taking a no-confidence vote. the union says its members are determining if they still have faith in the fire chief. the police union has voted it has no confidence in its chief and county executive, john leopold, who was recently indicted on misconduct charges. the accusations include sex allegations and the misuse of his security detail. >> does it have more to do with leopold or the chief? >> this has to do with the fire chief. mr. leopold, we obviously know what is going on there with the indictment and i think they speak for themselves. this has to do with the chief and his ability to lead the department. >> they say he has neglected staffing issues and are not meeting national standards for a meeting national standards for fire engines and ladder companies. >> he started a policy of rounding out units. there was a pecking order and we believe there is no need to do that.

we were able to get that stopped and to continue to provide the service we provide on a daily basis. >> the day today function of the department look great and we do a great job. the men and women do a great job every day. unfortunately, we do not have the support of this administration and specifically the fire chief to make these things continue. that is what we need. we need a leader. >> the former police officer and police union president and former police chief says no- confidence vote prove a lack of faith that those in leadership positions will do what's right. >> this sends a strong signal -- you are really saying we don't have confidence and our leadership. they need to step down. that's a strong message for the rank-and-file police officers and firefighters to send to their bosses. you better be sure what you are doing is in the best interest of your people and you better take the time to study the facts. both organizations did. >> the fire chief was appointed to a half years ago.

a spokesperson says the department has not been made aware of the vote and the union members are voting until 9:00 tonight. >> breaking news at the university of pittsburgh -- police say to people are dead and seven others are injured after a stint -- after a shooting at a psychiatric clinic. one of the dead was the gunman. gunfire erupted a few hours ago, igniting a chaotic scene with neighboring buildings on lockdown and that initial search for a second gunman which turned out to be unfounded. the university sent out e-mail's and text alerts to warn of the shooting. we will continue to follow this developing story. an investigation is underway into what sparked a fire at the senior citizens building. the building had been evacuating for some time. we understand some firefighters were hurt on their way to the blaze. >> that happened here along

ritchie highway when it went to a second alarm. when i got to the intersection of 648, it crashed into another car. four firefighters and three people involved in the accident went to the hospital. thankfully, no one was seriously injured. a frightening situation for residents of an assisted living apartment complex. a top floor apartment catches fire on wednesday night just before 7:00. fire officials say man in his 50s or 60s received second or third degree burns all over his body and was rushed to bayview medical center in life- threatening conditions. witnesses described the victim as a man in his nineties. >> somebody brought him out and he was pretty well burned. he was a real nice guy. >> some tense moments for

firefighters when a truck collides with a car at the intersection of ritchie highway and route 648. all involved suffered minor injuries and it did not hinder the firefighting efforts. >> they were replaced with another unit. >> back at the scene, four units were damaged by smoke or water. there were no injuries, which is good news. they say they were pleased with the orderly effort put forward by staff to get all the residents out safely. >> staff stayed here all night and kept everyone comfortable. some are special needs, so we had to account for them and we are doing that again today. >> the victim's name still has not been released. we understand he is in critical

condition. fire investigators said the cause is still under investigation but the victim may have left something on the stove and went to bed. >> thank you. one student is injured after an altercation broke out this afternoon in high-school. the height -- the altercation broke out inside a classroom. school officials are investigating and they say the rate -- that action will be taken following the investigation. no word on the injured students condition. a homicide investigation is underway after a man was found dead last night. police responded around 1130 when they say they found the victim-suffering from a gunshot wound to the head. he was taken to shock trauma where he later died. no word on a motive or possible suspects.

