and that will be the same case on the harrisburg expressway as we check in and take a live look here in cockeysville at swan road. you are looking at a 22 minute ride from the maryland pennsylvania state line all the way down to the beltway. and as we pull up some drive times no delays totem you about on 695. nice and clear just 11 minutes to travel from 95 up to 83. on the west side 12 minutes to travel the outer loop from 795 down towards 95. and if you are using the tunnels, everything is up to speed but we are dealing with some construction still just south of the harbor tunnel toll plaza. no delays as of yet but as the the morning progresses you will want to sting with the fort mchenry tunnel or even the key bridge as the alternate route. that's a look at your abc2 timesaver traffic. megan over to you. some breaking news to tell you about this morning coming out of syria right now. explosions have rocked the city's -- the country's capital rather. it's thick black smoke can be seen rising over damascus. now smoke can be seen rising near the palace of justice that building. the extent of the damage was

not immediately cheer and this come -- clear and this comes as russia denying comments that it has endorsed a syrian transition plan that includes a call for president bashar al- assad to basically give up power in favor of a national unity government and we'll keep you posted on the breaking news as we get more details available in the newsroom. all right, other news this morning. it has been two weeks since the death of christopher brown. he's 17 years olds and from randallstown. he got in a fight with an off- duty baltimore county police officer. the officer has been charged but he is at home. sherrie johnson has more. >> reporter: i can tell you that brown's family is not happy about this at all. christopher brown's mother is organizing a rally in front of the baltimore county state's attorney's office on monday calling for an external investigation into the death of her son. officer james laboard was charged with manslaughter in the death of her son. brown's mother was hoping for second degree murder and a high

bail. a circuit court judge allowed laboard to leave the courthouse. now he didn't have to put up any bail and laboard's attorney argued the officer has family in the area. poisonous flight risk and has no -- poses no flight risk and has no previous criminal record. >> if it was the ample person there would not be any doubt that was $100,000 bail on an average citizen who you know has to put up their house. >> thank you guys for coming out. this is a very satisfying decision that was made. >> reporter: now if officer laboard is convicted of manslaughter or involuntary manslaughter he could face up to ten years in prison. right now he has been suspended without pay. sherrie johnson, abc2 news. it's 6:32 right now. and an 11-year-old virginia girl who was shot in the head says she forgives her alleged gunman. you see shawdell walton was hit with a stray bullet nearly two months ago and was hospitalized for weeks. she's now getting stronger every day and the most

remarkable part is her compassion for mcnair. he's the man accused of firing a gun at his ex-girlfriend last april and a stray bullet struck walton riding her scooter. >> you're not angry at the guy who shot you? >> no. >> why not? >> because i don't have that type -- i'm not that type of person. i don't hold him or anyone -- i forgive him. >> she says when she grows up she wants to become a nurse to help other people. police in south florida right now are looking for a man caught on camera robbing a 65- year-old woman. now this happened over the weekend in lauder dale lakes. now surveillance video shows the woman walking to her condo and she hardly notices the suspect coming towards her until he suddenly snatches her purse and then throws her to the grounds. she injures her arms and wrists and the suspect got away and police are hoping the video will help them. some other video this morning to show you that you have to check out. a winter road in pennsylvania but of course it's not snow.

hang on. there it is. rather, it's powdered sugar. a tractor-trailer crashed while getting off of the pennsylvania turnpike spilling a luge load of sugar all over the roadway. took hours to clean up and the mess had shut down the roads. they're reopens adds of now and that driver was slightly injured but is expected to be just fine. firefighters in colorado right now are giving everything they've got but it turns out the wildfires are proving to be much more than they thought. right now we're going to bring you the latest information on the growing fires including how many people were forced out of their homes. defails on that. -- details on that. >> plus on a new diet pill that will be available soon to help people in the battle of the bulge. more specifically obesity. >> all right megan, the last days of june are going to be well above average. i'll tell you if we start out the first days of july on the same note. these details coming up. >> thanks lynette. well traffic is really starting to slow down here on the west side the beltway at liberty road. i'm tracking the delays and

will show you what the other main lines look like coming up in my abc2 timesaver traffic report.

