with rain moving in across the area. we have it moving in. but if you are traveling into virginia this morning, there is a severe thunderstorm warning for some counties. you can see where you getting with most of the being a. around this area to pad -- action. around this area around madison you are dealing with heavy rain. gusty winds in excess of about 60 miles an hour. so we are going to need both hands on the steering wheel. as we look closer to home, we are looking at storm pushing off to the north and east around lake shore, severna and crossing over the bay. the eastern shore will get in on some of this action. look at temperatures. they are warm this morning. moms, dads, you can give the kids a lighter jacket but make sure they have the rain gear as they go throughout the day. let's get a check of the traffic now with burt good morning. >> reporter: good morning. thanks. and weather is the factor as you hit the roadways are fog and wet road surfaces. this is i-83 in hunt valley. cameras at shawan road, traffic

is moving well right now. but you can see the fog out there. and if you are traveling through the stretch give yourself caution. traffic well run around the beltway. outer loop lanes and running at posted speeds. and accident anne arundel maryland 295 with a crash cleanup and travel times. southbound 83 from shawan road to 695, 6 minutes. and your outer loop beltway from 795 to 70 a 9-mind right -- minute ride. now back to you. >> time is 5:31. high stakes and high drama. the four gop candidates squared off with the rifey -- rivalry between the two presidential hopefuls taking center stage. corinne redman has the wrap-up. >> reporter: the four remaining gop presidential candidates were fired up as they took the stage for the final debate

before florida's primary. mitt romney and newt gingrich sparred over the best approach to illegal immigration and romney was called for -- called on his call for self- deportation and the conversation shifted to housing a. big problem florida with the number of foreclosuresp they tried to tie each other to pretty mack. rick santorum who is trailing badly kept trying to get the conversation on track with the issues. ron paul who not campaigning in florida took a shot at newt gingrich over his claim he balanced the budget as house speaker. . >> i'm prepared to be realistic because it's to pass legislation in washington. >> the idea i am antiimmigrant is is repulsive. don't use a term like that. he should have been anxiously telling the american people. >> reporter: the 50-gop delegates are up for grabs in the winner take all contest on tuesday. corinne redman, abc2 news. >> thanks corinne. looking at news around the nation, a man is expected to be

formally sentenced to death in a home invasion and triple murder in connecticut. he was convicted in december in the murder of jennifer petit and her two daughters 11 and 17. the father dr. william petit is expected to speak at the sentencing. the accomplice stephen hayes was sentenced to death in december of 2010. a burglar in north carolina stole a donation jar from a convenience store and several hours later came back and the owner was showing the new station the surveillance video when the suspect walked into the store e didn't tell police why he -- he didn't tell police why he came back but confessed to the break in and showed the bat he used to smash his way into the store. >> a tale of two rescues in alaska. a coast guard crew was called in to rescue the fewer member- crew of a fishing crew. they had to abandon the mission

because of high wind and waves. early wednesday morning it was redirected to alaska where another fishing veste was sinking. a third -- vessel was sunk a third helicopter made it to the third accident and rescued the crew. everyone is doing okay this morning thank goodness. it's the 11th annual world of pets expo and if you have a pet especially a dog you are going to love this. brian keepler is live where all the pets are. and i saw the tricks earlier. those poochs ray mazing. >> reporter: there's cool things -- are amazing. >> reporter: there's a lot of cool things to see for your family and kids and your own pet which you can bring i want to bring in jeanne who accept set this up. there's a lot of different things you can do. but we talked about the adoptions going on. >> we have many rescues for all sorts of animals no matter what kind of pet you are look for,

you can probably find a rescue with that pet available. >> reporter: and while we are here throughout the weekend, there's so much to do and see, right. >> there is. there's shopping, and hundreds of booths and great entertainment. full schedule at world of pets. [audio not understandable] details everything that'shappening. >> reporter: and it's affordable to come and see what it is to see here right in. >> yesch it's $10 for adults and $5 for children. children under 5 are free so about the price of a hour and half weekend you can spend the weekend with us. one of the things you will see some of the entertainment things and lucy will show us what you got you measure how far they jump into the pool. that's wouldn't things peoplecan see. >> yes it will be a judged competition with the akc dog

agility a cat and gerbil and beginy pig-a-thon. >> reporter: and the akc you can test how-- >> that's a competition. there's 600 runs and they are competitors qualifying for points. >> reporter: and you can bring your dog in as well right? >> yes. you can bring your dog with you as long as your pets are well socialized. it's a very busy show more fun than you want with your pet but you need to be sure your pet can handle the excitement. >> which there's a lot of excitement here. right? you don't trip over the camera cord. anyway this is going on all week long. you can bring your pet and if it is a social life or sheut should be be a great time. reporting live, brian keebler abc13 news. i have to take my dog out there. >> the first lady is taking her let's move campaign to the

airwaves. up next, the shows michelle obama will visit to talk about her aim to end childhood obesity. and he was a star on the 70s sitcom welcome back carter. but first up to new york for this morning's tech bites. >> reporter: in today's tech bites shopers in market for new hdtv for the superbowl parties may miss the ball. propray digsally the post holiday period is a good time for tvs but holiday sales werestrong meaning retailers have less inventory and manufacturers are banking on 2012 models with smart apps. dieson unveiled a portable heater that looks unlike anything you've seen before. it has no spinning plays or heating elements unless you program the exact prr you want. >> for one thing, it does the main job heading a modest sized

room pretty well. it heats up relatively quietly. >> it retails for $400. and those are your tech bites, thanks for watching, i am rob nelson.

