>> live, local, late breaking, this is wbal-tv 11 news in hd. >> good afternoon, everyone. we begin with breaking news about the massive fire that broke on the block last week. sources close to the investigation say it was the result of arson. we are live in the newsroom with

the details. >> we've literally just got off the phone with reliable sources to have been very close to this investigation from the beginning, and they have confirmed that last week's fire on the block was deliberately set. at this point they have no information as far as suspects or motives are concerned. this is a story we first brought you as breaking news on monday, december 6. the fire broke out at the show growth and cause a ticket damage to buildings of 400 block of east baltimore street. one of those buildings houses a the fire headquarters. the request of the health from the national response team to assist with the investigation. requested the help from the national response team to assist with the investigation. there will be a conference call it 3:00 this doctrine in where we will learn much more about what happened last monday.

sources close to the investigation had confirmed that the fire was set by someone. we will have much more on this for tonight at 5:00 and 6:00. the red cross says they are cuts affected by the five-year period richard and lost theirr of buildinerfield lives and the fire that broke out around 5:00 yesterday morning in the 2300 block of home what avenue. beautiful children. to see six bodies die in a fire around the holidays is overwhelming for me. >> the red cross plans to assess the damage to the homes and work to provide food and clothing and shelter to those affected by the

fire. the cause of the fire remains under investigation. withhope you're dealing the cold. at least we are not dealing with any winter precipitation for the dead. tomorrow could be a little bit of a different story. -- at least not dealing with any winter precipitation for rththe day. 15 as the wind chill at airport. 16 downtown. 12 and westminster. the rest of the afternoon, breezy and cold. not quite as bad as yesterday because we will see a little more sun. things will change as we head into the day tomorrow. will we get snow? i will break it down and the seven-day forecast coming up. >> those dangerously cold temperatures you mentioned have prompted the city to prompt its first cold blue this season. officials are trying to prevent

similar deaths by opening emergency shelters. >> as part of the cold blue program we're opening emergency shelters and we are extending the number of individuals that can be accommodated in our main shelter at guilford avenue. >> health officials say the elderly and young children are particularly in vulnerable. experts at that you should be aware of the signs of its hypothermia. we are not the only ones had ving to brave the deadly cold. in rural ontario, truckdrivers fall by heavy snow were stranded for 24 hours before help could fight through the severe conditions. from the midwest to the east coast and even down south, people are just trying to cope

with all conditions it is a good thing it is early in the season, because we can laugh about an hour instead of crumble. grumble.ead of >> sort of farmers insulate their crops with ice. you can always track the cold temperatures on our website. our weather page allows you to follow severe weather alerts. go to wbaltv.com and click on whether. right now the senate is voting on president obama's tax-cut deal, w 6 which is expected to pass. -- which is expected to pass. >> frustrated and fed up. house democrats met for hours

late tuesday night to demand again that tax breaks for the wealthy be scaled back. doing,pite of what we're which is $858 billion borrowed and adding $430 billion to the deficit next year, that is only 20 billion, but we have to start fighting somewhere. >> there is pressure to pass the deal before everyone's taxes go up in january 1st. >> christmas is a week from saturday, i understand that, and i hope the republicans understand it also. >> there is a new political drama over a separate spending bill that will pile on more debt. >> are we tone deaf. ? what is going on here? >> did during the election and a promise to stop using taxpayer money for earmarked projects. there are 800 billion worth of them.

