details coming up on this wednesday, december 21stch good morning i am charley crowson. let's check in with meteorologist justin berk. >> 5:29. we are starting off in arnold in anne arundel county. belvedere elementary school and it's 47. that's mild start. this is above our normal high and you can thank the southerly wind direction. not that much but a peak of --peak of 15 miles per hour. right now maryland's most powerful doppler radar down to arnold and annapolis, there's nothing yet. there's showers on back towards the west. and it goes on the other side of 270 heading towards demack cuss and mount airy a little damp and more rain to the west. out 70 and 68 hagerstown spread to cumberland and this is rain. that's we have cites of some improvement at least for the wintery weather. 55 by lunchtime. upper 50s to near 60 this afternoon with the rain steadier and heavier and perhaps a rumble of thunder.

christmas weekend outlook in a bit. it's 5:30. let's check on the road with angela. >> reporter: justin, this is the time morning when the traffic patterns start to get busy but we are smiles in the traffic center. it's quiet. work just one accident in the city park avenue at west saratoga. that one should be out of your way in no time. if you are traveling on 95 or 29 all routes look good heading towards the dc region or northbound making the drive up to i-706789 another live view in the city now where traffic patterns are very quiet st. paul street at north avenue and our drive times are all looking goodright now. no early delays to report on the key routes you should be able to travel on major roadways with no major backups. over to you. today, the holiday lights are out in full display and we sent out lynette charles in hampden for the miracle of lights on 34th street. lynette, what do you think? >> reporter: oh i. love it. and you know, what some people

don't believe in miracles, but i have to say, i don't agree because i am experiencing a miracle right now and it is on 34th street. so, i have been checking out the displays and found another one. so let me pan you all the way up to the cleveland browns and the ravens. oh, yes, we have to have the ravens in here. and it is so accurate because they are going to be playing each other on saturday which is christmas eve. so that's amazing. and ravens will win go ravens. then you pan down and you have the flag lit up there. the ravens flag and you have the rain the bird with lights and i found another one i love so much. it says the sign here it says dear santa-i want it all. and if that's not my sign don't know what is. this is elaine another homeowner thanks for being here. >> you are welcome. >> reporter: your house is over there says the peace house. >> correct. >> reporter: so what is your inspiration to do it peace and actually do you do this every year or change up the theme?

>> i do it every year. this is my 5th year here. and i moved on the block to decorate and to be a part of this miracle because it made me so happy when i would come home. if i needed cheer i would come down the street. when i bought a house i said there's no way there's going to be a house open on the street and when it was my friend and i when we were here we are like what will we decorate and she said peace because i'm teacher and talk about that with my students. next part is how to decorate for peace with lights. that's the fun thing and every year i try to find something new to do with that. so. >> reporter: and thank you and you know what, your display i love it. peace on earth because i saw santa this year and you might think i am too sold but i told santa i want peace on earth and we have lots of santas so your display caught my eye. that's what i want and i think charley, i think you want peace on earth as well. that is peaceful place. people need to come and

destress with this. it's absolutely gorgeous here. >> through the new year lynette charles live in hampden on 34th street where the miracle of lights. we will check in with her throughout the course of the morning. now looking for more lights you may want to check out the lights on the bay at sandy point state park sponsored by the anne arundel yban arundel medical certain. it goes through sunday january 1st. lights are opened from 5 to 10 nightly and cost is about $14. more lights in howard county columbia has a light show at mary weather post pavilion benefiting the hospital. they are open from 6 to 10 until january 1st but close december 31st because the cost will be $20 for cars and $45 for vans. and help a child enjoy the holiday season. donate a new unused toy to the it's kinder time toy drive. this is the 13th year for the drive. you can drop the toys off at our station at 6400 york road

