[captioning made possible by constellation energy group] >> live, local, late-breaking - this wbal-tv 11 news in baltimore. >> good afternoon, our day story -- a huge night for rick santorum who pulled off wins in two deep south contests in alabama and mississippi and a big disappointment to his republican rivals. >> mitt romney was hoping these races would propel him toward the nomination. instead, he was upstaged by rick santorum. >> he'd -- we did it again. >> rick santorum face primaries

in mississippi and alabama. >> people say you are being outspent and everybody is talking about the nmath and this race is inevitable. >> it boosted his climb as the conservative alternative. newt gingrich was banking on an all-southern strategy is resisting pressure from the santorum camp to now out and downplayed his loss as a bigger problem for mitt romney. >> one of the things tonight proves is that he believed media's efforts to convince the nation that mitt romney is inevitable just collapsed. >> we've got work to do. >> mitt romney did not speak to reporters after the results but earlier in the day said his prospects were better than wreck santorum to cleanse the nomination that he is far behind in delegates and far behind in the popular vote count. if you look at the matter of how many delegates he would have to win to become the nominee, is a difficult road them are ron paul did not invest time in either

state and he has yet to win a single contest. >> a top honor today for u.s. senator barbara mikulski. later this afternoon, she will be rid recognized on state senate floor as the longest serving woman in the history of the congress. she is in her fifth term and become the longest serving woman in u.s. senate history when she was sworn in. this saturday, she will surpass rep. norsk rogers. she was first elected to congress back in 1976. ♪ we all know gas prices are on the rise but your wallet could get pinched harder if governor martin o'malley gets his way. he will testify before house and senate committees is evident on his plan to apply the 6% sales tax to gasoline in maryland. price as of $4 per gallon in

most parts of the states and more commuters are choosing public transportation. the mta said a close to 10% increase across the board since january of last year. >> it is a lot more affordable for many people to get on the public transit system than to try to get on the roads. >> the average marylander pays $3.82 per gallon of regular gas which is 11 cents more than just last week. this is from our facebook fan page. a tax on luxury cars, boats and all that would be more appropriate. good news on the jobs front -- maryland added 5000 new jobs in

january bringing the unemployment rate to 6.5% which is the lowest level in more than three years brett analysts credit the warm winter for job growth in construction, transportation, education, and health care also saw increases. officials are pleased with the progress. >> this is the best december- january month we have had since 2007 ^ construction jobs were up and we were up across the board. things are moving in the right direction. >> state figures show 82% of the nearly 40,000 jobs added last year or in the private sector. ♪ >> once again, temperatures are pushing near 80 as the go to the afternoon. if winter felt more like spring, spring is feeling more like some reported 72 degrees currently at b w i-martial. it will be a little bit breezy this afternoon as temperatures near 80 degrees.

we expected to surpass 80 degrees downtown. northern areas will be a little cooler. very pleasant conditions and it will be quiet tonight and cool in the evening hours but still well above normal. we are nowhere near records today but that could change tomorrow and we will have details when we come back them . ♪ >> secretary of defense leon panetta made an unannounced trip to afghanistan today. he arrived in the south of afghanistan and his trip was scheduled before the sunday shooting rampage that left 16 civilians dead. >> secretary panetta's visit comes at a time of strained u.s.-afghan relations and began his visit in the southern province of helmund. he is expected to convey a message from president obama to

president hamid karzai that justice will be done in the case of the american staff sergeant accused of killing 16 afghan civilians. >> we have to learn the lessons from each of those incidents so that we do everything possible to make sure that they don't happen again. >> we have also been told that several afghan officials have been shown this surveillance video that shows the moment when the american staff sergeant returned to his base and surrendered to american soldiers. in this video, a staff sergeant can be seen putting his weapon on the ground and raising his hands in the air. we have been told that when asked about the shooting, the staff sergeant said i did it. this is now a major international incident that secretary panetta and other officials are trying to contain. >> a former done doc dump -- dundalk dump is a priority.

according to the epa, the soured on site was added to the list because it contains high concentration of chemicals, metals, and pesticides. it is one of nine sites nationwide added to that list and the declaration allows the government to go after polluters and force them to pay for restoration. still ahead, i recall involving a popular auto maker plus, or from leftover innovations to keeping your kids clean and entertained, and international show seems to have it all off and we will take you there. forget politics -- toilet paper is taking over as the big topic and one city hall and why they are running out of supplies.

