tonight the talk is about hot fuel. how it's been stolen from two anne arundel county gas stations. include -- good evening, i'm roosevelt leftwich. it's more than just a few gallons stolen. police say the thieves took more than 1,500 gallons of diesel from two locations, one on park west drive in glen burnie and the other on old mill bottom road near annapolis. joseph bartenfelder is here to explain -- joce is here to explain how they did it >> reporter: police say they stole them from underground storage tanks. they don't know how they got access to the tanks but got away with enough diesel to fill the tanks of more than a dozen tractor-trailers. for courier driver chris newman every mile means more money out of his wallet. he drives 250 miles a day and spends 180 bucks a week on diesel. >> i pay for this myself. this is out of my pocket. >> reporter: so it makes him angry to find out thieves took the same fuel he works hard to buy for free. >> how do you get away with

something like that and nobody noticing? >> reporter: good question considering a set of recent thefts in anne arundel county. police say someone stole more than 1,500 gallons of diesel from underground storage tanks. >> somebody had to see something. can't everybody have their eyes closed at one time. >> reporter: police hope someone had an eye open. the here in glen burnie. this location in annapolis was hit august 26th. >> the two are similar events in terms of the circumstances. roughly 1,600 gallons of diesel fuel valued at $200,000 in one incident and $2300 in another. taken around the same time frame. >> reporter: police told the security cameras from this one weren't working in the latest theft so they are asking the public for help as they look for suspects. but cops aren't the only once looking. gas guzzler chris jokes it would be great to track down the thieves just to save a few bucks.

>> i want to find their house and see if they will sell me diesel for cheap. >> reporter: justin mulcahy with anne arundel county police say they are working with other departments to see if thefts like this happened anywhere else. as they search for evidence in sussex they are running periodic checks of the area. the present matter is under investigation. joce sterman, sphiews -- abc2 news. clouds have held up a little, a little breezy. satellite view shows those clouds, not so much in the northern part of the state but down from baltimore southward into the dc area, more of an overcast sky there. temperaturewise we're down in the mid to upper 70s. 77 baltimore. arnold 76 and 7 7up in westminster right now. the rest of the evening will be in the 70s eventually falling off into the 60s, breezy, mild weather, good for the last-second voters. we'll talk about changes on the

way this week, when we could see much-needed rain in the weekend, coming up. it is primary day and it's the hottest race we've seen in baltimore city in many years. the race for the city state's attorney. it's been a fierce fight, challenger gregg bernstein looking to unseat longtime incumbent patricia jessamy. this race focused a lot of baltimore -- on baltimore's high crime rate, and which candidate will do a better job at trying to make the city safer. into we're also watching the race for baltimore county executive. kevin kamenetz and joseph bartenfelder are squaring off in the primary. they are both four-term councilmen. abc2 news is your news source for democracy 2010. tonight at 11:00, we'll have live team coverage of the hottest races in the area. as always, abc2news.com will have you covered with the up to the minute results. one of the three americans held hostage in iran on the espionage charges for more than a year is free tonight. sarah shourd left iran and now

arrived where she has been reunited with her mother. the other two are still in prison. >> reporter: sarah shourd is free and on her way home. >> i want to offer my thanks to everyone in the world, the government, the people, that have been involved and especially, particularly want to address the president ahmadinejad and all the iranian officials and the religious leaders and thank them for this humanitarian gesture. i'm grateful and humbled. >> reporter: the 32-year-old california native was released from iranian prison today. after more than a year in solitary contine finement. iran set $500,000 bail paid in cash. for her family, an agonizing 14 months, no phone calls, little news and just one brief visit in may, with a tearful reunion. sarah shourd's mother told abc news her daughter was in ill health with the potentially

precancerous condition and no access to medical care. in the end it was her health that set her free. iran granting a humanetarian release while keeping her two friends locked up in the prison. sarah shourd, shane bauer and josh fattal were arrested for allegedly crossing the border into iran while hiking in iraq. they were accused of espionage but never faced trial until this week. >> we hope they will make the same decision regarding josh fattal and shane bauer as soon as possible. >> reporter: their lawyer told abc news he's optimistic that this movement in the case means they will all be coming home soon. abc news, dubai. a look at news around the nation takes us to california where a four-runner plowed into a vw bug outside of a liquor store. you can see the impact from inside the store crushing the front counter and shoving the vw into the storefront. seconds before police say the suv driver the bicyclist lost

