common was known as the rebirth of towson. this stretch is all but empty now. businesses have moved, sun bleached signs neglected, several store fronts empty. the county believes the best use of this space is a hotel or some type of mixed use development. the county has set aside some money to help redevelop the commons and pledged to do so if it agrees with the vision of the new owner. >> towson has everything going for them demographickicly, education wise, income wise. there's no reason why this location can't support a much, much better use. >> so once again, that auction starts at 1:00 p.m. today on the steps of the county courthouse in towson. reporting live in towson, sherrie johnson, abc2 news. >> look at stories making headlines this morning. a wild fire caused an evacuation of about 1600 homes. 1600 homes in utah. the fire started when live ammunition from a nearby

national guard firing range ignited the dry brush. in these conditions, not sitting well with some residents. some of whom lost their homes and with the dry season, conditions are prime. o recent fire destroyed 166 homes, just one of several big fires across the west since july. >> a kentucky man accused of killing his wife says caffeine made him do it. woody smith is charged with strangling his 28-year-old wife, amanda smith with an extension cord back in may of 2009. the 33-year-old claims he was high on caffeine because he was afraid his wife was going to leave him and take the kids, so he didn't want to fall asleep. the prosecutor said there is no proof that smith had caffeine in his body and smith's dna was not found under his wife's fingernails. smith faces life in prison if convicted. the washington state woman who claimed a stranger attacked with acid is in some serious

trouble here this morning. an arrest warrant has been issued for bethany storro. last week bethany confessed to disfiguring her own face with acid in an attempt to kill herself. she thought getting a new face would be the answer to all of her problems. >> i think the right thing to do was file the charges that are filed. the evidence supports the filing of these felony theft charges and i think the criminal justice system needs to react and is reacting. >> well lots of people raise money to help her when the news of the alleged attack first broke and now prosecutors are charging her with three counts of second-degree theft for using some of that money. even pay the balance for a recent facial peel. storro remains in the hospital. >> see if you can see it. yup, it's exactly what it is. your eyes are not playing tricks on you. that is a zebra running across the street near toledo, ohio. the zebra escaped from a

homeowner who recently purchased the animal. authorities caught up with the zebra and fortunately, the zebra had to be euthanized because it had injuries. you think a 100 pound pumpkin is large? how about a pumpkin that weighs 954-pounds and it's still growing. the halloween accessory is grabbing some big time attention. the pumpkin tips the scale close to 1,000 pounds. the farmers worked really hard at growing this baby. and it will be at the west virginia pumpkin festival, hoping it will win first place. the pumpkin is expected to grow 2-poundings per day and will not be cut until october 6. by then, it's expected to weigh more than a thousand pounds. >> 6:33. firefighters in palm beach county made a bold statement over the weekend. in support to fight breast cancer. the pink heels tour feature firefighters wearing pink t- shirts. breast cancer survivors and supporters to sign the pink

heels truck showed up during the rally. the tour for the fundraiser benefits the cancer centers and the deerfield beach area. it is firefighters way of giving back to the community. all right, we are counting down the days until komen maryland's race for the cure. it's coming up soon. it's set for sunday, october 3. abc2 news is going to be live on the air to broadcast the whole event. it's on sunday, the broadcast starts from 7:00 in the morning until 9:00 in the morning. if you want to register, all you have to do is head to our website, abc2news.com. when you get there, look at the top of the page and click on lifestyle and think pink. >> 6:44. coming up next, incredible video of a well timed rescue. >> the man is pulled to safety seconds before the boat sinks into the river. >> if you have ever complained about a waiter, perhaps you should request one of these guys. racing to see who can be the best server.

bob ehrlich pretends to be for the working guy... but he's not on our side. i thought i knew bob ehrlich, but then i found out... he raised property taxes on every maryland family... and business. he increased college tuition... by 40%. 40%. and i thought i knew bob ehrlich. he was against raising the minimum wage. made $2.5 million... working for a lobbying firm. $2.5 million? he's not really on my side. with this tough economy, we really need a governor on our side.

it's now 6:38. 9 western service members died in the helicopter crash in southern afghanistan, making this the deadliest year for nato. military officials did not immediately disclose the nationallalties. say precisely where this crash happened. 529 members of the international force have been killed this year. the previous high was 2009 when 521 western troops were killed. but western military said there were no reports of enemy fire in the area of the crash, which was the deadliest of the year. a 56-year-old man was rescued from a sinking boat just seconds before it was dragged under the waters, and the safety, emergency officials had to send a rescuer down from a helicopter. dramatic footage you are

watching from sunday showed the rescuer hadn't seen the man and the two of theft air lifted to safety seconds before the vessel sank into the waters of the river. >> 6:39. more than 100 professional and amateur waiters lined up. the 25-year-old professional won the contest. he went home with the first prize of $483. participates had to run 1 1/2 miles carrying a tray with three glasses and a bottle of brandy. that's pretty talented. >> coming up next, mourning the loss of a popular teenager. >> now questions about the safety of an intersection are being raised. >> he was trying to cross the street, but the pedestrians lights were not working. what's being done to look into those complaints. >> a fight on capitol hill. a couple lost their daughter when a truck driver was texting and now they want to make it illegal. we'll have the latest on the hopkins doctor shot last

week. what his family is saying about his recovery. >> and you will no longer seeing shows at the lyric opera house. it gets a new name today. >> and it's 6:40 on this tuesday morning. temperatures will be into the 40s. light winds, sun coming up in a few minutes. we have a few more hours of cooling to go before we get summer heat back in. kim. >> justin, not much in terms of incidents or accidents so far. we are seeing some increased volume and a little bit of slow down on the area roadways. we'll get a complete check of traffic when good morning maryland comes back after this. - ( music playing ) - we know technology can make you more connected.

