about 7.5 hours and appears to be making progress. the judge has asked the jury reconvene in a couple of minutes so he can get a status update as to how the jury is doing. as far as action today, only a couple of questions, including one in our word go where there was confusion about the questions. at this point no verdict. of deliberations for the jury in the george to get murder trial coming getting the case monday morning after a three-day break. several were dismissed, but told they were subject to recall in case something unforeseen happens to a jury member. given the high-profile, the judge was not going to take any chances with the jury, which consists of seven men and one woman. the first action of the day

happens 90 minutes into deliberations. asked to comments meaning of reason. >> they're trying to figure out, does it have to be a strong reason, it doesn't have to be a frivolous reason? it just shows they're thinking carefully about what they're supposed to be doing. virginia criminal law expert says the shows the jury is taking its job very seriously and paying attention to the jury instructions. the longer the jury goes traditionally, it is better for the defense. >> if they felt it was a pretty clear case for killed one way or another, they would have already decided at this point. >> as far as the most serious charges, if found guilty of first-degree murder or ability murder, he could get life in prison.

voluntary or involuntary manslaughter, which the defense has been pushing for would be anywhere from no time at all to 10 years in prison. >> right now we're waiting on the jury status update. the judge has made it clear they will report back for a meeting before the evening is over. >> he is tweeting update from the courthouse throughout the day. you can find that at wbaltv.com. >> an update from breaking news last night at 11:00. we have pictures of a man who farm store anda royal shot someone in the process. >> the victim in this case is expected to survive, but police need your help to catch the man

accused of shooting him. remindsrime scene tape here as a reminder of what happened here tuesday night. >> at least two robbers came into the store and robbed the store of money in cigarettes. at some point. not sure when. ultimately the victim was shot. >> police say the man was of 40- man who was shot in the chest. police released these pictures from surveillance. to cut that is the first time i have heard about anything happening at the store. >> customers were stunned to learn what happened in a normally quiet neighborhood. to go every my son here almost every day on the way home from school. it could've been me or my child. >> it is kind of scary.

it happens. it is baltimore. >> police say the victim is recovering at an area hospital and expected to survive. >> there was one witness to help the victim in this case. the dramatic incident went down and she talked to the victim until the paramedics got here. we hope other people contribute -- can contribute with information ever in this case to a close. >> if you recognize this suspects or have any information, you are asked to call metro crime stoppers. >> still no answers as to what led to this deadly accident yesterday in randallstown. this happened shortly after 2:30 yesterday. iii crossed theh

center line and they were both pronounced dead at the scene. >> race cars will return to the streets of baltimore, but not everyone approves. today a divided board of estimates approved a contract for the baltimore grand prix. comptroller john pratt and the city council president voted against the contract. the city terminated the contract with the baltimore recent developments after the group failed to pay millions owed to the city and vendors. meantime, the state postponed a debate on the same-sex marriage bill. a number of the members want more time to drop amendments to the legislation. >> the president opposes same- sex marriage says he does not believe a single load has changed since it passed the chamber last year, 25-21. >> there are three committee

amendment. to go every member anticipated a free-range and robust debate. >> we will give this bill will fall opportunity for debate, but debating it morning, noon, and i time should give us plenty of opportunity to hear all of the amendment. >> opponents interruption of his opening statement signaled a robust discussion was about to unfold. >> marriage is a fundamental right. mass murderers on death row have a right to marry. people who just met on who wants to marry a millionaire have the right to marry, and yet there are tens of thousands of constituents that cannot marry. >> is this the summary of the bill coming out of the committee? >> it extends legal protections to religious leaders. last year's version and shielded

only institutions. it clarified language, and it further limits punitive actions against religious organizations for failing to perform same-sex marriages. in that amended bill is now before the senate chamber, and there were more attempts to change it. >> the original -- original bill allows for a moved effective date. >> i think we all know any effort to amend the bill at this point is essentially to kill the bill. it may look like a placebo, but it is a poison pill. >> this is a sensitive issue. an issue i think deserves the kind of time in debate we will need to deal with this in an adequate fashion. >> debate will begin tomorrow, and the discussion could last until friday. this gives opponents to seek an opinion on whether or not the house amendments are constitutional. >> thank you.