>> some people are watching thinking i am making this up. i am not making it up. $300,000 for the polynesian origin in a society in hawaii. -- polynesian voyaging society in hawaii. >> that was kelly o'donnell reporting. president obama says he and business leaders share a mission of building a stronger economy and is seeking their ideas to seize the promise of the moment. he spoke ahead of his meeting with more than 20 ceos. the session as part of a renewed out reached by the president to the corporate community with whom he has had a difficult relationship. a good samaritan comes to the aid of an officer during a traffic stop. why some believe she may have saved his life.

researchers think they may have found a cure for hive. details straight ahead. -- researchers think they may have found a cure for hiv. first, a terrible scene at th

[ female announcer ] safeway talks gift ideas. music makes a great gift. i like rock, hip-hop, country... and you are telling me this, why? i...uh...thought you might be my secret santa? no. i'm giving for skunk. uh, i can hear you. no. not you. the other skunk. [ female announcer ] safeway is the place to stock up on itunes gift cards. right now, save $6 on a $40 4-pack. keep 'em on hand. only at safeway. ingredients for life.

>> attendees at the school board meeting were in for the shock of their lives when a man fired point-blank at board members. all morning, the video you are about to see may be disturbing. -- a warning. >> official said he had sat with the rest of audience for most of the meeting. he questioned the board about his wife's firing. s email school board member tried to knock the gun at this hand but he pushed her down. the ax, opened fire, exchanged shots with a security guard and then killed himself. the guard was taken to hospital. courtnall and no one else was injured. -- fortunately no one else was injured. jonathan sadr pulled the car

over because i had a missing headlight. officers said the suspect became uncooperative and began fighting officer. a woman stopped to help officer, hitting coleman in the back of the head in giving additional officers the chance to get to the scene before the suspect could do any serious harm. >> this young lady did come to his assistance. i think it is very commendable, although i do not get me wrong, i am not endorsing that citizens participate in this manner. >> official said coleman has a history of violence against police. he now faces several charges, including assault on an officer. a breakthrough in curing his hiv. new evidence of white sleeping beauty was so attractive after all of the sleep. we will share that with you next. >> it is still bitterly cold

all sides. the winds are still quite blustery, but no wintry precipitation yet. tomorrow we could talk about a different situation. i will break that down just ahead. 29 at the airport and harbor. winds still

>> in this afternoon's consumer alert, electronics usually taught most holiday list, but you will need a little more cash if the pc is on your list. even though prices for other electronic items are all link, prices for the pc is rising for the first time in years. the average price is $615. that is 6% higher than last year. companies are concentrating on promoting their high-end models, which are flying off the shelves. a warning if you're shopping for a high-and pc, it be wary of

restocking fees for certain items. >> electronic gadgets like cameras, computers, and dubious devises always make good gifts, but if you need to return or an exchange an item, some stores charge of so-called restocking fee. >> white charger restocking fee? retailer said it costs money to have technicians mixture and i am fully works. -- make sure an item fully works. >> the store is claims a lot of times that they will not be able to sell it as new. they will have to take a discount on it. >> i personally do not agree with the restocking fee. and >> keira best buy the restocking fee is 15%.

-- here at best buy for restocking fee is 15%. this would add up to almost $100. for that amount of money, you could have bought all of this. at apple it is 10%. target charges 15%. if the item is defective apply.e, the fee does not wamart, home depot, costco did not have these these at all. . >> now your 11 insta weather forecast. >> hope your having a great wednesday. a tornado hit the area and

oregon yesterday. it knocked down power lines and damaged 50 houses as well. it completely destroyed a couple of them. and it is only the fourth tornado in the last ticket in that area. an incredibly while the weather right we have been on. here in the east coast it is about the bitter weather. anything dealing with extreme as far as precipitation. more afternoon we could see some light snow. right now there is some son out there. -- some sun out there. we're sitting at 29 downtown and at the airport. the winds are still quite low streak. -- quite blustery. it feels like 10 in westminster. 16 degree wind chill factor down to the south, even in the

annapolis. more of the same this afternoon with a little more sun and the forecast. and only 15 as actual forecast and behind in extreme western maryland with intermittent snow showers. it does not look like we will reach freezing. when i hear right tha -- we might hit right at that. down to the south and ocean city, 35 and windy. typically cold when you consider the normal height is 46 for this time of year. tonight's forecast is bitterly cold. and 17 to 23 is the temperature range. tomorrow low pressure moving in from the west. the air is calm that we could get a little bit of snow out of this, mainly in the afternoon hours. this is a nice little dusting of snow. this is not too impressive. on friday there is no showers to the west showing up.

