you will have spikes. he will have nights like last night. >> the primary victims were targeted. a murder victim had been shot multiple times in the head. police responded to a triple shooting that left a man dead. detectives say he suffered several gunshot wounds to the test. witnesses told detectives -- >> of the motive in this case, two of these individuals were known as drug dealers in the area. >> an ongoing dispute involving a woman troubled eight -- triggered a triple shooting. >> the suspects are victims and the victims knew are suspects. >> even before this -- these shootings, they put together a deployment plan for the holiday

weekend. there will be more foot patrols, board technology used, more academy graduates. police are also dealing with /mobs. one struck little italy last night. >> police say they have a man in custody in connection with those craigslist robberies. he may have been trying to lure another victim. david brown was using the internet site to trick victims into a meeting him. that is where he would pull out a gun and rob the prospective buyer. when police arrested him, he was using a public computer at a downtown library. police say a baltimore man swallowed 15 baggies full of crack cocaine during early- morning traffic stop.

it happened around 3:00 this morning. an officer pulled over a vehicle to find the driver acting funny and reportedly choking. kenneth smith swallowed declare -- a clear plastic bag. officers said they were able to retrieve the baddies. -- baggies. he is charged with possession with intent to distribute. >> it is the friday afternoon before memorial day a lot of people heading out of town. aaa estimates 646,000 maryland is hit the road over the next few days. we have a team coverage of your weekend getaway. we begin with tom tasselmyer. >> things look pretty good heading east or west.

you should not have a whole lot of weather problems. western maryland, things are really nice. comparable, too. -- comfortable, too. on the other side of the state, you might have a few problems to deal with heading towards the coast. some showers popping up around the eastern shore. you might run through a brief shower, maybe a rumble of thunder, 72 degrees in ocean city. right now, traffic should not be hindered by most of the weather across the state. that does not mean the traffic gets slow. >> we have good and bad news. if you are working group to 50 trying to get towards the eastern shore, at least 3 miles prior to route 97, it is a slow

pace. until you hit the 7 river bridge. once you get to the bridge, it opens up all the way down here to the toll plaza. the toll plaza has a quarter of a mile back out. they have a split operation at the toll plaza. if you were going to use the easy pass lane, it will take you into the westbound span. traffic is moving heavy, but steadily, across the bridge. once you get back to the eastern shore, heavy. >> good information, thank you so much. it is the perfect storm for a busy travel weekend. gas prices are lower than last year. we are in washington, d.c., with a reason to celebrate. >> how was this for a good sign? gas prices going down just in time for the unofficial kickoff

of summer. from palm beach to the golden gate of san francisco, a 35 million americans traveling 50 miles or more this weekend. nine out of 10 are going by car. those kind by air are paying a steep price. -- does go in by air are paying a steep price. >> the meaning of this memorial day is about americans who have made the ultimate sacrifice. at arlington national cemetery, an american flag on more than a quarter million graves. >> everyone of these veterans are touched and shown that they are remembered. i think it is humbling to be a part of that. >> joe biden paid tribute to the survivors of america's tallest -- fallen warriors. >> there will come a day, i

promise you, your son or daughter or husband or wife, there is a smile to your lips before it brings a tear to your eye. you are not alone. >> on this memorial day 2012, honoring the americans who sacrificed for our freedom. this will be a poignant memorial day in washington as the nation marks the 50th anniversary of the vietnam war. >> cannot mention and not power important it is to mention it -- how important it is to mention what memorial day is really about. they will be deployed for a year. for many, this is not their first deployment. we have more. >> at this armory, members of the 126th aviation regiment and

their families gathered to say goodbye. >> i have never really done it. >> this is your first time? >> yes, sir. >> it is hard, but i am hanging in there. i am going to take a day by day. >> this yoon has been deployed to afghanistan before, for many of these soldiers, this is their first time. >> i am pretty nervous, to be honest with you. >> it is an important mission, i am excited to do it, it is just tough for did little girls. >> good luck to you. >> for the families they leave behind -- >> i will be there to support him. >> we are going to miss them, but he is on a mission. they have to complete a mission. >> and nearby airfield, the

helicopters there will be taking to afghanistan. these aircraft and their soldiers will provide support for ground units. >> we will be supporting combat operations. this is a heavy lift helicopters. we will be transporting troops, transporting supplies. >> for the soldiers and their families, it will be a long year. >> he is going to be gone for a little bit. >> the soldiers will go from here to texas, then it is on to afghanistan. >> we now know the identity of the marines found dead in his barracks on wednesday. officials for the marine corps tell us the 19-year-old was an active duty member from north

