john yang, nbc news, chicago. >>> now overseas tonight in a place where any new trouble really could send oil prices soaring, the u.s. navy is making a statement to iran in a critical oil shipping lane, the strait of hormuz. jim miklaszewski is in those waters tonight, getting a chance to see life onboard a u.s. carrier, the "u.s.s. abraham lincoln" where he got a closeup view of some potentially dangerous close encounters. >> reporter: it was daybreak as the u.s. aircraft carrier abraham lincoln got under way, led by a destroyer and a missile cruiser, high-powered protection, the carriers run through the strait of hormuz. as expected, the iranian military came out for a look. an f-27 plane makes a leisurely pass. shortly after, the bridge on the lincoln crackled to life. >> looks like he's out two miles. >> reporter: an iranian patrol boat was closing in fast. within two miles of the carrier, iranian boat finally backed off. lincoln's commander, captain john alexander says his biggest worry is that incidents like this could eventually lead to a fatal miscalculation. >> they have the

our report from nbc's john yang. >> touchdown, hernandez! >> reporter: the super bowl ad that seemed to capture america's attention didn't have a cute dog or flashy animation. just a gravelly voice and a weathered face. >> people are out of work and they're hurting. they're all wondering what they are going to do to make a comeback. >> reporter: it was clint eastwood's ode to the u.s. auto industry and its workers in a two-minute chrysler spot comparing detroit's recent struggles with the nation's troubled economy. >> we can't be knocked out with one punch. we'll get right back up again. when we do the world will hear the roar of our engines. >> reporter: it took off on the internet, a hot item on youtube and one of the top five google searches. why did it connect so effectively? >> what chrysler brilliantly captured here was not only the mood in the country, but aspirational mood in this country. >> reporter: it wasn't the first time chrysler has taken this approach. during last year's super bowl, the car maker used rapper eminem to rally d

>> john yang in chicago. john, thanks. >>> as we learn today, there's a good chance at the hugt of the presidential campaign this fall, the u.s. supreme court is going to consider a case on the contentious issue of race and affirmative action, and it could change american law on this topic once again. our justice correspondent pete williams at the supreme court for us tonight. pete, good evening. >> reporter: brian, the court's agreement to hear this case puts the issue of affirmative action very much in doubt at the nation's colleges and universes. the justices agreed to hear a challenge to the admissions policies at the university of texas at austin. a white high school student, abigail fisher sued claiming that affirmative action kept her out. she said her grades and test scores were better than those of many minority students who were admitted. nine years ago, the supreme court said colleges and universities could consider race to make classes more diverse, but the court is more conservative on this issue

nbc's john yang starts us off tonight on why and what more we can expect. >> reporter: from here in chicago -- >> everything is going up. except the paychecks. >> -- to charlotte, north carolina -- >> it trickles down. you have less money for everything else. >> -- to los angeles. >> it might be time to invest in a bicycle. >> -- americans are feeling a big pain in the bu-- at the pum that's affecting the rest of their lives. analysts say every 50 cent increase takes almost $150 billion out of the rest of the economy. that's bad news during a struggling recovery. it's changed the way that frank's famous kitchen and bakery in glendale, california, does business. they're more careful about how they use the delivery truck. >> you can't deliver two sandwiches five miles away. it doesn't sound like a lot, but it adds up quick. >> that's because los angeles gas prices are among already the highest in the nation, jumped 15 cents in just the last month. >> at those prices, we're dumping $120 in the tank every three to four days. why the price spike? according to experts, it's a combination of risin

. >> nbc john yang joins me now. john, we've been learning a lot over the hour since roughly 7:30 this morning that at least five students have been injured. >> that's right, thomas. here's what we know from authorities and students who were inside the school at the time. they say at about 7:30 this morning, in the cafeteria, students sitting eat brag breakfast when a boy, a young man jumped up and started shooting with a handgun. there were five students we now know who were wounded. one girl and four boys. they were found according to authority ins three separate places in the school building. so the shooting was not confined to the cafeteria. as you say, the gunman, the shooter, was chased from the school by a teacher. and then gave himself up, turned himself into authorities some distance away from the school. at least three of the wounded students were helicoptered to a hospital in cleveland. at least two of them are reported to be in critical condition. we don't know anything more about their conditions, about t