>> it has been an unseasonably warm day. the warmest day since the middle of last october. changes are on the way -- mild temperatures will be pushed off the coast by strong cold front coming in. temperatures are well above normal up to new york city and along the coastal areas. you get into the rain and the temperatures falling to the '50s. behind showers and cold front, it is getting quite cool in ohio where temperatures are dropping into the '40's. that strong cold front is making its way toward baltimore. tomorrow into the weekend, it's going to feel cool across the region. the couple more hours to enjoy the spring warmth out there. the storm that has everyone talking is the solar flare that has the potential to impact everything and from power to airplanes. but the live to washington. it appears this is a major flare

but we've gotten through it okay so far. >> that's what it seems. the images of the solar storm are stunning, but here on earth, not so much. it started as a solar flare on tuesday, sending charged plasma particles racing toward the earth, expected to hit at 4 million miles an hour. >> it arrived this morning around 6:00 a.m. eastern time. we have a geomagnetic storm, a disturbance of the earth's magnetic field. >> with winds up to 10 times abnormal storm, it's one of the largest in years. >> on a five. scale, it's a two or three. it is not very severe. >> the magnetic field in this storm is actually aligned the same way the earth's magnetic field which protects the earth is aligned.

so most of the storm is slipping by s without interacting with the earth. the effects have been relatively minor on the communications side. >> forecasters warn the storm could disrupt everything from gps services to airline flights. but there's a bright spot. >> we do expect there to be some interesting are rest tonight. >> the national weather advisory says the northern lights could be on full display on some parts of the u.s.. >> there will be a full moon, so we're not sure how much the public will be able to see. the southern great lakes region may see some our aurora tonight. >> that is something that would be pretty rare. scientists say this is not a class solar storm could experience. more are expected as the sun cycle reaches its peak next year. >> in tonight's education alert, we may not have seen the last of

the many problems facing the school system. the district faces a $35 million deficit, so what are the options? we've got the latest. >> the larger question tonight is whether this would try to balance the budget on the backs of employees. they are doing the math at city school headquarters in the numbers are not adding up. the district is bracing for yet another year of possible cuts into the millions. this is due in part to the possibility of picking up the costs of teacher pensions as well as an increase in employee fringe benefits. >> we usually budget around $9 million for every single year for people who are retired and then cash in their sick time and personal time. we put it on the fringe benefits as something we plan for every single year. >> but that could change as school officials look at the

bottom line. in recent years, the district has had to cut off the top. there are now fewer than 1000 employees at headquarters, a 34% decrease since 2008. last year, the school system offered more than 300 teachers in early out. the school systems is the city will have to do more with less. >> roughly 80% of the district's budget is in teachers and personnel. it's an are custodians and ground crews. it's all about how we're going to pay people and be competitive and manage a budget where we don't get more dollars every single year. >> school officials in and out of the classroom will be the first to tell you there are no easy answers. >> everyday is a challenge but we look forward to each and every challenge and if the challenges speak to inefficiency, we use those opportunities to perfect our system. >> you can expect them to count on volunteers who through their

church are willing to pitch in. >> its very important. the kids need it in this day and age. they need help with reading and math and other skills. >> the school system has scheduled a number of hearings. to see the list, log on to our web site and click on education alert. >> a new report from the surgeon general's office shows a startling numbers about teens and tobacco. government officials say we need to do more to keep kids away from the drug. >> and anti-abortion group says they were unfairly targeted by police and it was all caught on video. tonight, a settlement and a lawsuit filed against several police agencies.

>> baltimore city council members have called for a stop on public spending to build a new jail the warehouse to use charged as adults. today, the group released a smiley book, a new report by researchers at the national council for crime and delinquency.

the study was ordered by the governor last year and included state does not need to build a new jail as long as they reinvest the jail funds. >> we the people of baltimore are better than a new jail. the stake instead use the funds to provide evidence-based alternative to the attention, recreation alternatives to cities. >> these recommendations could improve public safety and help maryland's youth succeed. the maryland state police will pay out three and $85,000 to anti-abortion protesters arrested nearly four years ago. -- $305,000. they claim police mistreated them by handcuffing and strip searching them. the board of public works approved the settlement as part of a lawsuit against several agencies. the issue was the demonstrators never got a reason before being

