this growing crisis in the gulf. the latest fix has been delayed again. when does this stop? the money trail behind the scheme to blow up times square. the survivor learning now about the small boy who was the only survivor that terrible airline crash. making a difference. america's injured warriors in a strong show of fighting spirit. and all natural, a moment on this morning's "today show" that touched a nerve for a the lot of women. "nightly news" begins now. captions paid for by nbc-universal television good evening. the following piece of videotape has become a powerful image, the

oil spewing out of that bp well in the gulf of mexico a mile under water. there is nothing to stop it and we learned today the latest fix, that so-called top hat they want to put over it will probably have to wait a few more days. the owner of the rig asked the government today to cap the amount they will have to pay, and the ceo of bp admitted they could have been better prepared for this. at 4 million plus gallons of crude oil, it got bigger today, it gets bigger every day with no sure fix in sight. it's our lead story again tonight. we begin with our chief environmental affairs correspondent anne thompson in venice, louisiana. good evening. >> reporter: good evening, brian. that leak continues unabated tonight as bp considers two strategies to contain it. and one of the other companies involved is trying to limit the amount of money it is going to have to pay for its role in this disaster.

transocean, the owner of the oil rig that exploded and killed 11 workers today asked a federal court in houston to limit its legal liability in this case to just $27 million. igniting a new round of outrage. >> notice they didn't file it while the congressional hearings were going on. they waited until the day after. >> reporter: bp postponed putting the top hat containment dome over the biggest leak while it considers using an insertion tube to control the spill. this strategy sends a new riser down to the leak. the tapered end would be placed in the hole and the oil would be suctioned out to tanker on the surface. bp expects to choose which device to deploy in the next two to three days. with still no way to plug the leak, bp ceo tony heyward told reporters last night, "it is clear we can find things we will do differently, capability that we could have available to deploy instantly, rather than creating it as we go."

in its fourth week this spill has grown to nearly half the size of the "exxon valdez" spill in alaska's prince william sound. the 1989 accident coated 1,200 miles of coastline with oil and polluted 11,000 square miles of ocean. >> the coastal zones on the earth are some of the most precious territory we have on the planet. that environment is potentially harmed by even small doses of oil. >> reporter: here in louisiana, my colleague mark potter reports pollution is the number one concern. >> merlin schaeffer, the owner of schaeffer seafood in louisiana is already seeing a big drop in the supply of shrimp, crabs and oysters, and prices are going way up. >> it's going to be quite a few years for this because of the adult shrimp and baby shrimp having to swim away from the oil, for one thing. if the baby crabs get caught in oil, there will be no more crabs. >> reporter: robert campos shudders at any comparison to

the val deez. he watched exxon's two decade-long court fight to get a $5 billion award reduced to just $507 million. timely paid out last year. >> i just hope and pray that bp takes better care of the people in this town than exxon took care of the people up in prince william sound. >> reporter: and brian, that prayer is being repeated around this area. bp says the price tag for the spill so far is $450 million. that's for the containment efforts for the clean up and for some settlements. and it is increasing at a rate of $10 million a day. brian? >> anne thompson, venice, louisiana, again tonight. anne, thanks. try to imagine every day life in new orleans and southern louisiana right now. life has shut down for some. some can't make a living. that could go on for years, as we wait out a slow and growing environmental bomb just offshore.

garland robinet is the voice of new orleans on ww radio. he was born and raised in louisiana and is a big wetlands advocate. is this like waking up dafr to the same bad dream? >> it is. we warned people about this for 30 years after katrina hit we tried to tell the country that the wetlands that your 30% of oil we pipe to you set on these wetlands that might be ruined and threaten your energy. so, yes, continuing nightmare. >> in your part of the world you've got shrimpers living next door to oil rig workers. they all go off to work in the morning, all feeding an insatiable appetite by this country. how do you reconcile all of this? >> it's really tough. as you well know, you darn near lived down here, we have in the same family oil workers and shrimpers or shrimpers that work with the oil wells when they

