the south bay schools due to close because of declining enrollment and the budget deficits. that's all streaming online on nbcbayarea.com. we hope you join us. >> we do. the "today" show is coming up next for you, but we want to leave you with a live look at the oakland coliseum and petco park in san diego. we want to say to our teams, let's go! let's play ball! >> you should have been a train announcer. >> good thursday morning. work at the scene of that bridge collapse now a salvage operation. >> and we're learning more about the victims and the investigation. good morning. it's march the 28th. this is "today." unanswered questions. two bodies recovered from

baltimore's harbor, but conditions too dangerous to continue the search for four other victims. the investigation now moving forward. the ntsb boarding the still metal-covered ship and interviewing crew members, while chilling audio emerges of the disaster. >> the whole bridge just fell down. >> the race to reopen one of the nation's busiest ports intensifies. we're live at the scene. radio city rally. president biden looking to re-energize his re-election campaign with a star-studded fundraising event tonight. this as a new national poll show that biden and donald trump are now locked in a dead heat. we'll have the latest. brazen attacks. multiple women coming forward and saying they have been punched in broad daylight on the streets of new york. >> i was literally just walking and a man came up and punched me in the face. >> this morning, what police are saying about the disturbing acts of violence and the arrest just made in one case. peak season.

spring break, easter, and the coming eclipse all combining to create a major surge in travel. just ahead, new warning on the busiest days to fly, and what you need to know to handle that rush. those stories, plus, dollar store dilemma. >> okay, change the name. wealthy tree. fortune tree. >> inside the new price hike coming to one of the nation's most popular discount giants. and the boys of summer are back in town. it's opening day for major league baseball and fans from coast-to-coast are ready to root, root, root for their home teams. today, thursday, march 28th, 2024. >> announcer: from nbc news, this is "today" with savannah guthrie and hoda kotb. live from studio 1a in rockefeller plaza. good morning, guys. good to see you. welcome to today. it's a thursday morning, glad you're with us. you know spring's here when it's baseball season. it's starting off!

>> opening day and the weather may tell a different story, but they are ready! >> they are. we have a live look at globe life field where the defending world series champions, the texas rangers are hosting the cubs today. we'll have everything you need to know, including some new rules you'll be seeing this season. >> but we want to begin with the latest on the collapse of the key bridge in baltimore. this is a look at that scene this morning. the ntsb has now been able to board the ship and speak with some of the crew members. >> meantime, two victims have now been recovered. crews now shifting to a salvage operation, saying the conditions are too dangerous to look for the other four men who fell into the river. we've got nbc's tom costello who joins us right now. tom, good morning. >> reporter: hoda, good morning to you. so the focus here is very much on a salvage operation. and they are going to have to bring in massive cranes that are able to lift and bring up all of that metal structure, all of that concrete. that's a huge job.

it will probably also require divers to go back down into the water again. and it is treacherous. their priority is to get this port reopened. it will not be fast. the immediate focus right here, this morning, is on the families of those who died. in baltimore this morning, a clearer picture now emerging of the disastrous crash that brought down the francis scott key bridge. ntsb investigators have for the first time boarded the cargo ship, still covered in mangled metal. >> it's just utter devastation. >> reporter: along with initial interviews of the crew, investigators have now downloaded the ship's voice data recorder, or vdr. the initial timeline shows alarms started sounding at 1:24 a.m. tuesday. two minutes later, the ship's pilot made an urgent call for any nearby tug boats to assist. the pilot radioed again a minute later, saying the ship had lost all power. traffic cameras show the ship

approaching the bridge. before the feed cuts out two minutes later when the massive vessel struck the span. the ship had no tugs at all helping it navigate the water? before it hit the bridge? >> that's correct. it's a straight shot through the channel, so there are no tugs with the vessel at that time. >> reporter: police dispatch audio shows officers radioed to top traffic, showing officers discussing the crew on the bridge. >> once you get here, i'll go grab the workers on the bridge and then stop the outer loop. >> the whole bridge just fell down! >> nearly 25 feet below the water's surface, dive teams have discovered a pickup truck with two victims inside. authorities have now called off the search for four remaining victims, calling it a salvage operation, saying the water is simply too treacherous, filled with dangerous debris.

maryland's governor sharing how one survivor managed to walk away from the terrifying ordeal. >> literally saw the bridge fall right after he moved off. it was because it was a first responder who was telling him to move off of the bridge. >> now the focus shifts to the daunting task of reopening this vital port. 8,000 workers directly impacted and concerns of supply chain disruptions. >> we are concerned about implications that will ripple out beyond the immediate region. >> tom, this is going to be an elaborate investigation. what is next for investigators. >> ntsb investigators today are hoping to interview the two pilots, the local pilots who were onboard the ship, trying to get it through the port. they want to talk about what they experienced. and about that alleged loss of power. now, we know the ship lost power. we know that its engines stopped working. the question is why. and did it experience any electrical problems when it was actually in port? the coast guard said yesterday it wasn't aware of those issues.

and they've got to bring in the army corps of engineers and that massive crane. this is going to take quite some time, hoda. >> all right. tom costello for us there in baltimore. thank you. we turn now to the 2024 race. both president biden and donald trump will be in new york today. the president looking to boost his re-election campaign, a major fund-raising event tonight that will include former presidents obama and clinton, as well as a host of celebrity performers. nbc's senior white house correspondent gabe gutierrez is just near us at radio city music hall where this event will be held. gabe, good morning. >> reporter: hey, there, savannah. good morning. the biden campaign is billing this as an historic first of its kind event. the event is expected to draw about 5,000 people here to this iconic venue, and rake in more than $25 million. but former president trump has his own plans. this morninghe biden campaign is preparing to host a star-studded fund-raiser with three presidents, biden, obama, and clinton in a conversation moderated by late-night host,

stephen colbert. the event also set to feature appearances by lizzo, queen latifah, and ben plat among other celebrities. democrats set their sights on the general election. >> i've never been more optimistic about our future. i know i'm only 40 years old, times 2 plus 1. >> reporter: the president's poll numbers are ticking up, but still shaky. at this time in 2020, at this time, biden was leading trump by six points. now most polls show a statistical tie or trump lead. so the president and vice president are ramping up their travel. former president obama is also taking an increasingly active role in the campaign. >> right now the presumptive nominee for the republican party for president says he wants to repeal the entirety of the aca. >> mr. trump is firing back, saying he doesn't want to terminate obamacare, just make it better. even though he's previously said repeatedly that he wanted to replace it.

>> we're repealing and replacing obamacare. >> reporter: while the former president escalates his attacks on the judge presiding over his hush money trial in new york, he's also trying to highlight violent crime in the city and planning to attend the wake of nypd officer jonathan diller who was shot and killed this week in the line of duty. both candidates heading to high-profile events, another split-screen moment as the campaign intensifies. meanwhile, democrats have outpaced republicans when it comes to fund-raising in recent months. as for the fund-raiser here tonight, the cheapest tickets have sold for $250, but the most expensive have gone to people who have contributed up to $500,000. savannah? >> gabe gutierrez, thank you very much. police in illinois are still trying to figure out what caused a man to go on a deadly rampage yesterday in the city of rockford. four people were killed, at least five others hurt across multiple crime scenes. officials say some of the victims were stabbed. the mayor calling the acts

random and senseless. a 22-year-old suspect has been taken into custody, but the motive is still unclear at this point. city, county, and federal authorities are investigating. meanwhile, the self-proclaimed king of crypto is in court and will learn his fate today. disgraced ftx founder sam bankman-fried set to be sentenced this morning after being convicted of orchestrating one of the biggest financial frauds in history. nbc's business correspondent brian cheung is here. brian, what are we expecting in terms of court today and the sentencing? >> reporter: yeah, good morning, guys. sam bankman-fried could face decades in prison. it all depends on how a judge will decide to sentence him, which could happen later on this morning. this is related to the $10 billion in customer funds that he loss as a result of the spectacular collapse of that crypto exchange, ftx. now, when it comes to just the overall recap here, we have to rewind to about four months ago, when sbf was found guilty of seven charges including fraud and conspiracy. the prosecutors are arguing he should get 40 to 50 years in prison as a result of this. they are citing the tens of