handcuffed and searched. they said voters complain about their graphic posters and they protested when they failed to follow orders to leave. >> coke and pepsi are changing the way they make the coloring used in their sodas as a result of a california law mandating drinks containing a certain level of carcinogens bear a cancer warning label. they say that changes will be expanded nationally to streamline their manufacturing processes. they say their drinks have always been safe and they're so this will not tasted different. they say consumer would have to drink a lot of soda to reach the doses administered that have shown links to cancer in rodents. the nation's surgeon general says she's shocked by report about teenagers and a pack of use. nearly one in four high school seniors are smoking are using

smokeless tobacco. we've got more on this story. >> there is a reason the latest report on smoking target a younger crowd. >> 99% of smokers begin smoking before the age of 25. >> the surgeon general released an extensive report on tobacco use among the nation's youth. among the most notable findings -- nearly one in four high school seniors smoke and 3800 kids pick up the habit every day. dr. benjamin called the statistics shocking. that is almost an understatement. >> shocking, disgusting, upsetting. >> the smoking rate had been declining since the late nineties but slowed considerably in recent years. the doctor treats the plateau to campaigns against higher taxes during the weak economy. >> excise taxes on tobacco especially are effective in

preventing 14-year-old and 15- year-old kids from buying cigarettes. >> other suggestions included smoke-free loss and tobacco prevention programs. the government hopes to get teenagers attention in this new public-service announcement. big tobacco is criticized in the report for spending more than $27 million a day in marketing and promotion. the parent company of philip morris says its markets to adults only. >> some rain on the way just to the rest -- just to the west of us. on the warm side for now. temperatures will start to drop significantly. right now from baltimore south

and east, temperatures are quite warm even along the coastal sections. as you work your way back into the western maryland, by the time you get to columbus, ohio, 40's and '50's are the more dominant temperatures out there. a closer look at the range shows it is right at the doorstep. late this evening, it will start to get wet and this time tomorrow, it will be a lot chillier. unseasonably mild. the last time we hit 74 was november 14. we also had 74 in mid october. last time it was warmer than this was the 10th of october. it has been a while since we have had temperatures this form. their record high is out of reach.

nothing in the rain gauge yet. 68 over chester town on the eastern shore. you see the first signs of a fairly significant cold front there. a few light showers and sprinkles are possible around baltimore. rain chances increase with rain across the lower eastern shore by dawn. the bulk of the rain will be passed baltimore and followed by a few flurries in the mountains off to the west. the clearing trend will continue into tomorrow. well at a later tonight as the winds turned to the west and northwest. it has been a southwest wind keeping us warm today. the front turns the winds to the northwest and behind the front is chillier. rain stretching down toward tennessee with parts of the deep

south still vulnerable to thunderstorms. the main emphasis is shower activity. 55 in pittsburgh. 43 in detroit. you see the impact the breeze will have bringing in the colder air. skies clearing out nicely and a bright and sunny day, breezy and 20 degrees cooler than it was this afternoon. lake-enhanced snow showers may be coming in. a flurry is certainly possible but it should remain mostly cleared through the upcoming weekend. we will enjoy lots of sunshine going into the weekend. highs of 53 to 58. a small craft advisory on the day with gusts up to 25 knots. a gale warning now comes down to a small craft advisory as the winds will gradually diminish.

we spring forward one hour on sunday morning, back to daylight saving time. temperatures will start recovering but you will lose an hour of sleep. another round of scattered showers monday night into tuesday of next week. >> thank you. straight ahead tonight, he's probably the most notorious and wanted fugitive you've never heard of. >> it is obvious that he should be stopped. the problem is 99% of the planet doesn't know who he is. >> social media is taking on a mass child killer. the video racking up millions of views by the hour. who is

