if he wants the doppler, it is just starting to show up in the mountains of north carolina. it will be positioned just east of norfolk. the snow will also be combining with the system, so two parts combining for an impressive storm over the weekend. the vote that take care of the roads have been quite busy today. we're joined live where they have a busy plan ahead of them. >> of the state highway and the restoration is preparing as we speak, putting down salt on the load -- rads. -- roads. local governments are preparing. at the salt barn behind me was about half full. it is now overflowing with a new shipment of salt.

trucks are now out working. the preparations are certainly under way. some are calling accurate deja vu all over again with a winter storm bearing down on the channel 11 viewing area. word from the state highway administration is to be patient and at all costs, stay off the roads. >> it takes a plow driver an hour or hour and a half to do a full route. he can do one line, go back and do the other lane. you may not see a salt pile, but he or she is out there. >> they are scrambling. >> we have roughly 300 employees that have about to modern 50 pieces of equipment. we have 15,000 tons of salt, definitely prepared to tackle the storm this weekend. >> the office of emergency management held a meeting on thursday to go over operations for the storm and that the best use manpower. that manpower comes with a

price. a december storm, the state spent $20 million on snow removal. baltimore city $1.3 million, howard county, approximately $500,000. carroll county, 340,000. interestingly, each county we spoke with seemed to respond the same way when asked about the pleaded snow removal. they said the snow must be removed at all costs. >> we will do the job that needs to be done to make certain people are safe, regardless of the fact we get whatever amount of snow we get in the next couple of weeks in baltimore county. >> get your errands done early and stay of the roads if at all possible. we have more about the preparations on wbaltv.com.

>> and coming up in 10 minutes, education reporter break down the school's not a situation. there is also continuing coverage on our website where you can report around a that closing. the blog is up and running. more from the meteorologist is only a mouse click away. >> becoming snowstorm has become issue #1 for baltimore's new mayor. around public property this afternoon, she became the 40 nightmare, replacing sheila dixon that resigned amid scandal. first, we are joined live from city hall with more on the transition of power. >> mayor stephanie rollings blake immediately tackle some enormous problems, including a record budget deficit and that looming snowstorm that could

shut down the city of baltimore. >> i, stephanie rollings blake -- >> she took the oath of office standing next to her mother, husband, and a daughter sophia. >> today marks the beginning of a new day in city government. not all of us must it said the challenges and hard work that, this. -- all of us must prepare for the challenges and hard work that comes with this. >> the snowfall this weekend and the budget deficit, it will snow was under the next few months. it will be trying times, but she is ready to move forward. >> the projects and the

snowstorm -- the leadership team made up of new staff and holdovers is a move that impressed councilwoman mary clark. >> she is not throwing out the old to bring in the new, but she is bringing what has been working with some of what will be her initiatives. >> she was appointed to the remainder of sheila dixon's term that ends in late 2011. >> sheila dixon's resignation was effective at noon today as part of a plea agreement that allowed her to keep her pension to a joint -- avoid jail time. dixon was sentenced today. >> the judge left no doubt how he feels about this case and this defendant, saying it was

petty, tawdry corruption and special entitlement. the judge said that the city can afford. -- move forward. >> it was her last act as mayor, a 30 minute or room -- it courtroom appearance. she said nothing, the judge said plenty. >> he wanted to make sure that she knew that she had committed to serious wrongs and was being punished for it. >> she leaves the office in total disgrace, the judge said. attacked by a badge of dishonor that she will live with the last of her life. the judge took aim at public statements that dickson made placing blame elsewhere. he dispelled the idea that the prosecution was nothing more than politics. from what i saw, the judge said, the case was strong if not overwhelming. if anything, the jury was generous to mr. dixon in

convicting her of only a single count. with probation before judgment, she gets to go on with no criminal record. >> most defendants are not going to receive the kind of conditions the mayor did for two separate criminal and serious acts nosh dixon left the courthouse through the garage. >> that is something you will deal with in future stories. >> it spares the city from what he calls for their agony, but taxpayers will remain on the hook. the $83,000 pension starts paying next month. dickson's deal thus avoid a second trial on those perjury charges. had the case gone to trial, he has no doubt she would have been convicted in that case, too. >> coverage of city hall

transition continues on our web site where you'll find the one on one with mayor like. it can also read bob -- the blog at wbaltv.com, click on "iteam." >> it is a phrase often word -- at her during collection year. what about term limits on members of the general assembly? the idea comes from a first term delegate. >> if that happens at all, it would not be as fast as this. the bill requires 2/3 vote from each chamber. it will be put on a november ballot for voters to decide. >> the republican delegate is not the most popular legislator these days. he did not ask any of his colleagues to co-sponsor his

bill, a piece of legislation that would most definitely [unintelligible] >> it was a part-time legislature. it came from all aspects of society. >> there are elected members considered a part-time legislature. are a couple of preachers and even a chauffeur. the lawmakers now consider this a full-time job in in other words, career politicians. term-limit opponents say that is not necessary because there is already processed to and place -- in place to ensure the changing of the guard. >> there is a process we have got called elections? >> he has been senat epresident

since 1987. when veteran lawmakers are gone, the ones running the show don't have to run for office. >> when you have term limits, you have running on a elected staff people -- you have on- elected staff people running elected bodies. they are at least talking about it even though the concept is an irony. lawmakers essentially voted themselves out of office. >> new faces and new ideas. >> we did some checking. back in 1990, as many of 50 lawmakers consider this their only job. that number has fluctuated from 36 to 41 as it currently stands. >> and here is a look ahead. >> the basketball team tries to

play its way back in the national rankings. the football team learns it will open next season in the national spotlight. we will tell you why. >> how many school systems are keeping a close watch on the opposing -- approaching storm? coming up, what plans are the making for tomorrow? >> a winter storm warning in effect for the baltimore area, and a blizzard warning on the coast. details coming up. 35 at -- went out of the west.

