effort to combat isis. there is a group that claimed responsibility for the bombing in brussels and it will take a coordinated approach not just nationally, but internationally to combat this type of crime. >> they are condemning this obviously because of the horror. and i wonder about the security there. they say authorities knew some kind of extremist account a was being prepared. they were surprised by the scale of the attack in brussels. what's your take on that? >> as you know there was a key suspect taken into custody in brussels as result of the paris attack. it was known that there would be some type of retaliation coming, but they just didn't know when and they didn't know how. the greatest fears did play out that day.

reports of heightened security in u.s. train stations. a lot of people traveling now for spring break. >> it was within hours that you saw major airports like the ones in new york and like the ones in people me that increased their security immediately when these types of incidents occurred. we will see that heightened effort until they can get a good grasp of exactly what happened early this morning. >> maureen: we appreciate you jumping on the phone to discuss this. horrible to see what happened there. as he mentioned airports are heightening their security including here in charlotte. to board a plane connecting in brussels today? that was reality for one father. crystal florez has more.

about the bombings he can't help but think what if his flight was there earlier. >> to know that could happen and i could be there when it happened and we are both fortunate that i wasn't there. >> they joined him as they waited for another flight to open up. elijah could continue on to his destination. they were lucky they didn't have to live out a nightmare jie. we were thankful that he wasn't already there. >> reporter: they were not traveling to brussels on tuesday. in fact, they were not traveling at all. they were dropping off their granddaughter at the airport. after hearing the news in belgium, they decided to make sure their granddaughter made it to their flight before they left. >> that's why we are waiting to get word from her. she is waiting down there at the terminal. >> reporter: with security raiment ped up it has taken longer to get through the lines. >> it may slow down the process of traveling, but it

sorry. >> reporter: they also spent much of their wait joining air force security and monitoring surroundings. >> obviously it makes you think harder about where you are going. >> it is scary to think things like this could still happen. i feel safe in the u.s., but when i travel out of the country i try to keep my eyes open. >> he made it on to a flight to get him to liberia. he didn't have any doubt he would get to the destination safely. >> as the one mom said, the grand mother said, it is worth the added security, the delay. you look on the tsa's website to get the latest on security measures make sure you know what you can and cannot pack. as news out of browse -- brussels unfold keep it on

on air and on-line. we have it there on wbtv.com. the polls are closing in lancaster county and we will know whether a $199 million bond referendum measure passed or failed. the money would go to a new elementary school in indian land. other parts could benefit with money going to infrastructure, safety and technology. we will update you as those results come in. >> maureen: cms would like money for new construction as well. they will have a report on facilities and capital needs. at the board meeting they wanted to see a bond referendum this year. the county says it likely won't happen until next year. >> maureen: an explosion has a woman shook-up. it happened over the weekend in front of her eyes. just moments before she and her husband would have passed right by that.

the story new on "primetime." >> metro 9-1-1. >> i don't know where i am at. >> the car blew up. >> tonya and her husband a few feet away from this. >> it literally exploded. >> oh my god. >> the couple was driving to pick up their son and slowed down on washington street just before the blast. >> it was the fastest slow moving moment ever. i guess it would be the sound of war. it was just that intense. >> and the next few minutes police officers and fire trucks swarmed the area. tonya and her husband are unsure of what was happening. >> we didn't know whether it was a planned attack on someone or a planned attack on the city. >> my heart dropped thinking not another one. we were afraid. >> reporter: an investigation into the exact cause continues.

at what happened if she hadn't slowed down. >> it happened the time i was passing the car. the passenger side of the car would have taken it. >> reporter: it did explode something, friction. tonya and her husband were arguing seconds before blast. >> on the way downtown we weren't even talking to each other. but when we got to that scene and that explosion occurred reality set in and realized, you know what? all of these little nitpicky fights is not worth it. we are so grateful that god covered us. >> reporter: wbtv "primetime." >> maureen: shaken to the core, but reality set in and the closeness she feels with her husband em sure is much, much -- i'm sure is much, much more deep tonight. it is hard when we do daylight saving time. i just can't believe it is still so bright outside. eric thomas, i am curious if it is still so warm. >> eric: the rebound continues. we got up to a high of 47 and

