>> it looks like the crowds are here to stay -- it looks like the clouds are here to stay. [captioning made possible by constellation energy group] captioned by the national captioning institute --www.ncicap.org-- >> live, local, late-breaking, this is wbal-tv 11 news today in hd. >> good morning. i am mindy basara. >> and i am stan stovall. thank you for joining us this morning. >> tony pann has a quick look at today's forecast. when does the rain it gets here? >> it will probably start tonight. we will get a lot of it. flooding is possible. no weather problems expected for the wednesday morning commute. 56 degrees at the airport. it is cooler than yesterday. the rain will move in from the south. most of you, it will hold off until late this afternoon and this evening. we will go over the forecast for tomorrow and into the weekend. first we say good morning to

sarah. >> still pretty quiet out there as we checked speed sensors spirit we're in the green on the north side. so far so good on 795 and 70. the jfx is in great shape. 95 through 32 in howard county, 57 miles per hour. looking good for drive times. seven minutes on 895 south down to the harbor tunnel. things are running smoothly for the most part. volume is picking up on baltimore national pike in the outer loop. problem-free right now at shawan road. that is the latest on traffic pulse 11. back to you. good morning. >> president obama is back on the campaign trail. >> he is finishing up a trip to try to get democrats to the polls in november.

kate amara has more. >> good morning. the president is in iowa this morning. he is doing more of the back toward discussions with voters about the economy. an on-campus rally at the university of wisconsin. >> i don't know about you, but i am fired up. [cheers] >> president obama trying to re-energize voters ahead of the crucial midterm elections. >> we face another test on november 2. the stakes could not be higher. >> the campaigner-in-chief is hoping to get younger voters and other backers to cast ballots in november, telling this crowd to get to work and stay involved. >> the biggest mistake we can make right now is to let disappointment or frustration lead to apathy and indifference. that is how the other side wins. >> the president's party needs polls. a gallup poll finding

republicans lead the way in voter enthusiasm 47% to 28%. political strategists know the outcome of the midterms often hinges on turnout. >> i think what he needs to do is to communicate to young people, to young voters that even though it is not a presidential election, there is so much at stake, there is so much on the line. >> this was the first of four large rallies the president had planned for the home stretch of this campaign. today the president has stops planned in iowa as well as richmond, virginia. kate amara, wbal-tv 11 news. >> tell us more about those trips to ohio and virginia. >> the president has been hosting backyard discussions and how they have been struggling. that is what he will be doing more of today. he will meet with a family in des moines, iowa, and he will

be doing the same thing when he travels to richmond, virginia. >> kate amara, thank you. >> president obama is weighing in on the maryland race. the present recorded a radio ad encouraging marylanders to give martin o'malley a second term in office. >> i have seen him work at know this governor has made the tough decisions to make education, safety, and job creation first. so stand with me in moving maryland forward martin o'malley. >> the campaign does not stop. the president will make a campaign stop on o'malley's behalf next week. jimmy carter is expected to be released from the cleveland hospital this morning. he was admitted after complaining of stomach problems

yesterday. he plans to resume his book tour later this week. [sirens] >> the ban on handheld cell phone use behind the wheel goes into effect on friday. officials are busy getting the word out while hands-free devices are flying off the shelf and neighborhood stores. kim dacey has more. >> it will be a secondary offense to hold a cell phone while you're driving. people have to buy hands-free devices. a best buy in glen bernie was packed with people looking for them. todd heap was there helping have people comply, and also to sign autographs. officers know just how dangerous it distracted driving can be.