>> maybe you have seen it -- it's a documentary about african rebel leader has kidnapped thousands of children. >> kony 2012 is going of viral. it highlights the leader of the

group the lord's resistance army. they reportedly abduct children forcing them to be soldiers for sex slaves. they were for many years it targeted in you gone up but they operate on a smaller scale in the condo and south sudan. their stories are heart wrenching. >> [unintelligible] >> it did you see it? >> i saw it. >> you have a celebrity's supporting this in hopes of getting kony's name of blasted. you can view the video by adding to our web site, wbaltv.com. >> and twitter it has taken on a

life of its own. it gives the impression that you gun is an half -- is an active war zone and it's not. others are moved -- once as i was moved enough. even justin beiber says he is calling on his fans to come together and stop him. i'm going there a week from tomorrow so i can send some things back. >> concerns mounting from radiation coming from as far meters. >> prosecutors asked for an in- depth investigation into philadelphia cardinal death because of timing. first -- >> i think it's ridiculous that these boys and some girls wear their pants so low that their underwear hangs out. >> this group of women sec

actions. details straight ahead at 5:30.

>> the republican race for the white house -- the candidates are heading south with primaries in mississippi and alabama. both are bright red republican states and could further weaken mitt romney. >> it a region where the evangelical vote is important. there's concern about mitt romney's mormon faith. but the live that washington for the update. >> this is great timing for mitt romney's rivals, especially the former senator who is on a bit of a winning streak. he is from pennsylvania, but rick santorum is counting on the deep south. religious and conservatives like him, he went to cancel today.

>> are we going to win on tuesday in alabama? >> coming off his super tuesday wins in tennessee and oklahoma, rick santorum is claiming he's the only conservative running. he is claiming that is what republicans need in the fall. >> how can mitt romney or newt gingrich beat barack obama when on the final decisions, they're not much difference. >> newt gingrich is counting on the south. lots of republicans their drive big trucks. gas prices are rising and the justice department is investigating. congress is arguing about a new oil pipeline. >> the day he was sworn in, we paid $1.89. >> but aides hint he may drop out if he loses the southern

primaries. >> when it becomes a two-person race, the conservatives will win that nomination. >> maybe not. critics called romney a weak front runner but he's earning enough delegates to keep rivals from clinching the nomination. even as he falls short. >> the convention is late august which could mean half a year more of republicans hammered in one another. >> mitt romney leads in the delegate count so far and has a strong hold on the northeast where he has won every state contest held today. romney leads the polls in new york. you can track the delicate state by state on our web site. >> here's a look at our other top stories. another no-confidence vote is under way tonight.

firefighters are determining if they still support their fire chief. their union says he's neglected staffing issues and they say they are not meeting national standards for staffing fire engine and ladder companies. the police union has voted they have no confidence in their cheeks and john leopold who was indicted on conduct charges. >> investigations are underway into was sparked a to alarm fire at a senior home just before 7:00. fire officials say middle-aged man received second and third degree burns over his entire body and was rushed to bayview medical center. the fire truck collided with a car at ritchie highway. all those involved suffered minor injuries. fire officials say it did not hinder their efforts. more now on the breaking news we brought you at the top of the hour. a spokesperson from the university of pittsburgh medical

center says one of the two people killed at a shootout at the psychiatric center was the gunman. it's unclear if the others injured were patients or visiting family members. according to the spokesperson, -- a first posted their news there. >> it is a battle of the bust with ladies creating what they call a thong adult diaper in an effort to get teenagers to pull up saggy pants. >> i think it's ridiculous that these boys and some girls wear their pants so low that they're under pants hang out. >> considered a fashion fuel batter that pits senior citizens against those slightly under. >> my pants go down a little bit. >> some have been baking them to pull up their pants for years. so they came up with this.

it is exactly what you think it is. these grandmothers made a spoof. >> they offer protection and comfort. >> an adult diaper with the back side modified to look like long underwear. did you just get a mental picture you did not like? good, say these ladies. >> they can't walk and they look like they have size 50 pants. we decided how would they lie hit if their grandmother had their underwear hanging out? >> the police department was ordering anyone wearing baggy pants to be arrested. none of the idea is really worked but will this? >> what do you think about that when you think about grandma's and bonds? >> i don't think about it. >> are you going to pull your britches up higher after seeing

that the a? >> i will. we're going to start seeing a lot of granny thongs. >> yes, we ran that story. the ladies hope that will get enough attention they will land on the "ellen" show. but they say of guys pull up their pants they won't have to go that far. >> more details about a suburban mother accused of running a prostitution ring in manhattan. >> another knows how she did and knows where she found the call girls.