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this is your abc2 news to go. >> today a couple who we know very well is going to be on capitol hill. they are going to be talk about the dangers of distracted driving. >> a truck driver was texting behind the wheel. the story is so sad. and now they want something to be done to prevent this from happening to another family. we will have that story in just a minute, but first, we'll get a check on weather. here is justin burke. >> all right, chilly start this morning. we take you to howard county. we start here at owings mills,

50 degrees. now we go to howard county. a look at veterans elementary, 46. columbia at the howard community college at 53. there's a widespread this morning under clear skies and still minutes away from sunrise. we'll hit our low temperature around 8:00 a.m. and bounce off the bottom. this afternoon's two degree guaranteed high under sunshine, a seasonal 78. now that traffic, here is kim. >> a disabled vehicle on the southbound lanes of 795 as you approach the beltway has traffic slow as you come out of owings mills, but aside from that, we are looking fairly good. outer loop lanes beginning to slow. those delays continue as you approach the valley. we'll get a complete check on the roads in just a minute, back to you. >> new this morning, at a quarter to 7:00. baltimore city firefighters are on the scene of a house fire near the intersection of northern parkway. officials say when firefighters got there, the single family home was fully engulfed in

flames. six people, six were in the home at the time of the fire. now family members tell abc2 news that they their 57-year- old mom jumped from the attic window and may have broken her ankle. two of the girls said they also jumped from a window to get out of this fire. >> the roof is the way it is, you know, we could have made it to the pool. the fire is right there shooting at us. she had a burn on her arm just from the heat. >> as we were jumping, the windows were breaking and the fire was coming out of the windows, so if we would have been on the roof a moment later, the roof would have burned with it. so we had to jump now. >> here from a lucky family. the mom was taken to a local hospital. it's not clear what caused the fire but the house damaged. >> 6:45 right now. you know a lot about where red pump road meets route 24 in bell air. abc2 news this morning, reports on what is coming out of this

intersection since the death of a freshman was hit in the crosswalk. >> some are questioning how safe it is there. on the day joey died, state police received a number of complaints that the pedestrian lights were not working. the state highway administration is now looking into those complaints. the memorial is growing where joey was struck and killed friday night. police say a driver hit him as joey was crossing against the light at route 24 and red pump road. friends, former teammates continue to leave heartfelt messages for the 14-year-old who was well liked by many and talented in so many ways. he loved the color blue, loved his number 30 and loved to sing in his band. >> as soon as i heard it, it's like my legs went numb. it was such a shock, because such a great kid. >> now police say right now, there are no plans to charge the driver. the first of two viewings for

joey will be held later today. they are expecting a large turnout at mountain christian church from 6:00 until 9:00 tonight. then again tomorrow from 10:00 a.m. until noon. the funeral will follow. in the studio, linda so, abc2 news. a man and woman were found on the shot on the corner. homicide detectives were notified. we'll keep you posted on this story. city police are also investigating after three men were shot. this happened around 7:40 last night in the 4100 block of 10th street, which is in south baltimore. officers found three men, two were shot in the leg. the other in the stomach. no word on the identity of the victims and police right now say they don't have any suspects or a motive that anyone with information is asked to call baltimore city police. it is 6:48. the family of a johns hopkins doctor shot by the patient's son has issued a statement saying the surgeon is in good

condition. but they are asking for privacy while he recovers. the family of dr. david cohen said they appreciate the outpouring of support and concern. cohen was shot in the stomach last week. the gunman, paul pardus became distraught. he shot and killed his mother and then took his own life. 28-year-old man has been found not guilty of first- degree murder in a murder for hire scheme that led to the death of his uncle. a gas station owner. a baltimore county jury took less than two hours to find coil guilty of killing william porter. this happened back in march of this year. he is one of several defendants in the case, including the victim's wife. police say the group tried to make the whole shooting look like a robbery. surveillance video showed a different story. a couple who lost their daughter in a distracted driving accident down in

florida will be appearing before the transportation secretary, lahood. it will happen today on a distracted driving summit. russell and kim lost their daughter back in january of 2008 when a tractor trailer driver crashed into her car. the driver was texting at the time of the crash. never had hit the brakes. she was there in florida and their parents were meeting her. she was planning her wedding. the daughter of russell and kim successfully lobbied for this. heather's law. a 34-year-old woman is charged with fatally beating her aunt with a club device. according to a local publication, the 34-year-old woman called 911 dispatchers and said i hurt my aunt and i don't know why. when police arrived at the home, they found simmons covered in the blood of her aunt, 66-year-old cecilia mitchell. the murder weapon was believed to be the club. that's the device used to lock the steering wheel of a car.

