Mountainside . Heres the story from the audio recorder. After reaching cruising altitude the pilot is heard leaving the cockpit. He knocks then bangs on the door to get back in. The copilot alone in the cockpit ignores him then sets the auto pilot to descend to its lowest possible setting, 100 feet. During the next eight minutes the copilot will be heard breathing normally ignoring alarms and calls from controllers. As people begin to scream the plan smashes into the mountains. Nbcs bill neely is at the crash site this morning. What are the new developments . Reporter good morning, dara. I think people here are still reeling from the chronology that youve just read. Still wondering why, how, this copilot could possibly have done this. Of course that hasnt stopped the search effort all morning for the last few hours. The helicopters behind me have been flying overhead. Going to the crash site recovering jewelry, clothing, and body parts, writing them back for analysis by forensic experts. We also believe that in the next hour or so the parents of Andreas Lubitz the 27yearold copilot, will be questioned again by French Police still trying to find any reason why their son would have done Something Like this. German police have been making some significant developments. They have searched his apartment and taken a number of items from his apartment. For example, a computer. But also they say they have found something that is a significant clue and they are bringing that for testing in a laboratory today. But all the focus really is on his background. We know for example, that in 2009 he suffered a depressive incident, as they called it in the notes of the Lufthansa Airline he was training with at that moment. His training was suspended for a year and a half. He was considered unsuitable for flying. He then restarted his training and was eventually declared fit. The ceo of lufthansa said yesterday he was 100 fit. I think after what happened here and the questions about his background, its also thought by the way he broke up with his girlfriend. Police investigating whether that has anything to do with it. I think lufthansa have a lot of questions to answer. Were expecting a new statement from them. But here the search for body parts and for clues continues. Dara . Hopefully well have some answers as the day unfolds. Bill neely reporting live from france, thank you so much. As the families come to grips with their terrible loss investigators are left with some serious questions. Nbcs katy tur has the latest on the investigation from dusseldorf, germany. Reporter Andreas Lubitz was 27. A german who spoke fluent english, grew up in a picturesque town and friends say had dreams of flying. He began training with lufthansa in 2008 including time at this facility in phoenix. He was certified as a copilot in september 2013 but accumulated only 630 flight hours until Officials Say he deliberately crashed flight 9525 into the side of a mountain killing everyone on board. No one saw it coming. He had no criminal record no known terrorist connections. Lufthansa said lubitz took a break from Flight School in 2009. It hasnt said why. The ceo of their subsidiary germanwings said he was remitted a few months later after passing technical, medical, and psychological tests. Investigators searched his parents home, removing items including what appeared to be a computer, and escorting out an unidentified person. Boxes of potential evidence were taken from lubitzs dusseldorf apartment. Those who knew him were stunned. Nbcs katy tur reporting. The building explosion in new york city, this morning the fire is still not under control. The blast inside a sushi restaurant ripped apart a fivestory building in the east village. Smoke quickly filled the sky on the ground cell phones captured the chaos. People trapped, scaling down fire escapes, jumping to safety. The explosion hurting 19, four critically. We thought it was a bomb. I saw the whole storefront on the street. Walked outside and just see no building there at all. Within seconds the situation got worse as the flames spread to three other buildings. People could smell smoke 50 blocks away. When the heat proved too much the building collapsed along with two others. Preliminary evidence suggests a gasrelated explosion. That investigation is ongoing. City Officials Say construction workers were installing a new gas meter in the building before the blast. Con edison had its inspectors on the scene. It said the installation didnt pass their inspection at that time. Those inspectors left an hour before the blast. The investigating is now focusing on that work. This morning the chaos in yemen is growing into a reelk natural war with iran on one side saudi arabia on the other. The houthis, backed by iran control large parts of yemen. Saudi air jets are targeting the rebels. Tracie potts is live in washington. What are the risks here for the u. S. In this war . Oil and security. Two big issues here in the United States. Lets start with oil, dara. Weve