$121 million budget deficit. perhaps the real purpose of the plan is to get everybody used to the idea of higher taxes and fees. >> these cuts are particularly tough. >> it was anything but our rosy budget picture today, presented at the city's board of estimates. >> this is the biggest budget debt -- reduction in 19 years. >> it calls for the layoffs of more than 600 city employees, 120 in the police department and 91 in the fire department. seven city fire houses would close. 29 rec jurors would close. -- 29rec centers would close. >> let me be clear. some of the cuts would be forced to make are simply unacceptable. >> the mayor said she will present an alternative plan in three weeks that include nurmi -- new measures to raise new

revenue and offset some of the cuts detail today. for now she will only say what she won't do. >> i will not propose to increase the property tax. >> one likely target is the city's nonprofits, such as hospitals and universities. they are exempt from the city's property-tax. >> city budget officials say the deficit is the result primarily of three factors, a big drop in state highway funds, a drop in the city's share of the state income tax revenues, and fast rising pension costs, especially in the police and fire pension system. if they ever come to pass. -- the cuts will be felt by everyone if they ever come to pass. >> things are so bad that just

about anyone who spends time in baltimore city will probably feel the impact. there is no money for the fourth of july fireworks at the inner harbor. no money to put on the annual preakness parade, no money to pick up your bulk trash or to fix broken street lights. >> animal control is being hit 11%. are we going to be able to pick up the carcasses of dead animals in the street? >> is the worst-case budget scenario, and it will happen unless baltimore city drums of some new revenue, warns the mayor. >> after we have taken an assessment of what cuts we can live with, to find a way to restore some of them. i plan to start having those conversations. >> council members say they are talking about as simulated slot

machine bill that could raise $10 million, a possible parking tax increase. >> putting a tollbooths up at 83 or a at the baltimore county line where the of governor -- government can share the revenue. this sounds interesting, but i am not sure would have a legal authority to be able to do that. the city cannot do a commuter tax, but we can look at the parking tax and make sure -- >> they need to find the $2 million to restore some of the public safety and rec center cuts. they are hoping that private sponsors come forward to make sure the fourth of july and preakness traditions continue. >> meanwhile, the state senate has approved a revised $30 million state budget. the senate cut almost $120

million by the governor's budget proposal, but it is doubtful the house will go along with the new plan. it calls for county governments to pick up teacher pension costs beginning in fiscal 2012. >> should help insurance plans pay for sex offenders to bye-bye accra? one interrelated that became an issue in the u.s. senate as republicans kept up their effort to stall the democrats' version of health reform. >> america's registered sex offenders and predators and their access to back rep. how did that become a health reform issue? >> this is a political exercise or to many on the other side of the aisle. >> democrats want health care seen as a done deal. but when house democrats passed it sunday, they also passed a set of changes.

higher taxes on the well-off, lower taxes on union health plans that senate democrats hope to ok this week. >> it will make further improvements to the bill that the president signed just yesterday. rex but republicans are objecting. >> war taxes and more mandates and more burdens. >> is a sham perpetrated on the american people. >> to slow the process, republicans are proposing amendments like banning the sale of by ever to sex offenders, daring democrats to vote no. >> if this bill goes through without this amendment, if tax dollars are going to be paying for backgrounviagra for child m. >> it is clear that there is a lot of game play: on. republicans believe all the

other recent polls and say that will keep trying to tie up health reform in the senate. >> the passions in the health- care debate had not cooled. >> gusty winds but lots of sunshine and mild temperatures across the region today. there are changes on the way. it is a volatile weather system. we will see a lot of changes over the next few days. it can see right now things are quiet on hd doppler. range shows up all across parts of the ohio valley. it is a pretty good storm, producing storms on the south side in parts of texas and another round of snow in the colorado rockies. there is some cold air on the other side of the storm will have to watch. we will track it all with the

forecast, coming up in just a little bit. >> baltimore county police are looking into establishing that sent one man to the hospital. police said the attack took place just after 10:00 last night in a shopping center. the victim was stabbed in the upper arm. there is no word tonight on a suspect. >> another delay and the trauma of twin brothers accused of setting fire to a pit bull. they were supposed to go on trial today on separate gun charges. their father decided to have a judge decide his fate. now prosecutors were wait until his trial concludes before going after the jobs and others. anne arundel county police that an assault or rape case from almost seven years ago, using dna. thomas lee bellamy faces first- degree rape charges in the attack of the 13-year-old girl. investigators say dna recently

