. now, abc 2news at 5:30. >> let's get you up to up to the date. attorneying for hugeley moved to have the murder charges dismissed but the judge refused. several defense witnesses took the stand after that motion was denied. crews have finished repair work on a natural gas main but can't turn the gas back on. it happened yesterday afternoon. hundreds still without gas. . people struggle to pay down their debt need support. they also need a plan.

more than half of americans set a 2012 goal of saving more. the best way to tackle your accident to make sure you have a plan so you don't get overwhelmed and lean on people around you when you feel you will have a hard time movement in your money, more of it may go to the gas tank. some say gas prices to high without already a proposed 6% sales tax. >> reporter: running on empty, many are paying more at the gas pump and cutting back on burning it where they can. >> now -- i carpool with another co workers. >> i have to cut out church or bible study because i can't afford to go to both. >> reporter: those who sell gas aren't sold on a sales tax. >> higher they drive the

prices less people will drive. less you will make. >> reporter: even the man behind the 6% sales tax, says he knows it's a hard sale but said it's necessary. >> not a tougher, revenue to ask for than a gas tax and yet it hasn't been changed since 1990. the buying power of that 23- cents, that flat 23-cents has declined over the years. we are paying already and we stand to pay a lot more if we do nothing. >> reporter: the governor said by adding a 2% sales tax on each of the next three years, maryland could improve the roads, cut down on congestion and put people to work. baltimore county executive is buying in to it. >> i think about the beltway, it's 90% located in baltimore county and we will -- rely on state funding to make improvements as well as federal funding to interstate 695. that's important to us here in

baltimore county. that's the economic engine. >> reporter: a price that could tax everybody, including those who can least afford it. >> i'm only putting ten in for 2.8 gallons. >> reporter: how far will that get? >> probably to my next job which is right down the street and back home. >> reporter: baltimore county. >> if gas prices spike the governor's proposal would postpone the 2% tax increase because it's supposed to spread out over three years. he has included provisions to make it harder for lawmakers to raise its transportation trust fund to try to balance the budget. you know whether the prices go up or down you can always find the best places to get deals on your gas on the website. just head to the website and click on the gas prices tab. you will find price trends a list of the station was the lowest prices and a map to show

you where you can find them. now to the economy today. united states house speaker, said congress is close to a deal to extend the payroll tax cuts through the end of the year. this means about 160 million americans will keep their tax cut of a thousand dollars a year. the deal also extends unemployment benefits and blocks a 27% cut the in payments for doctors for medicare. if a deal is reached the speaker said there will be a vote before the end of the week. i can't imagine how much it would cost to put gas in the comfort but it's going to move t will need gas. the ship has called baltimore home for more than two decades but the navy said yesterday that it'll sail to norfolk virginia next year. we are looking at the roads, 695, traffic is moving

smoothly. beautiful day. what is in store? let's check in with wyatt . >> here we go. another nice day of weather that won't quite hold through the day tomorrow. sun, 50s, a nice day and as we look at some of the winds out there they are light but have changed direction from the north and west. five to ten mile appear hour breeze bringing in dryer and cooler air meaning our air temperature is not quite as warm as yesterday. we are in the mid50s. this evening at 50 in annapolis. many spots, 49, tillman 48, georgetown 48 and 50 in reston virginia. for the rest of the evening we look for temperatures to fall through the 40s slowly. a few clouds cool and pleasant. the chance for rain going up big time through the day tomorrow. we will talk about that and the next storm that will impact us coming up. >> police in new york today pulled over a speeding car that turned out to be stolen sunday night and the driver was only

11. police believe he stole the car the day before and then took it for a joyride and they don't think this is his first time. >> how he was able to manage i perhaps -- perhaps he has more experience behind the wheel than we know. >> reporter: the boy hasn't been charged with anything yet but a news station is reporting he was already facing criminal charges and possession of stolen property. a philadelphia man is dead and police say it's because of a fight over one of his neighbor's dogs and using the owner's lawn to let him go to the bathroom. yesterday they were arguing and then they heard done gun shots. >> all over a dog mess in somebody else's yard and it's not fair. you know -- people got more life to live for than dog or dog poop. >> the shooter was arrested but police have not released the shooter's name. minor league baseball has cut tie was a professional umpiring school after some of

its employees showed up to a bowling party dressed as kkk members. the founder of the school told a local news station it was just a bad joke. well it was a big night for the dogs but there is only one left standing. the shaggy guy that took home the top honor at last night's westminister dog show. and also, how authorities believe a valentine's day kiss left thousands of people without power in california.

