good morning, everyone. welcome to "news4 midday." it's friday, december 16th, 2011. right now current and former penn state athletic director and

others entered the courtroom. he told school officials after he saw jerry sandusky in the shower abusing a boy and he said that was like alerting the authorities. and then the first span of the new and improved 11th street bridge is set to open this weekend. megan mcgrath is live on the bridge and can tell us if drivers are excited about having this. >> reporter: they are definitely excited. they are hopeful this will make the whole traffic mess a whole lot better. it has been a mess for a couple years now. this is the old span. you can see traffic traveling into the city and downtown area from 295. this bridge is going to go away over the weekend. we are standing on the brand-new span which is set to open on sunday. it's pretty much done. they have the signs up and they

are hoping that once the span opens, things will start to improve. now the whole project is not done, but we should see things get better. >> i cannot wait. >> reporter: she drives the freeway every day and construction on the 11th street bridge has been a real plan and is hopeful the span will make things better. >> i live in hillcrest and have my whole life and the transportation between there and the city is a true nightmare. >> reporter: the span will not carry traffic until sunday. when opened the bridge will carry 295 traffic inbound into the downtown area. >> it gets bad at times, in the morning, with the exceptions of wednesdays and fridays. >> reporter: this is the first phase in a three-step plan.

another place will fall into place when the second outbound bridge opens next week, but with that opening comes a bump in the road. drivers will no longer be able to access mlk avenue or good hope road and that will remain the case for several months. by the summer, a third span will open so highway drivers will be separate from people traveling on the local roads in anacostia. now this new configuration will take getting used to. 695 is the southeast southwest freeway. that's the number for it. a lot of folks doing a double take when they see that sign, but it's something they will have to get used to. another thing worth talking about, when all three spans are open, one of the big been it's is you will be able to go northbound off of the 11th street bridge, something you have not been able to do until

now. back to you, barbara. >> a lot of folks i am sure will be happy about that, too. and there is also relief on the way for virginia commuters. they are going to the inner loop of the beltway. starting this weekend you will take a new fly over ramp that will put you on the right side of 495. that should make a big difference for those merging into on coming traffic. let's see if there is any c congestion out there. >> westbound 66 at nutley you are jammed. as you leave the beltway and make your way towards route 123, it's a slow commute for you traveling westbound on i-66. i-66, not seeing issues.

travel speed of 59-mile-per-hour taking your trip six minutes from the wilson bridge to van dorn street. and outer loop, your travel speed is 58 miles per hour. barbara, back to you. >> thanks, danella. the police say they recovered the baby jesus stolen from the shopping center. a citizen spotted a picture of it on a facebook post and alerted police. police say charges are pending against the 25-year-old woman suspected of the theft, and it's likely one other person was involved in this. turning to the weather now, we had a drop in temperatures overnight. tom kierein joins us to tell us what we can expect for today and into the weekend. >> an abrupt change overnight, barbara. we were in the 60s and between midnight and dawn, it slowly dropped. and in a matter of a couple hours, we dropped ten to 15 degrees, and we have been holding steady since then in the

low and mid-40s, with a blustery northbound wind that had been gusting to 25 to 35 miles per hour, and temperatures are in the low 40s in washington, and upper 40s and near 50 by the way. over the last 12 hours, we had a little sunshine this morning, but now the clouds have returned. we have a weak disturbance coming in from the south, and that's spreading light rain right now near charlottesville, and we may get sprinkles towards the metro area and southern suburbs by later this afternoon and we will fall down to the mid-40s by sunset, and overnight tonight could get colder and could even get a little wet snow. we'll talk about that and next

week in a couple minutes. new, from overnight, a man is in the hospital after he was shot multiple times. the shooting happened in his house. investigators say at least eight rounds were fired in the house. police say the victim tried to drive himself to the hospital but pulled over about two blocks away from his home. police found him inside the car and took him to the hospital. at last check, he was listed in critical condition. his name has not been released and so far no arrests have been made. and the red line, every train from shady grove will end at dupont and glenmont will end at union station. blue line trains will share one track between stadium-armory and addison road. and on the yellow line, trains will only go between huntington

and mt. vernon square, and you can transfer to the green line to finish your trip. you can make a difference today in the lives of asian americans and new immigrants to the country as part of the 12 days of giving. the korean community service center helps them with language issues and domestic violence and health care, too. over the past 30 years, the center has grown and expanded and wants to continue to do so now. we have volunteers from the center standing by right now to take your phone calls. 202-885-4949. we will hear about some of the things you can do to help them. eight minutes after 11:00, and coming up a hearing is under way right now for the army private accused of leaking information to the wikileaks site.