dozens of religious leaders gathered in annapolis to call for repeal of [inaudible] religious representatives all gathered on lawyers mall. they presented the assembly with a letter signed by more than 200 clergy members urging action by the legislature to end capital punishment maryland. >> the idea behind the death penalty is wreaking kill our way out of a cultural wash and violence. when the state sponsors killing, it loses the moral voice to said that others do not kill. we can kill, but you cannot. that is not the way of a peaceful, just society. the issue is a timely one right now. a jury in annapolis is deciding whether prison inmate should be put to death for the 2008 murder of a corrections officer. >> maryland's attorney general

is taking on a controversial new policy privacy -- policy privacy. they will share that information with all other services. this increases the risk of identity theft and fraud. maryland is one of 36 states asking google to respond to concerns. >> all across maryland and mostly sunny day. mild temperatures well above normal. we're still seeing those temperatures running in the upper 60's. there are some showers beginning to show up on hd doppler. we love to keep an eye on that as we head through the rest of the night. shower activity may make it into baltimore area. showers go all the way back into

fort wayne in chicago. with the unseasonably mild weather, the next couple of systems moving our way and maybe even thunderstorms are way. >> christians all over the world are marking the beginning of the lent season today. the face fulfil the baltimore cathedral receiving across on the forehead. it marks the beginning of the 40 days of went leading up to easter. many christians go through spiritual discipline. >> if you are giving up coffee, we discovered a new way for you to get the pick me up you need. >> supposedly all europe to do is read in. is this safe? what doctors say in the medical alert. >> the long-awaited ground

breaking for the national african-american -- national african-american museum and when it will be open to the public. >> i will tell you what a local school district is doing to make way for kindergarten students. i will tell you how they're going about it new at 5:30. >> tow trucks are sitting empty. while that could mean good news for you, bad news for many small businesses. details are next.

>> in tonight's medical alert, congressman are talking about the importance of children's dental health. he joined other lawmakers to address the need for greater access to pediatric dental care, a discussion that comes almost exactly five years since the death of deamonte driver. he died from infection after the mother was unable to find a dentist. hepatitis c is now killing more americans than hiv. a federal health official was considering whether anyone born between 1945 and 1965 should get a one-time blood test to check to see if there liver has

been infected. two-thirds of the people infected are in this age group, but most have no idea because the virus does not always cause symptoms until later. and so why isn't that done? you will hear from him coming up in a special medical alert tonight at 5:30. you could mistake the latest caffeine craze port of to a for a tube of lipstick. while the inhaler did not meet the fda approval to be sold in the u.s., some experts are concerned the new product is actually a downer for your help, because it can cause a fast heart rate, insomnia, and irritability. >> you would sort it much more quickly, and a higher percentage than you would if you drink something. it is easier to get into

trouble faster. >> any manufacturers say you should not have more than three inhalations a day, and advise people who are pregnant, sensitive to capping, or under to avoid it- and sethe age of 2 completely. >> taking a look at an industry that is having a tough time this season. >> old man winter is still on vacation. >> no denying it has been a mild winter. that is not a bad thing when you spend your time working outside. no jacket at the end of february. peter kerry says it is the nice getting these jobs started on time and not having to worry about concrete freezing. >> we can pour concrete and not worry about it freezing at night. the weather forecast is always important for us. it has been a great winter to work.

>> not so great if you are in the snow removal business. it has been a top go. for others to depend on the effects of bad weather. >> our business is down 50% because of the winter we have had. >> tim's automotive services has taken quite a hit this winter. trucks and a lot with and the beds. during what is prime-money- making months before the slow time. pat bonner sits on the board of independent small business to worse. >> all of the businesses are struggling because of the weather. we really count on the cold weather, the rain come of this note. >> for small businesses, the mild weather is not only concern, so are rising gas prices. >> i like to see the local government support locally small businesses. everything they do now is hurting us. everything they talk about is pushing small business out of business. >> with more mild weather in the

forecast, though -- there are those rooting for winter to show up sometime soon. >> maybe we will get cold winter. we do not want to wish that things on folks. it would help our coax run a little bit. >> it is weather. what are you going to do? >> what are the chances of getting cold enough whether that it would help? >> we're not done yet. it looks to me like the next couple of days will be unseasonably warm. getting into the first part of march, a couple chances for storms. we have had storms even in late march. it could happen. we will see what happens. today and other mild day. it is the 280th anniversary of george washington's anniversary. he would have been 280 years old today.