don't work their three months of seafood harvesting. it's a schizophrenic population we've got right now. >> after katrina, americans rose up and said, what do they need down there? we'll give them anything we have. same question to you now. we've been covering this night after night. you've been living this day after day. what do you need down there that americans can give? >> continue to come to see us. believe it or not our seafood is still here. i had oysters today. nothing has changed for tourists or the people that come to new orleans. what we are concerned about is late this afternoon in three different parishes we are seeing tar balls about the size of a softball, about the consistency of jell-o. it may be coming in under water. if that's true, we are really threatened in seafood and the

oil energy. >> garland robinette, we are thinking of you every day. thank you for being with us tonight. >> thank you, brian. ever since the fbi arrested the man they say tried to blow up times square they tried to figure out where he got the money for his plot, and whether there was anybody funding him. today fbi agents moved in on people in three states. tonight they say they have more information, clues about the money trail. for more on this story we are joined by our justice correspondent pete williams who's been following it all day in our washington bureau. pete, good evening. >> reporter: brian, these searches follow up on what officials say faisal shahzad told the fbi in detail, that he received money sent to him from pakistan through cash exchanges, and couriers in the u.s. federal agents and local police searched homes and businesses today in the suburbs of boston, philadelphia and new york city, as they follow the money connection. two pakistani men in massachusetts now held for

immigration violations, and a third in maine, are said to have helped shahzad receive money from pakistan. investigators stress that so far they have no evidence to suggest that the men had any idea shahzad was planning to set off a bomb in times square. >> there is a basis to believe one of the things they did was to provide him with funds. so we are trying to trace back to see what exactly was the nature of those transactions? what was the purpose of the sharing of those moneys. >> reporter: also here in washington, new york's members of congress were fuming over the latest round of homeland security grants, and one of them unloaded today on attorney general holder. >> i have to tell you as the chief law enforcement officer of this country, some of the funding decisions made by this administration have been mind-numbingly, insanely wrong. >> reporter: new york share of grant money for beefing up rail

and port security was cut from about $200 million last year to $145 million this year, but the obama administration says new york got an extra $100 million for rail and port security in economic stimulus money bringing the total above last year. president obama was in new york today praising the first responders who found the bomb in times square and evacuated the area he called it a model for the country, a source of national pride. and he said he wanted to make certain the city gets the federal support they need. >> terrorism front and center. pete williams in washington, thanks. the president of afghanistan, hamid karzai, i had tribute to america's war dead today, those who died on afghan soil. he visited arlington national cemetery. he was joined by defense secretary gates and other u.s. military leaders. karzai visited section 60 of the cemetery, whiches you a may know is the burial ground for men and women killed in afghanistan and iraq more than 600 u.s. vet vans are buried there. violence returned to the

city of bangkok. a rogue general regarded as the military leader of the anti-government red shirts and labeled a terrorist by the government, was shot in the head today as he was being interviewed by foreign journalists, including the "new york times." he was rushed to a hospital in critical condition. now to the economy here. home foreclosure filings were down in april compared to the year before. first time that's happened in over four years. it sounds good, but the reason may not be all that positive. realty track says banks are so overwhelmed with foreclosures right now, they're already processing that they have slowed down in taking on new ones. president obama was talking the economy earlier today on a visit upstate to buffalo, new york. his message? the steps he's taken to turn the economy around have worked. not everyone agrees. he was greeted in buffalo by a blunt billboard with a message about the state of the current job market. he took pains today to say he understands it.

>> you know, economists have all kinds of fancy formulas and mathematical equations to measure the exact moment the recession ended. it's great that the stock markets bounced back, but if you're still looking for a job out there, it's still a recession. if you can't pay your bills or mortgage, it's still a recession. no matter what the economists say, it's not a real recovery until people feel it in their own lives. >> that plant he spoke in, by the way, is adding jobs. he said that was proof of his policies despite what he called the nay-sayers. health news now. a major development in a story we told you about earlier this week here, has to do with those dna testing kits that were supposed to go on sale tomorrow at walgreens drug stores across the country. now they are not going to. there's been a change. the story from our chief science correspondent robert bazell. >> reporter: news of walgreens to offer a dna testing this week

