airport. plus, a shocking sight for homeowners in loudoun county. neighbors look out to see zebras running through the streets. first, a warning before you head to the mall. fairfax county police hosted an online chat about how to keep from being a victim while shopping. jane watrel reports about how your favorite gadget could make you a target. >> reporter: they are reminders of appointments and texts. security experts say cell phones can be major distractions, making shoppers vulnerable to bad guys, stealing the joy from the holiday. >> so many times people are talking on their cell phones and become unaware someone is behind them. it's one distraction to be aware of. >> a distracted shopper sat down some purchases only to have a

thief walk off with the gifts. a concern for many as they use handheld devices to entertain. >> i'm focused on my ipad. probably wouldn't have noticed it. >> reporter: others banish their phones to their purses. a good plan say experts. >> what happens is most people set down all the bags they have, they set them down to do something else. that's when they are vulnerable. >> reporter: you don't have to leave it home. put it on vibrate and puck it away to avoid being victimized. in fairfax, jane watrel, news 4. here is a story about guys doing something good. two men praised for saving a perfect stranger's life. they came across a woman after witnessing an accident off watt

kin's park drive. jackie bensen reports they thought a little bit about their own safety before rushing to the burning car. >> we could feel the heat coming from the car. the flames were 20 to 25 feet from the air. >> reporter: there's no law that demanded he approach a far. he and another witnessed the three-car crash and noticed people getting out of only two cars. they ran to the third. >> her arm and leg were broken. we were like we have to get you out of the car. >> reporter: what the two men did then could not be legislated. it's called human decency. >> i don't have any training. if it was my family, i would want someone to do that. >> reporter: they continued

home. explained the reason thanksgiving dinner was delayed. >> when i told them what happened, they broke down and it was like that's what thanksgiving is for. yes. yes. they cried on the phone. when i walked up for dinner, they called me a hero. >> reporter: what he would like to do is talk to the woman he helped rescue to find out if she's doing okay. reporting from kettering, jackie bensen, news 4. >> local heroes. the holidays are special for local military families. their loved ones serving in war zones were welcomed home earlier than expected. we have the joyful reunion. >> the day of our wedding is what i feel like now. the anticipation, butterflies, everything. >> reporter: it was a homecoming filled with tears and smiles. family and friends waiting to see that one person walk out.

>> ever since summer. >> reporter: 350 service members, mostly air force were flown in from iraq and afghanistan. volunteers, girl scouts, boy scouts. they weren't scheduled to come home until christmas. >> incredible. we didn't expect all this. we thought we were coming to pick him up. >> flags, flowers, goody bags and cards. >> for serving our country, protecting us and all the other things you do. >> reporter: some of the service members are stationed near the washington area. for others, this was the first stop before hopping another plane home. >> we are making them feel really special and we appreciate them. we are giving them cookies and making them feel at home again. >> reporter: for three long hours, this 6-year-old little lady waited with her homemade

sign. >> we're going to have a big party. >> reporter: finally, daddy is here. >> it's wonderful. i wasn't sure where to look. it was nice. >> reporter: the tissues come in handy for that moment. ready for one long awaited hug. >> i'm excited. i'm glad he's home and safe. >> it's great to be home. >> another military homecoming came as a surprise to two teenagers in virginia. when he arrived home on leave he headed to the cafeteria of south lake high school. it's where his unsuspecting daughters were there having lunch. a big sur prize was coordinated by his wife and school staff. he got home in time to see his youngest daughter play in her first basketball game. great timing.

a montgomery county teacher was in for a surprise herself. she learned she won $25,000. it was all for doing her job well. madeline was given the award in middle school. the honor is an oscar in education. tracee wilkins was there for the big sur prize. >> reporter: when the students arrived here to the gym, they didn't know what to expect. they were told it was just another assembly. for some reason, the lieutenant governor was there. then the check came out. english teacher received the $25,000 milk and education award for her work at gaithersburg middle school. it was a surprise. >> she's my favorite teacher, i have to say, being honest.

she's so nice. i knew something was going to happen because when she said one teacher was chosen out of this school, i knew it would be her. >> if i could clone her. >> reporter: the principal said both students and staff are happy with what she does. >> she's always upbeat. she loves the kids. they love her. >> you are a role model for other teachers, not only in this school, this county and throughout the state of maryland. >> reporter: she doesn't know what she's going do with her check. the shock of it all is settling in. it's clear, to everyone here, how she's earned it. >> i just always keep them in mind. every child learns differently. every child can learn. to me, it's always making sure that i'm with them and i understand.

