[captioning made possible by constellation energy group] captioned by the national captioning institute --www.ncicap.org-- >> live, local, latebreaking. this is wbal-tv 11 news at noon. >> good afternoon. i am sarah caldwell. we begin with breaking news in kent county. emergency crews are investigating a bomb threat at kent county middle school. the threat has forced the evacuation of every school in the county. rob roblin is live at the scene. what more can you tell us? >> we got word from state police that kent county middle school, right behind me, has been cleared. they found no bombs whatsoever. and note was found at 7:55 this

morning. all the schools in kent county, a total of seven schools -- actually, it was found at 7:55, and the vast majority of the students were not here at the time. they were turned away and went back home, basically. very little evacuation and all the teachers were taken out. all the schools are being investigated. they have a bomb sniffing dogs inside as we speak right now. with me is greg shipley from the maryland state police break at this school has been cleared any more schools been cleared so far? >> rob, there has been one other school clear. two schools out of the seven have been cleared. we are courting law enforcement response to the other schools. special operations personnel this year, bomb detection dogs, as well as local law enforcement. we will be working methodically

to clear all of these schools. >> with this many schools, you've got to have a lot of dogs, and therein lies the problem. you have got to call in a bomb sniffing dogs from all around de area. >> we have a k-9 teams here from as far away as ocean city and prince george's county and other departments in between. >> can you talk about the note? two teachers found it a hand written note, i am understanding. is that correct? can you tell us what it said? >> it was a handwritten note. we don't be specific about the exact language, but it said there was a bomb in this school as well as other schools in kent county that would detonate today. >> two schools have been cleared. at the ot -- dogs are in there staffing as we speak to see if there are bombs. rob roblin, wbal-tv 11 news.

>> our the big story at noon, voters across maryland are heading to the polls. kim dacey is live at one of the polling locations with a look at turnout. >> the site at western high school has been slow all morning. people just trickling in. according to election officials, a voter turnout today is 2.1% in baltimore city. early voting ended last thursday and over those six days, baltimore city saw 74 ordered voters come out to cast ballots. -- 7400 voters, to cast ballots. that is in the number, much lower than at the 2008 presidential election. in that primary, 39% of voters turned down. it is likely because in that election, the democratic race was contested with barack obama on the ballot. big races for the

republican presidential nomination. >> baltimore is not known to be a republican city. we only have about 32,000 of those voters in the city. >> i don't know what is in people's mindset that they would not turn out for an election. whether it is a primary or general, it is sat and pressing. >> -- it is sat and depressing. >> the polls are open until 8:00 tonight in baltimore city. kim dacey, wbal-tv 11 news. >> voters head to the polls today in wisconsin and washington, d.c. as well. mitt romney is considered a front-runner in all three primaries. keep it here for the most complete coverage of election returns. you can find out-to-be-minute returns as well as special voter guides at wbaltv.com. the general assembly has given mayor stephanie rawlings-blake

an extra year of job security. legislators in annapolis approved a measure to bring the city postelection cycle in line with the presidential cycle, giving the mayor and other officials voted last year 85- year term. term.-year it will save millions of dollars and hopefully improve voter turnout. in a "session 2012," state lawmakers have less than a week to resolve budget differences before the session ends. they did not get far on monday. a conference committee is dealing with the shift on how tensions -- teacher pensions will be paid for. the group is scheduled to meet again this afternoon. a baltimore man will spend life in prison without parole for killing a 15-year-old boy and stomping his body in a bedroom closet. 37-year-old dante parrish

suffocated and slit the throat of jason mattison in 2009. in court, he admitted to being part of the crime but said that someone else killed the boy. in maryland are charged with the disappearance of a girl in new york. an amber alert was given for the missing girl. a state trooper found a vehicle on i-86 and took the suspects into custody. the three men, two from columbia, one from elkridge, are charged with endangering the welfare of a child. a former baltimore police officer accused of killing his neighbor less than a year ago is now charged with possession of child pornography. a newspaper identified the officer as 67-year-old charles richter. he was charged with murder in the april 2011 shooting death of his neighbor mark xander. while searching his home,

sheriff's deputies found evidence of child pornography. his murder trial was scheduled to begin on monday but was delayed when his lawyer had and a medical emergency. a candlelight vigil is scheduled tonight for two towson and students who died over the weekend. baltimore county police are looking for the driver involved in a deadly hit-and-run that killed 20-year-old mayan bailey. police are searching for a white or silver box-style car. the cause of death of timothy coyer is being investigated. roommate's discovered his body in an off-campus apartment police believe that the iraq war veteran went into cardiac arrest. the vigil starts tonight at a clock on the towson campus -- at 8:00 on the towson campus. >> boy, is it a splendid afternoon. we have bright skies out there, not a cloud in at the sky. winds out of the west at 10

miles per hour. a little breezy throughout the day. not expecting them to increase much through the afternoon. high temperatures today's 64 at 6:00 p.m. we will talk about rain chance as for tomorrow when we come back. >> still ahead, looks like the easter bunny is going to be generous this year. talk about shooting death. see the amazing pictures of a tow truck driver narrowly escaping falling off a cliff. new details surrounding the deadly shooting at a california. carrie engel from valley view farms is here to answer plant and gardening questions. email plantquestions@wbaltv.com.

