bigser. the meg goo million jackpot has hit an estimated $540 million, and that's expected to rise even higher as millions of americans buy their tickets ahead of tonight's big it drawing. nbc's kirk gregory has more. >> reporter: this single little slip of paper could mean -- >> half a billion. >> it's such an insane amount of money. >> reporter: -- a whole lot of green for a lucky winner tonight in the mega millions lootry drawing. with still hours to go before the drawing, the record-breaking sum could rise even higher. >> dough it nate some to charity. >> travel. >> retire early. >> never mow the grass again. >> reporter: and those half a billionaire dreams are bringing in customers across the country. >> this has been crazy all day today. very, very crazy. >> been busy, just lottery. everybody want to buy mega million, want to take shot. >> reporter: but chances are slim. with odds 176 million to 1. it's more likely that you hit two holes in one in the same round of golf than hit it rich when those little plastic balls decide the winning number. but, for most, the smallest chance is better than none. >> i just hope i win. so i could retire. >> reporter: when it comes to claiming the biggest prize in lottery history. kurt gregory, nbc news. just unreal. now to startling new numbers from the federal government on the growing presence of autism among u.s. children. a new study by the centers of disease control and prevention is showing a rapid rise in cases over the past decade. nbc's brian mooar has details. >> reporter: an ongoing study shows a troubling spike in autism cases in the u.s. >> 1 in 80 children has been identified with autism. >> reporter: experts acknowledge this increase might simply be explained by better diagnosis. >> we don't know what we should be alarmed by yet, if this is truly a change in the number of children who are developing autism or whether we're recognizing it better. >> reporter: the study shows autism causes jumped 23% from 2006 to 2008 and spiked 78% when compared to 2002. the 2008 numbers show autism spectrum disorders are five times more common in boys than girls. and the largest increase? among hispanic and african-american children. older parents and premature births are suspected factors, but the cause remains a mystery. >> the idea is that it's something that affects the brain development predominantly in utero. in other words, it's either genetic or an environmental factor. >> reporter: the sfudy shows the average age of diagnosis is down to 94 ye4e 4 years old, but exp it's not it good enough. they hope to get children diagnosed by 18 months to give them a head start on treatment. here is a look at some other stories making nuz news early today in america in oklahoma, dramatic end to a standoff. a s.w.a.t. team used a taser to take down a man who witnesses say had a gun. officers had tried repeatedly to talk him out of his apartment. next door 0 to a day care center, before firing the taser. near philadelphia, a pet store dog napping was captured on surveillance video. a woman leaned into a bin, snatched a puppy and sneaked it into her pursz. police say another woman and two little girls went along for the heist. the daog is worth $300. a hoaxless man can be seen swiping a six-pack of beer. it turns out he might also be the one who busted into the tavern on st. patrick's day and poored himself a pienlt. but police have declared last call. they've arrested him. finally, holy traffic stop, far from gotham city, batman got pulled over, his batmobile a lamborghini. the caped crusader can be seen explaining why his license plate was replaced by a batman logo, he was headed to a hospital to cheer up sick kids. see, i told you, a good reason. they gave him a pass, they also snapped pictures with him. now for a look at your national and regional weather, here's nbc meerltologist bill kari karins. >> that's what men have to do to get out of tickets. >> right. we just cry or flirt. >> right. dresz up and go to a children's hospital. gr morning, everyone. we'll have a cruel forecast for some areas of new england this weekend, that's where it will be chilly. middle of the country may see record heat. we had thunderstorms through the night, quad cities and wisconsin. if you're in chicago, green bay, you'll have a wet monk morning commute, some of the downpours heading your way over the next few hours, a shield of rain near lake michigan. here's how it will time out today. the storms are headed for wisconsin. as we go through this afternoon, they move through toledo and detroit a line of storms through michs, then it will shift through pittsburgh and pennsylvania. unfortunately, the blue on this map may be snow. it looks like it's cold enough for heavy, wet snow in the poconos, catskills, southern new york state and then overnight tonight about 2:00 a.m. we could even see snow through areas of massachusetts, rhode island and connecticut, xpaesespecially th higher terrain. the fact that you may wake up saturday morning and see snow out there will be a shock to some who were 80 degrees just last week. not a big accumulating unlese s unless you're in the higher elevations. nonetheless, almost an early april fools' day present. southeast, we have storms for you