6:38 right now. thank you for joining us. we have some health news for you. a new diet pill will soon hit the shelves. the usda have approved a weight loss drug called belviq. it tricks the brain into thinking they're full when eating a small amount of food. the body mass index has to be at least 30 which is classify as obese. big story this morning that we're keeping a close eye on and just a few hours we're going to learn if president obama's health care reform law is upheld. the supreme court will release its ruling this morning. it's supposed to happen around 10:00. an abc2 news linda so is here. linda? >> reporter: we're joined be morning by dr. peter beilenson. everyone knows this is a complex bill. what does it boil down to for

you and me? >> well, i tell you one very important thing you know you hear a lot of partisan sniping. but ill tell you how it really matters to the 50 million people who are uninsured. i actually was diagnosed five years ago with parkinson's disease early onset but almost nobody knows about it and i have a great neurologist who takes insurance. i go to the giant pharmacy and take medications to deal with the symptoms because i have insurance and because they take insurance and because my business -- the workplace i'm in provides health care insurance. i don't have to worry about having a symptoms go out of control. if i were a 52-year-old auto mechanic in a car shop or 52- year-old consultant who had to buy individual insurance, i would not be able to get that insurance because it would be -- because of a pre-existing condition. millions of americans are in that situation. and not only sit bad for their -- is it bad for their health but it's bad for the economy

because similar tolls will progress -- symptoms will progress. you lose your job and you don't pay taxes and at the same time people who have a pre-existing condition who are well covered in insurance won't move to a new job or to try to be in a small business because they couldn't afford insurance. forget the partisan sniping. it affects many, many people and it's both personal for me and it's also important for the citizens of america to know that -- that this insurance reform although it's certainly not perfect is far better than the current health care system. >> reporter: dr. peter beilenson thank you for joining us and with that this morning and again that ruling is expected to be released at around 10:00 this morning. we'll stand by and bring you the latest on air and online. linda so, abc2 news. all right, thanks and thank you doctor. your abc2 news to go is coming up next including the reasoning behind water rates in baltimore city increasing yet again. >> reporter: we have all new information and reaction. it's all coming up. >> and also ahead this morning we're going to look at why some

of america's largest cities are growing faster than the suburbs for the first time in a century. >> and the humidity is not too bad right now. but it will begin to increase as we head through the afternoon as well as the temperatures. i'll tell you how long both of them stick around. coming up. >> well, traffic is really starting to slow down here on 695 and over way. where all the congestion is coming up in my abc2 timesaver traffic report. [ male announcer ] millions of dollars for new schools and teachers...

thousands of new good paying jobs... all without raising taxes. that's what a world-class resort casino at national harbor would mean for maryland. but it won't be built unless lawmakers give us the right to vote on it this november. call 1-800-492-7122 and tell your delegate and state senator to vote "yes" on national harbor... one of the biggest new job projects in the country.

it's thursday, june 28th. "good morning maryland." i'm megan pringle. it's time for the abc2 news to go. let's get started with meteorologist lynette charles. it's looking good megan. >> now into the the afternoon we will heat things up but right now temperature coming in at 64-degrees in pilesville. good morning to you. good morning shadyside close to 70 degrees right now and cockeysville around 73. it's not going to be as windy as it has been but the breezes out of the southwest i'd say maybe around 5 to 7 miles an hour. in urbanna a beautiful sunrise

once again. a few clouds nix manager through the day but -- mixing in through the day but through the clouds no type of rain falling from the sky although we need the rain. maryland's most powerful radar will stay dry through the day with maybe a slight chance for a shower through the overnight into tomorrow morning. now a check of the abc2 timesaver traffic with laurencook. through the fort mchenry tunnel tunnel but you will want to use that instead of the harbor tunnel. we have all of the construction that's still going on just south of the toll plaza. or you can also use the key bridge instead. also the jfx if you are using that to get into the city and you are taking a look at the west side of the beltway at old court road. a 13 minute ride from 795 down to 95. and here's a look at the beltway in parkville at harford road. outer loop you know starting to congest a little bit. that will continue up towards loch raven boulevard but nothing of significance. no problems route 43 all the