>> we know he cashed paychecks from freddie mac. turns to winter

and brings in the cold. because of our economy, millions more will feel that chill than ever before. they're the forgotten ones. the big boys have abused the system to enrich only themselves, while workers are still hurting. it could be a layoff after 22 years of working for the same company. or choosing between food and heat for a sick child. or after working your whole life, you don't have what you need to stay warm. you played by the rules, but who changed them? even though oil prices are soaring to record levels, in washington, fuel aid for the poor was cut in half.

citizens energy asked big oil companies and oil producing nations to help. they all said 'no,' expect for citgo and the people of venezuela. for the last 7 years, citgo has helped struggling families in the united states in good times and in bad. so if you need help staying warm this winter, give me a call. because no one should be left out in the cold. today the man accused of leaking classified information about the wars in afghanistan and iraq to the website wikileaks is in court. the hearing marks his first

court appearance since his arrest in iraq 19 months ago. they will determine whether manning will stand trial. at the start of the hearing today, manings' attorney asked the pretrial officer at the hearing to step down. manning faces live in prison if found guilty. and it appears congress will avoid a government shutdown after all. the house and senate are expected to vote on a trillion spending package. they reached an agreement a little more than a day before the deadline of midnight tonight. the d.c. government is now banned from funding abortions. the pentagon will absorb a hit. now to decision 2012.

the republican presidential candidates have one last debate to impress caucusgoers in iowa. one candidate trailing in the polls is trying to trail tim tebow. >> i am ready for the next level. i hope i am the tim tebow of the iowa caucuses. >> and michele bachmann attacks newt gingrich for accepting consulting fees from freddie mac. >> when the speaker had his hand out and was taking $1.6 million to influence senior republicans to keep the scam going in washington, d.c. >> for every person watching tonight, i have never once changed my positions because of any kind of payment. >> the audience applauded

gingrich for his attacks on the federal judiciary, and his defense of israel. he remains ahead in most national and iowa polls. today the first lady and her daughters will leave for the first family's annual holiday trip. they already left. this is video of the obama's arriving in hawaii. they spend every christmas in the president's home state of hawaii. it's not clear when the president will join the rest of his family for the 17-day vacation, but apparently they are leaving early. the first family is out with a new photo for the holiday season. it was taken in the oval office officer their return from church on sunday. malia is now 13, and sasha is on her dad's lap. a lot have been talking about how much the girls have grown up

since the first first family portrait in 2009 children grow up so quickly. today, what an abrupt change we had from last night to this morning. it was balmy when you went to bed, and then waking up this morning, and winter moves back in. december said not so fast, i am a winter month. didn't feel like it in the last couple days. right now a chilly 46 degrees, and a wind out of the northwest. winds at 20 to 25 miles per hour. the brisk wind will keep the chill with us throughout the rest of the day. right now temperatures are down to the upper 30s in much of western maryland. shenandoah valley and the panhandle of west virginia. and across the potomac into loudoun county, and fairfax, and along the blue ridge, it's only in the low 40s.