>> a series of earthquakes rattled tokyo today. they had the same region where the tsunami last year left a path of destruction. tonight advisories were issued along with this because been no reports of injuries or damage. last sunday marked the first anniversary of the mass of magnitude nine. 0 quake that left 9000 people dead. a 25-year-old musher won the idea to run pretty crossed the finish line in nome, alaska to

win the 1000-mile race. his father won the race in 2004 and his grandfather both competed this year. he will back $50,400 and the keys to a new truck. president obama welcomes great britain prime minister david cameron to the u.s. and showed him some of the madness the country has to offer. the president and prime minister had a front-row seat last night for the first matchup between kentucky -- western kentucky in the first round of the n.c.a.a. tournament in ohio. this march madness is intended to showcase the special partnership between the two allies. in new jersey town is facing some serious toilet paper problems. it is all because of red tape. because city council resolution to order more paper supplies was voted down because it included buying paper cups. some council members did not think the city should buy paper

cups when it is having financial problems. the trenton police department has filed complaints with the occupational safety and health administration saying there is never supplies and employees have to bring their on rolls of toilet paper. that is a major problem. it is the end of an era for those of us who grew up with encyclopedias. plus, the extreme measures a mother took to make sure her mother never shoplifted again. >> we have nothing but sunshine now from the mid atlantic down to the south. the temperatures will warm-up but tomorrow we might hit a record rate we will have details coming up and here's a live look outdoors. 72 degrees at the airport.

♪ >> general motors is recalling nearly 37002012 buick regal sedans. the parking lights failed to activate when the headlights which is turned on. it may cause an increased risk of crashed due to reduced visibility. buick is expected to contact owners this week. encyclopedia britannica is turning the final page on its by annual reference book after 244 years. but will stop production of its multi-volume set and will focus solely on its digital encyclopedia and education tools. the printed books represent less than 1% of the company's total sales, 85% comes from the educational products. don't youhave to -- hate when you dry dishes by

hand or it takes forever to slice an avocado? the latest devices are on display at the latest national home show. >> gone are the days of -- a bag lunches. this makes it easier to bring leftovers and sellers to work. >> you can push your greens down when you take them to go and when you are ready to eat your salad, you can pop open like vest and a bowl holds a 72 ounces. >> if you want to add avocado, this new three in one avocado slicer gets the job done in seconds. >> staying fit and healthy is getting easier and less expensive things to home health appliances. >> it is the slowed juicer that is proven in laboratories to provide more jews, more value, and more nutrition. >> if you prefer his movie in

the morning, the new hamilton beach blundered takes for in a new direction. >> it is called wave action and changes the direction so everything gets pulled down into the blade. >> after all that cooking comes the claiming starting in the kitchen with the new drying rack. >> when you turn it on, there is hot warm air coming out. >> there is deep new rubbermaid binto line which means no longer having to find storage space. >> the lives act as a letter or a tray. >> is getting easier to help your kids claim, at least their hands, with the help of soap time. >> this will entertain with a light show. >> now your instaweather plus forecast. >> i could spend my whole paycheck to have one of those. they make life so much easier if

you like to quote. today is a great day to be outside for an outdoor picnic. the temperatures are spectacular and it is still winter. this is the last week of winter. we will start spring next week. we have dry conditions across the east and plenty of sunshine all the way down to the south and you have to look all the way to the west to see a single storm system. this is pushing into the northwest and there is rain along the coast and some snow from washington to the sierra nevada down into parts of california and even some snow showers moving into the central rockies. anywhere east of that is looking quite mild. we have some light snow showers in new england. here is the weather pattern across the mid-atlantic. clear skies across the area and down along the eastern shore. everyone is enjoying this very pleasant weather. there might be some thin patches of clouds coming in from the