way down into the city. megan over to you. 15 minutes away from 7:00 right now and we are a little more than three hours away from the u.s. supreme court's decision on president obama's health care law. and maryland health officials are waiting to see how the court rules on this because maryland lawmakers have passed legislation to create the health care exchange that sets up ways where people and small businesses can buy coverage. well, tensions are rising at this hour as the historic vote will take place today with the u.s. house recording u.s. attorney -- regarding u.s. attorney general eric holder. lawmakers will decided to whether to hold holder in contempt because of a botched gun running operation. the operation was known as fast and furious. that operation was intended to track weapons bought by mexican drug cartels but agents lost track of more than 1,000 firearms. >> i wrote to the speaker asking him to interject himself into this process before this

moment in history takes place. i don't think it has to be -- and i think we can do better. >> in contempt -- we are not holding the president in contempt. we are holding the keeper of the documents in contempt for refusing to deliver documents about whom we relied to and who kept it covered up month after month. >> a sitting attorney general has never been held in contempt before. after he was shot in the chest in harford county. he was found just after 10:00 last night in edgewood. detectives say it doesn't appear that this is a random shooting but right now there's in word on the man's condition and we've been told no arrests have been made. all right, get ready to pay more for your water bill if ollav in baltimore city. if this sounds familiar that's because it is. once again baltimore is raising their rates and abc2 news

sherrie johnson joins us live to explain why. >> reporter: we spoke with the department of public works this morning starting today the cost of water and sewer services is going up in baltimore city. some county customers are wills see an -- will also see an increase but the exact amount is not known just yet. the board of estimates approved a 9% approval for the city. as the city tries to upgrade a system that dates back over a century. baltimore's underground system of water mains deteriorated with more than 400 breaks this year alone. add in another $1 billion in federal mandated upgrades to the city's passive sewage system that treats about 250 million gallons each day and it means customers must pay more. >> a lot of us are on fixed incomes. probably 15% to 20% of your city is senior citizens. >> do we need more rate increases? perhaps. but we are asking for 9% for

the year just because we believe that the 9% is going to be delivered to things that we comfortable delivering within the next year. >> reporter: now the board of estimates passed the rate increase after customers called for an audit of how public works spends the money it already cents. it appears more hikes may follow in the future. sherrie johnson, abc2 news. all right, thanks. many of you are sounding off about this rate hike on our wmar facebook fan page. sheila writes in -- let us know what you think. well, a local law makes in maryland will be taking a closer look at the maryland live casino. it just opened but they're going to be looking ad the impact and the sales from the opening weeks of the das know. they're going to be -- casino. they're going to be december cussing the multiyear -- discussing the multiyear budget allocations, that will be at 7:00 this evening at the arundel mills community center. few of us like the speed

camera, however one man in ellicott city really doesn't lick them. bruce laurens received two tickets in the mail recently after a speed camera caught him going too tas and he actually grabbed a slingshot and fired marbles at that speed camera van. the van was parked at manor woods elementary school. police have arrested and charged laurens since that happened. all right we have found out that man who stole a car and used it to kidnap his wife has been arrested. officers say mark jackson was arrested before 6:30 last night. his wife told police he threw her in the car and choked her until she passed out. officers say jackson stole that car from a body shop over the weekend. police did find the car. president barack obama is planning to tour colorado's wildfire damaged areas as soon as tomorrow. firefighters say about 200 to 300 homes have been destroyed with the flames. more than 36,000 people have

been displaced in the wildfire is now threatening the u.s. air force academy. firefighters say the waldo canyon fire doubled in size since tuesday. it's only 5% contained and right now the fbi's denver office says it is investigating whether any of the dozen or so wildfires are as a result of arson. it's less ek before the fourth of july and local fire crews and doctors right now are warning about the dangers of fireworks. the maryland society of eye physicians and surgeons along with the maryland state fire marshal are going to hold a press conference today to educate people on how fireworks work and which ones are safe. that will be held in cockeysville at 10:00 this morning. today the naval academy class of 2016 will arrive in annapolis. more than 1100 men and women are goring up for induction day. the freshmen or pleas as they're called are going to take an oath later on this evening. a record more than 20,000 students applied this year for

