is just in time for the holidays. >> i'm very happy that he is going to be here for christmas. we were not expecting him. >> it is just what president obama ordered. he went to fort bragg in north carolina wednesday to cheer them himself. >> on behalf of a grateful nation, i'm proud to finally say these two words -- and i know your families agree -- welcome home. [applause] >> but mostly, the president praised those who went to fight the war since march of 2003. >> and we are ending a war not with a final battle, but with a final march toward home. this is an extraordinary achievement. nearly nine years in the making, the war in iraq will soon belong to history. your service belongs to the ages. >> as he spoke, other troops in

iraq prepared for their return, and a homecoming like this. >> from here at home to those overseas, here is patrick, at serving in afghanistan. and ulocal's joe neel shows us those here at home. you can share your photos act wbaltv.com, click on ulocal. >> police charged a second teenager in connection with a fight at a baltimore county high school. police used pepper spray to break up the fight in eastern baltimore county. tim tooten is live with the follow-up report. >> the second student, a 15- year-old boy, has been charged with assaulting a police officer. in the meantime, those overcome by pepper spray have been treated and released from local hospitals. >> it took place right at the

main door. they were getting ready to leave to catch this bus behind me. it took place in a matter of seconds. >> what happened next forced a school resource police officer to use pepper spray to break up a fight between two male students. more than 1000 students were evacuated from the building. the school's principal says the school is back to normal and staff is in place to talk to students about what happened. >> they were very concerned about things that they heard, that they read, that were not typical of chesapeake. and some of their comments were, you know, this has given us a bad reputation, but it is one incident, one day between two students. >> there is concern from the teachers' association of baltimore county about the chesapeake high school incident and others like it. >> it is not so much the violence that easy mi like that -- not that that doesn't happen in causes ever, but for the most

part it is in the hallways. >> administrators are promising to launch their own investigation into what happened. in the meantime, a popular science, technology, engineering, and math school is trying to protect its reputation. >> it is important for the community to know that students are safe here and yesterday was not typical. >> in 2006, a chesapeake hite became the first stem academy in the state. -- chesapeake high school became the first stem academy in the state. >> tim, thank you very much. new at this hour, police in california make a new arrest in sex crimes against children and they say there are more board -- more victims out there. police in california said they have confirmed 3 victims and they say there are three more out west where the suspect is

from. a fourth lives in a it -- in anne arundel county. if you have any information, call the cathedral city, calif. police. meanwhile, police in anne arundel county are releasing a sketch of a man who allegedly sexually assaulted a woman overnight and then took off. it happened just before 3:00 a.m. a late-night search turned up nothing. if you recognize this person, call metro crimestoppers. >> demolition is finally under way after a fire ripped through the tavern. if the owners of this tavern have already vowed to rebuild. investigators say they may never know what sparked the fire, which cost $2.5 million in damage to the historic building.

by the time firefighters arrived, the building was fully engulfed in flames. it is expected to reopen by the fall of 2012. according to law-enforcement officials, incidence of domestic violence rise dramatically in the holiday season. baltimore county officials held a news conference with a famous victim of domestic violence to let people know there is help out there. loh melzer has the story. >> baltimore county police and health officials wanted to drive home the link between stress, domestic violence, and holidays. and this domestic violence victim, lisa, you may remember she lost her two children to domestic violence. she want people to know the signs and how to help. >> it was september of 1999 when lee says husband richard drove her two children to a bridge and killed them. >> their father committed the

ultimate act of domestic violence. he shot and murdered by two beautiful children. >> wednesday, she shared her nightmare once again to remind people of the horrors of domestic violence as we head into the holiday season. >> just in the last two months we have had several domestic related homicides in baltimore county. >> there is a noticeable rise in domestic violence around holidays, as well as suicides. >> many of these cases are committed by family members, loved ones, associates, people that we know and trust and have been with for many years. >> baltimore county health director believes it has to do with added stress. his office is recommending people in crisis to take advantage of a number of hotlines for help. >> if you identify it within yourself or someone within your family, give us a phone call.

