there. in the season of giving, this was the day of return as many hit the malls in maryland to extrain or leave behind presents that weren't so welcome. >> there is a lot of long lines and everything, so it's kind of irritating. is >> we were about to return one of my brother's airplanes that we got because it was broken. >> reporter: nationwide, $36.3 billion in gifts will go back. 10% of the total sales throughout the holiday period. >> reporter: changing policies a causing frustration. at target electronics period has been shortened from 90 days to 45. but the restocking fee has been dropped. online, amazon.com has 30 different policies. returns are tied specifically to the product you buy.

>> even if you have been shopping at the same place, they may have changed the rules. you have to pay attention. >> reporter: many retailers are trying to ring sales out of an especially good holiday season before they ring in the new year. >> everyone has a lot of sales going on. any gifts you missed for christmas, its a great day to pick them up, today. >> you should try it. there is also a change in the return policy at wal-mart for cameras. you can only return them 15 days after you buy them. reporting live wow, let's hope they are in good working conditions for a long time. >> >> an american express survey -- a bomb scare puts part of downtown baltimore on lockdown. police found a kfc container

wrapped in a t shirt with the word "bomb" written on it. it was discovered outside of city hall after 7:00 this morning. the area was shut down briefly as the bomb squad investigators examined the package. >> >> this home in the 3700 block of glenn oak avenue filled with smoke firefighters were able to cotan it to a bedroom inside of the two story duplex. >> >> someone hit it big. $125 million. powerball jackpot for one single maryland ticket holder. derrick has more on where the winning ticket was sold. tell us all about it. >> >> reporter: in el engine, in that area, a lot of folks are asking themselves is the winner someone i know? >> at wesley's liquor store, folks are scratching their

heads -- >> we don't know who it is. >> reporter: some lucky person bought the winning jackpot ticket here on christmas eve. this will make someone rich, but even wesley's owners don't know who. >> a lottery was in, today, they secured the machine, checked some stuff with the machine. they toll us what's on the ticket sold. it was sold at 3:13 p.m. we checked our cameras to that time date. i sold a ticket to a gentlemen. i don't know who he is or what his name is. the guy who has the numbers has already called in, saying he will wait a few days before claiming his prize. what a prize, taking the cash option, just shy of $79 million. after taxes, nearly $52 million in cash. >> with mega millions, they could hit in ohio or washington

state. >> the tor itself gets a prize. $25,000 for selling the winning ticket. it's the winner who has folks here green with envy. >> i hope it was somebody that really needed it and will do good stuff with it. >> lottery offices don't officially open back up. that's the earliest that the winner can claim their prize. >> derrick, thank you. >> >> this only the second time mail has had a powerball jackpot winner. in september, a couple won a $105 jackpot. . adam may has the latest on the future of baltimore's gran

prix. >> reporter: plans for the next race are apparently moving forward. >> baltimore's gran prix may get a second chance. the new indy car schedule for 2012 lists the streets of baltimore as the site of a race. however, they decided to pull the plug over a mountain of unpaid bills. >> i was very clear. restructure, recapitalize, sell, but they need to pay their debts he so we can move forward. >> i know they owe money to paul and vendors, but when they owe money to the tax man, they are in trouble. . despite all of that, some

are optimistic the problem can be resolved. >> i want to make sure taxes are paid. we don't want to have to do this every year. >> reporter: jay davidson stepped down amid-the controversial. now, a group of investors reportedly, trying to clean up the mess as indy car warns the 2012 schedule is subject to change. >> >> city and race organizers have a five-year contract. but the mayor said she will cancel it if the bills are not paid for december 31st. that's a few days away. >> if the race were to go on, it would take place over labor day weekend. another calm and clear early winter evening. take a look outside enjoying the mild conditions. changes, i'm told, are on the way. meteorologist bernadette woods is live with a look at our forecast. >> >> we have a gorgeous evening out there. a lot of people still out enjoying the festivities.

we have more to come this upcoming weekend. before we get to that. nothing on in our area the next storm is really not that far away. it's moving pretty quickly. what we expect. clouds will come in tonight and as we head into the day, tomorrow, the rain will pick up. it will become heavy at times as we head through the afternoon. this is a quick mover and it changes our weather pattern. we'll have that coming up. >> >> ravens score big against the browns, making the division title that much closer. joining us with reaction from the fans and the team, here's sam. >> reporter: ravens control their own fate when it comes to the playoffs, all they have to do is win, they are guaranteed a number two seed, a buy and playoffs. .

