welcome back to fox 45 early edition. 5:29 is the time. i'm patrice harris. we're starting this morning with a school closing. garrett county schools are closed today. that county has recorded more than 260 inches of snow this winter. i'm sure they've had enough. just remember whenever severe weather hits, tune in to fox 45 morning news. our morning news ticker will have all of the latest closings, delays and traffic conditions. the ticker updates automatically and even runs during commercials. let's check in with meteorologist steve fertig to make sure that we are not getting snows that add to totals like that. >> ithat. >> no, we have are not getting anything that will add to 200 inches. they have gotten enough, we have gotten enough. we have a little bit coming our way. >> we could be done for snow for maybe all the winter?

>> i'm not saying that. march -- you know the kind of winter it has been. march has the potential of bringing more snow. we may have one more. right now things are looking good. cloudy skies are looking good when it doesn't include snow as well. that is what we got for the day, but we do see a chance of a little rain-snow mix coming our way for later today and overnight. we will talk more about that in a little bit. 35 degrees the temperature at bus stop this morning thanks to the clouds not feeling too bad for waiting for the bus to arrive. southwest not bad, just 5 miles an hour. as we move through the day blerks start with mostly cloudy skies and 35 degrees. we will get up to 35 degrees by noon probably headed into the mid-40s before all is said and done for today. really not bad and 41 degrees at 6:00 p.m. still with cloudy skies. we will be talking about the rain-snow mix as i said in just a few minutes on. right now candac candace dold wt

you caught up on the roadways. >> reporter: here it is 195 at the airport and they're running at the airport and running reasonably on the southbound lanes and on the northbound stretch toward the beltway. on the 95 corridor from the beltway toward route, we're looking at a normal ride. 11 minutes for the actual travel times and 59 miles per hour. and then let's talk about that beltway, the outer loop lanes from 795 down toward 95 running good there as well, 11 minutes at 54 miles per hour. and the same speed with just an 8 minute clip from 83 up toward 795. that is a look at your morning travels park patrice, back overo you. 5:42 o5:32 on fox 45 mornin. the case of three suspected cult members will be in the hands of jury. closing arguments are set to begin this morning. megan gilliland joins us live from the mitchell courthouse. good morning , megan.

>> reporter: these three defendants chose to represent themselves in court. yesterday they walked wearing white, blue, and khaki, the royal colors for one mind ministries. queen antoinette, and travia williams and markus cobb stand accused of starving hav javon thompson to death for not saying amen after meals. the state called on the doctor who performed the autopsy. he told jurors that gentlema jas mummified and decomposed, no doubt difficult information for the victim's grandmother to hear in court. >> to hear them try to justify and try to say that is not the cause of his -- i don't care. the fact is that he is dead. you all put him in the suitcase and they did it all. >> reporter: it is expected that the defendants will point the one mind ministries during

closing arguments today. after that it's up to the jurors to decide if these three people are guilty of murder. live from the mitchell courthouse, downtown this morning. i'm megan gilliland. fox 45 early edition. stay tuned for fox 45 for continuing coverage of this story. we will talk to an attorney of closing arguments and the defendant's decision to represent themselves. that is coming up in 7:00 hour. baltimore police are still trying to piece together what happened to a woman who was found shot, stabbed, and bound with duck tape. the victim's family also wants answers. 19-year-old kim charles managed to walk down patterson park avenue on saturday night, her hands and ankles bound. a good samaritan stopped to help and drove her to the emergency room where she was treated to gunshot to the face and neck and several stab wounds to the chest. this morning she is in serious condition. police believe charles was targeted in the attack, but what

family members want to know is by whom and why. >> by the grace of god, she survived and that's the happiest thing ki loo i can look at, butr did it, god bless them and i hope they get what is coming to hem. >> investigators are talking with a person of interest. the man was questioned all day yesterday but so far no word yet on his connectio connection if e case. howard county are asking the public to be on the look out for a woman who has alzheimer's disease. officials have issued a silver alert for kathy new man. she was last seen leaving her ellicott family home 6:00 last night. anyone with information is asked to call police. governor martin o'malley is back from a weekend trip to iraq. it's a week that former governor bob ehrlich says he never should have taken.

