takers threatening to employee up the aircraft if they were not allowed to talk to the president of mexico. the passengers have since been released and the crew. it's three bolivian men who are in custody. we don't know if they gave themselves up after freeing the hostages. we also don't know at this point if there were americans on the flight. again, it was from cancun to mexico city, forced to land, all the hostages have been released and the suspects are in custody. reporting live from the breaking news center, terry owens, abc2 news. of all things to steal, four young men accused of stealing cal ripken's number 8 sculpture from its place in front of camden yards. roosevelt leftwich has more on this heist and how police caught the thieves. >> reporter: was it a bet or a case of way too much alcohol? what ever it was, something

possessed them to steal the 8, a great big aluminum 8 filled with sand, cal ripken's to be precise. >> i heard about it on the radio. could be a pittsburgh steelers fan coming in in the middle of the night and disturbing the stadium. >> they are stupid enough. >> i believe so. >> reporter: we would like to think it was a sort of rivalry thing but no. city police say it was three men from essex, one from baltimore, all in their late teens who somehow thought this was a very good idea at this time even though the cameras were rolling. >> it does show the four males kicking the sign in an attempt to steal it. >> reporter: police won't release the tape because they will probably use it to put these men under the jail. the four might have gotten away with it too but like stealing the 8 in the first place they did another silly selfish thing. >> shortly after the call we received a call for a disorderly in the 3,000 block of lombard street.

four intoxicated white males fighting with each other. officers arrived and found the giant number 8 statue in the back of the pickup truck. >> what the - >> reporter: that's the million-dollar question. the 8 has been here since 2001 to honor the retirement. it's made some folks kind of mad. >> it's disrespectful. he's done so much for the city, for the game of baseball. it's disrespectful. they are supposed to be here nor everybody to see. >> reporter: the police haven't been able to place an exact dollar value, it is a piece of aluminum after all but the value to plans who are a great player, it will always be priceless. roosevelt leftwich, abc2 news. >> the four suspects identified as 19-year-old matthew rainer and jason stoneburner, 18-year-old patrick reynolds, from essex, gary parker from baltimore. they all four face theflt and vand lift charges. what do you think should happen to the four suspects?

nothing? it was a harmless prank? a lifetime ban from camden yards? or 2,632 hours of community service. that of course is one hour for each consecutive game played by cal. weigh in on the poll by going to abc2news.com. there's always room for your two cents on the righthand side of the home page. baltimore county police need your help finding a robbery suspect. police believe this man robbed a giant food store in the 3600 block of milford mill road in pikesville. it happened august 16th. police say the suspect walked into the store, got in line, walked up to the counter armed with a handgun and demanded money. if you have information about the crime you're asked to call metro crime stoppers at loch stop -- 1-866-7-lockup. according to "the washington times" one of three men charged with a gang rape of three women in baltimore is the son of the newly appointed nigerian ambassador to the u.s. police say back in july the

three threatened two girls with a knife and allegedly raped them in the parking lot of seton kiel high school in southwest baltimore. police say a second attack happened much like the first, early in the morning on august 8th. all three suspects are charged with rape including include -- the son of the nigerian ambassador. officers were called to the 1,600 block of meadowwood court 8:30 last night for report of a fight. >> investigation has led us to understand there was a struggle outside of the homes, in the court. and when deputies arrived mr. harriett was in his neighbor's home and they were calling 911. he was bleeding. >> 33-year-old jerry harriett is in critical condition at hopkins bayview tonight. the suspect, curtis myers arrested this afternoon, charged with attempted first degree and second degree murder and assault. another animal abuse case. this time a kitten is the

victim. according to people from bark the witness saw a few boys holding the small kitten by its tail, swinging it in the air and hitting its head on the ground. the witness took the kitten from the boys, another woman brought it straight to barks which people there say was the right thing to do. >> if you have children that are doing this kind of cruelty and this kind of violence, they go in to do violence towards people also. it's a known fact. children like this need to have help. they need to be caught. they need to be helped in some way. with their violent behavior. >> the kitten, now named miracle has a broken jaw and will need surgery. anne arundel county executive john leopold says he supports the arrest of a pasadena woman and her son for animal abuse and me flect. janet taylor and her son jeffrey taylor are charged with 42 counts of animal cruelty. last month animal control rescued 21 dogs