already seen prices per barrel go down 1 since those saudi air strikes. They have been creeping up. The concern is if yemens government falls in that oilrich region we could feel it at the pump. The other thing is security. Yemen has been a big partner with the United States fighting al qaedas strongest affiliate, al qaeda in yemen. Again, if that government falls that could put that fight at risk against al qaeda in that region. Now, it looks like the saudis have about ten nations on board this coalition to try to back those rebels out of that country. The rebels are backed by iran so its sort of a saudi arabia versus iran situation there, which puts the u. S. In an interesting situation because while we are at odds with iran when it comes to a number of things also sitting down at the negotiating table trying to work out this nuclear deal next week is the deadline. Tracie potts in washington thank you so much. A controversial right to discriminate measure in indiana is generating national attention. The office of indiana governor mike pence has released this photo of him signing the religious freedom restoration act into law. It allows Business Owners the right to refuse service to gay and lesbian couples based on religious freedom. The governor released a statement after signing saying in part the bill is not about discrimination and if i thought it legalized discrimination in any way in indiana i would have vetoed it. Theres already been major backlash. Hillary clinton tweeted, sad this new indiana law can happen in america today. We shouldnt discriminate against people because of who they love. Miley cyrus said in part youre an ahole, we need more strong heterosexual men fighting for equality in men and women. Shes since deleted the post. Ncaa is concerned about indianas new law. A week away from the final four which will be held in indianapolis. The president of the ncaa is expressing concern. Saying in part we are especially concerned about how this legislation could affect our student athletes and employees. We will work diligently to ensure student athletes competing in and visitors attending next weeks mens final four in indianapolis are not impacted negatively by this bill. There were some big names on capitol hill. Academy Award WinningActor Ben Affleck and billionaire bill gates testified before the Senate Appropriations subcommittee. The two stressed the importance of continued foreign aid from the u. S. To african countries. Afflecks wife Jennifer Garner and their daughter violet sad behind him. At one point affleck took a moment to say hello to buff his batman costars. To senator leahy, i would be premise remiss if i did not acknowledge my costar in batman. The role was marginally smaller than mine but i understand youre quite good. Senator leahy is a fan of the franchise. Hes made several cameos in recent films. The senator tweeted this photo before the meeting. He says they discussed the impact of foreign aid and batman. Nbc meteorologist bill karins is here with your friday forecast. Weekend forecast. Lets talk weekend. Lets get to the fun stuff. Theres not a person in this country, not a weather person i should say, maybe not that many people that arent sick and tired of this weather pattern across the country. Its going to be extreme this weekend. Weve been in this weather pattern on and off about the last 18 months with a big, huge ridge that continues to be here in the west and then up around the hudson bay, persistently large storms. This has kept the wind flow in the same directions. For areas of the great lakes and northeast its a persistent wind from canada cool chilly. Two rough winters in a row. In the west everyone knows how bad the drought is. We continue taking that warm air and recycling it in the same spot. Thats not going to change throughout the day today either. As far as the forecast goes the high temperatures are going to be very warm. Recordbreaking heat yesterday. 24 spot in the west had record highs including san jose seattle, portland. Were going to do it again today. Fresno 23 degrees above where you should be for your high today. 91. Were going to be only a little bit above it in San Francisco. L. A. Downtown was 90 yesterday. The fifth time this month of march. Its just incredible. Like it doesnt bother you that much anymore, its been so persistent you dont even notice its warm. 77 in billings, montana. Thats summerlike heat for Higher Elevations reno mammoth lakes, warm. We are dry. The snow surveys coming up in the west on april 1st and it is going to be ugly. Thats just an incredible change from what we had for winter to now. Theres no snow maybe they dont have to bother with the snow survey. Well see how the weather weekend turns out, thank you, bill. Now a stillunsolved mystery in the Boston Marathon bombing case. Plus the hammer comes down on the secret service with new rules for personal behavior. Up next. You know i think about money kind of a lot. Money is freedom. Moneys always on my mind. Car insurance. Credit