>> reporter: tracee wilkins, news 4. he kids are just as happy. a little bit of africa pops up on a loudoun county street. wait until you see this. why a zebra suddenly wandered into this quiet neighborhood. first, wheb we return, a d.c. community plea to bring a neglected landmark back to life. stick around. [ screaming ] [ zapping ] there goes dwayne's car. oh, man. there goes dwayne's house. whoa! whoa! and there goes dwayne. man, that thing does not like dwayne. [ male announcer ] state farm's got you covered. nice landing. it was. [ male announcer ] get to a better state.

a d.c. school is celebrating

the centennial anniversary. the alexander building has a rich history in northeast d.c. now that community wants the neglected landmark to be a place for educating children. derrick ward has the story. >> reporter: ivy city owes the origins to the railroads. b & o brought a railroad here. new york avenue and the industrial character largely define most people's notion of the area. travel down one of these streets and go back in town. ivy city was becoming increasingly african-american. >> at this time, it was like a little village. >> reporter: this school was built as a colored school. it was named for alexander crumb el, a saint in the church.

the building and heritage was a source of pride to the city. she was a student there. >> i ended upcoming back to teach at the school. >> reporter: they say it was a community school before the term. >> the neighborhood people were very cooperative and supportive. it was a wonderful time i had here. >> reporter: since the closing in the '60s, the school fell into disrepair. alumni gather and pray this building will be put to use again in a community left with few amenities. >> this is a historical place. >> reporter: they are encouraged by what's happening in ivy city. change is in the air. there are those that are concerned as change comes it doesn't include those who live here and stuck it out. they ask for balance as well with the things that make

communities in this town attractive. >> leave me some trees, please. >> reporter: derrick ward, news 4. >> it was impressive the number of alumny that gathered there. honoring the most beloved women to grace the white house is getting big. the first lady's exhibit of national history is growing to 26 dresses and more than 160 objects including portraits. this is video of when it first opened in 2008. it showcases dresses from bush, obama and taft. there are new permanent exhibits on politics and presidency. can't wait. the evening commute may get smoother for metro ridesers going in and out of union station. the last of three escalators are

operating. refurbished escalators are there. it includes some malfunctions that left some injured in foggy bottom. a lot of folks are happy about that. it's no secret, the d.c. commute is one of the worst in the country. still ahead on news 4 this week, what leadsers are doing for a particularly congested area. a big name drops out of plans for the national harbor. why the area is expected to bring in

a big disappointment for development in prince george's county. disney decided they will not build a hotel on the land they bought two years ago. as chris gordon reports, without

disney, it is still attracting record crowds. >> reporter: it's becoming a holiday tradition. it attracted more than a quarter million visitors last year. gaylord's national ice. this year's them is merry madagascar. >> coming out and seeing the artist's work. >> being kids again. >> yeah. >> getting in touch with your inner child is a good thing. >> reporter: it's a mixed use development, retail, restaurants and a world class conference center. it's located on 350 acres. in 2009, when the walt disney company bought 11 acres for $11 million, it was hoped disney would build a 500 room hotel to attract more tourists here. late last week, disney announced they are pulling out of the project. the developer announced the disney decision is a disappointment. as they focus on the financial

