this is wbal-tv 11 news at 6:00 p.m. in hd. >> governor o'malley and former gov. bob ehrlich cannot agree on much which includes gay marriage. good evening. our big story, governor o'malley says he would sign a gay marriage bill. >> the clear difference comes amidst a firestorm kicked up over the weekend in the governor's race. republican paladino in new york said he did not want children "brainwashed" and to whom such around it. -- into homosexuality. >> stark differences, but neither broke new ground except on the issue of same-sex marriage. the topic came up after the debate. decision haslley's evolved. the first debate between

governor o'malley and republican bob ehrlich started 20 minutes late and was in danger of not taking place at all. >> can we ask you questions? >> no questions. >> he objected to having them in the audience. the day agreed on the family members of the ever -- would be able to watch. >> with that almost a deal breaker? >> almost. >> distinctions are stark. on the issue of gay marriage, governor o'malley said a state lawmakers sent him -- if a state lawmakers into a gay marriage bill he would sign it. >> i have not come to that conclusion, but what i have said is that if the general assembly is able to reach a consensus and send a bill to my desk that i would sign it. >> ehrlich did not want to entertain any questions. his position is consistent. this was his response back in

august if asked if he supports same-sex marriage. >> i do not. i devote -- i voted for the defense of marriage act. >> the issue of same-sex marriages in the national spotlight because of comments made by the new york republican candidate for governor. he says he does not the estimate against gays, but he does not want children to be brainwashed. >> i do not want children to be brainwashed in the two children thinking that a message around the is a viable option. int -- that's homosexuality is a viable option. >> i support marriage and always have. i support it today. >> the focus needs to be on equal rights. >> governor bob ehrlich shared the same stance had the bwi martial marriott. they are expected to engage in another tv debate thursday in

the washington, d.c. they will square off on two radio stations. reporting live from the newsroom, david collins, wbal-tv 11 news. >> the lack of buzz in the maryland gubernatorial race is causing this to feel like a sleeper. what will get people to the polls? click on i-team on wbaltv.com. >> voters in some states are already casting ballots. more states, including maryland, are offering options for in person voting before november 2nd. this has some candidates tweaking their strategy. our washington bureau reporter has more. >> the trend in the early voting means a lot of candidates are already in the last-minute frenzy to lock in boats. >> are you aware -- >> these volunteers are working the phones pitching the convenience of early voting.

>> in 32 states, citizens can vote early in person. some states started as early as mid-september. >> the percentage of people voting before election day, it is going way up. it can be as much as 90%. >> this author says candidates are having to extend their voter turnout operations which can be expensive. in some states, the avalanche of rabat calls have been underway for weeks. >> and there is worry about the peak in your advertising. it is a much more fluid situation with a longer period of time. >> so far, the early voting trend has not translated into higher turnout. most early voters are already

staunch party supporters. they're the ones least likely to be swayed by the other party's message. election reform advocates say this could help reduce costs because they do not need as much equipment to handle the large crowds on election day. in washington, wbal-tv 11 news. >> our online voting guide can connect you with the candidates. find your local polling place and also check your voter registration status. the last day to register is tomorrow. that is all on wbaltv.com under politics. >> a rash of violence this weekend kept baltimore police busy. lowell melser was there when the police commissioner's staff addressed the problem this morning. >> while that may sound alarming, seven people dead and three people injured mostly by gun violence since friday, police are asking the public to take a look at the long-term picture. >> the past six weekends have

been relatively quiet. i am not declaring victory, but i want to put this into perspective. >> this came on monday morning when an adult male was found shot to death at the intersection of the shirley and park heights avenue. weekend of violent crime is down 16% compared to 2009. >> this was a bad weekend. do not misunderstand me. it does not mean the strategy is not working. it means it is working very well with a 16% reduction. >> the police commissioner met with all nine district commanders, the chief of detectives, the deputy commander of operations, the head of homicide, and the head of criminal intelligence to better strategizing as one of the biggest problems is getting information from witnesses after the crimes. >> we can put a police car in

every driveway, but no one talks to detectives, we will get so far. >> they say they have some good leads which mostly include people with criminal records. police believe a shooting on shamrock avenue and another vote on saturday night are related. one case there remains a top priority is the stabbing death of 78-year-old sterling palmer, a retired mta bus driver found dead in his home by his wife. so far, no suspects and his edison high way neighborhood remains shocked. >> everyone says it cannot happen in their neighborhood, but crime is everywhere. >> that was lowell melser reporting. baltimore city police have identified the body of a woman found dead at the bottom of an elevator shaft. she was walking in the vacant building along north howard street with two others when she fell. her death has been ruled an accident. howard county police are

investigating a deadly accident that happened early saturday morning near route 29 in johns hopkins road where police say the 19-year-old of rockville crashed head-on with 20-year- old virginia man. park remains in critical condition. the cause of the accident is currently under investigation. >> police need your help to find a robbery suspect. this man walked into the madison square savings bank on bell air road saturday morning. they immediately recognized him from a previous robbery. he fled on foot, and if you have any information on who this man is you are urged to call metro crime stoppers866-7-lock-up. >> in tonight's project economy report, sandra miller is in the situation she thought she would never be in. her husband lost his job and times are tough.

