voting rights act allowing states to require photo id to vote. the u.s. department of justice announced thursday it's-- it's going to sue texas over the id laws in the state requiring voters to show proper identification before getting in the voting booth. the justice department claims the law discriminates against minorities and serves as an impassable roadblock violating the 14th and 15th amendments. in a statement eric holder says we will not allow the supreme court decision to be interpreted as open season for states to pursue mer yews that suppress voting rights. -- measures to suppress voting rights. in a separate case the justice department will file a motion to intervene in a lawsuit challenging texas' redistricting laws. bradley manning says he felt he has been a female since childhood and he wants people to now refer to him as chelsea.

the former army intelligence analyst returned to fort leavenworth on thursday to serve out a 35 year sentence for leaking classified documents. military says they will not provide him with hormones necessary to change his gender but manning's attorney deman the prison give it to him. >> if they don't i will do everything in my power to make sure that they are forced to do so. >> if manning wants to go by chelsea a name change has to be approved in court and then a poe tigs submitted with the army -- petition committed in the army with a change of records. you probably know someone that doesn't have health insurance and officials estimate there's 800,000 people in maryland who don't have it. charles pop wilks is one of them and for the past 8 years he has been a fixture at the jiffy lube and made enough money to get by but not enough to buy the health insurance offered by the franchise. earlier he was diagnosed with terminal prostate cancer. coworkers helped him apply for

medical assistance and social security disability benefits. they learned there was 5 month waiting period until the benefits kick in. >> it's not for myself it's for the people diagnosed tomorrow. [audio not understandable] >> the waiting period is designed to ensure benefits are not paid to people who don't have long-term disabilities. in pop's case the delay could lead to the loss of his home and that's why they have been collecting donations online and at jiffy lube along with other businesss in pikesville. president obama is waking up at holiday in in upstate new york and continues the bus tour making stops in binningham -- bingeton new york. he discussed the am of debt students carry and how it affects their future. >> i've heard from a lot of young people frustrated that they have done everything they are supposed to do and got good grades in high school and

applied to college and did well in school, but now they have this crushing debt that is crippling their sense of self- row liance and dreams. self-reliance and dreams. >> the president's bus tour is promoting a proposal of changes like pay as you earn for repayment of debt. this would allow borrowers to cap the student loan payments at 10% of their monthly income. stay with usch good morning maryland will be right back. beep-bop-boop-bop boop-beep. [monotone] she says, "switch to progressive and you could save hundreds." call or click today.

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holy casting call batman ben affleck is picked to play batman in the upcoming superman sequel. the project will put dc comics most iconic characters together on the screen for the first in

time. aneck will play batman across from henry cables the trail of clark kent soup heman. they project the release by july 2015 and i've got a lot of things to say about this but our producers told me i can't. >> she said you are out of time. elizabeth hasslebeck had make her on air premier on september 16th on fox and friends. in addition fox announced she will also make idea byd -- debut on a redesigned set. sheer a former long time cohost of abc's hit show the view. she left the previous gig in july and now you can look forward to her on fox. all right. we are talking about temperatures this morning along the warm side. but we have a nice cool down especially as we head towards the weekend. all the details are coming up. >> reporter: no problems on 795 here at owings mills boulevard. i am following a crash in ellicott city and major disruptions. the on the light rain service. details coming up on good morning maryland.

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this summer, new york state is back and open for business. with endless beaches, hundreds of miles for hiking...or biking. endless rivers and streams ready to take your breath away. and more than enough wineries to please every pallet. we're ready to make your new york state vacation perfect. there's never been a better time to vacation in new york state. plan your vacation at iloveny.com the new state of new york. welcome.

