lawmakers passed the two on month extension of the tax cut. after days of drama and a double, it means your taxes will not be going up on january 1. sally kidd live with the details. >> this is seen as a political victory for the president and a blow to house republicans. >> ending a week of deadlock. >> i now have unanimous consent. >> the quickly passed a payroll tax cut extension with no debate. it came one day after house republican leaders gave to pressure from democrats and republicans alike. >> we were here fighting for the right things. may not have been politically the smartest thing in the world. >> the bill extends unemployment benefits and prevent a cut in medicare benefits to doctors. president obama signed it into law before writ -- before leaving for vacation. >> when congress returns, i urge them to keep working to reach an

agreement that extends the tax cut. >> democratic leaders appointed members to a conference committee to negotiate with republicans on a one-year extension. >> i think the american people's voice was heard very loudly. >> polls show americans are fed up. >> i think americans are kind of the jaded with the tone of this course around here and with the gulf between the parties. >> congress's approval rating is a mere 11%. >> people wonder why the approval rating of congress is so low. i do not wonder. it seems that everything we have done this last year has been a knockdown drag out fight. >> the fighting is likely to resume in january when the negotiations resume over the what-year extension. >> what is the issue? what is the contention involved with extending it for a full-

year? courts there is a big disagreement about how to pay for it. democrats are talking about reigniting their push for this tax on millionaires. that is something republicans are opposed to. republicans are talking about freezing federal worker pay and putting restrictions on unemployment benefits. >> thank you for the report. republicans did score one victory by working a provision requiring a swift decision on whether or not to approve the keystone pipeline that would run from canada to texas. when february comes to an end, so does the tax cut extension. a comprehensive breakdown of what is to come is on wbaltv.com. be sure to click on project economy. >> he made the announcement to retire earlier today as part of a deal with premium capital fund. it will infuse $36 million into

the cash strapped a bank. he launched the first mayor lender after winning a shareholders' battle in 1991 to take over baltimore bank. the president will now serve as interim ceo. >> at this hour police are investigating a double shooting in southwest baltimore. two men were shot on was lexington street around 3:45 and to take into a nearby hospital. there are no word on his conditions or identities. meanwhile the search continues for a suspect after a double shooting in east baltimore. it happened before 7:30 on north rose street. we are told officers found a 25- year-old man with a gunshot wound to the hand and a later founded 19-year-old woman with a anshot wound to the pobuttox couple of blocks away.

in dallas people camped out overnight. in indianapolis people were trampled. in seattle people used pepper spray because everyone wanted to get their hands on the new air jordans. there were also some problems are here in maryland. he joins us an annapolis with the details. >> here there were so many people early this morning that they had to call police. one person was injured and had to be taken to the hospital. there were three arrests. also some problems at hand are randall mills mall. what you are watching is video from a shopping mall in seattle. crowds got out of control while waiting for the latest model of the air jordans to go on sale. >> a fight was caused, that is about it. everybody was trying to stop the fight and they started spraying. >> there were huge crowds around

the country as people were waiting to purchase the shoes. prices ranged from $180 for the adult size to $55 for the top our size. police say there were no major problems, but there was a large crowd as people gathered hoping to get a chance to buy a pair of the new air jordans. >> i have never seen that many people out here for a pair of shoes. the >> you were out here, right? "i was sitting in my car. people were standing outside at 1:45. they were out there at 1:45. >> the stores had a limited number of shoes for sale. frank was lucky, he got a peer. >> i luckily got here. --got a pair. >> i will wear them a couple of times and then i will look at them a little bit. >> they sell fast here at the

ball. all of the stores sold out and about 15 or 20 minutes. >> police have made an arrest after it published -- stabbing in baltimore county. george evans faces first-degree murder charges after investigators say he stabbed 23- year-old kevin. investigators believe the two and got into a fight when he stabbed the man several times. >> if you are headed out of town for the holidays you will have lots of company. aaa says 94 million americans will travel this weekend with nearly 84 million hitting the road. kai reed to assess with some tips on how to manage the craziness. >> i do not know if i know how to manage it other than being patient. most people are driving this weekend. that is despite the fact that