>> their home. it was in terrible condition and was condemned. one of the dogs had to be put down. the other ones are being treated at animal control until they are healthy enough to be adopted. maryland medevac officials say they are taking steps to improve safety and upgrady equipment after a deadly crash last year. major a.j. mcandrew told members of the general assembly that the state police aviation command improved recordkeeping and addressing personnel issues. it comes weeks before the anniversary of the medevac crash. mcandrew says the command has improved safety features on its 11 helicopter fleet with terrain awareness systems. they also provide realty weather updates, floatable rescue baskets and electronic locator transmitters that emit a signal after a crash. baltimore mayor sheila dixon talked today about her lawyer's latest action in the state's case against her. her attorneys filed a motion to dismiss the latest indictment. her lawyers claim state

prosecutors made the same errors that caused the first indictments to be dismissed saying they left out important allegations from the new indictment. dixon's lawyers also say the underlying ethics code is vague. >> all i can say is that, you know, we're moving forward. i'm very focused on moving the city forward and my attorneys are doing the best, for the best interest of me. >> she's charged with stealing gift cards meant for the needy and using them to buy clothing and electronics for herself. the latest now on the fight against the spread of the swine flu. the government's fight has gone virtual creating web casts for parents and child care providers on ways to reduce the spread of the flu. health officials learned the h1n1 or swine flu is usually mild and most people do not need treatment. the cdc wants to avoid a shortage of anti-virals but asking many doctors to give prescriptions ahead of time to patients who are in a high-risk

group. >> if you're a young child, if you're pregnant, if you're elderly or if you have underlying medical conditions then seeing your doctor and starting treatment early is very important. >> the swine flu vaccine is currently undergoing clinical trials. the first 40 million doses or so should be available by mid-october. president obama speaks to a joint session of congress and the nation in less than three hours. as he launches a new pitch for health care reform. white house officials say the president will again make the case for a public insurance plan but won't insist on it. he's invited a baltimore woman to sit with his wife during the speech. 49-year-old darlene daniels is struggling to overcome a disease that is attacking all of her major organs. and treatment costs tens of thousands of dollars a year. you can watch the president's speech tonight here on abc2 beginning at 8: 00. another day across our area of scattered showers, maryland's most powerful

doppler radar has been tracking that over the past couple of hours. you can see the shower activity making its way through portions of harford county, northern baltimore county and also on the eastern shore. the majority of the heavy rainfall is up in pennsylvania but as we go through the next 36 hours quite a bit of rain is expected throughout the maryland area. here's your forecast right now, or the conditions now, sparrows point high school, 69 degrees with a high today of 68. for the next couple of hours, looking for mostly cloudy skies, a few scattered showers will be in the 70s. tomorrow, mostly rainy. we'll tell you about it coming up. >> i know you'll miss seeing them on harbor cam, i'llle miss the clacking downtown. you can't ride the ducks in baltimore anymore. we're talking about the amphibious siteseeing vehicles known as ride the ducks. the company says its baltimore operation was its most challenging and has decided to concentrate on other cities. the company didn't think it could make enough money here to invest in upgrading its fleet. the vehicles drove through downtown before entering the

water for a harbor tour. they are based on a world war ii design. they stopped operating yesterday. hands off my baby. the new line of warning gear one couple created to keep strangers from spreading their possible swine flu germs to their adorable triplets. if you want to fly to boston from baltimore now you have a new airline to choose from. i'm kelly swoope. i'll tell you who is expanding and why. coming up. you too can now be part of the fab four. we'll take a look. rogaine?