thousands of victims that were part of this collapse and they also said in a statement, quote, he stole money from customers who entrusted it to him. he lied to investors. he pumped millions of dollars political donations to our system and he bribed officials. his attorneys are asking he's deep down inside a good person, he has mental health issues. where does the judge lie in that? we'll find out later on this morning. >> what about the victims? you mentioned tens of thousands who lost their money? any hope that they'll get it back? >> ftx collapsed in 2022, and there's an administrator trying to figure out whether or not they can recuperate the money customers lost in that fund. for what it's worth, crypto values have gone back up since then, but is that enough to cover the billions of dollars that are lost here? that remains an open question. >> brian, we'll be watching. thank you very much. >> 7:11, a lot more to get to! it's a busy spring season. >> it is. hoda, savannah, good morning. good morning to you, as well,

with spring break in full swing, easter this weekend, and oh, by the way, that total eclipse on the horizon, the faa is predicting the coming days will be the busiest stretch of an already jam-packed season. nbc's jesse kirsch joins us now from the airport in cleveland, ohio. jesse, good morning to you. what can folks expect? >> reporter: hey, craig, you can see, it's already pretty busy here on an early start to the morning in cleveland. the faa is asking people to be patient, pack smart, and be prepared for possible delays. none of that is probably much of a surprise, but this is not -- no ordinary spring break season. that's because many of us are hoping to see the sun disappear with a total solar eclipse on april 8th. and that means some airports in the path of totality could be unusually congested. here are the busiest days coming up. take a look at this. today alone, the faa expecting more than 50,000 flights in the skies. then, next thursday and friday, right before the eclipse, the faa is saying that the spring break travel season will peak

with almost 100,000 flights combined on those two days. cities like dallas, indianapolis, and cleveland where i am right now, are all in the path of totality, where the faa is warning about the possibility of special security measures, including temporary flight restrictions and the possibility flights could be re-routed as well. so make sure you bake in a little bit extra time, craig. >> all right. jesse kirsch for us there in cleveland. thank you. speaking of big events, it seems hard to believe with all the winter weather we're feeling that it is opening day. it's a time when hope springs eternal for the major league's 30 teams and their loyal fans. nbc's morgan chesky joins us from globe life field, home of the texas rangers, your reigning world series champs. morgan, good morning. >> reporter: hoda, good morning. no better place to be than inside a ballpark on opening day. beloved by baseball fans everywhere, and in just a few hours, those world series defending champs, texas rangers will be taking on the chicago cubs. everyone looking forward to

seeing baseball back again. the 2024 season, they haven't even had the first pitch thrown, but there are new rules, new drama, and i have to tell you, there are new uniforms that a lot of folks are talking about. this morning, baseball fans counting down. now just hours from the official start of opening day. >> i'm off today, tomorrow, and friday. >> reporter: seoul, south korea, hosting a soft launch between the dodgers and padres, but today, it's batter up for mlb's 28 other teams. >> it's a religious holiday for me. >> reporter: the 2023 world series champs, the texas rangers, set to unveil their championship banner. four-time world series winning manager bruce bochy telling his team to soak up every second. how special is it going to be when you look up and you see that banner come down? >> i mean, chills go -- you know, will go down your spine. >> reporter: the new season, also bringing new rules, focused

on speeding up the pace of play. mound visits adjusted from 5 to 4. any pitcher who warms up may now face at least one batter. and the polarizing pitch clock, lowered from 20 to 18 seconds with runners on base. player uniforms changing, too. designed for performance and that sweltering summer heat. but not everyone, including players and fans, are giving them the green light. >> i don't know what to think of them. >> reporter: and the show must . the two- go on for the dodgers' $700 million man, shohei ohtani. the two-way superstar still dealing with fallout from a gambling scandal involving his longtime interpreter. and if baseball isn't enough, some fans getting a show, too. san francisco's oracle park unleashing one of a kind lights for night games. >> we will be the first mlb ballpark to have spotlights. >> reporter: in san diego, how about pickleballing at the padres park? if you work up an appetite, hold the beer and cracker jacks. executive chefs now man the

grill at many ballparks. the seattle mariners offering a dungeness crab pizza, while white sox fans can indulge in empanadas, smash burgers, and jack and coke floats. and back here live at arlington, lest we forget the humble but beloved ballpark nacho, these actually made their big debut at a texas rangers ball game back in 1976. we checked the rule book here. i have to tell you, while we have the new rules going into effect for this season, there is nothing say that you can't enjoy some nachos for breakfast. it's a beautiful thing on baseball's opening day. i've got to tell you. >> you know, we're noticing you don't have a baseball in your hand. savannah was thinking about you trying to throw out the first pitch. >> it's kind of a thing that we're doing now. we're workshopping this week on the show. all correspondents have to demonstrate athletic feats. next time, though. >> i'll take this. i'll take this every time. >> nacho eating contest. thanks, morgan.

have fun! as mentioned, it's a rainy day up and down the east coast. mr. roker joins. >> coming up in the next half hour, we'll look at opening day across the country, but as you open your eyes, a lot of wet weather stretching from boston where we've actually got in new england some flood watches. flood watches also down through virginia, into the carolinas, because of this heavy rain. going to end up seeing the heaviest rain again coastal new england and the coastal carolinas. anywhere from 1 to 3 inches of rain, some spots may get a little bit more. out west, we've got a couple of really powerful storms coming in. storm number one is about to hit the pacific northwest. storm number two will make its way in early next week for much of california. rainfall amounts, anywhere from 1 to 3 inches in the foothills and mountains. could see upwards of 5 inches of rain, and then we talk snow, we're in the -- as we get into the sierra, we could be looking at 12 to 18 inches of snow before it's all over. we're going to get to your local

forecast in the next 30 seconds. ♪♪ each curve of the bottle each drop sourced and bottled for the perfect taste curating an experience that's timeless. saratoga, the official water of bravo's top chef. good thursday morning. i am meteorologist, kari hall. we are starting out with clouds here and there but a break from the rain. it will be partly cloudy today, but staying on the cool side. going from the low 50s this morning to low 60s for the afternoon. we are also looking at upper 50s in much of the north bay. a slight chance of a stray shower but then a stronger storm system will arrive tomorrow that could bring us high winds and a

chance o >> and that's your latest weather. guys? >> al, thank you. coming up, the latest on a string of violent daylight attacks on women here in new york. nbc's stephanie gosk spoke to one of the victims. hi, stephanie. >> good morning. so one woman leaving class in the middle of the day, another walking her dog, another in times square hit in the face in the middle of the day, as you say. some of them hurt, even concussed. we'll have all the details, in taking a toll on dolla coming up. >> all right, steph. also ahead, inflation now taking a toll on dollar stores. the popular chain now set to raise prices. and if you're hunting for bargains, where do you turn now? we'll break it all down. but first, this is "today" on nbc.

just ahead, the search for america's newest billionaire. >> it's unfolding in jersey where that lucky mega millions ticket worth more than a billion bucks was sold, and we spoke to

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today fans are expected at the a's home opener, and it's quite possible many of them may not step foot inside the ballpark but will stay in the parking lot instead. two fan groups are asking fans to stay here in the parking lot during tonight's game for a block party protest against the a's move to oakland and the group created a website called the summer of boycott to channel our frustration into positive action to let the owner they want the team to stay in oakland. i am ginger conejero saab in san francisco. sfusd is facing a major deficit and has been more open about-facing difficult decisions ahead, suggesting the possibility that schools may be closed or consolidated. how many and which schools have yet to be determined. let's get a look at the forecast for this thursday

morning with meteorologist, kari hall. >> we are getting a break in the rain but still a spotty chance throughout the day. we are headed for the low 60s for the south bay. upper 50s for the north bay. even cooler temperatures for the weekend as rain comes in for the next few days. laura? >> thanks, kari. don't forget to watch our "today in the bay" live streaming newscast at 8:00 a.m. it includes the south bay schools set to close due to declining enrollment and