>> and newly released obama administration e-mail's show the white house was involved in the agriculture department decision to seek the resignation in 2010 of shirley sherrod. in 2000 pages of e-mail, it's shown white house officials were trying to oust her, showing

advice and counseling to officials who assert they alone made the final decisions. the speech was taken out of context by conservative website. she was offered her old job back but declined. president obama did apologize to her after the fire storm. >> one officer is bewildered he's been late to an investigation of an accused multimillion-dollar madam. the sergeant has no involvement with the madam, he says, and prosecutors say she was heard saying she made millions of dollars over 15 years running a manhattan prostitution ring. she claimed to have law enforcement connections. format is coming forward saying she's been bringing women in from overseas. >> that means you've got somebody tipping you off and it means you are delusional because this is not a profession. it's quick money, get in and get out.

dutch girls and london girls come for a month and work and go back home. she was known for having more of the transient girls. >> she is now being held on $2 million bond. a corner has ruled a philadelphia cardinal died of natural causes. he died just days after being ruled competent to testify in an upcoming server -- upcoming church sex abuse case. he suffered from heart disease and prostate cancers. the corner was asked to investigate due to the time of his death. had he lived, he would have testified in the child endangerment trial of a longtime aide. >> a shopping center has a new owner. >> the company has an impressive will present. >> it has finally hit the itunes store -- a disney channel song

made for a patient at john hopkins medical center. >> unseasonably warm temperatures across the region now the cold fronts on a doorstep. right now, 71 at the airport. 74 downtown. 74 downtown.

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>> today's temperatures were 70 and above throughout the baltimore area. conditions were absolutely gorgeous and the trees are already in full bloom. gorgeous shots of the cherry blossoms where it's always a little bit warm. it looks like we may be in for some storm. >> 0 rain coming hour day -- coming our way. those trees are in getting

pollen. >> over 500 today for tree pollen. if you suffer from tree pollen, you are going to feel it. we're keeping an eye on the sun and the folks who monitor these things have been watching the sun spot right there. that what is the one that committed the solar flare. its are arriving today. i will let events that had. it could even reappear in a couple of weeks. this is a major sunspot that emitted be solar flare. perhaps the northern lights will be as visible as far south as could be. this area is where the lights are expected to be very dominant tonight. the green lined stretching farther south to the new york- pennsylvania area -- we have a

lot of cloud cover coming in and we're not going to see any thing. you probably will be able to see it. temperatures are running well above normal. but it cools off and when you get past the great lakes, it gets quite chilly. all the way up to boston, 72 in richmond. that is where the air will be coming from. once we get past and o'clock tonight, light rain showers are possible. it's not going to rain a long time. maybe of a quarter inch is what it's looking like right now. look at the cool air. you can see it here, some

scattered snow showers to the north and west. say goodbye to the spring temperatures. we will be in the '40's by the morning. it looks like those showers are likely overnight. this ribbon of rain stretching down to the deep south, this is the cold front marching in. the temperatures go from the '70s to the '20s near the canadian border. some cold march air sweeping in from the northwest. snow showers will clear out nicely but it will be 20 degrees cooler tomorrow that it has been today. a shower and the early morning before dawn and that it clears out. a small craft advisory tomorrow with gusts up to 20 miles an hour.