we tacked on at least 10 degrees on monday and here we go now, 66 the high today. we could tack on another 10 degrees tomorrow with the high pressure. the cold air is getting pushed away. that will keep the door open and the warm air will come back around. the backside of the area of high pressure, scott clark nissan honda tower cam. a bresk -- a brisk wind out of the south and if you are heading out you will be okay. temperatures in the 60s, outside the mountains low to mid50s. your hour by hour forecast closer to charlotte, taking it down to 59 at 9:00 and 54 at 11:00. looking beyond though, we have a couple of systems coming our way for the easter weekend which means it is rain heading our way. it is part of the first alert forecast. >> maureen: five years after her sister was gunned down in a catawba county home, a woman talks to us as the person accused in the killing could

and why a man accused of breaking into vehicles of fire departments targeted the firefighters. what he allegedly told police about why he did it and when. and a mascot is defending himself after this video goes viral. we will explain. you are watching "primetime"

news at 7:00 and we are bac >> maureen: here is a look at the best video in our big three.

police near houston on this very dangerous high speed car chase. officers tracked down the driver near the interstate where the chase began. it ended, look at that, when he slammed into another vehicle and then the driver tried to run away, but was taken down by those officers. a video showing a person in a mascot costumes as a fall from a fence is spreading across social media. it happened at a baseball game in boiling springs, south carolina. the university of south carolina student who claims this was him defended his antics even though he was in pain. he says he does this kind of stuff all the time and he was 100% sober he claims. >> maureen: a new york dog is channeling his inner picasso and collectors are paying hundred for his work. dagger is a 3-year-old lab and golden mix. he selects his colors from a

uses the paint brush attached to a paper towel. early works sell for $50 and dagger's now commissioned pieces are priced at about $200 as he makes a name for himself in the art world. i read that as seriously as i could. >> maureen: still to come on "primetime" a woman talks to us as the person accused of killing her sister and two others could face the death penalty. that's ahead. right now, here is what you

and watching wbtv tonight. >> maureen: a man accused of a triple murder five years ago this month could be put to death. edward hewitt went before a judge today and instead of taking a deal for second-degree murder he maintained his innocence and will instead go on trial for first degree murder with the death penalty on the table. steve was in court and he spoke with the sister of one of hewitt's alleged victims. >> reporter: 37-year-old everett hewitt is accused of three counts of first degree murder. five years ago when he was arrested he told me he was innocent. >> did you kill those people? >> no, i did not, sir. >> reporter: the murders happened in this mobile home in march 2011. four people were shot and three died. >> i want justice for all three. >> reporter: beverly's sister was among the victims. beverly was in court today as the defense argued that the state failed to turnover all evidence in a timely fashion. the judge agreed, but said it wasn't enough to throw out the

we also learned a plea deal was offered to hewitt, second degree murder. that was okay. >> i wish he would take the plea deal so we don't have to relive this nightmare. >> reporter: it could have meant freedom for hewitt in 15 years, but he said no and still maintains his innocence just as he has that day he was charged. >> you didn't do any of this? >> no, sir. >> reporter: his reaction of the deal says the death penalty is on the table if convicted. he tells me no matter what happens here, justice will be served. >> he will have to meet his judgment some day. it is god. >> reporter: his judgment in here gets underway next week. as for those violations the judge ruled the state committed the judge says the penalty for that will be allowing the defense to have the last say before the jury. and that juryelection begins next monday and it could last several weeks.

>> and when the story first broke we were on the scene. it didn't take long for authorities to rule that out and say drugs were at the center of this. the jury selection in this case will begin next week. we will update you as we learn more. >> maureen: reare looking more about a -- we are looking more about a vehicle break in. they obtained search warrants where the suspect allegedly told authorities he chose the fire departments in fort mill, charlotte and greensboro because there were no witnesses or cameras. he also says he broke into the vehicles while the firefighters were sleeping. bing was caught after a wal-mart receipt was found near one of the vehicles involved linked him to the crimes. bing says he committed the break ins to live and eat. >> maureen: on a day of a deadly crash, police tell us sebastian jackson died here

into the back of the dump truck. it happened on brookshire boulevard. it was about 3:00 this morning and police say he was not wearing a seatbelt. they also believe speed and alcohol played a role in that crash. nobody else was hurt. >> maureen: we are on your side with a consumer alert. it is costing more to fill up your gas tank if you haven't noticed. the charlotte region and across the u.s. say the charlotte observer reports that it is all thanks to an increase in demand and scheduled oil refinery maintenance that disrupts production. the average price for a gallon of regular gas in the charlotte metro area has risen 6 cents over the last week according to triple-a. average costs climbed 5 cents in north and south carolina. the average went up 3 cents. it always seems to go up just