on this george washington's birthday day, 63 degrees in baltimore. 65 at the inner harbor. temperatures are measured and recorded down at the airport location. well above the mild of 47. no where near the record high of 74, which almost goes back to george washington times. 1871. seven is the record low in 1963 and 4 inches of snow on this date in 1987. nothing in the rain gauges so far for the region today, but that is likely to change us showers approach from the west. these are scattered showers, but they're moving in our direction. with temperatures thing mild overnight, southwesterly breezes will keep as well above freezing that means a rain chance the state why tonight. future cast puts most of the rain to south and east of us.

a batch of showers in the western maryland bonds as well, but it should clear out as we head towards thursday morning. for tonight, a chance of a shower. mainly cloudy. temperatures above normal. sunset at 5:51. nationwide there is chilly air just north of the canadian bborder. 34 degrees around buffalo, new york. the rest of the nation, denver 55. 54 degrees in boston. the next couple of weather systems will be mainly rain, if not thunderstorm-producers. this batch of showers moves through and will catch a break for a while tomorrow, and tomorrow into friday, coming out of the northern rockies will arrive. for tomorrow, a chance for a shower developing after partly cloudy skies in the morning. look for a chance of showers developing.

the best chance for rain would be later thursday night into friday. a strong cold front tracking right through central and eastern maryland. out ahead of it, it will be mild. when the front goes by, temperatures will start falling in the snow will return to the western maryland mountains. by saturday we could see rain or snow showers around here as the cold moves in in force. 60-65 tomorrow. and other spring-like it. shower chances hold off until tomorrow evening. southwest winds at 5-10 knots. rain and snow on friday with high only around 40. the temperature drop as the front moves through. sun in the morning tomorrow and afternoon clouds. by tomorrow night, a chance for rain. friday, 67 before it will turn sharply colder. ocean city mild. the cold front brings the thunderstorm and will turn much chillier over the weekend. look at the temperature drop.

the winds could gust to 50 miles per hour as the front blows through here friday night. windy conditions will bring a flurry saturday. >> thank you. lying about military honors is against california law, but should it be? >> doctors told him he would never walk again. this maryland man beat odds. how he did it, and what he's doing to help inspire others. >> city auditor slammed the inefficiency of the city's water billing system. all of the problems coming up a 6:00.

>> if someone lies about being a war hero, are they suspect -- are they protected by the first amendment? this case focuses on a california man who lied about being a marine and receiving the congressional medal of honor.

his attorney says allies should not be against the law. >> there needs to be armed associated with the allies in order for it to be are protected under the first amendment. the justices are asking tough questions of both sides come up focusing on whether a light is protected by the constitution. justice elena kagan as oked whether they go after lying politicians. >> mitt romney has a new poll showing him rising to or virtual tie in his home state of michigan, which will hold the primary on tuesday. he made news today when he said the wealthy should pay higher income taxes. >> in arizona, mitt romney called for a 20% across-the- board income tax that raised eyebrows by also calling for a tax to reach the more plan like

president obama. >> i will limit the deductions and exemptions particularly for high-income folks so we can make sure the top 10% keeps paying the current share or more. barack obama says that is what is fair. high income folks to pay more. he would raise the tax rate. the president today proposed a cut in corporate tax rates, like mitt romney proposes but not as big of a cut. some obama and mitt romney proposals are converging. it states that they see him as the republican whip of the shot to beat the president. that helps explain his 16 point lead in arizona and today's poll. in his comeback in michigan. the rick santorum surge seems over. mitt romney and rick santorum are in a virtual tie in the must-win home state. rick santorum told tea partiers

he is the only religious and fiscal conservative. >> you will find one candidate who was then under free to go out and fight on all of the issues. >> newt gingrich is counting on tonight's debate to spark a comeback. >> our goal is to go back to the big issues and not the drug back down to his level. >> he means mitt romney whose popularity numbers seem to indicate he is back on track. >> tonight's debate could shake up the standings. it is the last time they will clash before super tuesday of the week after next. >> it has been more than a month now that the cruise ship capsized off the coast of italy. the search for those still missing continues. >> the county is giving students and teachers a little more room to learn. ahead, we will take you on the kindergarten tour of a brand new

building. >> i came back in office and said you have hepatitis c. i was like no way. >> he was in denial when he found that he had hepatitis c. why his doctor s