landed belly to the crime. he was tracked down to wisconsin where he was taken into custody. >> these are the dramatic pictures from skyteam 11 yesterday after a light rail train and a tractor-trailer rig collided in cockeysville. here is what the scene looks like tonight. charges are pending tonight against the truck driver accused of causing the crash when he drove the truck into the train's path. lowell melser has the latest on the investigation. >> what a difference a day makes. the investigation in this classic comedy in this case and the work is far from over. crews were out earlier assessing the situation we j. investigation in this case continues. it seems that the blame right out is leaning towards the driver of the truck. >> wednesday afternoon, repair crews and investigators look over the accident scene on

gilroy road where a light rail train and an 18 wheeler collided. this is what the scene looked like on tuesday. police say the truck driven by mark zurich was turning into the mccormick facility when the light rail train operated by 51- year-old deborah morgan slammed into it, causing the truck to split in half and collide with a car that was right behind it. morton sustain the only injuries and was taken to shock trauma. we are learning more about margaret. he is employed by the john w. ritter trucking company out of lowell, maryland. according to court documents, in may 2009 he was found guilty of having parts and accessories not in a safe operating condition on his 2007 volvo truck. the same type of vehicle that was involved in tuesday's crash. technicians on the scene have to repair the overhead lines and two concrete pylons that will

hold the line in place. one of the pylons suffered major damage and will take place the week to repair, meeting further disruptions to the line. >> please tell us charges are pending against the driver of the truck. at this point, nothing is official. we could get the word within the next several hours are several days. morton is in serious but stable condition with major damage to her legs. >> still ahead, some maryland schoolchildren are mistakenly delivered tainted milk. details on how it happened. >> tracking since this is just a mouse click away. how you can buy-area community is responding. -- how you can find out how your community is responding.

>> it was coming out of her nose and her right nostril. >> tragic deaths caused by a product used by new parents. >> stronger bones from tequila? not really, but the plant tequila comes from is proving to have some health benefits. >> the senate is preliminary approval to a bill they believe will eliminate drunken-driving.

if we don't know how many people there are, how do we know how many roads we need? the census helps us know exactly what we need, so everyone can get their fair share of funding. we can't move forward until you mail it back. 2010 census.

>> a frederick milk processor admits it mistakenly sent agitated mill products to a middle school. a sanitizing brands that contained iodine are bleach. employees were warned not to distribute the mill, but some house six cases were delivered to the west record middle school by mistake. -- west frederick middle school. >> another study about mammograms that is sure to be controversial. this one is from denmark. researchers studied breast cancer deaths among women who lived in cities where screening programs were offered and compared them to deaths among women who live in areas without such programs. they found regular access to mammograms did not improve survival rates. in fact, in areas where

screening was not available, death rates went down even faster than in screening areas. the question remains how valuable our mammograms? the american cancer society is already on the record disagreeing with conclusions of the study and maintains that the mammogram does save lives. all the texting and web surfing we do these days may be speeding up the development of nearsightedness. studies show a 66% increase in nearsightedness in the past 30 years. some of time to is that it may be because of all of focusing close-up we did. nearsightedness almost always gets worse. some prescribe contact lenses worn overnight. they say every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds. we towed to a few weeks ago that this was coming, and today has happen, a recall of more than 1

million baby slings made by infinitfantino. >> it is good for them. it comforts them. is shown to lower their blood pressure and calm them down. >> if babies become trapped inside this links in the wrong position, they can suffocate. 14 indians have died while using akaka slings in the past two decades. the problem occurs when fabric covers their nose and mouth. infants under 4 months old do not have strong neck muscles. their heads can flop forward, restricting their ability to breathe. >> if they get in a situation where they cannot read, they cannot get themselves out of it. >> infantino has voluntarily recalled models in the u.s..