road for spring break. >> eric: we will need to reach a little deeper in the pockets. >> maureen: we are wondering about the spring weather. will it come back dism -- will it come back? >> eric: 40s today, 60s -- what will we be in tomorrow? 40s, 50s, 60s and 70s tomorrow. i don't see the 80s coming back, maureen. we had a bunch of those last week. we will level off, but here is is why. the high pressure is in control. do you see the cold air? it is steered into the carolinas. that is moving off to the east now. there goes your area of high pressure. look at the warm air. it is just erupting here across the carolinas. as we take you through the day on wednesday, you can see the flow, so there is no surprise. right now you can't find a cloud in the sky. your toyota weathernet, how about that? morganton is looking good. burke county, good evening. for everybody else, here it is. we are in the mid60s and

getting ready to step out the door. we are in the mid60 ises up through morganton. boone and blowing rock with a full moon about 8:00 tomorrow morning if you are being technical about it. that will be out tonight and tomorrow night as well. the temperatures are just gradually tapering off. we will be in the low 50s by late tonight if you happen to be out for say a late movie or late errands. meanwhile, what about the storm systems. look at that quiet weather map. we are taking you through 7:00 tomorrow morning. hof, you do see cloud cover -- however, you do see cloud cover working its way back into the tennessee valley and the ohio valley. 37 degrees and clear and cold in the high country when you are out the door in the morning. and it won't be as chilly, 47 degree. a cool start for us here closer to charlotte. we will see that the moisture is just hanging around the west right now. this storm system with another big area of snow is getting its act together and eventually we will deal with that over the easter holiday weekend. until then i -- until then,

this. 76 by late in the afternoon. watch this. this time the front gets its act together and the showers really start to lineup along it. but it still won't be on top of us during the day on thursday. this is mainly thursday night, and i mean getting out of here quickly on friday morning. with this rain moving in it may not disrupt you too much if the timing holds. another system coming in easter sunday, this rain may hold off until sunday night and be largely out of here on monday. sunrise on sunday morning at 7:16 for the sunrise services. maybe the rain will stay out of our way for the most part. >> maureen: we all have dreams, but what happens when a life long dream actually comes true. it doesn't always happen, but it did today for a monroe woman. kristen hampton got it all on camera. she has tonight's good news. >> reporter: georgia sanderson

bringing her to the airport to meet a friend of her son-in-law. she had no idea this was coming. >> he is gonna take you up and teach you how to fly a plane. >> nice to meet you. >> reporter: the 70-year-old woman lives in a long-term care facility in monroe. they set up something she always wished for. >> a little nervous and excited at the same time. >> reporter: ever since she was a little girl georgia dreamed of this, being thousands of feet in the air, but not just flying in the airplane. today her wish of being a pilot came true. >> and every year we do one big project. this year they joined with what is called second wind dreams. it is like make a wesh foundation, but -- make a wish foundations. >> they heard about the sky high wish and made it a reality. her family watched from the ground and georgia was hands on the controls making turns and lit r58ly living -- literally living a dream. >> hello, monroe. i am having a good time. >> reporter: after about 45 minutes in the air, georgia

ground with a story she won't soon forget. >> the flying. being able to fly it. and listening to him in the tower and everything. >> safe to say if there was a cloud in the sky today, it would be called 9 and miss georgia sanderson is still on it. with the good news, kristen hampton, wbtv on your side. >> a nice story and great writing, kristen. we're back after this. >> closed captioning on wbtv news is sponsored by subaru

concord. >> eric: all right, maureen, have a look. we will level off in the 70s as we take you through the neck seven-day first alert forecast. the next chance of rain on the easter holiday weekend. if we are lucky most of it will fall at night. sunrise at 7:16 a.m. for the sunrise services. >> maureen: sound good. thank you for watching.

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% >> this is the "cbs evening news" with scott pelley: terror in brussels. >> pelley: this is a special expanded edition. for those of you just joining us, here's what we know about today's terror attack in brussels. at least 31 people were killed in coordinated bombings at the airport and at a subway station. 250 others were wounded, including americans. isis is claiming responsibility. a search is under way for the man on the right of this photograph. officials believe the men on the

who attacked the airport. we put together some of the pictures and the sounds of this day. [sobbing] [screaming] >> the terminal is closed down. all the luggage stays here! all the luggage stays here! >> i just saw a little bit of smoke. i didn't know exactly where the explosions happened. i know there are two explosions. and when i was outside, i tust saw two people covered with blood. a lot of people's hands were covered with blood. it's the first time i saw such a thing in my life. >> leave your luggage here.