>> live, local, latebreaking. this is wbal-tv 11 news at noon. [captioning made possible by constellation energy group] captioned by the national captioning institute --www.ncicap.org-- >> good afternoon, everyone. our big story is at the sweltering heat continuing in our area today as temperatures approach the triple digits. a heat advisory has been issued until 9:00 this evening. lowell melser has the alert. >> it is dangerously hot out there right now.

we are seeing some of the hottest temperatures we have seen it all this summer. out at bwi marshall, they are at 97 degrees right now. humidity is a polite but once you get into the upper 90's, it feels the same been bankable digits at the inner harbor. you are hitting a triple digits. this is what it feels like out there right now. 110 degrees downtown. on the eastern shore, 107 degrees. 107 degrees at ocean city. we will take a look at how long this is going to last in a couple of minutes. >> state officials are urging caution today as close to two dozen heat-related deaths have been reported this year. 23, just 11 fewer than last

summer. all of this year's victims have been over the age of 45 and nearly half of them are presidents of baltimore city or baltimore county. be sure to drink plenty of water and check in on vulnerable neighbors. residents n anne arundel county are being urged to conserve water today. in mandatory water restriction for the next 24 hours. due to the extreme heat and the water main break in downtown baltimore. the water main broke was built in the late 18 80s. the department of public works thinks it will take three weeks to complete the repairs. nearby businesses have been impacted by those repairs. >> that has been a difficult situation because they are running late. knowing that they are dealing with that situation then than it

has been a challenge. >> aboveground pipes are providing water to the businesses in the area. the problem downtown is another example of the challenge of repairing and replacing an aging water system that is getting older. it was the 480th time this year that a pipe has broken in the system. a report published this year as the make a trillion dollars will be required to update the drinking water system of the country. >> there is not likely to be a giant federal solution for the problem. what it comes down to is water rates. as we begin to reinvest in the system, it is likely that rates will rise over a period of time and significantly and some places. >> this city replaces about 5

miles of pipe each year. the mayor announces new funding to help make baltimore city safer. announcing a grant that allows the city to create a partnership that will create a new database of security cameras that will allow city police to use camasses that join the program. the mayor believes the system will help residents reduce crimes in their neighborhood. gov. martin o'malley is calling for a special session to expand gambling in the state and to push for a new casino. state officials are debating whether the tax hike or tax slot machine revenue should be lowered them than house members have resisted the idea. an accident in baltimore county

during this morning's commute leaves one person dead and at least two others injured around 5:15 this morning at old york road at glenberry court. the car was split in half. authorities are still trying to determine what led to the crash. second to one. for the first time in many years, at johns hopkins falls out of the top spot. slipping 2 number two among america's best hospitals, slipping behind massachusetts general in boston. the johns hopkins held the number 1 position for 21 years main bank officials say they will continue to work to be the very best. >> the best research, innovation, and provide the best care available. that is what we do hear. it is the same as it was

yesterday. that is what this place is all about. >> the rankings are based on hospital performance. a 33-year veteran of the police department receives the highest civilian award. sgt james dixon was a member of the first african american marine corps in the u.s. he brought this congressional gold medal back to the police department to celebrate with his fellow officers and friends. >> i wanted to say thank you for all what you have done for the city of baltimore and for the united states of america. [applause] >> sgt james dixon served in the police department from 1954 to 1987. the congressional gold medal is the highest civilian award that

the government bestows. the murder of a baltimore teenager proms community leaders to address what they call a double edged pius. homophobia in the african american community. a vigil was held for the 18- year-old who shot to death at a gas station last month. he was wearing women's clothing at the time. witnesses claim the gunman targeted him for no apparent reason. is cross dressing may have provoked the attack. >> african americans -- we were slaves not too long ago. we were a victim of this prejudice. we are still today. to be a victim and then to victimize another group of people is ridiculous. >> police say they have not charged anyone with desean bowman's murder. still to come on 11 news at

noon, what key economic figure has remained unscathed during the economic meltdown. a drought is creating disastrous conditions for farmers and their crops. no more football. that is the penalty penn state university could face in the wake of the jerry sandusky scandal. it could be the death penalty it could be the death penalty

>> a woman is dead after a massive tree crashed onto a street in virginia during rush hour. there were not any storms in the area at the time. crews reported the worked for more than three hours to remove the tree from the highway. the fallout continues at penn state university after a report blamed the school for its poor handling of sex abuse allegations involving jerry sandusky. a plane flew over the school yesterday with a simple message. the banner referred to the famous bronze sculpture of joe paterno. the n.c.a.a. president said he would not rule out the death penalty for penn state's

football program. still to come, most dads pride themselves on providing for their children, but could their jobs are in their children's health? what is the connection? >> hd doppler is clear at this hour but it is downright scorching at this hour. hitting 100 degrees at the inner harbor.

