hd -- you are watching wbal tv 11 news at 5:00 p.m. in hd. 11 news at 5:00 p.m. in hd continues now. >> new at 5:30 p.m., fencing at the inner harbor. there are details and questions about the city's plans for new year's eve. it is a whole new plan for the inner harbor events, and access. to control the flow of the crowd. >> tonight, we have new details about what we will encounter on new year's eve. jayne miller is live downtown. >> this is clearly a security plan. it comes after those two violent incidents on the 4th of july. will it create new problems? >> baltimore's inner harbor is fully open and accessible, but starting late next week a temporary fans will go up, and limiting access to certain entrances. -- a temporary fence will go up

limiting access to certain entrance is. >> it will be 6 feet high, slightly higher than this fence. >> it will be on the southeast side -- side of the harbor all the way around 2 president street on the northeast side. it will be funneled -- the public will be funneled to nine entrances. the entrances will be staffed by it safety personnel, but no other checkpoints will occur. >> anybody can come in and out during the event. >> there is no searching and no backpacks? >> no. -- there is no searching of backpacks or anything like that? >> no. >> i think it is a pretty good idea. >> but one law-enforcement experts, a former police chief, notes that the shooting of a 4- year-old happened outside of the fence line. it may bring unintended consequences. >> there could be somebody

making to deal with, particularly after the fireworks -- there could be some bottle necking to deal with after the fireworks. >> this could be a warmup for a similar plan to go into effect next to -- next 4th of july. reporting live from the inner harbor, wbal tv 11 news. >> here is a look at some other top stories at this hour. a baltimore couple has lost their bullying lawsuit against the school system. the claim that two of their children were bullied and that school officials did not take action. but today, a jury found school officials not guilty of negligence. what what they said they had a strong emotional case, they lacked the physical evidence necessary to take action.

this video was posted on line. it shows players and fans duking it out during a basketball game during the connections leadership academy and a washington d.c. high school. one person was treated for minor injuries. police need your help tracking down a holiday feet caught on surveillance camera. you can see the packages dropped off at a home in ellicott city. about an hour later, a woman pulls up in a blue, two-door sedan, and takes the package before driving off. county residences should check their holiday purchases and shipments before -- to make sure nothing is missing. anyone with information is urged to call howard county police. >> needy children will have gift under the tree and their families will have a to the dinner. rob roblin has the story. >> for 185 families in harford and cecil counties, thanks to a

lot of generous people, they will have a merry christmas. before the door was open, they were already lined up outside in aberdeen. inside, more than 100 bags of toys and presents for those in need this christmas. >> every little thing helps. we really appreciate it. >> this is all part of the salvation army's angel tree program. >> it is about 306 children and 185 families. we spent the better part of five days in your packing for these children. >> he says his company wanted to do something nice this christmas. along with the toys, they gave to needy families a christmas turkey. >> the honor thought it would be nice to enhance the feeling of getting. but we're giving away free

turkeys to all of the families that come to pick up their toys today. >> why? >> because christmas is the season of giving. we thought this was everything that is right about the holiday season. >> for those who came here today, for those who needed a helping hand, the kindness of strangers meet -- means a lot. >> you got to do what you've got to do. >> just money tight. >> money tight end time tight. everything. >> it is hard out here, even past holidays. it is hard every day, making ends meet, taking care of children. >> the spirit of christmas is alive and well in aberdeen today. >> for some people, this is the only way they can get presents for their kids. it takes a lot to help out like this. all you can really say to the people donating is thank you. >> and coming up tonight, that

two top gop contenders are taking swipes at president obama and each other. >> romney says gingrich is disrespectful. gingrich calls from the a chicken. straight ahead, what this war of words is all about. >> and the truth about texting, the dirty little secret about americans obsessions with their cell phones.