>> i have a firsthand experience with a family member who was talking on the phone and crashed. this was a triple to using a cell phone while driving. >> anything we can do to help people stay focused on the road will make a difference in their job. >> maryland will become the eighth state to ban hand held cell phone use well driving. >> thank you. a gang leader will spend the rest of his life in a prison. rawlings was convicted. there was an impassioned plea for justice. >> i had to speak up for him, for justice for him. he cannot speak for himself.

he is gone. i have to make sure that they were held accountable. >> rawlings is already serving five years on a sense for armed robbery. police are investigating a suspicious death in cockeysville that has some neighbors worry about gang activity. the body of a hispanic man was found monday night. neighbors say they saw a group of men to attack the victim with a bat. they are concerned their neighborhood has become a troubled path to section 8 housing nearby. >> it is really scary. this neighborhood, we get transient traffic walking through here. >> police will release more details once an autopsy is complete. >> detectors are searching for the person who stabbed a woman

to death. this happened on tuesday. her identity has not been determined. prosecution has rested its case against three suspects accused of murdering ken harris. prosecutors have dropped a charge of primitive murder against jerome williams, gary collins, and charles mcganey. they still face felony murder and secondary murder. closing arguments could begin as soon as tomorrow. >> the baltimore city police department is morning the death of a fellow officer. james fowler was a veteran on the force. he was on as a way to penn state when he crashed his truck in pennsylvania yesterday evening. poor weather conditions contributed to the deadly crash. >> scientists are putting the choice of sex in the hands of

parents. parents undergoing in vitro fertilization can identify the sex of a specific embryo and can choose which one to have implanted into the mother's womb. >> it is potentially problematic that it does raise serious ethical issues. but the balance so for favors autonomy on the part of the parents in making reproductive decisions that work for them. >> i did not make those babies. the miracle of life is the same. the only thing we are doing is freezing the boys and transferring the girls or vice versa. >> the process does not come cheap.

couples pay between $10,000.15000 dollars. that brings us to your answers to our water cooler question of the day. what do you think about technology that allows parents to choose the sex of the child they are having? e-mail your response to watercooler@wbaltv.com. again, that is watercooler@wbaltv.com. >> 57 degrees on tv hill. coming up, the morning's financial news in the bloomberg business report. >> panic at the eiffel tower. what caused the landmark to be evaluated. >> the firefighter the real show is taking place this saturday. i have all the details for you. >> there is a fire behind you. just so you know. we will let you know what is

>> a very good morning to you. we're going to be dry before we see some heavy rain. we're in the mid 60's downtown. i am on pulaski highway where we have been watching a controlled burn. it is one of the many things you will see this weekend at the baltimore city firefighter for real show. what you guys do it is thrilling. it is very dangerous. this is a good month to be talking about this because it is fire prevention month. >> we are using this month to place greater emphasis on fire prevention and how people can stay safe in their home because of what kinds of opportunities will people say? >> there will be a close-up encounters and what our

firefighters and paramedics do every single day. we'll have the police helicopter here. we will have a fire engine rides and train rides for the kids. i think the adults get a bigger kick then the kids. we will have literature here. people can get free smoke alarms installed in their home. there will be free parking. the combat challenge is a big hit. >> they have to climb to the top of buildings with hoses on their backs. it is on saturday from 11:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. there is quite a bit of rain moving in from the south. it will be a tropical-type field. that is it for now. >> you get a sense of how well- trained these guys are.

you were talking about climbing up buildings. thank you. there is a big storm coming out of the gulf of mexico region. for right now, things are quiet. it is cooler than yesterday. los 50's in the northwest suburbs. 60 degrees on the eastern shore. the clouds are thickening up because there is rain down there. the system stalled across the carolinas. we expect some rain starting later this afternoon and into tonight. the major player will come through tomorrow. it is crossing over cuba. if it becomes a tropical storm, its name will be met col. it will track up the east coast and bytes more afternoon, it will come up the chesapeake bay. it will be more like a nor'easter.

the effect will be the same. there will be severe weather on the east side of the storm. we could get up to four inches of rain. if you're watching on the western shore, you could see some flooding, especially along high tide. thursday will be a very active weather day. today, some sun this morning. we will see a chance for rain showers developing into this evening. low 70's. rain is likely tonight. some could be heavy, especially after midnight. there will be rain tomorrow, i have the time. flooding is possible on thursday. mid 70's. it should clear up over the weekend. it will be chilly. upper 60's on saturday and sunday with overnight lows in the 40's.