now from abc2 maryland's most accurate forecast. >> good morning. let's look at maryland's most powerful radar as of now. and we are nice and dry but we see showers and thunderstorms now in west virginia and also western maryland. this is working its way off towards the east. so before it's all said and done we could get showers and storms. more isolated and scattered in nature as we continue through the morning. and possibly still linger as we go into the -- lingering as we go into the afternoon. we are waiting for the cold front to move through and it will bring in the drier and milder air n ellicott city, we

have-- air. in ellicott city we have clouds. partly cloudy to partly sunny across the area. in terms of temperatures this morning, well we are on the warm side. you can see 70s around the upper 60s around as well. and this is what you can expect planning the day. 86 will be the high temperature by this afternoon. let's check the traffic now with lauren. >> reporter: well, we have a mass tranceth alert to tell you about -- tranceet alert to tell -- tranceth alert to tell you about -- transit alert. there's a bus bridge that's in place. and be aware utility work in the area has shut down beaver dam road at warren road. more problems to tell you about out in howard county. a crash in ellicott city on hillsmere road. but interstate 70 is nice and clear as you make the push from columbia pike over to the beltway. and 695 in great shape this morning. 55 miles per hour on the outer loop at green spreng avenue. it's going to be -- spring aven. it's going to be a easy ride to

route 40 and east side of the beltway shaping up nicely. west of parring park -- perking parkway -- perking parkway nothing to get in your way t -- perfecting parkway nothing-- pering parkway. no problem in the white marsh area from down 95 into the city. you are looking at 6 minutes from the harbor tunnel throughway down to the fort mchenry tunnel toll plaza. that's your timesaver traffic. 18 is the number of women who have come forward with the accusations of sexual workplace harassment again san diego mayor bob filner. after a month of denying fighting and therapy it appears the inevitable is reality. fi lner reportedly will resign to setal sexual harassment lawsuit. multiple sources are saying he will step down after proposedsettlement is discussed during a closed-door city council session later today. here's where it gets sticky in exchange for the resignation the city of san diego will reportedly pay some if not all

of filner's share of the damages awarded in a lawsuit. 18 women have come forward accusing him of-appropriate behavior like groping and unwanted kissing. he has apologized for his behavior and recently went through two weeks of therapy. the 70-year-old filner served in congress for 10 terms before he became the first democrat elected in san diego in 20 years. we could possibly see a verdict in the fort hood shooting case. jurors started to deliberate the fate of major nidal hasan charged with several countspremeditated and attempted premeditated murder. 13 people at fort hood died on the day of the shooting and more than 30 others were injured. hasan is acting as his own attorney and refused to give closing arguments. he could face the death penalty if he is convicted. for the first time we are hearing an apology from the u.s. soldiers who gunned down 16 afghan civilians in the

predawn raid. robert balels say was sorry for -- bales said he was sorry for his act of cowardness. he pled guilty to the crime that happened in june and now military ju is considering whether his life sentence should include the possibility of parole. a fund has been set up to cover cost for the funerals of a young family gunned down in their home. friends are hoping to raise 2,000 dollars. william monroe and megan carrigan were killed in front of their 17 month old daughter. the accused murderer is behind bars. we will post a link to the donation site on our website atabc2news.com. today the reisterstown volunteered fire cpt and orioles are honoring a fallen hero called heroes night out. gene kirchner died while battling a firefighter. firefighters are holding a silent auction at union hall beginning today at 3. then they will head over to camden yards for the game and proceeds from the auction and o's ticket sales will go to the gene

kirchner memorial fund. 5-year-old nathan baker loved nothing more than having fun on the playground and his memory will live on with the thing he he enjoyed the most. tomorrow -- he enjoyed the most. tomorrow a dedication ceremony is taking place for a new playground named after bake here died last year while on a family vacation -- baker who died last year while on a family vacation them collected donation for this playground again and that's happening tomorrow. they almost lost their lives in a car accident but josh wilson and brendan weinhold are alive and to say thank you they held a blood drive last night in fallston and collected more than 80 units of blood. the goal he was 40. they even raised enough money to buy an automatic external defibrillator for the fire department as a way to say thanks. fried food will take over the fairgrounds beginning today. it's for the start of the maryland state fair. it's great place to take the family for food games and

