apologizing and back tracking on the decision to cut breast screening grants to planned parenthood amid growing back lash from people who threatened to boycott komen's fund raising eveins like the race for the cure on the national mall. derrick ward there is tonight. >> reporter: in is a controversy that seems to have arisen and concluded right back where it started from all within the course of several days. the komen foundation is now setting about assuring its supporters that politics and women's health aren't and will not be mixed. still, the future of funding and the funding relationship between komen and groups like planned parenthood remain somewhat up in the air. the position to continue to fund planned parenthood for now came amid a firestorm of controversy for the komen foundation as the earlier decision to cut that funding was seen as politically motivated because of planned parenthood and abortion. an assertion denied by komen founder nancy breaker speaking to msnbc's andrea mitchell. >> many of the grants we were

doing with planned parenthood do not meet new standards of criteria for how we can measure our results and effectiveness in communities. >> reporter: initially it was a gop-led investigation into planned parenthood that was cited as a reason to stop the funding. today comben announced it will continue funding for planned parenthood and funding would be cut if there were a criminal conclusion to that investigation. the head of planned parenthood of metropolitan washington says there's still much common ground at the heart of both their missions, women's health. >> i think this came as a surprise. given the fact that we're both focused on breast cancer. >> reporter: the komen foundation is also pledging to make sure that any grant money they dole out is effectively spent on health services. professor louis faulk is from american university. >> they have to make a case they dirs tributing grants in an efficient manner and impacting their mission in an efficient way. >> in our case at planned parenthood, in our health

centers we conducted nearly 750,000 clinical breast exams. >> reporter: so are there fences to be mended between the two groups and their supporters? >> funding is never guaranteed from any organization. on the other hand, what's heartening is our refocus on making sure that politics never interfere with access to women's health care. >> reporter: now at issue here is about $700,000 in funding and in a universe of millions in which these organizations operate, it may seem like a drop in the bucket. but when it comes to women's health, every dollar goes a long way. on capitol hill, derrick ward, news 4. >> all right. thank you, derrick. good news about the economy. more than 250,000 new jobs were added in january and unemployment dropped to its lowest level in three years. president obama cautiously took some credit but in a presidential race senate on the economy republicans argue the new numbers aren't good enough. steve handelsman is on capitol

hill with more. >> reporter: thanks. definitely this development could shake up the presidential race that's been so focused on jobs because these new unemployment numbers are better than expected. it was a january jobs surge. 50,000 americans got work in factories. 750,000 in high salaried professional jobs. 243,000 new jobs in all. improvement across the board. >> everything, everything is good. hours, the increase of payrolls. >> reporter: u.s. stocks rocketed up on the news. u.s. joblessness down to 8.3%. 0.2% better than december. it's a recovery to the rate of february, 2009, just after barack obama was sworn in. >> congratulations, mr. president. >> reporter: but 8.3 is still high. the president did not celebrate today. >> the recovery is speeding up and we've got to do everything in our power to keep it going.

>> reporter: step one, he said, is republican lawmakers renewing his payroll tax cut. >> i want to send a clear message to congress. do not slow down the recovery that we're on. don't muck it up. >> reporter: house speaker boehner complained the president promised unemployment below 8%. >> i think our point is very simple. we can do better. >> reporter: campaigning in nevada gop candidate mitt romney agrees. >> what this president has done over the last three years has made it harder and harder for businesses to be able to grow and invest in people and hire people. >> reporter: also in nevada newt gingrich took a shot. >> obama raises taxes, increases regulations, is anti-american energy and engages in class warfare. sort of the anti-jobs presidency. >> reporter: but the new job numbers show more americans are back at work. that could help president obama keep his job. doreen, back to you. >> steve handelsman reporting. thank you, steve.

>> you're welcome. virginia voters may have to wait even longer to cast their ballots in the u.s. congressional primaries this year. today the commonwealth's house elections committee voted to push the primaries back from june to august. it's to give the general assembly more time to straighten out new voting district boundaries. a newly redrawn district map is being challenged in court. last year redistricting also delayed virginia state legislature primaries until august. a transgender woman murdered at a bus stop in northeast d.c. the victim stabbed in the head last night on east capital street near sycamore. tonight the killer is on the loose and pat collins has more on how this unfolded. >> reporter: police have identified the victim as japarker jones who also goes by the name of dione or logan. a 23-year-old transgender woman murdered last night at a bus stop at 49th and east capital streets northeast. today we talked to the victim's