let's check the roads with sarah. >> good morning. not a lot happening, which is always good news. we can see a little bit of volume picking up. but nothing significant. no incidents to report. 47 miles on southbound 95. 97, 49 miles per hour at 100. so far so good out there. things are building around baltimore national pike. it is starting to see some brake lights there. this is the harrisburg expressway at shawan road. building as well, but no official delay. that is the latest on traffic pulse 11. >> thank you. a chicago woman could face criminal charges after the shooting a 12-year-old boy who was allegedly vandalizing her

home. friends of the woman say she has been terrorized by the boy for a long time and she finally reached her breaking point. the boy is listed in serious condition. charges are pending. a victory for supporters of stem cell research. federal funds can resume. judge stalk federal funding saying it violated a congressional ban. but funding can continue while the case works its way through the system. they did not set a timetable for the next hearing. a credible terror plot has been intercepted against france. the eiffel tower was evacuated yesterday, the second time in two weeks. nothing was found and no word on

the nature of the plot that was uncovered. >> makers of the blackberry smart phone are taking on the iphone. it is smaller and lighter than the ipad. it features carries on both sides. it has a flash for still photos. the cost has not been released, but it is expected to be in the same price range as the ipad, around $500. jane king has the morning bloomberg business report. >> the maryland economy is in focus today. there will be a report on state finances. states are ranked in category on taxes.

the worst state was california. maryland false in the middle with a neutral rating. -- maryland falls in the middle. the government says women continue to face slower wages and fewer opportunities than men. women managers earn 81 cents for every dollar a man earns. their work better than expected earnings at walgreen. additional steps will be taken to safeguard the economy. gains and black & decker and jos. a. banks. there will be a handful of new products, including a new seven-inch tablet computer. we could see smaller-size

tablets from dell. some will run on microsoft windows. >> 57 degrees on tv hill. another check on weather and traffic straight ahead. >> the sounds of country music are back at the grand old opry. we will take it to the reopening. >> here is a look at last night's winning maryland lottery numbers. hope you have them.

>> now traffic pulse 11 and insta-weather plus together. >> good morning. sarah caldwell checking on your morning commute. we have not had any incidents is this morning. we see a buildup of volume in the usual spots. the north side is still in the green. 22 miles per hour on the west side down towards liberty. filling up quickly there. let's look at i 70. still moving very well in towards the beltway. things are building on the west side outer loop. a quick look as we switch over 97 at 100 looks just fine in glen bernie. that is the latest on traffic pulse 11. >> the weather is nice and quiet

on this wednesday morning. it is cooler than yesterday, 56 at the airport. you might want to take a light jacket. later this afternoon, there is the possibility of a few rainshowers. we will check the seven-day forecast coming up in just a few minutes. we will talk about the possibility of a nor'easter rolling through here tomorrow. >> thank you. days of heavy rain turned nashville into a flood plain. >> it was some of the worst flooding the music city has seen in decades. but now the music is being heard once again. ♪ >> five months after water filled the grand old opry, it was replaced by music, as a country finally came home.

>> tonight is a metaphor that we are back. >> country superstars gathered center stage. the famous pulled from the original theater that was saved from the flood waters. ♪ fitting for a city that remains unbroken. even as they celebrate recovery, they also remember. >> we had 10 people died in nashville. there was damage to private property. we had 10,000 properties damaged. >> one of them was the iconic performance hall. now renovated, there is a message in the music. >> it is important to millions of people, and it will never

die. this building is a testament to the spirit and the strength and the resilience that is country music. >> the perfect note in music city right now as it continues to play a song of survival for anyone who will listen. jay gray, nbc news. >> glad to see it back. 55 degrees on tv hill. much more to come in the next half-hour of 11 news today. >> get ready to put down that cell phone while you're driving. a new law takes effect on friday. >> a police officer comes to the rescue of a girl. it is an inspiring story. >> a fun way to get a feel for what it is that baltimore city what it is that baltimore city firefighters do on a

bob ehrlich's real record on energy. lobbyists helped write utility regulations. we got stuck with a 72% rate hike. but martin o'malley got tough on bge, forcing them to pay back $2 billion to consumers. and what's bob ehrlich been doing the past four years? he got paid $2.5 million at a lobbying firm, a firm representing special interests and casinos right here in maryland. that's bob ehrlich-- a 72% increase for us and $2.5 million from special interests for himself. nice work, bob. >> live, local, late-breaking, this is wbal-tv 11 news today in hd. >> good morning, everybody.

