[captioning made possible by constellation energy group] captioned by the national captioning institute --www.ncicap.org-- >> live, local, latebreaking. this is wbal-tv 11 news at noon. >> good afternoon. i am sarah caldwell. in light rail collides with a car in baltimore county. it happened in cockeysville just before 9:00 this morning. police say no one in the car or on the train was taken in

hospital. the mta police are investigating. three people are dead and two others remain in the hospital after a multi vehicle crash overnight. it happened just after 10:00 near belair. it killed three siblings who have been identified as 24-year- old ashley, 17-year-old joseph, and 29-year-old baugdavid bauguess, all from fallston. the chevy cavalier was traveling southbound when it crossed the center line and sideswiped a toyota. we will have the latest on the investigation on 11 news at 5:00 and 6:00. in prince george's county, a driver was killed after crashing his car into a kfc restaurant. the driver lost patrol of physical and crash into the restaurant on the 6700 block of martin luther king, jr. highway. four other people were injured but none of the injuries appear

serious. a 22-year-old man is recovering at shock trauma after an apparent road rage incident in crofton. the victim and a woman in the green suv had just gotten married and did something that drew the attention of a driver in the silver sedan and a red light. when the sedan driver started yelling at them, a lead to some kind of pursued and that the crash. after the crash, the newlywed confronted the sedan driver, who attacked the man with a knife. now to our big story, as michigan's primary is just a week away, the republican race is heating up with a front runner rick santorum much more focused on president obama and catching some heat for that. tracie potts has the latest. >> after a day explaining his "phony theology" remarks, he

focused on an issue hitting midwesterners hard, gas prices. >> this president is doing everything he can to hurt energy production in this country. >> the obama administration announced a deal to drill along the gulf of border with mexico. meantime, we are getting an idea how much money the candidates are working with. romney race $6.5 million last month that called ohio that santorum is spending too much in washington. >> when republicans to washington and spend democrats, they love spending. >>gingrich earned $5.5 million. like santorum, he focused on social issues. >> the president will order one religion to break its belief, can order another religion to break its place and order any american to do anything because they believe they are the center of power and that is wrong. fund-raisings

cannodoes not seem to be helping his chances in michigan. >> the battle to make maryland the eight state added lenient to allow same-sex marriage is getting the fast track in the senate today. the legislation will go to the full senate and after debating the bill, the final vote could come later this week. last friday the house of delegates passed the bill with two amendments that would prevent the law from taking effect in january. another controversy a proposal is flying under the radar. the legislature is considering three proposals dealing with the legalization of medical marijuana use. it would allow the drug to be prescribed to ease the suffering of those with debilitating conditions. >> our plan has a very tightly controlled system of state

designated grower and distribution system with every leaf accounted for in a very tight system of recommendation, easily the tightest ever proposed in the united states. we have to have a heart here. the aging of the population, the people surviving with chronic diseases, this can give them relief. that is why there is bipartisan support for this. >> the doctor's medical marijuana bill is scheduled to be heard on march 9 by a joint house committee. advocates for the developmentally disabled will rally in annapolis to convince lawmakers they need more services. gov. martin o'malley is expected to address the crowd before the rally in the statehouse. advocates will use part of the rally to thank the governor for restoring and alcohol tax. they added that their purpose will be to vermont gov. o'malley that there is more to do. -- to remind governor o'malley

that there is more to do. people lined the streets of catonsville to protest another on another bill. it would add gender identity and sexual orientation to baltimore county's existing human relations laws. the bill comes in light on an attack on a transgendered woman who tried to use the bathroom in a mcdonald's last year. >> transgenders are not dangerous, they are not going to hurt anybody. i'm worried about other people are going to dress up and pretend they are something and they are not. >> men dressed as women, getting into bathrooms, showers, locker rooms, not just with women but with children. >> accounts, and says he expects it to past the evening's vote. -- a callous, and says he expects to pass the evening vote. >> the temperatures are

definitely warming up. we are in the mid-to-upper- forties across the state. 47 at b.w.i. marshall airport. winds out of the south, 12 miles per hour. it feels cold when you factor in the winds. we see temperatures in the low 50s. high temperatures dropping into the 40's through the evening. maybe some sprinkles, most of to our west. we will detail that and the warm up in the seven-day. >> coming up, why former international monetary chief dominique strauss-kahn is headed back to court today. mardi gras season comes to an end tonight.

>> a former teacher accused of a felony molestation involving more than 20 students at a los angeles-area elementary school will be arraigned today. he could face up to life in prison under 23 felony charges of lewd acts with children. he taught for over 30 years. he is currently being held on $23 million bail. former international monetary chief dominique strauss-kahn

authorities investigating -- is being questioned by french authorities investigating a prostitution ring. he was at a restaurant in paris and washington, d.c., where he lived while he was head of the imf. this is not the first time he has had run ins with police over alleged sexual misconduct. last year he was charged with forcing a hotel maid to perform a sex act. those charges were later dropped. today is one of the biggest celebrations in the world. it comes to an end in new orleans with the last day of mardi gras. parades and floats will mark the final day of the fine before ash wednesday. there will be plenty of time for dancing, drinking, and plenty of

beads still to come, another link between air quality and significant health risks. >> currently is 70 degrees in new orleans. fifties in the mid-atlantic. we'll come back with a seven-day forecast. >> also, carrie engel from valley view farms is here to answer your plant and gardening questions.

