tax revenues are falling short of expectations. the rainy day fund close of this fiscal year with a balance of $691.8 million. budget experts warned tapping into that would be dangerous. unless it was used to bridge long term solutions. state republicans urge them to reduce spending, put a moratorium on land acquisitions, and stop expanding medicaid coverage. >> we find money under rocks that we did not know about. they came up with hundreds of millions of dollars in reserves. are there any of those rabbits left? >> long-term solutions include extending the temporary tax surcharge on million dollar personal incomes. raise the state gas tax. raise the tax on alcohol. or expand the sales tax to cover

more consumer purchases. the state's largest labor union is seeking long-term budget balancing solutions that will buy back state workers or services. >> they are duplicating personnel services throughout the state. they need to look at the outset contracts which we have seen over and over again. >> analysis of the fiscal 2000 by state spending plan by the budget and tax policy institute indicates that revenues are slightly better than reduced expectations. the latest round of projections will be released by the comptroller's office 838 m one week to it -- 8:30 a.m. one week from today. reporting live from the newsroom, david collins, wbal tv 11 news. >> there is a new federal strategy for restoring the chesapeake bay. it was ordered by president obama himself. we have details. >> this was widely anticipated

as a bold new approach to labor -- bay restoration. it may not be as old as some had hoped. >> the trick is going to beat from getting talking to it to putting it into a measure. >> the chesapeake bay foundation is welcoming the new approach. >> for the first time, the epa is stepping up at taking that approach. they're talking about the right stuff. accountability, enforcement, and penalties for people who continue to pollute. >> $638 million from the department of agriculture is and in large part at curbing runoff pollution and livestock. new rules will be placed in effect by 2025. >> is a much more aggressive approach. the almost walked away from pollution reduction. president obama has said that he wants clean water in the chesapeake bay.

administrator jackson says that she will help get it. >> the new system needs to be a by 2015, a far more aggressive approach. >> it is common sense, but the most important part is accountability. >> the next milestone will come in november when the plan will be released in much greater detail. reporting live, wbal tv 11 news. >> president obama is urging people to take action on health care reform legislation. last night, he made his case in a televised address to congress. we have details. >> president obama kept the pressure on today, speaking to members of the american nurses association at the white house while the debate continues on capitol hill. president obama reiterated his call to an end to what he considered partisan distractions' over health care reform.

>> if there are real differences, let's resolve them. we have talked this issue to death. the time for talk is winding down. the time for bickering has passed. >> democrats hailed the speech as a game changer that to break the stalemate over reform legislation in congress. some analysts disagree. >> is not going to work. he is not as popular as he was. we're not talking about rainbows and puppy dogs. we're talking about insurance and mortgage if i have to make a choice. >> what he did do is lay out to the american detail and very clear terms what he wants to accomplish. >> republicans say the speech offered nothing new. >> the speech was partisan, uninformative, disingenuous -- >> while legislation has moved forward, there is no bipartisan

support for any bill. without it, chances for reform are less certain. >> the goal is clearly in the course of the republican party. are they going to continue to say no? >> he will push his support on saturday when he rallies supporters in minneapolis. >> while the debate moved ahead, a lot of focus remained of the outburst from last night's speech. south carolina congressman joe wilson called president obama lyre last night. >> the reforms i am proposing would not apply to those who are here illegally. >> you live. -- you lie. [boos] >> they wanted me to contact the white house on my statement. they were inappropriate. >> we all make mistakes. he apologized quickly and without equivocation.

i am appreciative of that. >> his outburst drew immediate criticism from both sides of the aisle. he remains adamant that illegal immigrants should not be covered in the final version of the health-care bill. now we want to hear from you. it read yourself on the -- grab your cell phone we are not asking if you agree with it, just if you have a better understanding of the actual plan. you can text this number. standard messaging rates apply. we have heard from 200 of you. 73% say they do have a better understanding. >> of the maryland state delegate convicted earlier this year wild of driving went -- of driving while impaired has been acquitted. the charges stemmed from a 2008 incident where an officer found

the delegate asleep in his car. he once proposed a special license plates for repeat drunk drivers. the democrat is preparing to run for reelection for montgomery county. >> officers arrested a 21-year- old man after he abandoned a pregnant woman when he got out and ran. he was arrested at his home when police found the registration. they strive to stop him for not having a real light. he ran from cops, crashing into a wooded area and running on foot. the woman and the child were not hurt. howard county police are searching for the cause of a fire in a historic barns. fighters were called after they found the bacon to barnet engulfed in flames. the building was leased to a hundred years old.

it may have passed a blacksmith shop in the early 1800's. >> the baltimore ravens are getting ready for their regular- season opener, and restore the fans. hundreds of gathered in downtown. jerry joins us live with more. >> i will tell you what, i am actually competing with a fan at the moment. they're driving it down here. they have packed it in. they have been a sensational job of putting together a party. we are at countdown to kickoff tonight at 7:00. the live one-hour special. we will talk live with reagan's wide receiver and running back -- with the raven's wide receiver and running back.

we start with player introductions. there is no better energized opening that when ray lewis comes out on the the field -- onto the field. it is a perfect description of what sunday should be like. >> i don't care if your rookie or if your 14-year -- you're 14- year. the electricity in that building has its own or up. -- aura. it is so loud and crazy, fans are just out of control. they are ready, we are ready. >> and coming up, we will try to see [unintelligible] live with countdown to kickoff, wbal tb 11 news. >> you can watch our countdown to kickoff special tonight at 7:00 following nbc nightly news.

>> some baltimore students got a tough lesson about the dangers of drinking and driving. >> and it is one of the worst cases of animal cruelty. we will show you how it led to arrests. >> wet weather will try to move out west bound. we have a forecast. clarice guys right now, temperatures in the 60's.

