welcome to "news4 this week." hello, i'm pat lawson muse. we are going to show you some of the more interesting local stories making news this week. among them, a major mystery is solved. how a social mix up helped police. puppipalooza hits a college campus. part of a popular study break for stressed out students. first of all, the end of an era. darcy spencer has more on what the end of the war meant for some service members who got a chance to come home.

>> reporter: the last convoy of u.s. troops left iraq at daybreak crossing into kuwait marking the end of the nearly nine-year war. >> it's nice to leave. >> reporter: this says it all. last vehicle out of iraq, written in chalk. there were 500 soldiers involved in the last convoy. >> looking forward to getting home. everybody is going to look back and say we were the last ones there. >> reporter: soldiers have to wait five days in kuwait. they passed the time playing cards and games. >> i can't wait to go home. >> reporter: the war has been costly. it claimed the lives of 4,500 american soldiers. the united states spent $800 billion on the war since the invasion in 2003. for virginia national guard troops, it was a hero's welcome.

>> you remember me? >> reporter: first lieutenant frank met his little girl for the firs time. soldiers returning from war to the open arms of loved ones. darcy spencer, news 4. some 4,000 troops will remain in kuwait to help finalize the move out of iraq. meanwhile, the don't ask don't tell played a part in naval history. two women shared the covets kiss as the crowd cheered and waved flags. it is naval tradition to raffle off the chance to be the first sailor to kiss a loved one upon the ship's return. the one that won is a petty officer and her partner is also in the navy. taxi rides could become more

convenie convenient. credit cards and gps systems. the changes may not happen if cab drivers get their way. tom sherwood explains. >> reporter: there are more than 8,000 licensed cab drivers in the district, two-thirds of them individually controlled with little track on them. >> my members are operators and the taxi cab industry needed significant amount of improvement in the city. it's cited as the worst among u.s. cities. >> minimum wage jobs. it's what you are trying. >> reporter: some angry drivers disrupted the news conference. they called for the sweeping overhaul of the taxi industry. >> we have to upgrade the taxi cabs and the taxi cab industry to match the improvement of overall washington.

>> reporter: mayor gray is proposing a law that would require cabbies to accept credit cards and other digital payments, gps systems tracking their movement. >> the idea is to actually improve taxi service and the experience of riding in a taxi, which is the benefit of the drivers themselves. >> reporter: the drivers may have to have all their cabs be painted the same color to make them easier to see. the overhaul, the biggest change since meters were imposed in 2008. the cost in monitoring will force many independent drivers out of business. nathan price has driven a d.c. cab for 40 years. >> how can you have modernization unless you bring industry to the table. the only person at the table is the government. >> there's no intent to drive anybody out of business.

the intent is to improve the business. >> reporter: tom sherwood, news 4, washington. >> there will be a hearing before any changes are made. a baby jesus statue is back where it belongs thanks in part to facebook. it was stolen from a nativity scene in fredericksburg. the person who stole it made a slip up. pat collins explains. >> reporter: they found the baby jesus. >> praise god. that's wonderful. >> this is what christmas is about, baby jesus. >> reporter: it's not how the story is told in the bible, but baby jesus returned to the manger in the arms of this policeman. you have been on the job how long? >> 43 years. >> reporter: you have recovered a lot of stolen property?

>> yes, i have. >> reporter: have you ever recovered anything like this? >> no, i haven't. >> reporter: baby jesus stolen tuesday night. he weighed 80 pounds. he had been stolen before, some years ago, so they filled him with concrete to keep it from happening again. that proved to be something less than a wise idea. now they say little baby jesus weighs 60 pounds, he lost 20 pounds after he was taken from here. they found the little baby jesus. >> oh, thank you, lord. >> reporter: who stole baby jesus? police say it's a woman, a 25-year-old woman who works at this walmart in the same shopping center. she lives in spotsylvania county. she posted pictures on facebook. someone asked her is that baby jesus stolen? she replied it's so stolen.