>> ravens started out strong against the browns, webb, picking off seneca wallace. quickly marched down the field. following the field goal, it looked like the ravens would blow the browns out, but hit runningback, ray rice -- >> browns did not go away. once again, the ravens had a major hick cup on special teams. here's raven coach harbaugh today. >> it wasn't one of the better ones we have had, so many times, ray has helped us out

with the punt. the coverage has to help the punt. he didn't do it. it split us down the middle of coverage. it shouldn't happen. >> the biggest concern, it's an away game. their record on the away games has not been so great. >> i think they will do awesome. i don't think we have anything to worry about. go ravens. >> most importantly, the players know what it means to the fans to get a home playoff game at least one and i think they will do whatever they have to to bring it home to us. really no concerns on my end. >> keep in mind if the bengals win, they earn the last afc wild card with major playoff implications for both teams. the has moved the ravens game from 1:00 p.m. next sunday to 4:00 p.m. coming up. more from coach john harbaugh.

>> >> don't forget, the only place you with watch the ravens wrap up the regular season right here. watch the ravens an the bengals still to come, tragedy on christmas, a fire kills three young girls and their grandparents, find out how their mother survived. > >> this girl survived being hit by a truck. >> >> a coma patient wakes up just before being taken off life support. . your first warning weather forecast is coming up. . ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

>> a suicide bombing in iraq. raising concerns about the future of the country now that u.s. troops have withdrawn. dr. >> a car bomb exploded near the iraqi interior ministry. seven people died and dozens were injured. five police officers stationed at a security checkpoint were among those killed. no one has claimed responsibility are but suicide bombings are a frequent tactic that the group al-qaida in iraq has. the attack follows a series of coordinated blasts in baghdad last thursday that killed more than 60 people. the uptick in violence began

days after the full withdrawal of the u.s. troops in iraq a little more than a week ago. the white house said it has no intention of sending troops back into the country. iraq is in the middle of a political crisis. last week, the shiite prime minister ordered the arrest of the face's suni vice president, accusing him of running death squads against officials. he has denied the charges, saying they are politically motivated. "wjz" "eyewitness news." >> >> also today, a roadside bomb hit a passing army patrol west of baghdad killing two soldiers and injuring two others. >> >> an accident victim pulled to safety, emergency rushed to the scene. it happened when a truck and a car collided head on in cold spring lane and green spring the accident is under

investigation. >> >> a maryland trucking company is in a financial mess. the insurer for the mts transport said its $1 million policy won't be enough to cover roughly 1,000 claims for damaged vehicles. the goo damaged tires and engines of cars that drove through it earlier this month. mts transport is suing another insurer to cover the damage. >> >> a university of arizona student recovering after waking up from a coma. in tonight's "healthwatch." doctors can't explain this. >> this is reason for the christmas story. >> reporter: doctors point to 21-year-old sam schmidd as a medical miracle.ent an october car crash in tucson left him with what was thought to be a deadly brain injury. he was hours from being taken

off life support when he started to come to. one week after his deep coma. >> from him to be walking in here a couple of months later from such a deep coma, we give him minimal chances for survivor. >> reporter: hours before, schmidd's family started to begin to speak with doctors about donating his organs. but his britain surgeon wanted to keep keep him on him on life support a little longer. >> he he came to he me and said "let's keep him on a little longer." and i never looked back. >> the odds of him making it were very slim. there is no no question about it, in medicine, we see things are a exceptions to the rule. he was one. >> reporter: the hardest part,

doctors say, of the recovery may be what is to come. for now, the family is happy just spending christmas together. in los angeles, "wjz" "eyewitness news." >> >> and sam is continuing his treatment at the neurological institute in fee nick. >> phenomenal story, isn't it? . some of us like to see warm temperatures. >> it's beautiful out there. a beautiful weekend. we are still sitting in the 40s outside. 42 #-dz. partly cloudy skies. clouds start to move our way that's because there is a storm on the way. we'll have that forecast, when we come back. . "wjz" viewers remain in the holiday spirit. here are some of the pictures you have sent us, go to "wjz."

