. >> fire department chief is having to look at continuing to rotating closures closing three fire companies permanently and laying off 90 firefighters. a move she says will save money but cost lives. response times will rise. fire deaths will jump, too. >> people need to understand this is significant. it is the worse budget process i have been through in my career. 25 years. it is a big deal. >> reporter: the picture is just as bleak down the block at

police headquarters where the department is look at grounding foxtrot, dismantling marine unit on top of eliminating 200 positions to make a slimmer budget. >> it is just the reality of the budget situation. people really need to understand what $50 million means. >> reporter: what it is is your safety in a fire or crime. both chiefs saying you'll most likely be at more risk if these cuts go through. mayor's office saying police and fire got the small e.g. of the change. major stephanie rawlings blake says the cuts could be set all by new revenue streams. ideas which will be released at a later date. brian keebler abc 2 news. baltimore's city council president jack young says she's concerned about children not having a safe place to play.

>> i don't want to see public safety compromised atall. i look at parks as part of the crime fighting effort as well. to close 29 reck centers is unacceptable. i look at it as part of a crime-fighting initiative along with the fire department and police department. >> the mayor says she's work with city council on a budget plan to restore these critical services. that plan should be released by april 12th. maryland senate has given initial approval to the state's $13 million budget. the state give preliminary approval to a bill that made $120 million in cuts to the governor's budget proposal. now the budget moves on to the house. all new at 5:00, our sister

station in washington, d.c. is reporting the former governor robert erlich is planning to run for governor again. a source says he'll formally announce his bid wednesday april 7th in rock as a result followed by an event at his childhood home. he was elected governor in 2002 becoming the first republican chief executive in a generation. he lost 2006 re-election bid to martin o'malley. now the lates on the light rail crash in hunt valley. baltimore county police say the crash between the train and tractor trailer was caused when the truck driver drove into the train's path at a signaled crossing. police tell us charges are pending against the truck driver. the train operator remains in the hospital in serious condition tonight. two passengers on the light rail suffered minor injuries. jury selection started today in a five arms possession

trial of twin brothers accused of setting a pit bull on fire last may. the 18-year-olds of were charged in june. drugs and weapons were found during a raid of their south home. prosecutors plan to handle firearm case before the animal cruelty charges. they pleaded not guilty in december to burning the dog named phoenix. a baltimore police officer is accused of scamming the department out of reward money. he is accused of arranging a $10,000 payment to a confidential informant and keeping the money. prosecutors say he made $3500. he is accused of stealing a diamond watch valued at $1,000. democrats say today they have basking in the blow of the healthcare reform law. this is the first day of the law they promised will change america forever. republicans say that's what

they are afraid of. they are nipping at heels of a new measure as it heads to the senate for fine tuning. >> reporter: to democrats the celebration continues. as a result of what happened 11:52 yesterday morning in the east room of the white house, america has been changed forever. now may plan to pass a second healthcare reform bill but not republicans toss in every roadblock they can. most in the form of amendments. >> this amendment will prohibit prescriptions for recreational drugs for rapist and child molesters. >> reporter: judd greg has one that plows medicare into medicare. many want to gut employees whose workers get tax prayers subsidies. none has much of a chance, a fact that annoys democrats. >> how serious can they be

offering an amendment dealing with viagra for rapist? this isn't serious there were house passed the second bill, alist of fixes to new healthcare reform law. senate leaders want to pass it unchanged to send it direct all to the president. in state capitals more than a dozen lawsuits challenging the law moved aheading or arguing the government has no right requiring americans to buy insurance. >> it is a proper roll that government mandates that citizens buy certain products. >> reporter: a new u.s.a. today poll found most americans favor healthcare overhaul. those polls considered the new law a good thing. abc news washington. no decision tonight on an $800 million contract for maryland to buy 15,000 slot machines. board of public works delayed a vote today after the comptroller criticized the contract with nine companies

