back to work. table games, new casinos and pit bull, to be debated in annapolis as a special session gets underway. remembering the victims of a local sikh congregation. how you can get involved. are you ready for some football? the purple and black, they are back. the ravens preparing for their first preseason match-up coming up in atlanta. we'll tell you how you can check that out right here on abc2 but until then, it is thursday, august 9th. "good morning maryland," i'm charlie crowson, megan is on assignment. talking ravens this morning lynette is in here with us. lauren is out there with a check of the roads. >> yes. i'm excited for the game tonight. 7:30 we're going to air the game on abc2 and i can't wait. i can't believe it's football season. >> it is football season. >> i can't believe it.

>> still a little warm out there and still feels like baseball on. the o's -- still playing well too. >> so yes speaking of the weather for the games humid weather once again and also we look at maryland's most powerful radar and we do have a chance for some scattered showers and thunderstorms especially as we go into the afternoon. we can see one lone shower off into western p. a. this morning but all in all we are dry here at home. as we take a look at some temperatures this morning well, we are going to be in the 70s. 71 in yes, sir is up. hickory around 74 degrees and we are looking at the humidity up there once again. that's going to be the name of the game throughout the day. i'll talk about where ernesto is and if we have a cooldown in the forecast. right now a check of the abc2 timesaver traffic with lauren cook. good morning. good morning lynette. construction still going on on 895. do expect the heaviest delays traveling through the harbor tunnel. always stop at the fort mchenry

tunnel instead. 95 at 395 you'll see no problems here getting into the city. a nice easy ride trafficking through the fort mchenry tunnel you will be in the clear. drive times just eight minutes from 695 down towards the toll plaza. now here's a look at 695 up in parkville. no problems to report here at harford road. will be a nice easy ride all the way up to 83. charlie over to you. it's a mixed bag in annapolis. abc2 news linda so is live this morning with a preview. linda? >> reporter: their main agenda isn't the future of -- is about the future of gambling in maryland. whether or not to allow a sixth casino at the national harbor in prince george's county and if live table games will be allowed at all the sites. if the measure does at, it will go to voters in a november referendum. lawmakers will also consider whether to give current casino operators a tax break to make up for the impact of adding the

sixth casino. the company is against allowing a sixth casino. they say the bill is unfair to current operators who have already invested millions to build their site without knowing another casino could be built nearby. right now it's unclear for the measure has enough support to make it through. delegate ron george is not even sure if everyone is going to show up. >> i know there's two anne arundel county and various expensive vacations tea planned together with their -- they planned together with their families with the largest family. and they're going to go ahead and go on vacation. >> reporter: now right now, it's unclear just how long this special session could last. it could be anywhere from three days up to a week. we're live in federal hill, linda so, abc2 news. and the gambling issues lawmakers will be sorting out the next few days could end up in your hands in november. however political analysis say that could actually hurt the vote for same sex marriage in maryland also on the ballot

this year. at 5:00 clat exactly how these two measures are connected. and the other controversial issue lawmakers will be talking about are pit bulls and the liability issues that face their owners. the supporters are rallying in annapolis today calling on the state to act on a court ruling stating pit bulls are quote inherently dangerous. >> i think there's a real concern that we need to get something on the books pretty quickly to solve that problem. >> that means that pit bull owners are liable for damages in an attack and so is any landlord renting to a pit bull owner. there's a public hearing set for today in the senate. a house committee will take up the legislation tomorrow. ahead at 5:00 we'll talk to supporters who say it boils down to owner responsibility not just the breed of dog. we'll have complete coverage for you at abc2 and coming up at 5:00 if 6:00 continue and also get the latest information at our website. abc2news.com and on the abc2 app. well, prayer vigils have been held around the country

