everyone. it is now less than 48 hours until the baltimore ravens take on the texans. purple fever is hot and getting hotter. kai reed is live with how they are getting ready for the big showdown. >> you probably noticed buildings all over our lead up and purple. -- let caught in purple. >> it is called the raventini. it has helped get the party in full swing. >> it is good. it has a sweet taste to it. >> people are talking purple, breathing purple, wearing a purple. now they are drinking purple. >> chefs in the kitchen are preparing purple cabbage, purple slaw, and they have to order purple tomatos.

>> sunday night it will be a victory celebration with purple waffles and purple met -- martinis. >> it is hard to miss the energy building throughout the city on this friday. purple lights are eliminating landmarks and fans have been talking trash early and often. >> we are going to whoop some butt. >> we are going to take out houston on sunday. >> hilarious and send admitted to us he is actually a steelers fan but this week he is cheering on the baltimore ravens. >> in the morale is a sky-high right now. we are only a couple of games away from the super bowl. that is beyond all beliefs. ken [cheers and applause]

>> the residents organization get away two free game tickets. we have coverage on our web site wbaltv.com. click on ravens playoffs. >> of course, as defense gear up for the purple, players prepare for a close match up against houston ended their second bernanke defense. we continue with pete gilbert who was recently named sportscaster of the year. you can talk about the ravens, too, if you like. >> i think we will focus on that. it really is all laid out for the taking. they were just waiting for flacco to come of age. i think in the national consciousness where they need to go. he has one more chance that all but two quarterback in the last four years.

flacco has not posted giant numbers in the process. now confident in his abilities, he mocked the media a little this week saying if the reagans 18 super bowl he still would not get any credit. joe has a chance to silence all of his critics this month. >> we can say we all do not hear this stuff. you cannot not hear it. it is all right in front of you. yes, you get a little tired of it. they will shut people up. we have to let our place speak for themselves. he is poised to do that. let's give the guys some credit for throwing it out there. >> in tonight's context question, what is your prediction for the game? a for a blowout, b for a tight game, and c for an upset.

standard text -- standard text rates apply. theravens are the better team playing at home. >> thank you very much and congratulations again on your reward. remember to join us for our road to indianapolis special. gerry sandusky has an exclusive one-on-one with joe flacco as he prepares for his first home playoff. that is tonight at 7:00 right here on tv 11. tonight the baltimore housing authority has found papers to block the sale of its vehicles and other assets to satisfy a $2.6 million lead paint judgment. the i team 11 news has been monitoring the story since the

started identifying equipment that will go to auction. the proceeds are helping to pay the judgment awarded to a brother and sister were poisoned by lead paint and growing up in the housing projects. the authority said it cannot afford to pay judgments. a spokesperson said they want to resolve the unpaid judgments but they need approval in each case. a court hearing will be scheduled. tonight the baltimore county woman is awaiting her sentence after pleading guilty for hiring a hitman to kill her husband at a bar last year. today jacqueline martin pled guilty to first-degree murder for the shooting death of her husband. jacqueline enlisted the help of her brother and two other acquaintances to carry out the murder. a county man accused of fighting with police and kicking a dog last december may not be facing

charges after all. kevin walsh will undergo a mental health evaluation. he told the associated press and officer hassled him after he remarked about the dogs presence during a holiday party. he only became agitated after being arrested. city police are on the rack -- the lookout for a person that sent a portable speed camera on fire. it happened at 7:15 this morning at the intersection of park avenue by bolton hill. sheldon joins us live. >> a lot of us get annoyed by speed camera, especially when we get caught off guard. one vandal took it to a new level when he sent one on fire. police are trying to figure out a motive but say it was set intentionally. >> i do not even jaywalk when i

crossed howard street because i want to make sure i am not hit by somebody who is trying to beat the yellow light. >> she was not the only one worried about speeders at the intersection of howard and park avenue. they heard other concerns from people in the area and say it is part of the reason they installed a portable speed camera by the intersection. the camera is no longer there. somebody said and on fire around 7:15 and it has been removed. >> that frightens me. an innocent passerby or a car could be affected. an explosion could occur. >> it is hard to say what their motivations are other than possibly who really does not like speed cameras and got a result -- a ticket as a result of one of them. >> investigators will not comment on how the fire was set but say it was intentional. there are still trying to figure out what his or her motive may have been cured >> i think it is

really sad. i think setting fire to a piece of public property that is there to keep us safe is as destructive as it sounds. >> she is not worried about an arsonist running around her neighborhood but hopes the clobbered does come forward soon. >> i hope somebody explains why they want to jeopardize safety. >> the city transportation department has not been able to give us an estimate on how much it will cost to repair the camera because there access -- assessing the damage. an investigation is under way under what caused a tractor- trailer to flip over on the inner loop of the beltway. it happened at 9:30 when the driver was trying to emerge from the ramp. nobody else was hurt. traffic was a very slow-moving as crews worked to clean everything out. maryland house is seems to be

