>> live, local, late-breaking, this is wbal-tv 11 news today. >> good morning. welcome back to 11 news today. i am lisa robinson. >> i am mindy basara. thank you for joining us this morning. ava marie has a quick look at the forecast. >> it feels like spring out there. winter begins tomorrow. we're starting at the very mild today. this is closer to where we should be for a high temperature. we will get even warmer into the afternoon. 63 down in southern maryland. showers are likely. we will keep you up to date. >> police have released new details into the deadly shootings outside of towson town

center. >> rob roblin is live in towson to explain. >> extra security is in place around the small. extra security was in place. police want to let all the shoppers know that this murder was not a random act of violence. shoppers leaving towson town center monday night described hearing a string of rapid gunfire. >> five or six gunshots all at once. and then there was a pause of two or three seconds, and then two or three more gunshots. >> in the end, 19-year-old rodney pridget lay dead on the sidewalk, just outside of the mall. baltimore county investigators say they are still piecing together a lot of details, but they are adamant that pridget was the intended target. >> we know now based on the investigation so far that this

absolutely was not a random act of violence. this was absolutely not a robbery. >> according to police, pridget and the suspect were both inside the mall before the shooting. the mall has an intricate video surveillance system. but police are not saying if the two appeared to be arguing or in some kind of altercation on the tape. >> we are looking at technology that was both deployed inside and required by county code on the outside. at this time, we're following all leads up. we're looking into all the circumstances that you would look into to try to understand why this took place. >> the victim, rodney pridget, spent much of his life in foster care. he was given probation before judgment three months ago after he was accused of stealing. his former attorney told 11 news that pridget was on his way to making progress in his life. as the crowds continue to flock to the mall leading up to the holiday, police say they want shoppers to feel safe. >> we're always looking to make

sure that everything is ok. i hear that there's always issues at the mall. i'm devastated. it breaks my heart. >> our shoppers are safe in baltimore county. we want our people, our citizens to come out, feel safe with their family and their children. and again, we're optimistic that we will clear this case. >> but so far, no arrests have been made in this murder. rob roblin, wbal-tv 11 news. >> if you ride buses and subway, they're ready to pay more for the privilege. the mta has notified state lawmakers that fares will need to go by 65 cents. that is a 40% increase. a proposed rate would be from the current basic 1-way fare. nt rates have held steady since 2003.

any proposed increase would have to go to the general assembly and governor. >> maryland is about to dig deep into its coffers for the largest casino. the board of public works is preparing to vote today to spend $160 million. the state has spent $99 million to buy 5000 slots and 800 slot machines at the towson downs casino. at the ocean downs casino. posting details about their personal finances online. they are prohibited from accepting gifts. the new law prohibits contractors from submitting bids on projects -- councilmembers will still be

allowed to accept some perks including tickets to sports from virtually anyone. >> a new program makes it a reality for those who want to earn their ged while learning a trade. maryland integrated basic education and skills training is being offered at several community colleges around the area. the train students in carpentry, electrical design and helping them gain credits toward their high school equivalency diploma, and it is free. >> either one would be a valuable thing, to pick up a ged or to get the training. this is a tremendous opportunity. >> there are 20 slots available to maryland residents. the program is being offered at anne arundel city and baltimore colleges. >> love once welcomed home

hundreds of u.s. troops returning from iraq. nearly 250 arrived at the thurgood marshall airport as part of the last members to return to the states after their deployment in iraq. >> i thought my daughters all had finals today. to see my daughter is here and all of them crying like that, it made the break down. >> i didn't expect myself to be that emotional. i broke down. it has been so hard to not see him for so long. >> the last 100 air meant were scheduled to arrive just after 4:00 a.m. this morning. we say it will come home --we say, welcome home. >> now traffic pulse 11 and insta-weather plus together. >> just in time for the holidays. welcome home. we have an accident in essex.

otherwise, looking good on the major roadways. 64 in the area of old court road. 60 on the j.f.x. near old pimlico road. we're looking good all the way around. we are up to speed. tall minutes on the out of the west side. -- 12 minutes on the outer loop west side. looking good. this is the west side of the beltway at liberty road. things are picking up in volume. 95 near white marsh, southbound traffic is looking good. that is the latest on traffic pulse 11. ava has a check of the forecast. >> we do have a chance for showers. they are more likely into the noon hour. a high of 59. 15 degrees above normal.

we're dry tomorrow. rain returns tomorrow night. the ravens game, it will be cooler. if there's any precipitation, i think it will be likely to be rained on christmas day. >> i'm open for snow. >> i'm hoping for rain. the holiday season is underway. we'll explore the significance we'll explore the significance of the hanukkah

>> members of the maryland jewish committee joined members to light the menorah. >> ceremony marked the beginning of the eight-day hanukkah celebration. we captured the spirit of last night's event. >> we're excited to see so much protest -- much purses patient in downtown baltimore. >> it is bigger and better. >> that was pretty cool. >> it is wonderful we're able to spread the light. >> there are two aspects to the celebration of hanukkah.

the greeks wanted the jews to assimilate and they wanted to light the menorah in the temple and they cannot find enough oil. they found some oil and it burned for eight days and that is the miracle of hanukkah. >> it is nice that with all the christmas trees they put up a menorah. >> being jewish in baltimore is a great place to bring up a family. >> very nice. 6:40. 46 degrees on tv hill. >> washington makes a mass exodus without a deal on your payroll taxes. payroll taxes.

