you to see tonight. >> good clarification. >> now to the weather. >> no problem. we are talking about another humid and hot day on tap. chance for showers and storms and we have a heat advisory i said it all didn't it. >> a mouthful. >> traffic time. >> enjoy the weekend. >> let's go outside. that is good way to start. as you look at bethesda you can see the cloud cover this morning. but also, a few breaks in the cloud and that's the scenario going through time a nicerise and we are look at temperatures this morning -- a nieces sunrise and we are looking at temperatures this morning -- a nice sunrise and we are looking at temperatures this morning that will shoot up as we go into the afternoon especially if we get a break of the cloud cover. boy, are we going see it and feel it. we have visibility issues this morning. about 9 in baltimore and this hasn't budged much. wilmington has gone downhill from the last time i showed you that coming in around 6. the heat advisory i talked about this morning for the areas here

in orange until 7 p.m. this evening. let's check the abc2 timesaver traffic with mike good morning. >> reporter: good morning. let's bring you right to the maps and show you what's going on and it's frederick road closed due to the overnight storms. we have downed trees and power lines affecting frederick road both directions and be aware of that. we will go toward the airports. a crash affecting aviation boulevard. use 195 as an alternative route heading towards the airport. and you will have problems this morning getting into both crossings. we have 895 northbound between exit 7 and 8. that's construction into harbor tunnel and we have a long-term construction project going into the fort mchenry tunnel from the 95 northbound approach. outside we go for a live shot. 695 at olds court road smooth sailing this far and 695 at liberty road is showing us a pretty good looking shot at this hour. now another check on traffic in less than ten now back to you. >> an update on breaking news. in you information coming into abc2 after the two-alarm

morning fire gutting part of the baltimore county apartment complex. it raced through the apartments in randallstown. and that's where we find sherrie johnson with an update. what have you learned? >> reporter: well, we have new information. we have learned that the firefighter that was injured in this fire from debris falling and hitting him has been released from the hospital. he was taken to shock trauma but we have learned a few hours -- a few minutes ago he was released from the hospital. also, the red cross is here. they are here trying to figure out exactly where they are going place some of the families that lost their home in this fire. take a look behind me here. you can see the burned out building here. we are in randalltown at rockdale gardens apartments off liberty road. crews were out here for much of the night cleaning up the hot spots and the debris. you know that call came out about 2:00 this morning. and when crews arrived on the scene they found the apartmentsengulfed in flames and smokes. that started on the third floor and spread quickly across the roof. the fire damaged 12 units, 16

people must look for another place to live. all of the people who live here in the apartment building got out safely. and once again, the american red cross is on the scene this morning. and they are helping to relocate some of the families. also, the apartment manager is also out here this morning. she is trying to find other vacant apartments so she can move the folks into some of the vacant homes and they will have someplace to stay. right now, there is no word on the exact cause of the fire but we have been told by some of the people that live in the building that they believe it started in the third floor in the kitchen on a stove. but fire investigators are looking into this to try to find out what happened here. and no word on the extent or how much the damage is going to cost for this bidding. reporting live in randalltown, sherrie johnson, abc2 news. one argue ment over breaking in line -- argument over breaking in line may have led to a stabbing at a post office. a worker armed with a spray can was forced to come from behind the counter. >> she. [audio not understandable] the guy fell down on the ground

and it was scary. somebody with a knife in the post office is crazy. >> one person was arrested. the victim is expected to survive. more backlash coming in against a popular fast-food chain and in front of a chick- fil-a truck in washington, d.c. protesters urged the lunchtime public to buy meals somewhere else. chick-fil-a's president a baptist church member from georgia ohe pose gay marriage helping to fund organizationsagainst it. >> i considered it until i saw protesters and they remind me that people are people. no one should be discriminated against. >> i am from the south and i love chick-fil-a. they are super friendly to everyone. so if you don't want to eat at chick-fil-a, you don't have to. >> protesters plan more demonstrations. other groups plan demonstrations in favor of the position. you are look for something fun to do this weekend. today the harford county farm fair begins in harford county