>> the recession may have affected a lot of things for american families, but credit scores were not one of them. today's average score is that up one. compared to the average score in 2007. credit experts say the real economic problem cannot be seen through credit scores. you cannot control gas prices, but you can control how much gasoline you use by avoiding some mistakes. you pay an extra 26 cents per gallon for every 5 miles you go over the speed limit. luggage on the top of your car can cut wind resistance by 2%. in just about a month, thousands of college students will be hitting the road and heading back to school, bought the

degrees they are working toward cannot be viewed as good investments. that is down from 81% just four years ago. that figure has fallen every year since 2008. as the drought continues to plague of farmers across the nation, you can expect to shell out more to buy produce, beef, madison, and even barbecue sauce. >> this is not a remote desert. it is a photo snapped in indiana and then crops are withering. >> i do not like it. there is nothing that farmers can do. >> as the rain stays away, the amount of money he will spend will rise like the mercury. >> i can spend it on other things.

it is going to affect everything. >> dairy products will jump 6%. anything made from corn or soybeans will spike 10%. it also means many other things will likely cost more. barbecue sauce, so the pot, pop, flavored the pda water, cold medicine, energy drinks, and energy bards. >> i have never seen it so early. what is going to happen in august? it is going to be 120 i guess. >> now, your 11 insta-weather plus forecast with low melser. >> did you say pizza was going

up? that is that. i will loosen up that high for this forecast because it is courting outside right now been than 100 degrees at the inner harbor. down in annapolis, they are at 96 degrees. in ocean city, at 95 degrees. if you want relief, head out to deep creek where they are seeing temperatures in the upper 70's to low 80's. anywhere from about 68 degrees to 72 degrees. 110 degrees, that is like a blast furnace. when you go from air- conditioning to 110 degrees, it hits you pretty hard. be careful if you are headed outside today. use your sunscreen if you are headed out to the beach today. because of these dangerously

warm temperatures, the entire viewing area is in a dangerous heat advisory. again, be careful. as far as the rest of the day is concerned, a strong chance for thunderstorms later in the afternoon and into the evening hours. they will be spotty at best. the record at bwi today is 102 degrees. we could definitely see 102 degrees downtown. current conditions show pretty clear over the area. those showers may get here because of this upper level disturbance that is going to push through. it is not going to bring any relief today and maybe not even into tomorrow because we are watching this system that is hanging out and we thought it would have swooped through by this evening.

it does not look like that is going to happen. it will give us a chance of 40% to 60% chance of thunderstorms over the next couple of days. unfortunately you are going to have to deal with the heat a little longer. spotty showers are around 11:00 this evening and then you make -- you might get some thunder this evening and then it clears out again banding there are some storms right behind it that we will have to watch for. mostly cloudy, a chance of thunderstorms. taking a look at your 7-day forecast. 92 degrees here on thursday. it could be 85 degrees or a little warmer or cooler. in the weekend, a little bit better. >> it seems the type of job dads

have could lead to effects in their children. 5000 fathers and about 1000 had children with a birth defect. including computer scientists, photographers, landscapers, and those who operate cranes. the study did not take into account any chemicals used. the weight of a newborn baby could affect a mother could no chance for breast cancer. a large study indicates giving birth to a large babies who are at least eight towns may increase the risk of women that they will later develop cancer. research as a pregnant women who have bigger babies tend to have higher levels of estrogen and the other hormones associated with cancer. to other factors -- other factors can help reduce the overall cancer risk for mothers.

the concern of most mothers is keeping their children safe and healthy, but an unknown disease tends to pop up in the summertime and is very contagious among young children. >> three of the kid and my son's nursery school has had it. a potentially painful virus that is highly contagious among young children. doctors say they have recently seen a spike in the number of cases. one doctor who works in the emergency room says he probably saw eight or nine patients in just one day. >> we have seen them as young as six or seven months old. as old as 11 or 12 years old. >> if it shows itself as sores on the hands, the feet, and inside the mouth which can be alarming to parents.

>> you can only claimed some much. >> the virus spread by direct contact. sarah is well aware. >> all day care providers have to take a course to become certified in order to get licensed. that is one of the things we learned about in the course. >> she is constantly cleaning services and washing toys. >> good hygiene is the way to prevent it. >> the good news is the virus is short-lived and it usually goes away on its own after a few days. >> keep watching those hands. coming up next, your maryland midday pick 3 and pick 4 lottery numbers and we will get another check of the forecast. first, a look at how wall street is performing. stay with us.

>> time now for your maryland midday pick 3 and pick 4 lottery numbers. >> the maryland lottery -- let yourself play! >> it is another hot one on this wednesday, july 18. 9. 8.

4. 9, 8, 4. we will get to your pick 4 in just a moment. cash blast, a top prize of $100,000. 2. 7. 3. 2. 2, 7, 3, 2. the maryland lottery -- let yourself play! >> back with an update on the weather. >> this is what it feels like. temperatures in the mid to upper 100's.

stay cool and drink a lot of water. limit outdoor activities until later this afternoon.