three infant deaths last year were linked to the sling. s the company says safety is our number one concern. today's announcement of a free replacement program reflects this commitment. next is important to cut the strap and send a portion of it back to infantino. do not sell this at your broad sell. >> infantino says it will work to develop safety standards for slings. currently there are no federal safety rules for the baby carriers. >> medical news about tequila. researchers in mexico study mice that were fed ingredients from the agave plant and found they absorb more calcium from food and had higher levels of the protein in balkan, up -- in bonn formation. the bond building ingredient is

burned off when agave is changing to alcohol, but more studies are probably warranted. >> a good deal of sunshine in the area today. the only glitch in the weather may be the strongest winds, but other than that a nice spring day. pollen counts are moving back up again. >> paul and an old account or in a higher range. the number is calculated recreate there are the wind speeds right now. still gusting to 25-26 miles an hour at bwi marshall. temperatures are in that low 50's in mchenry and rosburg, but low to mid 60's in the baltimore area. ocean city is at 65 and downtown

baltimore is at 66. clouds moving in tonight, and thursday morning is likely to be mostly cloudy if not overcasts. around 50, but the winds will diminish to less than of miles an hour overnight. -- less than 5 miles an hour overnight. as a news or other way, we will see the winds diminishing here. the next storm in the middle of the country is heading this way. on the tail end of it, more snow is falling in the colorado rockies. thunderstorms down near the gulf. that will track through tomorrow night and friday morning. clouds during the day tomorrow. clouds may break out tomorrow evening, but that will be spotty until thursday night in to friday morning where we may get moderate to heavy rain in time for the friday morning rush hour. knowed this ribbon of changing precipitation to the north and west.

some of the western fringe of this rainmaker changeover to wet snow or sleet as it drags the colder air through here friday afternoon and heading off the coast saturday morning. saturday looks like the best day of the weekend with sunshine before another storm brings more wet weather for the second half of the weekend. every couple of days, a new storm arrives with some unsell weather. another mild day with south wins pushing temperatures well into the 60's. there is a chance for a shower just about anytime 1 to get past the morning. around the bay, the showers hold off until the evening. warmer and 67, an increase in the cloudiness on the lower eastern shore. on the bay, a small craft advisory. south winds gusting to 25 knots.

what weather, thursday night, friday morning, chilly temperatures on friday with only 49 for the high. sunshine and cool on saturday. another rainmaker coming in sunday afternoon into monday. >> maryland school districts get the word on how many is known as budget have any snow days will be waived this year. >> charter schools, are they working? will have information from a new report next. >> coming up, how shuttle buses will help folks get to and from a light of yesterday's light rail crash.

>> will and the census bureau are teaming up to track the number of households mailing in the census forms. communities can track how their area is responding. >> it will zoom down to that area and show you how your neighborhood is doing. then you can compare your neighborhood to other neighborhoods or your city vs. another city. >> see how the neighborhood is responding to the 2010 census. all gone to our website, wbaltv.com -- log on to our

website. here's a question for you tonight. our charter schools really better than traditional ones? it is not really a yes or no question. >> a new study shows that while some charter schools excel and others fail, people did not always understand what they are. >> dancing is part of the regular curriculum at this charter school. >> confidence, being able to speak up in class. >> some charter schools are super successful. the entire senior class is going to college. it is the environment that is different. >> to me it is safer than a public school. we do not have metal detectors here. it is more inviting. >> charter schools write their own rules, who they hire, how they teach.

>> we get to do it ourselves, start to finish. >> they are held to the same standards as other public schools. less than one charter schools outperform traditional public schools. most are in urban areas, smaller, and with a higher population of minority students. on average they spent almost $2,000 less per student. >> most importantly, we need to see what they are doing right and where they are effective so we can learn from them. >> what charter families do get is choice. >> people in urban centers, poor people have never been able to choose. >> shopping for education, but needing your feedback on whether it is working. right now, charter schools get 200 it is $6 million from the federal government. -- $256 million.

the obama administration has pledged even more. >> still ahead, do you want to know the key to a successful marriage? >> she is a very smart person, smart enough to marry me and stay with me all this time. >> according to a new study, make sure your wife is younger than you and smarter than you. exports weighed in on the issue. >> what is in maryland's beecher when it comes to how many students will be going to college? the story is coming up. >> if first offenders can

>> cracking down on drunk drivers. the state gives preliminary approval to bill requiring first time in the lot of vendors to take a breathalyzer test each time they get behind the wheel. the ignition interlock system is already used in 12 other states. the proposed law carries a mandatory minimum jail sentence for those caught driving with a suspended license. >> this bill will pass the senate tomorrow. however, it remains bottled up at a house committee. supporters say the interlock is a small price for first offenders to pay to stay alive. -- to save a life. >> the only physical thing i have left of my daughter is a lot of her hair.

