good morning. welcome to "news4 midday." i am eun yang, in for barbara harrison today. two women are dead after a horrific crash overnight in silver spring. the car they were in lost control on university boulevard around 3:00 this morning and landed on top of a brick retaining wall. news4's melissa ma lay is at the scene. >> reporter: they were trying to

determine exactly what happened here. 3:09, thursday morning, the suv was heading east on university coming around the curve on hairin when the driver lost control and shot up the hill of the front yard and scraping grass and slamming into a brick retaining wall, coming to rest five feet up. the 19-year-old johnson who was sitting in the backseat and the driver, 22-year-old richards were both killed. the woman in the front passenger seat, james, was seriously injured. >> my sister called me crying and said that i should come out here because tomara was in an accident. i jumped up and put my clothes on and came out here. >> reporter: the devastating news came after 5:00 a.m.

investigators spent much of the morning trying to determine what caused the single vehicle accident that took two lives, and a trail of debris, evidence markers and pieces of the suv littered the roadway, and some parts of the vehicle tangled in phone lines over head. the women had been coming from a club in the district. >> speed, alcohol, seat belts, the lay of the road, that kind of thing, other vehicles involved, that's what investigateders are looking at now. >> johnson's uncle tells news4 she was just graduating from high school and working as a waitress and wanted to go to college. >> i just lost my mom two years ago, and now i just hope that everything will be all right. >> reporter: looking at the aftermath, tough even for those that didn't know the victims, neighbors say unfortunately accidents along this stretch are nothing new. >> life is too short. one minute you are there, and

the next minute this happens. >> reporter: police say it could be some time before they are sure if alcohol or speed could be a factor in the crash. police in maryland are looking into a deadly cash involving a metro bus. the accident happened during the evening rush yesterday in bethesda short of the beltway. erica gonzales is live at the scene. >> reporter: good morning. traffic behind me is relatively light this morning and cars are zipping by, but last night it was a very different scenario. it was the crash that backed up rockville pike for miles on end. this morning, 355 is flowing once again after the deadly crash yesterday in bethesda. police identified the victim of a 45-year-old of silver spring.

montgomery county police say a metro bus carrying multiple passengers was northbound when it collided down the southbound lane. >> for reasons still under investigation, it crossed over into the northbound lanes and was struck by the metro bus, killing the driver of the toyota. >> the impact was so great it forced the bus through a fence and into a tree. >> i heard the noise, and the bus kind of went kareeming off the side of the road. >> reporter: today the driver of the bus is doing well after being hospitalized for her injuries. she has been a driver with metro for 30 years. and the speed limit is 30 miles per hour, and it's the fact that you can't head north once you exit the beltway that causes so many wrecks. >> people come and make u turns at the street south of us, and here and then even further north, and with cars traveling

at 55 miles per hour, there's often an accident. >> reporter: and they are too close for comfort. see the two colors in the fence? it's because she has had to replace that part twice in the last year and a half after cars crashed into them. >> unfortunately, i am not surprised and i feel like it could be prevented if we had speed cameras, something to help slow down the speed on this downgrade at 355. >> reporter: police say cameras and speed statistics would have to be acquired before the possibility of speed cameras being introduced into this area. northbound 7th street is back open after a water main broke earlier this morning. an 8-inch water main in northwest broke causing many households to lose water completely. crews have re-opened the road

and restored water to the neighborhood. and we're taking a live look outside. 38 degrees. much chillier than we have seen in the last few days. veronica johnson joins us for the forecast. >> yeah, i heard erica say earlier when we were waiting for a shot that she was getting cold. that's all it takes is standing outside for more than a couple minutes with the temperatures in the 30s. while we are at 37 degrees, there's a lot of locations looking at cooler conditions. 36 currently in gaitersberg, and holding at 30 in manassas. 10 to 18 degrees lower than yesterday. it has been more than a week since we have seen our numbers so low. satellite and radar, no rain to talk about, but the clouds have moved back into the area, and well off to the west. there are a few sprinkles right now in west virginia, but mostly cloudy for the bulk of the day.

the temperatures range from 41 to 43. 46 degrees expected in fredericksburg, virginia. so by the time we get into the overnight period, i think the clouds may be producing a few sprinkles around this area, 8:00, 9:00, 10:00, but will not amount to anything that we have to worry about. the cold that is coming, some folks may want to worry or plan ahead. we will talk about what will be coming this way in a couple minutes. >> not sure we want to know, but we will check in with you soon. a new year's eve letdown for one popular third edition is shutting down for five days after being caught serving alcohol to minors. the bar's suspension runs until january 2nd. a message says that all guests that purchased advanced tickets for the new year's eve party will be contacted shortly.