through thursday. you can donate used instruments for the toy drive as we partner with the bos -- bso's ort kids program. it may not have been rudolph or blitzen but a reindeer in ohio made a dash for it and ended up in as abouty highway. the calls came in to 911 fast and stunning drivers with quite a surprise. one police officer and a firefighter were able to grab the animal's harness and moved it to safety on sunday. >> i called in on the radio to dispatch and okay, i have the reindeer and now i am at a loss. and any suggestions anyone has would be great. >> tom how do you train for what if you catch a reindeer? what does the policemannual say. >> wrestle him to the ground. >> callers told dispatchers it

rolled off the back of a live stock truck. dasher and the others found out the truck was from stump hill on a farm and reindeer was returned to its owner. and the woman in boston who lost her engagement ring on a train, the train ride to work is thanking twitter. during the morning commute she was cleaning her hands and took off the engagement ring and went to work and noticed the ring was missing. her friends got on facebook and twitter and then the commuter rail folks noticed the messages on twitter one man was on the train saw the tweet and found the ring. now he has a new friend and maybe he will be invited to the coming wedding. a packers game led to violence in a home a wisconsin whom is behind bars accused of choking her daughter. it happened at the hotel. woman's 11-year-old daughter says her mom was drinking and became upset because green bay's first loss of the season. i am not making this up. and says her mom grabbed her hair and began to choke her. police believe alcohol was the

major factor. the mother is charged with felony child abuse as well as other charges. a dozen amish in ohio are charged with a crimes. it covers five attacks against men and women. prosecutors say sannual mullet is the leader and the grand jury indicted 11 people who police say followed his orders. they are accused of forcibly cutting or shaving off pool's hair. authorities say the acts fall under the federal hate crimes act. there will be a museum dedicated black history and culture. the bill president obama is now expected to sign that will make that happen. plus, parts of the northeast can they get a white christmas. the storm that could be headed our way. now to new york for this morning's tech bites. >> reporter: in today's tech bites big news for sports fans. for the first time ever, the superbowl and other post season nfl games will be streamed live online and with verizon mobile app. viewers will get additional

content such as game stats. into now a new yahoo app identifies what you are watching and provides links to live discussions and twitter streams and show try yeah. wall street journal was impressed -- >> it listens to what you are watching after you tap the i condoesn't matter if it's a youtube cliff or tivoed show or a live game show or sports event on your tv. >> reporter: into now is a free app for apple and android devices -- devices and the song friday was the most watched even if the comments were negative. those are your tech bites.

now "good morning maryland. this is the scene last few days in oklahoma as well as other areas across the southern plains. it could be headed our way. they are bracing for a storm threatening the snow holiday travel. weather forecasters are now saying it's looking like mostly rain but a storm is coming in the next few days that could possibly cross your fingers, mean a white christmas for some of us. >> yes. one of the models that has give away the storm and forgot about it has come back in. latest one just in the last half-hour now showing more support. we will talk about that christmas outlook in a moment. headlines possible thunderstorms this afternoon and evening. it will turn colder for the holiday weekend and winter officially begins 12:30 tonight. or tomorrow morning? whatever it is thursday. it's the 22nd. today is the last day of autumn on the traditional calendars. meteorological winter began on

the 31st. mild on the warm side of things above the normal high and aiming for near 606789 look at rain back there and there's more to come. we are at 47 at belvedere elementary school and pushing close to 60 and push for the weekend holiday outlook in a moment. 5:41 on the clock. and here's angela with traffic. >> reporter: thank you. and good morning. as we get you ready to head out the door. no lane closures on all of our major roadways. we are monitoring a few fender benders here and there. baltimore county police on the scene in white marsh at bel air road and chapel road for an accident there. now for those of you travelingon the major roadways i-95 southbound at maryland 32 your southbound lanes picking up just a little. but still moving at posted speeds and here's another live look at 695 on the top side at exit 24. and the harrisburg expressway and for those of you planning to take mta, all train lines running on schedule. charley, back to you. >> if you are expecting a package this week you hope it gets there safe and sounds. drop off that left customers picking up the pieces.