>> you can forget about plans for a one-on-one debate between mid not -- mitt romney and newt gingrich. romney called gingrich disrespectful to the other gop can't -- candidates. gingrich essentially then called him a chicken for refusing to accept his challenge. at a breakfast this morning he took aim at not his gop rival, but at president obama for the tax cuts now playing out in washington. >> this entire crisis is pure politics and it is baloney. there's not a business in america that makes -- that things that make sense to

attitude-month extension of the tax cut with no knowledge of what he will do -- to have a two-month extension of the tax cut with no knowledge of white people do on march 1. this is about as bad a process -- as bad a process of bad government as i can remember in my lifetime, and barack obama is the primary reason. >> gingrich is trying to gather the 10,000 signatures he still needs to appear on the ballot in january. >> anthony wiener is ending in a year with good news. he and his wife welcome their son into the world this month. >> if you ordered your holiday gifts on best buys website, and were still waiting for them, we have bad news. >> they will not be able to fulfill some of their online

orders. find out why, straight ahead. >> and let's leave it to lowell melzer to start the winter by getting to taste test some winter birds. how does he how doesgig? -- how does he get that gig? >> we will have the forecast in just a few minutes. first, a beautiful look o

>> house republican leaders agreed to wait too-bond extension of a payroll tax cut -- agree to a two-month extension of a payroll tax cut. and check your package deliveries. a thief is caught on camera. those

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>> 25 years and still going strong. max is tavern can safely call itself a baltimore institution, especially for beer drinkers out there. >> there are highlighting some of their special local winter breeze for the holidays. when that assignment was up for grabs coloma lowell melzer decided to test a few. >> what started as a grudge anbar 25 years ago -- as a garage band bar 25 years ago, it has now transition into one of the best cars in the world. he has 100 to draft and more than 800 bottles available at one time. -- 102 gratz and 1800 bottled bruce available at one time. as part of the 25th

anniversary, they are highlighting some great local christmas brews. we got a tour from the general manager. >> pretty much every brewery in the u.s. and around the world does a christmas beer. we have four beers in front of us. one from flying dog called k9 cruiser. another called devil's milk. kind of a new brewery called stillwater ale. it is called folklore. and this is a below deck aged in bourbon barrels. nothing too heavy or too crazy, but this is a great ear with your holiday dinner. -- great beer with your holiday dinner. >> and it has great hop flavor. cracks in very malty, slight eady taste to it.

this one will be slightly sweet, some fruit notes. >> a third, in your maryland. , stillwater folklore. -- a new where maryland. , stillwater folklore. >> dark chocolate, a little bit of raisins. it falls into a great winter category. and the final is heavy seas belowdecks. it was aged in american bourbon barrels. it is english style barley wine. it will be slightly sweet and then you get a big burden aftertaste. -- berber and aftertaste. it will be or after dinner holiday drink. >> if you would like more information on these beers that we just tasted, go to our website wbaltv.com.

>> and he is not even slurring his words. good. >> [unintelligible] [laughter] >> and he is so knowledgeable. >> oh, yes, i tasted chocolate. >> he has a very sophisticated palate. >> whenever you say. [laughter] >> i have been trying to will onto a chance of snow on christmas, but at one. further, it becomes wishcasting. i kind of lost my computer model support on this one. but who says it will not happen? weather-wise today, it was the first day of winter and it did not feel like winter. it made up to 62. the normal high is 43. 55 right now at the airport.

temperatures are starting to fall off a little bit. back into the 40's overnight and the low 50's in the northern suburbs. this storm system is pointing right at us. we have a batch of rain coming out of virginia that shouldn't move into the next two or three hours. heavy rain across kentucky and tennessee that will converge on maryland overnight tonight. yet another two or three hours and then after that, the rain will move in. some of the rain could be heavy. we could get close to an inch of rain before it tapers off in the morning. rain likely to die. not this evening. the next couple of hours will be dry. rain overnight and then early in the morning, you will see some of that grain. it will move out quickly.

partly cloudy skies in the afternoon. cooler, but still above average. high around 52. it is cold enough in the mountains in the evening on friday for a little bit of snow. that is good news for your skiers. it will be cold enough to make snow, starting tomorrow and into christmas eve. the computer model is still picking some of what we call that off snow event. if you're going to the ratings game it will be fine. a lot colder, but we do not expect any rain or snow on christmas eve. been going into christmas day, a clipper will be diving out of the great lakes. you might be able to squeeze a few sprinkles or snow flurries during the day on christmas afternoon. if we do get it, it will be ambiance know. nothing to worry about.

