there is a search on tonight for the gunmen who fired at a cherry hill neighborhood striking a 57 year-old community activist. it happened last night hours after video release of the shooting with a five year-old girl was also hit by a stray bullet. our reporter joins us live from outside of the baltimore city police headquarters. >> people in cherry hill say that 59 year-old woman is a staple in the community. she is the glue holding it together, doing so much to curb the violence out there. imagine the irony that she is sitting at home and notices that she has been shot by a stray bullet. she tells of her first reaction when she was hit by a stray bullet as she was sitting on her couch in her home around 9:00 tuesday night. she heard a loud boom. you can see where the bullet went through this window and

threw her couch. >> i put pressure right there. i saw blood on my fingers. i realize i had been shot. >> she heard a few more shots and then police and paramedics arrived. the unbelievable part of this story is that she is considered a top activist in the cherry hill community. she says she has had enough. >> nobody wants to get involved. nobody wants to say anything. this is never going to stop. >> wednesday night, one commissioner was out with other citizens. this is the same neighborhood where five year-old raven wyatt was critically injured after being hit by a stray gunfire as seen in this police video in the lamont davis case. >> there is a commitment to making this neighborhood safe. >> the commissioner says officers are doing everything

they can. neighborhoods and families need to pitch in. he also talked about his friend. >> knuckleheads are running around the neighborhood. we have seen disputes whether it is over petty drug deals or turf wars and firing shots indiscriminately and injuring people. >> she is looking at the positive. >> i think about what it did not do. i am still here. i still have work to do. >> a good outlook. she is expected to make a full recovery. concerning the investigation, police do not know how many people were involved and they have no suspects. anyone with information should call baltimore city police. the bba ltv. >> -- wbal tv 11 news. >> victims were innocent

bystanders. what can be done to end the culture of violence? >> i was standing there watching this. i was accepting it not because i wanted to. >> this is the video showing a man opening fire in broad daylight. five year-old raven wyatt was shot in the crossfire. during the gunfire, people are standing nearby. they never flinched. it got us thinking about the violent culture of the city as a whole and what could be done to change it. >> we are in a state of emergency. >> we sat down with a doctor who is a former fbi agent. he grew up on the streets of west baltimore. he says it is not so much that people are numb to the senseless

violence, they have no way to escape. >> they adapt. they do not like it or accept it. they are not numb to it. where did they go? that is what we have to change. >> he says communities have to get outraged about the culture of violence, even when it does not directly impact you. >> good people have to be aggressive and say this is unacceptable. that has not happened yet. >> we have to intervene before fibrils get shot. >> -- before 5 year olds get shot. >> this doctor applaud the efforts and says more needs to be done. we need to make sure that children know that education is the key to success and change. >> it is the people who are traumatized who have to live in those environments and have to

watch it and the children are growing up into the environment. >> he says baltimore city has come a long way, but there is more work that needs to be done. the baltimore city man accused of raping a woman is free tonight. the city state's attorney has dropped all 11 counts against him. he is 45 years old. even though he was picked out of a total lineup by the victim, the dna evidence did not stack up. >> the report indicated that the dna that was recovered from the crime scene did not match his dna. therefore it exonerated his involvement in this case. >> he had been in jail since may of last year. his rape trial was supposed to begin today. police said one man used to the internet to try to set up sex with someone he thought was a 13

year-old girl. his investigation began in june. police say most of the chat on- line discussed them having sex. when he arrived at a park, police were waiting. >> the 30-year old man said why do not we meet at the park at 10:00 a.m. in the morning. the undercover trooper went to the park at 10:00 a.m. in the morning, and he showed up. he was placed under arrest. >> if convicted, he will face up to 10 years in prison. in the "medical alert" the debate over health-care reform. senator ben cardin continued to have a meeting in hagerstown today. organizers prepared for a lively crowd. that is what they got. our reporter attended the event

and has more. >> this is not obama country. washington county went to republican john mccain by a vote of 55-43%. a conservative course that was here today. this is the heated health care reform debate boiling over. a town hall meeting in hagerstown hosted by senator ben cardin. before the event, he told reporters that he hopes the crowd would honor the spirit of the town hall style form. it is not -- >> it is not for demonstration but to get information out. we hope those who are attending will gebe respectful. >> they tried to get more questions in from the crowd

asked people to be respectful and get ben cardin on the defense. >> how is my child. you have a better future? [applause] >> i am not going to vote for any bill that adds to the national deficit. >> did the senator change any minds? this crowd left as divided as it went in. >> a lot of garbage. a lot of lies. >> i thought it was very well done. >> we had our minds made up before we got here. >> the numbers show that people in washington county have a certain mind. they had a 72% voter turnout. wbal-tv.

>> there is continuing coverage of the health-care debate on our website at wbaltv.com. click on politics. in the "project economy" report, the fed left some policies unchanged today. a surge in the stock market and growing stability in certain sectors. they watched commodities and gas which are tied to the global economy. in a recovery is adorable to relapse if consumer confidence is not up. >> consumers are still struggling which high unemployment and high state and local taxes and a lot of concerns about the loss of wealth in the stock market and a drop in their home values.

>> the recovery will not be felt until consumer spending shifts into gear. baltimore leaders have approved a big deal leading to a casino being built near the m&t bank stadium. it was previously approved for a sports complex. they will build a small casino. it may have nearly 4000 machines. in the "consumer reports" jetblue airlines is giving customers unlimited travel this fall. the past will cost $600. it will last between september 8 and october 8. go to our web site to find out more information at top-level wbaltv.com.

some ravens and redskins fans cannot wait for the game. president obama called the nation to change. now they have the nation's highest civilian honor. the medal of freedom was given out. and a three day beach bash for state and county officials is underway in ocean city. the taxpayers are footing much of the bill. that story is next. >> a storm is impacting parts of maryland tonight. the forecast is coming up. temperatures are in the mid 70's.