carolina. the naval criminal investigation service is investigating the death. ♪ >> to what could be big news for orioles fans. the team is close to signing a six-year contract worth $85 million. jones joining us now. are you hearing the same thing? >> it is a very big day. the buzz around town, the possibility of john signing a long-term deal. it would be the largest contract in the history of the orioles. to become part of a core group of players to win here in

baltimore. it has been 14 years since the orioles fielded a winning team. ready to be a part of something that changes that. he has not only played well, he has proven to be a leader. there is not been signed yet, but it looks like a bowl gets done. he is trying to stay out of the negotiation, but cannot wait until this thing is over. >> i am not in the offices. it is an exciting thing, it is a humbling thing, just the thought of that. is not complete. my phone has been blown up. >> adam jones talking about the possibility of getting this thing done. i asked him if this would be a life altering event. he said, my life has already

been altered. i just want to be part of the winners. we will send it back to you. >> good to be here that he will be around for a while. anyone concerned about using the new smart meters will get a choice. >> officials are allowing the temporary opt-out, but you have to take action to qualify. >> the intent of planes that devoured this anne arundel county, could be seen from -- 4 miles. >> the cost of a college education is on the minds of parents. how congress is trying to help them understand the bottom line.

>> the fire that ravaged this, started in the kitchen. firefighters responded around 5:40 yesterday evening. we brought it to you as breaking news. the family was able to make it out ok. the damage is extensive. here is what is left of that house. officials are estimating the damage at $100,000.

there are some good news for customers to have been badly dreading the smart meters installation. anyone who is against having the smart meters installed can defer it from happening until there is a permanent order. they should notify the commission in writing. the psc has been taking comment from the citizens concerned about the new technology causing some help risks. -- health risks. >> we begin tonight's medical alert with an update on concerns over those laundry detergent packets poisoning children. procter and gamble says it will not change the design of the packaging for its detergent

projects -- products to prevent children from comes using it with candy. the new design will emerge in the next couple of weeks. nearly 250 poisoning cases have been reported to poison control centers this year. a fight over the name sugar. the makers of high fructose corn syrup are trying to get permission from the government to call their product corn sugar. the corn refiners association says high fructose corn syrup is a type of sugar and sugar makers are trying to center the conversation. women looking for breast enhancement surgery may have another option. it is called flash augmentation. doctors say it takes only 24 minutes to do. you can go and after breakfast and be home time for dinner. it is mostly for women who do

not need a breast left, just a straightforward augmentation. doctors say could go so quickly because they are making very few cuts. memorial day weekend is the best time to fire up the grill, but cooking does come up with some dangers. you should remember three temperatures. 145, 160, and 165. for cold cuts of meat, 145 degrees. for ground meat like beef, the recommendation is to put it 160 degrees. when you are cooking things like poultry, experts say you want to go to 165 degrees to make sure you are killing of bacteria. to check those temperatures, but the thermometer in the thickest part of the cut. >> your insta-weather-plus

forecast with tom tasselmyer -- >> warm temperatures across the region. starting to feel like summertime in the mid atlantic. there are a few isolated storms that have developed on the doppler at this hour. westbound into the western maryland md. -- western maryland mountains, things are looking pretty nice. that is about what you can expect for the weekend. maybe a slight risk of a thunderstorm, but a very minimal chances. eastbound towards the coast, there are a bunch of showers that popped up this afternoon. tracking down towards the coast, you might run through a light rain shower. city temperatures are coming and rather cool compared to the rest of the state.

storms are popping up. you can see -- 89 degrees in detroit, 88 in cleveland, columbus, ohio, 89. eventually, it will reach all the way towards the eastern seaboard. the sea breeze that develops during the afternoon keeps ocean city pretty cool. 80 degrees -- 84 in westminster at this time. baltimore, downtown, likely to stay in the 70's. patchy fog developing, 60's in the suburbs. we will keep a close eye on this cloudiness out here over the atlantic, east of south carolina. the hurricane center thinks this may become a tropical storm. you can almost see a little bit of circulation trying to form. it may become the second named

storm of this season. if it does a form, at the upper level winds will push this storm back to the southwest. even though it is close to us, it does not look like it would impact our weekend weather. we will watch high-pressure strengthened over the area. it is a sharp contrast from our tropical conditions. they are talking about one or 2 feet of gas out in the mountains of wyoming. there are winter storm warnings for the rockies for the memorial day weekend. sunday, we cannot rule out a storm popping up during the heat of the afternoon. memorial day, it looks pretty much the same. 85-90 tomorrow. on the bay, at that will be a

nice place to be on saturday. up in the mountains, isolated storms, less than a 20% chance. 78-80 degrees. eastern shore, a little humid, almost 90 on sunday. the coast, including ocean city, a good deal of sunshine in the forecast. insta-weather-plus forecast seven-day, a thunderstorm becomes more likely on tuesday and wednesday. >> she could be the next olympic gold medalist in track and field. >> before she makes it to london, she has to qualify. >> a new space race begins, this one involving private companies looking to make money companies looking to make money in m

