dropping the contract moons the city can now move forward with others interested in hosting ranking events in baltimore. >> 1989. that was the last time there have been under 200 homicides. this year so far there are 1983 murders. the commissioner says the crime numbers continue to drop. >> numbers can't fully quantify murder, there is the pain, anguish, and personal loss. but there is less of it this year by a margin not seen in more than three decades, and that, police say, is worth talking about. >> we've had two commercial robberies in this area recently. >> reporter: on the streetose of baltimore, the commissioner is seeing his cops where he says they need to be, uses

crime data and a laser focus on illegal guns, he sees his force implements a plan he set forth more than three years ago, & a plan he says is -- a plan he says he working. >> we are are proud that we could take a strategy, just the same as coach harbaugh could drop up a plan on the chalk board before this is how we're going to attack, and they went out and execute the play. i'm just blessed that we drew up the play, and 3,000 of them went out and executed it. >> reporter: executing the arrest of bad guys with guns. the singular strategy arounds that often pithy sound byte with the problems he says are now maturing. tracing illegal firearms, and who uses them, and putting a target on the most violent and repeat offenders, all of it

playing a role in this year's historic low in murders. >> people aren't getting killed with bows and arrows or laser beams. it still remains that the vast majority of people killed in this city are killed with illegal handguns by people who have gun records in the past. so it's not rocket science. >> reporter: he said that his police department is more deliberate in what crimes they go after. the illegal gun is the new target in police activity, and he thinks seizing so many of them was what pled a lower murder rate this year. >> i want to be on record, on your tape, in this interview, saying this is not a victory celebration. we still have a very is long way to go in this city, but we're getting the job done.

>> reporter: and the commissioner says he has much more work to do. coming up tonight at 11:00, we will discuss what he is planning for 2012, and how he believes he can continue the down ward trend in violent crime. murder err charges have been filed against two doctors after a botched abortion led investigators to a clinic of horrors. dr. brigham, and dr. o'reilly were arrested and charged with first and second-degree murder this week, after learning about a patient whose doctor had gone wrong, and required trips to two other hospitals back in august of 2012. officers found 30 fetuses in the freezer, with some as many as 36 weeks along. >> was really traumatic the whole area, put a bad taste in everybody's mouth for that whole area in general.

so it's unfortunate that had to happen in this building. >> according to the state medical board, brigham has never been licensed to practice medicine in maryland. dr. riley's license was suspended. two firefighters were hurt after a two alarm fire in elton in the 100 block of church street just after 12:00 this afternoon. a firefighter from the chesapeake fire department suffered a heart attack. no word on his condition tonight. a second firefighter was treated for smoke inhalation. no word on what caused that fire. >> work on the national september is s1th memorial say 11th memorial museum has been pushed back due to a budget constraint. mayor michael bloomberg blames the holdup on disagreements with the port authority of new york and new jersey, which is responsible for part of the

project's finding. more than a million people have visited the 9-11 memorial since it was opened this year. just a few clouds out there right now and on the whole a very big shift in temperatures from a frigid winter like day to yesterday, and a very butty day abc 2 we go back the day before that. today we're in the mid-50s in spots. the southerly breezes will keep temperatures from dropping terribly quickly, though. depends on where you are. further points south, low 50s this evening for a few hours. baltimore north ward 40s. we'll talk about how things shape up for the first day of the new year coming up. if you text wmar to 46988

right now, you can download one of our apps and get the latest news and information you need wherever you go. that app features live traffic cameras, baltimore's most accurate weather forecast, and breaking video of news as it happens. the big fire works are on in downtown baltimore tomorrow night. sponsors came forward to guarantee the city tradition will continue, but there will be some changes in the sky and on the ground. roosevelt joins us with more on that. >> the traditional fireworks on new year's eve will go on as planned. the barges full of fire works are being readied for a dazzling display. the group says they like the inner harbor because the show is over water, it allows them to use some of their biggest and brightest fireworks. >> we have everything tested. should be a great show. we have approximately 14,000

pounds of product that's on both barges. pretty much 1300 pounds of that is all fireworks. we changed this show around a little bit differently. it will have larger effects from the bigger barge. we have an l.e.d. lighting set piece that should be neat to see. >> the fencing is up around the harbor to help with crowd control this year. there will be limited entrances in and out of the harbor, and police will be out in force to help with the tremendous crowd of people that are expected to attend the big show tomorrow night. >> thanks, rosie. if you plan on going out for new years, baltimore city wants to make sure you get home safe. the tipsy yellow cab service will be out in force. it is for anyone 21 and over.