♪ we're back. it's a rainy morning in our little neck of the woods, but hopefully this music will give you a boost. beyonce's latest hit, "texas hold 'em," and on pop start, carson will walk through the latest clues that queen bea just

dropped about her highly anticipated country album. >> highly anticipated. but in this first half hour, police in new york looking into a string of disturbing and brazen attacks. >> a growing number of women have taken to social media saying that they have been punched on city streets, in broad daylight. nbc's stephanie gosk has more on it this morning. good morning. >> hey, guys, good morning. what's striking about these stories is how similar they are. in the last month, multiple ben the head in the middle of the day just walking down the young women here in new york city have described being hit in the head in the middle of the day just walking down the street. some falling and even suffering from concussions. the stories are harrowing. >> i was literally just walking and a man came up and punched me in the face. oh, my god, it hurts so bad. >> reporter: college student kala tanada said she was just leaving class in manhattan. >> i just got punched in the face walking home. >> he hit me right in my cheekbone. this doesn't hurt as much as the

concussion does. >> you have some visible signs, you have a black eye, but mckala, emotionally, how are you feeling? >> it's been really, really hard. i think it hits me in waves. a lot of crying because it was really, really scary. >> reporter: the nypd confirms it is looking into at least four similar cases, like the one shared on social media. in one of them, police say a 40-year-old man has been arrested and charged with assault. >> i was punched in the head in new york city, near times square. >> reporter: but the police have not linked the cases to the videos. in recent days, dozens of accounts of alleged assault have popped up online. nbc news has not been able to verify all of the videos. the troubling story surfacing at the same time there has been a rash of violent crimes on the city's busy subways. in response, a national guard has been brought in to search bags and 1,000 additional nypd officers are now riding the trains too. but the mayor pushing back on

the idea that crime is rampant in this city, and expressing concerns that social media is stoking fears. >> i know a city out of control because i've visited some of them in this country. this is not one of them. >> 77% of americans believe crime is on the rise according to a gallup poll. misdemeanor assault is up 10% from this time last year in new york city. but in most places, the fbi says that violent crime is down. >> reporter: i'm really scared to go back to school. i've just been delaying it as long as possible, but i'll have to go back eventually. >> so what do we know about the person that was arrested? >> well, he is a repeat offender, according to police. he has an extensive criminal record. he's been arrested three times in the last six months for similar crimes. he is what the police call a recidivist. and i've had conversations about not just about this spate of crimes, but also about what's going on the subway, and it's one of the largest concerns in the nypd. they're arresting the same people for the same crimes over and over -- >> and getting out of jail and

it's happening again. >> this happened to a very good friend of mine, that happened to be the former head of the new york city transit. she got punched in the face, in broad daylight. >> when was that? >> about 15 months ago. >> it's a scary trend. the police finally overnight connecting the video to the crime -- the tiktok to the crime. >> wow. >> all right, steph. thank you. >> thank you, stephanie. coming up on our future of fertility series, kristen welker and sports caster erin andrews opening up about their fertility journeys, their use of a surrogate, and the hope they found in each other's stories. they'll join us here live. but first, looks like your search for deals is getting even harder now. chris teens romans is here. dollar store prices going up? >> let's call them dollarish stores. border crisis rising for just -- prices rising for just about everything. you'll be surprised how high the prices are going at dollar

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we are back, 7:38. today's consumer. this morning, it looks like your neighborhood dollar store is going to cost you more than a dollar. >> yeah. all right, during a recent earnings call, dollar tree did announce that the new max prices at stores will actually be $7. >> so it should be dollars store. >> so what are shoppers supposed to do? >> christine romans here with more. what'd you say? dollarish? >> dollarish. $1, $2, maybe $7. once upon a time, there was penny candy, a dime store, and the dollar stores. it's an eclectic supply of items, all supposed to be really chip, but inflation and a rich new clientele have come for those price tags. >> everything's $1, so everybody leaves happy. >> reporter: call it the dollar-ish store. at dollar tree, true dollar prices are a thing of the past.

the discount giant is raising prices again, some items as high as $7. the company also announced sister brand family dollar will close near a thousand stores starting this year. >> tell me the truth. are you still going to be shopping at dollar tree when prices raise to $7 an item? >> reporter: shoppers taking to social media to complain about higher prices. >> y'all, at this point, i am just so sick of everything. >> okay, change the name. wealthy tree. fortune tree. >> reporter: in a call with investors last week, the company said to expect a $5 bag of dog food nokes a $1.25 bag of pet treats. calling it a multi-price as assortment. the reason, a combination of inflation and an influx of higher-income customers who can better afford it. why are people who are making $100,000 a year or more shopping at a dollar store? >> so there's a lot of price pressures that are impacting consumers. they're going out to buy goods and services and looking for places to cut. >> reporter: it's been a few

years since things were actually a dollar at the dollar store. after 35 years, in 2021, $1 minimum price became $1.25. now over 300 new items will range from $1.50 to 7 bucks. other famously cheap deals also undergoing changes. trader joe's raising single banana prices from 19 to 23 cents, and what about that $1.50 costco hot dog and soda costco. -- combo? proof of membership will soon be required at some outdoor food court locations. at dollar stores, the most likely price hikes will be on food, pet supplies, and personal care items. >> once you have the consumer in the door, they'll make that purchase. >> more than a pretty penny for many cash-strapped families. so when it comes to deciding between a trip to the grocery store or dollar store, think about what you're planning to buy. canned goods for example might be on sale at a regular grocery

store, but for household items like baby wipes, a dollar store may be the bigger bet. and the big box stores are really doubling down on their store brands. they know there's all these demographics that want cheap. >> i love the store brand. >> i do find it interesting that you point out in your story there that the largest growing demographic are next who make a fair amount of money. >> make $125,000 or more a year. that's why they're having this multi-price assortment, because they've got a customer who can afford higher-priced things. but for the people who are really chasing cheap all the time, they're like, wait a minute, i don't like $7! i come here for $1! >> exactly. >> it's in the name! >> thanks, christine. >> the buck stops there. >> well done! >> mr. roker? >> all right, it's opening day! let's cue the music! here we go! ♪ opening day, chicago, all right, white sox, 49 degrees, sunny, breezy, cincinnati, sunshine, 57

degrees, philly, unfortunately, the phillies, your game's postponed due to rain. new york, the mets, due to rain, postponed. clouds and some showers in baltimore, but right now, they're still playing. miami looking pretty good, partly cloudy, tampa, good. sunny in houston. kansas city, sunny, breezy and mild. perfect baseball weather for the texas rangers. and then as we make our way out west, rainy in seattle. we'll see what happens. oakland, partly cloudy, nice in los angeles. san diego and phoenix, as well. pump that up, baby! so, you kno time is ♪ say it ain't so, you know the time is now ♪ >> that's right! oh, america's past good thursday morning. i am meteorologist, kari hall. today we are going to see a mix of sun and clouds, a bit of a break from the rain active taoe and temperatures in the low 60s. rain will be back tomorrow. we may have gusty winds, heavy downpours at times and even a chance of thunderstorms. we are trying to make easter weekend plans, but looks like

there still will be rain in the mix on sunday going into the afternoon, but things clear out and warm up through the middle of next week. >> that's your latest weather! play ball! >> al, thank you! coming up, inside the search for america's newest billionaire. we're going to hear from the person who sold that winning mega millions ticket and why you still have a chance to strike it very rich. we'll have that in the boost, right after this. n't replace a rescue inhaler for sudden breathing problems. it is not for asthma. tell your doctor if you have a heart condition or high blood pressure before taking it. don't take breztri more than prescribed. breztri may increase your risk of thrush, pneumonia, and osteoporosis. call your doctor if worsened breathing, chest pain, mouth or tongue swelling, problems urinating, vision changes, or eye pain occur. ask your doctor about breztri.