. he may be small but he is the top dog tonight. the 11-pound dog was named best in show last night at the 136th yearly westminister dog show. over 2,000 participated from 185 different breeds in the show, and that's not even including all the dogs who competed to get to the show. february being the month for love, quite a few weddings celebrate add round the area and this one gives a new meaning to the term puppy love. yesterday baltimore county

humane society we witnessed the wedding of two of the dogs being sheltered there. it's called a celebration of hope and friendship for animals. >> he has been here three years and there is nothing wrong with her. she just gets passed over. we created the club hoping once again february being the month of love that people will open their hearts up and adopt one of them. >> now if you are adopting during february you only have to pay half the fee and they will throw in free personal training and hopefully they will get adopted together. 15,000 people in southern california had a bad valentine's day because of a romantic geese gesture. a balloon, probably a gift, dropped into a power substation and knocked out the power for everybody. coming up still four

candidates in the race. how the ads for two of the men hoping to be the nominee are getting real negative. and the results of a new poll that have one candidate hoping only women make it to the polls in november.

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made some calls... and saved me hundreds of dollars. that's a lot. it meant a lot to me. taking the time to help you with insurance questions. another reason to transfer your prescriptions today. ♪ i'm carol, and i bring all my prescriptions to my cvs. . drivers around a alabama gas station got a eye full as a car crashed right in front of the building. amazingly nobody besides the driver was hurt. police say the driver had been speeding and probably lost control of the car. a woman passing through security at a fort lauderdale airport took off her rolex watch and put it in the bin. when nobody was looking a man apparently picked up and walked away with it. >> you do worry.

you put things in the bin like your purse or whatever and that -- then you go through the security and there is nobody watching your purse and anybody could take it. >> reporter: lucky for her met cal detectors aren't the only security. the thief caught on camera so authorities have subpoenaed all the passengers on the flight that fit the timeline to try to find him. >> now, maryland's most powerful radar and the forecast certified most action rate by weather rate. >> another fantastic february day as we go through the middle of the month, days getting longer, sunset well past 5:30 and we are seeing temperatures comfortable, ten degrees above average. normally 45 or so would be it. we are still 52 now after a high up around 53, 54, waiting for that official at pwi. this is good stuff. this is comfortable and the way we like it in february.

a northwest wind dropped the humidity, made it feel cooler, we all said more sun. that off set. the radar we have all five sweeps in motion. dover, our -- also down to dc way and state college way, all radars scan clear right now and that is going to continue to be the case tonight and in to the early part of the day tomorrow at least. right now temperatures 37 in western maryland. most of us in the 40s and 50s 50 easton. it's that light northwesterly wind that's taking a bit of the humidity out of the air, made it feel cooler. still quite pleasant. highs up to 53 annapolis, 52 fredricks, downtown 54 and 51 dover . still waiting a few more minutes. satellite, radar, pictures, clear right now, statewide across maryland. a few clouds toward deep creek.

west virginia, we have some active weather on the march. this is our next system, rain maker putting down significant shower activity across indiana. reaching all the way back back -- northeastern texas, arkansas and up through western tennessee. this set to arrive midday tomorrow. early afternoon our best chance for rain around here and it could continue in to the evening. that's our thursday weather maker but it won't impact us tonight as high pressure will hang on for another 12 to 18 hours and just as mild tomorrow. warm air wrapping in. the air dry at the surface. even as we start to get radar returns with this rain moving n likely the initially it won't be touching the ground. lue have to moisten up the air, then we will look for rain to be steadier tomorrow evening and a lot of this may pass just south us. potentially we could get soak rain tomorrow night as well.