ehrlich criticized o'malley to make a trip to visit troops during the legislation session. he says he wouldn't have done that. he left for iraq on sunday morning and returned yesterday evening. now anthony brown and ehrlich are firing back at him. >> i'm going to support our troops and i make no apology for that. >> during the session when the calls are falling down we're looking at a $2 billion deficit ask we're looking at high taxes and furlough, state employees, you stay and do your job. >> the u.s. defense department paid for the trip while in iraq the department purchased 25 minutes of satellite time for the governor to speak with television stations in maryland. the governor spoke with three stations not including fox 45. catholic school students and parents and students are bracing for big changes from the archdiocese of baltimore. they will find tomorrow which schools will be merged and how many others will be shutdown

altogether. joel d smith is live at st. ambrose catholic school where everyone no doubt will be on edge today as they wait to find out. good morning, joel. >> reporter: it's got to be tough. you bring your child here this morning and you got to be thinking in the back of your mind, will i find tomorrow if this place is shutting down what plans i have to make. the issue in st. ambrose here are the same ones across the baltimore, the cost are a big issue. this place had 300 students and now it's half of all of that. in archdiocese of baltimore there's 31,000 students taking advantage of the christian based education but costs are a big challenge and without them, there would be even a bigger cash burden on the public school system. you think about it. all the children currently enrolled in catholic schools if they were thrust on to the public ones, it would cost an extra 380 million for taxpayers to support that increase. in the way the state is saving that money right now.

supporters say many catholic schools mean so much to the community as a whole as it does to the children getting the religious education. the supporters are worried about these closures and praying they don't happen. >> st. ambrose church as well as the school is the beacon on light in the park heights community and that would be a sad day if that happened. >> reporter: it's happened before, since 2002, the archdiocese has closed 16 schools. some are guessing that number will be more than doubled by next year. once again the merger will come sometime tomorrow. that is just for the staff, the parents and the students so they can know ahead of time. it goes public on thursday. joel d smith, fox 45 morning early edition. coming up on the early edition, could counting the american people be costing the american people? >> very few people can afford to shop there or eat there. >> a look at the government's

census spending uncovered. clouds keeping the temperatures in the 30s for the start of this day, but temperatures will climb some and in comes with the clouds the

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weome back, 5:40 a tuesday morning and a dry scan on hd radar. as we put things into motion, you will see a little bit of activity moving from the south. it could be more than that as we get into tonight. as the low pressure center, the nice coma shaped low in the gulf area and heads toward ou in thed heads in our direction. the question is will it do the same this time? that is what we have had all the cold air in place and this low pressure center, the upper level low phasing with the coastal he low allowing it to strengthen. it doesn't look like that will be the case this time, because the upper level low that will be up to the north and west, goes further north and is ahead of this low pressure center. it doesn't quite phase or move

together. it brings the snow to the western counties as articley as 10:00 tonight and overnight west snow to the south and east. a little west moisture may mean that we see more wet snow to the south and east. we will get the moisture and the milder temperatures in the mid-layers. we may get a wet snow and to the south and east. when it's all said and done we have a trace to the southeastern koants counties. nothing heavy, 1-3 inches for the eastern shore. up in hagerstown 36 and the cool spot as we have seen so many times this season out in oakland, of course, the higher elevations at 25 degrees. this time the winds not at strong, the 5-10-mile-an-hour wind not making it feel chillier as it reads. 45 degrees will be the high and cloudy skies for the eastern

