a review found seven firms were shaed as sponsors for an charity event. two of them had been awarded a $16 million contract. when employee may have tried to speed up awarding of the contract by sending an e-mail. the review also determines that the senior employee was hired by a firm within 12 days of being fired by sha. he continued involvement with the contract as an executive of the company that hired him. one company has 35 former sha employees on its payroll. the review also found that sha

did not adequately document the bidding process. >> when you use those funds for something like a computer system, that is not what it was intended for if you need the computer system, you have to go back and get authorization. >> the department of transportation secretary for maryland admits that the revelations are troubling. >> we had two employees who are former employees who violated the ethics laws and had potential conflicts of interest. >> she says peterson was working with state auditors to clean up problems and make improvements. >> it is important to make sure we get the work on the street. it is equally important to make sure we do that in a transparent way. the rules are there for a good

reason and we need to follow them. >> to see the full review, go to our web site, wbaltv.com. >> tonight, 11 news has learned that exxon mobile faces more than $1 billion in cases involving a gasoline leak. a civil court jury returned the verdict yesterday. a gasoline leak spoiled ground water in 2006. the jury awarded one family as much as $46 million. other families could get as much as $20 million each. the total judgment against exxon mobile is $1.50 billion. exxon mobile says it will appeal. >> the search is on for the

suspects that impersonated police officers, broke into a home, and tied up the people inside. our reporter is live outside police headquarters. >> baltimore city police tell us this is the second such home in beijing in the city in the past week where the suspects identified themselves -- the second such home invasion in the city in the past week where the suspects identified themselves as police officers. they bound and gagged the people inside and brought to them. three masked men broke into this home. the suspects identified themselves as baltimore police officers. they bound and gagged the

male and female inside and only got away with a cell phone. >> they identified themselves as baltimore police officers. immediately, people identify and they have a trust for the police officers. there guard is put down and quickly the victims realizes -- their guard is put down quickly and the victim's realize these are not police officers. -- the victims realize these are not police officers. 11 news spoke with one of the victims off-camera about the incident. he told us the suspect used a crowbar to burst down the door. he swore he had a gun pointed at his head.

neighbors say something like this is not expected. >> i live about two doors down. >> we have little problems. that takes it to another level. if i see police officers knocking on my door, normally, i will answer it. >> the police worry about trust issues between the citizens and the police. >> these individuals are taking the authority of police officers and the trust police officers have between citizens and officers and they are exploiting that. >> police tell us they are looking at the possibility that the home invasions are possibly

related. at this point, suspect information is vague. police believe the suspects were not wearing uniforms and did not have badges. anyone with information is asked to call 911 immediately. >> fireworks, cookouts, the fourth of july weekend is here. it is certainly cause for celebration, but officials are urging you to be safe. authorities are concerned this year about fireworks. it is going to be dry in the area. >> thousands of people are sent to emergency rooms every year. some of them are left with permanent disfigurement. there are steps you can take to keep this from happening. >> we have a second to get rid

of it. if they don't, it goes off in their hands. >> more than a thousand people were rushed to the emergency room with injuries from fireworks. >> it can blow to pieces and parts of the hands completely off. >> when it is near their i, you can see the extensive burns that occurred to this hardboiled -- their eye, you can see the extensive burns that occurred to this hardboiled egg. you can end up with rupture that results in permanent hearing loss. >> careful handling of fireworks and adult supervision can avoid injuries like these. >> 4% of the fatalities we have seen on the water involved

people who did not have their life jacket on. >> make sure you have a life jacket for every person on your boat. you should also have a float plan in place. >> it can be as simple as a phone call. here is my plan. i have this many people on board. >> you may want to rethink drinking on board. -- onboard. if you drink, you could end up in jail and with a steep fine. i will toss it to the sky team with a look at the holiday traffic. how is it looking? >> sheldon, i will take it back. have a good time out there. it has been tried in the area. fireworks can set brush -- it has been trdry in the area.

share your holiday pictures and video on u local. i will be taking a picture of myself working on before the july and sending it in. >> right now, we do have the captain. we want to take a look at what is going on with the skype team. >> we have a water rescue going on. the city police helicopter is over the victim in the water. fire rescue boats are on route -- en route to the location. as we get more information, we will update you. >> 1 months and counting.

that is how long the administration says congress has to raise the nation's borrowing limit. otherwise, the country could suffer catastrophic consequences. we have the very latest on the debt deadline. >> the drop dead deadline is august 2. the white house would like to see a deal before then. president obama headed for some recreation at camp david this weekend. >> we will continue to have a conversation with them through the weekend. if we do not, everyone will find themselves locked in a room. it is just like when a family does not pay their mortgage or their car bill. the creditors come calling. >> the administration would like to see a deal by mid-july.

