't clowning around. taking to twitter and listing mayor mccheese himself as well as the original ronald to help curb taco bell's four-legged front man. >> right now, mcdonald's is by far and away the number-one breakfast seller. could that change? possibly. but taco bell or anyone else is really going to have to spe spend billions of dollars to get there. >> reporter: that's because for decades, mcdonald's has been the undisputed champ

i've seen the back of his head. >> yes. >> reporter: for "today," craig melvin, nbc news, washington. lindsey on the birth of their son, dale joseph melvin. how cute is that? >> adorable. >> awesome. >> so teeny. >> congrats to both. >>> coming up next, get ready for the "lightning round." billy on the street is on the plaza, people here who have just come innocently to watch the "today" show. watch out. first, this is "today" on nbc. >>> you know, you see a lot of interesting people on the streets of new york city. comedian billy ikener is certainly one of the most noticeable. and is you have this story. >> noticeable is one way to put it. yes, billy ikener has new yorkers walking around with their heads on swivel. i could tell you, but it's much funnier to show you. >> my friend is obsessed with you. >> o shut up. >> he is high-energy. in your face. >> name a singer that doesn't exist. go. >> george -- holiday. >> yes! correct. george holiday. what kind of music does he sing? >> classical. he doesn't sing. >> he doesn't sing. he's not a singer, is he? >> he gives true meaning to the

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holmes in for craig melvin. you are watching msnbc.. if someone on the plane flew it far off its intended path, the big questions now, where did they go and why?

for "today," craig melvin, nbc news, new york. >> volunteer for a taste test. >> i know. >> the debateoes on about the best fast food story. hash browns or waffle taco? >> i love those. >> egg mcmuffin. >> all right. >> let's not advertise. >> send egg mcmuffins. >> kidding, don't. >> we'll go to hollywood where "noah" at the box office. >> where did gwyneth paltrow and chris martin get the idea for an conscious uncoupling. >> wow. >> that's a great idea! >> enough about your weekend in vegas. >> "today" on nbc. >>> coming up, sir elton john speaks out in his first >>> coming up, sir elton john speaks out in his first television intervi swimming pools are blue champagne is sweet this weekend away was long over-due breakfast in bed for just me and you. at the spa we'll meet. how about a massage for two? be a weekender and reconnect at hotels like conrad and hilton. book now at hiltonweekends.com lactaid® is 100% real milk? right. real milk. but it won't cause me discomfort. exactly, because it's milk without the lactose. and it tastes? it's real milk! come on, would i lie about this? [