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>> the first private mission to the international space station is a success. >> it is an important step for nasa and the united states. we have more details on spacex. >> this is an unmanned capsule carrying a thousand pounds of supplies for the space station. it will return with science experience -- experiments and equipment. >> traveling at 17,500 miles per hour along side the international space station, the dragon moved within 10 meters of its target. an astra not used the space station's robotic arm to latch on to the capsule. an historic moment requiring a memorable line. >> it looks like we got a dragon

by detail. >> spacex becomes the first private company to dock with the space station. >> nasa says the mission ushers in a new era of exploration and innovation. >> it is a new space race. it is not among nations, it is now among private industry to see who can do it better, quicker. >> at least seven other companies are vying for the job. they're building spacecrafts with names like a dream chaser. analysts say the dragon just moved the commercial space industry won a huge step forward. >> what they accomplished is nothing short of a minor miracle. >> opening a new frontier of opportunity in space.

tomorrow, the crew will open dragon's hatch and begin offloading the cargo. it is scheduled to return to earth on may 31 with a landing in the ocean. >> still ahead, a six-year-old boy went missing 33 years ago today. >> he was the first missing child to be put on this side of a milk carton. we may now know what really happened after he walked to the bus stop and never came home. >> congress is calling -- to do a better job of helping parents and students understand financial aid. >> here is a live look at traffic on northbound 95. traffic on northbound 95. we will be monitoring the we love gardening...

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>> live, local, latebreaking. 11 news at 5 in hd continues now. >> a college education that ends of tens of thousands of dollars more than many students and their parents thought, leaving many and the in debt. -- deep in debt. >> it is called understand the true cost of college act. >> it is something that we have

all talked about. it would have been a major help to know this. it tells to the paperwork can be rather confusing. getting into college and trying to add up the costs. more than 40,000 maryland high school graduates are making plans for college. most of us spend the better part of their summer poring over paperwork from college financial aid offices. for some, that is where the confusion starts. " sometimes, students and parents do not understand the difference between scholarships, a financial aid packages. >> she is the head of counseling for the anne arundel county school system. >> navigating that is not easy for parents, even for a parent who has been to college. >> the understanding the true cost of college act would help parents make sense of what they get in writing. it would require colleges to come up with a standard financial aid award letter. establish basic minimums of

information for costs, loans, and scholarships. >> it is all is overwhelming. >> the proposal could not come at a better time. her daughter is in anne arundel county high school student. >> my daughter is in a program and a start in middle school researching college information. we get a bigger head start on it. they offer financial aid courses for the parents. >> local school counselors say it would also make their jobs easier. this legislation appears to be getting support from lawmakers on both side of the aisle. >> speaking for parents to the bad kids go to college, that is a great act -- who have kids go to college, that is a great act. authorities are calling this level of crime in tolerable and have put together a deployment plan for the holiday weekend.

expect to see more foot patrols and more technology. officers are deploying new academy graduates into the mix to keep the city safe. there is also another flash malt to report. we are keeping a close eye on the memorial day weekend traffic. we are over the bay bridge. have they to moderate conditions. the biggest problem is a long i- 97 to the 7 river bridge. traffic eases up near the toll plaza. officials are telling people to wait until later on to make their trips if they have not departed yet. right now, we will check in over i-95 in howard county. >> we are sitting over top of the 95 at route 32. you are looking northbound. for the most part, it is extremely heavy going towards

baltimore city. some places, it is stop and go. >> city police are asking for your help in the search for a sex offense suspect. they believe this man was taking a picture of a 15-year-old girl from underneath a stall as she was using a restroom. this happened back in april. if you think you recognize this person, you are asked to call this number. a six-year-old etan patz went missing 33 years ago today. he was the first picture ever to be posted on this side of a milk carton. a man who has confessed to killing the boy is finally in custody. >> 33 years to the day that etan patz disappeared, there is new hope for answers to what happened to the little boy.

