but that is a possibility. we have no evidence of that right now. >> that backup extended for about 10 miles. traffic was a mess. the senate debate over the budget got nasty today. one member resorted to name calling. david collins joins us live from annapolis. >> a lot of fireworks today. a public apology. the senate passed a budget that includes tax increases and they promptly sent it over to the house. >> increase taxes, increase money back to the county. we are taking a lot of disposable income out of the maryland economy. >> a contentious debate over a budget and its companion bill

to budget it reduced to name- calling. >> this tactic has been used for many years. it paints a brush. i think it was used inappropriately today. >> as a senator for prince george's county, i apologize. >> it includes a personal income tax increase. middle-class families would pay anywhere from $40 to $65 a year. couples making half a million would pay an additional $2,500 a year. the so-called millionaire's tax was added at the last minute. >> it raises an additional $30 million to fix up aging schools. the senate passed a companion budget bill to close loopholes. >> we have the number one school district in the country.

that is not by accident. >> and other measure shifts the combined cost of pension systems. >> shame on us and telling voters they are wrong. >> attacks on tobacco products and adds sales tax to online purchases. >the senate tackle the budget first. the house has been working on some balancing ideas of their own all along. some of those decisions may be made public tomorrow. >> amish from southern maryland converged on the annapolis today. state law requires midwives to be licensed registered nurses. the bill establishes a mechanism for certified professional

midwives to legally practice in maryland. the proposal was heard in the house committee today. we have obtained the last -- the list of guests to the governor's skybox this past season. it included politicians, labor leaders, aides to gov. martin o'malley, and family members. this season opener had 15 o'malley is as guests. we posted that list on our website, wbaltv.com. >> a soldier who helped al qaeda, that is what prosecutors say about the u.s. soldier at the center of the wikileaks scandal. problem management is expected back in court tomorrow -- bradley manning is expected back in court tomorrow. defense lawyers said he was a troubled soldier who should not have had access to the classified material to begin

with. and that he did not threaten national security. those hearings will continue tomorrow. >> a judge. about ad 57-year-old this is we are live at the courthouse. we have more on the sentencing hearing. >> tony chestnut is going to jail for a very long time. he was sentenced on two counts of a sex offense. prosecutors got everything they asked for. tony chestnut is going to prison for 40 years for sexually abusing a developmentally disabled man over the course of 13 years and videotaping it. >> frankly, in 25 years, some of the worst deal i've ever seen. >> the judge repeatedly called this case is absolutely

outrageous. " it was outrageous behavior. it was behavior that did need to be punished. >> we are pleased with the sentence. we think the police did an outstanding job. >> police discovered the abuse of the detective work on a child pornography investigation. they found a video wall searching his home. the abuse happened here and at this group,, where tony chestnut took care of three disabled men, including the victim who suffers from severe mental retardation and autism. >> that is what stuck in my mind. >> no comment from his family outside the courthouse. inside, they pleaded with the judge for a second chance. saying that he is. remorseful and willing to seek treatment. tony chestnut took the stand to plead on his own behalf.

>> i am sure he is remorseful because he got caught. >> tony chestnut will be in prison until he is 97 years old. prosecutors say the punishment absolutely fits the crime. >> we are hours away from the oil's debut in this year's march madness. debut in this year's march madness. >> we are live on campus with all of the parties. >> people are very excited at loyola university. it has been a long time since they have been to the big dance. talking about some lucky students, they had 150 tickets the ncaa gave them. they had a lottery type deal.

650 students put their name in the past. 150 are on their way to pittsburgh right now. for the lowell university basketball team, tonight is the first time since 1940 -- 1994 they have been in the ncaa tournament. for fans, it has been a long time coming. >> it is hard to believe that they are going. it is a good experience. >> once in a lifetime for us. >> one of the biggest events to happen on campus in a long time. it will be hard tonight. no matter what, we have faith in the team. >> shortly after 3:00, three buses showed up that will carry 150 students to tonight's game in pittsburgh. >> i am totally ready for tonight's game. i am excited to see than inaction -- them in action.

>> i got the very last ticket. i was lucky to get it. >> ago count -- go hounds. >> no-hio state. >> basketball fans, it has been quite a season. tonight, it to be quite a game. >> they have to come out pretty strong. looking forward to it. good luck to the boys. >> they are setting up a big screen tvs on campus. a lot of the students will be right here watching the game. >> it is going to be a great night. we have courtside seats to the game. we will have a live report later in exports. you can also look at his pictures on wbaltv.com.

>> michael phelps is looking for a new pad. the condo he bet -- bought in 2007 is now up for sale. the realtor is not giving an asking price. the home was assessed for $1.5 million two years ago. how will you be celebrating st. patrick's day this weekend? whatever your plans, download are new iphone app. we look forward to seeing you out and about. >> a baltimore catholic school is closing its doors for good. >> who is to blame for high gas prices? there is a lot of finger- pointing. we will take a look. >> i am covering the oil

greyhounds and their first trip to the n.c.a.a. tournament. if you are looking for a reason to pick the house against ohio state, we may have some historical reasons why. >> the mild weather continues and a few showers are showing up on doppler. we will track those and see how much rain be can expect. 68 at the airport.