now "good morning maryland." police had to do horse wrangling on the street of modesto california. a shutland pony was loose running wild among traffic when the cops tried to corral it. it bolted. officers chased the animal before he stopped for a snack a few houses down. and it took some fresh oats for the pony to finally calm down enough for an animal handler to get him into a trailer. the pony will stay at a shelter until the owner is found. look at that. i mean you know you think of a

little pony but not running through a neighborhood. >> we have dogs and ponies. it's to go i wanted a pony and never got it. this morning we are dealing with reduced visibility and we have fog out there. around most places. we want to aim to the 10s in easton and dc and culpepper. but fog is not the only concern. we are looking at wet weather working its way in the area. you have seen a couple showers a line of showers and thunderstorms back off towards the west and we do have severe thunderstorm warning in effect until 5:45 for counties back into virginia. you want to be aware. gusty wind with the system working et cetera way across the area. it's pushing off to the northeast at 60 miles per hour. you can see the rain across the area heavy rain and we will be getting in on that going through the remainder of the morning.

chester down and into the eastern store and we are looking into chesapeake city and middletown cecilton and goe lena. let's check the -- da lena. let's check -- galena. let's check the traffic with burt. >> reporter: u.s. 29 at maryland 108. see the shine off the roadway? that is indicating wet conditions but traffic is moving well. howard county a lane blocked, u.s. 40 eastbound. utility crews closed the road. looking towards downtown, and it's a little downtown. no reported delays or around the 695 baltimore beltway. no reported problems and no delays to passe long. now back to you with shery johnson. pawb like viewing is -- a public viewing is set for today in inglewood for etta james. she was 7 3 years old.

she would have turned 74 on wednesday. she has an unmistakable voice and known for the song at last. you hear it at a lot of weddings. her funeral will be tomorrow and preside by reverend al sharpton. it's been almost two years now since first lady mi shoal's bamma implemented the campaign aimed at ending childhood obesity. she will be promoting her let's move push on the airwaves next week. she will appear on the tonight show with jay leno next tuesday she will be on the ellen degeneres show and next thursday. well he played the wife cracking jew puerto rican high school on the sitcom welcome back carter. this morning, hollywood is mourning his death. richard died yesterday at the age of 60 after being taken to a hospital. doctors say he was in full cardiac arrest. his character always wrote phoney notes to be excused from class and signed them epstein's

mother. a group of psychics and mediums are planning a trip to poe's grave site. what they expect from the dead author. plus, over 60 million dollars of lottery money is on the line in iowa. when consider the-- a murderer will learn her fate. i am linda so with sentencing day in the yogurt shop murder.

now "good morning maryland. it's sentencing day for the woman who killed a coworker at a bethesda yoga store. linda so is here with why prosecutors say she should never be let out of jail. >> reporter: a judge will listen to the arguments before sentencing brittany norwood. prosecutors say she would be a tremendous danger to the community if she were of released. they contend she is beyond rehabilitation and want her to stay behind bars with no chance of parole. she was convicted of killing her coworker last year. murray had more than 330 distinct offensive wounds from different weapons on her body. norwood initially lied and said

the two way tacked and sexually a-- were attacked and sexually assaulted. norwood tried to cover up the crime scene. in a memo to the judge prosecutors say norwood's ability to portray herself as an innocent person is what makes her so dangerous a judge has sentenced norwood to life but her family splaying for the chance -- be pleading for the chance at parole. more than a dozen letsers from family and friends will be read at sentencing. linda so, abc2 now is. a prayer breakfast went smoothly last night despitecontroversy over the keynote speaker. groups protest reg tired lieutenant -- protesting retired lieutenant general boykins sent letters asking for that invitation to be rescinded. they took issue with controversial comments he made previously about muslims e said they worship idols and not real gods among other things. when asked to comment he

defended their right to protest. >> i spent 36 1/2 years defending the constitution of the united states. the constitution gives me the right to speak and it gives those who opposed me the right to speak out against me and write letters to the mayor and city council protesting my being here. that's their right. it's their constitutional right. >> boykin received a standing ovation at the end of the speech e says he is accepting of other religions. a fight is brog in indy. colts owner jim irsay says quarterback peyton manning should have kept his comments to himself. after introducing the new coach he criticized the long time team leader for talking with the star about his concerns about the team. manning told the paper that the environment at the headquarters was not the best and people were concerned with the