welcome back. i am stan stovall. >> and i'm mindy basara. thank you for joining us this morning. tony pann has a quick look at today's forecast. >> good morning. things are ok this morning. we will see some heavy rain tomorrow morning. temperatures are in the 50's right now. we will make it up to 71. rain will move in from the south. we will see a chance for rain spreading up in the baltimore area. we will talk about the nor'easter coming up the coast and will kind of impact it will have tomorrow. >> thank you. maryland will soon join seven other states by banning talking on a cell phone while driving. >> kim dacey joins us live this morning. good morning. >> the law makes it a secondary offense to use a handheld cell phone. that means hands-free devices are flying off store shelves.

the big seller yesterday was hands-free devices for your cell phone. most of the people we spoke with think the lot is a good idea. >> i usually end up getting angry at other drivers because they are not paying attention. >> i have driven pretty bad and i have been on the phone. >> state officials held a press conference to make sure maryland drivers know about the law. >> every driver on a maryland road will have to put down the phone and just drive. we want to make sure we have a no phone zone. >> police officers were on hand yesterday to support the new lot. >> a family member was in a crash. it was attributable to the use of the cell phone while driving. >> anything we can do to help

drivers stay focused on the road will help our job. >> if a police officer stops you beginning on friday, they cannot writing a ticket for using a hand-held cell phone. kim dacey, wbal-tv 11 news. >> we invite you to sign the pledge on our website. you can check out the official data for yourself. it is on wbaltv.com. >> the family of a girl electrocuted by a fence settled their lawsuit with the private contractor. they're looking to open their case against the city. the settlement does not admit the company was at fault when the girl became electrified. this was in 2006.

a judge has yet to rule on whether the case against the city can go forward. >> the recession appears to be hitting the americans in more than just their wallets. marriages are at an all-time low with just 52% of adults say they are joined in wedlock. the number was 57% in 2000. home ownership has declined for the third year in a row after hitting a peak of 67.3% in 2006. the income gap grew last year to the largest margin ever. the bottom 20% brought in just 3.4%. there is another golf that appears to be widening.

the salary gap between men and women. women still make less than their male counterparts. women managers with children earned seven 9 cents for every 79 cents for every dollar they're male manager counterparts earn. >> a police officer is being credited for quick thinking in saving the life of a 4-year-old girl. >> luke ringler was on duty at 4:00 a.m. when he got the call. >> i just happen to be around the corner and was able to respond quickly. >> he found a frantic father and a girl not responsive.

and checked her airwavy administered cpr. she kept gasping and gagging. repeated this until she finally did take one big breath of air. >> seconds later, an ambulance pulled up. >> at that moment i realized it was going to be ok, it was like being pulled off. >> that officer was the best. i am glad he was there to help. >> the girl is calling him a hero. he just wants to serve as a valuable lesson that knowing cpr can save a life. >> anyone can get the training.

those moments when it is needed, it is better than nobody having it. being a father, i cannot help but to go home. my daughter is about the same age. i picked her up and squeezed her and hugged her, and she did not know why. >> we are told the 4-year-old is in stable condition. >> now traffic pulse 11 and insta-weather plus together. >> let's check your morning commute. there are some normal volume- related delays. southbound 95, 39. harford road and trombley on the west side, 23 miles per hour. that is our biggest the light. southbound harrisburg expressway, 59 miles per hour. the rest of the major roadways are doing quite well. this is a quick live look