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a lot of new dry eye patients in my office tell me about their frequent dry eyes, which may point to dry eye disease. millions of americans were estimated to have it. they've tried artificial tears again and again, but the relief is temporary. xiidra can provide lasting relief. xiidra treats the signs and symptoms of dry eye disease. don't use if you're allergic to xiidra. common side effects include eye irritation, discomfort or blurred vision when applied to the eye, and unusual taste sensation. doctor: why wait? ask your eye doctor about a 90-day prescription for xiidra today. we are back with carson. we're also back, have you heard about the search for america's

newest billionaire? >> yes, it's been 32 hours since i won. no word on who the lucky winner could be. >> nbc's emilie ikeda has been on the case. >> i heard a rumor that emilie actually lives in jersey. >> i do. but i also can tell you who definitely did not win the lottery. lottery officials know where and when that winning ticket was purchased and the person who sold it, but the person who is now $1.1 billion dollars richer remains a megamystery. the garden state just got a little greener. someone who purchased the lottery ticket tuesday in neptune township, new jersey, won the mega millions jackpot. but the $1.13 billion question this morning, who? >> right now, sign the back of the ticket, take a picture of it, make a copy of it, and put it in a safe place. >> reporter: a 2020 new jersey law allows lottery winners to remain anonymous, and james carey encourages the winner to do just that. >> tell only your closest loved ones that you were this lucky

winner and i would urge you, go out and talk to a lawyer and maybe a financial adviser. >> reporter: while the winner remains a mega mystery this morning -- >> there were so many people that came through, i cannot remember. i always say, you're the lucky one. >> reporter: tiana is the next closest thing. >> somebody won. >> she printed out the winning ticket less than an hour after she sold one to her own mom. >> it should have been my ticket. i said you're going to sell the winning ticket. >> the newly minted billionaire did not use randomly selected numbers through quick pick, instead individually chose them. six decisions that proved to be life-changing. >> let's see if i can make you a billionaire tonight! >> reporter: at $1.13 billion, this marks the fifth largest prize in mega millions history. when purchasing the ticket, the winner opted to receive 30 annual payments. those will start at $11.5

million after taxes. sam rossi has his own winning ticket for -- >> $10. >> reporter: and is ready to test his luck again. >> i'm buying a powerball ticket here. it's good luck. >> well, sorry to say, sam, you did not win powerball, but no one did. that jackpot is $935 million. by the way, the store that sells the winning ticket also gets a prize. the owner of the shoprite is donating his $30,000 to a local food bank. >> wow! good for him! so generous. >> i think that woman who sold the ticket should get a little something. >> super nice. and her mom! >> they're cute! they almost won. an hour away. >> it's very rare that whoever wins one of those big powerball payouts does it with the actual picking of the number. that's a feat. >> the question is, is jersey the hot state, or do you avoid jersey now because it just had a win? >> i don't know. some people are going to store to buy their tickets.

this person made six life-saving -- life-changing decisions by picking those numbers. >> that's right. emily, thank you so much. march madness just hit our sweet 16 bracket in a huge way. you voted in waves, everybody. we want to thank you so much for that. we received tens of votes and the results are in and something that has never happened before. s bigger than the clock. to help more kids outrun cancer. help amputees walk again and — maybe even run. thousands of runners. thousands of reasons to run. find a runner. help a cause. give if you can. shingles. the rash can feel like an intense burning sensation, and last for weeks. shingles could make it hard to be there for your loved ones. over 50? the virus that causes shingles is likely already inside you. don't wait. ask your doctor about shingles. what if you could go from this

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good morning. it's 7:56. i am marcus washington. i am laura garcia. here's a look at what is happening now. as soon as this fall, sonoma county recorders will decide whether to place new limits on the size of agriculture farms. animal rights groups and family farms teamed up to.

opponents in the meantime believe the initiative is misguided and said voters signed the petition based on misinformation. supervisors must still decide when that measure will head to the ballots. let's get a look at the forecast for you. meteorologist, kari hall, is tracking the temperatures. still may see a spotty shower or two, and we will be partly to mostly cloudy today with temperatures in the low 60s. a better chance of rain in the forecast tomorrow and into the weekend with gusty winds, and even a chance of thunderstorms on saturday. then a slight chance of rain on our easter sunday, but warmer temperatures next week. we will be tracking that with our forecast. don't forget to watch "today in the bay" live streaming newscast in minutes at 8:00 a.m., and it includes a south bay school set to close due to

declining

morikawa on 18. he is really boxed in here. -not a good spot. off the comcast business van. into the vending area. oh, not the fries! where's the ball? -anybody see it?

oh wait, there it is! -back into play and... aw no, it's in the water. wait a minute... are you kidding me? you got to be kidding me. rolling towards the cup, and it's in the hole! what an impossible shot brought to you by comcast business. it's 8:00 on "today." coming up, searching for answers. >> it's just utter devastation. >> the ntsb now boarding the cargo ship involved in that bridge collapse. how investigators are starting to piece together what led to that deadly disaster, and what is now being done to reopen that

vital port. >> we will rebuild and heal the baltimore way, and that's together. plus, motherhood mission. >> i think people don't need to feel embarrassed that they have a surrogate. >> sports caster erin andrews opens up about her surrogacy journey, sharing her story with her own kristen welker. >> did you feel like it's a surreal moment to think about someone else carrying your child? >> i knew i didn't have a choice. >> how she's now looking to hel. other families. and pop tart pop start. >> entering the race to reinvent breakfast. >> jerry seinfeld releases a sneak peek at his new film, "unfrosted," about the iconic breakfast treat. >> you kelloggs people. >> amid a major development in our own sweet 16 bracket, something that has never happened before. today, thursday, march 28th, 2024.

on our 30th anniversary trip from maryland. >> here for my 24th birthday from alpine, texas! >> hi to our ten grandkids in evansville, indiana. >> from sherwood, oregon, celebrating my sweet 16. >> good morning, mom! >> watching in fairfax, virginia. >> from chandler, indiana. >> celebrating 47 years of marriage. >> hi to my wife, erin, back in franklin, tennessee. >> visiting from reno, nevada. >> san diego, california. >> wisconsin. >> shout-out to paris, tennessee. >> from cleveland, ohio! today is dad's 60th birthday! [ cheers ] >> so glad you're with us. a misty thursday morning. yet our crowd is still out there. hooting and hollering! smiles bright.

and smiling around here. we have something special to celebrate. this year's gracie award winners are out, and just this morning, those awards honor achievements by women across all areas in entertainment. we are very proud to say that the "today" show is among them, and also a feature we did on the women of nasa were awarded. and you can find the full list of our website. >> cool. let's get back to our news at 8:00. we're learning new information this morning about that deadly bridge collapse in baltimore, e. now the race to reopen one of the nation's busiest ports is underway. nbc's tom costello right and what happened in those frantic moments just before the cargo ship slammed into it. now the race to reopen one of the nation's busiest ports is underway. nbc's tom costello right there in baltimore at his post with the very latest. hey, tom, good morning. >> reporter: hoda, when you look at the timeline here, it is extraordinary. 1:27 a.m. tuesday morning. that number is important. 1:27 a.m. tuesday morning. that is when the pilot onboard that ship said that they had trouble, and he radioed, essentially to the dispatch,

that they had lost all power. because of that, 1:27 a.m., dispatch told police on the bridge, shut the bridge down to car traffic. they had two minutes until suddenly, that ship crashed into the bridge. listen to the police radio conversation, not only were they shutting the bridge traffic down immediately, so that cars were not coming across, they also knew that they had construction workers on the bridge. listen to the police radio traffic. >> once you get here, i'll go grab the workers on the bridge and then stop the outer loop. >> dispatch, the whole bridge just fell down! >> reporter: two minutes, two minutes between the time when they radioed police to stop the traffic to when the bridge came down. six men were lost, it appears, construction workers went into the water. they've now recovered two bodies, but the other victims are trapped underneath the wreckage of the bridge and

concrete, and because it is so dangerous underwater right now with all of that debris, they are having to move into a salvage operation as opposed to recovery, a recovery operation. this is salvage to get all of that debris up and out of the water. the ntsb today hoping that they can interview those pilots, who were still on the ship, we believe, and crew members on the ship, as well. and the army corps of engineers coordinating with the coast guard and marine salvage units to bring in a massive crane and of the water. it's just beginning, but those two minutes were critical from begin planning, how do you lift all of that wreckage up and out of the water. it's just beginning, but those two minutes were critical from the moment the police got the call to the moment that the bridge came down, and the action that they took saved lives. they just didn't get to the construction team fast enough to get them off the bridge. >> tom costello for us. thank you. we turn now to the growing unrest and chaos in haiti. gang violence mounting there. people, including americans who are trapped, are growing more