>> it took eight years, but a lot of people do not take that long anymore. many people realize there's a way out because the services are there. by speaking out about what i do, that shows there is a light on the other side that they can go to. >> she says that she emphasizes how important those lifelines of help can be. >> in my case especially, i did not want to read it was going on and anyone who tried to help me i would push away. there are lots of resources out there to help you know what to do. the best thing i can tell you is to just listen. >> baltimore county has set up a 24 hour crisis hotline, 410- 931-2214. even if you are not from this area and use that line, they will find a way to get you help. we also have a number of helpful links on our website wbaltv.com. >> cloudy skies, not a lot of

rain in the mid-atlantic so far. a few sprinkles sure enough on the hd doppler. temperatures are a little bit above normal, upper 40's to near 54 the warmest part of the afternoon. -- to near 50 for the warmest part of the afternoon. temperatures in the mid-atlantic and down to the south and west have been well up into the 60's. some of that will be streaming into the mid-atlantic tomorrow. it will also bring a slightly better chance of rain as we head into thursday afternoon. after that, a cool down for the weekend. >> in the ever-changing republican race for the white house, newt gingrich is enjoying

his biggest lead so far. >> but the former speaker is also getting bad news from the dizzying array of polls out there. the menu is used to lead the gop pack is rubbing it -- the man who is used to lead in the gop pack is rubbing it in. >> no longer the war front runner in polls of republicans, mitt romney focused on his good news. >> people are coming to the conclusion that i am the person with this -- with the experience and the temperament and capacity to win against obama. >> it is true. newt gingrich has surged to its biggest lead among primary voters, those who vote on ideology. but in the matchup against president obama, it is romney that bested gingrich, just two points behind the president. >> it is an opportunity for

someone like ron paul, who was very close to newt in iowa, to take the lead. >> ron paul is one point behind gingrich in one survey, three points behind in another. >> in political terms it means that we are probably peaking at the right time. >> at a time when there are calls to shrink government, ron paul feels it is the right time. in a new ad, romney called gingrich is sanney -- called gingrich zany. >> his main afternoon speech today is about brain science. a slip from 37% to 31% since gingrich became the front runner.

>> coming up, a state lawmaker is getting out of the tavern business. >> the man and his brother and business partner go on trial for alleged gambling organization. >> teenagers are cutting back on cigarettes, but not necessarily cutting out the drugs. >> there is a plan on the table to make the river clean enough to swim in in a years. what this means to your

>> it is a story that was broken over the summer, a bar called by brothers busted for gambling. they are set to go on trial for charges of making illegal video game payouts. fighting illegal slot machines were confiscated from the restaurant. the honor himself is not charged, but i-team has uncovered that he is suspected of knowing about the activity. the trial is expected monday.

>> cigarette use among american teenagers has dropped to all- time lows, alcohol use is also down. but as a 11 news reporter erika edwards shows us, the news is not all good. >> considering that 90% of adult smokers started when they were teenagers, it suggests a non- smoking america may be possible some day. cigarette use by teenagers is down, all grades survey, eight, ted, and 12th, and the biggest drop was among high-school seniors. >> we are seeing it at the lowest it has ever been among teenagers. >> the bad news is that there is a disturbing increase in hookah tobacco use and little cigars. >> the so-called little cigars are just as harmful to health as cigarettes. and while the fda banned

flavored cigarette in 2009, that does not apply to cigars. >> they have flavoring that appeals to kids and in many states they are able to get around taxation, so they are much cheaper than cigarettes and that makes it easier for kids to get. >> kids are also getting marijuana. use among teenagers and continued to climb this year to its highest level in five years. more than one-third of 12th graders admitted to using the drug in the past year. >> in the current survey, the rate of daily marijuana smoking is at the highest it has been since 1981. >> but alcohol use fell, especially in the important binge drinking category. >> we are seeing fewer bad alcoholic drinking behavior's from previously. >> over the counter prescriptions enjoyed marijuana as the top illicit drug use by

teenagers this year. >> for many couples trying to conceive, sperm donation is one option that some not -- some couples use. this naval academy graduates seize that opportunity and offers his own sperm for free through his website. he uses that website to share his background and medical history and uses it to talk about couples -- and to talk to couples. the ranges to -- he arranges a visit to their home. the fda has ordered him to "cease manufacturing human cells and tissues." and >> to me, it is helping childless couples have a baby and we are in an intimate partnership. >> it washington d.c.-based law firm will be representing him in his upcoming hearing with the