west. we have a cold front situated over the area. this is what is left of the storm system that kantor yesterday at sparks and thunderstorms near annapolis and other areas. we did not see much in baltimore. the front is but slightly cooler condition to our north but the heat is down to the supper in the warm air is pushing into this out ahead of the next storm system that starts to affect us as early as tomorrow. this is absolutely incredible -- we have 70's right now into kansas and minneapolis. as much as we are enjoying this, everyone in the east and south is seeing the same thing. the current temperature at the inner harbor is 74 degrees. you can see the cooler conditions to our north. a little bit of gusty winds out there, 20 miles per hour at the airport. mostly clear skies tonight and

we drop down into 40's and 50's which is above normal. normally we are around 53. the future castor showing nothing for today or tonight for precipitation but tomorrow we may start to see a few thunderstorms in the afternoon. near 80 degrees today and tomorrow with showers possible tomorrow evening and the record stands at 82 tomorrow and we will push near that any chance for showers on friday and saturday, a st. patrick's day, a slight chance. >> ♪ a planned repeeat c-section might be safe for women. a repeat at left -- less severe bleeding. the see section babies at a lower risk of serious problems at birth. doctors are calling for more research on nontraditional

forms of painterly during labor. experts look dead 18 previous studies and most of as a medication which also shows the biggest potential for side effects like knowledge and low blood pressure. talk about an unusual punishment -- a new orleans mom made sure everyone knows her daughter is accused of shoplifting but whether the punishment is cruel is for the court to decide. >> whenever the 13-year-old walks out of the house, you can bet she will have on this unmistakable neon green t-shirt them if you could embarrass me by stealing, i will show you what it is like to be embarrassed them in the seventh grader t-shirt reads - hide your money, i'd her clothes, hide everything because i make the. >> i will not have no teeth

living with me. >> the mother made the t-shirt the day after she was arrested for shoplifting. she said she was sick to her stomach picking her daughter up at the juvenile detention center. >> it is our first offense, i don't want to have to go back and pick up my child from jail. >> what is the daughter had to say? >> do you think she is being argued? >> now. . >> see is embarrass the chair understands her punishment is out of love. >> [inaudible] >> her father was murdered back in 2006 and a single mother of four says she has no choice but to practice tough love. >> everyday somebody is going to jail are getting killed and even at school there is always something. i don't want my children to be involved in that.

>> that was a tough lesson. coming next, your maryland lottery midday pick 3 and pick 4 numbers and we will get another check of the forecast. first, i look at how wall street is performing at this hour. ♪ ♪ you can always expect more. like more on demand shows and movies than ever. and more ways to discover them too. plus more speed from america's fastest internet provider. so you can run more devices at the same time. ♪ feel a firework [ female announcer ] and best of all, it keeps getting better. no wonder more people choose xfinity

over any other provider. ♪ love can be so mystical ♪

>> coming up tonight on the news at 5:00, governor martin o'malley wants to raise the sales tax on gasoline. we will tell you how legislators respond. the list is out for the top five states in america for women to live and it turns out maryland is right up there. we will tell you why and the latest development for maryland live casinos, the first set of slot machines are ready to go and look at the 300 sq. ft. facility and when you can place your bets. those stories and more at 11 news at 5:00 and now you're maryland lottery midday pick 3 and pick 4 numbers. >> i'm with you on this wonderful wednesday with your pick 3 numbers -- we have a 5 for starters, followed by an 8 the last number is 2, king your pick 3 numbers 582.

visitmdlottery.com or visit your favorite retailers. here are your pick 4 numbers. 8 for starters, the next number is a 1, that is a 7 and your file number for your pick 4 game is 2. 8172, the maryland lottery, let yourself play. >> we have one last check on the forecast. >> we are already in the low 70's and pushing 80 this afternoon and a record tomorrows 82 so we will get close to that. we could see some showers tomorrow evening and a better chance on friday. >> thank you so much. thank you for joining us for a

11 news at noon and watch tonight at 5:00.

girl: i want to tell you about my friend. his name is ben. ben learned about a homeless boy who had an infected tooth, and the boy died. that made ben really sad. he wrote a law so every kid can see a dentist. we have special dental van that goes from school to school. he even helps make sure we learn how to brush our teeth. he's my friend, ben. i hope he's your friend, too. i'm ben cardin, and i approved this message.