desperate to get out. nbc's ellison barber joins us from that country. she joins us from haiti's border with the dominican republic. good morning. >> reporter: the violence in port-au-prince, it is truly relentless. so far this month, more than 33,000 people have been forced to flee haiti's capital city. fierce violence continues to grip port-au-prince. criminal gangs are intensifying their rampage, targeting citizens and critical infrastructure, causing chaos across the country. >> once a sanctuary for children, this school intentionally set on fire by armed gangs, according to unicef. the united states is evacuating their citizens, almost daily. but with the country's biggest international airport closed, most haitians are unable to leave. americans missy and john tenant are working tirelessly to try to get their adopted teenage

haitian sons home. >> begging, screaming at the top of our lungs, just saying, please help us get our children out of this deadly situation. more than 480 human rights organizations are asking the biden administration for a new designation of temporary protected status for haitians in the united states and a pause on deportations. but three u.s. officials tell nbc news the biden administration is not planning birthing, we met mothers trying to care for newborns with their country on the brink of famine. this baby is just 3 to change course. at mission life international's birthing center, we met mothers trying to care for newborns with their country on the brink of famine. this baby is just 3 months old. she's this woman's fourth child. have you had any moments where you've worried that you may not be able to keep your kids safe? every day, she tells me. every day we pray god will keep us safe. the biden administration earlier this week approved a proposal to

send weapons, ammunition, bulletproof vests and helmets to haiti's national police, sending it from a department of homeland security stockpile. all of it, savannah, is worth about $10 million. the hope is that it will help haiti's national police force take back control and restore order in port-au-prince. >> ellison barber who went inside haiti, thank you. tributes are pouring in this morning for former senator joe lieberman. he died yesterday at the age of 82. devoted to public service and his deep personal faith, lieberman was a four-term senator from connecticut. he made history as the first jewish american on a presidential ticket as al gore's running mate back in 2000. in a statement last night, gore called lieberman, quote, a man of integrity, adding, it was an honor to stand side by side with him on the campaign trail. all right. eight minutes after the hour. let's get a boost! >> i've got you covered! a young woman in california got a graduation day surprise that

she will never forget. she's in her cap and gown getting ready to take a picture with her parents when suddenly her sister, andrea, who lives in the uk, just popped out from behind and joined the family photo. she's stunned. you can see what happens. andrea writing on social media, i feel privileged to be able to live abroad, but it has taught me to always be there for the people you hold dear.thing else more. >> surprise reunion boosts are the best boosts. still ahead, beyonce's out with a track list for cowboy cart nothing else in the matter is -- nothing else in the world that matters more. >> surprise reunion boosts are the best boosts. still ahead, beyonce's out with a track list for cowboy carter. she's also dropping some hits about the country icons who could be on it as well. carson will have that and more in pop start. but first, a really touching and important conversation for our future of fertility. we have kristen welker and erin andrews on the surrogacy journeys that brought them together and now they are inspiring in helping other women. can't wait to catch up with these ladies, right after this.

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of people that day, including our friend, fox sportscaster erin andrews. we're happy to have both of you guys here with us. >> hi, ladies! >> hi. it's so great to be here, you guys. good morning. i was so moved when i heard erin talking with y'all last summer about the birth of her son, beautiful baby max, saying my story actually brought her some solace during her own fertility and surrogacy journey. so we connected on the phone soon after max was born and now we finally met in person, both of us, now mothers with the help of angels, as we say. >> do you know how much i cried over you? >> how much i cried over -- i got emotional, honestly, this morning, thinking about this conversation. >> you did?! >> reporter: a conversation months in the making. >> i remember kristen welker's announcement on your show, and you two breaking down and i actually watched that the morning after mack was born, because that just hit me. >> one of the things that

touched me so much was that you talked about fact that sharing my journey really gave you strength. >> because i see myself in you. kristen, that video of you moderating like debates after you're waiting on bad news, or maybe you had just received it. that's me. i can tell you every stand-up i've done at a football game where i've gotten the news that it didn't work. i would be talking about tom brady going for this record, and my record is that i still was failing. >> reporter: erin faced some dark moments, a battle with cervical cancer and nine years of ivf. >> i would have chest pains every time i was waiting for the call, if it worked. and i knew it wouldn't work. >> reporter: she turned to surrogacy. >> did you feel like it's a surreal moment to think about someone else carrying your child. >> i knew i didn't have a choice. >> reporter: the first surrogacy attempt failed, devastating the couple. but soon after a second try, erin was listening to that priceless sound. a heartbeat. >> all i wanted to hear was,

it's a good one, it's strong. and it was cool. i'm videotaping it for jared. and then i've got to run downstairs, because i've got a call with a dallas cowboys player, because we had green bay/dallas that weekend for a huge match-up on sunday. >> i think people don't realize about surrogacy, you're so excited to have a child, but that doesn't necessarily take away from your sadness that you can't carry the child. did you experience that? him is because i didn't carry him. there have been thoughts like that. >> i had those >> i've been a little insecure and worried that maybe my bond with him isn't as good now, because i didn't carry him. there have been thoughts like that. >> i had those thoughts, too. and those thoughts go away once he starts really talking. >> my surrogate is amazing. she is a real-life angel, so i know if i couldn't do it, i'm so glad she did it. >> reporter: erin, her husband, jared, and her surrogate welcomed baby mack in june of last year. >> when it finally hits you that this miracle has arrived and is in front of you, what is that

moment like? >> when they're screaming at you, it's not as special. it's like, do you know? i feel like sally fields in "steel magnolias," do you know what your mother went through to have you? no, it's a miracle! >> reporter: andrews now cherishing every minute with her son during her off-season. >> he is as mike mccarthy, dallas head coach said, he is vocal, he has a lot to say. and i'm just like -- he's all me. >> reporter: all erin, who is ever the interviewer. how have you thought about explaining to margo about how your journey went? >> so i talked to margo already about her special journey here. >> you do? when did is that right? >> actually, when she turned 2, i started face timing with her surrogate. and every time we see someone who's pregnant, i say, this mommy is able to carry baby in her tummy, but mama had a boo-boo in her tummy, so a

special angel carried margo. and now she knows the name of her surrogate, she says it, she says it proudly. have you thought about how you're going to talk to him? >> yeah, i can't wait to tell him. >> reporter: but erin and i are keenly aware that surrogacy is a privilege and out of reach for so many. >> it's already hard enough with the emotional toll, and then you add the finances on top of it. and i just got ticked off. >> reporter: turning her anger into action, erin used the my cause, my cleats nfl initiative to put a spotlight on the nonprofit baby quest, which grants money for infertility treatments and surrogacy. her shoes featuring the fingerprints of her family next to her surrogate's. >> i think people don't need to feel embarrassed that they have a surrogate or are looking for other help. and i think you started it and i appreciate you very much for that. >> well, i appreciate you, because i have to say, when you spoke out, i felt less alone. so thank you. >> ah. >> and i really mean that.