the service is available, baltimore city limits only, and covers cab rides under 50 bucks. you should put the number in your phone right now just in case you're going to need it. 8877-963-taxi. this month it seems many people are looking to give. the number of people donating to chair advertise across the country is on the up swing, but as allison tells us, time is running out if you want a tax break. donations for december of this year are up 15% from december of 2010, but according to the charity website network for good, charitable contributions still lag behind prerecession levels, and for all of 2011 be running just slightly ahead of last year. with unemployment high and an uncertain economy, donors are a little more reluctant to give, but there are still powerful

incentives to give. of course many want to help those who are less fortunate than we are are, and there's a tax savings. one-third of all on-line giving takes place in december with an astonishing 22% of that come being in the last two days of the year, as people rush to get a last-minute tax break for 2011. if you are one of the last minute donors hoping to qualify for a tax break, the clock is ticking. donations must be made to charity before the ball drops. after mailing in a donation, it must be post marked by december 31st to qualify for a deduction on your taxes. the company that makes those red light cameras wants to get your attention. we're going to tell you how they hope some scary moments caught on tape will make you think twice before you cross an intersection. plus a dramatic rescue watched by millions on live television. and winter weather could be to blame for an increase in flare-up skin conference.

how to cut down on bad reactions this time of year.

a new push to make the roads safer and reduce one of the most deadly kind of crashes. those than when drivers run red lights pup one company says their individualee could save lives. >> reporter: it is not a pretty picture, ask that's the point. this company now posting video on-line of cars caught by cameras as they blow through red lights. at this florida intersection, the driver runs the red, and is smashed into, but the driver who has the green light. >> there are so many people who believe that their time is more important than your life.

>> reporter: these are some of 2011's worst offenders. the hope is if drivers see what can happen, they will hit the brake next time they see red. but will it work? >> well, it might make a difference around the margins, but most people think crashes happen to other people, not to them. >> reporter: there's little doubt that accidents like these are deadly. in 2009, nearly 700 people were killed and is 130,000 injured in red light running crashes. most of those were there in the other vehicles, or pedestrians or bicyclists. when this car ignores the red, it hits an suv which rolls right into a pedestrian. miraculously, he survived. the cameras are controversial. there is evidence they can increase rear-enders, as drivers slam on brakes to avoid getting caught, but a study found they also reduce the more deadly t-bone crashes and save lives. >> people know that they

shouldn't run red lights, but the best education program is a traffic ticket. >> reporter: in many of these crashes, it appears the driver never saw the red, never slowed down. so if you're waiting at an intersection and your light turns green, you may want to wait a beat before you proceed. this year was one of the safest for airline passengers. according to the wall streetle journal, the commercial airline industry had just one passenger death for every 7.1 million travelers across the world. the previous record was set in 2004 with 1 death per 6 million passengers. so just when we think we're going to have winter, then, bam, they stick us back in with a day like today. it was amazing. >> yeah, a bit of a seesaw ride, no question about it, but really to the year will end on a mild note and be even milder

for the first month of january. -- first of january. take a look outside. dusk here the charm city. 46 degrees right now. winds are are east-southeast at 6 miles per hour through the day. had some nice sunshine on tap through the afternoon. that was ice, get the vitamin d levels up, right? always a good thing. mix of sun and clouds, and manchester, light snow on the ground, but it melts off pretty quickly. one last camera for you, from annapolis, great-looking day in the state capital, as we are here on the eve of new year's eve. and maryland's most powerful radar still sitting all clear. that should hold up the evening. toward daybreak tomorrow, we should see a few showers sneak in out of the west, but it won't last long, and we will be