today, a lot of heavy rain in texas last night. that's a look at your national forecast. now ott your window -- a chance of thunderstorm in pennsylvania, not looking at too many chances of tornadoes, though. we still have a lot of warmth in texas after the heavy rain yesterday, houston today, 82. weekend forecast coming up. not an april fools' day joke. it actually will snow in some of those areas. >> thanks, bill bill. coming up, more good job news. a promise from iphone makers and how you can enjoy dinner on the titanic. sort of. your early morning business headlines are straight ahead. plus, could a follow-up tale about gods and mythical creatures knock off last weekend's box office record-breaker? coming up, a rematch, scary moment for sydney crosby and derek fisher returns to l.a. you're watching "early today" o. good morning. welcome back to "early today." i'm lynn berry. here are some of your top headlines this morning. the house passed a $3.5 trillion republican budget mranl yesterday, largely along party lines. it would drastically change medicare and create only two income brackets. there's no chance of it passing the senate. congressman paul ryan of wisconsin who wrote the budget plan is expected to endorse mitt romney for president today. former president george h.w. bush gave romney his endorsement yesterday. the lawyer for andrea yates, the texas mother who drowned her five children in june 2001 is asked she be allowed a weekly two-hour pass to go to church. in a 2006 retrial, yates was found not guilty by reason of insanity and committed to a state mental hospital. but her attorney says she is ready to rejoin society and live on her own. canada will stop making pennies this year to save money. the copper-coated coins actually cost 1.6 cents to produce. and nasa scientists have announced the discovery of a massive supertornado on the surface of the sun, five times bigger than planet earth. the storm has winds of 186,000 miles per hour and temperatures of over 3 million degrees fahrenheit. now here is afternoon early look at how wall street is going to kick off the day, the dow opens at 13,145 after adding 19 points yesterday. the s&p down 2 points, the nasdaq lost 9. overseas trading this morning, in tokyo, the nikkei fell 31 points while in hong kong the hang seng lost 53. today markets are set to close out what's been the best first quarter in 14 years. the job market continues to gain strength with the lowest level of new unemployment claims in four years. crude oil prices are at six-week lows at around $103 a barrel as western nations appear ready to release oil reserves to force down prices. because of high jet fuel prices, australia's kwqantas airlines is raising fares again. the u.s. wants european union to end subdz dis for airbus and could go to the world trade organization for sanctions against several european countries. blackberry maker research in motion is saying it will focus on business customers as consumers move to iphones and android phones. fox conn which produces iphones and ipads for apple in china have worked out a new deal to improve conditions for workers, reducing their long hours and raising their pay. best buy is closing 50 stores and closing $800 million in operating costs to try and keep profits up. the online deals web site living social has launched a take out and delivery service in 26 markets nationwide, including chicago, boston, and san francisco. and now you can dine like the passengers on the titanic. a houston restaurant offers what it calls the titanic experience. dinner for 12 for $12,000. it is a 10-course meal of dishes similar to those served to the ill-fated first class passengers the night the ship went down. it starts four hours starting with a wine appetize beer and completed with a brandy from the year 1900. coming up, the thunderstorm the lakers a puck hit a penguin and a slugfest in tokyo. plus, a monster, between the legs slam wins the college dunk contest. your early morning sports headlines are straight ahead. looks like april is going to start just like march, record heat in the midwest. your forecast is coming up. you're watching "early today" 0. good morning. if you're just waking up, this is "early today." in sports, last night in miami there was a rematch between the two teams that played last season for the nba title. here's nbc's fred roggin with an early look at all your sports headlines. >> good morning. it was an nba finals rematch, but this time it was all heat. taking on the mavs in the second quarter, look at dwayne wade, calm, cool, collected, like he's playing at the local gym. soft touch off the glass, heat up at seven by the break. wade to james, finish the fast break with authority. james and chris bosh both had 19 and 9 boards. heat won it easily 106-85. now to los angeles, an emotional return for derek fisher, received two standing ovations. that's about all lakers had to cheer about. oklahoma city's other guard had 36, the thunder dominated the over half and beat the lakers. nhl's been a rough year for sidney crosby. crosby took a puck to the face against the islanders. watch closely. it got him right in the nose. rattled and bloody, he's laid on the ice for about a minute before gathering himself