>> welcome back to 11 news today. police are investigating a shooting in east baltimore. police were called and found a woman who had been shot. no word on her condition. police have identified the man shot by an officer in dundalk. the man faces several charges including attempted murder after investigators say he entered a home wearing a mask and carrying a gun. we're told he robbed a woman inside the home and was shot by police after he refused to drop his weapon. maryland has not executed a prisoner since 2005. governor martin o'malley held a meeting to discuss taking funding for executions off the

books altogether. he met with delegates and state senators who oppose capital punishment. they discussed ending funding for executions in the budget for the next fiscal year. it is unlikely he will follow through on that idea. >> that brings us to your answers to our water cooler question of the day. >> this morning we asked -- should maryland abolished the death penalty? >> we will post more of your answers on the front page of wbaltv.com.

the standoff over your payroll taxes is getting worse. nobody is budging. lawmakers are going home for the holiday. >> there is one thing republicans and democrats agree on. >> the arrogance of this place is an outstanding. >> what is happening here today is shameful and disgrace. it is unreal. >> house -- republicans what democrats to come back to washington to try again to negotiate a full year. democrats say no. more lawmakers are leaving town, leaving millions of paychecks in limbo. >> it is not a game for the average family who doesn't have an extra thousand dollars to lose. >> president obama insist the

extension is the only option. democrats blame conservative republicans. >> the tea party tail is wagging the elephant, apparently. >> the question will be how quickly and at what political cost. >> the cost for 160 million workers watching their paychecks. in washington, i am tracie potts, wbal-tv 11 news. >> now traffic pulse 11 and insta-weather plus together. >> good morning. kim dacey checking on your morning commute. one problem spot we are tracking. that is in essex. we have a crash. that is the only thing you have to watch for on the roads this morning. not much of a delay.

10 minutes on 95 north between 32 and the beltway. no delays just yet. this is liberty road. out of the traffic and things are moving in just fine -- outer loop traffic. this is 95 in the area of white marsh. southbound traffic is looking good. not looking too bad northbound either. that is the latest on traffic pulse 11. >> good morning. this is hd doppler. not a lot going on across our area and southern pennsylvania. we had some showers in carroll county. more showers as we head down towards ocean city. most of the activity is outside of the state. you can see what is heading our way. this storm system. showers building into the mid atlantic.

a more substantial line of showers along the cold front in the ohio valley. this brought the blizzard to the plains. it lost a lot of its energy and a lot of its cold air. if you're traveling, that rain will cause a few problems in the east. nothing major. minor setbacks with the wet weather. even baltimore could begin to slow down as the rain moves in. blowing snow causing problems in denver. we are in the mild air. temperatures are more like what they should be in the afternoon. 45 at the airport. 50 degrees at the inner harbor. 45 in college park. hagerstown, 40 degrees. we have a jump-start to the day.

upper 50's and low 60's. showers are likely. we do taper off overnight with mostly cloudy skies. we dry out through most of early tomorrow. more rain returning into friday morning. then the cold air will be pushing in. mid 40's. the possibility of a storm on sunday. i think it is to warm to see any substantial storm. we will keep you up to date as the models continue to change. >> new details in to the shooting at towson town center have police saying the person shot was not the victim of a random robbery. rob roblin joins us live. >> good morning. police have identified the victim. it is 19-year-old rodney pridget. he was shot just outside the mall.

police are saying that a suspect and the victim were seen inside the mall. no arrest has been made in this case. police are pointing at this was not a random act of violence and they want shoppers to understand that this was not robbery or random act. this investigation is ongoing. so far no arrests have been made. reporting live, rob roblin, wbal-tv 11 news. >> here is ann curry with a look at what is coming up next on the "today" show. >> are your tax is about to go up? we will talk about that and the state of the gop presidential race with michele bachmann this morning. a florida doctor funding a legal bill -- he calls for his

guardian angel. she will open up about the relationship. the best last-minute holiday shopping deals, plus one family's christmas card tradition that has turned them into internet sensations. those stories and it holiday performance from tony bennett when we get started here on "today." >> 46 degrees on tv hill. >> we will come back and check the weather and traffic together before you head out to start your day.

>> it has been a pretty decent weeks of war on the roads. >> it will get lighter as folks take off for work. have one problem in essex. major roadways are looking good. six minutes between the beltway and 100. we're looking good. this is the west side of the beltway. picking up in volume but no delays. this is 95 at white marsh. looking good in both directions. >> there is an elementary school in baltimore that is closed. do we need the heat? >> we are warming up temperature-wise. a high of 59. 15 degrees above normal. watch out for the rain today. we will see another round

thursday into friday. this forecast will give me gray hair to see if a storm will come on christmas. i know why john collins has gray hair. >> big for yourself. -- speak for yourself. >> looking for more weather and traffic together? be sure to join us this morning for 11 news at 7:00 a.m. on wbal plus. >> you'll find more local news as well as up-to-date traffic and weather information. you can find it all on comcast channel 208, verizon fios 460, and 11-2. >> thanks for joining us for 11 news today. >> we will be back with a live update at 7:25. >> have a great day.