thanks to a new program, she is getting some help. the program is funded by catholic charities. it helps people like sandridge to get state and public health. -- help. >> we have served 86 households and 172 individuals, many of which our children. we are doing a lot of outreach as well as connecting people with the benefits they desperately need. >> this helps people determine if they qualify for services like medical assistance and food stamps. you can watch the full story on our website, wbaltv.com, and click on the local news. >> mourners had on 11 news at 6:00 p.m. including a major breakthrough when it comes through -- more news ahead when it comes to umbillical cord blood donation. >> i am cam basie and i have

details next. -- i am kim bassey. >> john harbaugh feels uncomfortable. find out why. >> the hd doppler shows shares and thunderstorms to our north and west. some of that could come in over the evening. the last of today's sunshine now. now.

i need a home performance with energy star audit. this sensor will show why my living room gets too hot and too cold! get up to $2,450 dollars in rebates and keep saving with home performance with energy star. get started at bgesmartenergy.com.

eaks to send jobs over seas. i think we need tax breaks to send kids to college. so i worked for a $2,500 tax credit to help pay for college. fought to get pell grants expanded and insisted that college loans go directly to kids instead of through banks. i'm barbara mikulski. i approve this message. because it's not about the next election, it's about the next generation. right? yeah!!! >> in 10 at's medical alert, a major breakthrough in the comes to umbillical cord blood the nation. mercy medical center is offering all women who give birth of their the ability to donate their baby's cord blood. it is rich in stem cells which can be used to successfully treat more than 90 life- threatening diseases from cancer to blood disorders.

mercy is partnering with the community blood services of new jersey to create the first public program in maryland. >> through this program, women giving birth that mercy will have the opportunity to donate their baby's umbillical cord blood in the national list. in need -- this will be worldwide. >> doctors say this will help increase the number of african- american blood donors who are under represented in the donor population. >> you have probably heard of the show "are you smarter than a fifth grader"? their first-ever fundraiser this saturday will put their students and some local celebrities including the guy sitting next to me, rod daniels. >> the students at the sisters academy of baltimore are a

select number of girls from baltimore who are bright but night -- might not otherwise get the opportunity to attend a private school. >> most of our students have great promise. they may be lost in a larger set -- setting. we on the 20 girls per year. girls can get the attention they need and the holistic attention they need to grow in a really important time of life. >> they teach fifth-eighth grade and the fee they paid to attend is not much. the academy is holding a fund raiser this saturday at 7:00 p.m. called are you smarter than a sixth grader" and it is modeled after the television game show. they will be paired with the baltimore mayor stephanie rawlings blake and our own rod daniels. >> i was one of those kids, an inner-city kid, who could barely afford the tuition and the books. >> as a team react they will compete for a trophy. -- as team brainiac they were

compete. >> we have been practicing and playing games. >> she is more than prepared in case she needs to carry her teammate. >> do you think you will need to have been helping out with answers? >> wii's. >> the chances of the sixth grader being smarter than me would be very good. >> no matter who wins, the money from pledges and ticket sales go to support these girls and the school that gives them so much opportunity. to pledge money for rod or any of the other contestants, visit our web site wbaltv.com,. in southwest baltimore, wbal-tv 11 news. >> your 11 insta-weather + forecast with chief meteorologist tom tasselmyer. >> felt like summer outside today. right on cue, some summertime

showers are popping up all over southern pennsylvania wear watches have been posted the wrong thing afternoon and evening. we will watch the end of this activity coming out of western pennsylvania towards a garrett county and western pennsylvania. you can see that it is scattered and not a solid area of rain. the risk will be there tonight probably for good part of tomorrow, too. there is a severe thunderstorm watch which includes parts of eastern pennsylvania all the way towards lancaster and chester county. there are warnings issued in western pennsylvania in the shaded counties of their to our north. the risk is there, but so far nothing in the rain gauge yet. 85 degrees today and the normal high is only 69. we are well above that. that is close to the record of 89 degrees set back in 1954. still warm here. look how cool it is in upstate

new york and northern new england. contrast that to the 70's and 80's around here. it is that boundary, that front slowly crawling south triggering the thunderstorms. still in the 80's across most of carroll county. in the 80's around cambridge. out in western maryland, in allegheny, in the lower 70's. the chance for thunderstorms tonight as the front comes down from pennsylvania. we will stay quite mild. that will get into parts of virginia and bring some of the cooler air. look for a shower or thunderstorm in the afternoon and evening tomorrow. some sunshine and career on wednesday than more wet weather coming across the mountains and could carry some heavy rain. that will start to get temperatures and little below normal for the end of the week. scattered thunderstorms, 74-79 tomorrow.