at the equestian center. food and drinks and all watching the pig races. also competing in the horseshoe pitching contest and petting zoo but the big of the attraction is going tonight tractor pull which runs tonight and tomorrow beginning at 7 p.m. admission 8 for adults and 4 for your kids to get in the game. if you looking for contestants for a new game show let's ask america. if you are picked you will compete from people around the country answering questions from your home. >> oh, my god. >> they are excited. the top prize $25,000 and if you want a chance to be on the show find our booth at harford county farm fair. the casting call will run from 3 to 8 and half shower show premiers september 1th at 7:30. they dress in character for fun. thousands will be in the inner harbor. what he bringing japanese and

may to anime to charm city. >> i am linda so live at city cafe in mount vernon. great food at exceptional prices. details coming after the break.

thanks for staying with us. things are abuzz but how about tasty scallop but maybe not right now but 12 hours from now it would be a great idea and you can get them at great price. restaurants week begins in baltimore city and linda so is live at cafe city in mount vernon. you have been whipping things up all morning for us. what are you bringing back to us? >> reporter: yes, i am going to taste in. >> have you tasted it. >> reporter: hold on a second. but first, tons of restaurant you ken joy. great -- you can enjoy and tons

of food and thanks for joining us. so, a lot of restaurants participating this year. >> we have 96 restaurants participating including city cafe. they -- we have a full website so you can search for restaurant by menu or quiz seen type or neighborhood -- cuisine type or neighborhood. there will be pricing information and you can make reservations and figure out how to park or take public transit. >> reporter: and two main price points. >> dinner 20.12 or 30.12 and two course lunch for 15.12. >> reporter: and chef you have been a great sport cook this great stuff. you've impressive menu for restaurant week. >> yeah. absolutely. not only from the four appetizers five entrees and three desserts to choose from. you can't go wrong with it. >> reporter: and you have been doing this all for the past two hours cooking all this? i mean it's time to taste it of course right? >> please do. >> reporter: i'm sucker for

chocolate. what is this. >> that's intense chocolate tart. it's -- we sues a dark chocolate and then we -- we use a dark chocolate and sea salt. >> reporter: and for restaurants week it's three course meal right. >> correct. it's a choice of different appetizers and whatever youchoose whatever you like. same thing with the entrees and desserts as well. >> reporter: lastly quickly you are doing things extra special giving out gift cards. >> correct a $10 gift card for everyone who comes in and enjoys the men you. >> reporter: and people who come -- menu. >> reporter: and people who come to the restaurant you have parking. >> we do complimently vol valet. >> reporter: you've been asking -- valet. >> reporter: and you've been asking and now it's time to taste this deliciousness. >> linda so, i am it will you right now, you have -- telling you right now you have made one lifelong enemy. >> reporter: this is heavenly. how could you say no to this?

it taste better than it looks. this is great. i am going to finish it off biff come back. >> guys open up lynette charles mike. this is. >> linda, i am not talking to you ever again if you don't bring me a piece back. >> reporter: i am okay with that. >>liette is in a puddle watching all this. she has been glued to the different lynette is in a puddle watching all this. she has been glued to the tv. >> reporter: this place is amazing. they have got awesome food and prices are great. >> i am so there. >> oh, wow. abc2 news linda so. live this morning. getting ready for the restaurant week. thanks a lot. lynette. i guess you wanted that assignment. >> yeah. desperately. >> you did. clearly you did. all right. it's friday, you want to get to work without fighting traffic? but there is a traffic alert in baltimore city. where you need to avoid if you are driving near johns hopkins mike masco has that coming up. and gambling at maryland live.

your choice of where to put the coins in the slot electronic gaming and now they are getting bigger. lynette take it away. >> reporter: all right. the weekend is upon us and i will have that beach forecast coming up. mike. >> we have a few issues to talk about across baltimore city and will talk more about traffic on the other side of the break. >> foofty good morning maryland.