linda. >> reporter: law makers will they be be able to reach a compromise on the pay row tax extension. how the vote will affect your paycheck. as we go to break a live look in downtown baltimore at inner harbor. 5:42 and you are watching "good morning maryland.

now "good morning maryland." what's next in the bitter payroll tax battle. truth is it's anyone's guess. law makers have gone home for the holiday break and linda so is here with how the debate could affect your bottom line. linda. >> reporter: come january 1st if lawmakers can't work out a deal it means you will see less money in the paycheckp if you make $50,000 a year you will lose a thousand dollars from your paycheck. if you make 35,000 a year you will see 700 dollar tax increase. house republicans are at a stand off with leaders notice democratic controlled senate. they refuse to vote on the senate's version to extnd the -- exten the payroll tax cut for two months. house lawmakers were sent home for the holiday break and stalemate continues. >> if we failed today, how will you face your neighbor?

family who are suffering. where's your compassion? where is your heart? where is the soul. >> the tax cut will expire december 3 #st. -- 31st. the average family will lose a thousand dollars a year starting 2010. transportation security administration says the officers found two thrilling daggers in a hollowed out book at a checkpoint at reagan national airport on monday. official say they thought the -- be stopped the passenger when they sought daggers. the daggers measured more than half a foot and were hiden in a hard covered book. passengerspass chicago. fines are enforced for deadly weapons but no word if they were carried out with the passenger. you carefully selected the items and had them packed and dropped them off but if you wonder whhappens, the packages once they leave your hands you better hope this doesn't happen. it could be the worst caught on

camera. jeanne moos reports on the flying parcels. >> reporter: tis the season for packages and the next time you open one intact, be be grateful this didn't happen to it. this was a computer monitor tossed over agate by a fed ex delivery man but the camera video was delivered to youtube and made the news. >> oh. >> oh. no. oh. >> reporter: and now fed ex is saying we have seen the video and frankly we were all shocked. but that's not the only drop off. memorialized on youtube. >> handle with care. >> oh. just like that. >> ground service. i get it. ground. on the ground. >> reporter: and it's not just fed ex. >> what could ground do for you. >> reporter: ups brown can toss your package underhand. and it can toss it overhand.

>> heavy. >> reporter: it can toss it like a horseshoe and fences and gates are the delivery man's member sis as the driver posted from a delivery point of view, gates are hostile. don't like it, get rid of the gate. the guy's videoing this ups delivery man comparing the technique to loading garbage. >> anything damaged in there? no. >> reporter: of course, it could be worse. at least they are not ace ventura. of all the special deliveries we saw none more special than this by fed ex. they were -- dlsh were sparks off the box and the man that was shooting. >> this guy has no idea he is pushing an oven. >> reporter: as for the computer monitore over the gate, the person who posted it says the monitor was broken and

it is sad because he was home at the time the delivery man run the -- rung the bell. i am sure what you are wondering is does the guy have job? fed ex tells cnn we have ided the employee involved and he is handled according to the internal disciplinary policies. >> federal express. when it absolutely positively has to be there overnight. >> reporter: they said overnight not in one piece. but now that every wop has a camera, it doesn't pay for the delivery elves to get sloppy. ♪ we know when you've been bad or good so be good for goodness sake. >> reporter: jeanne moos, cnn, new york. >> all right. so if you are going to ship packages after the story, be aware of the shipping dates coming quickly. now if you're a last-minute shopper get things out through the postal service on the 21st, today, if you want it by priority mail. he can press mail guarantees christmas delivery as late as