>> 16 people were described as agents of change and were awarded a medal of freedom today. sidney poitier was honored.

sandra day o'connor was also honored. senator edward kennedy was also honored. >> let them stand as an example in the united states and around the world of what we can achieve in our own might. let them stand as an example of the differences we can make in the lives of others. >> other recipients include desmond tutu and billie jean king. an annual beach bash kicked off today in ocean city. there was a tighter budget here than it has been in a long time. lots to talk about regarding scaling back. our reporter finds out how much. >> ocean city will be a hot spot

for many. they will be gathering here for the annual maryland association meeting. the theme is riding the economic cycle. it will occur at the ocean city convention center. one person has been to a lot of the conferences. >> all of these things had a value. who is paying for that? >> taxpayers and special interest groups are paying for it. that is the answer. we want to find out who is cutting back and by how much. baltimore city has 11 representatives. baltimore county has 15. carroll county said 15 people. that is seven fewer than in

2008. howard county cut back the most down to three compared to a previous year. a spokesperson for jim smith considers the experience invaluable. >> the opportunity is invaluable. i think everybody has to do it with an eye on how they managed themselves fiscally. >> the governor's chief of staff asked people to car pool. some question why these suggestions were made a few weeks after the event. >> if this had happened a few months ago, we may have been able to save some more money. >> more than eight people signed

up for the conference this year. also scheduled during the afternoon hours was open seminars. one was regarding pollution pouring into the chesapeake bay. many military families will be moving into one area because the base is moving. there is a cost-saving prescription drug program. the governor canceled his reception friday night at one nightclub. it would save more and $12,000. mayor sheered -- sheila dixon and is still throwing a party and sponsors will pick up the tab. another reception is being held the same evening. ms. >> at some point you have to say why we doing this. what value does this have for

the people? >> it is one of the biggest social-political events of the year. districts hope to improve services and reduce costs. >> the governor's office is sending 19 people last year. the jurisdictions we spoke with said they do not pay for certain fees but they do pay for hotel, registration for the conference, and mileage. >> moist air up there resulting in some downpours. you could hear some thunder as the storm makes its way through. the western part of howard

county is getting some showers now. some showers over the atlantic just off of ocean city. we are not done with the rain chances yet. nothing has hit the rain gauge at the airport or the harbor. some areas remain dry. it is cooler in the mountains. quite warm in the central part of the state. a shower may be possible as we head into the morning. 65 degrees-72 degrees. a front is a stalling along the coast. central and eastern maryland remaining under the clouds. friday and saturday, the storms

become more isolated. we get some more sun over the weekend. there is some unsettled weather over the weekend. the winds are out of the north east and the temperatures generally stay below normal. we will see that tomorrow. scattered storms around the bay. watch out if you were doing some voting. the same scenario at ocean city. about 82 degrees. the surf to mature around 76. a tropical depression is out in the ocean. it may become a tropical storm as it moves to the north and northwest. it could threaten the caribbean.

it could become the first main storm of the season. high temperatures will station amid a's through the week. >> a popular way of showing team pride. a look at the ravens and the redskins official team license plates. that is coming up next. >> i am theresa was 98 rock. over $3 million is up for a plate. 35-38-18-30-31-6.

those are your numbers. if no one matches all six numbers, it will climb to $3,650,000. the next drawing is saturday night here on hamas wbal . let yourself play.

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>> the ravens will face the redskins in their first preseason game. the battle of the beltway played out today. fans lined up in droves out side of the dmv in burnie to get their hands on one of the 300 plates available. it is a way to show their team spirit. >> i got here early. i am not here to support my team and get my tags. >> this is the first time maryland has issued tags for the team here. >> proceeds go to a foundation for the ravens. it is a charity. >> ravens players weigh in on the best thing about finally starting to play some football games. games.

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announcer: during the autobahn for all event, you can get great lease deals. i love it! i just want to know it's the right move. me? thirteen days in the future. you get a deal on the car you always wanted. scheduled maintenance is included, it's all good. what's the future like? you love your new jetta. and the suit? you like it? no...i love it! >> old manager had a talk with transitional players. no short-term results. the orioles lost to the oakland a's 6-3. the long season gets longer.

the to run home part of a 4 run inning for the a's. the orioles tried to play catch- up from there. a to run home run. in the eighth, a walled delivery. -- wild delivery. 6-3 is the final. the two dozen nine ravens season starts -- the 2009 ravens season starts tomorrow night. they are looking at who can play and who cannot. younger veterans will get some place. all of the players get to play

against someone else up the lining up against teammates over the past few weeks. >> and football is football. if you get up there and you see any other color and do not get excited, i do not think you are playing the sport. i am excited to get out there again. football is a great time of the year. everybody is watching. >> you can watch it right here. we will have it for you tomorrow night. you can see the game here on tv 11 and hear the broadcast on 98 rock or wbal radio. the u.s. national soccer team has never beaten mexico. usa 1-0. nine minutes into the game. mexico tied it up.

1-1. it stayed that way. mexico beat usa 2-1 in front of 100,000 fans. he did not have to go out of the country to see the believable. >> i want to get a license plate that says ravens. >> this is probably the single business -- biggest factor. i have no idea to explain the motivation for this. i thought the object in soccer was to make the goalie miss the ball. they should not let their eyes

to touch the ball. ouch. your car is on fire. sometimes you have to know when to let the home run ago. -- go. always stay close to your kids at the ballpark. that way you can look like a good father and fielder at the same time. are not you proud of that now? stick around. you may be proud of tom tasselmyer

>> more scattered thunderstorms tomorrow. some more sunshine for friday and the weekend. >> the tonight show is next. have a good evening.