>> live, local, late breaking, you are watching wbal-tv 11 news at 5:00 in hd. dort insta-weather-plus forecast with chief meteorologist, tom tasselmire. 11 news at 5:00 in hd continues right now. >> growing inside lead to great resort project rewards for

students of a local elementary school. and that in almost four years since maryland schools were told to offering all-day kindergarten. local school districts running short on space started to build. it is still a work in progress. we're live with a look at one schools progress. >> local school systems are ready spent millions of dollars to meet the stanley -- state mandate for kindergarten. most will tell you it is already paying off. >> it is just an exciting day. >> it did not take long for the students to break in their new kindergarten classroom. there were also quick to pick up some of the changes. >> we used to have a chalkboard. >> the six new classrooms have state-of-the-art technology and other tools for teaching. >> i have a microphone. it is something new in the

building we found. we did not know we were getting it. i found out a great way to make kids stars. >> i came into the room a little bit hesitant. love it. we use it all day. >> it was presidents' day. the latest school to get a facelift. one designed to add more space for kindergarten students. >> we have done 73 classrooms over the past five years at a cost of $41.4 million to meet the needs of a full-day kindergarten program and increasing enrollment. >> there is another reason why principles were so anxious to expand. >> it is very exciting to have them inside of the building, especially for safety reasons. >> those new additions will cost the county almost $8 million. live in the 11 news term, wbal-

tv 11 news. >> here is a look of the other top stories at this hour. the jury is still out. deliberations continue in the murder trial of george to sleep. the former lacrosse player is charged with killing his ex- girlfriend. prosecutors say she tried -- died of blunt force trauma. his attorneys maintain his -- her death was a terrible accident. police have released surveillance pictures of men who robbed a convenience store and shot a customer. it happened last night at hartford road. the suspects took off on foot with an unknown amount of money. the victim is expected to survive. the washington national cathedral has raised -- raise $2 million to cover restoration work after last year's severe earthquake damage the building. that is a far cry from the total

cost of repairs. the earthquake shook all of us and damaged four main towers and cracked other parts of the building. take a maryland has its own african-american history museum, and soon the nation will, too. today ground was broken on the site. nicole killian was there. >> through song and the turn of shovels ground was broken on the smithsonian's national museum of african-american history and culture. >> was on this ground long ago that lives were once traded. where hundreds of thousands once marched for jobs and freedom. it was here that the pillars of democracy were built often by black hands. >> recognizing it not just as a record of tragedy, but a celebration of life. president obama was among the many dignitaries to hailed the

museum. >> it is a museum dedicated to welcoming all americans. to civil rights pioneer john lewis. >> we must tell the whole story. >> this is a milestone. >> the ceremony was held on the future site that sits behind a chain-link fence across from the washington monument. when it is completed, the complex will feature thousands of artifacts from slavery to the civil-rights era and beyond. >> this is not really to showcase exclusively african americans. it is really to in some ways fill the gap in the of the reallyy that is america's history. ♪ >> museum officials hope millions will visit when it

officially opens its doors to the public in 2015. on the national mall, a cold killian reporting. >> it looks like an amazing museum. a light show like no other. some call it the best in decades. some amazing videos straight ahead. >> amazing grace comes to a bizarre and in africa. the full story behind this history as the cover the world next. to go wild card in a move to allow table games at slots allow table games at slots