for the victims of the sikh temple shooting in wisconsin and today the association of baltimore is holding its own vigil. it starts tonight at 7:00 at the sikh temple on chapman road in randallstown. this is from a video held in d.c. yesterday. we've learned the shooter wade michael page died from a self- inflicted gunshot wound to the head and there were two little heroes there who may have saved more people from dying. >> me and my sister looked at him and then we noticed he was shooting those two people. we ran as fast as we could inside to warn everybody in the kitchen and everywhere else just to warn everybody there's a man outside with a gun. >> police have yet to release a motive in the shooting. in all six people died. meantime back to court for the suspect in the colorado movie theater shooting. another hearing is scheduled

for james holmes. abc news is reporting the psychiatrist is report to have told police she was concerned about holmes weeks before the shooting started. he is charged with more than 100 counts. 12 people died and 58 others wounded in that massacre. well, a woman is dead this morning following a two car crash in sparks. all we know this morning right now is the victim is reportedly 35 years old. two cars crashed head-on near the worthington tavern last night around 9:00. one of the cars rolled over. falls road was shut down while crews cleared the scene. news time is now 4:36 and baltimore police are trying to figure out who shot a man on the city's west side. this happened near the 700 block of west pratt street yesterday afternoon. the victim ran into a nearby social services building looking for help. he is expected to be okay. so far there are no suspects. this is one of the top stories on the website this morning: we've learned more about the buyers of the rg

steel plant. hill co industry bought that plant at an auction. they specialize in liquidation and they have the plant's 700 workers now worried about the future of their jobs. the hope is that they will sell off the assets to bring in more people willing to help them and keep the plant running here in maryland. time now for a look at the forecast with lynette. >> we see some showers and thunderstorms across the middle of the nation. michigan really getting in on some wet weather right now and further into indiana getting in on some thunderstorms across that area. now the cold front is draped back across the part and this will begin to slide off towards the east. as it does that we have the chance for showers and thunderstorms especially into tomorrow some of those could be on the strong to severe side. for today scattered to isolated in nature. temperature-wise, we're coming in at 69-degrees in

reisterstown. charlie? the first preseason game airs tonight here on abc2. players snuck in another practice tuesday before taking off for atlanta to play the falcons. megan is at jimny's this morning and going to be talking to fans out there. and speaking of fans check out this little guy. this is gavin. give me the point. he was all decked out in the purple and black ready for tonight's game. again, before that kickoff you want to tune in for our taking flight pre-game coverage at 6:30 right here on abc2. jamie and scott garceau are going to be reporting live from mother's in federal hill and game time once again, kickoff from atlanta set for 7:30. well, if you're suffering from rheumatoid arthritis good news for you this morning. the new drug the fda is now recommending that could help improve your physical function. >> it was horrible. i've never had anything like that in my whole life. >> passengers describing the pain they felt during a flight that was forced to make an

emergency landing. >> also do your kids have dreams of going to the olympic games? this morning, some tips on how you can help them achieve those goals without leaving a massive hole in your wallet. >> well, charlie everything is up to speed here on 695 at wilkins avenue. i'll tell you how traffic is shape up on 95 and 83 coming up on "good morning maryland."

news around the nation on this thursday morning. talk about the ride from hell. an alaskan airlines plane had to make an emergency landing because of reported electrical problems. now all on board are safe this morning. but the mid-flight malfunction caused some excruciating feign for passengers, the -- pain for passengers. the plane lost electrical control causing the cabin pressure in the system to completely shut down. >> the side wall in the plane pulled away from my leg like it

just expanded inside. >> we need to make an emergency landing. >> backup systems they kicked in and the crew took control of the plane. the captain went to 10,000 feet to ease the pressure pain for all on board. new jersey governor chris christie will have to make some appointments now after all six members of a city council will resign. the members say that farming dale's mayor is too difficult to work with. now the only person currently left to run the municipal mat sers the deputy bureau -- matters is the deputy bureau clerk. he can make the appointments within the next 30 days. a man in texas was taken to the hospital after a swarm of bees attacked him. he was stung about 300 times working on the industrial site just outside of austin, texas. more than 125,000 africanized hybrid bees were found in an old wooden dresser at that site. a police officer and two other people were also stung while beekeepers were trying to get the hive under control. attention paid to shannon easton in the game with the