[ female announcer ] allergy congestion? allegra-d d-congests, d-pressurizes so you can breathe. a fast, non-drowsy antihistamine plus a powerful decongestant. allegra-d. d-fense against allergy congestion. >> covering of the nation, we are learning more about the gunmen who opened fire at students at a korean christian school, killing seven people and wounding three others. one goh was targeting female administrator at oikos

university but never found her. he was dismissed last year. a police chief said he was upset over teasing over his english skills. he is currently in custody. a near death experience for two truck drivers on an icy road. it was pulling a stranded tractor-trailer up an icy mountain side when both vehicles went over the side and down at the cliff. the driver of the tow truck got out in time, but the driver of the stranded truck was trapped and went over the side. he survived the fall with only a few factors. that is amazing. still to come, which county in maryland is the most healthy? do you have an outdoor plans with preschoolers today? why experts say they are not spending enough time taking in mother nature. >> today is a perfect opportunity to get outside. complete sunshine, mild high temperatures.

-- while the temperature is. em

>> in the "consumer alert," easter is coming on sunday and americans are expected to spend nearly $17 billion this year. that covers clothing, candy, decorations, and other items. it works out to an average of $145 per consumer, an increase of 11% over last year. despite raising concerns last month over batteries heating up, "consumer reports" recommends the ipad 3 over competitors.

rated the latest version of apple tablet at the top of the cabinet hea -- tablet heap. it cited the high resolution screen and improve, as reasons for the top ranking. the next story could come as a surprise to you. our nation is producing more goods and services that it ever did before. the slump in 2007, but we're doing that with 6 million fewer workers. what that means is that the nation's workers are keeping up with demand by doing more work. >> you have to ask for more, and you have to expect more. if you don't -- i where every single hat there is. >> workers have more technology at their disposal and a british grocery stores don't have occurred every right -- workers have more technology at their disposal than ever. grocery stores don't have a court every check out.

>> now the 11 insta-weather-plus forecast with ava marie. >> we are looking at very pleasant conditions as we continue through tuesday. yesterday it was pretty nasty. i saw quite a bit of lawn furniture blowing around out there. a little breezy on the eastern shore. 17 in ocean city. 18 miles per hour. eight miles per hour, correct when gusts downtown. here is a look at current temperatures. 61 at b.w.i. thurgood marshall. even the mountains are pushing their way to the mid-50's. we are expecting temperatures to warm at least a few more degrees this afternoon.

we are mostly clear this afternoon, but by this evening at tonight, clouds will roll on in temperatures will stay at the 40's overnight. concerns of a frost this morning. not so much of a concern as we head through tonight. bringing in the warmer air. the storm system is coming our way. you can see the first batch of it. cleveland is getting the rain. this is sinking down to the south, taking a southerly track over the mid-up lead. not a major chance, but something we will be talking about as we head into wednesday. here is a look at the futurecast. by tomorrow, are hints of maybe precipitation around baltimore. by late afternoon and evening, the bulk of the storm is expected to pass out to the south. no major rain chance is in baltimore.

southern areas of maryland down into eastern virginia that have the best chances of rain. we are warming up ahead of the storm as we go into tomorrow. 71 for the high temperature. slight chance for rain in baltimore. better chance down to our south. by thursday, down to 61, with sunshine. another chilly start to your friday morning. opening day for the orioles on friday. the storm is expected down to the south. it will be chilly. temperatures only in the 50's. easter sunday, very minimal chance for rain, high of 65. >> carrie engel from valley view farms is here to answer your plant and gardening questions. this is a really pretty plant. >> it is also called crown of thorns. it will be hard to see this plant. as it loses some of the flowers, you will see that. there are other points that are

much thornier. >> chemical plant. how about some questions? >> just check with your house plants. most house plants will be fined like the. -- like that. chinese evergreens do very well. all sorts of ferns do all right. there are some that do beautifully indoors. you can plant right now. certainly evident else is coming up in my lawn. these are really tough and can handle the heat when you get but that also handle the cooler temperatures.

no idea. the bans on the type is this. -- depends on the type of hibiscus. give them fertilizer if that will help and plenty of sunlight. >> thank you. appreciate you coming in. if you have a plant or gardening question -- alert," if"medical you want to live a healthy life, moved to howard county. howard county is the healthiest place to live in maryland. baltimore city is, unfortunately, the worst.

the counties are ranked by several health factors, as well as factors like education and access to health care and unemployment the healthiest counties are howard, montgomery, queen anne, frederick, and travel. the and healthiest areas are baltimore city, allegany, dorchester, somerset counties. nearly half of preschool age kids don't go off site -- don't go outside to play every day. research finds 42% of children who did not have a regular child-care arrangement like day care did not get outside daily bread is based on analysis of nearly 9000 children. daily outdoor activity is important for motor development, commission, and physical activity. up next, your maryland lottery numbers and another check of the insta-weather-plus forecast.

>> if you cannot master soccer, don't try this at home. this was invented in norway. in order to play, you have to be in one of those plastic bubbles. the extra challenge made the game more fun. in bubble soccer, you are able

to knock your opponent down. tonight at 5:00, we remain on the scene of a tense situation in kent county where all public schools have been evacuated. marylanders are going to the polls today in the much- anticipated primary election . life in prison without parole as a convicted killer lenses sentence. the family of the victims speaks out. that and more when you join us for 11 news at 5:00. and now your maryland lottery numbers. >> good afternoon to you, maryland. i am angela jackson from wbal radio. here is pick three. those are your pick 3 numbers.

play keno now for april 29 for a chance to double or triple your winnings. drawing official bob diamond is ready to play pick four. the maryland lottery -- let yourself play. >> ava has one last check of the forecast. getting nice. >> it really is. mid-to-upper-60's this afternoon. tonight, for the spre -- tonight, the 40's. >> thank you for joining us for lebanese and and. >> watch tonight at 5:00 with donna hamilton and stan stovall.

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