. >> john yang is following developments. what do we know at this point? >> craig, just a little bit ago that identified the dead student. his family released a statement saying we are shocked by this senseless tragedy. he was a bright boy who had a bright future ahead of him. the family is torn by the loss. we ask that you respect our privacy during this difficult time. we don't know the details about the status or conditions of the four other wounded students, three boys and a girl. based on what we learned from officials and students who talked to reporters, here is what we know. it was 7:30 this morning in the cafeteria. students eating breakfast, some waiting for a study hall that was scheduled for the cafeteria at the first period that begins at 7:30 when a student jumped up or a young man started shooting with a handgun. there are tails of chaos in hallways. students running, trying to escape the scene. some students who were already in other classrooms being barricaded in by their teach terse, herded away from the doors so they couldn't be seen thr

our report from nbc's john yang. >> the last time the dow hit 13,000, broem proem was a junie sgloort and facebook had fewer than 1 million users. it's nearly doubled since bottoming out in march 2009 with nearly 165 million american invested in stock, mostly through 401(k) retirement accounts, that's likely to boost consumer confidence. >> a confident consumer is one more likely to spend and they're willing to look to the future with a bit more optimism. >> i'm impressed with the stock market if the wall street fat cats get richer, that doesn't affect me or my friends. >> reporter: rising stock prices may not mean much for consumers. given all the head winds in the economy, rising energy prices, still concerns about europe, you can't say that 13,000 dow is an all-clear signal. >> reporter: analysts say the biggest hit may be at the pump with forecasters predicting an nationwide average of $3.95 per gallon by memorial day, higher in big cities. >> it impacts everything. it's just not the car. >> reporter: there are other troubling signs. 1 in 5 home owners owe more on their houses tha

have started joint military naval drills despite the north threats of possible retaliation john yang has threatened to launch a powerful retaliatory strike against seoul of provoke the south states the military games are purely defensive ruediger frock an expert on north korea and east asia at the university of vienna believes the conflict could conceivably become a full scale standoff. north korea has issued since they such statements in the past and look at these versus the statements but you never know you can play with fire safely for a while and until you create some kind of big blast and that's what you don't want i'm really concerned because we have a new leader in north korea kim jong il with whom we have no experience whatsoever with whom we have a chance to actually open some new avenues for cooperation and for resolving all those pressing issues that we have on the table you have about two hundred thousand south korean troops involved in two thousand american troops in this one exercise alone on the most korean side you have over one million soldiers it's a state that is o

nbc's john yang is in chicago with the details on this.d morning to you. >> reporter: good morning, matt. we're all used to gas prices going up in springtime when the driving season is about to approach, but this year the increase is happening sooner and it is going up more than before. experts say a combination of things -- tensions in the middle east, big refineries on the east coast shutting down, big demand for gas in asia sent gas prices up 13 cents in the last month alone. national average for a gallon of unleaded, $3.51. on the north side of chicago it's $3.99 a gallon. in big cities like chicago it's higher than the national average. at city scents floral and homes in chicago, sending a sign of your love just got more expensive thanks to the cost of filling up the delivery truck at the gas station. >> it cuts into our bottom line. $95 a couple times a week hits you in the pocket. >> reporter: owner theresa montana tried to hold the line but last month had to raise the delivery fee by a dollar. >> we have tried not to pass it on to

that's where we find nbc's john yang here with what's moving your money. john, good morning.hen they put that credit card in. >> reporter: that's right, chris. gas prices are going up. we're used to gas going up come springtime, as the summer driving season approaches. but this year, the increase is coming earlier and steeper than in years past. as you say, the past month, 13 cents increase from the gallon of regular unleaded. $3.52, the national average. higher in the big cities. $3.99 here in chicago. no matter where you are, americans are feeling a big pain at the pump. >> it trickles down. you have less money for everything else. >> it hurts. tough economy right now. >> might be time to invest in a bicycle. >> reporter: what's behind all this? industry analysts and experts say it's a combination of thing -- rising tensions in the middle east, big refineries on the east coast shutting down, going out of business and increased demand for gas in india and china. and they also say that there is no end in sight. the prices are only going to keep going up. let's take a look at