>> it is all about community and sharing our stories. and the best part is that erin and i are committed to finding ways to make fertility services more accessible to other families across the country. >> i thought that was so beautiful. i remember when we did that story and one of the first things out of your mouth was kristen's name. and i thought, wow, that was really -- >> it makes me tear up when i got to finally meet you, we spoke on the phone after mac was born, but, yeah, you have no idea the impact you had, that day you sat on the couch with the ladies, and i was like, jared, come in here and watch this! >> what i said. she had a huge impact on me when she shared that with everyone. it's just so meaningful. it is about our sharing our stories so people don't feel alone. >> sharing your stories and then some. i love what you're doing, erin. fertility treatments are very expensive. prohibitively expensive for many couples. and i love that you're getting into this issue. >> thank you. thank you. ticked off is the word i use, right? and i actually want to introduce you guys, can i read your copies? i want to interview you guys to -- introduce you guys to a special couple i know, i'm not

alone in my struggles with infertility. i was incredibly moved by caitlin and tyler farris. they're actually a pair of high school sweethearts. they tied knot last year, but after a fairy tale wedding, their happily ever after wasn't turning out as planned. caitlin could tell something was wrong, and after advocating for her own health for years, she received devastating news, she was experiencing premature ovarian failure and would be unable to conceive her own children. they're now exploring ivf with they always dreamed of. >> we're so delighted, because cait an egg donor to have the family they always dreamed of. >> we're so delighted, because caitlin and tyler are with us this morning. i hope your hearts are full of hope this morning. and erin, i know you have some news for them. >> i do, i do. i have partnered with enfamil to create the mack grant. it is for the nonprofit baby quest, who is actually very dear to my heart. and as you just heard, they help couples like you guys that are looking for fertility treatments. you two are actually the very

first two recipients of the mack grant. you're going to get $20,000 to go towards your fertility treatments to help you welcome your own baby. >> that's so amazing. because as hoda heard, i get ticked off about how much it costs. >> no one can talk because we're all crying. >> that must mean a lot. >> thank you so much. >> you have no idea. >> thank you so much. >> oh, my god. >> it's hard to keep the hope when you don't feel like you have the resources. so this hopefully will give you guys hope. >> thank you so much. oh, my gosh -- >> that means the world to us. you have no idea. >> oh, my gosh. >> we'll do more of this, right? >> erin and i talked about this. >> we're onboard. >> we're literally all crying. >> i know. >> i can't speak. >> bless you. we really -- >> good luck. >> thank you. thank you. >> keep u.s. posted, okay. >> thank you. >> absolutely. >> >> the erin and kristen dream team. it's happening. it's happening.

>> keep going. >> erin, remember when you basically accosted al for the weather -- go ahead. >> do what we know you want to do. >> al, how was your wife about me calling you my boyfriend? i'm so sorry. how are you? >> thank you so much for what you did. absolutely. >> i know how much you love doing weather. >> i do. it's pretty stormy out there. you know what i've wanted to say forever? >> what's that? >> eastern seaboard. >> here's your opportunity. >> we've got some postp >> here's your opportunity. >> we've got some postponements in baseball, the mets game is postponed, phillies game, we've got a lot of weather here right, al? but over in dallas, what are we -- yeah? dallas, sunshine. atlanta, we've got sunshine. so this area, what are we calling this? >> from the plains to the gulf. >> yeah. your neck of the woods. >> your neck of the woods. >> mountains, my people in montana, you're getting some snow actually, right? >> and i think the west coast games and the southwest games are going to be all great. >> you know what's great is going to be my easter sunday in los angeles. i think we're supposed to get

some rain, but let's not give people bad news, right? >> no, no, no. that's it. >> how you been doing? >> great. >> did you miss me? >> i missed you so much. >> well -- >> that's what's going on around the country -- good thursday morning. i am meteorologist, kari hall. we are going to have a cool day, mostly cloudy. temperatures in the upper 50s to low 60s. we may have a stray shower or two into the afternoon, but a better chance of rain returns to the forecast tomorrow. on good friday we will see waves of rain and potentially thunderstorms into saturday. on easter, we are waking up to dry weather and then another chance of rain for sunday afternoon before some warmer weather comes in for early >> all right! best time of the morning! >> where's erin? >> she's still talking about the eastern seaboard. i don't know what's happening there. but let's start with pop start today, guys. yeah, that's right. we've got a nice little treat for this one. let's break out the pop tarts.

last night, jerry seinfeld stopped by "the tonight show" to talk about his next big project, a pop starts movie called "unfrosted." it's a comedy about kelloggs and post cereal competing to invent -- this is a real thing, uncle al? >> it is. >> a shelf-stable pastry project. that's what they wanted to create, and there was drama and it's a movie now. it will be packed with nostalgia from your childhood. but the movie will not be anything like "barbie." >> "barbie" was made by mattel. kelloggs did not even know we were doing this. they had no idea. we took all of their products, we took all of their characters, snap, crackle and pop were in the movie. tony tiger is in the movie. there could be some serious legal exposure. >> yeah, could be. wow. >> but, if i were to be hauled into court on pop-tart charges, that would make my life!

>> well, jerry even revealed a first look at the trailer and i believe we have some of that. let's roll it. >> the post cereal company has reportedly invented a shelf-stable fruit pastry breakfast product. >> no. >> yeah. >> boy. >> post did it. >> there's always a surprise inside the box. >> what if they used xantham gum. >> they're stacking the deck with ringers! >> you kelloggs people. >> are you making progress? >> it's not to scale. >> what are you guys, 5 years old? >> tony the tiger. >> looks good! >> "unfrosted: the pop-tart story" premieres may 3rd on netflix. >> we've got the pop-tarts here. >> do you want a pop-tart? >> yeah, i do. >> every time you mention that movie, we get pop-tarts. >> maybe they could get sponsored. >> next up is beyonce. the 32-time grammy winner finally revealing new details about that album that's set to drop at midnight.

queen bey posting track list yesterday, which does hint that "cowboy carter" may feature some serious firepower. earlier this month, dolly parton revealed that she's released a cover of "jolene." there are three references. one is a track called "smoke hour willie nelson." and one entitled "linda martell." linda was the first black midn tonight. looks pretty great. and finally, our own sweet 16 bracket, yesterday, these favorites made it to the final country artist to play the opri. we'll have to stay up late for the album to drop at midnight tonight. looks pretty great. and finally, our own sweet 16 bracket, yesterday, these favorites made it to the final four, in the east it was a no-brainer in that bracket. easy win for cake. they crushed, fudge was terrible. out west, all the drama was there. this has never happened before. we had to keep the polls open late. for the first time, there was a total 50/50 split between chocolate chip cookies and ice cream. >> come on! >> one theory, just to have it

chip wich. that's not going to happen. we're making pop start bracket history. there will be three choices in our finals. here's your vote today. chocolate chip cookies versus ice cream versus cake. and london, who's here, my daughter, who's 9, wanted you to know. when you think of cookies, don't think about chips ahoy cookies. think about the warm chocolate chip chip cookies that mom makes. >> i vote for your mommy's cookies. >> cast your vote at today.com/food. good luck, everybody. tomorrow we'll have the winner. good morning. it's 8:26. i am marcus washington. happening today, state lawmakers will appear at a south bay elementary school to announce proposed school zone safety reforms. it's happening at campbell's castle phaupbt elementary school where in 2022 a car struck and

killed a student while he walked to school. data shows traffic accidents are the number one cause of death for children here in california. the measures include a call to lower speed limits in school zones to 20 miles per hour. this is to better protect children walking and on bikes. let's get a look at the forecast for you today. meteorologist, kari hall, is tracking that. we are getting a break from the wet weather we had yesterday evening, but there still may be a stray shower or two going throughout the day. temperatures, overall a cool day. another storm system approaching tomorrow and that keeps it wet and at times stormy for the weekend. we are looking at gusty winds and a chance of thunderstorms for saturday. on easter, it looks like we wake up to dry conditions and then rain during sunday afternoon, marcus. >> thank you, kari. we will have another local news update for you in 30 minutes. we will see you back here then.