mother. >> reporter: you accepted his decisions? >> yes, i supported them. >> regarding his sexuality? >> i'm his mother. >> reporter: you love your child. >> i love my son to death do us part. i love my son. and there is nothing i wouldn't do to get him back but i know that's impossible so we just have to deal with it. >> reporter: now police say there was an altercation at this bus stop and a man stabbed the victim in the face. an unusual getaway. sources say there was a witness and after the stabbing the witness went after the suspect, pulled him to the ground. the suspect pretended to be dead. the witness goes back to help the victim and when the witness does that, the suspect takes off. was this a hate crime? here now from homicide, lieutenant robert alder. >> at this time it is too early for us to say whether or not it's a hate crime. we are investigating it and attempting to determine what was

the cause that sparked this assault. >> reporter: i talked to some of the officials at the transgender empowerment center. debby mcmillan lives in the neighborhood where it happened. >> it lets me know that there is violence still against transgender women and i do personally believe this individual was targeted because they were a transgender woman. >> reporter: police say they have a picture of a man they want to question in connection with this bus stop murder. they plan to release it later on. from the homicide squad, i'm pat collins, news 4. a former d.c. police sergeant was sentenced today for scamming an 85-year-old woman. she was assigned to help. aisha hackley got an 18-month prison term. she pled guilty last august. police said she met the victim in december of 2010 during a fraud investigation but instead of helping her police say hackley forged the woman's signature and took more than

$40,000 out of her bank account. she has since painful restitution. here is a live look at the official super bowl countdown clock. tonight we are two days away from kickoff to super bowl xlv. now the excitement continues to build as we get closer to the big game. >> can't you just feel it? let's head out to indianapolis with vance live outside lucas oil stadium. what you got? >> well, wendy and doreen, actually we can feel it here because the air of excitement is growing as the number of people exponentially it seems increases over the last couple days pouring into town. you know, i have seen projections of the revenue generated by the super bowl north of $500 million. the city leaders here some years ago have come up with a rather interesting approach to how to deal with this opportunity. instead of concentrating on how much money visitors drop over ten days, they have decided

instead to focus on the long-term social and economic impact. with a population around 800,000, indianapolis is now the 12th largest city in this country. as in every other city a segment of that population is hurting and getting the super bowl will help. >> i think it's a great thing that has happened. >> joe matthews is one of many people in this town who have been working hard to make the best of the opportunity to help those who need it most. >> getting the super bowl and having the quality of life plan for the near east side embraced by the host committee is a part of its work here. it has helped to leverage attention, resources, and unbelievable set of partnerships. >> that partnership is called the near east side legacy project. it's the project that built this new community center, new and rehabbed housing and so much more in one of the city's most depressed neighborhoods.

there are about 40,000 people who live here in what they call near east side. in every area that counts this community is depressed but because of the partnerships formed around the super bowl at least in part this community is changing. jump-started by the super bowl $154 million has been pledged to improve the lives of the people here. >> some are better off. obviously we haven't touched everybody. there is still work to be done but the opportunities for enhancing mobility and success have just been increased tremendously. >> that's because in this town the haves and the have nots decided to cooperate to share the benefits that come with the bowl. >> i think the east side has got a sense of momentum going now as a result of the work taking place on the super bowl and the, not only the work but the result, tangible results we can see. >> reporter: you know, that project to upgrade the lives of

some of the city's inhabitants was part of the proposal that the city leaders presented to the nfl to get the super bowl some years ago. city leaders are convinced that that proposal was the icing on the cake that helped them to win it. i got to tell you our producer here jeff greenburg was really on point and wrapped this up marvelously when he had a comment. he said some cities win the super bowl. some cities earn the super bowl. indianapolis definitely earned the super bowl and all the revenue that comes with it. you know the nfl put up a million dollars for kids' programs as well. they do that i think on every super bowl. >> a hundred million for the kids and over 150 million toward homes. >> and that's not bad. >> pretty cool. a lot of good stuff happening here in indy with the super bowl. last full day of practice for the team. we'll hear from the head coaches coming up in sports. a couple predictions from the experts on radio row as well. >> that is not us. experts i mean. but there is another expert we got a wonderful chance to talk