>> progress has to begin now and continue over the next several weeks so we can have this done and on the hill and voted on. >> but when congress returns to capitol hill next week after canceling holiday recess, it is unclear whether either party will give up any ground. a former congressional budget staffer says the standoff could come down to the wire. >> this is a situation unlike any i have ever seen. it is for a variety of reasons. compromise is not as except -- as acceptable now as it has been in the past. >> both sides will have a chance to hash it out again when they get back to work on tuesday. >> new state laws go into effect today. some make it more expensive to

operate a vehicle. >> the orioles find themselves dangerously close to the point of no return in their season. we will tell you why next in sports. >> we will do the seven-day forecast in a few minutes. sunny skies. the air is

>> dozens of new laws take effect today. >> our reporter joins us now with more. >> there are a number of alcohol-related bills on tap today.

one inspired a state controller to be the first in line. now is the time for direct line. shipments from the blind to your home is legal. this man was among the first to place an order. he did it in person in baltimore county. the state made applications available june 10. the sales tax on alcohol increased from 6% to 9%. the 9% sales tax can only be applied to the alcohol portion of the mandatory sales charge. a portion will fund services for the developmentally disabled. next year, the cash goes into the general fund. the governor says he will try to help fund because through the budget process. another bill finds drivers who

refuse a field sobriety test. they will have to participate in a program that requires them to pass a breathalyzer test for their vehicle to start. car dealers can put a $200 dealership fee on the cost of a vehicle. title fees doubled to $100. a tax credit for producing films in maryland takes effect. the amount of money state employees will pay for retirement goes up from 5% to 7%. state employees will be vested in the health plan in 10 years rather than the current five

years. july ushers in a new meaning to the phrase bon appetit. dogs will be able to dine out side with their owners at participating restaurants. >> now you are insta-weather forecast -- your insta-weather forecast forecast. >> it is warm. the temperatures are going to fall off quickly after sunset because the air is so dry. you can let the cool air come in and turn off the air conditioning overnight. this system in the midwest will

do a couple of things. it will increase the heat and humidity and give us a better chance for rain. most of it is going to be ok. pleasant with light and variable winds. the humidity is going to be comfortable. tomorrow, the winds are going to shift to the south. later in the day, there is a possibility of a thunderstorm. that will be most likely in the western suburbs. if you are going to take the boat out, it is a good day for that. if you are going down the ocean, there is a chance for some thunderstorms on sunday evening. there could be some of that train linking of -- train lingering after the holiday on sunday evening -- there could be some of that range lingering after the holiday. -- rain lingering after the

holiday. only a 20% or 30% chance of rain. it will be tuesday before we see some more rain coming in at the end of the week. >> now, 11 sports. >> the orioles have lost seven of their last nine and they are heading into a 10-game road trip. if this were a flight, the pilot would illuminate the fasten your seat belt sign. following last night's loss to the cardinals, they brought out a pitcher. last night, maddow look like the a's in the making. he has -- look like the ace in

the making, he has lost his way. >> i will not put in an open in or close in. >> jeremy gets the start for the orioles. and etta starts the man who is -- and atlanta starts the men who is trying to -- the payday that awaits bonilla is $1.2 million. he gets it for 25 years. no wonder the mets have money troubles. image keeps taking

a pounding. paychecks bounce. they will we issue paychecks that will clear will cashed -- clear when cast. on to wimbledon and the finals. nadal faces britain's andy murray. he comes up with a drop shot right here. a one-set when del. nada -- a one-set window. nadal advances to the finals.

rain is a possibility for the holiday weekend. we have another look at the weekend forecast. stick around. we are coming right back.

>> remembering a mother and daughter who were murdered at a hotel. we return to the scene of that crime where loved ones are expected to gather. expected to gather.

>> people are hoping for great weather for a long holiday weekend. you are not going to disappoint, are you? >> it is going to be more hum andid. for these -- it is going to be more humid. >> it is never this low. >> nightly news heading your way next. >> have a great evening.