begin enacting it maryland began putting healthcare reform in place a few years ago. as jeff reports tonight many marylanders remain uncertain over how it will impact them in the future. >> reporter: just mention overhauling the nation's healthcare system here at the double tee diner in annapolis and many customers will do a double take. >> i'm thinking who will pay for it. >> will it bring down healthcare insurance rates? >> i don't know. >> reporter: it is not just the average citizen at this point. even the state of maryland doesn't know how the federal healthcare law will impact it. governor martin o'malley signed an executive order creating a council to be made up of some of the top healthcare experts in the state to plot a course for how to implement the bulk of the major provisions it calls for four years from now. it is not too early for him to

predict that maryland will profit from it. >> the law that the president signed into existance yesterday will save the state of maryland more than $1 billion over the ten-year period moving ahead. >> reporter: that's a billion dollar windfall providing healthcare to 400,000 more marylanders. the state has forms of its own covering 160,000 residents. >> right now the hospitals of uncompensated care. >> i think i can couldn't and it is going to be people like me. >> the day i don't have to pay

anymore taxes we'll throw them all out of there. >> on average state leaders say each family of four in maryland is already paying $1,000 each year to subsidize the healthcare of those who cannot afford it. the bill has been signed but the fight continues. senators are looking at a package of fixes to the just-passed healthcare reform law. president obama will sign executive order ensuring federal funding for abortion remains in place under the new law. . >> if we do nothing we face devastating cuts and bankruptcy. that's clearly unacceptable. as mayor i will not allow it. >> you heard it. the city is in a tight financial squeeze. drastic measures may be taken to offset $121 million budget deficit. today mayor stephanie rawlings

blake released a budget proposal to close the gap. it includes 600 layoffs. seven fire companies could be closed and 29 ep&recreation centers shut down. >> i didn't create this problem. but we have to solve it. this is the biggest budget reduction in 19 years. >> let's take a closer look at some of the specific areas that could fall under the budget ax. cuts will run deep in the city, police and fire department. the fire chief is looking at the permanent closure of three fire company and continuing rotating closures. plus, moving 90 firefighters positions. it is something that will save money but could cost lives because of longer response times. >> people need to understand that this is significant. it is the worse budget process

i have been through in my career. 25 years. it is a big deal. >> at police headquarters the department is looking at shut doing the mounted horse patrol and loosing the helicopter. they'll loose 200 positions. it is all all bleak. the numbers could change for the better if new revenue strings develop some of the cuts could be offset. as we mentioned the city is proposing cutting down 29 of the cities rec centers and several swimming pools. no specific locations have been announced. >> we are dismayed. we understand parks and recreation department is 2% of the overall budget. however, the cuts that are being proposed are 11%. >> the proposal will eliminate public funds for the popular preakness parade and the fourth

of july fireworks display. many day-to-day services will be put to risk under the plan. city budget direct or the andrew cline gives us an example. >> reduces animal control. cuts resurfacing in half. discontinued bulk trash pickup and reduces street sweeping and park maintenance and plants no new trees. >> a lot of numbers and figures. major stephanie rawlings blake says the $121 million budget gap is equality to the current funding of the entire police force or combined budgets for health, housing, reck nation parks and libraries. the mayor said she'll work on a budget plan to restore the critical services. this plan should be released

april 12th. to find out more about the proposed cuts log on to abc2news.com. look under links mentioned on the air. we'll connected o you to city's website. they are also crunching numbers in annapolis. maryland senate gave preliminary approval to the state's budget but cut $120 million. among the largest the fund to clean toparchies peak bay -- chesapeake bay. speaking of money board of public works postponed a cut for on $800 contract to buy up to is a,000 slot machines

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. other legislation in annapolis involving drivers. if you want to talk on a cell phone behind the wheel you'll have to use a hand's-free device. drivers can only use their hands to turn on and off the phone. in other words, you won't be allowed to hold a cell phone during a conversation. drivers could be fined $40 for violations. measures will move on to the house of delegates. most maryland school districts won't have to make up school days.

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. who wants to think about snow when you have is sun out like it is today. will the weather continue? wyatt is here with the first forecast. >> don't you miss all the big pile of snow? looking at that video brings back if memories. beautiful blue skies today. one more good one tomorrow. then things will change. not that drastically. satellite radar pictures. few clouds out of the west.

no rain. baltimore's most accurate forecast all-clear. 64 baltimore. 66 washington. 70 northern virginia. very mild afternoon. very pleasant stuff for late march. hanging out in the low 60s the rest of the evening. few clouds. quiet stuff here. tomorrow a great-looking start to the day. tomorrow night rain is back in the picture. we'll talk at a big drop in the temperatures coming up. that' all straight ahead. >> thank you. breaking news passengers aboard a southwest flight bound for baltimore. officials say the flight returns to little rock, arkansas after the crew reported a burning smell on the plane. no one was hurt. replacement plane is being used to bring the pass divorce baltimor

friends and family are remembering a comcast worker murdered over the weekend. he was inside his car on boone street in east baltimore when three people approached him and shot him. police believe it was an attempted robbery. his wife says a candle light vigil will be held outside his home at 7:00 tonight. our sister station wjla reporting former governor robert erlich is planning to run for governor again. he'll formally announce his bid wednesday april 7th followed by an event in his hometown. today he was asked thousand

debate over healthcare reform might play out in the campaign? >> i'm looking forward to the healthy exchange of ideas about the direction our state needs to take in the years ahead. these are difficult time. the only way to move into better times is to move forwad. i'm looking forward to a healthy debate. >> erlich was elect governor in 2002. he lost in 2006 to governor martin o'malley. a special alert tonight for parents with babies. first we heard the warnings. now it has turned into an actual recall. a dream date comes true for a mother courtesy of a real life jeanie. [ woman ] with my diabetes...