and a councilwoman has sent out a survey asking about what people want in taxicabs including what color they should be. it's an amendment to help improve cab service around d.c. and we have a link to the survey on our survey on nbcwashington.com. now to division 2012, where they have been major reshuffling of the candidates. we have a new frontrunner for the gop. mitt romney is in the lead with 25% of the vote. ron paul slips to second. he brought in 22% of the vote. the biggest surprise is rick santorum, who jumped to 16%. and falling to fourth is newt gingrich, who is at 14%. brian moore has the latest from capitol hill. >> the gop presidential deck has been reshuffled again, and mitt romney is on top. >> we will take back the white

house thanks to you guys! >> ron paul has slumped to second but picked up a key endorsement from bachmann's cochair. michele bachmann says he was offered money, and he denies it. rick santorum suddenly vaulted into third place. >> how many times do you hear as a conservative, don't try to oppose your morality on us? >> newt gingrich is on the slide and lowering expectations. >> what do you have to do here? >> you have to be in the top three or four. >> you have to win either iowa or new hampshire, don't you? >> we'll win south carolina. >> ron paul is still leading the pack in iowa, but in new hampshire, it's mitt romney running strong with just 13 days to go before the first in the nation primary.

brian moore, nbc news, washington. >> meanwhile, rick perry struggling in iowa is making an attempt to get on the ballot. he filed an emergency motion to allow his name to be on the ballot in march. he also filed a lawsuit saying they should not be allowed to enforce the state's requirement for 10,000 signatures to be on the ballot. 11:10 is your time. coming up, how the occupy movement can impact the upcoming iowa caucus. and iran makes new claims against the u.s. as it threatens to cut off a vital shipping channel. plus, wednesday, thursday,

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iran says it is monitoring moves by the u.s. military in the gulf as the two countries remain locked in a standoff over critical shipping channels. iran is threatening to shut down a channel. iran says one of the surveillance planes shot video

of a aircraft in the region. and in turkey, five people dead. the attack was against kurdish militants, but it turned out to be smugglers that were coming across the border. it's only been open for three months, but officials said today 1 million visitors have paid their respect to the 9/11 victims at the memorial. they draw 10,000 visitors each day. visitors are required to get free passes in advance since no more than 1500 people are allowed on the site at one time. kim jong-il's son and successor has been declared the ruler.

it is the first public endorsement of the leadership by the government. thousands packed the plaza today for the second day of the funeral services for kim jong-il. the late leader that ruled for 17 years, died of a heart attack at the age of 69 earlier this month. in a few hours a tiny pacific nation will enter the future. there will be no friday, december 30th. samoa announced the decision back in may. simply put right now, if it's friday in samoa, it's saturday in australia and new zealand and that makes trading deals with the others a nightmare. >> we have to come in on sunday, right? but otherwise we have to wait until we come in on monday, which is really tuesday. >> there will be church services

to acknowledge the lost days and bells will ring at midnight. >> probably a big advantage on the business side of them. >> but what about the events and birthdays on friday? >> well, they will figure that out. >> they get to celebrate new year's day first. >> yes. >> are we celebrating the weather? i am not sure. >> i am going to enjoy today. it's not raining and it's not windy, and it's not sunny, and it's kind of on the chilly side out there. definitely cold. it's 37 degrees right now. and it's kind of a light gray day. we don't have the heavy over cast. not the deep gray, but high clouds just right now across the area, and a mostly cloudy day for you with a light south wind blowing at 3 miles per hour. check out the ratings behind me.

hagersto hagerstown, still holding at freezing. we have gotten a chance to rise, mid-upper 30s across the area and we will go for a high of 44 degrees. overnight, 9:00, 10:00, we could see a few sprinkles through the area, not every neighborhood, just a few, and mainly the counties up to the north of d.c., and howard county up around loudoun county, and early tomorrow morning we will be back to a partly cloudy sky, and with the cloud cover, we will not see the mercury drop as much. and starting out clear, look at all the clouds rolling. there's precipitation off to the west. a lot of it drawing up right now with the eastward approach to our area, but later on, we do have a chance to see a few sprinkles. more clouds today, and on the chilly side, can you see the cloud cover extending down through areas of virginia, and up through pennsylvania where there will be some light snow come into areas like pennsylvania, especially over the next couple days. the fast-moving systems coming through, we could see one to

