could ray lewis return to the ravens d. we will have an update on that and a preview of the game coming up in southern california. that's coming later. but right now, it's friday, december 1á6g9 good morning i am charl heey crowe son. let's head over to lynette charles with a check of your friday forecast -- december 16th, good morning. i am charley crowson. let's head over to lynette charles with a check of the friday forecast. >> no rain or snow. we are seeing clouds cover across the area. you have to slide down to the south in to tennessee and kentucky to see some rain across the area. as we go into time, this could slide further to the south and with that well, it might try to inch up into the area going into later tonight early hoping that we should stay dry and that will continue as we go through the weekend. but, as you go out the door this morning, temperatures not so bad. 56 degrees into baltimore. we are dealing with the winds

sustained at about i say about 10 to 15 miles an hour with gusts up to about 25 so it's gusty. take the jacket with you as you go throughout the day. now over to angela with your traffic. good morning. >> reporter: good morning. and good morning everyone. friday morning drive looking good. early morning collisions and incidents and got all of those out of the roadways. and we are moving pretty freely especially around the beltway also on 29 and i-95 as well as bw parkway good routes towards the dc region. look live here at 29, and route 108. traveling through clam yeah. pretty good on 29 from i-70-- columbia, pretty good on 29 to i-706789 driving around the beltway through overly traffic is knoll freely between bel air and providence roads. southwest side looking live at wilkins avenue, a check of our drive times showing that everything is moving pretty good so far just five minutes from shawan road to the top side of the beltway. back to you. politician on

capitol hill has come up with a tentative agreement on a one trillion dollar spending package to keep the government from shutting down. corinne redman is standing by with the very latest details on what could be happening today. >> reporter: well, it's make it or break it today. congress has until midnight to pass the spending plan or face a partial government shut down. there's a vote needed to pass the payroll tax doubt ensure millions don't see smaller paychecks but a last-minute deal. deal is in the works to avoid a shut down. democrats say an agreement was struck on a spending bill to fund the government through october of next year. democrats had been pressuring republicans to attack -- to tax millionaires so it could be cut by extnding into the government spending pack -- extending into the government spending package. law makers are aiming to past the spending bill and extension on the payroll tax cut before that happens. deal to extend the tax holiday would include an extension of unemployment benefits and

despite clock ticking congressional leaders say they can get the job done. >> i think everyone needs to step back and take a deep breath. i think there's a easier way to untangle all this. >> i hope we can come up with something that would get us out of here at a reasonable time. >> we are confident and optimistic we will be able to resolve both on a bipartisan basis. >> reporter: now the house and senate are expect to approve the spending -- expected to approve the spending measure time today. 7gop candidates with party's nomination are trying to convince voters for support and they can beat president obamma. michelle bachmann is competing for the votes for the social conservative and jabbed newt gingrich for consulting work with a federal mortgage lender freddie mac. listen. >> we know that he cashed paychecks from freddie mac. >> my policy is to break upfanny may and freddie mac i

never once changed my position because of a payment. >> today governor romney is expected to receive the endorsement of south carolina governor. the candidates will fan out across-eye with a and other early states and that's how they will spend their weekend. >> news around the nation, author and pundit died after a lengthy and very public battle with cancer e was 62 years old. his death was announced in the statement from a publisher of vanity fair e died of complications from esophageal cancer he was known for esays in vanity fair and best selling work seen as a manifesto for atheist called god is not great. police say it was a case of pocket dialing that got them caught. one of the suspected thieves pocket dialed 911 as the men drove away from the scene of the crime. officials say the 911 operator monitored the call for nearly an hour before alerting dispatch about the location. police surprised them and put them in cuffs april long with the charges they could be

embarrassed further because get this, they are considering releasing that 911 call. well, a man in california didn't want to miss curfew and tried something that is reserved for st. nick. he attempted to slide down the chimney. are you surprise? >> not at all. >> physical feet were on the floor of the living room but the rest was jammed in the like room and had to get pulled out. fire department rescued him and he was out in 15 minutes but here's the hook e. stayed in the chimney all night until someone in the house woke up and found him. he was fine but the only thing that was bruise was his ego from a personal standpoint. i am claustrophobic and there's no way i would last all night. no way. all right. now it's been a long running series demonstrating the best of the spirit of giving. now abc bid farewell to extreme makeover home edition. one of the final reveal and where it had take place. madonna set to perform for the halftime extravaganza a new single and cd in the works.

we will explain after we get back from a check of the morning's tech bites. >> reporter: facebook's timeline is live a look for personal pages like a ding tal -- digital scrapbook making it easier for you and everyone else to see what i've done on facebook. amazon is sealing million kindle as week including the e- readers and tablet. kindle fire is the best selling product since being continue totrough duesed 11 weeks ago. and there's a website for those who like quick and interactive polls. weigh in allows them to come in with their questions or vote on existing ones and this isn't a place for serious debate ed found it a pleasant distraction. >> all of us love polls or instant feedback on certain topics. not scientific testing but for the quick hit opinion it's kind of fun. >> reporter: weigh in has a free mobile app for iphone and

android devices.