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>> aces the southern past passes by the gulf, it will pick up a lot of moisture and move it in our direction. at the same time. there is colder air behind the northern part of the storm. rain will pick up tomorrow as

it does we will have heavier rain during the mid-day and afternoon hours the storm will quickly get out of here on wednesday, when that happens, winds will pick up, but this time again to the northwest. that will bring in a new round of colder air, but even though it's colder, we are that closer to our averages in the low 40s. the forecast is like this on the water, southeast winds picking up. 15-20 knots. we do see small craft advisories in effect during the day and probably again on wednesday. tonight, here comes clouds, thickening up as we head through the overnight hours. 31 for the low. tomorrow, the rain arrives. a mild day of 50 degrees and then we start to cool down for the second half of the week, but nothing all that extreme as we are just in the low 40s for a couple of days, back up close to 50 by the end of the five- day forecast. >> >> make sure you watch the

"wjz" new year's eve special with complete coverage of the fireworks live at baltimore's inner harbor. you can see them all starting at 11:00 saturday night. >> >> still to come on "wjz" "eyewitness news." >> it probably has not been a worst christmas day in the city of stanford. >> >> flames claim the lives of five in connecticut. tonight, investigators look for what sparked the blaze. >> >> a life-saving treatment. how a specially designed treatment is giving a special gift of life. >> >> how shoppers are cashing in after the holiday -- . ,,,,,,,,,,

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it is 6:26, 40 degrees, partly cloudy, good evening, everyone, thanks for staying with "wjz" here are some of the stories people are talking about. flames tor apart a home on christmas. now, five people are dead, including two young girls. the girl's mother screamed for help, but it was too late. >> crews tor down a connecticut home where three young children

and their grandparents died on christmas morning. cell phone video shows how flames quickly spread >> attempted rescues within the structure, pushed back by intense flame and heat. >> reporter: the fire gutted the victorian style home that sits along the long island sound. a well-known executive escaped. but badger's threadiers and her parents could not get out. her father died in the fire hours after spending christmas eve working as santa claus at sak's fifth avenue in new york city. >> it's a tragedy. you hope that everybody could have gotten out at least he so they would be alive to enjoy another christmas. >> >> reporter: monday neighbors dropped off flowers, while investigators worked to figure out what sparked the deadly

fire. madonna badger bought the house just a year ago. >> >> bombings ripped through five churches killing dozens in nigeria. the explosion targeted worshipers who just celebrated christmas mass. a radical muslim sect taking responsibility. authorities caught at least one man who they say was armed with a bomb that never went off. >> >> >> reporter: the republican candidates will be shaking as many hands in iowa as they can this week. >> thank you, thank you for being here. >> reporter: the state holds its caucuses january 3rd. that means gop presidential hopefuls will be in full campaign mode until then. ron paul has been performing well in the iowa polls and has a strong base of loyal

supporters there that could help deliver a win next week, but there are still many undecided republicans and other candidates are looking to grab their votes. use, newt gingrich launched a 40 city bus tour. mitt romny has a bus tour of his own and is airing a new ad in iowa. >> i'm go organize do something to government, make it simpler, smaller -- >> michelle bachman, no intentions of slowing down. the winner in iowa will likely get a boost in donations and that candidate will need it. president obama is on track to raise about $200 million by year's end and $750 million before election day. the only republican candidate not campaigns in iowa is john huntsman. he he is concentrating all of his efforts in new hampshire. but he is far behind in the

poll. new hampshire holds its primary week after iowa. a lot could change between now and then. >> >> a recent study in "usa today" shows more americans are registering as independents instead of republicans or democrats. demographic that helped president obama win the white house. >> >> underground hacking group hits a security group. the hacker group anonymous began the promised week of christmas hacks by stealing e- mails and credit card data from stratford and texas based security businesses. among the company's private plans, information anonymous said it has access, u.s. army, u. s.airir force and the miami police department. >> >> caught red handed, police catch a thief allegedly trying to steal from an annapolis dealership. they broke into the lot early

yesterday morning and allegedly used bolt cutters to take the catalytic converters in two vehicles. johnson was apprehended trying to escape. police are looking for the suspect. >> >> school suspensions are skyrocketing in baltimore county. school officials say one in every 10 students suspended at some point in the last school year. the county's suspension rate was the highest of any maryland district with a total of 10 thundershower students suspended they were for being disrespectful and causing commotion. >> >> this is the biggest day for returns and exchanges. michelle reports with more. >> reporter: this year as christmas was a little brighter for the nation's retailers as holiday sales were up 3-point% over a year earlier according to the national retail federation, but it wasn't all good news. as an lives say sales were

driven by heavy discounting. >> a lot of the stores are cutting prices this year. i don't know, maybe it's just me. >> reporter: final sales were expected to hit $469 billion nationwide. >> great deals and a lot of people out shopping. it has been a spectacular holiday shopping season. >> reporter: one in high demand, nike's retro air jordan sneakers went for $180 a pair. in north carolina. security guards called in local police to break up angry crowds. in indianapolis, shoppers could not wait for an early opening and breck down the door to get in. in seattle, police pepper sprayed the crowd. one reason for the shoes he demand the expected profit to be made online. if you are heading out to the malls today, expect unusually large crowds.

