when i first started. >> there you go. >> that aches what's make news in america this morning. thanks so much for watching. >> stay tuned for

and you're looking at the typical drive time if you're using the jfx to get into the city, just 11 minutes from the beltway all the way downtown. that's a look at your abc2 timesaver traffic. megan and charlie, over to you. a third world country, that's how some business owners describe what it would be like on the streets directly affected by the water main break. >> relief could be on the way and we find abc2 news' sherrie johnson downtown once again this morning. day three but like you said there could be some changes coming. >> reporter: charlie, you know we have all this information for you this morning. we have just learned that some of the businesses have actually reopened and they have water and they've reopened but you know what? take a look at what is causing all this headache here. this huge hole here as you can see they have a light blasting

on it crews have been working on this. they're taking a break right now and they'll start a little later this morning but this hole is huge. and it's going to take them about three weeks to finish up these repairs. this 7/11 right here, this is just one of the businesses that actually reopened about 13 hours ago. they now have water. they have been closed for the last couple of days, now today some of the businesses in this area will have to make another decision. either fight this or don't open at all. while the city has a temporary water supply to some buildings, others are wondering if their business can survive. the department of public works decided the two block area affected should be dug up and the 20-inch main should be replaced with more pipes. while cars are redirected during the repair work, traffic is actually pretty steady. but some businesses that could open with no water they're saying that means no income.

the 7/11 has reopened but this is what the owner said yesterday -- >> you think that you can still sell chips and canned sodas and things like that? >> yes we can but -- with anything. so that's why we should -- >> reporter: now back out here live you're looking at lombard street here, you can see that the portion of the street the still blocked off. right now we're being told this is going to take about three weeks to get this area back to normal. reporting live in downtown baltimore, sherrie johnson, abc2 news. a live look at our traffic camera near the bay bridge at sandy point. you take a look at how things are going right now and everything running smoothly. definitely not the case around 6:00 last night with some really strong storms blowing through the area. it had to be shut down in both directions because of the high winds. the traffic didn't move for hours yesterday because of the winds from that severe storm shutting down the bridge both directions.

however that storm is to blame for two fires in anne arundel county. lightning strikes sparked both of them in townsville a firefighter fell through the floor while getting inside the home. >> it was a great surprise. you have to be very cautious about where you step because you don't know where the weak spots are and unluckily the floor slid him down. >> that fire was contained to the basement and crews also brought in -- managed to fight another fire in the arm area that was under cool pretty quickly. all right, we've seen the damage from lightning and what it can do already this week alone. >> this week we received a video of fire from a home in bel air. this happened on illinois drive and fortunately though no one was home. the damage was contained mainly to the attic and showing you just how dangerous lightning can be. as for last night d.c. got hit pretty good. some homes in the northwest part of the city flooded and

some backed up once again by sewage. now we're waking up to more mornings of people without power this morning. and remember you can always stay ahead of the severe weather with your updates right her on the phone. just text wmar to 46988. it depends on who you ask and tonight you can actually weigh in. plans are to build a wal-mart in the bel air area at route 924. now tonight is your first chance for many of you to and questions about this project. a meeting is at pattersonville middle and high school. supporters of the dream act are taking over the streets of baltimore today. high school and college students are marching through the inner harbor. it offers in-state tuition for illegal immigrants.

that's how firefighters from around the u.s. are spending their afternoon in baltimore. the memorial stair climb coinsides with the huge fire house expo going on right now. firefighters are going to run up 110 nights of the baltimore hotel. that's the same number of flights from the world trade center in the attacks almost 11 years ago coming up next month. stay with us this morning. >> he was the neighborhood watchman. >> now george zimmerman speaking out. what he has to say about the night things got out of control and the teenager ended up dead. >> that is a mother's reaction after seeing a chilling video of a man who tried to take her young daughter away. we'll show you more of that when "good morning ues. >> megan and charlie no delays here on 695 at bel air road but still dealing with a massive water main break in downtown baltimore. i'll let you know which streets will be shut down coming up on "good morning maryland." ñ'

news time now 4:39. thanks for staying with us on this thursday. after what we saw a couple of weeks ago i think everybody is a little nervous when a storm rolls through right now. >> we hit 100-degrees and we have severe thunderstorms. >> it's crazy and you know yesterday was impressive bay bridge shut down. i checked an observation of bow woe. 62-mile-per-hour wind gusts around chester town and that was some wild storms moving through the bay last night. could see a repeat performance but nothing going on this morning. beautiful morning out there. temperatures are into the 70s and take you to the board. 76 downtown right now. a few 70s down along the eastern shore in fact dover is checking in at 75 and 77 in salisbury. cooler and nice in york look at that. 72 degrees. bel air we go. right now it's 74 degrees. and we have a couple of clouds across the area right now. still have this boundary this stationary boundary that could trigger a shower or