>> covering the world tonight, a horrific scene out of one is here a track trained slammed into the end of the line. investigators say they do not know why the train entered the station to quickly. in italy, divers discovered the bodies of eight more people

cruise ship.recked among them was a five-year-old girl. the number of people missing and presumed dead now stand among 32. >> the city at the center of the syrian uprising has seen a death from the war. we are told they were inside a makeshift media center this morning but it was destroyed by a rocket fired by government troops. three of the reporters are also injured. 60 people were killed today. investigators are trying to figure out what or who killed a free-lance producer for the amazing grace. he was found dead inside a hotel room and you got up. his assistant was also found in the same room in a,. at first police believed they were poisoned. -- his assistant was also found

in the same room in a coma. >> that is quite a mystery. yesterday it was encouraging news from wall street. tonight the depressed housing market is making headlines. >> straight ahead, people who are trying to sell their homes the information they have been waiting to hear. take out i think everyone should be tested. it is a simple blood test. >> a blood test for hepatitis b and c. why this doctor says we should always screen for the viruses, and there is a cure. to go along with spring-like temperatures, a chance for showers and thunderstorms. the seven-day coming up. 61 degrees at the airport.

>> coming up, details on a new audit that confronts a big problem with how the city bills customers for water use. the discussion of cavellini in annapolis. the jury and the murder trial of george hinckley is on its first day of deliberations working into the night. into the night. --

>> more americans died today from hepatitis c than hiv. most of us are never screen for the disease, partly paid as there is a bleak there is nothing you can do about it. one doctor believes everyone

should be screened because there is a cure. >> wallace found out he had hepatitis c about nine years ago when at a routine checkup the nurse mistakenly taste -- tested him for it. >> i was like, no way. i went to denial. i did not believe it up first. >> with no symptoms, which is not unusual coming he has no idea how he contracted hepatitis c, but he does have tattoos. >> nothing against tattoos these days, but from back in the day, we're talking about the 1970's, lifestyles were a little crazier. >> hepatitis c and d are sped -- spread through cont contaminated blood. at the time the only treatment was injections, which have

serious side effects. he did not respond to the drug, so he stopped treatment. the possible outcomes are not good. cirrhosis of the liver, liver cancer, and liver failure. that is why dr. once testing to become routine. >> i think everyone should be tested. it is a simple blood test, which can either rule in or rule out hepatitis c or be. >> use as part of the issue is doctors have other issues to worry about. the of the problem is, there is no diagnosis code to support a routine test. >> if someone comes in with a normal test and perfectly healthy, they do not have what we call the code. >> icd stands for international classification of diseases. those are codes that insurance uses to determines payments.

he says what is needed is educated doctors and insurance companies. >> in the long run, they will benefit. if we detect people at the early stage, we can prevent progression, liver failure, and liver cancer. >> which will save money in the long run by reducing the need for liver transport critic transplant, which is extremely expensive. although he believes everyone should be routinely screened on id drug users are extremely at risk. health-care workers to handle the bills are also at risk. thus, unlike some of the virus can be spread through unprotected sex. spouses should definitely be tested. >> when i went through the treatment the first time -- >> years after treatment he found himself and office where they found the disease have

progressed. he became part of a study that had him on a three-week drug test. she said we had good news for you. your viral load has gone from 4 billion -- 4 million, which is at how low they do, down to 300. the next day i was totally cleared from the virus. >> that is kind of like a miracle for you. >> yes. when she told me that, i broke down and cried like a baby for about 10 minutes. it had to be one of the better moments in my life. >> at several months out, he is still clear of the hepatitis c virus. a code for routine screening will be in the idc in 2013. he believes within five years, patients will be on pills only, no injections. possibly one pill that will take three-six months to be

completely cured of what used to be an incurable disease. >> mother nature is putting on the show of a lifetime in the arctic. this is what you get with a mass of sudden storm slammed our atmosphere at 5,000 miles per hour. this has been called the best display in decades. we're told television does not look it just reject is not do it justice. the best places to watch our northern norway, greenland, iceland, and finland. >> now, your 11 insta-weather- plus forecast with tom tasselmire. >> definitely on my bucket list. i have a buddy who lives in finland. fred me to go visit him. -- threatening to go visit him. with spring-like temperatures going. as of this afternoon, the winter 2011-2012 tied for seventh format on -- seventh warmest on