closer to washington, mid-40s, and arlington and much of fairfax and southern maryland, in the 40s to near 50 degrees. around midnight we were in the low 50s and near 60s, so quite a drop in the last 11 hours. we're seeing clouds increasing, and southern west virginia has a few sprinkles. there's a few sprinkles come into culpepper county and further south and west of there, and that might move into the southern suburbs over the next few hours, but not a rain chance will arrive until this evening. let's go forward as we get into the evening hours, we might have a few wet snowflakes here mixing across virginia. on saturday, we will have sun in the morning and then during the afternoon we will have a few

clouds roll back in again, and we will have a quick disturbance from the north and west on sunday morning, and this area of lavender and white, that's a zone of potential flurries, quick snow flurries around dawn on sunday, and then the rest of sunday we will get sunshine back. we will have cloud cover and a few sprinkles this afternoon, and the wind will gust at 30 miles per hour and make it colder, and then we will go down to the low and mid-40s by sunset, and then after sunset we have a chance for wet snow and a little bit of rain, and any snow that falls will not stick, and upper 30s by midnight, and continuing to drop after midnight and around dawn tomorrow will be near freezing startsing off saturday morning. sunshine on saturday and a blustery wind again tomorrow and clouds building in the evening, and then on sunday, a small chance of flurries, in the upper 20s to near 30. and then sunday afternoon with

sunshine back, and chilly on monday, too. highs only in the mid and upper 40s. as we get into tuesday and wednesday, a bit warmer, and might get sprinkles and maybe a little light rain tuesday evening. but a big change came in overnight and will be with us through the weekend. that's the way it looks and i'll be back with another update coming up. we have breaking traffic news we want to share with you. here is danella sealock. >> right now rockville pike is shut down between old georgetown road and mar nelly road. it's due to a gas main break. if you are traveling around in rockville, rockville pike, your closures are between old georgetown road and marinelly road. the chain bridge road has an accident and it's causing big delays on nutley. you are jammed westbound at nutley.

i will be back with another update. today we continue our 12 days of giving. during those 12 days, we will introduce you to different nonprofit groups in our area making a difference but need help and support to continue that good work. pat lawson joins us to tell us about the korean community service center here in washington. >> the korean community service center of greater washington is working to make asian americans and new immigrants well adjusted and to help them become fully contributing members of the u.s., but they need your help to do that. the number to call is 202-885-4949. and joining us is our guests. tell us what the center does. >> it has a history of 37 years,

and beginning, they had difficulty to settle in first time, and that's what we studied in 37 years ago. >> what are the biggest challenges, the biggest issues they face when they come to the center? >> we have the first sometimes newly immigrants and they are settling in this country, and they have a lot of difficulty, and social services, and also, you know, education and they don't know anything about the system of the united states, so we are kind of between the mainstream and the korean community. >> tell us about your typical clients. >> it varies quite a bit. the biggest challenge people have are the language barriers. not knowing the language,

obviously you can't understand the system. we are here to connect the immigrants to the u.s. system so they can be law abiding citizens. >> how many does the center service? >> 7,000 this year, and it's a big number considering we're a small organization. >> the number is growing? >> yes. >> you need volunteers? >> yes, and funds for operating those programs, and especially seniors and low-income families in the korean community. >> they need funds to help them with their programs and they need volunteers if you have a little extra time. give our phone voluntaries a call at 202-885-4949. it's now 11:21. still ahead, the important milestone for one of the smallest babies ever born.

and then the award winning musical "billy elliott" playing yeah, i'm married. does it matter? you'd do that for me? really? yeah, i'd like that. who are you talking to? uh, it's jake from state farm. sounds like a really good deal. jake from state farm at three in the morning. who is this? it's jake from state farm. what are you wearing, jake from state farm? [ jake ] uh... khakis. she sounds hideous. well she's a guy, so... [ male announcer ] another reason more people stay with state farm. get to a better state. ♪

in more ways than ever. and our networks are getting crowded. but if congress frees up more wireless spectrum... we can empower more people to innovate... putting momentum behind our economy. and we can reduce the deficit... with more than thirty billion dollars paid by america's wireless companies. it's simple -- more spectrum means more freedom. for everyone. the award winning musical "billy elliott" follows one boy's journey to make his dreams come true.