three inches in areas of minnesota, and areas of northern pennsylvania and up into maine. for us, we have got to wait on the snow. we will get the cold next week, but we will not see any snow next week. meanwhile, for your saturday, you can say that we are going to be clearing out a bit, and after a mostly cloudy day today, partly sunny tomorrow and partly sunny on saturday. it will look like earlier we will have a few showers coming early saturday morning, but i have take kren those out for your new year's eve. and starting next week, tuesday, that cold air, not just hitting areas of d.c., but all the way boston, philadelphia, new york, and down into raleigh, north carolina, and even atlanta, georgia, this will be the coldest, longest most widespread stretch that we have gotten all season long. and you better believe it will be mighty cold. i have got us going down into the teens in a lot of neighbors. mostly cloudy and chilly with a

light wind today out of the south, and your evening forecast, yeah, you are going to need the coat still. a few brief sprinkles coming through 9:00 and 10:00, as we fall from 34 to 39 degrees. and the remainder of the year, 54 degrees will be your high temperature for friday, and again starting out not quite as cold, the partly sunny sky will keep a few clouds for saturday and sunday, but no rain. we will be 56 degrees for sunday. and the extended forecast, which is 2012, right? >> yes. ift and finally it's here. doesn't look like we will get any snow, but tuesday, highs in the 30s. mid-30s. we're starting out in the teens and 20s. >> looking at that, you are right, we should focus on today. and just enjoy it.

>> coming up we will look at the ski resorts, and we have the weekend coming up, and some folks usually head to the ski resorts, but not doing so well this year. >> not enough snow. coming up, the promotional mistake showing why you should proof read before hitting "send" on an e-mail. and then helping you get toned for the new year. first a look at what is hot on

welcome back. jump-starting a workout plan is one of the most popular plan for the new year. today we have an upper body workout routine, and he is joined by somebody he works out with at l.a. fitness. >> yeah, my buddy. he is the manager and works me out hard. >> for the new year, when you are doing an exercise, make sure you do a push and pull and have a maximum explosion. tone the body, because, again, we are sitting around during the wintertime, and everything starts to get stored. >> first, you are talking about sprints. can anybody do a sprint?

>> there's a technique that you have with sprinting. you have to get the legs and arms up and maximum explosion. ed is a sprinter also. you start off with a nice pace and then you can pick it up. the greatest exercise you can do. >> looks like you are going fast. do you have to go that fast? >> no, you will go to a pace when you go to a maximum egg zurtion and then build-up. >> the bench press is good for building chest and warming up, and it's an ego exercise, too. >> you compare how much you guys can lift. >> for somebody not an expert who is a beginning, you should start out with lower weights, right? >> i start out with dumbbells rather than the bars. you start off with a nice,

lightweight. >> what about a curl? >> curls are great. remember, i am doing a lot of weight on there, because i am strong, but what happens is you take a nice easy weight and bend the abs and lock the legs in and get a nice curl, because the dumbbell curl is when you turn like that and allows you to work the biceps. >> and you should start with free weights at the beginning? >> yes. >> and is there a curl with -- >> you can use the bands, or you can use the machines. you can use the machines. the machines are user friendly, also. >> what about a pull up? this is a pull up, a different kind? >> yes, i am bringing my legs up -- >> you are just showing off. i don't think i am physically capable of doing anything that difficult. >> you can. if you strengthen your core. >> what can you do if you are beginning and you can't physically manage something that

hard? that looks really hard. >> simply push-ups and pullups are the things to do. >> can you do it on the ground. >> yeah, you don't need any assistance. >> you wanted to show us a cable row? >> yeah, this works the upper part of the back, and as you can see, it gets into your shoulders, too. and that's a machine. plus, again, it's all about the amount of weight you use, and technique is so essential. we are using the abs as well as the back. >> yeah, everything we were doing was core. >> these look like advanced exercises, but you are saying beginners and people trying to start their fit routine can -- >> well, please, ed, tell them. >> just push-ups, and pullups, and sit-ups, and some short jogs, that's fine. >> take it slow. >> yeah. >> your fit and health tip for the day? >> the fit and health tip for

the day, when you are drinking, make sure you water your drink down with a club soda or sparkling water, and limit going back for seconds and thirds -- >> yeah, and the fifths and sixths, like me. you are motivating me to get the workout for the new year. >> the pledge from the occupy movement as iowa prepares for its caucuses next week. plus, winter