drive on christmas eve with a high on it -- a high near 45. monday and tuesday, in the 40's. the best chance for rain will be wednesday and thursday. >> in tonight's consumer alert, if you cannot afford to buy a home, you might read one, right? now parents can choose the same option for pricey toys. some websites will regulate the way for as little as $2.99 plus shipping. -- will rent a to wait for as little as $2.90 plus shipping. with just a few days left before christmas, the race is on for shoppers. if you have not finished shopping, you may be in luck when it comes to bargains. but if you ordered online from best buy, your gift-giving could

be in jeopardy. >> the list is made. you have checked it twice. now the pressure is on to get those last make gifts. but do not worry, you're not alone. >> 25% of americans have yet to begin their holiday shopping. >> many are spending less overall in this uncertain economy. >> i have been doing a little bit here and there. >> others are holding out for the better deals. >> i get a lot of good deals on line. there will be promo code on facebook. i get a lot of coupon blogs and save a lot of money that way. >> on-line shopping is up 15% compared to last year and some stores are having trouble meeting demand. best buy announced today they will not be able to fulfil some orders in time for delivery this christmas. retailers overall are trying to make up for sluggish sales from

black friday we can win shoppers spent a record 52 billion -- black friday weekend when shoppers spent a 52 minute -- a record $52 million. >> people tell us that when they shop at the 23rd hour, they tend to spend much more than they had planned to. >> shoppers can also get gift cards and find last-minute deals online for free shipping. >> the holidays have just begun, but already, shoppers are racking up returns. the national retail federation projects more than $46 billion in holiday returns. read why in our story on wbaltv.com, click on consumer alert. finally, the king has lost his crown. wendy's is about to overtake burger king as the no. 2 hamburger chain. market researchers say sales at burger king are expected to drop

nearly 4%, while wendy's is seeing an increase of just over 1%. this is the first time when these will move into the no. 2 spot since it was founded in 1969. mcdonald's remains the leader in the fast-food industry. >> researchers studying business ethics have discovered a dirty little secret about texting. people are more likely to lie in a text compared to when they speak to someone face to face. when you text, you cannot be judged by body clues or facial expressions. one of the ravens star players will be sidelined for the next two games. pete gilbert will have an update on the status of anquan boldin. but first, our the ravens offer of just rewards for a the -- a group of local students working to improve the lives of those around them.

>> members of the sociology club at the institute for visual arts are working to make the right -- the other is brighter for local families this year. -- the holidays brighter for local families this year. lisa robinson introduces us to this week's honor rose recipients. >> i'm really grateful. >> natasha is thankful for the boxes and boxes of gifts she is taking hold. she has five kids and this year,

her family has had a really rough time. >> we had an electrical fire a couple of months ago and then on monday, i found out i do not have a job anymore. the center was shut down. >> but thanks to the students in a sociology class at the institute of visual arts in west baltimore, wallace and her children will have a meal and toys under the joke -- under the tree this christmas. >> what you do for one, when that person is able, they will then do for someone else. i was once a single mother who was unable to provide for my family. i had to go to get a christmas and thanksgiving? . i always said i would instill that in the students. -- a christmas and thanksgiving box and i always said i would instill that in the students. >> you can give back in many types of situations. i care about my community. that is why do this. >> it is that kind of giving spirit that got the students

recognized by the ravens for their honor rose program. the sociology club members got to go to a football game and share the experience together. >> we got to see the ravens up close and personal. and we got to enjoy a nice game and how now with each other. it was a very good experience. -- hong out with each other. it was a very good experience. >> that is all for us at 5:00 p.m. here is what is coming up at 6:00 p.m. >> i'm jayne miller live at the inner harbor. city officials respond to the plan to put the fence around harbor new year's eve. >> fists fly at a high school basketball game. we have the video, coming up at 6:00 p.m. >> there appears to be a breakthrough in the standoff over the payroll tax cut. find out which side blinked. >> live, local, late breaking, this is wbal tv 11 news at 6:00

p.m. >> the partisan stalemate has ended. within a hawk -- the last half- hour, house republicans announced a deal with the senate to renew the payroll tax cuts. tonight, more details about the plan for the inner harbor security fence. it includes a tall fence. and city officials answered some questions about that. jayne miller is live downtown. >> some wonder if the temporary fences around the harbor will simply keep people away. if all goes well on new year's eve, expect to see a similar plan at other big events. >> the plan is to ring baltimore's inner harbor temporarily with a fence like this, chain-link, and 6 feet tall. it will extend on that -- from the southeast side of the harbor all the way around to nearly president street on the northeast side. northeast side.