control and died at the scene. the mother and daughter in the vw weren't hurt. the driver of the suv taken into custody, no charges have been filed yet. an apology will get you far. ask azteca reporter ines sainz. she got a call from the new york jets to say i'm sorry. this came after allegations she was harassed by jets personnel at practice this past weekend. the nfl is investigating media reports the jets players behaved inappropriately including hooting and hollering at her in the locker room. woody johnson called her to apologize. she says she accepts the apologize and thanked him for his concern. fans of the titan/raiders game may have been confused by the mascot. apparently the broadcaster was too. take a listen. >> it's always great when the mascots and cheerleaders get together. whoa! engulfed!

that's -- not right. >> that is a little strange. that was an inflatable version of t-rak, who apparentlily, well, watch this, ate a titans cheerleader. put down your scissors and pick up your cell phone. coming up, how to save big the next time you go shopping. plus, debate over tax cuts rages on. find out who reversed their opinion about tax cuts for the middle class. i'm bob ehrlich.

i'm not the kind of guy who likes to hang on the sidelines. today maryland is in trouble. we're worse off than we were four years ago. dangerous debt, higher taxes, not enough jobs.

we need real leadership to turn this state around. fix the budget -- honestly. grow small businesses -- really. excellent schools -- everywhere. protect the bay -- finally. it's why i'm running. to make the state we love not just good but great. now let's get down to work.

better than expected retail sales numbers kept wall street from sinking too far into the red. in tonight's consumer alert you could have hundreds of bucks in coupons from your favorite retailers in the palm of your hand. right now and not even know it. more retailers are delivering savings directly to your mobile phone and putting incentives to shop in nearly everyone's pockets. karen kafa has the story. >> reporter: put down those scissors and pick up your mobile phone. when it comes to discounts and deals retailers next hot spot is in the palm of your hand. >> i could be walking by my

favorite apparel store, check he my i-phone and in comes a coupon. i go in and make a purchase. >> reporter: gadgets gurus already embraced mobile coupons, geographically-based discounts dliferredz to a smarl phone or blackberry. >> you always have thousands of deals with you, we're used by over five million people now and it's available in close to 20,000 retail locations across the country and a ton more coming on all the time. >> reporter: retailers are making a big push to bring mobile discounts to the masses, whether through apps or on their own. some stepped-up incentives during this year's back-to-school shopping, a test run for a crucial holiday season that needs to drive consumers back into malls. >> when you combine mobile devices with gps and retailers anxious to get consumers into the stores, it ends up as a big windfall for both retailers and consumers. >> reporter: specialized discounts based on where you are and where you shop have

raised some privacy concerns but retailers say consumers have a choice to opt in to mobile offers only from stores they choose. for "consumer watch," i'm karen kafa. we all know what we're supposed to do but how many of us really wash our hands after using the bathroom? a look at the worst offenders. not too up close and personal. plus, a new trend in shopping and all you need is an on-line connection. quick fingers and passion for competition. we'll explain.

everyone knows a fee is a tax. you raised some taxes during that period, particularly the property tax as well as a lot of fee increases. as you know, there's a big difference between fees and taxes. but...they're the same. it's a tax. it's a tax. it's a tax. it's a tax. there's a big difference between fees and taxes. fees and taxes are one in the same. if it comes out of my pocket, it's a tax. now he says it isn't true. we didn't raise taxes. what? still doing the same thing, paying out more money. typical politician. definitely.

