an awful idea, and applying the state sales tax to the price at the pomp and even worse option that would come as a crushing blow to families and businesses. >> it is are to imagine a worst time to raise any tax, but particularly one that will immediately bite into family income, raise prices on consumer goods, and destroy the profit margins for so many of the state's employers. >> peter franchot hosted a roundtable discussion on the issue. experts he invited predicted it would be an administrative nightmare, costing millions to recalculate pops in which rates vary by brand and location. >> on a given day, there are 160 different tax rates, depending upon product formulation, terminal, or brand. >> the governor still has not submitted a bill detailing how he plans to apply the state sales tax to gasoline. another expert believes that maryland's gas prices would average 26 cents a gallon more than in virginia. he says polls show that people

would drive 10 miles just to save a nickel. >> gasoline is an emotional purchase. it is purchase that is not an option. people needed to go to work, to take their kids to soccer. >> the governor wants to use the money generated to pay for roads, bridges, and other transportation projects. he supports putting a lockbox around the funds to make sure that only go to transportation needs. the comptroller called lockboxes a red herring because the reality, he says, they are a fantasy. >> i have been in this town for 26 years and there are two unicorns i am still waiting to see, a lockbox that works, and a sunset. the have not come out of the forest. >> the controller, who many believe is setting himself up to run for governor, says a better approach would be more public- private partnerships. david collins, wbal-tv 11 news.

>> using the self on wall driving could soon cost to $500 in fines -- using a cell phone while driving. a bill is now working its way through the house committee. at the present time, officers can only pull you over for some other violation before writing you a citation for using your cell phone while driving, but this would change that. >> you cannot use the phone while you are driving. that will also deter people, in my opinion, from even thinking about texting. >> blaster, a senate committee killed similar legislation. the bill posey sponsor believes its chances for passage are much better -- last year, a senate committee killed similar legislation. >> a new argument popped up in the robocalls case. it involves another robocalls that also went out in november 2010. jayne miller is live in the

newsroom with details. >> julius henson is essentially arguing the state prosecutor's cherry pick this case. he is asking why go after this robocalls and not another one in another race in the same election. julius henson, hard by the bob ehrlich campaign in 2010, admits he is the one who wrote the now infamous robocalls that went to more than 100,000 voters on election night that year. it suggested the race was over, even though the polls had not closed. >> i am calling to let everyone know that governor o'malley and president obama have been successful. >> hinson is accused of fraud because prosecutors say the cult misled voters and pelt -- failed to identify who paid for -- prosecutors say the call a misled voters. julius henson is trying something different. he wants the state prosecutors filed in a different case in the western part of the state. the issue there, a robocalls that went out the day before the

november election, targeting a county commissioner candidate. >> paid for by washington county republican central committee. >> the republican county in washington and -- republican party denies any connection to the call. a formal complaint was filed with the state prosecutor, who declined to file charges. says it further inject politics into the case and raises questions about the prosecutor's motives could expect the judge today refused to order the state prosecutor to turn over the files about that washington county case, but told his lawyers he could file a public information request. the judge did not out one of the five counts against henson. jury selection could start tomorrow. >> the presidential historian accused of stealing historical documents has changed his plea.

barry landau first pleaded not guilty, but today he admitted to conspiring to steal and the theft of hundreds of historical documents from museums along the east coast, and then selling them for profit. he and his accomplice were arrested here in baltimore last summer. landau faces 15 years in prison when he is sentenced in may. >> jury selection continues this evening in the murder trial of university of virginia lacrosse player george huguely. now there is word that the judge said selection will continue into the night in hopes of concluding that process. >> it looks like a jury selection will go into overtime once again as it did last evening, as the judge has indicated he will stay as long as it takes until a jury is chosen. so opening statements can be given tomorrow morning. a half hour early start this morning in the george huguely murder trial as the commonwealth and the defense gather with

jurors at 9:00 a.m. after a long night monday, that ended at 8:00 p.m. instead of 5:00 p.m. huguely, who has lost a noticeable amount of weight since being arrested, set by his lawyers once again in a suit, his legs weighed down by heavy weights on his ankles as questioning started. only eight more jurors were needed for the pool of 27. each side would then cut six, for a jury of 12 with three alternates. all less than 40 jurors were polled in the morning session. by lunchtime, 22 of 27 jurors wore -- were in place. both sides are trying to find jurors who can completely block anything about the case that they know from their minds and come up with an honest verdict. some highlights included one potential juror who emphatically told the court she thought huguely was guilty. another was moved to tears because she said she had a daughter yeardley love was the age who played sports. both were dismissed.