thunderstorm this afternoon separating the cold -- cool air to the north rather and warmer air down to the south. 92 degrees that's the two degree guarantee. more about the weekend forecast in just a bit. lauren cook is in the traffic center. good morning speed racer. a car crashed into the woods in anne arundel county right along the southbound lanes of route 295 at route 100. if you are headed into downtown baltimore, that massive water main break still causing big problems on light street. it will be closed right now between baltimore street and lombard street. you are advised to use mass transit if possible or even hopkins place as the alternate route. no problems to report traveling through the tunnels and 95 up in white marsh traffic nice in the air. as we check in and take a look here at hunt valley at harrisburg expressway and shawan road. not too much activity there. very easy ride down to 695. this is what the beltway looks like in observerly. just 11 minutes to 82. megan and charlie, over to you. speaking of the roads

making them safer for you. the state highway administration now looking to improve intersections along route 2 in anne arundel and calvert counties. there's a meeting tonight and you can attend to hear more about the proposals. it starts at 6:00 at the anne arundel county public library. if you have a kid with food allergies you know how stressful it can be you specially with eggs because they're in everything. >> a new study shows the way your child could be coping with the egg allergy to possibly enjoy them. >> also how much would id spend on a -- you spend on a piece of toast dating back to 1981 in why anyone would spend machine on this straight ahead -- money on this straight ahead. >> how do you preserve this? >> we're looking at a live piketure of downtown -- picture of downtown baltimore. it's going to be a hassle for any of you heading around the inner harbor or downtown baltimore the next few weeks. we'll have a live report in just a bit.

4:44 and five things for you on this thursday morning. a sheriff in arizona known for controversial stances now going on trial. sheriff joe arpaio is being sued by a group of latinos that lawsuit accused him of racial profiling. the space shuttle enterprise officially goes on display today at the intend sea, air and space museum in new york city. and another attraction in baltimore the historic mansion house at the maryland zoo reopens today. built in 1801 the house has been a home to a restaurant, a day school and to bird. it opens tonight at 5:30. can you buy local? that's the challenge and it starts on saturday. today governor o'malley is hosting a buy local cookout at government house. so this is basically what you're encouraged to do. use one locally bought product for each of your meals. and check this out. a piece of toast now going in the auction block in london. looks -- okay. but this is not just any normal

piece of toast. it was served to prince charles the morning of his wedding to princess diana 1981. it's expected to fetch around $800. i think the obvious question guys this morning if you're watching at home is why? >> why. >> i'd pay $1,000. >> of course you would. >> $2,000. >> our facebook question something to think about this morning. whose toast would you buy? let us know and weigh in on facebook. >> not that piece of toast. >> lauren cook is here with a look at traffic and mike masco with weather. >> we have our first accident of the day. it's in anne arundel county right along the southbound lanes of route 295 at route 100. a car has actually crashed into the woods. so do expect some delays gnat area and of course still dealing with the massive water main break and light street remains shut down that's going to be between baltimore street and lombard street. so do watch out for that causing a lot of congestion and we are again giving away $600 in free gas. go to my facebook page to enter the contest and all the details at the top of the profile.

weather-wise out there a mixed bag man. >> did you know we hit 104 yesterday? >> i did. >> you can feel it. >> that's ridiculous. exactly. that boundary between the hot and cold air that set up right on top of us and bank on the idea of maybe more storms in the mix today. lunchtime not a bad day today. 88 degrees and on the way for 92 the two degree guarantee. we'll be dodging the rain showers and maybe a thunderstorm out to the 4:00 hour. we'll show the weekend forecast that you will love in a little bit. denying he's a racist or a murderer george zimmerman now speaking out about the shooting that killed trayvon martin. >> she's charged with it'd surd -- he's charged with second degree murder in the case and he denies ever saying anything racist about martin during the 911 call. he said the teenager made gestures and that's when things actually turned violent. >> he said you're going to die tonight [ bleep ]. and took one hand off of my mouth and i felt

it going down my chest to my belt and my holster. >> trayvon martin supporters have suggested the teenager was a victim of racial profiling and they're calling for zimmerman to be convicted on the murder charge. those arrested for serious crimes in maryland will once again have their dna collectioned by police. supreme court chief justice john roberts issued a court order. the maryland court of appeals made the decision after a request made by king. he was convicted on a 2003 rape based on dna evidence taken in a future arrest that happened in 2009. that sample matched a 2003 victim. here's proof that teaching your kids is vital about stranger danger. look at the surveillance video from philly and you can actually see a man trying to grab a 10-year-old girl if front of her home. she was caught well. she bits him and -- bites him and they start screaming and yelling. the mother is relieve her daughter knew what to do. >> i just thought i don't know many kids that would do that.