gas prices have hit a holiday high. >> we are going to free bird pennsylvania. >> we are traveling down to florida. >> 92 million americans will travel. that makes it the second highest holiday travel. in the next -- the last decade. the majority will be hitting the road instead of flying. >> the back fees are getting ridiculous. that is a huge fall. it cost an extra $100 just to travel and pay for our backs. >> according to aaa, almost 21% increase in airfare is pushing air travel that. driving is not exactly cheap either. >> gas prices are the highest they have ever been during a christmas. it is down about 9 cents from last month, it is significantly higher than it was this time last year. >> no reports of delays that bwi

as the travel date ramps up. more than 1 million travels this week and the beginning of the new year. every little bit helps because this time of the year getting there smugly as part of the gift. >> family and spending it together, good health, everything else will come. >> maryland gas prices are averaging at $3.18 a gallon. it is still 16 cents higher than it was this time last year. here is a reminder for ' you are heading to the airport. he went to check your airline on the one side and make sure of that everything is going ok. he also want to make sure you get there at least two hours ahead of time. >> we say no before you go. check travel conditions on

wbaltv.com. you can watch conditions under cell phone and watch the cameras and the weather section. you can also call the state's 511 system. >> how about just "no to go." no going. >> there is much more news ahead on a lebanese at 6:00. pete gilbert has the preview of tomorrow's baltimore ravens game match up with the cleveland browns. >> how you can help those in need to stay warm this winter. >> it will get colder as we head into the holiday weekend. first, here is a look outside.

>> two young boys got the ultimate christmas present when their father surprised them with this unique reunion at medieval times. lieutenant colonel jeff allen greetings to his son's 8-year- old hunter and a six-year old cooper. he returned after his third tour of duty in iraq that appeared >> i am happy to be, north carolina my sons again. -- i am happy to be, and i am happy to see my sons again. it was great to see the reaction on their faces when they saw me. >> lieutenant-colonel allen was one of the last units out of iraq and he will be home for two

weeks before heading back to north carolina. >> as the weather gets colder people reach for the thermostats causing heating bills to skyrocket. many families cannot afford that in this economy. kim basey shows there is an easier way to stay warm this winter. >> heating bills go up and out of reach for thousands of families and maryland already struggling to make ends meet. >> we have a number of seniors who are unable to pay heating bills. we also have people with disabilities. that number is increasing and lot. we have people coming to us whose service has already been turned off. >> the fuel fund of maryland helps people in maryland pay their bge bills. they help them keep the lights on strictly through donations. most of the families they help have children. >> they need lights on to do

their homework. they need electricity to run the hot water heater so they can have baths. they needed nutritious foods. what the donations mean to those families is really the basic necessities of life. >> the have always been able to donate through the mail and an envelope included in their bill. this year there is an easier way to contribute. >> the fuel fund need for donations now more than ever. with the cost of world going up and the economy going down. >> we have the federal government not proper -- not funding their programs to the extent they used to. we have an increase in families that have lost jobs. that just means that more people need to get a helping hand. >> this holiday in the field fund would like you to consider donating and giving families against that is so basic and so essential. >> heat and lights are just as

essential as housing. it does not help a family as much to have a house without heat in the tory house without light. is such a basic necessity that i think people would understand there is an immediate ratification to the families. >> who can find a link to the envelope on our web site wbaltv.com. >> good program. it has been some bombing the past couple of days. --balmy the past couple of days. >> today the high temperature was 53 which is 10 degrees above average. everybody says it was much colder. i kind of feel like i let everyone down. i was trying to let the -- i was trying to create a snowstorm from somewhere. >> he clung to the flakes. >> i would not give it up but now have to give it up we are watching a little storm coming

out of the great lakes. that's no will pass north of us tonight and we will wind up with partly cloudy skies through the overnight. there is no snow flurries or anything like that in the forecast. it is 44 at the airport. it is significantly cooler than the last three days, but this is nothing unusual for this time of year. the forecast for tonight is partly cloudy skies, temperatures will drop into the upper 20's. the winds which were breezy and a couple of hours ago or selling down. during the day tomorrow for christmas eve day, mostly sunny skies. the high-temperature is between 45 degrees and 46 degrees. lsu will get some sun shine in the afternoon. we do not expect trouble for santa claus on christmas eve as well.