>> another baltimore catch the school is closing at the end of the year. st. ambrose catholic school will not reopen when the new school year begins in september. the irish -- the archdiocese is pointing to financial difficulties and tlow enrollmen. families are now being encouraged to consider the new holy angels catholic church. >> the pain at the pump continues, and so does the blame game. consumers are looking for a culprit. >> when it comes to high gas prices, there is a lot of finger-pointing and experts say plenty of blame to go around. who is to blame for high gas prices? >> i blame the president. >> the president is taking a lot of the heat. " maybe it is related to the

fact that you are not drilling. maybe it is related to the fact that we could not get a pipeline from canada. >> do not tell me that we are not drilling. we are drilling all over this country. >> we have seen this movie before. >> what about opec? >> opec has very little to do with this? >> it is not that we can set the price here. >> how about speculators? >> there may be some influence, but no one has been able to document. >> what about americans and their gas guzzling cars? >> i would not say that american consumers are to blame. >> there is plenty of blame to go around, experts say. the fundamentals of supply and demand are the driving force.

there are significant disagreement over how to deal with that. the oil industry says boosting supply is what is needed. the president is pushing energy alternatives. >> we are showing you the areas gas prices and pictures. if you know a deal near you, download are new iphone app. >> your insta-weather-plus forecast -- >> scattered showers and a few thunderstorms. especially to our south. temperatures are a little warmer down there. moving over towards -- to the north, we have seen the line of showers weakening as it crosses frederick. i think that weakening trend will continue.

at one time, it was a whole lot stronger, but we have been encountering more stable air. it covers the central and eastern parts of the stake. we will show you that right now. along the coastal areas, temperatures and below 50's. georgetown and southern bell there -- southern delaware, 40's. that is why our temperatures only peaked in the upper 60's. frederick, for a while this afternoon, was up to 86 degrees. they are now at 72. that is where the shorts have been developing. as the showers move into that stable air around the bay and the eastern shore, they will continue to weaken. in baltimore, we have seen all the activity to our south and west. it has been in a holding pattern.

high temperatures in the low 70's. 20 degrees lower than -- higher than normal. dramatic difference with that cold air. a couple scattered showers and cloudy skies as we head towards friday morning. it looks like most of the storms will stay away, but there is a slight chance of an isolated thunderstorms tonight. there is the boundary. separating the chilly air from the warmer air that goes back to chicago. along this boundary, we have seen some showers develop. this warm air will be pushing back into the mid-atlantic. our range chances will go up a little bit tomorrow. it will not be a completely washed out day. a slight chance for a couple of hit and miss showers. sun up at 7:16.

on the bay tomorrow, waves about a foot. a couple of thunderstorms in the mountains tomorrow, and on saturday. eastern shore, the best chance for rain is tomorrow. 73 tomorrow and 72 on saturday. that major influence of the sea breeze on the beach, they might be able to get to 65 tomorrow. 7-forecast, 70's for the next couple of days. dry weather, but cooler over the weekend. condi back into the low 70's middle of next week -- climbing back into the low 70's. the middle of next week. >> this is 11 sports. >> a brutal week of losses continues for the ravens.

the ravens' considered resigning him as a top priority. they use the first round draft pick back in 2007. he had become a solid performer. the saints gave him a five-year $36 million deal. that is more than the ravens last season. the ravens will likely intensify their courtship with evan mathis. syracuse in the east got a scare, but they survived. no one wants to change that trend of the favorites winning more than loyola. pete gilbert has more from courtside in pittsburgh. >> the first impression it need no second chance at the n.c.a.a. tournament. >> you want to embrace everything and enjoy it.

>> he enjoys tremendous history, but only as an assistant coach. >> it is sinking in. >> the dream season continues through thursday night. 24 wins. the coach of the year obviously knows his business on the court. >> this is a great opportunity, not just for the basketball program, but for the institution. >> 184 baltimore, pulls a monster of said in pittsburgh. why does that sound so familiar? >> i am not condoning any last- minute changes to your bracket. ohio state is probably going to

when. but almost anything can happen. >> still waiting for that first cup said. -- upset. that is colorado's state. jackson with a 3. 58-41. six finals so far today, and no surprises yet. a pleasant surprise for the orioles today. stick around. we're back with your seven-day forecast.

>> the irs announced a new initiative that will be helping taxpayers. details on the penalty relief. this is

>> and another day closer to sprang. -- spring. >> we might get disappointed when spring gets here. >> we were in the 70's today. st. patrick's day, mostly cloudy. a little cooler on sunday and monday. temperatures will stay in the low 70's. >> nice. >> 20 degrees warmer than normal. >> the only problem with this is people struggling with their allergies. >> good night.

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