changes. >> you know, i don't think it'sin the good interest to paint the horseshoe in a negative light i really don't. you know, he is such a big part of that and everything else. and the horseshoe comes first. >> well, some have said that manage's comments is -- manningcomments is an indication of howunhappy he is with the colts and how cobe playing for another team if he he returns from a third surgery. what would edgar allan poe say if he were alive. there will be a march weekend mediums will try to reach him. the poe house and museum are organizing beyond psych -- they will gather yards from the grab and try to contact the -- grave and try to contact the spirit of the dead author. today is put up or shut up for a man who claims to be a

lottery winner of $16.5 million on the line in the iowa lottery. the ticket was purchased more than a year ago dose 2010. and when it was 2 thundershowers away from expiring a lawyer chaims to represent the ticket owner, a trust -- but lottery officials have questions how they got the ticket and how they waited so long and if the investment company existed a year ago. >> we are saying show us the information. show ies the story and we will show you the monday -- show us the story and we will show outmoney. >> lottery officials are going through surveillance video trying to identify who bought the ticket. they have until 3:00 today to explain who bought it. i tell you, this is very interesting. all that money lynette. >> i know. losey you got some explaining to do. we are looking at temperatures right now into the south. oh, we are wit warm. 67 in charleston and you can see where the cold front has

passed through area. we will get cold front in here but after the warm air moves in, courtesy of the warm front that's moving through. and once it does, you will see the wind turn to the south but you are seeing it into dc. 14-mile-an-hour sustained wind and 15 into easton. so we are getting windy conditions this morning. and we are going to get a little blustery behind the cold front as well. but here is the weather pattern for you this morning. there's a warm front work through the morning time. showers work into easily and harford county. the cold front will pass by as we go through the afternoon. and then we will start to see improving conditions but before the improving conditions we will have to encounter the rain that's working its way in right now and will continue to do so going into the afternoon. by two, everything should be dry and we could get a rumble of thunder going into the morning and by saturday, we will have a little clipper move through i think we will stay dry and get a few more clouds and sunday looks pretty good as

of now. today temperature right around 58 degrees. that's early this morning and the temperatures will drop throughout the day. by tonight coming in at 32. clearing skies and tomorrow's forecast looks like this. 52 degrees. partly cloudy and mild and it will be breezy once again. let's check the traffic with burt. good morning. we have the fog out there. >> reporter: yes, we do. good morning. the fog is laying things down a bit. you can so the wet conditions on the camera lens and road surface but you can see headlights at a healthy clip. jones fall expressway is the next camera view. no issues into downtown baltimore. free-throw traffic and at the tunnel tolls travel times on southbound 95 from white marsh to the bulletway 7 minutes and outer loop from bel air to providence, 7 minutes as well. light back to the news with

sherrie johnson. >> thanks. 5:52. dreaming of becoming an at rough -- astronaut? you are running out of time for the next class. >> plus, twitter has plans to sensor messages comforted by country -- country by country.

you know what's exciting, graduation. when i look up into my student's faces, i see pride. you know, i have done something worthwhile. when i earned my doctorate through university of phoenix, that pride, that was on my face. i am jocelyn taylor, i am committed to making a difference in peoples lives and i am a phoenix.

trance ocean can't be held liable for compensatory damages by third parties of the oil rig explosion in the gulf of mexico. they could be held liable for punitive damages or civil penalties under the clean water act. they owned the rigs that exploded in the gulf of mexico in 2010 killing 11 people. and the deadline to apply for nasa next astronaut class is today but final selections are not announced until 2013 and training will start that summer. the agency typically receives as many as 3500 applications. and twitter has tweaked the technology to sensor messages on a country by country basis. it's an attempt to broaden the

audience and make more money. but the flexibility is lockly to raise fears that commit means to free speech may be weakening. kevin kamenetz is expected to announce a major development project. that will happen at 11:30 infront of the hit torque courthouse. -- front of the historic courthouse. the polar bear plunge. cold thinking about it. this raises money to the special olympics. people raise money and then they run into the icy waters at sandy point state park. check in starts at 8 in the morning. coming 569, the search-- up at 6, the search is on for cars that fell through the ice. what are the odds of recovering the vehicles. remembering joe paterno. thousands say bye to the head coach. how much is survive a

cruise ship crash worth? we will talk about the traumatic experience. more on that when we return in two minutes. [ male announcer ] what makes the weekends so memorable? ♪ maybe it's the things you do or the things you really want to do. ♪ whatever it is, kfc's new weekend bucket makes the weekend even more unforgettable. 10 freshly prepared pieces of the world's best chicken. just 11 bucks. any recipe, any way. only saturday and sunday. so pick up a bucket right now and make this weekend one to remember. today tastes so good.