now "good morning maryland." welcome back. christmas carol is coming this weekend but yoi won't experience the classic it's going to be done in different way composer bob christianson says writing the music was quite gratifying. >> it hit me. you know, wow, i wrote this stuff you know. and because actually writing you forget you have that part to do with it. and it becomes this thing you know. so, but it is a thrill and especially having the baltimore symphony do it. >> the choreal program will be backed up by the baltimore symphony orchestra and cast and

narrator. shows begin at 7:30 lynette. all right. we are dealing with some falling temperatures on this friday. check out the headlines. we will get cooler going throughout the day. it's also very breezy this morning. and things will taper off a little bit more as we go into the afternoon but very breezy and it's colder by sunday. but we also get more sunshine in here as well. that's something that we like to see. maryland's most powerful radar we like to see when it's dry out there. we have all five sweeps on and it's getting the skies and not look for much. 50 degrees right now in hanover and heading out the door this morning you might think you don't need the big coat but going throughout the day, that is when we will need that bigger coat. 25-mile-an-hour wind gusts now into sparrows point. 32 in cockeysville, sykesville 34 you get the picture it's very gusty this morning. let's go over to angela with your traffic. good morning. >> reporter: good morning. and as you get ready to head outfor the friday morning drive, expect quiet conditions out there. so far the overnight

maintenance and road crews should be out of your way as you head out this morning. and we are reporting still in great shape for the most part around the baltimore beltway and most of our major arteries through and around the city. as we look live at i-95, traveling through columbia, still no incidents to report for you there. and here's a live look at 695 and wilkins avenue showing you a good flow of traffic. also, looking good as the drive is easy u.s. 50 and i-97 and planning to take the mta this morning, just the 15 minute light rail delay all other lines on schedule. charley, back to you. extreme makeover home edition builds the final house in january. the hit show will enter the series after the 9th season. final episode will be the series 200th. the crew will build 7 homes through 7 days from the tornadoes victims in joplin, missouri. it will air here on abc2 on january 13th. and abc says they will air a special episode of the series following cancellation but didn't announce any specific dates. a silent movie made the

most noise in the golden globe nomination. the artists snagged 6 nominations. the help about black servants tied with family drammate desendents for five knobs. the small screen leading contender boardwalk empire 30 rock and glee. before a superbowl performance madonna will release a single that's going to be ahead of the first new record since 2008. she signed a 3 album deal with interscope records and first is due out in late march. well, it's new trend that has lazy shores and late shoppers happen -- shoppers and late shoppers happy. what's the deal with e gift how it can make your life better or easier. >> reporter: after nearly 9 years, american officials formally ended the u.s. military mission in iraq. i am sherrie johnson, a look at that ceremony coming up.

look what denny's left for my dad, santa! christmas cookie pancakes. milk & cookies shake. i think santa needs a helper. come try arthur christmas's favorites. only at denny's. and see arthur christmas only in theaters.

now "good morning maryland. the u.s. war in iraq is officially over as american troops lower the flag and command in baghdad many it means nearly all u.s. troops will be coming home before the

december 31st deadline. sherrie johnson has more on the developing story. >> reporter: in a war that began with shock and a in 2003 ended with a quiet care monday y. troops lowered the flag that had flown over baghdad for nearly nine years and marked the end of the u.s. military mission there. the defense secretary flew to iraq to mark the moment. american troops focused on containing violence. iraq will govern itself more than 50,000 troops have been withdrawn and dozens of faces have closed. and as of tuesday there were about 5500 troops remaining in iraq. sherrie johnson, abc2 news. authorities are reopening a cold case in hopes of catching a killer with serial rapist. the fbi distributing thesesketches around the greater dc area depict a man known as potomac river rapist suspected in at least 8 rapes and one killing in dc and maryland suburbs between 1991 and 1998. investigators are offering 25,000 dollars in reward money

for information lead together rapist identity. f -- leading to the rapist's identity. there's a which can site for any information you have. the potomac river rapist on our website abc2news.com. well a definition of rape that dictates how local police departments report crimes the federal record keepers is expected to change this is the first time in more than 08 years it happened. the fbi approved expanding the definition. new definition is expected to go into effect in the coming spring. sunday night the ravens will be in southern california facing off with phillip rivers and the chargers. for the first time in 4 games, we could see ray lewis back on the field. he practiced with the team this week and received a standing ovation once he rejoined the team. even without lewis, the ravens say they are ready to face thechargers. it's not going -- >> it's not going to be a game where people think it's going

to be a cakewalk. they are playing good and we have to bring our best. >> the baltimore has won four straight heading back out west but you may recall the ravens last lost was a west coast jaunt 22-17 loss to the seahawks. kick off is set for 8:20 sunday night, football night in america. good news. bmw is the 9th most tech friendly airport beating bwi. that's according to pc world magazine. they were ateed -- rateed according to average outlets and b ports per gape gate and speed of wi-fi and cell phone service. bmw as airport. bwi gets top marks for the wi- fi connecttivity speed and nearly perfect score for the overall self-service. amazon kindle fire has lukewarm reviews but the sales are sizzling for the first time ever. amazon is offering a peek of