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a lot of people have been thinking about the number nine today. more than four decades ago four young men from england blasted on to the music scene sweeping the world with beatle mania. now they are looking for a new

generation of fans with the help of tech savvy video gamers. >> reporter: if you love beatle mania one, you'll love abet -- beatle maina two, remastered to sound better than ever. >> will you buy this? >> for sure. it's the beatles. >> reporter: wait, there's more. on the same day as the album's release the beatles lend their music and likeness to a video game, the beatles rock band. qqthe game is going to be selling for $1250 on playstation -- $250 on playstation 3, x box, wii. >> reporter: rock band like its competition guitar hero is huge in the gaming world. this interactive version will actually let you be part of the band allowing you to play along with the beatles' actual recordings. >> even the visuals and what you see live, what is going on, kind of plays tricks with your eyes a little bit, though.

i was like, ok, concentrate. it's so much fun. you really get into the songs. especially the drums because you get to hit. >> reporter: unlike other games where there's only one singer with rock band you can have three. the gamemakers say will put you on stage with john, paul, george and ringo and in the recording studio. and in dream scaips that bring their psychedelic industry to life. >> it brings music history to life by featuring never before studio chat from john, paul, george and ringo. >> reporter: this is leslie miller reporting for abc news. also today apple ceo steve jobs got a standing ovation in his first public appearance in months. he took the stage in san francisco where he introduced the new i-tunes 9. jobs received a liver transplant in the spring and thanked everyone for their support. he received the liver from a 20-year-old who died in a car accident and urged the crowd to become organ donors.

a mixed day across the area today but look at our live camera shot from downtown. that is a catama ran docked in the inner harbor. beautiful ship. our temperature now at bwi marshall 71 degrees. 66% humidity. wind currently from the northeast at 10. pressure rising 30.14. there are your tides tomorrow at fort mchenry tunnel. tomorrow's going to be a bit on the breezy side from the north at 15 to 25 and some gusts higher than that. sun coming up at 6:43. sets 7:22. a coastal flood advisory is in effect along the jersey, delaware and maryland coastline. we have a dpeal warning also in effect -- gale warning also in effect, as the area of low pressure gradually climbs along the eastern seaboard. 80 hagerstown. 70 york. 69 pax river.

easton 66. in ocean city now, 70. throughout the day scattered showers across the region. some people have seen them, some haven't seen much of anything. as you can see there's quite a line of showers heading in our direction now. they've had rainfall up in harford and northern portions of baltimore county, all because of that area of low pressure sitting off the eastern seaboard of the united states. it's trying to move northward but keeps running into a big area of high pressure that is blocking its progress. this area of low pressure from the ohio valley and the upper atmosphere is going to kind of join forces with the system off the coast and that is going to give us a fairly rainy day tomorrow. but again some people will see heavy rain. some won't. it won't be a general rain everywhere situation. over the past couple of hours that's what maryland's most powerful doppler radar has been finding, shower activity just kind of circling around the baltimore region with heavier thunderstorms out to the west of the frederick area. no rain in the downtown area yet but we're expecting showers as the evening goes along. as far as current temperatures from storm center

weathernet, weather eldersburg, 72. kingsville and havre de grace, 68. tonight, there are the showers we're currently picking up on radar. that shower activity will gradually drift through the region. overnight sporadic showers. tomorrow more showers come back and again on friday, more shower activity. looks like things will start to clear up as we get towards the weekend. overnight, cloudy skies, scattered showers, overnight low of 62 degrees. tomorrow, one of those days, showers and storms scattered but we'll see gusty winds. a high tomorrow only 68 degrees. on the cool side. the extended outlook for the next seven days, scattered showers continue into friday, then saturday and sunday things start to clear up and then monday, tuesday, wednesday, lots of sunshine with temperatures in the low 80s. back in a while with more on the weather. "2 your health," baby boomers taking care of aging parents may need help when it