fda. the probable or caught -- or possible causes of stillbirth can now be found. the most common causes are related to problems with the mother's cervix or placenta, or also abnormalities of the fetus. finding reasons can help parents find closure, as well as possibly preventing problems with future pregnancies. >> and now, your 11 insta- weather plus forecast with chief meteorologist tom tasselmyer. >> temperatures are warming a little bit today, but the cloud cover is keeping things in check. tomorrow, a strong burst of wind will continue the warming trend for our region. 46 degrees. we hit 51 at the airport. just barely below freezing at b.w.i. marshall where the record

low is 28 and the record low, a lebanon in 1960. -- 11 in 1960. there's not much cold air in the region at this hour. even in the mountains out west, temperatures are in the low 40's. hagerstown at 46 and washington county is still and a 50's. overall, it's very mild december weather pattern. tomorrow, sprinkles and light showers passing mostly to the north and west of baltimore into state college and southern new york. more activity in the great lakes. tomorrow, a better chance for some rain. tonight, mostly cloudy, 35 to 45, and it winds out of the southeast. warm temperatures tomorrow with the south/southwest winds. the cold, wintry weather is on

the northwest side of the lakes, far removed from the mid- atlantic. once this front goes through tomorrow night, then the temperatures will cool off and the weekend looks a bit chilly. it could hit 60 in some spots tomorrow. it looks like this storm system will produce rain as far north as maine. temperatures friday night will start to cool off. there may be a sprinkle of rain to the south on friday through southern maryland. cooler temperatures to round out the work week. highs of 55 to 60. a small craft advisory on the day tomorrow. a steady, 10 to 59 breeze with waves averaging -- 10 to 15 knot breeze with waves averaging two

feet. snow showers on friday out in garrett county near mchenry and deep creek lake. highs only in the low 30's. it will be plenty cold at night for them to generate man-made snow. eastern shore, almost 60 tomorrow. 50 on friday. with a degrees tomorrow chance of showers. sunny to partly cloudy over the weekend around here and cooler in the mid 40's saturday and sunday. the next chance of rain comes monday night into tuesday next week. >> coming up next unexamined gene -- examining a damaged overpasses on the beltway. >> and what we come back, what we should be concerned with

about this weekly infection. and how the housing market has changed the definition of let's make a deal. >> these goodies are going to cancer patients at carolla hospital, thanks to the lacrosse team at a local high school.

>> tonight, state officials said they will be expecting the damage to the beltway repair on a weekly basis over the next two months. a truck was over the legal limit when it knocked off a high beam and damaged a catwalk. officials tell us there was no imminent reason to fix the bridge, but the weekly checks are to make sure the damage does not get worse. the job should be finished by the spring. >> have the inner harbor fishable and swimmable by the

year 2020. we want to know if it is even a viable. david collins joins us with a closer look. >> a healthy harbor south like an oxymoron right now, but the coalition dedicated to cleaning up the day by 2020, they will tell you it does not make -- take a miracle to make it healthy, but a plan. the partnerships of the past year developing a cleanup plan of action. this blueprint, which cost $500,000, was privately funded. it outlines specific solutions. for instance, a ban on plastic bags, and allowed a bottle recycling area. they also want to engage in a big public awareness campaign. sewage is another problem they plan to tackle by repairing or replacing aging pipes, and

tracking problems to the source. the group believes storm water runoff can be managed in part by using bacon lots as rain gardens, and in the next three years, they want to develop a plan for each of the city's 209 neighborhoods. >> no plan is a good plan without a deadline. we will do it. we will clean up the harbor by 2020. already, we have tremendous momentum. we have demonstrations like the floating wetlands. we had a pact water conference last february, 375 people. boston did it in five years. but 2020 is eight years from here on out. the we have a great team. >> funding for the swimming and

fishing could be a challenge. ideas include having the city council imposed a storm water feet, establishing an enterprise fund, creating a baltimore waterfront, and a system to track cleanup and progress to hold those in charge accountable. >> david, thank you. and many americans are growing more and more uneasy with what is happening in washington. >> tonight, a new poll solidifies what analysts have been saying for months, congress is not too popular with the people. new at 5:30 p.m., a look at what's that -- what this means for 2012. >> local lawmakers tell us what they plan to change next year in annapolis.