gift cards fuel a lot of the day after shopping. it used to be primarily returns, but returns are coming. consumers are expected to bring back $46 billion worth of gifts this week. that's 10% of all holiday sales. >> a go to gift for people that hard to shop for, but a huge number of gift cards are never used. a survey from the national retail federation found $41 billion worth of gift cards have gone unused from 2005 to this year. it hasn't stopped people from buying them. 81% of shoppers say they have handed out gift cards this

holiday season. still to come, run over pie a vehicle carrying cars. how strangers helped to save a young girl's life. >> >> the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning and how to treat it. i'm sandra hughes in washington and i'll have that story coming up. >> >> i'm bernadette woods in for bob turk. we are putting together an exclusive forecast that takes us towards the new year. we'll have that when we return. . ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

a girl hit are suffered serious injury, a group of street cleaners came to her rescue. the driver is in custody. >> >> large waves pound thailand.

evacuation orders were issued in several fishing villages. the storm is expected to last a few days before conditions return to normal. >> >> a relative, dressed at santa claus killed a group of relatives and then turned the gun on himself. >> >> reporter: it's christmas, merriment of the holidays overshadowed by those who live he at the ling convillage apartments. >> there hasn't been he any crime in this complex that they know of, to hear something like this is shocking. >> grapevine police say the bodies of seven people were found shot to death inside of this apartment unit. investigators say the victims include four women and three men and range in age from 18 to early 60s. police believe they are related, but can't elaborate on the extent of their ties.

a 9-1-1 call lead officers to the gruesome discovery. >> >> reporter: investigators say it appeared the family just celebrated the holiday. unwrapped pack ans were found as were two handguns. still unclear what lead toed deadly shootings, but police do believe the gunman is dead. nine hours later, investigators turned their attention to the vehicles parked outside of the crime scene. they believe the vehicles are related to the victims inside of the apartment, so, they are searching the vehicle.

>> reporter: a christmas tragedy that has left investigators and residents here wondering what could lead anyone to commit a heinous crime on such a special holiday. the company that makes infamil said their product is safe. tests conducted on samples found no presence of the bacteria blamed for the death of a missouri baby. the death caused some of the nation's biggest retailers to pull it from shelves last week. concerns over carbon monoxide poisoning always rise at this time of the year, sandra hughes reports.

when nikkei came home for college break last year, she stayed in her parents guest house. >> i knew it would be freezing. i called my mom and said "mom turn on the room heater." >> reporter: that was a mistake that almost killed her. the wall heater was clogged with leaves, filling the air with carbon monoxide. her mom found her the next morning. >> i went to her bed and shook her and called her, and there was no answer. >> reporter: the odorless, colorless gas left nikkei in a coma. >> we were afraid this was totally irreversible. >> her only hope, the hype become aric chamber. when they are using the chamber, they are wearing this hood breathing pure oxygen. the tank is taken to the level of 66 feet below sea level. the pressure forces more oxygen in and carbon monoxide out. doctors used hypothermia to try

to protect her brain. >> we put her brain in a state of animated suspension. >> reporter: experts warn get your heating unit checked annually, have a carbon monoxide detector and change the battery regularly. don't idle your car in a garage. nicki was lucky >> i can do everything i did before. >> reporter: and back at college, she is telling everyone she knows about the dangers of carbon monoxide. >> reporter: experts say they are not as reliable as smoke he detectors. >> >> 100 million shoppers will cram into stores. we'll look at why the event will give the economy a jump start in 2012. that's ,,

