just minutes away. that's coming up. >> now that george huguely is facing 26 years in prison, will his defense attorneys appeal? that story is coming up. >> if drinking is commonly accepted among college students, while our experts so concerned? >> live, local, late breaking-- this is wbal 11 news at 6:00. >> the big story tonight -- the senate is preparing to vote on the same-sex marriage bill as we speak. >> members spent the morning and afternoon debating the issue, knocking down several amendments because any changes to the bill would have effectively killed it. david collins is falling and the debate live from annapolis. >> we are in the chamber, live and just one minute away from the vote. right now, that eastern shore republican is talking about why

he is going to vote against the bill. before he stepped to speak, there were a number of other speakers. there are 44 other senators in the chamber. the vote is perhaps one minute away. just they with us for a moment. the frederick area senator luncheon to what sounds like a filibuster attempt when he introduced an amendment. he talked about for 25 minutes and after a bill supporter called for a vote, the senate president jumped in and of my colleagues that everyone will have an opportunity to speak. droning on and on has not affected vote as long as he has been in office. a democrat from anne arundel county made an amendment to make the bill more clear but it was voted down. the galley is packed. there's not an open seat in the house. the media has lined both sides of the chamber and the republican senator from eastern shore is currently explain why

he is going to vote against the same-sex marriage bill. mike miller told us earlier today that the votes are there and doesn't believe any of has changed since last year when it passed 25-21. that debate took on an air of a filibuster and we had the anne arundel republican senator launching into a lengthy speech reading from a constituent better along the way. >> it sounds like the senator is winding up his thoughts. the vote is coming up on the house bill. it is expected to be signed by gov. o'malley and supporters hope he will do it right away. i wish we could plug into the audio because the speeches have been interesting both sides have taken as much time is it like. both sides have explained the

issue and they are ready to take a vote. they say they're going to be quick, but they're not. the senate has the house version of the bill. we are going to come back to the vote when it happens. >> in tonight's commitment 2012 report, one night after clashing on the debate stage, the front runners for the republican nomination are continuing attacks on the airwaves and on the campaign trail. >> our washington bureau reporter has tonight's update. >> the battle continues for the support of conservatives as the race moves closer to super tuesday. mitt romney took aim at rick santorum during a campaign stop in phoenix. >> i don't know that i've ever seen a politician explain in

some ways why it was he voted against his principles. >> he's referring to the debate last night. i talked about this as a taking one for the team. i wonder which team he was taking a four. >> romney has locked in a tight race in michigan. santorum is hoping for an upset win on tuesday. that campaign rolled out a new ad attacking romney's conservative credentials. the two front runners went after one another repeatedly last night in a debate that it got personal. >> don't look at me. take a look in the mirror. >> he's a fake. >> political analysts say the infighting has the republican establishment worried. >> i think they feel santorum won not be a strong candidate against obama. and the longer the conflict between romney and santorum goes on, the more likely one of them will emerged damage. >> newt gingrich pins his hopes on a super tuesday come back and

ron paul is collecting delegates but has yet to win a state. santorum spent today raising some badly needed campaign cash. romney headed back to michigan. >> the man accused of leaking classified military information to the public decided not to enter plea today. private first class a bradley manning is also withholding a choice of whether to have a trial held by a military hearing or by a judge. charges include aiding the enemy, theft, fraud, and other army code violations. he's believed to be the source of classified information made publicly available by wikileaks. he was arraigned today, but the trial ought to be set. -- the trial has yet to be set. >> george huguely found guilty of second-degree murder. a few hours after the verdict,

that jury recommend he spent 25 years behind bars for the murder of yeardley love, and one year for stealing her computer. we have the latest of how the defense may react to the decision. >> now that george huguely was found guilty and faces 26 years in prison, are there grounds for an appeal? according to the experts, it may have to do with the judge. >> there are no winners in this case. there is the thing but lost. >> and emotional cap to an emotional case now that george huguely is convicted of second- degree murder and grand larceny and faces 26 years in prison. >> we look forward to some corrections and what happened here tonight. >> his attorney hinted to reporters wednesday night that an appeal could be on the way. >> i don't know what grounds for an appeal by be. >> this virginia criminal law

expert as volatile trial. he doesn't see anything that could make an appeal stake. the jury went through the case with a fine tooth comb and came up with the best burdick, considering the evidence. >> all that any lawyer wants to know the jury's going to pay attention to what you're saying and think about and not just come to an eerie -- a knee-jerk response. clearly, they came up with a bubble response. >> the judge will hold a hearing in april and there's a possibility, given the sentencing guidelines, the present time could be lowered, pleasing the defense. >> the judge will impose whatever portion of the sentence he wants. my guess is he will impose the 26 years or something close to it. then george huguely and his lawyers could decide how that would go. >> attorneys never mentioned the word appeal. we will certainly learn much more and april. >> risky college behavior

involving alcohol level to call it -- all too common around the country has spotlighted in the george huguely murder trial. drinking and partying can take a devastating toll on young lives. let's go live to johns hopkins university for more on the part of the story. >> drinking among college students is that the new, but experts are worried because binge drinking is becoming more prevalent. students at johns hopkins university are gearing up for the weekend. no doubt alcohol will be involved for some, but students appear to have a realistic understanding of the dangers. >> drinking makes domestic violence more prevalent on campus, but i don't think it's very prevalent here. >> it a pretty big thing but we try to keep it under control. >> according to recent statistics, underage drinking effects all aspects of college life, whether students choose to drink or not. >> one thing i've noticed over