cards. Preschool. Mortgage. Debt. Its tough. Its not easy. Im not a good budgeter. Unfortunately, im a spender. I would love to learn more about finances. Savings. Investments. Retirement. Man the more educated i am, the better decisions i can make in the future. I want my foyer to smell more like a foyer. I want his bedroom to smell like hes away at boarding school. Surround yourself with up to 6 hours of luxurious, longlasting scents. Introducing new unstopables air refresher. If you can clear a table without lifting a finger. You may be muddling through allergies. Try zyrtec® for powerful allergy relief. And zyrtec® is different than claritin. Because it starts working faster on the first day you take it. Zyrtec®. Muddle no more™. I found out the hard way. Not all washes take care of intimate odor. Vagisil odor block wash stops odor from happening for all day confidence. When you feel fresh all day you feel confident. Vagisil. Your intimate health experts. Stories making news this morning. Prosecutors in the boston bombing trial are preparing to rest their case. They presented evidence yesterday that showed how the bombs were made although its still a mystery as to where they were constructed. On monday lawyers for the defense will start to present their side. The jury could begin deliberating late next week. Tighter drinking rules for the secret service. Nbc news has confirmed a report saying agents will no longer be allowed to drive company cars within ten hours of drinking alcohol, days after surveillance camera shows secret Service Agents hitting a barricade outside the white house during a bomb threat. In england a funeral for a man dead half a century, king richard iii after they found his bones in a parking lot. Actor Benedict Cumberbatch who will play the monarch in an upcoming series and is an actual descendent will honor him with a poem. George Mason University posted this video of engineering students using lowfrequency sound waves to put out a fire. How cool is that. Down to business with landon dowdy, good morning. Good morning to you. Wall street banks are so upset with senator lit beth warrens calls to break them up theyre considering Withholding Campaign donations to Senate Democrats in protest. Reuters reports officials from citigroup, bank of america, jpmorgan, and Goldman Sachs have discussed the matter. Any move would be symbolic as banks can donate a maximum of 1,500 each. You cant take it with you. Ceo tim cook has decided to give all his money away donating an estimated 785 million fortune to charity after he pays for his 10yearold nephews college education. Back over to you. Thanks, landon. Yes, you are seeing this owl riding shotgun. A sweet 16 pounding. Kentucky obliterates west virginia. Sports is up next. Sure i offer multicar, safe driver, and so many other discounts that people think im a big deal. And boy, are they right. Ladies, i can share hundreds in savings with all of you just visit progressive. Com today. But right now, its choosing time. Ooh we have a winner. All what . 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Life opens up with a whiter smile. This morning on today, meet the west wing staffer whos breaking barriers. Shes the new receptionist of the United States and shes also deaf. Her inspiring story later on today. Its time for all your friday sports headlines with angie goff. Good morning, angie. Good morning. We are halfway to the elite eight. Close between second seed arizona and sixth seed xavier. Arizonas 197 rally late in the game put them on top 6860. It was also their 14th straight victory. One seed wisconsin barely avoids upset against fourth ranked north carolina. Tar heels with two critical baskets to make it a onepoint game with less than a minute to go. With no timeouts left they have to bow it out with a 7972 victory to take arizona on saturday. Kentucky west virginia, not so close. Take a look at that kentucky spacing oh, the lob what else can i say, what else can i do . Heres the alleyoop. A team that shoots over 50 for the oh no, its out bringing it all night the wildcats remain undefeated with an embarrassingly easy 7839 win. Third seeded notre dame shot 75 in the second half to top seventh seeded Wichita State 8170. The irish advance to the elite eight for the first time in 36 years. Theyll beat kentucky saturday. The rest of the sweet 16 played tonight. Kicking off at 7 15 eastern time. Famed basketball coach dean smith passed away last month but he continues to give to his former players. Per smiths directions following his death 200 checks were sent out to each of the players who lettered for smiths tar heels team and thats about 180 in all, which comes out to about 36,000. It was with a message that read enjoy a dinner out compliments of coach dean smith. What a great guy. Dara, back to you. Just ahead, the Downton Abbey news that has fans pretty upset. A man loses it when an atm swallows his card. Returning to his childhood home. This is the smell of baked pears, making him feel warm. Then pie crust as he wonders if its too soon to ask whats for dessert. Now vanilla, reminding him of pep talks with mom and slightly inappropriate advice from dad. New air wick life scents in moms baking the first constantly changing fragrance that acts like real life and says welcome home, kevy bear. this is him, secretly loving the name kevy bear. Air wick home is in the air. Run in for kohls Super Saturday and shop over 100 early birds from 8am to 1pm find misses sonoma life and style camp shirts 50 to 60 off. Mens polos only 14. 