>> 11 news at 5:00 p.m. in hd continues now. >> new at 5:30 p.m., a horrific accident that investigators say was triggered by texting behind the wheel. government officials have called for a complete ban on cellphone use while driving, but could such a ban ever happen in maryland? local lawmakers say it is completely unrealistic. >> but they said there are several inconsistencies that do need to change. here's the report. >> this deadly chain reaction crash prompted the national

transportation safety board to make a drastic recommendation, an outright ban on cellphone usage behind the wheel. >> and yes, that doesn't apply to bluetooth, hand-held, handsfree -- does apply to bluetooth, hand-held, handsfree. >> the driver triggered this mazurek -- missouri rakiwreck by sending 11 text messages. she does believe it is time to tighten maryland's laws about talking or texting in the driver's seat. >> the lots are inconsistent. how can you have it -- a texting law that has texting as a primary offense and use of a cell phone as a secondary offense.

>> apparently, you can get pulled over for texting while driving, but not for dialing your phone. >> you could be sitting right next to a police officer and talking away and he cannot do nothing to you. >> you can only get a ticket for driving while driving it you are caught breaking another traffic light at the same time. she wants to make it a stiffer penalty than a $40 fine and a primary offense. cellphone usage has been cited in a tree -- a fatal train accident in california, a boat collision in philadelphia, and a passenger jet that strayed 100 miles past its destination. that is why the ntsb argued that while a ban on itself on news may be inconvenient -- >> death is inconvenient. >> you can see the form that others have signed to pledge to drive safely. to go to wbaltv.com.

>> police have charged a second teenager in connection with the fight at chesapeake high school yesterday. police used pepper spray to break up the altercation between two males students. a 15-year-old boy has been charged tonight with assaulting a police officer. school administrators say they will launch their own investigation into what happened. the students overcome by pepper spray board traded and released from local hospitals. this man is behind a series of sex crimes against children and they believe one of his victims may be from anne arundel county. he is facing felony charges for three confirmed victims. authorities are trying to ascertain if there are more. they believe that one of them lives in anne arundel county. anyone with information is asked to contact investigators at 760-770-0381. president obama marked the end

of the iraq war with a visit to fort bragg to thank the soldiers for their hard work and sacrifice. he said the 1.5 million americans that have served in iraq since the beginning of the war, and he said the u.s. is leaving behind a more self- reliant iraq with a government elected by its people. >> this congress is one of the worst ever, that as of 42% -- that is how 42% of americans feel according to a new poll. it seems to reflect the american public's growing frustration with washington. >> and with government generally. there is no question about it, if you look at the stalemate in the talks over the summer, it happened again with the super committee. and now there's the prospect of the government shutting down over fights about how to

continue to fund the government with the continuing resolutions or how to cut a payroll tax expansion -- extension. it is fueling so much of the anchor and anxiety out there that we are seeing -- anger and anxiety out there that we are seeing. >> what will congress have to do to boost the public's confidence in their work in washington? >> you have to find some ability for the two sides to get things done. right now, the debate is so big over the role of government, the role of taxes, how to cut the size of government and take a bite of the deficit. it is going to be difficult if your an elected member of congress. right now, the problems are big, but the politics are small. that is what the country is reacting to. >> is very take away for the obama administration? the administration did not rank

very high as well. >> the president came to washington promising to change it, to make it better, to run more efficiently, to usher in a time of bipartisanship. what you see from him now is that he tried some of those things, but i have a republican party against me at every turn. he will take that fight to the voters next year and make the case that he is prepared to make the tough decisions, but does not have a republican partner. >> this will do either one of two things, keep people away from the polls, or generate more people to go to the polls and make a change in washington. >> we are relieved that in terms of being able to forecast the turnout. -- we are early in terms of being able to forecast the turnout. i think people are enthusiastic about voting and party identification is high. i think that will be there as well for president obama. i think this will be an incredibly important and

dramatic election. the real prospect for the republican to be tim, i think a lot of people will be paying attention. -- to beat him, i think a lot of people will be paying attention. >> we will see you sunday for "meet the press." >> thanks. >> meanwhile, it looks like everyone gets feeling grates on line. 70% of our online -- get failing grades on line. 7% of our online respondents failed congress. >> "time" magazine has named its person of the year. >> actually, people of the year. we will tell you who the editors say have influenced culture the most in 2011. >> but first, a woman is killed in a horrific elevator accident after a malfunction in the york city. >> -- in nyc.