clear by the afternoon. mid-40s so low 40s across most of the state now. winds are southwesterly 5 to 10, just a light breeze, a warm breeze, and high temperatures today reaching into the low 50s. again, we're track something rain showers out to the north and west. so far just been a few passing clouds, but you can see this disturbance, this clipper system pinwheeling its way out of the chicago care with a little snow mixed in. but this will scrape by just close enough to per happens bring a few rain showers overnight tonight. yes, rainshowers. again, this friday evening,

you're dry. 6:00 a.m. saturday morning, there see the best chance for one of those sort of spokes of energy to come off that storm and provide a few rain showers, and then as we go into tomorrow afternoon, just a few clouds, nice and dry into your new new year's eve, should be great conditions for the fireworks. and then going into your sunday, looking good for weather all across the state as we head to our tail gate party in the afternoon. overnight tonight down to 38. increases clouds. a few showers by dawn. your last day of one to 11, 56, low clearing, and still mild, and, yes, new year's eve looking good. 35 degrees. clear party weather, right? and let's check out your seven- day forecast. looking ahead and finding temperatures near 60 for the first day of the new year. how is that? then things get windy monday, and we will get a blast of cold air by tuesday, but enjoy a

mild new year's weekend. was a real cliff hanger grab mattic rescue that millions watched live on television yesterday, as los angeles firefighters came to the rescue of a young man and his doc. here are the details from scott goldberg. >> reporter: they were enjoying a cliffside hike until the dad decided to toss a bottle over. >> the dog went after it. >> reporter: it could have been thdeadliest fetch. lola, the one-year-old german shepherd mix went after the bottle and then huffle -- then tumbled halfway down the 300 foot press his. the went after her, and also

fell halfway. >> the dog was getting nervous, she was shaking allot, and i was slighting down as well. >> reporter: a large bloom of stuff starting pelting the sky. two firefighters repelled over the side of the cliff, attached harnesses to the two, and then whisked the dog away first, and then snap ivan just as the hillside beneath him slipped away. the only thing hurt, his feelings for his dad. >> he gave me a hug, and then he just gavemy money, because he knew it was his fault. >> reporter: lola didn't really blame anyone. >> oh, lola is fine. she's call and relaxed right now. >> reporter: ivan said he would have only lasted another 20 minutes before his strength ran out. >> we know it's fun to crack

the bubbly, but can also lied to an emergency room visit in not not careful. we'll show you how to open your bottles safely. we have tip tips on how to get a handle on that hangover.

tomorrow millions of us will ring in the new year with a champagne toast, but all of those flies corks can be dangerous. a champagne cork can clock 50 miles per hour as it breaks from the bottle. that's enough to break glass and cause permanent eye damage. the work in a warm bottle is much more likely to shake

suddenlily. and don't shake the bottle. point the bottle away from people, of course, and put a towel over the bottle top when you're ready. hold down the cork, and slowly twist the bottle as it slowly works free. chances are if you ring in the new year with some adult benches, you might be spending new year's day with a hangover, but some foods you eat can help you get a handle on that hangover. start with hydrating yourself and rebuilding your electrolytes. >> i always recommend having soup as one option, so any type of soup that you like, but what we're talking about here is getting fluid and plenty of salt. >> experts say you can also down a sports drink before you go to bed, or as soon as you get up, and that will replace some of those electrolytes. also try eating fruits. the truck toes hand help --

truck toes can help -- fructose can help get the alcohol out of your system earlier. cold winter air and skin is a bad combination for people with skin problems who of get playups this time of year. rosatia causes rid's, and hole day eating and parties can also bring -- holiday eating and parties can also increase the impact. >> the dietary element in row say somewhat unfortunately flares. >> the doctor suggests staying away from product that try out your skin, and if the problem per sifts, go see a -- persists, go see a determine

atologist. new year's eve, we're on the final countdown, and preparations are underway around the world. we'll tell you how folks are bringing in 2012 [ snoring ] [ thunder crashes ] [ snoring ] [ thunder crashes ] [ snoring ] [ male announcer ] vicks nyquil cold and flu. the nighttime, sniffling, sneezing, coughing, aching, fever, best sleep you ever got with a cold... medicine. ♪ ♪

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first tonight, it may be winter, but many people still like to keep a summer glow on their skin. however, the rules