and some of the stars join us to talk about the show. this is so exciting to have you here. >> thank you. >> what is the show all about? >> a british boy named billy, and he lives in northern britain during the 1980s, and he wants to be a dancer, but his father and, like, his brother don't want him to because everybody in their town is a miner, and so billy struggled to keep dancing, and he is also with his friend michael. >> you play billy. >> you play michael? >> yes. >> tell us about michael. >> he is billy's best friend in michael, and he comes to michael for advice asking if he should continue to dance and go on an addition for the royal ballet school, and michael says to express yourself and be who you want to be. >> this was popular as a movie a

few years ago. did you watch the movie to get ideas about the parts? >> yeah, i watched it after i auditioned, and there were little differences between the musical and movie, but not that much different. >> the music is by elton john. what do you think of it? >> it's good. >> i like it. >> keeps things going and makes it more exciting than the movie. >> uh-huh. >> you are from this area? >> yes, i live in lorton, virginia. >> how old you have been playing this on the road? >> about three months now. but i did it in new york for a year and a half. >> what is it like to be a child actor? >> it's fun, because we all get to constantly meet new people and make new friends. school, we're actually tutored, so in the morning we will be

tutored and then have rehearsals and then do the show at night. >> do you get home very much to lorton, virginia? >> yes, every night i go home and sleep in my own bed. >> how long you have been doing this, j.p.? >> for almost two years now. i did it in chicago and toronto for about a year and a half, and then i just started with the tour about august, and, yeah, like what ben said, it's hard to keep doing school but it's cool to see the country. i am from california and i have never really seen, like, much of the east coast like this before. >> a lot of people ask you, what do you want to be when you grow up? >> i don't know yet. i mean, i love to dance and, like, i love to act and sing, except i also -- i also really like science and stuff, and so i still don't know what i am going to be when i grow up. >> what about you, ben? >> i think i want to be a performer. >> yeah? >> yeah.

>> you got it in your blood? >> yeah. >> what is the message of this play? >> i think the main message of billy elliott is what ben said and what michael says, express yourself and do what you want to do. >> follow your dreams. >> that's what you are doing right now? >> yeah. >> yes. >> i am looking forward to seeing the show. it will be here through the 15th of january, so we have time to get tickets at the kennedy center. thank you both for coming to talk to us today. we look forward to seeing you and watching this show at the kennedy center. see you later. >> thank you. >> thank you. coming up in the next half hour of "news4 midday," we have new information coming out of the court on the penn state sex scandal. and then the fairfax county

school board deciding whether or not to allow cameras in school. and tom kierein explain [ 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. and enjoying it less and less? stop paying for second best. upgrade to verizon fios and get tv, internet and phone for our best price online -- just $79.99 a month for two years with a 2 year agreement. it's an amazing holiday deal. but don't wait. it's only available for a limited time. so go to verizon.com/superoffer to sign up. act now and we'll add a special bonus -- $300 back. fios delivers the best picture quality, plus america's fastest, most consistent most reliable internet. spend the holidays saving money. switch to fios and get our best price online --

just $79.99 a month for two years with a 2 year agreement when you order online. save $840 in your first two years. and don't forget your special bonus -- $300 back. hurry, offer ends soon. go to verizon.com/superoffer. contact the verizon center for customers with disabilities that's verizon.com/superoffer. at 800-974-6006 tty/v. fios. a network ahead. right now on news4 midday, penn state assistant coach is speaking at a preliminary hearing. they are accused of not doing enough in the allegations against jerry sandusky.

mcqueary says he saw the former assistant coach sexually molesting a boy in the locker room showers, but it was said he told them a less graphic story of what happened. and then the outbound part of the bridge is set to open next week and the third span will open about a year from now. later today, virginia lawmakers are expected to announce changes to the mark center. only a limited number of vehicles can enter and exit the office complex each day. the final 1400 workers are coming early next year. surveillance cameras could soon be in high schools in

fairfax county public schools. the board approved them because of food fights. >> after a number of violent food fights and a number of other incident, the proposal was made to install surveillance cameras, and then sides were taken on the fairfax county school board. >> some feel like we should have done this a long time ago and others are not so sure. >> last night they voted 8-4 in support of surveillance cameras in the school. one board member said he would like the issue revisited. >> i am not against cameras, but i am against not having a rich and open and even-handed dialogue with the people of fairfax county. >> it would cost an amounted $885,000 to install cameras in every high school, but officials say that could happen without