>> stocking and delivering these gifts to cancer patients in carroll county.

>> a 41-year-old female advertising executive was crushed this morning getting on an elevator in setting york city building. the woman was getting on the elevator on the first floor when the the door closed on her leg, and then it shot up and crush the woman between the elevator and the shaft wall while two people inside the elevator watched in horror. they were taken to the hospital as a precaution. what caused the not function is still unknown. >> "time" magazine selected the protester. it says it is selecting protesters because they have changed things around the world. "time" person of the year are those persons who have most

inzell is the culture and news in the past year. last year it was mark zuck gerberg. >> that is true when you think about what the protesters have changed around the world this year. it is dramatic. apparently from watching -- closing down a popular baltimore hot spot was just a hiatus. >> will tell you where they are reopening and the the the white yummy additions they are adding to the menu. >> a few showers on hd doppler to the north and west of baltimore because warmer air is moving our way. the forecast is next.

>> a second teenager now faces charges after an altercation at a baltimore county high school. the i-team has an exclusive on the students that

>> cancer patients at the carroll hospital in westminster got a special visit today. the boys at the lacrosse team handed out all kinds of comfort items. >> these lacrosse players from winter's mill high school are on a holiday mission in the halls of carol hospital center. >> it is not only 18 bonding experience, but it helps the community where they need help -- a team bonding experience,

but it helps the community where they need help. >> they gather things to give to cancer patients at a hospital. it is a project that is close to long for their coach. >> the coach was telling us about how his father-in-law had died rapidly when he was diagnosed with cancer. he died within five months. he was very interactive with this. >> the students and their families collected donated items, things like gloves and hats, lotions and shampoos, even games. they then distributed at some 50 stockings to cancer patients. >> it gives them that sense of home. you just enjoy it when they receive a gift. they just like now. you see that inner glow. and that's. , that -- about spirit, that wonderful feeling that you get when you think about the holidays. >> bingo these gifts make the

hospital stay elderly easier. -- they hope these gifts make the hospital stay a little easier. >> the tenacity with which they fight for their lives, it is such a struggle every day to fight cancer. >> they hope to make this stalking stuffing an annual event. >> and now, your 11 insta- weather plus forecast with chief meteorologist tom tasselmyer. >> no arctic air in the mid- atlantic. coldmperatures were not that around the midlantic this morning. 31, just below freezing here in baltimore this morning. temperatures are still mild to our south and west. 61 in charleston, west virginia.

some of these showers are working their way to chicago to st. louis. some thunder down to the south. in mild weather pattern moving east now. for our region, 30's and 40's for those tonight. the front out there during the rain showers will be crowding the mid-atlantic and -- triggering the rain showers will the crowd in the mid- atlantic tomorrow. as the purchase,-the 50's tomorrow. -- as it approaches, highs in the 50's tomorrow. it looks like cold weather will return as we head into friday and the weekend. tomorrow, mostly cloudy, a few showers, 55 to 60 degrees with south winds 10 miles per hour. sun up at 7:19 a.m. and going down at 4:44 p.m.