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♪ only at safeway. ingredients for life. right now, two women are dd after the car they were in slammed into a brick retaining wall in silver spring. and that's all that is left of the car they were riding in. 19-year-old johnson and 22-year-old richards both died.

police are not saying if speed or alcohol played a role in the crash. and then a deadly crash involving a bus in bethesda. a man was killed when his truck hit the bus, and no official word on what caused that crash. and then the streets are open again after a water main break. crews have re-opened the road and restored water to the neighborhood. aublg poccupy iowa proteste they don't want to do anything that would jeopardize iowa status as the first state to go to the polls. organizers say they are not planning stunts during the voting period next week. and despite plans to cause problems on election day, they

are ramping up demonstrations leading up to the caucuses that that they banged on windows as romney staffers locked the doors. and the protesters camped out in freedom plaza can now stay thugh february. the permit runs from january 1st through february 28th. the old permit would have expired through the end of the year. and crime in the district is up because officers are being pulled from neighborhood patrols and reassigned to monitor the occupy d.c. protests. the fraternal order of police wrote a letter saying crime is over 17% since protesters moved into the city three months ago. the letter scolded mayor gray saying your failure to warn district residents is up is inexexcusable. now to a remarkable reunion

city years in the making. it's a story that starts in a concentration camp in austria and picks up in a hospital room in leesburg, virginia. >> it makes me angry that i have the nightmares. >> katherine is a holocaust survivor, still haunted by the memories. >> it's so deeply embedded. >> american solders rescued her when she was 7 years old. she wrote about her experience, and dreaming about the day she could thank the soldier. >> to shake the hand of a soldier that new exactly what we went through and saw that horror. >> she miraculously accidentally found one in leesburg, virginia.

katherine's husband was sick, and a staff sergeant was recovering in the room from the same room. he has a hat displaying his world war ii purple heart. >> i told him i was in germany, and then we spoke more. >> and then she found out she was one of the soldiers that rescued jews at the camp. >> it was an honor to do it. >> at last, the moment she has waited seven decades for, the chance of a lifetime. >> i really so appreciate what you have done for people like me. and i just want to say thank you so much. >> god bless you. >> what an amazing story. that was shamary stone reporting. they exchanged phone numbers and plan on remaining friends. well, you may be enjoying the warmer december weather but a lack of snow is hurting the

businesses that rely on winter vacationers. usually there are wall to wall skiers in pennsylvania, but the long stretch of unseasonably warm weather kept the resort closed. temperatures need to stay below freezing for them to be able to make snow to cover the slopes. this is the worst season for liberty mountain in five years. in 2006, the resort was closed for 22 days. a normalcyson is 100 days. that puts a lot into perspective. veronica johnson has information on the other resorts around the area. >> when i took a look at the resorts open, they are operating with not very many slopes open. behind me, this is an image showing snow cover on the ground. western sports of virginia, too. not a lot of snow on the ground right now. certainly not compared to last year. here's a look at the ski

conditions for west virginia. canaan valley, 19 trails, and only five open. snowshoe, 60 trails is what they have with only 31 open. and the same is true for maryland. wisp, 32 trails and six of them open. and i think that things will really start to change next week. wint wintergreen, some trails open. and pennsylvania, hidden valley, 28 trails, just half open. that's the story, half to one third of the slopes are open around the area, and i think that will change starting monday, and monday they will probably start making snow, and i think for sure on tuesday. we're talking about highs in the 30s here. there, they are likely to be in the mid-20s, mid and upper 20s during the daytime hours and that will be good enough to

sustain that snow on the ground. if you want more information on the ski resorts all across the area, go to nbcwashington.com and search "ski," and can you get a full report. we have done the footwork for you. for our afternoon, 41 to 45 degrees. temperatures currently are standing in the 30s. folks from 37 degrees in d.c. to 38 degrees now in quantico, so we are not going to rise much more. yet, we have lost the nice sunshine we had earlier, and the clouds have taken over the area, and we could see very few sprinkles tonight, mainly up to the north of us. a couple weak systems that will give us cloud cover in the next few days. and partly sunny, too, on saturday, with that little system passing by, we could have some breezy conditions getting up to 53. that's your new year's eve, coming in dry, and a little bit of sunshine on sunday, too. we'll get up to 56 degrees.