packers and chargers today. according to the "l.a. times" easton will be the first ever female referee. that league is currently now locked in a labor dispute with the referees' union. she is taking part in a training clinic for replacement refs. some members of the goal fins, here's what they had to say. >> i think it's great. you know, i'm sure she's qualified to do it. she's got to have a background that warrants that she's there to do the game and i think it'd be great. >> i'm sure she's a professional and she'll do her job. i don't think it will be a big deal. >> easton is a collegiate referee with the mid eastern athletic conference. could you do it? >> referee? >> absolutely. >> oh, yeah. i could referee. i should have been there a long time ago. >> officiating lynette? >> i was a referee once. >> you were? >> yeah. i did under 5 girls' soccer. it was so cute. they looked like little swarm of bees following that ball. >> anyone who's ever been out

and maybe officiated little league game or little league soccer. the kids want to play and sometimes mom and dad can be difficult. >> exactly. >> little weather out there? >> owe the humidity once again. it is august. so temperatures not so bad for august but we are definitely going to be feeling et throughout the day. -- it throughout the day. also this morning as we get you out and about, you need to be careful because we have reduced visibility so we have a little bit of patchy fog and a lot of areas this morning. the only place that we're seeing ten now is in winchester and that will probably go downhill as we head through the rest of today. but look only about three miles in frederick. seven in baltimore. more of the same in d.c.. four in culpeper and six in york right now and eight in hagerstown. temperatures coming in in the 70s. this is above average. we should be about 66, 65 degrees and only 60s over into winchester and culpeper and still above average over there. moisture is high once again. dealing with the dew points # in baltimore -- 689 in baltimore and we're feeling very muggy outside. 72 d.c.. more of the same in frederick where we come in the 70s. this will continue as we head

throughout the day. we're also talking about tropical storm ernesto. and it was at some point it was a -- actually a hurricane rather and made landfall yucatan peninsula yesterday and now it's going to the bay of campeche and it's going to make a second landfall as we head through the rest of today. to the forecast for today. neighborhood by neighborhood, brooklyn park will start partly cloudy skies and a chance for some showers and thunderstorms there. 89 degrees and i'm going with. 88-degrees in middle refer again the showers and thunderstorms possible into lunchtime. to keep that eye to the sky. 87 for mayo. 88 for deal. again showers and thunderstorms are possible for you. here's a check of the seven day forecast. as we will see strong storms possible even severe into friday. here's what it looks like as we head into the second part of saturday looks dry and temperatures cool down a bit. let's get a check now of the abc2 timesaver traffic with lauren cook. good morning lynette. we have a few issues in

baltimore city. downtown still dealing with repairs to the massive water main break from last month. lombard street and light street is going to be closed. to the east side still dealing with the sinkhole that has shut down east monument street. you will want to use or leans street instead. the main lines you'll notice the harrisburg expressway in great shape. you're looking at a live picture in hunt valley. no problems to report from shawan road down to 695. here's what the south side of 95 looks like just north of 195. no problems getting down to d.c. or if you're heading north up towards the tunnels. charlie? five things on this thursday morning. the highest ranking executive of a former mine masse energy is set to be sentenced today. gary mays was charged in connection with the 2010 mine explosion that killed 29 people. he could get five years in prison. the infant mortality rate

in maryland is at record lows. better health care access for young women and parents now being credited for that progress. and people living in reservoir hill in baltimore having fresh foods brought right to them today. it's part of the program to give more access to healthier food options to city residents, it's grown in a vacant lot. the national aquarium continues the birthday celebrations today. catch a free 4 d movie what is that? that's going to be a birthday cake as well. this is monty the python wowing kids yesterday at the aquarium for the official birthday. the backyardigans provided fun and intertanment. the summer season winding down a bit but the maryland tourism office still in full travel mode. it is launching a new product today for the fall travel season including a new publication of the scenic biways in the state. news time now 4:47. now fromma these are from