and skating off. he did return, but it wasn't enough. islanders beat the pens for the second time this week 5-3. no need to wait until next week for baseball. the season's already started in japan. oakland paid top dollar for cuban rescue, and the investment is paying off. his first home run in the bigs, oakland wins 4-1. the north carolina tar heels lost in the elite eight. hensen and marshall and one more have declared for the nba draft. at 5'9", james justice from martin methodist was the smallest player in the field. but nothing small about that. that's your winner, give him the bell, justice was served as james justice won the college dunk contest. that's your early look at sports on "early today." i'm fred roggin. another day in court for lindsay lohan. your early morning business headlines straight ahead. and thanks to science and one company's generosity, precious memories are being saved from nature's fury. you're watching "early today." welcome back to "early today." heavy rain moving through areas of wisconsin and illinois this morning, will slide through all of the great lakes, northern portion of the ohio valley during the day today, also some thunderstorms popping up, hit and miss from louisiana all the way through atlanta. as we go through saturday, heavy rain early in the day will move through new york city, but north of there up in the higher terrain of connecticut and also the catskills, maybe the poconos, we'll mix in some welt snow. in the middle of the country, you're going to enjoy a nice, warm toasty sunday. sunday, 90s in texas and oklahoma, near 90 in kansas city. incredible heat in the middle of the country so far this spring. if you're watching us on wlwt news 5 in cincinnati, ohio. explore the midwest through photos taken through the windshield of a 1960 buick la saber. that drive-by at the weston art gallery. now here's an early look at some this morning's headlines in entertainment. this weekend "the hunger games" will still dominate, but two dame new films will do well. the only question is, how much will it take the top spot? 70 million is not out of the question, but are hard-core fans going back for a second look, could drive that total higher. such a huge following. "wrath of the titans," the sequel to 2010's "clash of the titans," will rely on fan loyalty despite not so great reviews, it should start earning back its estimated $150 million cost, taking in about 40 million. >> "mirror mirror" is the first of two snow white movies out this year. this one stars julia roberts and newcomer lilly collins. though critics like it, men aren't likely to. it should earn around 20 million this weekend. and finally, and we do mean finally, lindsay lohan's probation is over. >> my girl is free! >> some said it would never happen. yesterday the judge gave lohan credit for committeeing her community service and therapy. and left her with some advice, stop nightclubing and focus on your work. i keep telling bill that. >> if you can be on top of your game and nightclub and work, why not? >> right. but we question if you're at the top of your game. i'm still on the fence about that. this comes to us from wave 3 news in louisville, kentucky. in henryville, indiana, precious items thought to be claimed by this month's deadly tornado are being saved. priceless family photos that were ripped, muddied and mangled by the twister's fury are being rescued by a small photography student yoi. the mom and pop operation is using digital technology in a race to save and restore the images electronically and all for free, giving victims a picture of hope. dog a great deed there. i'm lynn berry. this is "early today," just your first stop of the day today on your nbc station. 4:28 is our time now. we have 46 degrees. kind of cool here in the nation's capital. good morning to you, i'm joe krebs. >> and i'm eun yang. welcome to "news4 today" for this friday, march 30, 2012. breaking news right now. a u.s. drone strike killed four suspected militant and wounded three others this morning in the northern part of pakistan. intelligence officials say they did not have details on the identities or nationalities of the suspected militants. we'll have more throughout the newscast. we're also following breaking news out of afghanistan. nato says that two of its service members have been killed in the south part of the country. one man was killed in a roadside bomb explosion, the other in an insurgent attack. nato did not disclose any further details. so far this year, 88 international troops have been killed in afghanistan. five members of a fairfax county street grain accused of running an underage prostitution ring. police say donyell dob and others approached on school grounds and facebook. they're accused of parading the girls around alexandria apartments to solicit sex. the girls were threatened and abused if they wanted out. >> young women including juveniles were allegedly targeted, recruited, exploited, physically abused, and threatened, and put at risk for financial gain by others. >> police say as many as ten girls were recruited by gang members over the last five years. today's friends and family of a maryland woman will hold a protest rally calling for changes in domestic violence laws.