there's the colder air for tuesday and wednesday right now, and just about every day next week will be in the 30s with the exception of monday, so you know what? everybody going back to work, right? everybody going back to school. you will have to bundle up. >> we have been warmed, veronica, and we will get ready for the cold snap. "the new york times" is apologizing for an e-mail sent out to more than 8 million people yesterday. they asked people to reconsider their decision to cancel their subscription. the e-mail was supposed to go out to 300 people that cancelled their home delivery service. a spokeswoman said it was a human error and not due to hackers. 2011 has been a rough year for a lot of people, but most americans seem to have a pretty good feeling about 2012. a new associated press poll out this morning shows that 62% are optimistic about what the new year will bring for the nation.

and 78% are hopeful about the year they will have. and one-third think their family's financial situation will improve. want to ring in the new year as a millionaire? you still have your chance. the virginia state lottery is back. there are now fewer than 80,000 tickets left. the lottery will award three $1 million prices, and they can win one of six $25,000 prices, or 300 of $500 prices. the lottery is only selling 330,000 of them, and they are dwindling. we are running down some of the hottest new events this weekend. and the businessman, g

for the second time in just a few months, one of the larger stores at the cheffy chase pavilion is closing. the pottery barn will close for good on january 16th. the store did not give an explanation. and another store closed in september after the company liquidated assets. if you ever wanted to own a

business here is your chance. there's a bagel shop up for sale for $100. he owns a contracting business taking up more and more time, but instead of selling his business he is practically giving it away. >> a lot of people are kind of shocked. just $100 and they can own the business. some people don't believe it and i have to explain it to them. >> you pay a $100 entry fee, and submit a 300-word essay answering why they deserve the business. the winner will get the restaurant, all the equipment and the $10,000 from the contest to help get them started. very cool. it will be tough to write that essay, though. let's get a look at the factors influencing wall street today. jackie, good morning. >> yeah, let's get you up-to-date on the markets right now.

we are looking at the higher picture of the dow. the dow up by 94 points at this time. volumes have been light all week. you can expect much of the same for today. and out earlier this morning, we had weekly jobless claims. claims initially rose to 81,000, and that was higher than expected. and in some of the other stories we are watching this morning, federal prosecutors are filing charges stemming from the pb gulf oil spill last year. prosecutors contend there may have been false information provided to regulators about the risks associated with the well. meantime, youtube tou-2 tops no

america, followed by taylor swift, and lady gaga, just to name a few. there are going to be big shows in 2012. we have beach boys and rolling stones celebrating their anniversaries. well, many of you who watch our wednesday's child segments each week wonder whether the featured children wind up in permanent homes. barbara harrison introduces us to some of the new families created in 2011. >> we found out he was available for adoption. >> i knew that he was going to be my son at the first meeting that we had. >> my children. >> congratulations. >> there's nothing we enjoy celebrating more than our brand-new wednesday's child families. >> i saw the pictures of them, and i was like, these three guys play piano, and i thought it

would be a good match. >> he is talking about his three new sons, who we first introduced three years ago when they were 11, 12 and 14. they had a little bit of a wait, but they say the wait was worth it to end up with a dad that loves them and who supports the things they want to do. he actually inspired them to create what is becoming a very successful mime troop. and the callahan's added to their family. >> it's a treat to have will. he's great. >> i know they love me. very much. >> and another family welcomed a new member. cameron, he joined the hayes family making them the proud parents of 12. >> they asked my husband if they would like another son, and he

talked to me and i said, okay, one more try. >> and i have a dad who is a college professor and i am doing well in school. >> this happy group is the hall family. when we first met the kids a year and a half before, they never thought they would finally have somebody to call dad. >> and i think the second day, they asked me was it okay to call me dad, and from there on, we have been living as one happy family. >> happy families made through adoption, a reason to celebrate now and for years to come. barbara harrison, news4, for wednesday's child. >> just wonderful. there are still many children waiting for permanent homes. maybe 2012 will be the year you bring a child into your heart and home. to find out how, please call our

adoption hotline or log on to nbcwashington.com. we are counting down to the new year. up next, a look at some of the hot spots around town to ring in 2012. plus, some of the cutest video of the week. oh, my goodness. take a look. we will introduce you to these new polar bear cubs.

welcome back. the washington wizards would settle for a win after a rough start out of atlanta. they kept the lead in double figures. the loss drops the wizards to 0-2 on the season. meanwhile the caps broke a two-game losing streak against the new york rangers. and the caps won, 4-1. wishing the best to the washington teams. only a few days left to make plans for new year's eve. and talking about options, we have our guest from the "washington post." >> this year things will be more casual. we will see more parties inexpensive and fun and laid back. >> let's start with one that has a roaring '20s theme.