are you ready to find out some secrets? ♪

♪ >> see, you got it! you're a pro. we're back at 8:30. it's a wet thursday morning here on the plaza, a little rain, but actually, it's warming up a little bit. watch out, hodas. almost had a big old collision with jimmy. the spirits of the crowd are high. repeat spirits are high. >> fun bunch! fun bunch of people! >> so cute. >> all right, guys, we've got s are always looking for the hottest the trends and styles. this morning, chasse post is here some funny signs here. coming up, our shop today trends are always looking for the hottest the trends and styles. this morning, chasse post is here with great picks for spring ysh wardrobe, beauty routines and more. >> plus, chef kwame is here. he's got one of the hottest restaurants in new york, but you won't have to wait months or weeks for a reservation, because chef is here to share one of his most popular dishes. it's called mama duke's shrimp in honor of his own mother. >> it is unbelievable. i've had it. oh, yeah. that is good. by the way, we mentioned

that baseball starting back up today. basketball is back, as well! in the third hour, our guy, steve kornacki will break down everything we need to know ahead of the sweet 16. not the sweets 16 -- >> thank you, that's right. but first, a special announcement. high school seniors, this one is for you. with college decision day approaching, we are on the lookout for outstanding students ready to declare the college or university they want to attend this fall. >> oh, that's fun! if you want to do it in a big way, live on our plaza, we want to hear from you. head to today.com to tell us more. decision day, right here! it's like a live boost! i know, i look like i'm beaming off to outer space. >> i'm into the silver! >> hoda is just like, yeah, that would be -- >> i love it! >> is this from the beam me up scotty collection. >> all right, mr. roker, take us away! >> i just want to introduce. this is one of the best mustaches we have ever had on

the plaza. what's your name? >> neil dillman. >> you have even got that look. almost like the anchor man look. how long does it take you to get that mustache like that? >> not as long as you think, al. >> well, it's very nice. we like it. very nice. almost like the villain, muwahaha. here's what we're looking like for your weekend, a spring delight in the east, rain and a around the great lakes, a march beauty as we end march through the gulf coast, mid-atlantic o snow out west, snow in the plains, saturday, unsettled around the great lakes, a march beauty as we end march through the gulf coast, mid-atlantic on into the mississippi river valley. a flood risk out west, and then, sunday, sunday, easter sunday, showers continue in the mississippi river valley. summer feel down through the gulf. sunshine along the east coast, heavy snow throughout the rockies and the western plplain. good thursday morning. i'm meteorologist kari hall. we are getting another wave of

rain coming into the peninsula, now in partings of the east bay as we are waking up and heading out dealing with off and on showers lingering in parts of the bay area. the next rain arrives tomorrow. we'll see that into tomorrow morning as well as the afternoon. a chance of thunderstorms and gusty winds in our weekend forecast that will continue into our easter sunday. and that's your latest weather! >> guys, one of our old producers is here, bethany thomas. >> hi, how are you? >> who's this? >> hi! >> hi! >> so sweet. >> nice to have you, bethany. coming up next, guys, this is a list we look forward to revealing every year. our friends from "u.s. news & world report" are here. they've got their well-surveyed picks for the best over-the-counter health and beauty products, but first, this is "today" on nbc!

we are back. 8:36 with an exclusive reveal. "u.s. news & world report" is out with their best over-the-counter medicine and health products. and here to share some of them with us, senior health editor, shanley chen. good morning! >> thanks for having me. >> tell me about this methodology, how you come to find these products and we'll . >> yeah, absolutely. u.s. news partnered with the harris poll to develop the best otc medicines and health products list, which ranks show people what's on the list. >> yeah, absolutely. u.s. news partnered with the harris poll to develop the best otc medicines and health products list, which ranks more than 900 brands across 132 categories. so think things like vitamins, supplements, cold medicine, and skin care. and the way we did this was, we surveyed about 500 experts across the country, including pharmacists, as well as dermatologists, who evaluated the safety, efficacy, and quality of each brand within each category. >> so these are the top picks of the people who should know.

>> yes. >> so let's start. i think we've got -- is this our first panel? no, let's go over here. i thought so! i was like, did i just lose my mind? >> allergies, these are some of the ones that folks like. talk about eye drops. >> absolutely. we're in for a longer, more severe allergy season this year, so we have several different ways of keeping those allergy symptoms at bay. for example, eye drops, pataday was the number-one pharmacist-recommended eyedrop. will help relieve those itchy eyes you typically get with allergy and pollen in the air. up next is zyrtec, that got number one in the oral medicine category. and for nasal sprays, when you have nasal congestion on top of those sneezy, itchy eyes, flonase was the clear winner. >> now let's get into wellness. these are the vitamins that topped the list. >> our experts reviewed vitamins for men, women, and children. for men, the number one pick was centrum, for women, it was

one-a-day. for children's multivitamins, the one that got the most love from our pharmacists was flintstones. which makes me very happy. i grew up on flintstones. >> makes me feel better. >> yeah. it has stood the test of time even after all of these decades for me. >> let's get over to the treatments for aches and pains. >> so for aches and pains, we've all dealt with it at one point in our lives. for pain patches, solanpas was number one, but if you prefer to typically, voltarin was the have something you can apply topically, voltarin was the top choice. this is a prescription-strength arthritis cream to help reduce stiffness, alleviate joint pain, and improve mobility. but if you're on the go, you're busy, you need something to pop in your mouth or in your bag, motrin was the number one pick. >> and finally, sunscreen. oh, my gosh, 'tis the season to get your kids to wear sunscreen. >> while it's super important to wear sunscreen year round, as the temperatures are warming up

and we're headed outdoors more, it's really, really important to make sure that the whole family is protected from those harmful uv rays. so for baby sunscreen, avino baby got the number one pick by our dermatologist, and this contains zinc oxide, it's going to be gentle and work well with your baby's sensitive skin. and for kids and adults, neutrogena got the top pick for both categories, and it's a tried and true brand with a great line of products, including aerosol sprays for those wiggly kids and hard-to-reach places. >> you just spritz them on with that and you're good to go. face you is screen, it's formulated differently than body sunscreens, but still provides you with the broad spectrum. the number one dermatologist pick was eltindi. >> all right. we have more shopping to do. chasse post is ready to share her spring trend report, including the dress you need, the must-have. you'll wear it all season long, right? yeah! >> but first, this is oday" on"t

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we're back with shop all day. we're covering the latest products and brand launches with spring trend report from fashion to beauty, our team scoured the entire internet and social media, for the most popular items and styles this season. our guide today, shop all day contributor, chasse post, and by the way, everything you see here, all you have to do is sca. good morning, chasse. it's great to see you. everybody loves like the one dress they need for year round. >> this is the perfect transitional dress, but hoda, it's also featuring several trends the qr code and get to it. good morning, chasse. it's great to see you. everybody loves like the one dress they need for year round. >> this is the perfect transitional dress, but hoda, it's also featuring several trends in one. first, stripes. you'll see everywhere this spring. of course, florals. but, what we're really going to see a lot of is the shirt dress silhouette. it's like a button down shirt in dress form. and i love it, because it's classic, it's so easy to wear, so flattering. and i also love that you can dress it up or down. this looks as great with heels

and you know, jewelry as it does, you know, your baseball cap and sneakers. >> to a game. >> yeah, it's just so lightweight and easy to wear. and i love that it's size inclusive. so extra small through 3xl. and just $36 from walmart! >> $36! >> so useful! you can throw it on. >> there's something that you always, always carry in your back. >> i know, it's this. why? >> hoda, fashion tape. so this is part of my, you know, secret weapon, fashion's secret weapons. i've had it in my pro kit forever. for those at home who haven't tried it before, i've got one to show you here. it's a clear, flexible, double-sided tape. >> where does it go? >> you use it to avoid fashion emergencies or wardrobe malfunctions. >> let's see if this little v-neck was opening up, you add a little fashion tape right there and stick to it. and no more issues. >> you use it here. it's great if your hem comes out, it's really great for

straps that won't stay up. and we have a little video here, you can see it. we can put it right there. and we have a little video here, people are also using it for slingbacks, a really big trend, to keep them on your heel. you know how they always fall off. and lots of different styles. set of 50 for just $13. >> a million ways to use it. >> this is a fashion secret weapon. just put it in your purse. >> this is something you actually use on dry skin. >> this is a huge trend. have you tried dry brushing? >> i haven't. >> to slough off that winter skin, arms and legs are about to come out. >> when do you use it? >> on dry skin, before you shower, just brush, and it feels so good. the benefits, you won't believe all of them. the brand says not only does it add circulation and help to reduce the look of cellulite, thank you very much! >> does it? >> but also it sloughs off dead skin.