the naval academy. after winning the 200 freestyle last night michael phelps' coach announced he would scratch the 100 meter freestyle. this will lighten the load for the olympics. phelps entered mainly as insurance just in case he didn't qualify for the better events. he is still got four events left in omaha. all right, new this morning for the first time in a century, america's largest cities are growing at a faster rate than the surrounding suburbs and that's according to the latest census data. researchers say this is because young adults are avoiding home buying. and staying out in the bustling urban areas to find better jobs. news time right now 6:352. five things no know before you -- to know before you have head out the door this morning. los angeles times is reporting stockton, california could file for bankruptcy protection as soon as today. it would become the largest city in the united states to declare bankruptcy. president barack obama is

set to address the national urban league conference on july -- on july 25th in new orleans. now the urban league is one of nation's oldest civil rights organizations. the conversation will focus on increasing employment for an can americans. meantime first lady michelle obama is traveling to tennessee today to be the keynote speaker to address the church's conference. later on she'll be attending a campaign event in memphis. she's only been on the job for one year and this morning ann curry is expected to announce that she is leaving the co-host job on the "today" show. she'll continue working for nbc news as a national and international correspondent. charlie sheen is back on television. his new show "anger management" hits close to home for the actor. it's on fx which airs tonight. he loses his career due rage and becomes a therapist.

all right, let's talk about the temperatures. because this morning we're coming in at 65 degrees in baltimore. we look back towards the middle of the nation there. and we are seeing 80s across des moines. st. louis, more of the same. this warmer air will be inventioning in through the next couple of days but today into the afternoon it's doing to be a hot one. ijamsville right now we started out with a few clouds and then blue skies. and thenst that's going to be the trends through the day. we'll get some clouds and some sunshine. it's going to be a gorgeous day. maybe if you're going to get a jump on the weekend going to the beach, a great day there and annapolis lock how gorgeous -- look how gorgeous that is. as we look at future trend not a whole lot to be found but there is a slight chance for maybe the isolated shower to pop up later into the evening and overnight into tomorrow morning. that's a pocket. and then through the remainder of the weekend, well, still a chance for some isolated showers to pop up especially in all the heat and humidity.

94-degrees is what i'm going for today. a hot one and we have an excessive heat watch that goes into effect tomorrow morning until friday evening and it's for the areas here shaded in the blue. so we are looking at a baseball game for today and it's the cleveland indians, first pitch 7:05 and it's going to b90 at that time. not as blow zit as it has been but we will get had ther into tomorrow. -- hotter into tomorrow, saturday and sunday. we will feel like the triple digits. time now for a check of the abc2 timesaver traffic with lauren cook. congestion really starting to pick up on the main lines. fortunately the jfx though is knot nice and clear from the beltway all the way downtown to east fayette street. still construction on 895 just south to have teleplay zoo. no delays -- of the toll plaza. it might be a good idea to stick with fort mchenry tunnel or the key bridge instead. if you are traveling on the beltway here's a look at the west side at baltimore national pike and speeds clocking in just 30 miles per hour right

now. on that outer loop. it will remain slow all the way up towards 795. and if you are traveling the beltway here's what it looks like in overly at bel air road. also picking up in this area it will remain pretty slow making the drive up to loch raven boulevard. before we go if you are single the place to be tonight is baltimore because abc is hosting a casting call for "the bachelor" and "the bachelorette." it's happening at the green turtle from 5:00 until 9:00 and meteorologist wyatt everhart is going to be down there to say hello. not auditions don't worry. there'll be in scandals here. >> broke the hearts of girls out there. >> well -- i believe -- i'm not going to talk about wyatt's love life. he's single but i'm not going to go there. if you want to read up on the you rules and regulations head to the website. abc2news.com, you can find it under the marketplace. you love that show. >> i do. >> i love to see them with emily. pretty good.

>> don't be say shamed. >> have a good -- ashamed. >> have a good day. >> have a great day. [ captions by: caption colorado, llc 800-775-7838 email: comments@captioncolorado.com ] [ male announcer ] millions of dollars for new schools and teachers...

thousands of new good paying jobs... all without raising taxes. that's what a world-class resort casino at national harbor would mean for maryland. but it won't be built unless lawmakers give us the right to vote on it this november. call 1-800-492-7122 and tell your delegate and state senator to vote "yes" on national harbor... one of the biggest new job projects in the country.