59 degrees in atlanta. atlanta is a connecting hub so that is important. 80 degrees in tampa. there will be a storm in the southern plains that will produce some cold across portions of oklahoma and back into texas. the high temperature in dallas is only 45. it looks like los angeles is the place to be. sunshine and 75 degrees tomorrow. the storm in the southern plains is the one i thought might give us some christmas bell. this will be the set up in the upper levels of the atmosphere on christmas day. the northern branch of the stream is, it gives us cold air. there will be little storms traveling down on christmas day. what a lot of the computer models were showing is this little copper storm picking up the storm that stalled in the southern plains and merging it

together into one bigger storm that would give us some snow. that is not going to happen. this one is countries that bought by and leave the store behind in the southern plains. it will wind up as a rainmaker for us on tuesday. this could have been our christmas know. instead it will turn into a rain storm on tuesday. a mixture of clouds and sunshine. it will be chilly but nothing unusual for december. the high-temperature 46. there could be some sprinkles or flurries at night. nothing during the day. 46 degrees on christmas day and a dry on monday with 44. it gives us a chance of rain on tuesday. a high temperature at at 43 degrees. >> thoroughly enjoyed my purple friday this afternoon at the senior center. i talked with a fired up group

of baltimore ravens fans. almost unanimous belief there, the baltimore ravens will reach the super bowl. the defense got up like a christmas tree. his first year as the helm of a defensive coordinator went well. he handles himself very well at the microphone. it is likely some team comes calling sooner than later. that is fine with him, just not right now. "i remember going all the way back to being a kid my dad being a football coach. he asked the same question of all the assistance he hired, is your goal to be a head football coach? if somebody had answered them, not really i am ok just being a position coach, i do not think he wanted them on his staff. he wanted ambitious guys. if you ask anybody they would say, yes. that is something i always work for.

my focus and our focus is on the cleveland browns. >> final game injury report arrives with no surprises. boldin out. cory redding is questionable. "mccord is out again with concussion symptoms. cenacle wallace will start in his place. --senneca wallace will start in his place. speaking of injuriesben ruled out in the steelers' game against the rams. baltimore locks up the division title and a first-round bye. we got some help from the colts last night. the texans are still fighting for a bite. the tipped ball was caught by jacoby jones. it only lead to a field goal.

a 16-12 game. with one minute and a time -- no timeouts, that is fine. 34 yards and that sets up this. 23 seconds left, a faded to wayne. the colts got it done. after 13 losses to start the season, they have now won two and a row. that gives it the houston texans five losses. that is good for baltimore. that,e watched none of but somebody out there did. >> a look at the 70 forecast that spirit will be back.

i miss that guy with all my heart. we shared classes together, we survived the lectures, and we took the tests and we told the jokes. but now i must look at the empty desk with an empty heart, unable to rest. while all the other kids laugh and play, i'll only remember that one day, when my best friend jeff was taken away.

i love you, jeff. quite a compromise on the two month tax attention. if you are traveling this holiday weekend to have lots of company. city police helps families in need

>> let's take a look at the seven-day forecast. tomorrow nothing going on. if you go to the baltimore ravens game it will be chilly and the dry. no snow on christmas day. maybe some snow flurries at night. the real chance for any precipitation will be tuesday of next week. a quiet holiday week. >> there is nothing wrong with that. >> some people will agree with that. >> thank you for joining us.