shore. in comes the rain-snow mix for the nighttime. cloudy skies through the day and into the evening, and the rain-snow mix tonight and into the evening. we may get rain-snow mix in the afternoon, 40 degrees here and temperatures drop overnight. the temperatures overnight will be to 34 degrees. that's why we're thinking more of a rain or snow mix, if it's snow a wet snow at that. it gets breezier. as we move through the day today, look for the temperatures to climb from the mid-30s starting out to 42 degrees at noon with cloudy skies. cloudy throughout the day into tonight, 41 degrees then, after getting the high temperature of 45 at 2:00 and it will stay there until 5:00 before the temperatures back off. 45 degrees tomorrow with a little bit of rain or snow but not expecting any major accumulation at all. it starts to taper off on tuesday morning leaving us with cloudy skies and the high of 43. 51 degrees on saturday, 52 on

sunday, and 51 degrees on monday with a mix of sun and clouds. so definitely looking like a good weekend and one that i'm sure we will all be looking forward to. fox 45 sky watch weather is available at your finger tips. iradar is available at foxbaltimore.com. you can use fox 45 powerful doppler radar to track incoming storms. the interactive tools will let you see when rain or snow will be over your house. go to foxbaltimore.com and click oirks radar. click iradar, now candace dold is back with a look at the traffic edge. candace. >> reporter: thank you, steve. we are checking on the actual speeds and we are loving those numbers out there. heading out on the west side through the catonsville and security boulevard area, look at that at 60 miles per hour. the sale deal on the beltway moving through pikeville. now we have an odd incident that we need to talk about in northern baltimore county. i do want to make you aware of it. there's actually horses that are in the road. it's on york road. that is right between bunker hill road and mount caramel, but

the reason i want to tell you about it is because you will find a lot of activity. police are actually trying to corral them up there. as for the alternate route stick with 83 to avoid that altogether. on 83, just a little bit farther down moving toward the beltway,let check in on that region for you. here it is, light activity on the northbound and southbound lanes. southbound just getting a bit busy but nothing to worry about there, all the way down toward charles street the. on the top end moving on harford road on the beltway, this has been a pretty picture for us. it continues to be a comfortable ride for us. outer loop lanes and inner loop down toward 95. speaking of 95, let's check in on 395 and the sky rams are looking good, northbound and southbound lanes of 95 as well

>>every american will be counted courtesy of the u.s. census. and as the count begins, a fox 45 investigation has revealed questionable spending by the census bureau in baltimore and across the area. crime and justice reporter joy lepola takes a look at the office politics. >> reporter: welcome to baltimore's inner harbor east, the home to high-end hotels,

luxurious high-end con, expensive eateries and now the newest tenant. the united states census bureau. >>all people count and all people should be counted. >> it's luxury rental space. >> reporter: crime and justice investigation has uncovered significant and questionable federal spending in one of the city's most expensive neighborhoods. >> very few people can afford to shop there or eat there. >> reporter: documents obtained through a freedom of information requests reveal that the census bureau is renting 6100 sq. ft. of office space at 250 south president street in the midst of the gis glitz and glamour of harbor east. the total price tag for taxpayers more than $161,000 for

a one year lease. >> does it appear that taxpayers got a good deal? >> i would say that it does not look that way. >> reporter: in a city with an almost 20% vacancy rate in its business district, the census bureau is currently spending more than $38,000 a month on rent, or almost $75 per square foot on office space. the average rental rate in baltimore is about $25 per square foot. that means in just this office alone, the census bureau is spending 3 times the average asking rental rate in baltimore city. overspending by a quarter of a million dollars. in fact, the census bureau is paying a higher rate than what is charged in midtown manhattan which is home for the highest rent in the country. >> you have to start questioning their judgment. >> there are an incredible amount of opportunities for low cost types of rents in the area.

>> reporter: we took our findings to commercial real estate broker don bar rec an expert on baltimore real estate market. >> there are bargains to be had among tenants in some the buildings locally. >> reporter: a quick search of empty office space equivalent to the president's street location, turned up 10,000 sq. ft. of vacant office space along the key highway, just a stone throw of harbor east, the asking price, less than $20 per square foot or less than $200,000 a year in rent. that is more than a quarter of a million dollars less than what the census bureau is spending at hor borharbor east. >> they are not getting a bonus for saving money for the american people so they don't care. >> reporter: our investigation turned this up. >> catonsville is not inner harbor east. there's no question.