>> in our "consumer alert,"

texter is looking to score on their tax refunds are out of luck after this season. this will be the last season for refund anticipation loans. many are offered to customers who want refunds within a couple of days, cbut consumer watchdogs are pushing banks to phase them out because they are to expenses. you might still be able to find them at non-paying entities like a day and mentors. choosing how to prepare your taxes is important. 60% of americans have someone else prepare their returns. there are a few things to consider. not all certified public accountants specialize in income tax returns. get a trusted recommendation or find an accountant through the american institute of certified public accountants. taxpayers who are at least 60 years old might qualify for free

tax prep through the aarp service. >> good afternoon. we are definitely seeing a mixture of sunshine and clouds out there right now. that will be the case through the rest of the afternoon. a week's storm system is pushing its way through the west. you can see the green shading of the way west of silver spring. this is pushing east, so it is not out of the question. western counties of baltimore macy accomplice because as we head into the afternoon and evening hours. other than that, we're watching the temperatures warm. here is that once storm system. another one is back in the north right now. that will bring more rain chances as we head into the week. keep in mind is still february. we have had a very mild winter.

it is a couple of degrees above normal already. we are at 48 in easton, 45 in cambridge. still in the 30's, but for the mountains, not bad for february. i mention the chance for sprinkles out towards the west. not much more than that. here is the storm system. this is moving into the east. another one in the northern plains. this will be pushing in midweek. it will bring a chance for rain. as far as temperatures go, it looks like it is warming on up. 58 in dallas, 70 in new orleans. 53 in atlanta. all that is heading into the east. mercury is going to be rising the next couple of days. futurecast shows a slight chance

of showers throughout the evening hours. we have our rain chance is. made may be by late afternoon. and that will bring some thunderstorms. low 50s through the afternoon. the chance of sprinkles man the west as we head into tomorrow, showers in the afternoon. big drop in temperatures by next weekend. >> new studies underscore the link between bad air quality and significant health risks. some suggest there is no safe level of air pollution and that more needs to be done to control the problem. >> green air quality makes you want to take a deep sigh of relief, especially when you compare it with the on health the blanket of pollution.

now more evidence of just how healthy the air is. a study is leaking air pollution to stroke within just 12 hours. airports that even short-term exposure to dirty air increases heart attack risks. and from the archives of internal medicine, research showing that in older women, clinton's lead to premature and accelerated dementia. for air quality advocates and this doctor, the study's accelerate the sense to clean up air. >> we cannot think of pollution at any level as safe. even now to the lowest background levels, studies clearly indicate that back out pollution has held a fax. >> the studies say that air pollution is most troublesome to children and the elderly. cleaning air will come out to

changing driving habits. he is lobbying lawmakers for a resolution to encourage and anti-idling ethic be built into driver's training. >> we are aware of the problem and trying to fix it. >> under the clean air act, air quality standards for pollutants are supposed to be reviewed every five years. went indline came and mo october. look who is here, and carrie engel from valley view farms, here to answer the plant and gardening questions. she brought something that smells lovely. >> these are 11 blossoms. we had about five years where we cannot ship any plants. we started to get lemons, we are getting lines, some kumquats. bring them inside in the winter

and they kind of make it. they at burnie o -- they have plenty of bright lights. if you are planning by seed, get started with things like broccoli, cauliflower, whole crops. you might want to wait a little bit if you are in baltimore city. as you get out and around the west and into the city in the county, you might want to wait until march 50. -- march 15. if it snows a lot, you'll be able to -- just enjoy them. if you lose the next year, they will be fine.

some of the plants and do great. begonias, they all do well, and they do well in dry temperatures. outside, they all too great. the plants held up fine. >> i was going to see just six hours. >> that adds it to air pollution. >> nice to see you. if you have a plant or gardening question -- coming up, your maryland lottery numbers, and we will get another check of the insta-weather-plus forecast.

>> tonight at 5:00, a stabbing that may have started over an incident of road rage. we see what sparked the dispute to begin with.

and a baltimore city high school says it is a major success story. why is it being considered for closing? tim tooten takes a closer look. and now your maryland lottery numbers. >> good afternoon, maryland. let's get your pick 3 numbers. visit mdlottery.com and check out the hot 5 for february. all games are selling fast and have limited inventory. bob diamond is set. let's get to pick four numbers.

the maryland lottery -- let yourself play. >> ava is talking about heat wave. this is ridiculous. >> we are pushing into the 60s by thursday. until then, we're talking 50 spirit may be some sprinkles later today in the west. by saturday, much colder. >> thank you for joining us for 11 news at noon. >> watch tonight at 5:00. i have a great day. -- have a great day. >> follow breaking news and

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