cutting into the budget. >> i am hoping the new members agree that we have not had the rich, kind of open and really even-handed dialogue that we need. >> reporter: while the school board has approved the option to have cameras inside the schools, it doesn't mean it will actually happen. each school can have a discussion and decide whether they would like the cameras or not. the d.c. council held its holiday party at an upscale washington hotel. last night's party was not without controversy. some paid for the party by dipping into the constituent service funds. >> well, what we found is that

only an average of 12 cents for every dollar of this money was spent on real needs. >> we provide for our staff that works so hard every single day, working with the residents of columbia. >> a chairman said he will write a personal check for the party and other council members are free to do the same. barry bonds will find out today if he is headed to prison for his obstruction charge. federal prosecutors asked the judge to sentence him to 15 months in prison, and probation officers are recommending bonds receive house arrest and community service. let's head back outside and see what is going on out there. tom kierein has the forecast. tom?

>> we had the clouds closing in. it will be a blustery and chilly afternoon, and then as we get into the evening hours, we have a possibility of a passing shower, and maybe even a little wet snow this evening, and then by then we will be in the upper 30s. it won't last long, just for a few hours, and then the predawn hours, the sky will clear out and it will be near freezing starting tomorrow morning and a blustery wind tomorrow, and it will increase to 30 miles per hour from time to time on saturday and a cold day. tomorrow's highs in the mid-40s. a cold start to sunday morning, near 30 degrees. afternoon highs in the mid-40s. we will have some clouds in the morning, maybe producing a few flurries sunday morning, and a small chance of that. monday, mostly sunny and upper 20s. a bit milder on tuesday and wednesday. might get some showers tuesday afternoon, and perhaps maybe

into early wednesday morning. chilly and dry again at the end of the next week. let's head out to the roads again with danella sealock. any problems lingering? >> yeah, still seeing a problem in rockville on rockville pike. this is due to a gas main break. your closures are between old georgetown rode and mirenelli road. we are still seeing construction on the right side of the roadway at chain bridge road. you are jammed as you make your way westbound, and these cars are -- i will step in so you can see how they are bumper to bumper at nutley making their way towards the construction. your travel is 21 miles per hour, and to get from the beltway to the fairfax county parkway that trip will take you 29 minutes to do so. a connecticut woman is recovering this morning after getting hurt base jumping in

virginia. she and four other daredevils climbed up this tower, but she got hurt when her parachute got stuck in a tree. not everybody was impressed with the stunt. >> i think it's pretty foolish. that has to be a pretty stupid stunt, no matter what age you are, that's a stupid stunt with all the trees around here. >> i was thinking, wow, i never have seen something like this in my neighborhood and probably not likely to see it again anytime soon either. >> all five of the base jumpers were charged with trespassing, and no word on whether the next potential stunt will take place. she's being called a modern day miracle. a baby born 16 weeks premature and weighing half a pound will be going home soon. she is now 3 1/2 months old and

weighs 4 pounds. doctors say melinda is one of the smallest babies born. her parents say they never gave up hope. >> it was just a scary feeling, but i knew she was going to survive. i had hope for her. >> the chances of living was, like, 1%, and it's a miracle. >> melinda's doctors in l.a. say she is growing healthier every day and she should be able to go home around the new year. 11:39, and still ahead, the big deals available for shoppers this weekend. plus, the phone bank is open, and call if you want to learn about or contribute to the korean community service center of greater washington. pat lawson

[ male announcer ] are you paying more and more for cable and enjoying it less and less? stop paying for second best. upgrade to verizon fios and get tv, internet and phone for our best price online -- just $79.99 a month for two years with a 2 year agreement. it's an amazing holiday deal. but don't wait. it's only available for a limited time. so go to verizon.com/superoffer to sign up. act now and we'll add a special bonus -- $300 back. fios delivers the best picture quality, plus america's fastest, most consistent most reliable internet. spend the holidays saving money. switch to fios and get our best price online -- just $79.99 a month for two years with a 2 year agreement when you order online. save $840 in your first two years. and don't forget your special bonus -- $300 back. hurry, offer ends soon. go to verizon.com/superoffer. contact the verizon center for customers with disabilities that's verizon.com/superoffer. at 800-974-6006 tty/v.