>> you can't get much better than jackson 20's party. it features a four-course meal, and lots of prohibition cocktails, and the staff dresses up in roaring '20s attire. and it's a bargain at $65. to find out more, visit jackson.com. the drinks are not included. >> move into the district called apocalypse marvin. >> the name is silly, but is a great bargain party we saw this year. it's $20 in advance. they have a great deejay. he's very popular. it's a fabulous party. from 8:00 to 10:00, they are offering an open bar. this is one of the most popular

bars in washington. >> those tickets will be sold out like that. >> yeah, definitely call now if you want to get in. >> 20 bucks, a deejay, lots of fun. >> and you can't forget those of us that will not find baby sitters at this point. >> and kids are not awake at midnight -- and if you want to take them out and celebrate, there's a great popular local band, and they are hosting a little new year's party at 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. it's $10. they will have an apple juice toast. how cute is that? >> if you have a babysitter, you can drop them off and head out for the night. >> do you find a different vibe in terms of celebrations? more laid back? >> yeah, maybe it's the economy, and we are seeing people not dress up as much and go all out,

but have a great time like they would and celebrating with friends and not spending as much as money, and we are seeing parties at $20 and $60, and not as many $100 and $300 hotel parties. we think it's a great trend. >> more people can participate in special events for the night. that's for sure. and what are you finding in terms of location? d.c., maryland, virginia, all participating in the new year's eve events? >> yeah, it's across the board. in alexandria, if you are going to jackson 20, they are having the night outside, and on king's street, there's family events happening in the streets as well as restaurant and bar parties on a much smaller scale. >> in the past, people have high expectations of new year's eve, and that leads to disappointment. i think the idea is to just kind of realize, it's new year's eve, but it can't be the end of the world kind of event.

>> unless you are doing to apocalypse marvin, in which case they could close it down. >> everybody should stay safe and get a designated driver, and have a responsible good time. >> you mention the roaring '20s theme at jackson 20, and then the marvin apocalypse, and that's 20 bucks with the deejay, and for the kids, rocknesaros. >> for more information, go to nbcwashington.com. and some of the stories we are following at 4:00, who is shopping a tell-all book about the kardashians and jenners. running down all the hollywood headlines at 4:00.

and then at 5:00, they are calling her the miracle cyclist. she was training for the paro olympics, and that's when she was involved in another crash. now, let's get another check of the forecast. meteorologist, veronica johnson joins us once again with a chilly start to the day. >> that's right. actually it was a cold start. now you can call it chilly out there. that goes along with the sky, which is light gray, and a dingy looking sky right now. let's take a look at the current temperature. we're at 39 degrees. a light wind out of the south and southwest. 5 miles per hour. here's a look at our future weather for you. the clouds, you can see them across the area. those little blobs, that's precipitation. by the time we get to late evening and early tonight, a few sprinkles coming through around frederick and gaitersburg and

westminster, all quickly moving off to the east. not everybody will see the sprinkles tonight, but a lot of cloud cover across the area. and then tomorrow, yet again, partly sunny. i think we may pick up more clouds, too, for the mid part of the day, and then for saturday, partly sunny and more sunshine coming this way, and all the precip in the form of snow and it will be cold friday night and saturday morning, and that will not make it over the mountains, but at least for west virginia ski resorts, they will be smiling. for this afternoon, a light wind and highs between 41 and 45 degrees. and then for your morning tomorrow, 36 to 35 degrees, and i think we will have enough breaks in the cloud cover where we will start out with a little sunshine once again. sun sets today at 4:42, and up tomorrow at 4:56, and in and out of the gray stuff with the fast moving systems to the north of the area. at least for the end of the week and for the big weekend when so

many folks have plans, we will be dealing with milder temperatures. 54 degrees on friday. 56 on sunday. real cold stuff next week with highs in the 30s and lows in the 20s. >> now, should we decide we will get out our winter gear once and for all. >> yes, do. >> it takes a while. right. >> thanks, veronica. well, meet the two cutest things you will see today. come on, veronica. these two polar bears were born in china and they are doing well and will soon be able to walk on their own. they don't have names yet. they were a gift to china from finland. you remember monday, we were introduced to siku, and his mother could not produce enough mill tok feed him. you can't get enough of these guys.

>> i thit individunk the video s the one -- >> the twin bears. >> yeah, and my son reminds me, yeah, they grow up into a big bear. >> that does it for "news4 midday," and be sure and tune in to news at 4:00, 5:00, and 6:00 for all the day's news. hope you will join us then. and until then, have a terrific