five votes short of passing the marriage equality bill. while discussions are taking place behind closed doors, they may have hit a snag. the biggest issue is the language used for religious exemptions. it's to the governor says whatever passes through the chamber will include some changes to which religions are included on to the bill. the changes could fire up the extra support. >> i want to make sure we are crystal clear that religious organizations are completely exempt should we move forward on the issue. opponents say they are not even considering putting together a petition drive unless the bill passes. baltimore city officials hope there will not be any more breakouts of scarlet fever after three confirmed cases at george washington elementary school. officials are warning parents that they should be vigilant with protecting their children. lowell mesler was at the school

today. >> by may concern is to make sure it does not spread. >> the principal at george washington elementary school says it is not something you expect to hear. >> i was a little shock hearing the words scarlet fever. >> the parrot called her saying their child had tested positive for scarlet fever. she formed the city health department who told her what to do. >> reform -- remove the children from that class and put them in another location. just make sure it is clean, orderly, and a safe. >> a friday news of a total of three cases with one more suspected case. city health officials say there is no reason for alarm or panic as the disease is actually a manifestation of strep throat and is easily treated with antibiotics. >> i think the perception is this is a widespread epidemic in the school. each -- the children is being --

the children are being treated. >> at a meeting friday morning at the school health officials explant about scarlet fever to ease nurse. the most striking symptom is a sandpaper crash along with high fever, sore throat, a red honda, swollen neck glands. if your child should any of these symptoms they should be taken to their pediatricians immediately. officials made it clear it is most commonly spread among school-age children. >> the behavior we see and school-age children -- a touch things without touching their hand. >> parents we spoke with seemed pleased by the quick actions the school took and felt comfortable leaving their children in class. >> i think if you are informed about it, you will feel much better about it. there are antibiotics that will treat the disease.

i am not concerned about it. i already have my child tested. she is fine. >> that was music to the ears of principle rise to said when it comes down to it, being sick comes with the territory of being a kid. >> when kids come together, insurance pass. we fantasize and everything is good. >> the symptoms easily come on within one-five days after exposure and go away within 48 hours after treatment. at the city health apartment, lowell mesler. >> echoed a blue is in effect and will be for the next two days. city officials made the declaration in anticipation of plunging temperatures. there are a number of emergency shelters operating on extended hours. four of them will provide assistance 24 hours a day until temperatures heat up. a big concern is tailgating for

the baltimore ravens game. anyone who is drinking alcohol and being exposed to the cold should know you do increase your risk for hypothermia. >> we want to get the message out that whether you are a tax- and-spend or a baltimore ravens fan, keeping warm and high trading with water is the most important way to prevent hypothermia. >> energy assistance -- assistance may be ineffective for the cold blue until monday. >> animal control officials are now investigating how this don't want up on this side of the road with a heavy chain embedded in its neck. dozens of tires slashed over night. the search is on for the culprits. as we cover the nation, some tense moments in state college as joe paterno is back in the hospital. >> cold air continuing to

produce a snow in the mountains to the north and west. the cold is certainly here. 29 at the airport. winds gusting

>> officials want to know how i don't want up on the side of the road with a 23 pound chain embedded in her neck. a family brought her to animal control when they notice the heavy chain was embedded in the goats next -- neck. he required surgery to move the change. they are expecting her to make a

full recovery. if you know anything about the animal or her owner, you are encouraged to call animal control. a rude awakening for brooklyn park residents this morning. somebody's lasted the tires on more than 30 cars. here is a look at some of the damage. >> my daughter told us we had some flat tires. i came out and looked and i called the police. that was about 6:00 this morning. i was about the third person who called so far. >> all of the damage to vehicles were parked on the taney avenue, southerly route, and balman avenue. police believe the slashings are random. you are asked to call the northern district police, the phone number on the bottom of your screen. >> a group of baltimore county students took center stage today to honor dr. mccoy -- dr. martin

luther king, jr. it is part of a local observance held in churches. school administrations were present to honor students who model his character, and also who are helping to keep his dream alive. it is important to remind them of these troubles before them. >> i bring up the fact that i used to ride the two bosses in to work so i get to work on time. i bring up support -- i bring of stories that support textual stores that we read. >> you can see local event celebrating dr. martin luther king on our website wbaltv.com. be sure to click on family. tonight in discovering the nation, former penn state football coach joe paterno was hospitalized due to complications involved in his ongoing cancer treatment. he was diagnosed in november

with a treatable form of lung cancer. the 85-year-old has been undergoing a series of medical treatments. he was also hospitalized in december when he fell at home. joe paterno and his family are said to have complete confidence and his doctors and he is determined to make a full recovery. winter is bringing its ugly head it had a major slap in the face to upstate new york area. weather advisories in effect from buffalo to new england. so far the city has four inches. of inches more is expected this coming weekend. >> in the city's snow is a hassle and on the mountains it is a blessing. the coal ports and off of the lakes. it continues to produce these snow showers.