>> she may soon be taking a victory lap and her personal crusade. she lost her daughter in a car crash caused by a repeat offender. the bill has now won preliminary approval by the full senate. >> it is a breathalyzer you put in your car. it is just an idea whose time has come. >> experts estimate a third of drunken drivers continue to drive, and they claim first-time offenders have driven intoxicated at least 87 times before getting arrested. the american beverage institute opposes the legislation. they contend interlock should only be required for hard-core offenders. they also cite concerns with taking the decision out of judges' hands, who can now impose an interlock on a case by

case basis. >> judges with the council of medical health professionals, law enforcement, or the best ones capable of deciding whether a first-time offender needs an interlock installed on their car or not. >> the house judiciary committee has yet to vote on the legislation. the committee heard testimony nearly a month ago. supporters be the senate's quick action as a signal. a majority of people realize the interlock is a small price to say to save what -- a small price to pay to save lives. >> we cannot cure cancer or leukemia, but we can prevent a lot of people from dying on the highways. >> bill opponents consider it a first that in requiring all vehicles to have an interlock system. >> here is a look at some other bills under consideration in annapolis right now. the maryland senate has given preliminary approval to that $13

billion operating budget. maryland drivers would see an increase in their car insurance payments under a new bill backbite the state house and the maryland delegate wants to exempt the state from some components of federal health care reform legislation. we'll have more on how it will affect maryland coming up tonight at 6:00. >> more than 600 baltimore employees could lose their jobs under the proposed doomsday budget. the police department's helicopter, its mounted unit, and the marine unit would be eliminated. it would close seven fire stations. the mayor plans to introduce an updated budget plan that could save the threatened positions by raising taxes and cutting the city services. charges are pending against the driver of a tractor-trailer that collided with a light rail train yesterday. the train's operator remains

hospitalized and not come as suffering from serious injuries. corporal mike hill says that tracks warning signal devices were working properly at the time of the crash. >> that plan to auction off the tracks tomorrow, but as part of the bankruptcy reorganization, they agreed to sell the tracks to the parent company that owns magnum. >> more of maryland students are expected to head off to college over the next 10 years, but not want -- not nearly as many as the board of regents say they would like to see. tim tooten is live in the newsroom with that story. why or their projections of a conservative? >> it has everything to do with the economy and how much state lawmakers are willing to put up to help pay for education.

for most humans, colleges still the best ticket for a job in the real world. -- for most kids. when it comes to predicting enrollment. >> didn't want to go to college -- students want to go to college. it is going to be really challenging. >> these are the numbers made public to the board of regents education policy committee. the current enrollment will rise by more than 27,000 students by the year 2019. some members of the board of regents said there is the reason they are being so conservative. >> maryland citizens need education. we have to be there for all these people. on the other hand, there are fiscal constraints. the state can only do so much.

>> there is some good news. more maryland students will be going to college on line. here are the projections for the university of maryland college when enrollment is expected to rise to 31% by 2019. that comes as no surprise to some. >> some students are receptive to it. it is definitely a trend for our generation to excepted. we always need a good balance. >> it would change the picture of campuses online and offline. >> we have to discover how to take advantage of it. >> regents say they will have to look for new ways to pay the bills. >> that is a major concern in light of planned budget cuts to higher education. >> and other education news,

marilyn's did -- state school superintendent has waived five days for 12 of the state's 24 school districts. they include baltimore city, anne arundel, kent, st. george's -- chris georges and st. mary's county. howard county has received a waiver for one day and six other districts have received waivers for either three or four days. >> that will not have to go further into the summer for school. >> a massive fire at an ohio egg farm. how fast moving firefighters were able to save most of the chickens. >> health-insurance reform in this day. this day. what