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from investments... to life insurance... to health care options. learn more with our free usaa retirement guide. >> let's take a live look at this mild december night. our meteorologist, bernadette woods has the

forecast. >> >> here's the forecast for tomorrow. clouds come in, rain arrives during the day and pigs up later in the day, but it will be mild. we are getting close to 50 degrees for our high. the rain gets out of here wednesday. those are our averages for this time of the year as we head towards friday. we are back up into the 50s, chance for a couple of showers friday into saturday. actor richard gere scores an award for his good deeds. >> reporter: actor robert de niro and his wife grace high tower the proud parents of a new baby. named helen grace, born through a surrogate mother friday. she's the couple's second child, but de niro's sixth. he is 6 years old. >> >> actor richard gere, being

honored for his contribution to musics and as a humanitarian. the 62-year-old actor has appeared in more than 40 movies and founded the gere foundation. >> angelina jolie's directorial debut about the bosnian war is leaving war survivors stunned. they are packing into theaters to see "in the land of blood and honey." says its incredibly realistic, almost too hard to watch. >> reporter: the film opened in the u.s. friday. it has been nominated for a golden globe for the best foreign language film. the trailer for the hunger dames is already out and now there is a new song for the movie sound track entitled "safe and sound." singer taylor swift released the sound over the weekend.

>> >> hunger games, based on the best selling book trilogy is due in theaters -- . ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

i sweated the details. all the phone calls, the emails, the lost weekends. and then after twenty-two years, just like that, i was laid off. today there are so many americans like matthew. he worked hard and played by the rules. suddenly, he's out of a job. it's been a struggle not being able to find a job. but it's been our faith and family and friends that have helped us get through this. citizens energy was created to help the forgotten ones keep warm. we asked the big oil companies and oil producing nations to help. only citgo and the people of venezuela answered the call. and this year, in spite of soaring prices, washington actually cut fuel assistance for families in need. so if you need help staying warm this winter give me a call. because in times like these, no one

should be left out in the cold. what are the ravens thinking about more than anything? >> winning. >> injury, a he key concern among others for the ravens, whose main concern is taking care of business against cincinnati on sunday. involving a player that seems to be snake bitten with injuries. second year kick returner david green said i was making a cut in this only kick return when my knee you can aboutled. david green, today, placed on

injured reserve. then he injured his shoulder and suffered three kick returns in salt and now ir. kickoff average last season as a rookie. relatively speaking, sunday's game in cincinnati will be like a playoff atmosphere, i assume with major playoff implications. the bengals need to win to clench the last afc wild card. the coach explained what it would do if the birds win. >> we would be the division champs, that's the opportunity we have. if you go in to win all of the games in your division, probably going to be pretty good at the end of the year, no matter what happens. >> don't forget, folks, the only place you can watch the ravens wrapup of the regular season, right here on "wjz" watch the ravens/bengals sunday at 4:00 p.m. >> five touchdowns for the

packerses aaron rogers as green bay 35-21, now green bay has the top seed in the nfc between a first round buy and home field advantage throughout as long as they keep winning. >> >> switching to the nba. season opener, 6 6-game season it will be. los angeles lakers. baseline drive and dunk, lakers looking pretty good, but it was reining mvp derrick rose who hit that with under five seconds left and the bulls won- 7. >> >> mark jackson had to watch chris paul go one for six and finished up with 20 points. the newest los angeles clippers, clippers beat the warriors. >> >> kevin durant, oklahoma city beat orlando and baltimore native carmelo anthony threw down for 37 as the knicks beat the celtics. >> >> lebron james, at 37, look at

this. to wade who had 21. heat getting revenge from losing last year's nba finals to dallas. they win 105-94. >> >> and finally, here's the newest ap, men's college basketball top five. syracuse, ohio state, kentucky, louisville, then the tarheels of north carolina and on the prettier side, baylor, connecticut, notre dame, stanford and look who is number five, the terapins. see you begin tonight at 11:00. >> thank you, stay with us, wish. . ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

don't miss ton's prime time cbs lineup. hawaii 5-an then stay tuned for "eyewitness news" at 11:00. >> >> beachgoers offer up something special, making this menora on laguna beach.

in celebration. a performance by israeli singer dusty levy and arts and crafts for children. >> >> a baby gives president obama quite the surprise during a photo op. he was posing for a picture and the child stuck his fingers in his mouth. obama's visit military families on christmas day. that's it for us tonight. we'll be back at 11:00. >> for everyone on the team, i'm vic carter,

are they robin hood hackers? thieves who stole thousands of credit card accounts. and an unlikely holiday tradition, the land of the rising sun, they all rise for beethoven. captioning sponsored by cbs this is the "cbs evening news" with scott pelley. >> glor: good evening, everyone. i'm jeff glor. scott's off tonight. you may not think we need another fancy name for a holiday shopping day but retailers think we do. megamonday joins other bonanzas like black friday and cyber monday. may sound like a gimmick, but mo