dry friday, looking good. overnight 35, increasing clouds, two degree guarantee for thursday. we will go 50, cloudy, breezy, and that rain develops in the afternoon. it could be steady net evening or not if most of that stays down in virginia. your seven day forecast look ahead, a trend of good temperatures here in the low 50s. right into start. saturday night into sunday, it would appear now we are going to get rain and most of the storm will pass to the south but we will keep an eye on it. >> and now to political news, in the race for the republican nomination, the top two gop contenders aren't holding back any punches. torry joining us now from washington tonight. you still have a way to go and things already getting ugly? >> kelly they are. santorum and romney neck and neck in the latest polls. it's no surprise that they are going after each other on the

air waves. i want you to watch santorum's latest ad though because he takes mud slinging to a new level. >> this time romney is firing his mud at santorum. romney's super pac a staggering 20 million. why? because romney is trying to hide from his big government romney care. >> this ad starring a romney look other like is airing in michigan. it's where santorum holding a slight lead. then there is the romney super pac with its own ad. >> santorum co sponsored 51 bills to increase spending and zero to cut spending. santorum even voted to raise his own pay and joined clinton to let convicted felons vote. santorum, big spender, washington insider. >> so so much for those positive ads that were airing in michigan yesterday. things getting heated don't expect it to stop soon because the polls are anything but

steady. i want to take new to ohio, a big state on super tuesday. this is a story, santorum is now leading romney there. then if we switch gears and go into arizona, state voting at the end of the month, different story line. romney leading santorum, both of them are now generating buzz and it appears both of them are wearing bull eyes. >> thank you for that live report. they may be polling close to one another but a new survey shows romney is doing much better with the ladies than santorum. the poll found about 38% of likely female voters support romney while only 29% support santorumn. the same poll, romney is only at 27% with men while santorum is at 37%. bachmann said despite rumor

that dancing the stars has tapped her for the next season she is not joining the show. she said she is focused on creating more private sector jobs and cutting government spending. though she loves ball room dancing. the cast for the season will be revealed february 29th. >> coming up at six, the grande prix has a new promoter if the deal with the mayor's office is a proved. what the mayor said has to be done to keep last year's mess from happening again. and for some staying out of trouble has gotten them kicked out of school. now a martial arts program is helping them get back on course. those and more all new for you at six. now a preview of world news at 6:30. >> coming up you have heard of drones in war zones but what about spy planes in your backyard? we will tell you more tonight.

. in tonight's consume ear alert if you think you could do your boss's job better than they can you aren't alone. a talent management company surveyed more than 1200 employees and found nearly half felt they could handle their boss's job better. fewer than 40% said their boss's motivated them. we don't support that of course. when you get home from a hard day at work you can soon look forward to a dinner without interruption. new rules make it harder for companies to use robo calls to quiet in touch with people on the do not call list. one of the new rules, means

they will have to give you the option to opt out of future calls during the robo call. you may still have to pay for those checked bags on planes but there is a chance your bags will finally make it. a report released yesterday showed airlines posted record lows for lost bags in 2011. in all about three passengers per thousand had their bags lost or mishandled and that is good news. icon of the baltimore ports will -- be leaving for virginia. yet navy said the comfort will no longer call baltimore home. we will have that and more on the news at six with jamie which starts right now. >> now, abc 2news at six. >> after a judge's ruling the murder case against george hugeley will go forward.

the good news is that the gas main is fixed, the bad news that they haven't been able to get into every home to make sure the gas is off. we will explain. >> after spending the last few months deep in the money pit the grande prix gets the green flag again. who is driving the effort. we start tonight with a developing story out of virginia where the prosecution has rested its case in the murder trial of george hugeley. he was shown as someone who couldn't hold his alcohol and acted strange after the death of his ex-girlfriend. then this afternoon the defense went to work and christian is in that court with more for us tonight. >> reporter: the judge rejected the defense's motion to dismiss most of the charges, so now their job is to try to show reasonable doubt among the jury. to that end their first