>> a huge sigh of relief for a

kansas mom and dad. their son and his friends were found alive and well after getting lost in the grand canyon national park. they had to be airlifted out. officials say they did not know how to find their way back. a florida man is speaking out about his run in with the law. -court cameras caught a deputy beating the man. it happened in collier county, florida. police forced the vehicle to the side of the road and deputies pulled him out. you can clearly see a deputy punching him six times while he was on the ground. reports say he refused demands to get out of the car and he clenched his fists when he was asked to put his hands behind his back. >> he was punching everywhere in my side and on my left side. >> authorities said they found a

policy violations. >> late last night, firefighters from more than a dozen communities about a massive fire at an ohio egg farm. the fire broke out at a warehouse on the property. firefighters were able to stop the flames from spreading to the hicken houses. about 250,000 hands had to be euthanize. chickens in the 14 other buildings were say. >> fried eggs for everyone. more help for all mothers who are facing foreclosure. >> new cordless window shades are designed to save children's lives. >> a special day for a special lady who has been through so much. that story is coming up. >> sunny skies, windy conditions, mild temperatures today. there is rain moving in this direction.

65 down at th

>> new developments in the accident involving a light rail train and a tractor-trailer. by now who could be facing charges. we'll have these stories for you and more when y

>> a breast cancer survivor recently and tragically lost her son to the h1n1 virus. >> today she received a date appearing at a spa. >> to emily jones thought she was going to give a talk about

breast cancer. -- tamara lee jones. >> you have been nominated to receive a day full of experiences. it is time for you to sit back, relax, and enjoy, because you are going to be pampered. >> she was picked up to have a day of pampering and entertainment. >> on behalf of cancer survivors and around the world, and we have done 20 cities around the country. yet she has overcome cancer three times and lost her son to h1n1 last year. it is time for somebody to give back to her. >> to getting like back the way it should be, happy. >> the day started with the use of this luxurious sports car. >> i just wanted to be able to help out and do something for the community.

a cancer survivor is getting a day to be pampered around town. we thought it was a great idea and a great way to give back. >> then it was off to the hotel monaco, where she will be spending the evening. from there, it was over to the aquarium, where tamara became part of the dolphin show. this is a day that the people who know and love tamara wanted her to have. >> we just wanted to do something really nice for her. when the opportunity came about, she was the only person i thought about. >> i have been through so much. i never thought someone would do something like this for me. >> this is just the beginning. after the aquarium, it is off to a winetasting, a cooking class, and a spa, and then back to the

hotel monaco. >> i hope she enjoys it all. a special honor for kate amara today. >> i hereby proclaim march 24, 2010, as kate amara day in baltimore. we urge all citizens of baltimore to join the celebration. >> kate is leading us here in baltimore. she is heading just a little bit south to our washington bureau. it will be able to see her on their every weekday morning on 11 news today. >> a mild weather patterns across the region today. we hit the '60s in most spots. it was a little on the breezy side. eight degrees above normal, which has moved up to 57.

the normal high is moving up every day, and so are the record highs. 83 was the warmest it has ever been on the 24 the board, set back in 1929. it was 18 degrees back in 1896. upended no. frederick county, 64. frederick at 66 degrees. bethesda at 65. the eastern shore is quite comfortable. in caroline county is 64. ocean city and 65. clouds are coming in overnight. there is a storm coming out of the rockies, tracking through the middle of the country and it will be spreading increasing amounts of cloudiness through our region. winds are gusting over 20 and

will diminish to less than 5 miles an hour. the storm over the canadian maritime is producing the gusty winds. the next storm will bring rain, but on the western fringe there is no again and the colorado rockies. we will keep a close eye on the showers and storms down to the south, and steady rains moving into chicago. we'll stay on the warmer, wet side of it for most of this system. cutting across southeast michigan thursday evening, that could travel through parts of maryland as a cold air filters in behind this coming up on friday. friday starts with rain in the region. a little ribbon of slate are wet snowflakes as the rain is ending friday evening. it will clear out nicely heading into the first part of the weekend. tomorrow, mostly cloudy and a chance for rain in the evening

after sunset. during the day, south winds will keep temperatures above normal. a shower is possible at just about anytime. rain holds off until much later tomorrow night at ocean city. they will have another decent day down at the beach. there is a small crafted by three of the bay tomorrow. winds will be increasing and gusting to 25 knots during the day. we'll only have highs around 50 on saturday. another badger grain arriving saturday afternoon into monday morning. lots of sunshine for tuesday and wednesday of next week. -- and other batch of rain are rising saturday afternoon. >> new home sales dropped more than 2%.