prompted a quick letter from the fda telling kit maker pathway genomics it has not approved the product. that led to a statement from walgreens, "we've elected not to move forward offering the product until we have further clarity on this matter." the actions were welcomed by many physicians, bioethicists and genetic counselors. >> we don't know that information will be helpful in any way. >> reporter: everyone agrees in professional settings, genetic testing can be useful, even life saving. the problem with the test kits sold for years by several companies on the internet is that they often give incomplete information. common conditions like heart disease, alzheimer's and cancers are caused by many genes. most not even discovered yet. the kits measure only a few. >> simply knowing there is a change on one gene is not going to indicate whether you have any predisposition to acquiring the disease in the future. >> reporter: after the walgreens episode, the fda is likely to

take a harder look at the internet company selling dna information. many experts see the regulation as critical because the ability to test dna is now moving forward as quickly as the technology to make chips for computers. the company selling the kits argue that people have a right to know their genetic information. the professionals say there should not be a right to information that could falsely scare or falsely reassure people about their future health. robert bazell, nbc news, new york. when we continue here in just a moment, the young boy who was the sole survivor of yesterday's airline crash. what he was and was not told yesterday's airline crash. what he was and was not told about what has happened. the soil you put it in.ood look, both these potted plants got the same sun. same water. only difference? this. miracle-gro potting mix. rich organic ingredients with miracle-gro plant food mixed right in. now it even feeds plants for 6 straight months.

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at the cause. the jet was a new airbus a330, built in europe with american engines built by ge, our parent company. we have more information tonight about the only survivor of that crash. a young boy found alive amid the wreckage that claimed 103 souls onboard, including both his parents and his older brother. the story tonight from nbc's jim meceda. >> reporter: his name, ruben vonassa, the 9-year-old sole survivor confirmed his own identity when he recognized his aunt and uncle by his hospital bedside and did what any boy would do. >> i think he is happy to see her. >> reporter: the it took more than four hours to reset all the broken bones in his legs, but libyan doctors and dutch officials say ruben is out of danger and could return to the netherlands within days. >> actually i have seen for myself that he is okay. he is awake. he's talking and listening.

>> reporter: but this official says, ruben has not yet been told he is an orphan. both his parents and older brother perished in the crash. ruben was flying home with his family from a south african saf avery, celebrating his parent's wedding anniversary when the airlines flight crashed only yards from the tripoli runway. in holland, flags flew at half-staff while stunned relatives and class mates of 70 dutch victims, many students on spring break tried to make sense of the tragedy. ruben's home marked by flowers and visit from school friends. "he laughs all the time. he plays with lego in the classroom. everyone likes him." investigators found the airbus 330's record data and recorders. >> the only answer they may come upon will be it's a miracle. >> reporter: a miracle boy who doesn't yet know his life has been shattered.

jim meceda, nbc news, london. coming up, how many women do you know who would go on national television without make-up? desperate for nighttime heartburn relief? for many, nexium helps relieve heartburn symptoms caused by acid reflux disease. and for the majority of patients with prescription coverage for nexium, it can cost $30 or less per month. headache, diarrhea, and abdominal pain are possible side effects of nexium. other serious stomach conditions may still exist. ask your doctor if nexium can help relieve your heartburn symptoms. if you can't afford your medication, astrazeneca may be able to help. if you have high cholesterol, high blood pressure or diabetes, you may also have very high triglycerides -- too much fat in the blood. it's a serious medical condition. lovaza, along with diet, effectively lowers very high triglycerides in adults

but has not been shown to prevent heart attacks or strokes. lovaza starts with omega-3 fish oil that's then purified and concentrated. it's the only omega-3 medication that's fda-approved. you can't get it at a health food store. lovaza isn't right for everyone. tell your doctor if you're allergic to fish, have other medical conditions and about any medications you're taking, especially those that may increase risk of bleeding. blood tests are needed before and during treatment. in some, ldl or bad cholesterol may increase. possible side effects include burping, infection, flu-like symptoms, upset stomach, and change in sense of taste. ask your doctor about lovaza, the prescription that starts in the sea.