i make my efforts count... so i switched to the freestyle promise® program... a unique program that gives me... the support i need, free. free access to a certified diabetes educator... so i can ask about diet and the insulin i use. i got a free meter. and test strip discounts. so i can spend more on what i really want. i count on the freestyle promise® program. make it count for you! only the freestyle program gives you discounts, support, and more. enroll today.

listen up parents. government is urging you to immediately stop using baby swings for children under four months. more than a million of the slings made by infantino are being recall after claims making linking them to three infant deaths. consumer product safety commission says the swing wrap around the chest so parent on the go the take their babies with you. they want you to stop using them right away. it was a special surprise today for a local woman who is a cancer survivor. she had unforgettable dream day

courtesy of a real life jeani next. bill frank was there. >> reporter: tamara lee jones suspected something as she marched through the media. >> do you know why you are here today? >> no. >> reporter: we did. >> we are here to surprise you with a dream day of experiences. >> reporter: who better but a jeanie to provide the journey? he is representing an organization that provides days like this all over the world. tamara is deserving of the day battling with cancer. as a mother of four she was moved by the attention. >> i'm a four-year breast cancer survivor. recently i just lost my son. that's been very hard. >> reporter: he died six months ago due to h1n1 virus. >> i'm on a journey of getting things back together to be more productive. and to giving life back the way that it should be. happy. >> reporter: today happiness means zipping around town in a

z-4 and checking into baltimore's luxury hotel. later she'll be given the vip treatment at the national aquarium. then back to the hotel for a night of quiet. dad will be watching the kids tonight. >> it is a blessing to me. it is a blessing to be here and still know there are good people that believe in others. and want to do good things for other people. thank you so much. >> tamara tells us she has a wish to educate women around town on breast cancer prevention. that was a good story. very inspiring. it is inspiring on the weather front. sunshine. temperatures back up in the 60s. one more day tomorrow. each warmer tomorrow. not bad. this weekend cooler.

let's look outside at the inner harbor. beautiful night. multiple runners. you can pick them out. beautiful afternoon to take a jog and get sun. get the vitamin d in in your skin. northwest winds 14 miles per hour. take a look at the numbers from today. we ended up at 65. average is 57. we have been as warm as 83 back in 1929. 65 was the forecast today. we nailed that three days in a row now. get your name in. go to abc2news.com. enter your name in our two-degree guarantee contest. i want to show you the beach

earlier this morning. incredible sunrise. blue skies. lots of beautiful sapphire blue skies today. watch here as we push toward sunset. you can see the cloud roll in. but no threat of rain with those. temperature wise mid 60s. 66 dulles. 70 charlottesville. breezy at times today. had gusts earlier in the 30s. those quieted down some. maryland's radar all quiet. expecting to see nothing on the radar until probably late tomorrow evening. right now just a few clouds sneaking in into western maryland and also into central maryland. no rain with those. closest rain well out to the west. out towards chicago land and southern iowa. that storm is going to make its way in tomorrow evening. the air is so dry it will take a while for things to start to rain. it is tomorrow night when we'll see rain. high pressure in control. mild weather up and down the east coast tomorrow before the next storm really brings in the cold air. it will bring us rain. not tomorrow but tomorrow night into friday.

first half of friday looks like a slick commute. it is what's behind this round of rain that will be more impressive. chilly northerly winds will drop temperatures almost to where we don't get out of the 40s friday. as we go into saturday we'll warm up a little bit. low 50s at best on saturday. even with the sunshine. 40 partly cloudy tonight. seasonably cool tomorrow law the day. another nice start to the day. few clouds building in late. 67 warm two-degree guarantee. 43. rain likely overnight tomorrow nigh. pulls out quickly on friday. wind and cold weather will come in big-time friday afternoon. 50 at best friday. 52 saturday. much more of a chill in the air. >> thank you. the o's took on the

cardinals in florida this afternoon. brian pitched well. allowing only three runs. nolan and brandon snider drove in runs for the orioles but it was not enough. o's loose 4-2. a look from our camera at the inner harbor. wyatt will be back with a final look at your forecast in a few.

stocks closed lower today on news that u.s. sales of new homes were lower than expected. let's take a look at the number. dow jones down. nasdaq down. s&p 500 down. if you've checked out our financial survival guide you may want to take a look. on our website today are you getting paid for what you are worth. check the wages for 800 jobs. plus, nine budget leaks and how to plug them. money expert uncovers five by as to save. log on to abc2news.com for the latest. tonight at 11:00 could the housing market be in store for yet another collapse? why some experts say it is a very real possibility. plus, much more on mayor stephanie rawlings blake's budget cuts including just how

far these cuts will reach. those stories and more at 11:00 after "ugly betty." that looks like fun. shopper at whole foods in harbor east got a surprise today. they were treated to a musical performance by a young artist of the washington national opera. >> i was trying to let people know you don't have to be in a stuffy opera house. it doesn't have to be a place where you are going that there are old people and you have to wear a gown and the lights are dark and you pay a lot of money. we are trying to get across that the opera can be anywhere and accessible. >> they'll be perform with the baltimore symphony orchestra tomorrow. it starts at 8:00 at the symphony hall.

that might make grocery shopping more enjoyable to have something like that. kelly, one more good day tomorrow in the 60s. rain comes in tomorrow night. colder as we go into friday and saturday. get ready. >> we are back at 11:00. have a great night.

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