>> we have no idea how many people saw the picture on facebook but a great number of them knew it was a stolen item and they were talking about it. out of all those people, only one individual came forward and contacted us. we are glad he did. >> reporter: i'm pat collins news 4, fredericksburg. >> she was charged with grand larceny for her involvement. because it weighed 80 pounds when taken, investigators say a second person may have helped haul it away. still ahead on "news4 this week," we dive into a dance workout that helped one man drop 60 pounds. the the giant donation that could help the national zoo's the the giant donation that could he[ monica ]ional zoo's i'm away on a movie shoot

and it hasn't been going exactly as planned. cut. cut! [ monica ] i thought we'd be on location for 3 days -- it's been 3 weeks. so i had to pick up some more things. good thing i've got the citi simplicity card. i don't get hit with a fee if i'm late with a payment... which is good because on this job, no! bigger! [ monica ] i may not be home for a while. [ male announcer ] the new citi simplicity card. no late fees. no penalty rate. no worries. one of the national zoo's newest residents splashed around without a name. now the one and a half-year-old pacific octopus has a name.

i's going to be called pandora. kimberly submitted the name in a kids post contest. the giant pacific octopus is the largest species of octopus in the world. you can visit it. zoo keepers expect pandora to grow to ten times its size in a year. the national zoo also got giant news. the pandas are here to stay. a local philanthropist is giving a $4.5 million donation hoping it will give to more. megan mcgrath was at the zoo for this big announcement. >> this panda spent the morning eating bamboo and doing the power walk. it's a sign the giant male panda is feeling frisky. >> he's showing the women in the

area, he's the big panda. he's scent marking. he's showing he is ready for love. >> reporter: this won't be all wine and roses. it may be their last together. she gave birth to a cub in 2005 and hasn't conceived since. statistically, her odds are not looking good. if there isn't success this year, scientists may bring in another female. >> he's never successfully naturally mated. on the other hand, if he gets a more cooperative female, maybe it will be in the cards. >> reporter: he's had his issues as well. to get artificial insemination, it doesn't matter who the female is. money won't be a problem. it was announced this morning a

family will fund the program for the next five years. scientists will know by the end of summer where the panda is pregnant. if he doesn't prove himself soon, he may be exchanged for another panda. from the national zoo, megan mcgrath, news 4. coming up, a look inside the d.c. school where students are living out their dreams on stage and on point. the workout that takes zumba ♪ okay, so who ordered the cereal that can help lower cholesterol and who ordered the yummy cereal? yummy. that's yours. lower cholesterol. lower cholesterol. i'm yummy. lower cholesterol. i got that wrong didn't i?

[ male announcer ] want great taste? honey nut cheerios. want whole grain oats that can help lower cholesterol? honey nut cheerios. it's a win win. good? [ crunching, sipping ] be happy. be healthy. can i try yours?

d.c. mayor vincent gray has new plans for the historic lincoln theater. was once the place to perform for artists like duke ellington. it fell into disrepair after the riots. today, it's kept open with cash infusion. the d.c. commission will take over management of the theater

to secure its financial future. >> the goal is to be able to preserve this theater. this is a 90-year-old theater. it's made an enormous contribution of this city, the history of u street. we owe it to the past, present and future to see it. >> a four-week run of the movie, "the girl with the dragon tattoo". there's a school in northeast washington where the students are lean and fit and focused. it's the academy of ballet. there are more than 100 students becoming highly disciplined and athletic adults. wendy rieger takes us there. >> reporter: the dancers, dozens of them float in unison across the stage. it's hypnotic, like smoke. it's beautiful.

but, not to this instructor. much is wrong. this toe is off. someone's heel. their hand, the tilt of someone's head. she barks instructions often in russian. welcome. the goal, perfection. for 22 years the academy has been offering an academically accredited academy in d.c. it is tough. >> the ballet classes are almost five hours a day. that's like nowhere else. the academics on top of that and homework on top of that. it's six days a week. sunday is the only free day. >> it is basically what they all use. expressive, dynamic musical way of dancing. it's for the greatest dancers in the world.