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you might have heard is there a big media story making the rounds tonight. reports our own network nbc decided to cancel "law and order" after 20 seasons. the decision would not affect the many "law and order" spin-offs like "svu" and "law and order los angeles." our own network nbc is not confirming the reports. and there was a lot of talk today about something that happened on "today" here on nbc. the hosts of the fourth hour of "today" decided to show a different face to the world today, a face without the make-up that we all usually wear to go on television. it became clear this morning to those who saw it that this experiment went beyond television. >> this is a special no make-up zone edition of "today." with a bare-faced kathie lee

gifford and make-upless hoda kotbe. yikes. >> women we are used to seeing like this every day today like this. the way they really look. >> i feel vulnerable. >> it is weird. we are used to having things covered up. >> a little protection. now that i see our monitor, i know why. >> seeing both women untouched clearly touched a nerve. a number of "today show" viewers posted their own naked faces and strong messages of support. one said, this reminds me of the dorms in college. for one week each year all of the mirrors were covered so girls wouldn't look at themselves and feel fat or ugly. we would have to go to class "as is." another denounced make-up saying, "you can still feel beautiful without it." this started as a challenge from rosie o'donnell who showed her

face this morning. so did meredith vieira and ann curry. a few members of the morning family were missing. >> bottom line is the men on the show, they're wearing make-up, too. >> you would think they know by now men are notoriously vain. ♪ the breaking day is dawning. ♪ ♪ you gotta go, you gotta go, ♪ ♪ it's alright. ♪ and when i get the same reaction. ♪ ♪ i know this time ♪ it's gonna give some satisfaction. ♪ ♪ you gotta go, you gotta go. ♪ [ both screaming ] i got into one of the most expensive schools in the country! [ male announcer ] when stress gives you heartburn with headache... alka-seltzer gives you relief fast. [ low male ] plop, plop. [ high male ] fizz, fizz.

another heart attack could be lurking, waiting to strike. a heart attack caused by a clot, one that could be fatal. but plavix helps save lives. plavix, taken with other heart medicines, goes beyond what other heart medicines do alone, to provide greater protection against heart attack or stroke and even death by helping to keep blood platelets from sticking together and forming clots. ask your doctor about plavix. protection that helps save lives. people with stomach ulcers or other conditions that cause bleeding should not use plavix. taking plavix alone or with some other medicines including aspirin may increase bleeding risk, so tell your doctor when planning surgery. certain genetic factors and some medicines, such as prilosec, may affect how plavix works. tell your doctor all the medicines you take, including aspirin, especially if you've had a stroke. if fever, unexplained weakness or confusion develops, tell your doctor promptly. these may be signs of ttp, a rare but potentially life-threatening condition, reported sometimes less than 2 weeks after starting plavix. other rare but serious side effects may occur. and then there's most complete.

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time for tonight's "making a difference" report. we've seen how tough the transition to life back at home can for so many young men and women returning from america's dual wars in iraq and afghanistan. it is worse for those wounded or injured. this week at one of the nation's premiere sports training centers in colorado springs, dozens of wounded vets are coming together for a unique event where they compete against one another and in the process prove something important to themselves. here is our story from nbc's peter alexander. >> reporter: travis green has always been a competitor. a roadside bomb in iraq couldn't change that. >> i don't remember any pain from it. i do remember looking down and seeing my legs were already gone. >> reporter: this week this retired marine corporal is back in action in colorado springs,

america's olympic team headquarters. this is the first of its kind warrior games. 187 wounded veterans from both iraq and afghanistan, all five military branches represented, along with their historic rivalries. stacey pearsall is competing in three sports. this former airman went to war to take pictures. an insurgent air war let her scarred on the inside with a spine injury and post traumatic stress. she is still haunt by the memories of the troops, friends she photographed, some of whom didn't make it. >> there will always be their faces in the friendship i shared with them that will stick with me. >> reporter: the competition is fierce, sometimes painful, always fulfilling.

olympic athletes spend years training for that golden moment. here the competition itself is a form of training. sport is rehabilitation, preparing these disabled veterans for the rest of their lives. >> going back to playing basketball with your buddies or running with your 5-year-old son is really a significant aspect of what we see as the positive rehab process to jump back into life. >> just being out there, everything about my disability just goes out the window. >> reporter: travis green is so encouraged by the confidence sports have given him he recently launched his own program for people with disabilities. veterans with a shared experience and a shared set of goals. competition, camaraderie and healing. peter alexander, nbc news, colorado springs. >> and that's our broadcast for this thursday night. thank you, as always, for being here with us. i'm brian williams. we hope to see you back here tomorrow evening. good night. -- captions by vitac -- www.vitac.com