the 50/50 chance of rain tomorrow. most the cloudy and cool air on friday. highs in the mid 40's saturday. sunday, temperatures about normal. the next chance for rain is monday night into tuesday of next week. consumer alert, when a popular downtown restaurant shut down its left many with no where to eat during the work day. now they will be reopening. under new ownership and ready for business in march. john is taking over the business. he currently manages the location in mount vernon. there will be some changes to the menu, which will include beninese, salads, and grilled salmon. , solid, andanini's

grilled salmon spirited american airlines pilots will soon be using ipads of their own in the cockpit, but it will be all business. pilots are used to traveling with up to 50 pounds of paper work, everything from flight manuals to navigation charts. the ipad will replace all of that paper. what about the concerns about it failing in flight? >> the device has proved very stable and reliable. we do not anticipate any issues whatsoever. we have been testing it for six months with literally no issue. >> passengers also do not need to worry about distracted flying, because they will not have -- they will not have access to the internet any time during the flight. alaska airlines also use the device in their planes. pilots will begin using them on friday. >> ray lewis returned to the

practice field and he returned to a standing ovation from his teammates. you get the feeling that barring a setback, ray lewis will be playing this week against san diego. the ravens will be looking for their 11th win of the season. >> remember the last time the ravens played the chargers? one of the greatest moments in franchise history. >> ray lewis comes up the middle and it is all over. the hay is in the barn. >> it can still give you chills, but maybe this week they have the key. adderall suggs feels he has a. >> -- terrell suggs kielty has the key. yeardley enough also admirers

rivers. >> -- oddly enough, he also had miers rivers. >> i am a big fan. like i said, i like his fire. >> he is a competitor. you can see from his energy out there that he motivates guys and he pushes everybody to the max, like he pushes himself. he's got a lot of weapons. >> yes, weapons galore. receivers all over the field and a tight end, antonio ghaith. >> he knows how to use his bat ballgame that he has played and he knows how to use that on the field. >> a great matchup sunday night in southern california. >> in 48 hours will be faced with yet another government

shutdown. congress has until friday night to pass the latest spending bill. new at 6:00 p.m., what democrats and republicans have to come to terms on to keep capitol hill up and running. >> i'm rob roblin. behind the scenes at the lion king, coming up.

>> it has won six tony awards and is one of the most popular staged musicals of it -- in the

world, kean. >> rob roblin takes us back stage. >> the lion king runs through january 8 at the hippodrome and when it comes to costumes and costume changes, there is nothing like it. ♪ >> the lion king opened on broadway in 1997. it has been seen by over 63 million people. it has been performed in over 14 different countries and now it is in baltimore. one of the things that makes it spectacular is the costumes. there are 420 costumes, 220 of those are on stage every night. >> they come in and change clothes, they leave. the dresser and things out and put things down. they come back and change clothes. >> ragin is the wardrobe supervisor. she to be on a tour of what they

call the bunker and showed me some of these -- she took me on a tour of what they call the bunker and showed me some of these wonderful costumes. >> this is what we call a pied dress -- pod dress, for obvious reasons. the actors that wears this has a big thing across the back to give the impression of blossoming. >> she has a number of costumes she wears. >> how much time do you have to change? >> it depends. sometimes as little as a minute, maybe a minute and 30 seconds. i think some of them are a bit longer than that, but some are pretty quick. >> if you have the opportunity, come down to the pogrom. the lion king is a show that you

will not forget. ♪ >> i saw it last week and i never get tired of it. it was the second time. >> that is all at 5:00 p.m. here is what is coming at 6:00 p.m. >> sellers be where. even if your buyer agrees, you yourot bhave that deal on house that you think you have. >> another government shut down? i will tell you what is to blame this time coming up in a live report. >> and the link between stress, the holidays, and domestic violence. 11 news at 6:00 p.m. starts right now. >> live, local, late breaking, this is wbal tv 11 news at 6:00 p.m. >> tonight, the fallout from the collapse of the housing market has caused so much wreckage for the economy and for individual families.

>> and it is putting new bombs in the road even when buyers and sellers think they have -- new bumps in the road even when buyers and sellers think they have a deal. >> back when the real-estate market was flying high, when a buyer and seller agreed upon a price, the deal was almost always done. not anymore. >> this real-estate agent has been trying to find a buyer for this historic home for the past nine months. recently, it looked like the deal was done. >> we had a willing and able buyer. >> the buyer and seller agreed upon a price, but the appraisal came in a lot lower. >> about 25%. $165,000 difference. >> the appraisers said it was worth a lot less. >> correct. >> it is a new wrinkle in the new normal of real-estate sales. new blogger is the deal between the buyer and seller