because there is no money allocated for the contract. the comptroller pointed out only two of five potential slot machine locations are set to be operational this year. they would only need 2200 machines between the both of them. he also said that it is unclear when the state would need the full 15,000 machines. if you want to talk on a cell phone while driving you have to use hand-free devices under legislation approved with i the maryland senate. drivers can only use their hands to turn a phone on and off. they won't be allowed to hold a cell phone during the conversation. drivers could be fined up to $40 more a violation. measure goes on to the house of delegates. on our facebook we asked if you think the fine is big enough. dorothy posted i hope so. especially considering the near misses i had. with people on the wrong side of the road. >> if you want to share your

two cents log on to wmartv facebook fan page. soon your car insurance payments could be going up. house of delegates approved a bill to raise the minimal amount of auto liability insurance. drivers will be required to have $30,000 in automotive liability insurance for body harm to an individual up from the current minimum of $20,000. drivers would also need insurance that covers them for at least $60,000 for accidents where more than one person is hurt compared to the current $40,000. the bill will taking. next january. it now moves on to the senate. most maryland school districts received waivers from the state's reduced member required days the students will be in class this year thanks to all the snow. the school superintendant waived five days from the school calendar for half of the state's 24 districts. that included ann arundel

county and baltimore city. baltimore county requested to have one day remove from the calendar. harford county asked for a waiver of one day. for the days of the snow. i guess we don't miss that at all. sunshine out there today. beautiful spring forecast. we'll keep this going for another 24-hours then things cool off a lot. let's look across maryland now. things are all clear in baltimore. few high clouds moving in western maryland. no threat for rain with those. maryland's radar all clear. 65 degrees right now out of bwi marshall. warmer than that downtown. we find 72 degrees down toward kulpeper, virginia. mighty nice afternoon. this evening low 60s. few clouds. breezy and mild. we'll talk much more about the outlook for the next couple of days here. big swing in the temperatures coming our way. get ready for that. >> thank you. when it comes to our health

we want to live a long and healthy life. we'll tell you about the results investigating end of life ex planning.

a 20-year-old woman claims ben rothlesberger sexually assaulted her in a georgia night club earlier this month. he has not been charged. in raleigh, north carolina a fire affect more than a dundalk people. firefighters say the flames destroyed three home and damaged three more. strong winds made the fire tough to fight and enabled it to jump to neighboring home. no one was hurt. get ready to be inspired. this year's extreme workover has started. 12 contestants are pumped up. as always you can win thousands of dollar . ask any participants and they'll the

you it is not about the money. magan pringle introduces us to the contestants. >> reporter: this where the contestants and trainerrest get on the scale and start to change their lives. this is third makeover. this year there is a twist. they compete in pairs like husband and wife. >> i'm going to keep an eye on her and she'll keep an eye on me making sure we are staying focused, dedicated and committed to the task at hand. >> reporter: or this team. >> we like to try a different way of loosing weight. i have hit many brick walls. >> reporter: researchers prove people are more likely to stick with a phytons lifestyle program 38% if they do it with a co-worker, friend or buddy. >> reporter: since they are doing it in pairs this year it

was a huge incentive for these two roommates. >> i have someone to go with me. i do good if i have someone with me. >> reporter: there are high school girlfriends. >> we are going to win. >> this is something that i want. this is the greatest opportunity we could ask for. we have to at least try out and give it a shot. >> reporter: you have these cousins. >> he is the holdest in the family. i think he'll push me. he's always been the bulk of the family. >> reporter: gilbert says it is his three daughter that are the boss of him. that's why he's here. >> not happy with the way i am. i'm doing this for my daughters. my expectations will be to loose weight. but to change my about habits and lifestyle. >> reporter: it was family that brought bill reilly here. they are the ones that said it is time do something.