>> stumbled more students got a firsthand look about -- at what important is to not drink and drive. there is a compelling speech. he shared his story of what happened the night of his prom when he decided to drink with friends.

he fell asleep behind the wheel, crash, and it up in a coma. he also spoke to employees. it is a premium drink business that produces a collection of the alcoholic beverages. >> we're learning about the mother and son charged with dozens of cats of animal abuse. >> and what happens to all those animals rescued in pasadena? we're live tonight with more. >> animal control officers are calling this one of the worst cases of animal cruelty they have seen in quite awhile. because of this case and other cases, john leopold has introduced his animal welfare council to help start -- stop animal abuse. >> is one of the worst cases in the last two or three years. >> they are still in shock after rescuing 21 dogs from this home at the 7900 block of orchard beach last month.

all have worms, infested with fleas, and chemical burns from year-end. the home had no running water and was so rancid, firefighters had to use breathing apparatuses while taking pictures for evidence. >> not animal or human being should be living in this type of condition. >> it was the county executive who informed animal control about the problem after getting a call from a concerned neighbor. her son jeffrey -- she and her son jeffrey were charged with dozens of counts of animal neglect. >> the goal is to have the welfare council make recommendations through the administration to strengthen our laws and policies. and also to give us insight as to other remedies for animal where are -- animal welfare

abuse. >> another person says the council of out of citizens another tool in fighting against animal abuse. >> is terrific and horrible. i am sure there is more of it going on out there. that is one of the purposes of the council. to give people another avenue to call. >> 8 of the 21 dogs are in the custody of the spca. one of them had to be put to sleep. there are 11 in miller's bill. another want -- one of those had to be put to sleep, too. the taylors have bitterly someone and the thousand dollars bond and face fines up to $42,000 each and 90 days in jail. >> now, your weather forecast. >> will be keeping an eye on the storm that has been sitting off

the mid-atlantic coast all week long. it is expected to get a little closer tomorrow and bring the rain we have been seeing a little farther inland. there is some heavy rain at on the eastern virginia shore right now. some of the showers are producing some really strong gusty winds. it is fairly, and along the coast -- is fairly column -- calm along the coast. for most of the evening, it will be dry up around baltimore. again, the rain has stayed off to the east. it should stay that way to the evening. the high today was only 73 degrees, below the normal. we're only in the low to mid 60's west of town. 61 degrees due to the clouds and rain. when the has been gusting in the

15 to 25 mile an hour range. ocean city and the naval air station -- temperatures in the 50's in 60's overnight. a chance of shower with a brisk northwest wind. a few hundred miles east of the mouth of the chesapeake bay, those two are funneling the northeast winds that bring a lot of moisture of the ocean. the end result is clouds and showers with the rain moving north and west tomorrow. it lingers in the area on saturday. i don't think it will be a washout. clouds and showers are still scattered around the baltimore area saturday afternoon. it does look like it will clear up as we had in the sunday. with such at the end of the weekend, it might be too warm for the start of the football season. some showers especially on the eastern shore. a small craft advisory. average waves of water 2 feet.

the temperatures cool in the mountains. all around the bay, look for temperatures in the 70's. even a thunderstorm as possible. this is hurricane frederic. at a time, it was a category 3 hurricane. they have weekend, and the trend is expected to continue. 90 mile an hour winds, drifting to the north and becoming a tropical storm over the next couple of days. as we get into the weekend, it drifts to the northwest. it is still way out in the middle of the atlantic and is expected to get a lot weaker over the next five days. 72 tomorrow, almost 80 saturday. we will stay in the low 80's for the early part of next week. >> now, 11 sports. >> power plants live, countdown

to kick out. let's give you an idea of the company i am keeping here tonight. check out chris. what do you think of the night so far? >> is awesome. is live. >> are you jacked up for the ravens this season? >> i can't wait. >> we appreciate the visit. we will look for you on sunday. it is that kind of the night tonight. don't forget, 7:00, we will bring you a one-hour special as the countdown to kickoff. as the ravens set to kick off this season, they are doing it with a little bit of a new field on offense. this is the first time in history that they're coming into the season with a veteran quarterback they love. they look sensational, the final season -- he does have a pretty good chance.

his numbers will reflect his confidence. >> i don't remember exactly what i was feeling, but it is definitely a lot different. [unintelligible] >> just a reminder, coming up, the countdown to kickoff special. we'll be said for the raven's 2009 season. as of september had not been difficult enough, they are in line to make history. i mean that literally when they open up their weekend at yankee stadium. that is because derek dieter is on track with one more hit to become a yankee legend. derek jeter ties lou gehrig for most hits in a yankee uniform.

he will get a chance to break the record friday when they open up the three-game set at yankee stadium. the orioles have yet to win for the very first time. tomorrow night is high-school football might. each week, you help us put the spotlight. where d one at this week? we're going to north baltimore county for the to a showdown -- 2a showdown. we will have that game and several others tomorrow night at 11:00. when tonight kicks off, 7:00, countdown to kickoff. the big band still to come. don't go away.

>> you may have heard about the california lawmaker who resigned over outrage about a videotape of him bragging about his sexual escapades. tonight, hear the comment that got him in trouble and what he says really happened. the congressman who heckled president obama is speaking out. tonight at 11:00, what joe wilson said that spurred him to holler out. one auto maker says that if you buy a car and are unhappy, you can return for a full refund. we have details and a lot more tonight right here

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>> of that storm on the coast continues to produce showers in our area. on the first half of saturday, some scattered showers began to clear up. partly cloudy skies, about 80 degrees. before a few more showers and even a thunderstorm or rise in the middle of next week. a little bit warm there, typically the way. >> thank you for joining us. >> nbc nightly news coming your way next. hey, i'm worried about mrs. lowenberg next door.

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