and then hop in the shower -- >> it also supports lymphatic massage. >> this is a balm for under the eyes. >> this is so great. this is a new launch, hoda. and it's from a brand that "today" show viewers love. it's called versed. and it feels so good. it is a retinoid undereye little balm. and the reason people love it so much is because it feels like butter. >> it really does. almost like an oil. >> and it delivers this sort of gentler retinol. and the brand says it's designed to remove the look of fine lines, wrinkles and add bounce and firmness to our skin. >> so you use this when? >> at night. >> just tap it underneath the eye and this is amazing. >> you call this transformative for the eyebrows. >> hoda, i love this stuff! this is tiktok famous, 141

million views. >> what about it? >> and i overplucked my eyebrows years ago, they never grew back. and this little formula is transformative. it's an eyebrow gel. on the one side, it's got a little applicator. and then on the other side, it's got a spooly to help you sort of blend in. and i've got to say, it took my brows from zero to hero. >> look at this before and after. >> isn't that incredible? get t brand says it lasts >> lord, that's something. >> get this, it also -- the brand says it lasts for two days. it's waterproof, smudge proof. our producer wore it in the shower, came out with beautiful brows! >> for all of those pluckers. and the price is right, $13. >> just $13. >> we'll have even more picks on our third and fourth hours. to purchase any of these items, scan the qr code or head to today.com/shop. over to you. >> we're talking golf, shrimp, all kinds of things.

this is a very important meal for you going back to your mother. we'll hear all about this coming up with our great chef. this is "today" on nbc. norman, bad news... i never graduated from med school. what? but the good news is... xfinity mobile just got even better! now, you can automatically connect to wifi speeds up to a gig on the go. plus, buy one unlimited line and get one free for a year. i gotta get this deal... that's like $20 a month per unlimited line... i don't want to miss that. that's amazing doc. mobile savings are calling. visit xfinitymobile.com to learn more. doc? thousands of women with metastatic breast cancer are living in the moment

and taking ibrance. ibrance with an aromatase inhibitor is for adults with hr positive, her2 negative metastatic breast cancer as the first hormonal based therapy. ibrance plus letrozole significantly delayed disease progression versus letrozole. ibrance may cause low white blood cell counts that may lead to serious infections. ibrance may cause severe inflammation of the lungs. both of these can lead to death. tell your doctor if you have new or worsening chest pain, cough, or trouble breathing. before taking ibrance, tell your doctor if you have fever, chills, or other signs of infection, liver or kidney problems, are or plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding. for more information about side effects talk to your doctor. thanks, mom. be in your moment. ask your doctor about ibrance. a pfizer product.

it smells so good in here. welcome back. we've got "today" food going, easy weeknight dish from one of the hottest restaurants in new york. we're joined by chef kwame who's -- whose rise to fame has been absolutely meteoric. his afro-caribbean inspired restaurant, lincoln center. this was named best new restaurant by "the new york times." he's currently a semi-finalist for james beard award. we are with the man this morning. chef, that's quite the resume. >> appreciate it. >> one thing, as a chef, to get the james beard accolade is incredible. what does it mean to have the spot get noticed like that, though? >> i think it means so much for the culture. at this point, it's bigger than me.

this food really represents the tapestry of what makes new york special, which is all the people that make it special. all the cultures that make it special and that's what it's doing. i'm putting it on a pedestal for the world to see. >> you hold that culture close to your heart. the restaurant is named after your sister. >> yeah. >> tell me about the dish. >> this is a dish that i grew up eating. my mom, she loved to throw house parties, and she would make thi from a family of coo dish for the guests. and i would actually steal a couple and run back -- >> that's a fancy house party. >> uh, yeah, i mean, we come from a family of cooks. we're creole, so food is our language. >> speak to me. >> in the pan we've got holy trinity, which is a trio aromatics, onion, celery, and then we have some bell pepper. >> the holy trinity. >> chop this up, throw that in there with creole spice, thyme, bay leaf, and add a couple of

different liquids to it. we have white wine, some beer, we have some orange juice, shrimp stock, and then worcestershire. and cook that down into a paste, and that will build all the flavors that really accentuate this dish. >> this cooks into a paste? >> yeah, cook it down, take the moisture out of it and that intensifies flavor. the next step is seasoning the shrimp with that house spice. this is a spice my mom always had on the kitchen counter. >> she whipped it up? essentially what is it? >> it's like a creole spice. cajun spice. so you want to sear these shrimp. season them on both sides if you're not on tv. trying to do this and talk at the same time. >> for people watching at home, quick on shrimp, deveined, can they use frozen shrimp? if it seems fancy for people,

how easy is it to get some shrimp? >> you can use frozen shrimp. i like fresh shrimp with the head on from the gulf. i think it has so much more flavor, and there's a lot of like liquid in that head that goes into the sauce as well. >> so you sear the shrimp on both sides until it looks like this, and look how this reduces down into that paste. so you add a little bit more house spice to this. >> this looks like you could use this on a lot of proteins. whatever this magic is. freeze it and visit, you know, available at all times. >> love that! >> got to think about. >> eaters? >> i can't! >> i call it a shrimp base and freeze it and then have it, you know, available at all times. >> love that! >> got to think about. >> eaters? >> i can't! we can't bear -- it's like too good. >> it's multi-layered. >> i don't know which is better, the shrimp or the sauce. >> the rice is nuts! >> the rice! >> it all works together. this is food i grew up eating. and i guess i -- >> so it doesn't seem fancy. does it seem weird to you that there's so much accolade and heat on your career where you're

kind of like, i'm just making the stuff i grew up in the house eating? >> i'm just happy to see it shown in the same light as different other types of cuisine. so i think this is the food that built america. and also, you know, there's a lot rooted in west african practices. and you can't talk about american cuisine without speaking of the influences of west africa. so i'm just excited that it's getting its moment in the sun. >> what kind of rice we going? >> i'm making like my perfectly steamed rice. so i've rinsed the rice of all of its starch. and you add it to a pan with a little bit of neutral oil, and you want to toast that rice. >> what's the point of getting rid of some of the starch. >> so it doesn't clump together when you cook it. >> pro tip. >> so you toast the rice -- >> without adding the liquid? >> exactly. >> then it looks like this. >> a little color on it, seized up a little bit. >> that's what i'm here for! >> a stock or something! >> let's do this job.

this is my show now. >> i got it! you add your stock and your aromatics to that. pop the lid on, when it comes to a boil, and simmer it. and then you have perfectly steamed rice. you want to fluff it with a fork. >> even just the rice has so much flavor. what'd you do to the rice? >> he just told you! >> if you weren't eating -- >> i've got to go back. >> go back and rewind it. added some thyme and bay leaf. cooked it in chicken stock instead of water. >> how long do you cook the rice? cooking. for this batch, i would cook it for about 15 minutes. >> by the way, kwame, i like that you >> i would say about -- it depends on how much rice you're cooking. for this batch, i would cook it for about 15 minutes. >> by the way, kwame, i like that you shouted out beer and the gulf shrimp. because that's where the good stuff is. >> exactly. i know we've got that connection! >> i know we do. i know we do. >> you go to that restaurant and look in the kitchen, the representation that is there, that is going to be rippled out over the next several years. >> i appreciate it. >> way to go, kwame. >> bigger than food. >> congratulations, chef. always great to have you, man. thank you so much.

chef kwame will be back in the fourth quarter hour. what are you whipping for them? >> i'm doing something from the streets of new york. hallal cart? chicken lamb over rice. >> today.com/food for the recipes. we're back in a moment, but first, a quick check of your local news and weather and these messages. thank you, chef.

good morning, everyone. it's 8:56. we have breaking news. sam bankman-fried was just sentenced to 25 years in prison for his role in defrauding users of the collapsed crypto currency exchange ftx. the judge says bankman-fried committed obstruction of justice and witness tampering while mounting his defense. prosecutors had sought as much as a 50 years while the defense argued for no more than 6 1/2. he was convicted on several criminal counts in november. he took the stand in his own defense during the trial. it was a disaster. much more ahead on o

traveling for treatment. we sit down with an oakland family who left the country seeking more affordable ivf

treatments. plus, we know everything

. this morning on the third hour of "today," quest for answers. the ntsb now revealing more about the moments leading