fios. a network ahead.

well, it's a 4g friday. today is your chance to win $4,000. all you need to do to enter is like nbc washington on facebook. the winner will be announced at 5:59 tonight. let's check out what is going on at the box office this weekend. >> i missed you, holmes.

>> the famous detective is back. robert downy jr. is on the hunt for a criminal mastermind who is bent on bringing himself immense wealth and power and also changing the course of history as well. it's rated pg-13. another box office star, tom cruise, in "mission impossible." it has been disbanded after a terrorists attack, and now he must prevent another attack all without additional resources or additional help. it's rated pg-13, too. and then another sequel. this one aimed at the kids. "alvin and the chipmunks chip wrecked." they are stuck on a remote island, but find out the island is really not diverted.

it's rated pg. and then this holiday there's a free shipping day. many businesses are participating. they are offering free shipping, and they guarantee your delivery will arrive by christmas eve. find out which merchants are r participatin participating. tomorrow is known for super saturday, usually the busiest shopping day of the year. historically, shoppers buy their gifts the last saturday before christmas. this year it's earlier, because next saturday is christmas eve, and that means stores can offer good deals this weekend and perhaps next saturday as well. more on the 12 days of giving. here is pat lawson news. >> the korean community is the largest asian community in the area, and the korean community service center of greater washington is doing a lot of good work to help many new

immigrants in this area. welcome back. tell us, kim, about the low income senior housing project that you are working on. >> back in 1991, the government granted us $4 million to build an apartment for low income citizens. at that time we opened 64 units. right now we house about 78 seniors there, but as you know, the seniors are growing at this age, and we are expanding that apartment. we again, received a grant of $3.8 million, and we are trying to expanded the apartments to 27 more units. with that program, we kicked off a campaign where we are asking the community to donate so we can have more funds to build or expand the apartment to house more senior citizens. >> you also have a free clinic. tell us about that. >> we have a clinic in virginia,

and in maryland, two programs. we are helping people who do not have any insurance, especially low income families. we need a fund to operate that. i need your support on this issue. so if you don't have any low income, and then you can have our basic medical services. >> your services are not just for korean americans, but for any asians -- >> yes. >> as long as they are low income n income? >> yes. >> and assets for independents. >> it's a federal program, and we have a matching fund, about $4,000 for low income families or individuals whom need assistance in buying a -- a first home buyer, and going to a university or studying business, and so we need also this area,

funds for this. >> donations then, and also volunteers. tell us what the volunteers will do. >> we have 100 volunteers in various programs, and so we need more volunteers to help so we can serve the community. >> you are doing a lot of great things, and you have a lot of programs and you need a lot of assistance. you have a lot of people you are serving and doing great work. they need volunteers and they need dollars, especially to help expand the senior citizen housing complex located in silver springs. >> silver springs, maryland. >> the number to kul, 202-885-4949. stock prices are starting higher. let's check in with hampton pearson. >> we have optimisism about the u.s. economy.

and we have stocks trading in positive territory so far. right now the dow is up 35 points, and the nasdaq up, and the consumer price index was unchanged after a one-tenth of an increase in october. and then november core prices rose two-tenths of a percentage. the gas is down 15 cents a gallon from last month. the legal battle over who is to blame for the gulf oil spill continues. cameron international, the maker of the deep water horizon blowout that failed to stop the oil spill agreed to pay $250 million to bp as a legal settlement. there's no admission of liability by any trial. a federal trial to determine

fault is for next spring. and the lower house parliament approved the austerity measurement. a nice way to end the week, the market is in green. >> thank you so much. we will see you later. have a great weekend. 11:49, the time. coming up, howard stern's new job. and meteorologist, tom kierein will be back with the forecast. stay with nbc all afternoon.