outside. this is near baltimore national pike. that delay stretches back to 795. running smoothly so far as you make your way towards the beltway. that is the latest on traffic pulse 11. let's get the latest now from sandra shaw. she is giving us a preview of a thrill show. >> absolutely. it is a favorite for kids. this is a controlled burn. we saw firefighters extinguish it earlier. it will be one of the many demonstrations on saturday. it is free. parking is free. the importance of safety. >> that is paramount. we try to reinforce that during fire prevention month. we want people to make sure they have a working smoke alarm on

every level of their home. evacuation route. >> just for your own safety when it relates to fires. let's look at your seven-day forecast. we can expect a lot of rain tomorrow. a lot of tropical moisture. heavy rains are expected. things look better for the weekend. things look cooler as we head into next week. >> 57 degrees on tv hill. man has trained all manner of species, but this -- >> oh, my. >> we will explain how this man feels safe with that massive crocodile. >> we are still taking your answers to our water cooler question of the day.

what do you think about technology that allows parents to choose the sex of the child they are having? e-mail your response to watercooler@wbaltv.com. watercooler@wbaltv.com.

>> we will take you to an unusual competition. take a look. this is a pull-climbing check -- in england. -- this is a pole-climbing activity. >> very hard to do that. this next story is bizarre part

we will show it to you. a man has made a best friend in a 17-foot crocodile that he is named pacho. he found him shot by a local farmer and nursed him back to health. now they perform an act of like you have ever seen. do we have to say, do not try this at home? >> the crock about whisperer -- the crocodile whisperer. >> i wonder if he takes him four walks. weather-wise, things are quiet right now. we have plenty of rain for tomorrow. 56 degrees at

>> welcome back. a convicted gang leader will spend the rest of this life in prison. timothy rawlings was convicted of ordering the murder of steven parrish back in 2008. rawlings ordered the murder because he thought parrish was gay. prosecutors have dropped a charge of premeditated murder against jerome williams, gary collins, and charles mcganey in harris.l againmurder of ken science is putting the choice of a baby's sex in the hands of mom

and dad's today. parents undergoing in vitro fertilization can identify the sex of an embryo and can choose which ones to be implanted inside the mother's womb. >> that brings us to your answers to our water cooler question of the day. >> this morning we asked -- what do you think about technology that allows parents to choose the sex of the child they are having? >> we will post more of the

responses on the front page of our website, wbaltv.com. >> now traffic pulse 11 and insta-weather plus together. >> good morning. sarah caldwell checking on your morning commute. we have an accident off to the side. it is creating some delays. it is that the outer loop at loch raven. los spots developing around harford. we also see delays on the west side. the delay stretches down towards 70. 15 minutes of the ad lib west side. five minutes on southbound 95. 15 on the northeast outer loop. -- 15 minutes of the outer loop west side. we switch over to a live view of traffic and you can see delays at loch raven. all lanes are open. that is the latest on traffic pulse 11. let's check in again live with

sandra shaw. she is giving us a preview of a thrill show put on by the fire department. >> this is pulaski highway. this is the firefighter training academy. it is free. ds so you can stanc watch. this is one of the many different things that will be out here from 11:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. what other kinds of things will be out here? >> we spoke about having a firefighter -- fire engine rides. we will have food, beverages, some free gift awaits for the kids. there will be the junior fire chief contest where kids can compete. >> some of the live demonstrations are spectacular. >> members from our rescue team

will come in on their apparatus. often they use the jaws of life and our paramedics will be on hand. they will pull out a man can. >> it sounds like a great learning experience predict they will plot a mannequin. >> hd doppler is active. we'll get a brief respite today before the rain tomorrow. it will be like a nor'easter. >> it looks like the weather will clear up this weekend for that big event on saturday. it will become a kind of active over the next 24 hours. we do not expect any rain for your morning commute. it is cooler this morning. we can see the cloud cover thickening up as we look at the

satellite. it is just making for a beautiful sunrise. it puts caller on the horizon. the rain is not far behind. olor on thecal horizon. here is the major player. this is a tropical depression number 16. it is not a tropical storm. it will raise up the east coast over the next 24 hours and transition itself to a nor'easter-type storm. we will see a heavy rain on the backside as it comes up the chesapeake bay. up to four inches of rain. there could be severe weather, including the possibility of tornadoes. then i think there will be a push of water up the chesapeake bay.