>> reporter: it produces highly disciplined people. >> i want to do ballet and become a prima. >> reporter: she is 13 years old and has been studying for four years. >> every time i hear music or any kind of tune, i want to move my body and dance to it. >> reporter: for luis, he got a full scholarship. >> nobody reached for the arts in my family. >> reporter: for the outsider, the physical demands and discipline are what make it so challenging. for the dancers, it's serial that keeps them going. >> you have a happiness in your heart and you know this is what you want to do. >> there's not a monetary payoff down the road. they don't traditionally get rich. that's not the point. >> i love it to the point where i could be a homeless guy and i

would be the happiest person. >> reporter: wendy rieger, news 4, washington. >> the academy is a live-in school for most of the students. the cost, $43,000 a year, but they give out lots of scholarships. there's a new place to eat that is not a burger joint or diner. it's called the hamilton. the 14th restaurant of the popular collide's restaurant group. it's open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. there's also a performance stage in the basement. it's located at 14th street near the old borders bookstore. condos, retail stores and late-night workers helped provide the incentive for the new eatery. it may be cold outside. don't rule out the pool if you are trying to get a great work out that is a fun workout. ask one man who danced his way to weight loss. he decided to dive into a water

routine inspired by salsa. he's helping others to get fit. >> i was 250 pounds. that's the heaviest i have ever been. i got a gym membership. i went to the gym, but it wasn't enough. i was like okay, the treadmill, some people love it, i don't love it. some people said there's a zumba class. it was hot. this is my people's music. one day, i got the courage, i stood in the back and took the class and fell in love. november 2009, i got certified as a zumba instructor. it's a latin cardiodance class. it's international. it has a lot of beautiful rhythms, especially from central america, south america, anywhere in the world. we're at a crunch add a lunge.

you can burn up to 1,000 calories in one class. it's about resistance and engaging the core. it's about resistance, hand movement. it's great for people with knee juries, if you are overweight, it's great. the water helps so much. i was very shy and insecure. now i'm like i can rule the world. >> you feel, when you come out the pool, like whoa, you have been working like you have been using weights. >> for people that love water and dancing, this is a great workout. >> i have to show how i'm doing. we are both getting a great work out. >> i started seeing the weight come off. it was more like oh my gosh, this is awesome. >> it's like having a pool party. i want energy, i want to have fun and get a great work out without thinking it's a work

out. now, he lost 60 pounds doing zumba. he says the key is engaging your whole body. you don't just wade around in the pool. besides aqua zumba, he teaches a class for kids and another version using weights. up next, college students

a seventh grader is calling it the best present ever. she and her brother were surprised at school by her father. he showed up during an assembly. it was a very emotional reunion as he walked on to the stage. >> a lot of things going through my mind like oh my gosh, it's my dad, should i run up and give him a hug or stay in my seat.

>> i was happy, then i gave him a hug. >> god is good for letting him come home now. i'm excited and happy to see my dad. >> he's on tour in afghanistan, but given leave for the holidays. what a good story. puppies are becoming a popular study break strategy on local college campuses. there were dogs recently at the university of maryland to help students destress and possibly find new homes. erika gonzalez has the story. >> reporter: they sat. they stood. it was a line that wrapped around the student union of the university of maryland. what would make thousands of students wait for hours? puppies. and lots of them. >> oh, i love you. i just want to take you home. >> reporter: student government association president says he was inspired by george mason law

school's successful move to help students destress with puppies and decided to do the same. >> any school is stressful, no matter what your major is, it's crunch time. this is the first days of finals. >> i was exhausted and mentally out of it. i was tired. i had to take my 8:00 a.m. now, i'm excited and dying to see all these puppies. >> they are so sweet. i have an exam in two hours but i don't mind being here. >> reporter: even i had a case of puppy love. but, how does puppy pandemonium sneak up? just ask michael. you found this through facebook? >> yes. my friend put it on my wall. >> reporter: all things social, they used facebook and twitter to get the word out. thousands confirmed their attendance. >> i don't know about you, but

i'm getting an a on my finals. >> reporter: a forever home. a local agency came to the rescue. they brought 20 puppies to campus for students to destress. they have a chance to find them a permanent home. >> if they are an adult, in their 20s and independent. we don't want them sitting in a dorm room. >> erika gonzalez, news 4 washington. that rescue agency says they are getting calls from universities all over the country asking how they, too, can have a puppipalooza for their students. that's it for "news4 this week." i'm pat lawson muse. have a great day. [ monica ] i'm away on a movie shoot

and it hasn't been going exactly as planned.

cut. cut! [ monica ] i thought we'd be on location for 3 days -- it's been 3 weeks. so i had to pick up some more things. good thing i've got the citi simplicity card. i don't get hit with a fee if i'm late with a payment... which is good because on this job, no! bigger! [ monica ] i may not be home for a while. [ male announcer ] the new citi simplicity card. no late fees. no penalty rate. no worries.

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