a downward trend on the thermometer. we turn around on sunday even though we lose an hour's sleep. lots of sunshine as we go back to daylight savings time. >> the plan to install a smart meters in the homes of customers is meeting some resistance. a lot of people are concerned about the radiation coming out of the meters and feel it could be a health hazard. one republican delegate introduced legislation that gives customers an option to opt out of using the meters which could have an undesirable financial impact. >> they're going to raise the utility rates once the peace park meters in. everyone i know who has a smart meter installed on their house, their utility bills have gone up. >> a hearing on the bill is scheduled for next week. there is now a new owner and

place for the cross ski shopping center. a private property investor has made the purchase. according to the baltimore business at journal, the company will be taking over soon. they have washington's union station and barneys and beverly hills on its portfolio. they have about 30 shops and restaurants, including william sonoma and talbots. bad news for anyone looking for a summer internship. it looks like a number of those programs are on their way out. but while many employers are no longer offering unpaid internship, they are converting them into paid programs. according to labor lawyers, it's because of lawsuits that claim unpaid internships -- apple made a bid to stay away in front of the tablet computer market on

wednesday with 55 million ipad sold, they unveiled their newest creation. >> apple's newest ipad may not have the name everyone expected but it does have that new features. >> we expected them to figure out of the things that were not right about the first to and get right this time. >> a high-resolution screen leads the list. >> people looking at it this four games are movies will be pretty excited. >> it also has a faster processor and improved camera and software updates, including one to organize and just photographs. >> they're trying to make the ipad not just a tool for consumption but more of a tool for creation. >> that is territory normally reserved for pcs.

>> we are redefining the category that apple created with the original ipad. >> wireless broadband is also part of the evolution. the case is slightly heavier and thicker than its predecessor. but with the base price remains of $499. they doubt the tablet dominance will be threatened anytime soon. >> despite the arrival of the new ipad, the ipad to is not going away. >> it has been making the rounds of over the internet. he wrote a song for a fan with cancer. she's a patient at the john hopkins children's center.

brecht suffers from bone cancer and she is the first patient to be part of the program which encourages celebrities to write and record songs too seriously of fans. the song just hit the itunes store at all proceeds go to pediatric oncology. ♪ >> they first talked on skype and the conversation inspired him to write the song. he has been campaigning to get people to buy the song to raise as much money as possible for research.

it is expected to re john until late tonight -- the budget battle -- we are live with a look at what has been decided so far what lawmakers expect to happen. >> the military is making a major investment in high school students in the name of technology. that story, new at 6:00.

>> there has been a real push likely to expose students to more science, technology and math. the u.s. military is trying to help more students mastered the basics. >> the house was transformed into a high-tech science lab for students from half a dozen systems. >> it helps me take what track i want to be on, what kind of engineer i want to be. >> there were plenty of demonstrations, even involving man's best friend. >> you could research the material being used. it's a simulation of how these things are used and the technology behind it. it gives you a hands-on look at the future of the military what look like and how they are advanced. >> this is a concept design of

what they think body armor is going to look like it. >> this comes to connecting and people to with the military sees as a critical need and not just on the battlefield. >> it is important we invest in events like this to cultivate young people to thrive in mathematics. >> a lot of what we do for developing bio defenses for war fires, we use a lot of cutting edge technology. a lot of the things are hot right now is three the printing. this is an example of what can happen when educators, the military and business leaders are on the same page. >> we try to get corporate involvement for them to recognize talent. we want them to recognize the a unrepresented groups. >> awfully exciting. that's all for us at 5:00. >> another union vote in anne

arundel county. firefighters are determining whether they have confidence in the fire chief. >> a fire truck on its way to a call crashes on its way. i will have a live report. >> it will cost more to live in maryland in a plan adopted today. new at 6:00. >> live, local, late breaking-- this is wbal 11 news at 6:00. >> rank and file firefighters are questioning the leadership of their chief. that is the big story tonight at 6:00. they are holding a no-confidence vote. >> we've got the details on why firefighters say they are losing faith in the chief. >> the voting has been happening throughout the day. 730 members are casting ballots. in january, members called for the nofi