one who made the cut was a lawman who only listens to public radio and does not own a television, and a child-care worker. >> people may have formed opinions already. there is no good way to predict how long it takes to go through and ask all these people about what they thought they know about this case. it varies a great deal from case to case an individual to individual. >> a defense attorney in charlottesville who has had more than 100 murder cases says he is not surprised at all by how long it is taking to seat a jury. as far as who might testify in the case, we have learned beside yeardley love's mother and sister, also added to the list of witnesses for the defense side, george huguely's father and mother as well as asaunt and double. it is expected that opening statements will begin sometime

tomorrow. -- as well as an aunt and uncle. >> instead of 27, the defense said no, and the commonwealth said yes. our interactive timeline details the events leading up to the trial. it is all in a special extended coverage section on wbaltv.com. >> we continue to follow breaking news from northeast baltimore where police are continuing their search for a suspect in an auto theft. let's head to captain roy taylor in skyteam 11. >> this is what the school looks like at the 2500 block of east northern parkway. city police were in the process of trying to chase and apprehend a suspect in a stolen car. the young gentleman ended up pulling alongside the school in a back parking lot, got out of

car and ran into the school. the french academy had already let go for the day, but a class was still in session. they went on lockdown for a brief time. police did a complete search of the school but so far nothing has turned up. >> cardinal designate edwin o'brien said the archdiocese of baltimore would not comply with federal law requiring churches to offer birth control for its employees, even if it means dropping their health care coverage. the u.s. department of health and human services recently rejected a request by catholic groups to be exempt from a requirement under health-care reform to cover contraception and sterilization. religious groups have a year to comply with the law. >> now to commit 2012, the republican presidential candidates face a triple test today, every contest in three different states. nikole killion is in washington with more on what is at stake.

>> missouri, minnesota, and colorado. candidates competing in three different states. mitt romney faces colorado, where he won in 2008 and 63 p. cracks colorado has something to say about who our nominee is going to be, and i think i am going to be that nominee. >> political director writes, there is no way for any nominee to win every single contest. rick santorum hopes for a strong showing in the mountain state and is poised to do well in missouri and minnesota. >> he still needs a win to point to i am a viable candidate, and can continue to compete with mitt romney for the long haul. >> newt gingrich headed to a different battle ground, ohio, which votes in a month.

>> the central question the republicans have to ask is, who can carry a campaign of really a large-scale change? >> he is hoping on a super tuesday comeback but still faces a fight. >> there are several southern states that will vote that day. >> all the contest are non- binding, meaning no delegates will be awarded tonight. nikole killion, wbal-tv 11 news pierre >> there are 25 days left until super tuesday. you can look at the past 10 election cycle and see how each state has voted on wbaltv.com. >> there is much more news ahead here on 11 news at 6:00. >> running back ricky williams came to the ravens looking to close out his career with the super bowl ring. that will not happen now. >> colder air moves in tonight wallace storm approaches from the west that could lead to wintry weather -- while a storm

approaches from the west that ♪

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>> a special ship made a stop in charm city. the rainbow warrior is docked at dell's point. is the new ship and the greenpeace bleak, the only one designed especially for them. it will leave for florida and then on to the amazon. it is the most environmentally friendly ship ever made. cost $30 million and was funded by individual donations.

>> baltimore county is one step closer to naming a new school superintendent. tonight a search firm hired to find replacement is making a major report to the school board. it will give the district a snapshot of the leadership qualities it says the next school's cheek should possess. >> i think they have or will feel for what the community and staff is looking for in a leader. we are hoping someone out there can fit that bill. >> dr. joe hairston, the longest serving school superintendent is set to retire in july after 12 years on the job. the board is hoping to name a successor before he stepped down, possibly as early as april. >> now, your insta-weather forecast with chief meteorologist tom tasselmyer. >> >> a warmer than normal day,

feeling like spring once again. the normal is 43 and we beat that by 12 degrees officially. 55 degrees at bwi marshall. the record high, 64. 6 degrees was a record low in 1895. the record amount of snow on this day was back in 1967. cooling off into the 40's in some of the northern and western areas. manchester of 44 degrees, dropping back into the 40's on the eastern shore as well. down to freezing in western maryland, 39 at frostburg. cool air coming out of the north and west and by dawn it will be much chillier. you can see teens and low 20s to the north of us. it sets the stage for tomorrow afternoon's possible snowfall.