>> they cornered me and gave me an intervention and poured their hearts out. >> reporter: we got his high school buddy and here they are. >> it will be kinds of a reminder of some of the days we played football together. back in the day. >> reporter: now they have had their picture taken they are weighed in and it is time to get moving. get results that they are hoping for. perhaps terry sums it up best. >> she wants to go for different reasons. i want health too. i want to be fly at 40. this is my second life. >> reporter: magan pringle abc 2. >> the couple that looses the most weight wins. you'll be able to follow the extreme makeover at abc2news.com/brick bodies. today would have been an excel excel -- excellent day to

work outside. >> i saw people jogging on my way into work. a decent day tomorrow. a few more clouds. we'll do downhill temperature wise. take a look at the inner harbor. water temperatures chilly. last check we were in the upper 40s. maybe getting close to 50 in the inner harbor. you wouldn't want to go for a swim yet. 65 the air temperature at bwi marshall. it has been windy today. winds west at 14. that continues into the evening here. we'll stay breezy. different view from the maryland science center. a terrific evening after what was a nice, nice warmup out there today. from the inner harbor this afternoon you can see nothing but blue sky and a few thin clouds move in very late in the

day. for the most part things were fantastic weather wise. gusty and breezy. not bad. warm, mild breeze. 26 wind gusts at the top of the hour at bwi marshall. winds 21 on the eastern shore. temperature wise this afternoon fantastic. 65 baltimore. nearly 70 down in washington. 70 charlottesville, virginia. maryland's most powerful radar is all clear. expecting it to continued to be clear over the next 24-hours. probably rain tomorrow evening into friday. already seeing clouds moving into west virginia and far western maryland. nothing here yet. we are still clear for the most part. there is a chance for rain coming in late tomorrow thanks to this storm system toward iowa. rain coming in as close as chicago. it is going to be a system moving in quickly. it will change our

temperatures. look how warm south and east. mid 70s today charlotte south. we'll see that again tomorrow and big time shot of cool air for the weekend. tonight 40 degrees. partly cloudy. seasonably cool. into the day tomorrow we'll see increasing clouds through the day. a dry-looking day. no trouble for the morning commute. we'll probably squeeze in the evening commute with 67 degrees and clouds increasing and rain coming in tomorrow night expecting showers and breezy conditions. let's take a look at your seven- day forecast. here's how it shapes up. much cooler weather is the story into the weekend. we have a chance of rain friday. saturday, sunday looking dry and relatively sunny. temperature chilly. low 50s and 30s by night. we get a rebound toward next week temperature wise. >> thank you. listen up parents, more than a million popular baby carriers are being recalled tonight. we know it is important for kids to get exercise. now the state wants to make

sure your kids getting more physical in school. we'll explain. okay, let's do this...

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here's a look at what's coming up at 5:30. decade's old murder is solved. finally, the five teens who vanished in 1978 are getting closure. two sisters are in a bitter battle over a lottery ticket. are you ready for the summer vacation? we are helping you out tonight with summer travel deals. those stories and another check on the weather coming up at 5:30 5:30. .

new research finds being prepared to face tough decisions when the time comes improves the quality of life when life grows short. >> reporter: a new study shows end of life planning may reduce patient care and reduce stress on surviving family members. trial involved 300 patients over the age of 80 admitted the hospital in august 2007 and march 2008. the study followed the patient's for six months or less than that if they died during the trial period. half of the participants received usual care. other group was assigned non- mad call surragate. these elderly patients were able to discuss and dictate medical preferences involving

their end of life care. patient satisfaction increased when wishes were determined in advance, documented and followed. researchers studied whether or not outside facilitator increased patient care. in addition having medical decisions made in advance appeared to reduce stress, anxiety and depression rates among the patient's family members. i'm dr. timothy johnson. also, in tonight's health alert, as we age we all begin a war with our weight. new study shows for normal weight middle-aged women and older women who eat a regular diet 60 minutes of daily exercise is recommended to maintain the weight. overweight or obese women need to exercise more than 0660 minutes day to not gain more weight over time. walmart's prices are getting lower. which products will be rolled back coming up at 5:30.

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tonight the push is on to get more kids more active at school. we are not just talking at their minds. we are talking at their body, too. good evening. i'm kelly swoop. putting gym class back in the curriculum is the push in annapolis. don harrison went to the elementary school to see how important this class is when it comes to keeping our kids fit. >> if you don't get enough exercise you need to loose some weight. >> reporter: that's exactly why some maryland legislators want to mandate some rules for physical education in maryland