record. only three winters have been warmer than this one. a mild winter for sure. temperatures are still relatively mild, which means the weather system tonight will kick of rain showers. the winter weather as far as precipitation goes. a little bit of snow and sleet mixing in with the rain. even in north central pennsylvania, relatively mild. it looks like the heaviest of the rain will stay to the south for the next few hours. a sprinkle or light rain showers are and the possible. computer models are generating a pretty decent rain across the lower eastern shore. by morning, partly cloudy skies. for lows tonight, this is what we would expect for an afternoon high this time of year. southwest wind at 5 to 10. sense that coming at us right about. you can see with the snow is expected over the next couple of

days and get a feeling for the storm track. the pacific northwest, upper midwest through the southern lakes and up into canada. there is your storm track putting down at least some snow over the next few days. this shows up in the mounds at the end of the forecast going into the weekend. the basic storm track is north of us, which keeps us on the warm side of things. a little bit of rain coming through with the system tonight, and off to the northwest another one driving south and east. this brave -- may bring a chance for showers or thunderstorms. the second system will try to drag at the core down. a piece of the arctic air over central and eastern canada will come rolling south and east over the weekend. saturday and sunday will be a lot chillier. tomorrow partly cloudy skies. clouds will move in on thursday night in a chance for showers going into friday morning. strong cold front will deliver a

chill. maybe even a flurry here as well. big changes coming after the front goes through. tomorrow still on the warm side of things. 60-65. rain in amounts tomorrow, in rain or snow as temperatures fall on friday. eastern shore locations will have unseasonably mild weather 67 private with a thunderstorm possible in the morning. on the lower eastern shore, possibly 70 degrees friday. temperatures dropped and strong, gusty winds come in. couple more days was spring temperatures. the front friday brings gusty winds. still windy and much cooler on saturday. chance for a light shower or sprinkle on monday. alert,onight's consumer home sales rose in january to the highest level in nearly two

years. home sales increased 4.3 percent last month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.5 7 million, the highest level since may 2010. despite the rise, sales relate -- remained below the 6 million market analysts say is an indicator of a healthy market. it may be good for customers, but the everyday low prices promo is apparently not sitting well with creditors. they were downgraded one notch to bb-plus. they face a volatile year, and it is uncertain if consumers will buy into the new pricing structure. last month announced a new pricing tier. a lovelyer is treatiweeting tune today. they were expected to register the 5 million user. if the site continues to grow at its current pace, it will reach

1 billion users in about a year and a half come if not sooner. i hope you will follow me at dan that -- donna hamilton tv. we've been treating about being on jury watch. thousands of baltimore city water customers have been over billed for years. the shocking findings of a new audit and what the city plans to do about it new at 6:00. >> he has been unbelievable odds >> he has been unbelievable odds and has now written a book

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fully-functioning quadriplegic. he has fully recovered. to go amazing story that patrick documents in a new book. robb was the first in line at his first book signing. >> doctor said he would not live for more than 72 hours, but he has beaten all odds, and now he is written a book about it. >> patrick was at the gm plant in white marsh today signing copies of his new book. it was in 1974 when he was in an accident in his corvette. doctors did not think he would live, and certainly not be able to walk again. >> the prognosis would be grim. i would be paralyzed from my neck down for the remainder of my life. to be here talking to you today, it is a blessing. >> patrick says it is because of the quality of construction that

he survived. gm employeesthinank for their hard work. if it had not been for the engineers and united autoworkers that assembled the car, i would not be here today. the car was built like a tank. >> the employees that were here for the book signing today were very impressed. >> to understand his story from areas come to where he is today, and you just know the story, i just wanted to read all of it myself. >> a motivational book about never giving up. it was a great read. >> it is hard to believe all this man has accomplished. he has done a lot. almost hard to believe anyone can accomplish so much. >> from breaking records to hiking across the desert, he has lived awful like and hopes to inspire others.

>> you have determination and right medical care and guidance, your outcomes will be a lot better. >> what a story. >> very impressive. that is all for us at 5:00. here's a look at what is coming up new at 6:00. >> tens of thousands of consumers over buil billed. >> a new wrinkle in the effort to allow table games at slot parlors. details new was 6:00. >> jury deliberations continue forthe georgirge hughley retried -- murder trial. 11 news as six starts right now. >> live, local, late breaking, this is wbal-tv 11 news at 6:00. >> our big story come a new audit find a real problem with the way the city builds people the way the city builds people