6:45 good morning i am charley crowson. time for abc2 news to go and we begin with meteorologist lynette charles and you controlled yourself and ready to bring it down the center back to the weather. >> weather time. all right. let's talk weather. >> let's get food. >> i love food and chocolate, oh, yummy, yummy, yummy. the weather for for today 74 in fed ralsburg and -- federalsburg. and temperatures will soar going throughout the day. the clouds soaring this morning as well. nice sunrise across the area. mixing with the cloud cover that will be the scenario. we do have a heat advisory that's in effect for this morning. for this afternoon and we will continue until about 7:00 for the areas here shaded in the

orange color. be prepared for the humidity out there. we do have lots of moisture trapped to the surface and we have a little reduced visibility only about 9 miles in baltimore and we are looking at the hour by hour forecast which is hot for today. and showers and thunderstorms in the mix. let's check the abc2 timesaver traffic with mike masco. >> reporter: good morning. you are okay over there? >> i am okay. >> reporter: we will get you chocolate soon. 15 more minutes. we have an incident right around bwi airport. going to catch an early morning flight, be aware that aviation boulevard at stoney run road dealing with a crash. we will see how quickly they get that cleaned u heading towards the north and west, we have an issue frederick road in both directions between highway 97 is roxbury and highway 32 jammed up because of an accident. and baltimore washington airport we are are dealing with issues because of that accident. outside we go.

here we go with the shot 695 baltimore national pike. looking pretty good. 695 also smooth sailing at this hour but subject to change during the course of the morning. another check on traffic is coming up in less than 10. charley. breaking news updates for you. a two-alarm fire has people inside a randelstown apartment complex running for safety. around 2 this morning, that fire started on the 3600 block of a of yener lane in rand lestown. we have -- rackedelstown. we have re-- rackedels --randallstown. >> reporter: all is clear right now but you can see the debris. firefighters have been out here cleaning up debris and checking out the hot spots. the calm kale -- the call came out at 2 this morning when crews arrived on the scene they found the apartments engulfed in flames and smoke. the fire started on the third floor and quickly spread across

the roof. the fire damaged 12 units and 16 people must look for another place to live. all of the people who live in this building got out safely. now norman simmons lives in the apartment bidding. he described -- building. he described what happened to him. >> i was scared because it's the first time it's an experience like this. so, you know, it's terrifying and you know that, you know it's like you are not safe anymore. you don't know what to think, you know. >> reporter: one firefighter from spikesville volunteer fire department was injured when debris hit him. he was taken to shock trauma but we are told he has been released from the hospital. there's no word right now on exactly what caused this fire. reporting live in randallstown, sherrie johnson, abc2 news. police are look for man who -- looking for a man they believe is responsible for kidnapping vi ripken. this is the man they believe took her from the home. he tied her up and blindfolded her and took her on a midnight ride in her car before dropping

her off. no word on a motive but police admit it's odd he asked for no money police won't say if the suspect has ties to the family. new this morning a. man with a big old gun is hiding from police after authorities say he robbed two convenience stores in maryland and pennsylvania. this is a picture of the man. police say in libertytown they say he used a military style rifle and an assault rifle and fired warning shots. man with the gun has hit twice now. july 5th at libertytown 7- eleven and 40 miles up theroad in washington township customers say this was a terrifying experience. >> he didn't listen and the guy said he fired a shot and said i am not kidding. and the guy said well e. put his hands up. >> -- he he put hit hands up. >> -- he put his hands up. >> the man is carrying an unusual german sport gun known as a gsg522 and it's 22 calibersemiautomatic. more machines are coming to the maryland live casino.