sobering news about the most popular sport for american children. basketball. when you think of the hazards of basketball you think of sprained ankles or explained fingers but a -- sprained fingers but a study in the journal of pediatrics says the number of teens suffering brain injuries from basketball is soaring. as sharon alphonisi tells us

the danger is greatest among girls. >> that is vicki, number 23, a star on the court who thought basketball would be her ticket to college but today those dreams have been benched. you don't play at all anymore? >> i'm not allowed to play anymore. >> reporter: multiple concussions left her unable to finish tests, homework, even a full day of school. it started in the seventh grade when she hit her head on the gym floor. at age 14 she suffered seven concussions playing basketball. how do you get seven concussions on the court? >> i mean, i guess as an athlete i just wanted to win and i would do anything in my power to make that happen. >> reporter: today, just tongue her head can cause her to have another concussion. >> i can't go to the movies, i can't ride a train or do anything that i could potentially get hit. >> reporter: just standing here right now? >> i'll have a bad headache later. >> reporter: just search youtube and you can see why the number of young people

suffering head injuries while playing basketball is on the rise. researchers say traumatic brain injuries playing basketball spiked 70% over 10 years. more kids now play basketball than any other sport. an ers report basketball accounts for more head injuries than even football. >> an adolescent is growing, learning new things, developing synapses and wiring of the brain so anything that interrupts that can have a devastating outcome. >> there's so many parents and players that would say oh, stop, you can go back in. it's nothing, it's just a hit on the head but they don't know how i'm feeling inside. >> in there are primary battles in several states but another battle resumed in washington that could factor just as heavily in the november congressional elections. here's john hendren. >> reporter: fresh from their august recess, lawmakers are returning to capitol hill and a showdown over taxes. >> now they want to drive

another nail in the coffin. a massive tax hike. >> he wants the millionaire to receive a $100,000 tax cut. a tax cut most have not asked for and many do not need. >> reporter: president obama and democratic leaders want to extend the bush tax cuts for those earning under $250,000. most republicans want those cuts extended for the wealthy as well and with a mid-term election campaigning heating up so has the rhetoric. >> we're in the political silly season now. >> reporter: republicans aren't the president's only obstacle. his bigger worry, convincing conservative democrats. >> my position is that given the from gillity of the economy all the bush tax cuts should be extended temporarily. >> it seems to me the last moment when we should be raising anybody's taxes and taking money out of anybody's pocket. >> reporter: democratic disunity seems to be leading to increased republican unity. this weekend house republican leader john boehner seemed to cave. >> if the only option i have is

for those $250,000 and below of course i will do. that >> reporter: a date later he wrote via twitter republicans are unified. with both sides using tax breaks as a wedge issue in the mid-term elections congressional leaders say it's unlikely anything will happen on them before november. john hendren, abc news, washington. wal-mart is introducing the first cell phone plan that uses their own branding. wal-mart family mobile services will run on t-mobile network and offer unlimited calling and texting for $45 a month for the first line and $25 for each additional line. there will be no contract or early termination fees as well. and you find shopping relaxing? or just the opposite? a hassle and pretty stressful? a new shopping trend is called shopping on deadline. you need an on-line connection, spending money and appetite for speed and competition. it entices customers with high-end designer labels at a great place and you get a -- price and set a limited amount of time to buy.

the only way to get invited is to be invited by a member. >> people want a deal but they also don't want the exact same deal everybody else is getting. the brilliance of these sites is makes you feel like you and a tiny handful of other people stumbled on this great fabulous find. >> it was founded less than three years ago. it has nearly three million members now. it was founded by two fashionistas, roommates at harvard business school. it's only on-line shopping and there's a full team of stylists working around the clock. there's a new survey that may well just -- really disgust you. it looked at who washes their hands in public restrooms more, men or women and what cities have the worst offenders. the answers may surprise you. in an unscientific survey observers went undercover in public restrooms in four cities across the country and found