>> bank of america, the nation's largest mortgage lender announced it will launch a program to parmele modified subprime and balloon payment loans. mortgages where consumers aren't -- 0 more on their home than it is worth. the program will help an estimated 45,000 homeowners. >> these are subprime customers. the first segment of customers to go after are those most in need. >> under the plan, homeowners was -- must owe more than one has 20% of the home's value and be more than 60 days behind in mortgage payments. bank of america is expanding the program to 44 other states, and other banks could follow.

>> i think we will see it gives some cover to the federal government to encourage banks to do more widespread write-downs. >> underwater mortgages are flooding the housing market with foreclosures. currently there are at 7.5 million loans where owners are delinquent or in the foreclosure process. many homeowners have opted to walk away, but mortgage experts say that move also hurts the banks, property values, and stays with the homeowner. >> the consequences are dire. when you walk away, you have locked in your loss. >> losses that are adding up to a new level of pain for homeowners and the housing market. >> window shades have killed five children and nearly -- strangled nearly 60 more. now there is a new shade designed to save lives. it uses fabric instead of courts

to lift the window cover. another company says it has a safer design using a white fabric backing as a lift. >> is cordless. there is no place for the child to become entangled or strangled. it goes up and down because of a fabric and a spring. this is a state of the art cordless shade. as the new designs are expected to hit the market in the coming months. >> first was a ban on text messaging, and soon you may not be able to talk on a hand-held cell phone while driving. details on the proposal new at 6. >> did you think you have the keys to a successful marriage figure out? wait until y

if we don't know how big our community is, how do we know how big our hospitals need to be? the census helps us know exactly what we need, so everyone can get their fair share of funding. we can't move forward until you mail it back. 2010 census.

come on in, and i'll give you a free quote. quote and compare in about 8 minutes. now, that's progressive. call or click today. >> i have a marriage is something i would imagine everyone would want to have. is there a formula couples can follow to ensure that? >> we will get some expert opinions. your wedding day, usually one of the happiest days of your life. how can you be sure the relationship will stand the test of time? >> i think when two people really trust each other, it makes for a great marriage. >> what is the key to a happy marriage? >> a group of swiss statisticians have come up with a very unromantic formula to

determine whether your marriage will last. according to a study of over 1000 married couples, the ideal wife would be five years younger, come from the same cultural background, and the 27% smarter than her husband. >> i don't think so. >> that is what the study says. by following these guidelines, the researchers say you could increase your chances of having a happy marriage by up to 20%. the swiss formula seems to add up for the sullivan, who have been together for six years. >> she is a very smart person, smart enough to marry me and stay with me all this time. next this study could change the whole dating scene. instead of asking someone to catch a movie, you might want to ask a potential mate to take an

iq test, or not. >> it is interesting from the point of view of a mathematical model. >> men may be attracted to someone who is younger or smarter or comes from a similar background, but the factors are not a formula for success. she says you should look for love, chemistry, friendship, and similar values. >> there is no magic formula. relationships are hard, and they are extremely rewarding, but you have to work at them. >> in switzerland, the divorce rate is about 25%, compared to 45% in the united states. >> i could not hear the report, there were so many comments in this video. i read is to answer on the grounds it will get me into trouble later.

>> here is a look at what is coming avenue at 6:00. >> was the driver of a tractor- trailer truck at fault? hear what police are saying, next. but the layoff of 600 city workers and deep service cuts. where will the money come from to avoid it? >> all eyes are on the house as the senate votes to outlaw using a cell phone while driving. details, new at 6. >> live, local, latebreaking. >> our big story tonight, new developments in the crash involving a light rail train and a tractor-trailer. >> police say charges could be pending against one of the drivers involved. gilroy road was closed in both directions between beaver dam and clubhouse row