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>> into nine's education -- tonight's education alert, -- >> may have to decide whether to send students to school with the possibility of sending them home again. >> it is a tough call.

it is a safety concern for those who ride the bus. when the snow hit in the middle of the day, it can be a challenge to get them home. transportation officials are preparing for a worst-case scenario. >> snow is not forecasted to start until late in the afternoon. it starts about 9:00 with temperatures dropping below freezing immediately. that is probably the worst. >> the latest weather and road conditions will pass along that information to the superintendent that makes the final call to either delay or close early. >> they are very good at giving detailed information about the weather. and i have all of those resources available to make a very good decision regarding the school. >> for now, the word has gone

out to bust drivers to be on standby. >> they are certainly in tune with what the weather is going to be. they're waiting to hear whatever announcement we may have. regarding schools closing early. >> it is hard to tell when and if that will happen. >> if you want to review the county policy on closings, go to wbaltv.com. >> this is a weather alert. >> before the weekend is over, and points west to the ohio valley. 38 degrees, 41 at the inner

harbor. normal is 42. the record high was 72. around the beltway, temperatures are pretty much above freezing. south toward pasadena, is 35. 35 on the coast in ocean city. temperatures are just below freezing. >> high, thin cirrus clouds already stretching across maryland now. they will increase and chicken overnight. the temperature will drop to four, but it will -- and thicken overnight. the temperature will drop, but it will -- it will be an indication that the wind becomes a factor. saturday, wind is gusting. eastern maryland and southern maryland, a winter storm warning

that includes -- they did shad ein on that - -shade i non that map -- shade in on that map. that is why these advisories have been issued. you can see where they combine. high pressure to the north has been building today. that will supply the cold air as a storm in the gulf starts to shoot the gulf moisture in our direction. this will also combine with it to produce a storm east of north slope -- norfolk. >> they are speeding up and producing snow in north carolina. that will steadily spread in our direction. it looks like the snow line crosses the potomac by about

noontime. the friday evening rush hour, and looks like we will be dealing with moderate to heavy snow coming in from the southwest. perhaps 2 to 4 inches of snow. intensity is decreasing as we get into friday night. 29, they're going to get heavy snow in the mountains once you get on the road and head out that way. around the bay by evening, 37 degrees. the rain, sleet, snow mixture will change over to also know as the star begins to pull away -- will change over to all snow as the storm and begins to pull away. as the cold air gets pulled into the storm, even ocean city gets a shot at some snow as the storm is moving away. sunshine returns for super bowl

sunday. it is going to be windy and cold. a little less as you get into some of the mixed precipitation. a good 17-26 inches by saturday evening. it starts tomorrow midday. by saturday evening, we have fresh snow on the ground around the baltimore area. snow likely from late tomorrow and saturday with the wind kicking in. 32 for the high on saturday. temperatures fall for the 20's. sunshine, breezy and cold on sunday. another storm heads this way, but still a chance for more snow on tuesday night wednesday morning. >> and now, 11 sports. >> this is a critical game at florida state. it pushes maryland to the top of the acc. we have a preview.

>> a very disappointing. >> well said. they offered up their worst game of the season, a teaching tool for gary williams? will he blow up teh tape? -- the tape? >> that is the way you have to do it during the season. it will be on the first five games that we played in the league and we will go from there. >> in the midst of the disaster of an effort, we did see light. the freshman even learn iraqi of the week honors. -- rooke oie of the week honors. maryland assets outside, looking and at the n.c.a.a. tourney. they had not a single quality land -- when. time to fix that?

absolutely. a job that must begin tonight at florida state. >> we were 6 and 0. no team is going to get away with not playing well. that is what is out there for us the last 10 games. >> thank you, pete. at the day after signing the recruiting class, the football team got another high-profile boost for the program today, and national tv audience to kick off the season. they will open on labor at home against navy and a game televised on espn. you can find the entire maryland football schedule on wbaltv.com. bad weather coming, sports schedules have started to double. the men's basketball game against james madison scheduled for saturday is postponed.

it is now on monday night at 7:00. we will have more for you on wbal radio. we have the dicey seven-day forecast up -- coming up.

>> a second automaker says it will affect more than 70,000 vehicles. hull ford plans to address the problem with popular hybrid models that has. and people are looking to lose weight. were you spend time can help you track your waistline. those stories

>> a lot of snow coming our way into saturday, possibly measuring by 1.5 feet or 2 feet of snow by the time is winding down saturday evening. lots of sunshine on sunday. the fine weather on monday, and another storm not quite as strong with more snow on tuesday next week. >> we had a dress rehearsal last snow. >> is the real deal. >> we will have the latest at 11:00. [ male announcer ] mark your calendar.

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