you guys could have minor flooding during times of high tide. whether you call it a northeastern or a hybrid storm, the effect will be like a tropical system. a mixture of sunshine and clouds today. a chance for rain showers late this afternoon. high temperature around 71. rain is likely tonight. some will be heavy. temperatures drop back into the 60's. maybe some thunderstorms. minor flooding is possible. at this point, it looks like a decent weekend. it should clear behind the storm. 72 on friday. upper 60's on saturday and overnight lows in the 40's. >> thank you. you will have to put that hand held phone down by friday. kim dacey joins us live with more on the story. >> it will be a secondary

offense to hold your cell phone while driving. you have to buy hands-free devices. the best buy in glen bernie was packed yesterday with people looking for them. state officials are trying to get the word out about the new law. they were joined by law enforcement officers yesterday. they know just how distracting this can be. maryland will be the eighth state to ban these devices behind the wheel. >> thank you. the cast of "modern family" stops by oprah to tell their story. a woman fathered her own children. that is coming up at 4:00 p.m. here's matt lauer with a look at what's coming up next on the "today" show. >> good morning.

heavy rain and high wind expected in florida as a strong tropical system begins to make its way up the east coast. the developer behind the proposed islamic community center will speaker out in an exclusive live interview. a polygamous family is now the focus of a police investigation. we will show you what happened when a host announced the wrong winner of a modeling contest during a live television finale when we get started on a wednesday morning right here on the "today" show. >> 55 degrees on tv hill. >> we will check weather and >> we will check weather and traffic together bef

my dad is the supervisor of a train station and my mom's a teacher. my dad's an auto technician. my mom's a receptionist. i'm not sure i would have been able to afford college without the tuition freeze. while tuition in other states is rising out of reach... governor o'malley made the tough choice to freeze tuition. he made my dream of going to college into a reality. i'm the first in my family to go to college. my brother and i never would have been able to afford college. even though times were tough... governor o'malley kept his promise. there's never a doubt... there's never a doubt whose side he's on. martin o'malley... moving maryland forward.

i'm frank kratovil and i approve this message. the real andy harris. buried in his website - a promise to replace the tax code with a 23% sales tax and eliminate the mortgage interest deduction. a bush tax panel said families would pay $6,000 more a year. a reagan tax advisor calls it a very dumb idea. but that's not his only bad idea. harris was the only senator to vote against expanding the child care tax credit and against the state's cancer treatment program. andy harris' extreme ideas will cost us.

>> a very good wednesday morning to you. we'll have a nice dry day today. 56 degrees at the airport this morning. 64 downtown at the harbor. we're looking at a high going up into the 70's again. tomorrow will be a different story. we encourage you at the training academy to come here on saturday from 11:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. for the firefighter thrilled show. there will be live demonstrations, rescues, and plenty of activities for the children, as well as the firefighter, that challenge. it is all free and open to the

public. free parking as well. >> it might be hard to start a fire tomorrow with all the rain that is coming. >> we do not need any more rain. we will have some flooding problems starting tonight and into tomorrow 71 degrees for a high temperature. we could see severe weather on thursday. it turns kind of chilly with highs in the 60s over the weekend. tune into am 1090 for weather on the fives all day. >> we are experiencing some delays. this is the one accident and is off to the side by loch raven. we do have a slow spot on the west side, 19 miles per hour from 795 to edmundson. this is what it looks like approaching that accident scene in the area of loch raven. >> thanks for joining us for 11 news today.

>> we will be back with a live update at 7:25. old gibbs canning company. today these factories are full of dot com businesses. old gibbs canning company. and now my job is helping maryland create new economy jobs. training new math and science teachers investing in our institutions of excellence pioneering new cyber security jobs and giving an old gm plant a jump start building electric motors. i'm barbara mikulski. i approve this message so you'll know i'm fighting for you.