99 each. Save on jumping beans play wear for the kids new shoes and sandals for the family and a food network ten piece cookware set. Pick up a little kohls cash too. Plus enroll today for kohls yes 2 you rewards. Get a 5 reward for every 100 points this Super Saturday find your yes. Kohls. Im always talking with my hands so they have to look their best. 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This sunday night here on nbc it is the i heart radio awards. Jamie foxx hosts the music event featuring awards determined by i heart radio charts and votes from music fans nationwide. During a twitter q a with bostons mayor walsh he was asked why he hadnt released an official statement on zayne mallics leaving one direction. The mayor tweeted, we are all devastated about zayn malik but we must soldier on. Sydney bridal expo an australian Radio Station arranged a huge surprise for a couple. We wanted to make your first dance a little bit more special today. Thats right. Were going to leave you with a little Wedding Singer we organized and we hope you enjoy. Ladies and gentlemen, the first dance as husband and wife, bring in the Wedding Singer, please. Here he is oh my god got to love that cheering. Im dara brown and this is early today. We hope its just your first stop of the day on nbc. I want my foyer to smell more like a foyer. I want his bedroom to smell like hes away at boarding school. Surround yourself with up to 6 hours of luxurious, longlasting scents. Introducing new unstopables air refresher. Leading the news a tallahassee democrat wouldbe bank robber was drunk, arrived by cab, police say. 46yearold Stanley Getty was arrested after demanding 100,000 from a tallahassee, florida, bank manager. Police found the cab waiting outside. He told him getty was drunk and had not paid his 25 fare. Remember this scene from the 2000 movie gladiator. Could you imagine it happening today . From nbc bay area inmates at San Francisco jail say deputies forced them to fight gladiatorstyle. One inmate said he was forced to go up against another inmate twice his size. The San Francisco sheriff says four of the accused deputies have been reassigned. The San Franciscos d. A. Office is investigating. Other top stories today, a new report says Drug EnforcementAdministration Agents attended sex parties with prostitutes hired by drug cartels while stationed overseas. Thats according to the justice departments inspector general. The report didnt specify where the parties took place. It also blames dea for not properly handling Sexual Harassment and misconduct allegations from 2009 to 2012. In china, Surveillance Video captures a man smashing a bank machine with a crowbar. The man told authorities he was drunk and that the machine had swallowed his credit card. He faces charges and had to pay the bank for the damage. A disturbing report in the journal science says the rate of the shrinking ice at the edge of antarctica has increased 70 over the past decade. Scientists are concerned because the ice keeps larger ice sheets from flowing into the ocean. Caught on camera. An unidentified man believed to be from West Palm Beach driving with a Great Horned Owl on his lap. The problem is federally protected. The video was posted on facebook with the caption we are drunk and we are high and were about to take this thing home and eat it up. Officials believe the owl is either stunned or dazed in the video and most likely wounded. Two andean bear cubs born in november made their debut at national zoo in washington. They spent the morning tumbling and climbing. Dont fall now a look ahead. Nasas oneyear mission is ready for takeoff. Captain scott kelly will spend a year on the International Space station. Nasa will study kelly in space and his twin retired astronaut mark kelly, on erpth to determine the effects of song term spaceflight. Happy birthday to black eyed peas singer fergie who turns 40. Mariah carey is 45. Quentin tarantino turns 52. Im dara brown along with bill karins. Thanks for watching early today. We hope you have a great friday. And that breaking news a Public Health advisory after an incident at an east bay chemical plant. Today, were live ineebnz pittsburgh with what people in that neighborhood need to know right now. Good morning, steph. Reporter good morning, chris and sam. This Public Health advisory came from Public Health officials just after 3 00 this morning. It impacts part of pittsburgh and aunt yok. This plant is at 901 love ridge road. Were talking