future, there are other opportunities. prince george's county is hopeful metro and gsa will work together to bring federal offices and jobs to land located around metro rail stations. >> we have the space in terms of warehouse. only 4% of the office space. it's important to bring the employees that are working here back home. >> reporter: national harbor will be the sight of the tanger outlet malls. in 2013, the national children's museum will open here, adding yet another attraction for families. at national harbor, chris gordon, news 4. >> did he say outlet? let's hope we can get there easy. thinking of commuting, if you cross the south capital street bridge, it can be a headache during the mornings and

afternoons. now the district is taking new steps to build a brand-new bridge to ease traffic flow. tom sherwood has more. the south capital street bridge, officially called the douglass bridge carried 70,000 vehicles a day into and out of the city. why do we need a new bridge? >> the bridge we have now is 60 years old. we have made many repairs to the bridge. the design structure when that was build was not good. we need a new structure that will last another 60 years. >> reporter: the new bridge is one of the highest priorities of the transportation department. it's estimated to cost $800 million. that will require a major commitment from the government as well as the city. >> if i had my way, we could possibly see a new bridge in six to seven years. >> reporter: in the scheme of infrastructure, it's not a long

time. the city was notified they will get $68 million now in federal funds to buy the riverside land for the new bridge. it will be next to the old bridge. >> to start the preliminary design for the bridge and the approaches to the bridge from south cap. we will create a round about type of interchange that will allow you to go to the various destinations. instead of signalizing it and creating back up, we are trying to create free flow. >> reporter: it's set to help with the economic waterfront near the baseball stadium and ease traffic on to i-295. tom sherwood, news 4. >> of course, all that traffic is never good if you have to go. if you do have to go, we have one of the best places to go. the best bathroom in the country, one of the best.

these are the renaissance in crystal city. it got second place in the nation in an online poll. tens of thousands of people voted. clenliness, style, usability. that contest, contested by a gasoline provider of restroom hygiene products. if you have to go, go there. the last thing neighbors expected to see on their quiet neighborhood. up next, stripes. the story of zebras roaming in loudoun

as promised, we have something wild. zebras. they are running loose in the neighborhood. a residential neighborhood for sure. looks like something you would see in africa, not lauden county, virginia. imagine the homeowners surprise.

imagine your surprise. look out your window and you see a zebra. you have to ask yourself, am i seeing right? shomari stone spoke to the woman who caught it on camera. >> what is it doing in front of the house. >> reporter: that's the million dollar question diane keeps asking herself as she thinks about her unusual day. she glanced outside the window and saw two zebras running down the street. >> as i went outside, they were right in front of the house. it's when i started taking pictures. >> reporter: she lives in a nice neighborhood in virginia. >> i was worried for the zebras. i thought, all kind of things come to your mind. why are they here? where did they get out. >> reporter: they escaped from the petting zoo nearby. sheriff's deputies tried to protect them from cars.

they used a tranquilizer to catch them. >> no disturbance. the kids weren't home, not a lot of traffic in the neighborhood. they got it under control. >> reporter: this is the second time an animal escaped from the zoo. today's escape is ironic for diane. looks like the sa farry came to her. >> i don't have to go to africa, i have zebras in my own yard. >> reporter: shomari stone, news 4. that is wild. when a baby is ready to be born, there's no stopping it, no matter where the mother happens to be. this mother happened to be getting off an airplane at the airport when her water broke. yep, she ended up giving birth on the floor of a restroom in concourse d. it was a boy. a transportation authority police officer helped with the

delivery. mother and baby were taken to the hospital. they are all doing fine. that's all for "news4 this week." i'm veronica johnson. thanks for joining us. hope you have a very good week. state farm. this is jessica.

hey, jessica, jerry neumann with a policy question. jerry, how are you doing? fine, i just got a little fender bender. oh, jerry, i'm so sorry. i would love to help but remember, you dropped us last month. yeah, you know it's funny. it only took 15 minutes to sign up for that new auto insurance company but it's taken a lot longer to hear back. is your car up a pole again? [ crying ] i miss you, jessica!

jerry, are you crying? no, i just, i bit my tongue. [ male announcer ] get to a better state. state farm.

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