sales figures for the kindle. for the third week it sold more than a million and didn't give the physician for the fire but called the number one of the best selling most gifted and wished for products. use verse complained about problems like slowness and clunky internet browsing and amazon promises an update in a few weeks. e gifts can be sent last- minute without need for wrapping paper. buy an e gift it not only means to avoid the crowd at mall but there's shipping and there's no shipping or shipping fees. for the last-minute shopper this is a dream come true. you can even place your order just before midnight on christmas eve. if you want to give a specific present, meaning many of the digital retailers are sending down loads via e-mail. amazon has give as gift button for m p-3s order kindle e books

and go down the books and kindle books and this iswhere it's tricky. click on let's say biographys. steve jobs. and now over on the right-hand side underneath the cart and underneath the price tag, simply stated give as a gift and that's all you have to doi. need to sign in using my amazon account information but from there, you send it as a gift and the last-minute shopping ideas are good to go. moving on a survey of consumer reports found one in five adults have a gripe about a gift they got last christmas. uh-oh. the most common response to the present was a poor choice. make the best of it but a rare few 2% actually say they gave the gift back to the giver proving for some that it's absolutely not the thought that counts. what to you do with a gift you

don't like? do you stash it in the closet or take it to good will or salvation army or give it back? well lynette charles your thoughts on this. >> you don't give it back. that's awful. >> what would you do? >> put it in the closeet. >> have you ever regifted? knee i never regifted before. i might set it in the closet, but i haven't regifted. we will talk about that later. but you don't give it back. here we go with the winds. it's very gusty. we can see into hagerstown 234 mile -- shall 23-mile-per-hour wind --23-mile-per-hour winds. 16 in dc. going throughout the day, things will get better in terms of the winds but still a little on the breezy side. as we look at nation, look at the cold air funneling along most of it. it's just hanging tough. warmer and mild aralong the coastal areas. check out miami around 73 degrees. we are not going to get any of

that action. we are getting the cooler air funneling in as we go through the remainder of today as the cold front moves through high pressure building in as we go through the weekend. but check out the future trend. we are looking at in-house model and it looks like maybe we could see maybe a couple showers try to move in later this evening and into early tomorrow morning. and then that gets out of here. so that is in my forecast a slight chance but we will see much more sunshine going into the weekend on the backside of the system snow showers maybe for western maryland and also northwestern prk a. we won't see anything around here. today, -- p.a. we won't see anything around here. around 49 degrees. 33 and frosty by tonight. by tomorrow, that temperature will be right around 46 degrees and that's where we should be now for this time of the year. and this is your 7-day forecast as we will get colder going into the weekend. more sunshine definitely on sunday. and by the time we hit monday mostly sunny skies. temperatures look like they go on the upside right around 52 degrees with more showers in the forecast as we head into tuesday and wednesday of next

week. angela how are the road. >> reporter: well so far so good out there. getting readity for the friday morning drive and we hope to keep it that way. we are starting to see a fair a volume on i-70 making your way through the marriottsville region heading towards the west side of 695. in the meantime, we are still in good shape on i-95 for those of you making the drive past maryland 175. we continue to see trouble free driving conditions. on i-95 between the capital beltway and baltimore. heading into downtown this morning, i-95 at 395, be alert for a short delay as you approach the fort mchenry tunnel and no extra travel time on the north side of 695. we are good to go between harford road and i-8 3. back to you. -- you. a public opposition to cab tal -- capital punishment is on the rise a new report indicates weather the numbers of cases are dropping. and yet it's another holiday shopping holiday. how you can take advantage of retailers charitable spirits when "good morning maryland"

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five things to know on this friday morning. senate house lead verse new

plan to avert another government shutdown. the new plan would be a trillion dollar government funding bill which would be passed today. democrats have reportedly dropped their insistence of a congressional extension of the payroll tax cut. barry bonds is scheduled to be sentenced in san francisco today. prosecutors are asking for 15 month in federal prison. bonds was convicted of obstruction of justice after misleading a grand jury investigating the performance enhancing drug and in the use of professional baseball. execution and death sentences continue to climb matching a drop in the public support for capital punishment in general. last year it was 112 and declined nearly 75% during the 15-year period. that is more than 300 people were condemned to death. it was not pretty and ended in a blowout. thursday night matt ryan and falcons throttle jacksonville. 41-14 in atlanta. ryan threw for 225 yards and three touchdowns as falcons defense shut down the jags until late in the third quarter they shut them out until the

third quarter. atlanta moves to 9-5 on the year. for those of you hoping to spend the -- send the holiday gift packages across the country, this may be your day. today marks the free shipping day with more than 2,000 merchants offering free shipping by delivery by christmas eve. head to abc2news.com on the story in the slide show for a list of the participating retailers. the investigation into allegations of hazing at florida a&m university continues. why florida's governor is getting involved and his suggestion for helping to solve the problem. also, how one kid's writing assignment had his teacher calling his parents. what happened afterwards. and what a math teacher did to a student that coik mis-- that could make his first year as teacher his last. you are watching "good morning maryland" back in just a bit.

you are watching the station that works for you "good morning maryland."