rides. roosevelt leftwich is live this morning and we hear there is a reality tv celebrity at the fair this year. >> reporter: interest a a-- there's a lot of good stuff but we have the carolina carports custom made chopper. they are responseoing one of the stages out here at the maryland state -- sponsoring one of the stages out here at the maryland state fair hand built by the orange county chopper guys. something really good to look at. but this bike is part of the attraction here at the booth. we have got bobby brantly with lizard lick towing and bobby for the five people that haven't seen the show what's it all about. >> about us going out and repoing cars and having a good time. >> reporter: and having a good teem but it's like somebody says you can't have a good time repoing cars but you have fun with your cowork he is and just get -- coworkers and just getting out there and coming up with ways to get the stuff. >> we do the best we can. our job is to outsmart you so

if we get your car we have a great day and you have a bad day and somebody is happy and somebody is not and that's life. >> reporter: and some people don't want to give up cars. >> no. what was your first hint? >> reporter: that's the thing. they will hang on to the car and they will cuss you and shoot at you and it could be a tough job. >> exactly. you know, i got to feed my babies and go to work. and i heard all the sad stories there is to hear but hey i am here to do a job look you can't get that. >> reporter: got to go. >> right now. >> reporter: tell me about your appearance. folks coming out and you said you were in a fair in tennessee and they were like out the door out in the yard out there. >> exactly. i want to see if my maryland fans can top the tennessee fans. it's a 4 hour wait in the rain in tennessee but i was there for one day. the nice maryland people and carolina carport people who are the one who is brought me out there so thank carolina

carports i am here every day 12 to 3, 5 to 8 every day from now until labor day. i am going to give up my labor day weekend for my maryland fans. >> reporter: and you want to see the line all the way down out the road. >> i don't want to see the end until it's closing time i don't want to see the end until closing time. let's keep them rolling all day long. >> reporter: thanks bobby brantly with lizard lick towing on true tv and ask him about his song theme song when that comes out here. maybe they will play that for you. a great song. but he is here for the carolina carports and they will sponsor the stage out here at the maryland state fair. and we have so many things going on out here the food and the fun and 10 best days of the summer. now back to you. >> having a great time all coming up at the maryland state fairgrounds. we have another great place to take your dog and run wild and play. the wags dog -- wags dog park opens tomorrow as part of a improvement project. there will be play areas for

small and large breeds and doggy water fountains. bring your four legged friends tomorrow starting at 10:30 in the morning. a ravens linebacker is handing out free backpacks and school supplies -- school supplies tonight at mow's -- modell's sporting goods. going one story back, that doggy park any chance your dog will make an appearance. >> maybe. he be the star of the show for sure. the satellite and radar not picking up on a whole lot but looking back across west virginia we have been monitoring the area all morning. this has the potential to work its way in here as we go through the rest of the morning and possibly the afternoon. make sure to grab the rain gear as you step out and about. right now, thoughin glen oak we are nice and dry and have cloud cover a few breaks in the clouds and i am going with partly cloudy to partly sunny for today. and once that cold front p. through the area, oh -- front pushes through the area, we are

setting -- sitting ni and pretty. with travel to ocean city for the weekend, today, not the best day but it will be hook better heading towards the weekend and we will have the forecast in moments. temperatures this morning, in the low 70s in baltimore annapolis at 71. 70 in edgewood and upper 60s in norrisville. westminster you are at 64 right now. here's what it looks like at the surface. waiting for the cold front to move through as we go through the rest of the day. by tonight, you will get the clearing and the mild drier air will trickle in here as you head towards tomorrow. and it's going to linger going into the week-and beyond. and -- weekend and beyond. we are monitoring the system right there and trying to see if it becomes a tropical cyclone in the next 48 hours. only has a 10% chance. abc2's most accurate future trend not picking up on a whole lot. plenty of sunshine going towards tomorrow and. plenty of sunshine going