december 22nd and i have to point this out because you watched the piece by jeanne moos as closely as i was. there was no mention of postal delivery snafus. >> that's a good point but now you put it out there, there will be something that pops up right? >> we can only hope. >> we can only hope to even the playing field. the computer models have been tossed around the idea of a storm. got rid of it yesterday a few hung on and we have hung on to the notion of getting something here of the fluffy variety for christmas. what a night. all wet and rain and heading on down through cincinnati 57. 61 in nashville. warm air ahead of the storm. we are continuing to watch the cold pocket backside of the storm but the entire pattern shifting to the east. this wave of low pressure passes to the north and that's the reason we stay on the warm side and pull in the not only warm air but moisture that's hefty rains into the florida panhandle and that is streaming up through north carolina this

morning. basically, we are looking at a lot of energy in north mexico. that's going inject into the pattern. one wave of low pressure and cold air out of canada to swing through, i am hop through the maps i want to explain the details. 60 today. pushing in chance of thunder this evening with the heaviest rain this afternoon and evening. and then temperatures come down overnight to 48 as rain comes to evened. tomorrow will be mild again near 60. dry most of the day but the rain comes back tomorrow night. and on into friday morning. most of friday turns out fine. ravens game looks good many we pushed that thing back i know in an about face from yesterday's outlook but we are looking 45 in the afternoon game. now sunday it appears we could get a new storm turning up the coast and cold air will be in place and we are holding out for that chance that yes, while hanukkah started wet, it end right where way white christmas and snow showers continuing into next week. we will watch this for you. 5:4 5á 1-watching traffic and here's angela. >> reporter: on the roadways starting to get a little busy but we are running at good pace

especially on the key air yacht in city. 895 and 95 checking out well making your approach to the tunnels northbound and southbound. for those of you traveling a towards the capital we are starting to see a bit of heavy traffic a bit sluggish on 95 in the southbound direction. as you make your way to 495, here's a live shot of u.s. 50 at the bay bridge. east and westbound traffic up to speed through anne arundel county. back to you. if you haven't had your christmas dinner yet, but what are you doing for new year's eve? coming mayor stephanie rawlings blake hopes you will spend it in baltimore. what the city has in store. if you need the last-minute ingredients for the holiday meal, the grocery chain. one specifically is going to have you covered. you watching "good morning maryland" on this wednesday, december 21 1á9. we want to thank you for starting your day with us. traditions are not for keeping.

they're for keeping us together. ♪ [ boy ] to dad, love sam. [ mom ] say "merry christmas." [ boy ] merry christmas. [ female announcer ] hallmark recordable storybooks. [ boy ] charlie brown spotted a small, scraggly pine tree. ♪

mayor stephanie rawlings blake and office of of promotion and art pronouncing details for the new year's eve spectacular present by baltimore sun. it's at the baltimore visitor's senter. a hundred mid at safeway

stores had remain open around the clock 86 hours leading into christmas. some stores are going to be open christmas day. some are opening as early as 7 and others by as late as noon. all stores close on christmas day by 5. officially winter sort of it's 12:30 tomorrow morning. it's the longest day of the year for those south of the equator but shortest day of the year for those in the northern hemisphere. obama administration will announce new expected lilts on mercury emissions from coal fire plants. business leaders opposing the measure say it's going to cause blackouts and kill jobs. and attorney general eric holder and dignitaries will attend a memorial today marking the 23rd anniversary of the bombing of pan am flight 103 over scotland. it will be at the flight 103 memorial in arlington national

cemetery. almost 100 million dollars has been spent on slot machines in the state. up next, how much more the state is willing to shell out to get the casino anne arundel county up and running. video games are always entertaining and fun. but could they replace the good old workout? we will take a look. plus, it's been a tradition for more than 40 years. kids in one school district almost missed out on a visit from that guy. yeah. old st. nick. good morning maryland is back in a few minutes.

you're watching the station that works for you "good morning maryland." a 15-year-old girl desperately needs your help to survive. i am linda so. how to help gib hear second chance at life. the day after some 200 servicemen arrived in maryland from iraq another 70 expect to come home. we will have a preview. we are counting down the thst days of christmas and