. >> to the polls in detroit, michigan, now, where john yang is talking to people hitting the voting ohn, good morning to you. we hear there are some democrats who are voting in this republican primary. >> reporter: that's exactly right, chris. if it's an open primary, any voter can ask for the democratic ballot which has one name on it, barack obama, or the republican ballot, which has 11 names on it. rick santorum has been reaching out to democrats urging them to vote in the republican primary. mitt romney says that's a dirty trick, saying he's trying to cause trouble. we talked to one democrat who voted in the republican primary earlier today with the name of herbert powell. he's upset how things are going but just wants to make his voice heard. >> i just feel like something has to be done. i don't know if i'm going to vote for mr. obama or not. i voted for him in the last election but i don't know if i can vote for him this time. i want to raise my daughter that you have to voice your opinion, you have to have a backbone and not be afraid to stand up for what you believe in. >> re

we begin our coverage with john yang. he's in a detroit suburb of troy, michigan. what are folks saying there? >> reporter: analysts say the only way to describe it is a toss up today. the polls in the closing hours suggest the momentum may have gone back to rick santorum. here in oakland county in troy, michigan where romney won big in 2008, the people we've been talking to are disagreeing about who they are voting for, but they agree on the goal and that's to find the best candidate to beat president obama this fall. >> for mitt romney, i feel he's the best qualified. i think he has a good chance of beating obama. >> i think rick santorum has the best chance for us being a down to earth guy that can take care of the republican people, and carry the tea party and carry the independent. >> reporter: analysts say which ever candidate wins will probably be by a whisker and we won't know for a long time. it may take a while to count the votes and figure out who won tonight, tamron. >> thank you very much. now to the candidates, and what they are saying about each othe

matt. >> john yang covering this story this morning for us. john, thank you very much. >>> it's three minutes after the hour. let's go out to ann in los angeles. >> matt, thank you. now on a much lighter note to the highlights of the 84th academy awards. "the artist" became the first silent film to win the top prize since the first academy awards back in 1929. we'll talk to the cast in just a few moments. first, what a fabulous night it was here in hollywood. ♪ an evening to celebrate the glamorous cinema with bright color and moving acceptance speeches. but the night's biggest winner, a small black-and-white picture with no talking at all. >> "the artist." >> thank you from the bottom of my heart. to you, members of the academy. >> the french film's homage to hollywood's silent era took home five oscars including best picture, best director and best actor for star jean dujardin. >> i love your country. merci! merci beaucoup! i love you! >> the other male acting award went to a more familiar face. >> i knew i was gay, though. at parties i'd be

john. >> thank you, a broader board shake up at yahoo, three weeks after cofounder jerry yang left the boardree more members are stepping down as well. the company also named two new board members out are hp executive and investors arthur king and -- what does it mean? not much yet that it will spin off the asian asset or sell off the stocks, that is why the stock barely moved in the day. >> something has happened and minutes ago the new york attorney general cancelled a news conference and the deal forces wells fargo, jpmorgan chase to reduce loans for a million households, bankruptcy filings fell 11.5%. and auditors say the government agency rebuilding the world trade center has let costs go out of control, 35% more over the last four years the new price tag, almost $15 billion. and gas prices are hovering around a record high, prices might reach $4 a gallon by may. and finally tonight, want to show you the sights and sounds of the ticker-tape parade. the new york giants paraded in the canyon of heroes, take a listen. lots of fun there. larry back to you. >> thanks, go giants, coming up on