police have arrested and charged pedro hernandez. according to authorities, hernandez confessed to the murder, telling investigators he lured the six-year-old from the bus stop. >> he choked him, and disposed of the body by putting it into a plastic bag and placing its into the trash. >> it was a cold case that was never forgotten. he was the first missing child ever to appear on a milk carton. >> do you feel a bit of relief today? >> i do not think so. i've would have felt relief years ago. >> just last month, police searched an empty building in new york where he lived. over the years, his parents refused to give up hope, it never moving or changing their

phone number. >> we can only hope that these developments bring some measure of peace to the family. >> the recent search led police to hernandez after a tip after accommodating remarks he made in the past. >> he told 8 -- after incriminating remarks he made in the past. >> he told family members and others that he had done a bad thing and killed a child in new york. >> perhaps a chance to solve a 33-year-old mystery. >> a bus full of students evacuated this morning because all the kids started getting sick. >> the bus driver has some explaining to do. >> as u.s. troops start their withdrawal from afghanistan, and other country is blocking supply lines. >> it will be an historic graduation at the naval academy- year banks to one midshipman.

i will exp

>> the u.s. is trying to figure out what to do about as volatile relationship with pakistan and the situation seems to be getting worse. congress wants to cut millions of dollars in aid in response to pakistan jailing the doctor who helped track down osama bin laden. pakistan wants an apology for a u.s. raid that killed two dozen last year. the country has cut supply lines to u.s. soldiers in afghanistan. they're also upset about drone attacks to track down militants. >> i would like the american government to consider what their reaction would have then. i think an apology would have been appropriate. >> the white house is in talks with pakistan's government to reopen the supply routes and is optimistic that will happen. isjury sandusky's charity shutting down. he started the second mile for troubled youth more than three decades ago.

following the scandal that has tainted his image, the group is financially crippled. sandusky found his victims through that organization. he is accused of more than 50 counts of sexual abuse and he has pleaded not guilty. representatives are asking the judge to transfer the assets to a youth ministry in texas. >> about 20 florida students became king said this morning on the bus ride to school. -- became sick this morning on the bus ride to school. the kids were coughing and all have watery eyes. the bus driver had brought a pesticide on the boss. officials decontaminated the children and the adult by washing them down with hoses. >> a federal investigation into engine fires. >> we will take a new look at the element of the investigation. >> the best of the best are flocking to maryland to train

for the olympics. one olympic hopeful takes a break to catch up with us. >> mr. potato head has never been more fun that it is right here. there is an exhibit dedicated to our favorite childhood toy. >> a few showers have developed on the eastern shore. we will see if that plays into the memorial weekend forecast. 81 degrees in baltimore. 86 at the inner harbor.

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extra precautions this holiday weekend. law enforcement plan to protect downtown visitors. we will introduce you to a young man who was showing us the strength of the military without even going into a war zone. we will have these stories for you and much more at six.

>> about two months away from the start of the olympic games, one of the best hopes for gold continues to train right here in maryland. >> brittney reese makes taking flight looks like the most natural thing in the world. the mississippi alum continued

for training on friday, getting ready for the olympic trials this month in oregon. >> i feel like i am on the right track. >> you went to the games in 2008 in beijing. that was the last time you struggled in a competition. what did you take away from that experience? >> i learned that i can compete against the best. i was yawned at the time and i had just finished at my college career -- young at the time and i had just finished up my college career. >> what does that mean to where those colors? >> it means a whole lot. you see your flag being raised, it is an emotional time. when you are representing the number one country in the world, that is everybody's dream.

>> she holds the american indoor record. she also told me records mean nothing. >> good luck to her. the wildfire burning in the national wildlife refuge has not consumed more than 3,000 acres. the wildfire has been burning for five days after a lightning strike sunday night. there have been no reported injuries or damage to structures. it is 65% contained. if the troubles much farther north, it will cross into 20 -- it will cross into state land. more than 60 firefighters from several states are working to contain it. environmental officials are asking you to keep an eye on dead fish this weekend. we're hearing more reports of the fish floating in northern anne arundel county. it is caused by a lack of oxygen

due to an algae bloom. the problem has spread to the inner harbor. hundreds were found in the inner harbor. environmental officials are estimating more than 160 dead fish were found near the police substation. >> your insta-weather-plus forecast with tom tasselmyer -- >> we checked in on ocean city yesterday and it was pretty quiet. but things are picking up right now. some activity on the boardwalk and on the beach. the wind is coming in off the ocean to cool things off a little bit, but a lot of sunshine. it looks like it will be a great memorial day weekend. temperatures are running in below 70's. on the way from here to there, you will probably go through those showers.