about 500 new slots and electronic table games are up and running. also the rams head bar is now open for business. the newest casino expect to adds another,000 slot machines -- another,000 slot machines and opening -- another 1,000 slot machines and restaurant. go to divert traffic throughout the day monument street and north montford will be closed for few days more. crews continue to make repairs. bge shut off the gas cap on the natural gas line yesterday. engineers are using radar technology to see if there are other utility lines damaged beneath the sink hole that opened up wednesday afternoon. there is a lot going on in baltimore this weekend. if you noticed, a lot of colorful costumes in the inner harbor. don't worry it's not halloween but the otakon festival going on at the convention center. it's like comic con but for asian anime fans. eye celebrates facets of asian

pop culture. it kicks off today running through sunday. and a different football now being played at m and t bank stadium this weekend. 50,000 soccer fans coming to town for a friendly match between a spurs take on liverpool and football club today. this is video of another match that took place earlier this week. this is wednesday in boston atfinway park. the baseball field right? no. soccer being played there wednesday. now it's coming to the bank and you can get tickets for the game. it kicks off tomorrow at 1. the o's are doing their parts to combat childhood obesity a relief pitcher and members of the training staff are taking part in a national play campaign promoting alifetime of activity for youth. about 100 kids will meet with greg and the other staff and learn about the importance of leading a healthy lifestyle. that's coming up today. and another new store opening in harbor east.

anthropoloie is the second shop to open this week. the other j. crew opened wednesday. two more businesss are coming in the next few months. the mac cosmetics spot and lululemon athleticca and that caters to those who like yoga. five things to know on this friday before heading out the door. burlington coat factory paying 1.5 million against allegation that they sold clothing withdraw strings at the neck. we are expected to learn more about the drama surrounding the jackson family. katherine jackson's attorney is supposed to speak to reporters today. a judge gave a temporary custody of michael's three children to another relative after katherine went more than a week without talking to her grandchildren at all. and first lady michelle obama is in london for the olympic game opening ceremonies. she met with members of team usa earlier this morning. and they went for a reception

at buckingham palace hosted by the queen. and listen up ford is recalling half a million escape suvs to fix problems with sticking gas pedals. that recall covers model years 2001 through 04 and it marks the third recall for the escape in just two weeks. and a new report warns that the drought crippling 2/3 of the u.s. is getting worse and shows no sign of getting better. u.s. drought monitor says 20% of the nation now in the worst stages of the drought and once again going nowhere fast. breaking news this morning for you. we have got video of a historic factory in new orleans on fire. strong flames and this live look right now from wdsu. it's the pie factory and an early morning fire. firefighters call it a four alarm blaze and we have gone dark but you see the flames out of new orleans, louisiana. they respond to the fire after flames were reported out of the top of the historic plant.

this is with us throughout the morning and we will probably have more on "good morning america" coming up again this a live look at a fire in new orleans. lynette. >> all right. yes, we are talking about some cloud cover this morning. and also a little bit of sunshine. that's the name of the game. we can see that in the banner right now. even as we go into the afternoon we will see more of that and possibly showers and thunderstorms. but right now, temperatures are warm. 72 degrees in manchester. 71 in northville chestertown is at 72. middletown now at 76 degrees. you heard me talk about the thunderstorms. so the storm prediction center does have us in a slight risk for severe weather today. damaging winds and large hail is the biggest threat for the areas shaded in the yellow. mainly we are talking about southerly maryland going into the afternoon. this is a look at what's going on for today. that game day forecast first pitch is at 7:05. they are playing the a's temperatures at 90 degrees and it's going to be hot and humid with the wind out a of the south at a to 10 miles an hour

and check out the beach forecast. 95 degrees for today, today's the biggest chance for the threat of thunderstorms. and then we will drop the temperatures down as we head into your sunday. so if you like the cooler weather, sunday is going tonight best bet at beach. but more seasonable heading into next week mike. that's the beach forecast for you. >> great sound good. thanks very much. good morning we are getting you ready for the road. aviation boulevard that's going to tie you up and an issue in frederick road between roxbury and highway 32. north highway 140 a crash knocking out the left lane. charley. >> all right. unusual weather in greenland being blamed for heavier than normal ice melt. this is what they are seeing now. massive ice melts. scientists blame this on warmer air or global warming. national -- nasa says it's the worst they have seen for years. time to go new york for good morning america. they will talk about the storms and you will talk about food

and chocolate and we promise, m&m's. >> thank you. >> have a great weekend. >> bye. >> abc2 news your place to go. >> bye.