>> reporter: we learned the census bureau is leasing 5 5500 feet of office space at the catonsville complex at a price tag of more than $400,000. >> there's whole buildings i can get for that kind of money in catonsville. >> reporter: with its view of the baltimore busy beltway, the governor is spending almost $75 per square foot to rent office space in this building. >> if there's one that i'm surprised is the catonsville area, because getting the same kind of a deal you can get at the inner harbor is a bit of a surprise. >> reporter: catonsville is one of nine local censuses office set across the state to canvas and count. the government is spending $394,000 for 300 sq. ft. in la plata. $382,000 for 5600 feet in

easton, and $284,000 for almost 6,000 square foot in towson. >> the thing that is bothersome about that list to me is how widespread the numbers are. >> reporter: the crime and justice unit contacted the u.s. census bureau for insight into the spending, but our requests for comment was forwarded to the u.s. general services admnistration in philadelphia. the government agency responsible for leasing the real estate. in a written statement to fox 45 a spokesman with the agency said, quote, the unique mission of the census requires short-term leases and particular specifications for their work space. she went t on to say based on requirements gsa secured the most cost-effective leases across the country that both meet the space requirement and the short-term needs of the census bureau, end quote.

>> if i'm leasing to the federal government over the next year, i'm bypassing other people that might be able to come in on a 5 year lease. >> reporter: so as census commences one question remains, is the price tag for counting the american people actually just costing the american people? joy lepola, fox 45 morning news. coming up later on fox 45 morning news, keeping the education funds flowing in maryland. how parents and other advocates are trying to protect baltimore schools. but next, after 5 straight wins, could the terps with fios you have instant access

to news, traffic and weather without changing the channel. i will be ready for whatever the day throws at me. uh, looks like torrential rain, bumper to bumper traffic and some kind of weird smell downtown. i will be working from home today. my sister's coming. i can make it. i'm sure she's lovely. [ male announcer ] instant weather and traffic without changing the channel and 3 times more very satisfied customers than comcast. call the verizon center for customers with disabilities at 800-974-6006 tty/v.

od morning, everybody. here is your first look at sports. as they get ready to play duke for a piece of the acc title on wednesday, there's good news for tripleket for garry williams. they have cracked the 25, the as has them at 22. the coach's poll says 23 this after five wins if a row. senior graves vee vasquez. you will remember, he torched tech for 41 saturday night. also, center jordan williams has

been named acc rookie of the week, averaging 3 1/2 points and 10 rebounds in it the two maryland victories. in sarasota with victory games tomorrow, the orioles are getting ready. that didn't grab the most attention, instead it was a batting cage session. veteran brian roberts, took the batting for the first time since being diagnosed with a herniated disc in his back. there's no rush but he is encouraged. >> it's getting better every day, getting out there and being able to take batting practice out there for the first time and starting to get my conditioning in, more and more each day i think we're certainly making progress. it's going to be slower than i would like, but i hope be ready to go for opening day. >> scrimmage top of the second, blake davis lines the second one anded to williamsson heads to

the play and that gave the squad a 1-0 lead. caleb joseph, rips a single in the 3rd, here comes a throw, blacks takes a 2-0 lead, they beat the orange squad. cavalier center shaquille o'neill will miss the rest of his season after having surgery at left thumb. dr. thomas graham chief of the hand center said the operation was a success. o'neill suffered the thumb injury on tuesday's night game. that is your morning sports. i'm bruce cunningham, fox 45 morning news. coming up in our 6:00 hour, assessing the devastation in chile. the search and rescue operations going on after the weekend's massive earthquake. and closing arguments are set to begin this morning in the trial for three alleged cult members. i'm megan gilliland, what the

defense is expected to argue straight ahead. we're on the eve of a big decision for the catholic schools in the baltimore area. i'm joel d smith live in northwest baltimore where this could be one of a dozen or more