to today. joe gibbs was in town. we ran into him. it was absolutely hilarious some of the things he had to say. you know, he still is coaching. just can't get away from it. >> he loves it maybe more than ever too. >> all right. guys, back to you. >> all right. >> looking forward to hearing his goofy laugh later tonight, guys. >> that one you mean? >> exactly. good to see a different perspective, too, about all the super bowl money. >> thanks. good stuff. it's a super sized sunday night ahead on news 4. the patriots and giants kick off at 6:29. after the game watch the season two premiere of "the voice" followed by news 4 at 11:00. coming up next, in cairo protesters clash with police for a second day. what is sparking this violence? >> judgment day for an illegal immigrant convicted in a drunk driving crash that killed a nun. why the suspect told the judge he is a changed man. >> more trouble for metro riders. why it'll take a few more years to make repairs to one of the busiest lines on the system. doug, how about our weather?

>> we're watching a major storm in the middle part of the country right now. that same storm at least a piece of it is making its way our way. i'll show you what it means for your weekend and, yes, your super bowl sun

two american tourists kidnapped in egypt are now free. this comes as protesters in cairo took to the streets for a second day of clashes with

police. nbc's got more on the turmoil in egypt. >> reporter: two american tourists that were kidnapped in the south sinai peninsula have been released after being kidnapped for a few hours by bedouin tribesmen. now as we understand it five americans were on a bus visiting st. catherine's monastery, a very popular tourist destination here in egypt. it was at that point they were stopped by armed gunmen. three of them were released on the spot but two detained for a few hours. it was at that point the military intervened and negotiated their release in exchange for some members of that tribe that were held in egyptian security prisons. now all of this is happening against a very precarious security situation in the country. protests have continued now for the second straight day. the death toll continues to rise. more than 1200 people have been injured across the country. protesters are frustrated with military rule here in the country and many of them are blaming the military and security forces for not protecting fans at a soccer game on wednesday in which riots

killed 74 people. so it gives you a sense of really the frustration among many ordinary egyptians. nbc news, cairo. there is growing concern about a possible showdown between israel and iran. "the washington post" reported yesterday that defense secretary leon panetta is concerned israel will attack this spring to prevent iran from building a nuclear weapon. panetta later refused to comment on the story but did not disavow it. u.s. officials urge israel to hold back, give sanctions time to work. but israeli officials believe iran will have a nuclear weapon. two tests within a year. they are concerned that if they wait too long military strike will not do the job. iranian officials deny they are developing nuclear weapons. president obama went to a fire house in arlington to propose two new steps to help veterans find work as firefighters. police officers and park rangers. >> our veterans are some of the most highly trained, highly educated, highly skilled workers that we've got.

these are americans that every business should be competing to attract. these are americans we want to keep serving here at home. as we rebuild this country. >> the president proposed offering financial incentives to communities that make it a priority to recruit and hire veterans and he said congress should take the money the nation is no longer spending on war and use half to repay the nation's debt and the other half to put veterans to work. he made his remarks at fire station number 5 in pentagon city. well, we have reached the weekend. and it's going to be interesting. >> yes. >> isn't it weatherwise? >> that is a good term to use for this weekend. interesting. because i think we have some rain coming in. i think it's going to get cooler. i think we have a chance for some snow in parts of the area. maybe some ice and sleet but temperatures are not going to go down to those critical levels where it's going to be a problem on the roadways so if you're thinking about driving around for super bowl for those parties, no problem. i think those will be okay but

anyway, sunday morning you may wake up to a little bit of snow. >> surely the kind of snow -- >> the conversation. that's right. the time where you sit around and you say take a look at that snow out there. out there right now let's take a look. if you do tea. i don't know if you do. out there right now big snow. this is not conversational snow. this is something entirely different. this is snowmageddon out towards denver. a huge snowstorm out there. as a matter of fact this could be the biggest snowstorm ever in the month of february in denver if they reach 14 inches of snow and they've gotten about a foot of snow thus far. you can see the roadways right there are definitely packed. it has been hazardous all day long as they have actually closed parts of i-70 east of denver for that. wow. that storm trying to make its way our way. i don't think it's going to make it here at least in all, in total, but pieces of it are going to make it our way. 52 degrees out there today. low of 37. once again above average for the 12th day in a row.