comes to making sure loved ones are staying fed. melissa long talks about a personal chef service that prepares and delivers healthy meals to seniors. >> reporter: rinson provides meals and peace of mind to baby boomers. >> they are looking for a good nutritious meal, at least one a day for their parents. >> reporter: unlike meals on wheels, this one provides those who have enough income to live independently but need cooking help. they may have lost a spouse or have health issues. he delivers to their door. >> all fresh vegetables, meats, sauces. >> reporter: client ann albino has relatives physically unable to get around in the kitchen. >> this is the perfect answer to my problem. >> reporter:rinson delivers meals to her mother and the woman who lives next door. both women in their 90s, high blood pressure. a busy work schedule left her

little time to cook. >> they are tasty but not spicy. he's very careful about using any additives like salt. >> reporter: as our population ages more and more boomers are helping to care for aging parents. for albino knowing her loved ones are getting a good meal reduces what is on her busy plate. >> buy. -- bye. enjoy the food. >> who says you can't take it with you when you die? why a man in south carolina was laid to rest in his 1973 pontiac catalina. and monkey business behind the wheel. why police say this serial speeder has resorted to wearing a mask. explain.

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abc2 news at 5:30 is coming up. i'm terry owens. news at 5:30, remembering walter cronkite.

we'll take to you a public memorial for the legendary anchorman. jetblue kicks off a new service with bargain basement prices. why you need to act fast to cash in on the savings. a warning for those of you ready to buy new electronics. abc2 news work for you so you don't waste your money. we'll have those stories, norm tells us when the sun returns, all ahead at 5:30. a look at news around the nation takes us to los angeles where a fire truck stuck in a sinkhole was removed. yesterday we told you the 22-ton truck was in a sinkhole created by a watermain break. firefighters and city workers used a giant crane to pull engine 60 out. the firefighters are responding to the break when the ground gave way. no one on board was hurt. a gas pump exploded at a florida gas station while a man was pumping gas. the man was talking on his cell phone in front of the pump when the fire happened. the man was burned on his face and hands. he was treated and released from the hospital. investigators say the man was not smoking or lighting a match

at the time of the fire. the cause is under investigation. a phoenix man is monkeying around to avoid speeding tickets. police say a monkey mask-wearing driver has triggered speed cameras dozens of times in the last few months and has a total of 37 violations. police say they think they know who the driver is, they just want him and other drivers to obey the law. monkey or not. a unique burial in south carolina. lonnie holloway reached the end of his road and was buried in his most prized possession, a 1973 pontiac catalina. >> they say you can't take it with you. >> you may not take it all the way. >> holloway was born in 1918. the 32-year veteran of the department of commerce also had his rifles and handguns buried with him. in case someone tried to steal that pontiac.

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a new airline is making it easier to get to boston from baltimore. good evening, everybody. i'm terry owens. jetblue's first flight out of baltimore took off this afternoon. southwest has a hub here and just announced new routes to boston. abc news kelly swoope tells us airline passengers may benefit from a little competition. >> you're on your way to boston, our first flight from baltimore. >> reporter: it was an inaugural celebration at bwi marshall airport today. >> one, two, three. >> yeah! >> reporter: a ribbon-cutting ceremony to commemorate jetblue's arrival in baltimore. >> we thought it was a great idea that they began at the beginning of the alphabet so once we get through this boston

start-up we can move on to say chicago. detroit. l.a. miami, orlando, seattle. >> reporter: passengers just looking for a bargain on this ninth day of the ninth month in the 2009th year found a deal. >> i showed up, all the balloons were up, i wondered what was going on. >> i think it's wonderful. >> reporter: kathleen flies to boston often and usually flies southwest. now she says we can all benefit from competitive prices. >> when i get this $19 flight, i couldn't get a flight back on that price. so along comes them with a this one - >> reporter: jetblue cco says they don't really see themselves as a competitor to the southwest airlines. >> we have a great deal of respect for our competitors, but jetblue has a very unique op