85% of adults washed their hands, that is up from 77% just three years ago but separate men and women and guess what? the numbers change. at atlanta's turner field the gender differences were the most extreme. 98% of the ladies were seen washing hands delicately. one out of three nasty men left the batroom without hitting the sinks. >> nasty. >> lazy things. >> hopefully you are not. >> i'm one of the ones that does. >> men are always in a hurry. get done and go. >> just don't shake that guy's hand. doctors say wash up, 80% of infectious disease diseases are passed through human contact. can we go back to the mascot-eating of the cheerleader? >> we just know they are nasty

in atlanta. especially at turner field. >> but we have nonnasty weather now. it's been nice. the clouds roll in a little for us but we're going to stay dry tonight. a little too dry, actually. we'll bring back the chance of rain toward friday. >> good. >> chance for at least some showers. >> water to wash the hands with. >> here's where there's a lot of water, at chesapeake beach. we have our live weathernet camera streaming us, pretty quiet day on the docks there but nice overall weather day. that is for sure. take a look at current conditions. from bwi marshall. 76% -- i mean, 76 degrees and 36% humidity i should say. we're kind the done with the super high humidities. winds out of the west at 7, a weak front pushed through but other than kicking up breezes has not done a heck of a lot to change our weather around here. as we look through the day today, you can see that front sneaking through. generating a little additional cloud cover. then we sort of clear things out here. as we push towards sunset.

then we take you to northeast, you can see a beautiful shot over the bay as well. and clouds at times getting a little thick, then beginning to clear up as we get late in the day and that sun begins to make its dive south of the horizon. sunset getting earlier and earlier, before 7:30 these days. winds are generally light and around 10 to 15 now out of the west. a little gustier earlier today, we had peak wind gusts around 25. humidity 30%. 37% in annapolis. you have to get way down into the southern part of the eastern shore to find even moderately humid air. that's good, feels comfortable but again conditions just a little too dry statewide. clouds kind of hanging tough at the moment. this is that actual cool front as it pushes south of the state. a wider view across the east coast, you can see it's a kind of a slow-moving system. we painted it as a stationery front as opposed to a cold front, because it's going to slowly drift southward. our forecast model basically just keeping us partly cloudy through the day tomorrow.

a dry day and even into thursday looking very quiet weatherwise. thursday afternoon our next system begins to approach out of the north and west and that is likely to bring us what we hope, at least some rainfall overnight thursday into early friday. looks like it will not linger into the weekend. one place we'll be watching this weekend, bermuda. hurricane igor, powerhouse, category 4 headed toward the island there. also hurricane julia now, category 1 behind igor. the whole ball of wax trucking towards bermuda, slated to arrive as we push into the weekend here. so this is definitely something that bears watching for the island territory of great britain out there off the -- off of north carolina. 54, a few clouds tomorrow. nice day. 80 degrees or so. tomorrow night, relatively quiet as we see temperatures drop to about 56. quick check of the 7-day forecast. the outlook is going to be just a little bit wet late thursday into friday and then a sunny dry beautiful weekend. temperatures around the 80-degree mark.

good weather for the swim across america sunday. stay here, we'll be right back.

mshore every night only takesn an hour but that's more time than congress spends reading massive spending bills, it's crazy. that's why i wrote a law that requires 72 hours to read every

bill. i read the big bills and i said no. no to the $3 trillion budget, no to the bank bailout, and no to the health care bill. at home you would never pay a bill without reading it neither should congress. i'm frank kratovil and i approve this message because i'm proud to be ranked one of the most independent members of congress. this was one of those things you probably could have predicted. lady gaga's meat dress from the video music awards show is drawing ire from peta. they call the fashion choice offensive. lady gaga who walk away with eight awards on the night said she meant no disrespect to anyone especially the meat. when an armed ecoterrorist stormed the discovery channel two weeks ago he was ready to die. soon the hostages will talk about the ordeal and who snagged the first interview on abc2 news at 6:00, which starts

right now. it could be one of the lowest turnouts for a primary election in years as voters are staying away from the polls. good evening, i'm kelly swoope. as of a few hours ago voter turnout across the state is lower than earlier projections, in some cases being measured in single digits. from pikesville ocanton and parkville to south baltimore, this is your source for everything politics tonight. rosy is back to tell us that voters seem to be staying away from the polls instead of flocking to them. >> if early projections are any indication this could be one of the lowest voter turnouts in baltimore city and baltimore county in recent years. voters are staying home. let's look at the numbers. as of a if you hours ago only about 31,000 votes were cast in baltimore city at the polls today. there are 7,000 early vote ballots to count and 1,400 to 1,500 absentee ballots. the board of directs