clear on friday before another system brings us another 40% chance of snow showers. we will let you know. tomorrow be aware of the afternoon things will deteriorate a little bit with snow showers coming into the area. friday will be the nicest day of the week. 37 by withholding clouds on saturday. 40% chance of late evening snow showers which will last until ravens take onir ravene the saints. >> there is no scientific proof that the beauty sleep is no mystery. what researchers in sweden photograph 23 people on two different days. one after being sleep deprived and once after a full night's sleep. purchase of and for no makeup and underwent similar grooming before each photograph. the faces of sleep deprived people were less attractive,

less healthy and more tired than the rest of the group. i think i could have answered that one. men with type 1 diabetes may one day be treated with cells from their testicles. researchers from that type of stem cells extracted from testicular tissue can more into insulin producing cells like those in the pancreas. when tested in mice they were able to decrease it glucose levels for about zero weeks. researchers say new studies show it can last substantially longer. a remarkable transplant story out of germany offers new hope for patients here in the u.s.. it could be a cheer for hiv. a san francisco company is trying to duplicate the procedure. >> mass shark has been living with hiv since 1988. -- matt sharp has been living

with hiv since 1988. a patient in germany is prove it is possible. >> a patient in germany developed leukemia who had hiv. he had a blood transfusion. it turns out it is the key doorway for hiv to get inside the cell. >> four years later with no other treatment, the patient is hiv 3. the goal is to replicate what happens in berlin. shutting the door way through gene therapy. it is happening at qwest in san francisco.ndsh experts are replicating the jeans and then putting them back. -- replicating the genes and then putting them back. >> the doctor says it cannot

replicate and eventually goes well. it is a development that sharp is counting on. >> three months into the trial, his numbers are encouraging. my cells have doubled. in my percentage numbers have gone up. everything is going in the right direction. only time will tell if the new treatments can actually cure patients. >> we're keeping our fingers crossed. >> what a remarkable study. so far qwest researchers are treating 10 patients with this therapy with what experts call encouraging results. they're looking for new patients to try it. coming up next door maryland lottery numbers. and we will get another check of and we will get another check of the

[ female announcer ] yoplait's real fruit and the goodness of dairy... gives you a little slice of happy. and happiness comes in 25 delicious flavors. explore them all. yoplait. it is so good. now the yoplait you love in a new four pack. try it today.

>> tonight more on the development from the fire on the block. plus, you may be able to trade -- trade in your maryland driver's license for a license in another country. now time for the maryland lottery pick three and picked four numbers. >> to the maryland lottery, let yourself play. >> here are your numbers. we have an 8, followed by a 6, and your final number is a 9. making your numbers 8, 6, and

9. play keno for the chance to double or triple your winnings. when up to $50 instantly. -- win up to $50 instantly. your numbers are 9, next number your finalwed by 8, number is 8. , 8, and 8. >> one last check of the forecast. >> there is really no relief in sight. we may get up to 38 by the end of the week. tomorrow looks like we could get snow. a little but a light dusting. only 31. enjoyed a little bit of sun we

have up there today. a decent friday. >> thank you for joining us for 11 news at noon. >> be sure to join us tonight for 11 years at 5:00. have a great day. [captioning made possible by constellation energy group] captioned by the national captioning institute --www.ncicap.org--

ring ring. progresso. oh yes hi. can you put my grandma on the phone please? thanks. excuse me a sec. another person calling for her grandmother. she thinks it's her soup huh? i'm told she's in the garden picking herbs. she is so cute. okay i'll hold. she's holding. wha? (announcer) progresso.

you gotta taste this soup. you don't decide when vegetables reach the peak of perfection. the vegetables do. at green giant, we pick vegetables only when they're perfect.