lows of 27-32 and the winds have turned to the northeast. they will continue driving the front for the south, down into virginia. the second part is the storm with this moister that will be moving along at front tomorrow and passing through our region tomorrow night. by now, mostly rain associated with the area of low pressure. light snow and lorries have been reported in northern ohio. down to little rock and western tennessee, rain so far, but as the temperatures cool we expect to see some light snow. the most likely beginning time is late morning or around noontime. it will become the in from the western maryland towns and a posting -- approach in baltimore from the west. it is likely to be in the 30's above freezing, and the ground is very warm. this personal that comes in

midday tomorrow will likely melton contact -- this first snow. as the sun sinks in the evening, the northern sections will have the potential for some light snow accumulations. range extends out of baltimore will limit the amount of accumulation -- rain extend south of baltimore. a good deal of sunshine expected thursday afternoon in to buy it. the temperatures are not thursday cold -- it i afternoon into friday. south of baltimore and, you get into some rain and that limits accumulation. kroger northwest suburbs, maybe the northwest tip of harford county could have 1-3 inch snowfall. that is more likely as you get back toward garrett county. the temperatures are not all that cold. is tomorrow, 34-39.

snow accumulating in the mountains tomorrow and staying called on thursday. 45 on thursday as the sun comes back to the eastern shore. on the lower eastern shore, just brain. the seven-day forecast, after tomorrow's little taste of winter moves out, it warms up again. 50 on friday, but a blast of cold air or arrives for the weekend. a couple of lorries on sunday and the weekend highs only in the 30's. -- a couple of flurries on sunday. >> this is 11 sports. >> it does not take long for the inevitable reshaping of the ravens roster to begin. you will not see ricky williams and a ravens uniform next season. the 12-year veteran announced his retirement today. he leaves behind an impressive body of work. one of only 26 running backs in the history of the nfl to rush

for more than 1,000 yards. he hope to finish his career with his first super bowl ring. one of the more interesting people to play for the ravens. he teaches yoga and loves world travel. ray rice says being around ricky williams this season is one of the most important things that happened in his career. unfortunately, ricky williams travels did not end with a super bowl parade. was in manhattan. a crowd of an estimated a million people turned out. the new york mayor and governor both wrote in the parade. chris christie did not get an invitation. a bit of an oversight, considering the giants played in new jersey. don't look for any dancing from tom coughlin. >> we have a number of players who have never experienced this and they will never forget this

for the rest of their lives. thank you for coming out and making us feel so welcome. >> a huge week for the maryland men's basketball team. the midway mark of the conference schedule. the time has arrived to either make a move in the standings or get left behind. starting with tonight's game in clemson. maryland place at duke on saturday, a game he would much rather carry momentum into and go into looking for your first conference road win of the season. winning against clemson means beating a team that has a 3-5 record and starts with keeping the crowd quiet. >> you don't have your fan support there. they have theirs, and they try to play off this with the crowd. for us, we just have of ourselves, like always, pretty much. it is just another road game for us. they are coming off a loss to

virginia tech. we are growth coming off losses. >> see what the home crowd thinks of the seven-day forecast. tom tasselmyer has that coming up for you next. the car on the left was filled up with

low detergent gasoline. while the car on the right was filled up with bp gasoline with invigorate. which helps clean and protect its engine so it can get a few more miles per tank than the car on the left. go a little farther with bp gasoline with invigorate.

coming up 11:00, the presidential historian accused of stealing documents from the maryland historical society has entered another plea. plus a firestorm brewing after health care mandate for religious groups to provide birth control coverage to

employees. how the archdiocese of baltimore is responding in what it

>> the forecast features some snow, how about that? rains out of town, but back to the 50's by friday. >> thanks for joining us. we will see back here at 11:00. [captioning made possible by constellation energy