our weather has really just been spectacular. a lot of people have asked me, you know, doug i haven't seen this kind of weather in my entire life. when has it ever been warmer than this in the winter months? well, 2006 and 2002 believe it or not. you have seen it if you've been in the washington, d.c. area. 2002 by the way, about the sixth warmest december or january ever. this past january? 18th warmest. so a lot warmer just a couple years ago. 46 degrees right now the current temperature. winds out of the north-northeast about 5 miles an hour. we're looking at mostly clear skies right now. we're going to see a nice evening but temperatures are falling off with those clear skies. 41 in frederick. 39 right now in culpepper. 41 in gaithersburg. 43 in indianapolis. we are going to see those temperatures dip down to about where they were overnight last night so you know what to wake up to tomorrow morning. storm 4 radar, not showing any rain across our area. but watch what happens when we widen out. once again just a monster of a storm making its way toward the

east. you can see severe weather. even a couple tornado warnings in oklahoma down towards texas. a lot of rain coming in toward alabama and toward the atlanta area. and then there's the snow back there toward denver just to the west of denver. there is a town called black hawk where a couple casinos are. four feet of snow in the last 24 hours. this has been a monster storm for them and it is going to pull to the east. but i do think as it does so the atmosphere is literally just going to tear this storm apart. and we're only going to get a piece of the action in our area. high pressure over the region right now with the sunshine today. that moves on out of here. tomorrow we see the clouds and notice the rain here around 6:00. that's along a warm front. that warm front should stay to the south and the colder air will move in. that snow could be here early on sunday morning mostly to the north and to the west of washington, d.c. i do not expect too many problems but you may wake up to some snow on your sunday morning just in time for the super bowl. we need some of that cold air to the north around buffalo where it's 35 to make its way down

into our area. overnight tonight we're looking very, very nice. but over the next couple days that is when the changes start. tomorrow, 40% chance of rain moving in late in the day and then overnight tomorrow night into early on sunday rain could last through about noon. maybe 3:00 on sunday afternoon. monday and tuesday though, looking very, very nice. and look at the extended forecast. not bad out there at all. temperatures not too bad for this time of the year. take a look at this. the super bowl means it's time for super fandemonium sweepstakes. did i do that okay? you could win lunch with the news 4 team. vance, doreen, dan, and me. just go to our nbc washington facebook page. like us there. wendy, and then win by 10:00 a.m. monday morning. you have to make sure you do that by 10:00 a.m. monday morning. wendy, you might get a chance to eat lunch there. >> i couldn't wait for this. >> she's disqualified.

>> yes. moving away. >> she's going to have lunch at the bar i think. >> it's going to be fun. >> coming up next serious news. a dangerous game with very serious consequences. what some local students did at school that sent them to the hospital. >> i love this little commercial. we're getting a sneak peek at some of the super bowl ads that some of the super bowl ads that [music playing] confidence. available in color. depend® for women is now peach. looks and fits like underwear. same great protection. depend®.

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police just release ad sketch of a man behind a sexual assault near a shopping mall in maryland that happened saturday night. january 21st. anne arundel county police say a woman was sitting near a business at the severn square shopping center when the man approached, sexually assaulted her, and and runoff. the suspect is about 40 years old, balding, has a gauge style earring in his right ear and scar on the right side of his face. charles county school officials are warning parents about a game that sent several students to the hospital. it's a game so dangerous it could have killed them. it's called the pass out challenge. in this game kids hold their breath until they lose consciousness. officials say kids are learning about it online on websites like facebook and youtube. robocalls went out to parents in charles county yesterday. school administrators say students caught participating in the game will face punishment. still ahead, an illegal

immigrant convicted of drunk driving and killing a nun learns his fate. a warning for metro riders. why repairs to one of the busiest lines are taking longer than expected. >> we'll meet the little boy taking the sport by storm. he is still in diapers. coming up in sports just two days away from the big game here we'll get some predictions from some of the experts. who do they like? the giants or the patriots? and the capitals' captain has returned from his three-game suspension. alex ovechkin back on the ice as

the nation's largest breast cancer charity reversing its decision to cut grants to planned parenthood. three days ago the susan g. komen foundation said it could not fund organizations under investigation. today changed its funding criteria after a firestorm of criticism and issued an apology to supporters. just a few minutes ago d.c. police released a video of a person of interest in the murder of a transgender woman. japarker jones who also goes by the names dione and logan was stabbed in the face at a bus stop in northeast last night. police are not yet calling it a hate crime. encouraging economic news. more than a quarter million new jobs added in january.