towards tomorrow. let's go ahead and end on the forecast as it's going to be gorgeous as we head towards saturday and sunday. let's check the traffic now with lauren. >> reporter: well, we are dealing with a major disruption right now to light rail service. a track trush has hit power lines in cockeysville suspending service between-- truck has-- a trash truck has hit a power line in cockeysville suspending service between. 70 is clear as well as 95. 195, no problems northbound from route 100 up to the beltway. just a 6 minute trip. no delays on the jfx or the tunnels and here's what the beltway looks like top side in towson. nice normal drive time of 11 minutes traveling from 95 up to 83. that's your timesaver traffic. we are minutes away from 7 and good morning america. top stories for you today.

a wild fire outside yosemite national park nearly quadrupled in size. many are going door to door warning people in pine mounten to get out. another -- mountain to get out. this is one% contained and down from 5% containment. a fisherman treaded water for 18 hours before being rescued off the coast of florida. his empty boat was found 9 moils from where he launched early thursday morning and he fell overboard in storm without a life jacket wednesday afternoon and it's an incredible story of survival. the president will be in new york and pennsylvania tout are more affordable college education and will be in binghamton and scranton pa. from there he will be joined by vice president joe biden so the president is on the road again talking about making college education more affordable for the middle class coming up and so much more on good morning america. >> now off to good morning america. but remember you can find us on

abc2news.com. >> back in 25 minutes with news weather and traffic. looking live at new york? we going to look live over at new york. >> let's go to the maryland state fair. @÷

good morning, america. and breaking overnight, a sudden and massive hailstorm, knocking out towns in the west. cars filled. snowplows are forced to clean it all up. entire streets turn into rivers, as a week of flash flooding looms. and the fire at yosemite, now tripling in size. president obama's tough words on the syria crisis right now. calling the potential use of chemical weapons there, a grave concern. >> no doubt that when you start seeing chemical weapons used on a large scale, and again, we're still gathering information about this particular event. but it is very troublesome.

and a surprise this morning. ♪ batman >> the new batman revealed. oscar-winner, ben affleck, will be bruce wayne. the choice makes headlines worldwide, as he gets set to go up against superman. and a major announcement this morning about these two adorable cubs. "gma's" access to the nursery of the only panda twins in america, as they wave good morning, america. >> they were waving on the inside, lara. i'm sure. hello, america. good morning to you. and what a morning ahead for you here on "gma." a crowd numbering in the thousands and thousands.

all lined up and welcoming the wanted. so many sleeps all night long there at central park, as they get ready for one of the biggest boy bands on the planet. >> i always say, this could be the biggest crowd ever. and so many people are glad they came. >> ding. >> a big ding, everybody. we will hear that hit, at our huge party in the park. plus, the song you, the viewers, chose. and the wanted is listening. we're going to start with the bizarre and dangerous weather in the west. massive pieces of hail actually shutting down parts of colorado. and those flash floods, swamping so many, really, as you see here. turning streets into rivers, with so much more expected. ginger zee, here, with the very latest. ginger, this is a region that just does not need it. >> colorado, this has been rough. it's not just one or two hailstones we saw.

this is multiple. and at some times, falling right here. just around denver and colorado springs. falling and then adding up. one to two feet deep. in colorado, the ground turning white. up to two feet of hail falling in denver, as severe thunderstorms rocked the rockies. >> the water just takes my car, rushing up over the hood. and i got to go. >> reporter: the hail, golf ball-sized and in some spots, plowable. and in colorado springs. >> it is really bad. >> reporter: flooding rains, trapping this couple. >> i don't know if i want to take my luck. >> reporter: the rushing water, obscures the highway. and they go for it. >> i can't see. i can't see. >> reporter: more than four inches of rain falling in just over an hour. racing through neighborhoods. >> been relentless for, like, the last hour. >> reporter: too much rain, too fast. a car swallowed, trying to muscle through.