the curiosity rover that landed on the planet earlier this week. scientists also saying photos reveal gouge marks in the grounds from the rover's rockets during landing. the hope is to learn whether or not life once existed on the fourth rock from the sun. fighting relief from arthritis can be a struggle for many. doctors now are saying a drug out there could be available for prescription to relieve the pain and help you get back some of the healthy function. >> all right charlie. yesterday 89 degrees and it felt more like the low 90s with all the humidity out there. the muggies persist. i'll start you out hour by hour. 6:00, 77 degrees. 9:00, 82. partly cloudy. keep that rain gear handy to the afternoon because the chance of the showers will be there. scattered in nature some of you might get wet and some of you won't but better safe than sorry by the time we hit 3:00 the temperature 91 and feeling more like the mid- to upper

90s. >> the muggies? wççñçñ

for the first time in years there may be now a new weapon in the battle against rheumatoid or arthritis. a new drug in the works to help relieve symptoms and improve physical function. approved by the fda and if so it would become the first oral disease modifying therapy for rheumatoid arthritis in more than a decade. >> i think for patients with rheumatoid arthritis this is a really exciting time. we have so many different drugs to choose from and depending on the other comorbidities meaning other medical issues you might have we are now able to make much more individualized treatment plans. >> the side effects include headache, upper respiratory tract infections and an inlease in ldl or bad cholesterol. do you love drowning your popcorn in the rich buttery flavoring? guilty. it may be delicious but listen to this. the recent study says that

buttery flavoring may trigger alzheimer's disease. scientists say it can stop the brain's natural mechanisms of clearing the disease but it's not the only thing it may impact. according to researchers the buttery flavoring is also linked to lung damage in microwave popcorn and factory workers there. well, maryland farmers are starting to feel the effects of the severe drought which could further affect the grocery store. governor o'malley asked the drought aid. some farmers lost up to half of their crops so far. tom vilsack is hoping congress passes a farm bill soon that includes some form of disaster relief. >> fortunately we have new technologies and perhaps the yields will be better than we expect and we hope that's true. but many farmers are in fact going to lose basically their entire crop. >> secretary vilsack says what may help farmers this year is crop insurance but he says congress needs to come one is

disaster -- up with a disaster relief bill and do so quickly. lynette that's something people are continuing to watch. we need rain. we say this is a broken record but for the farmers who rely on this? they certainly do. >> exactly. i'm throwing out some numbers. 8.77 since january. that's how we're below. that's the deficit. >> below? >> below. 8%. almost 9 inches. so that's not looking too good and 2.44 since june. we are really starting to get below. we need that rain. let me show you what's going on right now on maryland's most powerful radar. we're not seeing a whole lot. we have the sweeps on. we are scanning the skies there but you know what? not a whole lot to scan this morning. we have one lone shower all the way up into northwestern pennsylvania and with that well, that's not even going to affect us as we go through the morning. we could see some more showers popping up as we go throughout the day. scattered in nature but still not enough rain to really put a dent in that deficit. but as we head out to the game, we're looking pretty good for first pitch. 7:05. kansas city royals our orioles are playing them and we are

going to win. that temperature right arnold 87 degrees a thunderstorm is possible. it's going to be humid. that's the big story once again with the winds out of the south 5 to 10 miles an hour. enjoy. now a check of the abc2 timesaver traffic with lauren cook. we're going to win. >> i hope so. i hope the ravens win too. i hope they beat the falcons later tonight in georgia. in baltimore county this morning we have a new water main break to tell you about. it's in essex. right along the westbound lanes of route 150 right at will shire road. only one lane blocked at this time. not causing too much of a backup. live look at 695, here in overlea. everything up to speed at bel air road. no significant delays and nothing at all actually to get in your way as you head up to 83. and here's what 95 looks like at eastern avenue. you are looking at a 15 minute ride traveling southbound from route 43 all the way into the city. and the fort mchenry tunnel will also be nice and clear just eight minutes traveling northbound from the beltway all the way to the toll plaza. and 83 in great shape. no