the last couple of years is the amount of alcohol on college campuses is getting to epidemic proportions. it is worse than i have ever seen. >> this substance-abuse experts as college-age drinkers are finding creative ways to consume more alcohol and less time. >> this is binge drinking. it allows them to drink a lot of alcohol really fast and they have all kinds of gadgets to do it. >> like this crafty way of stashing alcohol. >> they don't hide it because they put a final. >> most college age didn't think it's all in good fun. but the dangers of binge drinking have far-reaching negative affect -- negative effect. >> we're talking about violence. we're talking about date rape. >> binge drinking is the cause of the% of freshmen flunkouts. but students of view it as a rite of passage while they are

in school. >> it is our no. 1 drug of abuse in this country. alcohol. >> experts say one of the best ways to prevent a tragedy from happening is to talk to your kids about the dangers of binge drinking before they leave for college. >> the maryland sent -- mobil -- the maryland senate is getting ready to vote on the same sex marriage bill. >> we will go live to annapolis. we'll be right back. >> a warm front getting set to move through. should be even warmer tomorrow.

>> i almost broke out of the shorts. >> it tomorrow will put you over the edge. 65 degrees. normally 47. let's see if i can do some numbers. 18 degrees warmer than normal for the high temperature. the low this morning -- that's where you experience the mildness of this pattern. so it was warmer than normal high temperature. that will hold for another year and goes back to 1874.

6 inches of snow. 6 inches in 1987. a trace of precipitation was noticed. how warm as the winter been? the seventh warmest on record going back to 1871. february is not done yet. but as of this point, with one week to go, we are in seventh place for the all-time warmest winter and baltimore. the warmest ever was back in the 30's. 1949 and 50. this one 40.5 the average temperature so far over those three months. it is an unusually warm pattern and it feels like spring in baltimore. temperatures in the '50s. western maryland, a little chilly. that same front is lifting back

to the north and will be going back tonight and might trigger scattered showers. that means the winds will stay out of the east and southeast and at temperatures will not drop off much at all. low pressure coming into the ohio valley. this is the air mass we will be in tomorrow. as the storm passes by, we will get into this air mass where temperatures are near freezing. a warm-up and rapid cool down going into the weekend. a line of showers and heavy downpours indicating it may be some thunder mixed in there. the cold front pushes all the warm air off the coast and the wind will kick in. cold and snow in the mouth and maybe a flurry here.

on sunday, bright and sunny but a lot chillier than it has been. 71 to 76 tomorrow. turning to the northwest as a friend goes by. winds gusting up to 35 miles an hour with the passage of the front and the guest higher tomorrow night. high wind watches up from carol and frederick back into the mountains. the winds on the higher ridge tops could gust up to 60 miles an hour. if you are traveling in those mountains, be careful. a gale warning on the day. -- on the bay. sunny skies on sunday and back into the '50s on monday and tuesday. >> college park maryland's len basketball celebrates women's nights and they hope to leave with a national title.

the win over duke put maryland up to no. 5 in the country. that has become the signature play of maryland's season. north carolina and north -- they could find the top seen in what has become known as the bloc. they believe they can beat anyone, anywhere. >> phenomenal play. she had struggled offensively, so to see the rotation and defensive play, to close the game out and it's not often you 10 women's clip make a top sports center moment. an excited for our team and our program. >> trying to figure out the orioles' starting rotation is a good topic of conversation to fans but it presents a serious

workload for the catcher. he will have to get used to catching whoever emerges as the starter. that means getting familiar with 11 different pitchers. >> you just try to talk to as many guys as you can but once you start getting them in game situations, that is where you learn what they have and what they like to throw. just trying to catch as many bullpens as you can. >> she can only hope sunday is smoother than today. the smile disappeared above final lap of the race. no serious injuries and she will drive in the daytona 500.

fireworks running head-to-head -- the 17 car took the lead on the final lap. that put him in the fourth starting position. >> we will be back with

>> a man who was exposed as

having an extensive history of police impersonation finds himself in trouble again. he was arrested after a police officer pulled him over for speeding. the officer noticed him wearing a virginia police uniform and after investigating, it was determined he was indeed a fake. the car was modified to have emergency lights and a siren among other things. when police conducted a search, they discovered uniforms and badges from several departments. >> it to teens are reported missing in anne arundel county. the last scene yesterday morning in brooklyn park. both did not report to school. if you have any possible information concerning their

whereabouts, you are urged to contact anne arundel county police. a case of child neglect in queen anne's county -- this man is charged with leaving his one and a half year-old child inside an unlocked car running outside the dollar general along the shopping center drive last thursday. it is reported he was in the store for about 30 minutes. the child was released to his mother. >> we are thinking of vote is in on the same-sex marriage act. [applause] >> it the house bill passed 25- 22. the bill will be signed by gov. o'malley. supporters hope he will do it

right away. the chamber burst into applause up in the balcony here. since the senate passed the house version without making any changes, the process is finished. 55,000 signatures will be needed to get it on the ballot. the effective date was changed from october 1 to january 1, 2013. this allows petitioners more time to verify signatures. there is also a sever ability section to the law meaning any portion of the legislation, if ruled unconstitutional, the entire law becomes obsolete. this is what the same-sex marriage bill does. the senate just passed it by a margin of 25-22. it allows same-sex couples to marry and civil servant and get a full legal benefits.

it will and a state sanctioned discrimination to some 400 laws that do just that. it extends legal protections to religious leaders and limits punitive actions against religious organizations for failing to perform same-sex marriages. the chamber is empty now. there are a lot of happy people here and a lot of disappointed people. we will have more tonight at 11. >> the governor will be signing it. the question is when? it could be as early as tonight. we will let you know wh

>> this will be like april or may. >> we will take it. >> wendy and much colder as we go into the weekend. >> nbc nightly news with brian williams is next.