i just thought how strong she was and i was just thankful she was that strong. >> the guy seen on the video is still on the loose this morning. you want to check your pantry because sippy cups and bottles could contain dangerous chemicals. the food and drug administration says it's banning the controversial chemical bpa and some baby products after a recent study shows a link in that chemical to potential side effects on pheazars and infants and children -- on fetuses, infants and children, some groups say now the government should go one step further and several steps in fact saying it should be banned from all food related manufacturing. it can even be found in some baby formula cans. speaking of your kids' health, if your child is allergic to eggs there could be some hope. doctors gave kids egg white powder pills for four to six weeks apart and then on a

therapy program. in just under a week, about half were able to eat the eggs after almost two years 75% could eat eggs. all right, well animal lovers a little hard to hear. hundreds of dogs had been seized in a pit bull sanctuary in texas. now rescuers say the dogs were living in filth. they were living in cramped tight cages, some were actually laying in their own waste. authorities say that they were alerted to the situation by a former employee of the sanctuary. the dogs are being treated and evaluated by vets. all right, how far would you go to avoid jail time? in indiana it was one faking his own death. wade mers berger left a fake suicide note on a bridge railing last month but instead of going down below he actually started posting on youtube. he was tracked down on tuesday night. he came up with the man after finding out he would have to go back to prison for voting his

parole. -- violating his parole. all themed was a roof of -- they wanted was a roof over their heads. >> preston mitch um caught up with a baltimore family who has the community to thank for making their dreams come true. >> reporter: a heartfelt reunion -- >> i treat my students at school like they are my own kids. >> reporter: back in june, abc2 news brought you the story of darlene landrum and her four grandchildren who were homeless with nowhere to go. >> moved to an apartment and my daughter had got -- she was incarcerated. and i didn't put the kids on the lease or anything and i ended up getting evicted because of that. >> when i found out about the students were actually waiting for grandma at the park until she got off work, it really hit a note on myself and other teachers. >> reporter: four young kids waiting sometimes more than six hours while grandma worked her $12 an hour job. >> once i paid my bills and

tried to buy food and we just don't have enough to make things meet. >> tell me if you can, can you carry that? >> reporter: teacher michelle polk organized a fundraiser and helped the family secure housing and one more surprise. >> someone is coming today to bring us a living room set and help the kids with the bedroom set and they're bringing us blankets and clothes. >> reporter: helping this family slowly but surely get back on their feet. because someone cared. >> it makes me feel good that someone has the heart to reach out to help us. and maybe one day we can return the same thing to somebody else. >> reporter: in west baltimore, preston mitchum, abc2 news. >> that will make you feel good about the community. >> you will get out there and do everything you can to help out the neighbor. time now for a check on the weather with meteorologist mike masco. >> good morning frederick temperature-wise 74 degrees and really comfortable morning. yesterday morning we were talking well into the 80s in frederick. pair of 7s over the eastern

shore this morning. pretty comfortable but a mild note. we're about seven degrees above the normal value for the morning lows. here's the satellite picture showing a few clouds moving across the area right now. this boundary that brought the severe weather yesterday is still on top of us so that clash of cooler air to the heat down to the south will allow for some showers and thunderstorms to erupt during the course of the afternoon. keep it locked on abc2news.com. future trend back into the 90s today. here comes the spotty showers and thunderstorms at the lunchtime hour. this is at least suggesting a line of storms that pushed to the south this evening. we do it again for friday with a mixture of sunshine and clouds. late day showers and thunderstorms developing with temperatures into the 80s. so unsettled will be the story for the next couple of days. 92 degrees sunshine and clouds today. tonight again a gusty shower or thunderstorm possible. otherwise variable clouds. and tomorrow again your two degree guarantee of 87 degrees. your seven day forecast again unsettled for today and

tomorrow. but look at this weekend. 84 on saturday. sunday 87 with a good deal of sunshine. but uh-oh we're going to get more heat back in herement 90s once again starting on monday and tuesday and wednesday and that would bring the tally of the 90s mark for the entire summer well over 20 days, lauren cook. what do you think of that? 20 days of 90 or above thus far. >> oh my god. i'm ready for the cooldown. >> me too. >> the 90s and 100-degree weather, i've had enough. i'm ready. if you are heading downtown this morning do watch out because the water main break still causing big problems and light street remains shut downright between baltimore street and lombard street. mass transit is highly recommend ld if you are heading into the city this morning. if not go to hopkins place or even fayette street. a car crashed into the woods in anne arundel county right along the southbound lanes of route 295 right at route 100. in howard county this is what interstate 70 looks