i would like to say happy holidays to my wife and my daughters in fairfax, virginia. wish you a merry christmas and happy new year. a proposal rejected on national television. and tommy mcfly. >> how are you? >> good. >> that ellen degeneres. >> a lot of folks like her show. let's listen to what happened on the show. >> i have been waiting for this

my whole life, and i want you to marry me. >> i can't. i'm sorry. >> what did she say? >> i can't, i can't, i'm sorry. >> the audience wasn't in on it, so they didn't know. they must have been ready to beat that lady up, right? >> that's a guy's biggest fear in life, you finally save up three months salary and buy the ring and then propose and she's like, can't do it. >> it was just to bring attention to her 12 days of christmas at 3:00. >> that was a crazy way to do it. >> what a great way to get us talking about it. the internet was set on fire. everybody was talking about it. >> let's get to howard stern's new job? >> he is taking over for pierce

morgan. i think it's a great pick. when you hate howard stern or love howard stern, he's honest, he has a swagger about him, you know. >> do you think he knows a lot about music? >> yes, a great interview wur and storyteller. a great pick. >> you expect that he will be the mean one? >> without a doubt, yeah. you will not have him handing out cupcakes. that's for sure. >> i don't like the mean ones, but a lot do. >> they love to hate the mean ones, and howard stern is a great bad guy. >> you think he will do well. >> really well. >> what did you do last night? >> last night was so much fun. i went to a really cool event called dining in the dark. the foundation fighting blindless put this on, and you dine in pit black. they went through, and every single room in the light in the room, including the light on my microphone was sealed off and

the servers were all visually impaired. it gives you a day in the life of somebody who is visually impaired. what a neat idea. there are so many dinners and great events around washington and the whole area, but this was a totally unique one. it's not like just closing your eyes, because there's still light coming in, but it was like you were in a cave, pitch black. >> what a nice opportunity for those to see what it's like with those that can't see. >> yes. >> thank you for sharing. >> thank you for having me. >> see you next week? >> see you next friday. and pat lawson joins us with a preview of things to come. >> barbara, coming up today, mike mcqueary's father just took the stand. we will have the latest in the penn state sex scandal.

and britney spears as the entire internet buzzing. we will tell you what that is about. and the food critic gives us a sneak peek at his review of oyster palace. that should be enough to for your palate. tom? >> we had a rude awakening this morning after a palmy night. temperatures plummeted around dawn this morning and it stayed chilly since then. in fact it's only in the low to mid-40s throughout the region. shenandoah valley and in the mountains, in the upper 30s. and montgomery, arlington and fairfax and prince georges counties, temperatures there around the 40s. and we have a wind gusting at 25 to 30 miles per hour. and looking at the radar, the moving color is light rain just

getting a few sprinkles moving in southwest to northeast coming into southern foulk county, and there's a large area is that moving toward the metro area after sunset and through the evening hours, and we may get a few sprinkles, and maybe even a little bit of wet snow in some of the high spots out around the blue ridge, and shenandoah valley, and even a few wet snowflakes mixing in around washington this evening. and then down near freezing tomorrow morning and sun in the morning and then clouds close in in the afternoon, and highs reaching 40s tomorrow. and then sunday morning, cloudy and maybe a few flurries. a small chance of that. and then sunday afternoon, highs in the mid-40s. the space station will be flying over just after sunset,

beginning at 5:49. a very bright fast-moving spot in the sky, a space station flying over. and then we might get rain on tuesday. that's the way it looks. have a great weekend and we'll see you monday morning. >> all right, tom. thank you very much. that's "news4 midday" for this week, and thank you for being with us. we have news again at 4:00, 5:00, 6:00, and 11:00. [ male announcer ] are you paying more and more for cable and enjoying it less and less? stop paying for second best. upgrade to verizon fios and get tv, internet and phone for our best price online -- just $79.99 a month for two years with a 2 year agreement. it's an amazing holiday deal. but don't wait. it's only available for a limited time. so go to verizon.com/superoffer to sign up.

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