that is still 5-10 degrees warmer than normal even with the wind is shifting to the northwest. average wages will be around 1 foot. bay water temperature in the mid to upper 60's. 77 with a couple of other stores around chesapeake bay and temperatures in the low 80's again on the lower eastern shore where storm hilda possible over the afternoon and evening. -- lower eastern shore where thunderstorms may be possible. a new storm, paula. it is forecast to become a category one hurricane. it is a perch in cancun and cozumel and then turning to the east. -- it is approaching cancun and cozumel. it could dump a bunch of rain here across parts of mexico and central america.

colleges not appear that it will travel very far. -- paula does not appear to be traveling very far. even chillier on thursday and friday this week with a good chance for rain thursday. thus. winds will follow the storm. -- gusting winds following the story. >> now, and of in sports with gerry sandusky. >> like the year -- last year, the ravens return to a power running game. the win over denver looked a lot more lopsided than the 31-17 win. flacco got the sack from the fourth down of the first dry. here is the biggest benefit of the running game. it makes flacco and his passing game much more effective. john harbaugh like the physical personality to his team.

this sets a pretty physical town. 233 rushing yards and late in game plays. going 30 yards to the house. that is what happened. on the one downside -- only one downside. he does not like curing too much praise. >> we know how bogus it is. the very next week, it is the same guys. we have said before, we just think it is all hot air. it is fun for the fans, i guess, and all that. any time you say nice things about us, we are very wary. we like it when you do not say nice things about us. that is motivational. >> that is the nature of the beast in there you cannot keep the coach happy. much more on the win over denver tonight at 7:30 p.m. on

wbal +. each week, we ask you to tell our photographers where to go. i get into trouble when i tell them where to go. this is for high school football. three games competing for a game of the week honors. boy's latin against our tradition falling and liberty against century. that will kick off today -- this week's coverage. wbaltv.com to cast your vote. this look like the best thing that had happened to clayton. unfortunately for mark clayton it took a turn for the worse. he went into the game fourth in the nfc with 22 receptions. on display, his season ended a . -- on this play, he suffered a torn patella tendon.

it looked like it could of been the first 1000-yard season. a bad turn. tom tasselmyer with a look at your seven-day forecast straight ahead. woman 1 sync: i knew what bob ehrlich did as governor. man 1 sync: raised my property taxes 60 percent.

woman 2 sync: let utilities hike our rates 72 percent. woman 1 sync: but i didn't know what he's done since he got fired as governor. man 2: ehrlich's raked in millions. man 3: he worked for a wall street bank that took 10 billion dollars from the bailout. woman 3: 10 billion of our money. woman 4: our money. woman 5 sync: and he worked for another bank that collapsed. man 4: costing tax payers 17 million. anncr: tell bob ehrlich big banks don't need help. middle class marylanders do. inherits a billion-dollar surplus, low unemployment.

o'malley signs the biggest tax hike in maryland history. raids chesapeake bay fund to cover spending. gives raises to top aides. business climate ranks 45th worst in the nation. now 200,000 jobs lost. o'malley covers up jobs report that proved maryland's economy stalled. if re-elected, o'malley will raise taxes again. whether he does, is up to you. >> former gov. bob ehrlich squares off. we will break down what came from the debate. how can getting a kid a self and encourage them to read it? you have to tune in tonight to find out. find out. that and much

i'm frank kratovil and i approve this message. the real andy harris. his past attacks have been called deceptive, his new attack, false. harris voted for deregulation increasing our electric bills by 72% it's not surprising, harris always sides with the big guys. he opposes cracking down on wall street and supports tax breaks for companies that ship jobs overseas. harris even opposed making big insurance cover cancer screenings. andy harris' extreme ideas will cost us. two governors, two different approaches. even in good times bob ehrlich didn't make education a priority. he increased college tuition by 40%, cut school construction by $200 million, and ehrlich voted to eliminate the department of education

while serving in congress. but in the toughest of times, martin o'malley has made record investments in public schools, new school construction, and o'malley froze college tuition four years in a row. with martin o'malley, our children always come first.

>> a taste of summer today. >> it does not want to leave. >> that is okay with me. >> up for 70's tomorrow, upper 60's wednesday, up for 50, on -- upper 50's on thursday. a chance for a storm tonight or tomorrow. looks pretty good for the runners on saturday. no. the winds about 10-15 miles per hour. it could be worse. >> are you running? >> the half marathon. [captioning made possible by constellation energy group] captioned by the national captioning institute --www.ncicap.org--

i think we need tax breaks to send kids to college. so i worked for a $2,500 tax credit to help pay for college. fought to get pell grants expanded and insisted that college loans go directly to kids instead of through banks. i'm barbara mikulski. i approve this message. because it's not about the next election, it's about the next generation. right? yeah!!! inherits a billion-dollar surplus, low unemployment. o'malley signs the biggest tax hike in maryland history. raids chesapeake bay fund to cover spending. gives raises to top aides. business climate ranks 45th worst in the nation.