a little batch of showers that you have to go through on your way down to the coast, but it should be worth it. let's check the forecast for that area of maryland, 75 tomorrow, 77 sunday and monday. if that tropical storm gets going off the carolina coast, the potential there for some strong grip currents, so keep an eye on that. -- rip currents, so keep an eye on that. it was 83 at the airport today, 87 at the inner harbor. the normal is almost 76 degrees. we're talking above normal temperatures for the next couple of days. out into the mountains, a beautiful weekend.

right around 80 degrees with low humidity. not too bad around baltimore, 65-73 tonight. a little bit of fog likely to form tonight. tomorrow, people keep an eye on the potential tropical system. -- we will keep an eye on the potential tropical system. if it does -- as we mentioned before, it looks like it may develop and get pushed back to the south as high pressure builds over our region. we will enjoy high pressure building strong over the region. partly cloudy tomorrow, isolated storms may pop up in the afternoon. 85-90 degrees. i do not think those storms will harm your act -- your outdoor activities. it will be a nice day out on the

chesapeake. water temperatures in the low 70's. a slight risk of a thunderstorm on the ridge tops the next couple of days. eastern shore, temperatures climbing, almost 90 on sunday. feeling like summertime, the upper 80's saturday, sunday, monday. thunderstorm chant is increasing on tuesday. for the end of next week, it will turn a little cooler. >> we will begin tonight's consumer alert with a look at wall street closing numbers. stocks have slipped, the dow down 77 points. the nasdaq dropping nearly 2 points. experts are blaming the european debt crisis and problems with spanish banks. facebook may be delisting from

the nasdaq stock market. they are looking to three list its stock on the nyse. insiders say the move is prompted by several glitches on the nasdaq trading system. neither the new york stock exchange or nasdaq are commenting on those reports. a federal probe into fires in 2011 chevy expanse. the government is asking general motors for information on fires in the 2012 model. investigators with the national highway safety administration are focusing on wiring and computer which controls the transmission. the government wants general motors to submit any allegations of overheated wiring or smoke coming from the engine compartment. two fires in 2011 models had been reported. if you are heading to the beach this weekend, according to the motorists association, maryland is one of the top five states

for traffic tickets. the organization came out with a list of the most ticket happy states. nobody came out on top. if you have a lead but, you do not -- if you have a lead foot, you will want to hit the open roads on miami -- wyoming and montana. or you could just obey the speed limits. >> that could be as crazy as you wearing a wake. oh wait, you did. it is a national wig out day. it is so perfect for summer. who wore it better? i do not know. >> what is going on with the weather today? >> you cannot even look at me without smiling.

i am going to report you. >> i am looking like that new jersey overly tanned mom. i am a team player. >> one man's dreams of becoming a navy seal were dashed in an instant. >> i was about 15 feet from the tree, i saw him lying face down. not breathing. >> he may be paralyzed, but that one trip has landed him on another path entirely. " these kids are going on an archeological adventure. they are helping mr. potato head.

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>> mr. potato head has his own exhibit at a fort discovery. >> the possibilities are endless. so many combinations for the perfect mr. potato head. >> i made a big one.

i made all of them. " the adventures of mr. potato head is the newest traveling exhibit. he is york tour guide through four different adventures. . there is a safari. >> it supports science. kids are loving it. to doesn't love mr. potato head? >> each station is designed to promote school readiness, helping kids would problem- solving. >> it is very good because they get to interact. they still get to play and learn at the same time. >> mr. potato head also goes on a space adventure. >> over in the area, you can learn different languages. you can also have a blast off.

this toys started in 1952. you got the pieces out of a cereal box. >> a favorite children's toys is being enjoyed in a whole new way. >> that is all for us at 5:00. >> on the eve of this holiday weekend, bursts of gunfire. details at 6. >> a thunderstorm on doppler and some warm temperatures for the memorial day weekend. >> 41 midshipmen, graduation at the naval academy will be extra special. >> live, local, latebreaking. this is wbal-tv 11 news at 6. >> start your engines. memorial day weekend is here. many motorists already hitting the road. our big story, the unofficial

start of summer is under way. we have complete coverage for you tonight. >> we are taking a closer look at what the city is doing to protect residents following a violent week on the streets. first, we will take a look at the holiday traffic. >> you are looking at traffic, that is 895 and 95 northbound. going from the toll plaza to the split, it removes a fairly well. once you get to the split, there is somewhat of a backup. we will send it to tom tasselmyer. t