: andy muller, the line coach with the ravens facing drunken driving charges. police arrested the coach after pulling him over for speeding on the beltway. at 1:00 in the morning on saturday, his attorney says he's going to plead not guilty. the ravens said they know all about this. this is muller's second dui charge. the first one happened back last spring, but was thrown out. the 46-year-old muller has been with the ravens for three years. time now is 6:50. getting in on early election, governor martin o'malley plans to blast voters with a round of new political ads. the ads set to air starting today will be seen in a dc market showcasing the governor's commitment to education. this past friday, ads air in the baltimore area attacking former governor, bob ehrlich on his credibility. >> you are no longer going to go to the lyric opera house. we are hearing phantom of the opera.

today it will be changed to patricia and arthur model performing arts center and the former baltimore ravens owner donated money. they are expected to be finished next fall. but lyric hasn't changed its name since it opened. in 1894. 6:51 right now. the maryland school board is expected to vote on a proposal. assistant state superintendent says school systems would decide on how to teach the material. if the proposal is approved, environmental education would begin for incoming 9th graders next september. the city's gasper neighborhood is undergoing a major facelift, thanks to an $85 million investment for redevelopment. mayor stephanie rollins blake helped celebrate the occasion

by unveiling phase one, which will have affordable rental housing, and housing and neighborhood jobs as well. >> look what happened when we work together. this community is a symbol of what happens when you don't let anyone or anything get in your way. and distract you from what you know can be a better day. >> the redevelopment initiative is part of a larger effort. and bring new opportunities to the area. i'll tell you what. they could catch by january, all right, against the red sox and win again, 4-2. they beat the red sox. now the orioles in the last 15 games. hernandez picks up the win. the orioles keep winning, so that's fun. now, the forecast certified most accurate by weather rate and maryland's most powerful

doppler radar. >> i know the season is getting longer, but january baseball just doesn't make sense. we are looking at cool temperatures right now. we have slipped back into the 40s as we just shown you. clear skies down to the south, extended to an air mass that is much, much warmer. we are going to bring in some of that heat. yesterday's high temperature on target with our 2-degree guarantee and seasonal at 78. but it was 93 in charlotte. 96 atlanta, and look at memphis, tennessee, 100 yesterday. that's the kind of heat that will settle back a little bit, but pull in our direction. this morning they are in the mid 60s and 70s. summer-like morning levels compared to our 49. we will replace that and flip this around. this afternoon's two-degree guaranteed high with a mostly sunny sky. tonight, clear, not nearly as chilly, about 58. our extended forecast, look at this bounce. tomorrow autumn begins at 5:04 in the morning. 84 in the afternoon. lows in the 60s and a high of

87 thursday. friday near 90 and those days could produce some afternoon showers or storms. we are cool in the 70s by sunday and monday. >> justin, a disabled vehicle has been cleared from the southbound lanes of 795 right as you approach the beltway. but that still has traffic slow from about owings mills boulevard. we are going to be jammed as well. it's going to be a slow ride all the way do 70. stop and go also on the topside of the outer loop from bell air road to about delaney road. checking our drive times, we don't have any accidents to let you know about. 8 minutes on the outer loop. a 4 minute ride, 95 southbound from white marsh boulevard. harper tunnel throughway looks okay. 7 minutes from the split as you approach 295. megan. >> thanks, kim. it's 6:54 right now. 52 degrees. good morning america is next. do you remember that angry father who stormed on the school bus after his child was being harassed? you are looking at video from this. apparently his daughter was

being bullied and he took matters into his own hands and it became a controversy. now on good morning america. robin roberts is going to talk to the dad, his wife, and their attorney. okay, and plus we are going to have a woman who confronted the president last night at the town hall meeting. says she was exhausted from defending him to her friends. we are going to hear from the president's response and hear more about his campaigning in pennsylvania. all that and more coming up next at 7:00 on good morning america. >> before we go, quick question for you. today is the last day of summer and it will be 90 on friday. crazy. >> i guess so. >> we had 53 degrees, so why not make it 53? we had 90-degree days back in april. >> and the leaves are changing. >> how about that? hard to believe. >> and it has been beautiful lately. >> it has. we have this weather. i want to remind you, that if you remember komen's race last year, we had snow on the ground

in the morning. >> that's right. >> it's possible. they had record snow and penn state had a game that weekend. i'm not saying that's going to happen. i'm saying we could flip things around. so a 90-degree day here, you never know, frost next week for all you know. >> keep the pool open for now. don't shut it down yet. >> the kiddy pool in the back? our news continues 24 hours a day right here on abc2news.com. >> see you at 9:00. old gibbs canning company.

today these factories are full of dot com businesses.

and now my job is helping maryland create new economy jobs. training new math and science teachers investing in our institutions of excellence pioneering new cyber security jobs and giving an old gm plant a jump start building electric motors. i'm barbara mikulski. i approve this message so you'll know i'm fighting for you.