east of the mountains, skies of tried to clear out. temperatures have been on a nearly steady fall throughout the day. 53 degrees at midnight. since then temperatures falling, 29 below so far. that is pretty much where we said right now. the airport now at 29 degrees. you can see areas north and west of us dropping to the. 20 the some cold air temperatures return. the third is on the eastern shore and dropping close to 10 at oakland. then you factor in the strong brisk winds and their wind chill feels like below zero expected in the mountains tonight. dangerous cold if you are not. prepared for not -- prepard for it. the wind chill is 17. futurecast shows partly cloudy skies in the morning and

afternoon. you can see snow showers continue on the highest elevations. it will get a couple of other inches of snow. partly cloudy in the morning and 28 degrees for winds continuing out of the west. highs in the mid 30's with gusts at 20 miles per hour pushing wind chills and to the 20's during the day tomorrow. probably will not hit 20 with a couple of pitches of snow. eastern shore, it will be cold and breezy. a good deal of sunshine for both saturday and sunday. ocean city we might be able to sneak into the low 40's 2 mile, but we will stay in the 30's on sunday. this cold air was pushed into the mid-atlantic. high pressure comes in behind it and will produce dry conditions but cold temperatures for most of the weekend. that means fairly quiet football weather across the nation. the most boring football weather will be in san francisco. sunday at 63 degrees at kickoff.

a very decent weather in that location. even in new england, wind chills will be in the single digits but they can expect clear skies tomorrow evening. here for kickoff temperatures in the 30's. the northwest breeze at 10 with a sunny to partly cloudy sky for our football game. up in green bay in january he would think snow, but it looks like sunshine and temperatures in the 20's which is not all that cold for wisconsin in january. 35 on sunday. martin luther king day we will get back to 40. some rain arrives on tuesday with highs in the upper 40's. >> if the game comes down to a field goal, how confident are you in the kicker?

>> tonight's jackpot is an estimated $42 million. he must have these five white balls plus a gold medal ball. let's see if we can make you a millionaire. 10, 27, 28, 51, 37. 19 if nobody matches all six numbers, the jackpot could be worth $50 million. wo

>> the baltimore ravens cooker earned a trip to the poll role and enjoyed a nice new contract. billy hears all of that and understands it. it really is not a concern. he had a banner day against the texans. the margin of victory for the baltimore ravens. he had another hippa issue.

-- hip issue. right now he says all injuries are gone and feels great and if it comes down to making a long field goal for the win, signed him up. >> even though some people again me think i am crazy, i feel like they're at our cost of lessons to be learned. going into the playoffs the full more confident today than at any point in my career kicking from a long distance. i can transfer this over to a performance in a game. i would be excited to try long field goals in the playoffs. >> meanwhile, houston seems happy to be here. the texans only have a single playoff game in their history. when you are down to your third string quarterback and make the divisional crown, anything else is just gravy. he understands what kind of challenge he faces sunday afternoon in baltimore. >> he know, they probably have

arguably the two best players at the line back position and the safety position ever to play the game. when you look at them on film, the way they fly around it to the ball -- but the speaker of the baltimore ravens the only thing you think about his defense. >> high school hoops this weekend, a matchup of the two best teams in the city. in baltimore it means the world. patterson and dunbar. getting a troops lesson from jack young. the call him the crime stopper because when he plays everyone watches. dunbar going -- it is correct. lovely finish. back and forth the first three and a half quarters. he hangs for the leaner. a two-point game but dunbar has

played better. and a strong finish, he posts up at 8. with 35 seconds left, fans are taking the court. dunbarton knocked off no. 1. a rare nationally televised game for the hounds. day visit to fairfield. keith matthews hanging around shannon walker, this is his only bought the of the night. he knocks down a three. member to all time. -- number two all time. as we go into the second half, it was an 8-0 run to start the half. he hits two free throws. lawyer comes all the way back

and rallies from 66-63. please stay with us. another check witec

>> it is a purple weekend. back to 40 on martin luther king day. >> let's go baltimore ravens on sunday. thank you for joining us.

featuring rickey minor