unemployment dropping to the lowest level in three years from 8.5% to 8.3%. the jobs report helps the dow to the best close it has had since 2008. here's doug with the forecast. >> hello. we are ending a fantastic week. it was really spectacular all week long. now we head to the weekend. it looks like we could see some problems with that weekend. you can see right now our next couple days, 49 on saturday. 43 on sunday. it does look like we could see a mix of precipitation. maybe even some snow. i'll show you who has the best chance coming up in my forecast. all right. thanks, doug. a prince william county judge has sentenced an illegal immigrant who killed a nun while driving drunk in bristow. >> carlos montenelli's tearful plea for mercy in court today convinced the judge to lower the sentence he originally had in mind. julie carey reports from manassas. >> reporter: 24-year-old carlos martinelli came to court already convicted of felony murder for driving drunk in august of 2010 and crashing his car into a vehicle carrying three nuns.

two of them sister charlotte lange and connie ruth lufton were badly injured. sister denise mosher was killed. in court today he told the judge he is a changed man. he says he has found god, attends aa meetings in the jail, and is studying to become a pastor some day. he and tearful relatives asked for mercy. >> i am truly sorry for the destruction and harm i put the sisters and their families through. i feel horrible for what i have done. i take full responsibility for my actions. and i'm willing to accept my penalty. >> reporter: his blood alcohol level was more than twice the legal limit that tragic morning. it was his third dui. the bolivian native also faced deportation proceedings and the case produced a community outcry about immigration enforcement. prosecutors asked the judge to deliver a sentence above the guidelines. >> this man's actions were outrageous and took the life of a selfless woman who soivgd her

community, served her religion as a teacher, had been a missionary. >> reporter: judge lon ferris told the defendant his remorse convinced him to lower the stiff sentence he originally had in mind. >> i know you've made changes and great strides while incarcerated. the problem is with your history not only is there punishment to be meted out but also society has to be protected because there's very little guarantee you won't get in the car and do the same thing again. >> reporter: the sentence? 20 years. prosecutors say it sends a strong message. >> it's a very serious sentence that sends a message that drinking and driving won't be tolerated when they lead to these sort of dire results. >> reporter: his attorneys say they are satisfied with the sentence but plan to appeal the felony murder conviction, one of the first times in which a murder charge has been used successfully in a dui death case. but even if the appeal is successful he still will face 20

years in prison for the other crimes he pleaded guilty to. in manassas, julie carey, news 4. an explanation tonight about how a man talked his way into a d.c. elementary school and ended up sexually assaulting a student earlier this week. authorities say the man spoke with an adult aide at ketcham elementary school in southeast about picking up a student. the aide claims to have recognized him and assigned a student to escort the man to a classroom that's in violation of school policy. all visitors are required to check in with security upon their arrival and required to sign in and present proper i.d. officials say it is not clear whether a security guard was at the entrance as required at the time of the assault. if you ride metro's red line and there are tens of thousands of you, we've got good news and some bad news. the transit system has committed to fixing all of the problems on the system's busiest line but it's going to take another three years. tom sherwood reports.

>> reporter: the metro red line is headed into three more years of repairs, repairs from normal wear and tear and the system says years of neglected or delayed maintenance. >> it's pretty evident for anyone who rides the system that it's not as reliable as it needs to be. >> reporter: the red line was the first line and still the busiest in the train system. customers are weary of delays and repair work but some are resigned to more track work for a better system. >> when the repairs are finished i believe there will be better service, well worth it and i'm ready for better service. >> major track maintenance will be in effect on the orange and blue line. >> reporter: track work is taking place throughout the metro system mostly on nights and weekends to catch up on necessary and routine maintenance. >> part of it was funding. i think part of it was the fact that it is unpopular to do this kind of work so that it simply wasn't done. >> reporter: in addition to deferred maintenance, metro also is making safety improvements mandated by federal officials and is preparing for extensions of tracks to suburban

neighborhoods all while running a modern system day and night. >> building the system was actually easier than rebuilding the system. we are the second busiest subway in america. the red line is our busiest line. we have tens and tens of thousands of people who count on us every rush hour and at all hours of the day. so we certainly avoid doing work during the rush hours. we try to squeeze in as much work as we can during every available off peek window we have. >> tom sherwood, news 4. in the district. the louisa county school system in virginia is getting $3.2 million to rebuild schools damaged in last year's earthquake. the magnitude 5.8 severely damaged louisa county high and thomas jefferson elementary school. today governor bob mcdonald announced that fema has agreed to fund a brand new building to replace thomas jefferson elementary school and the high school students in louisa were forced to share a temporary facility due to the earthquake damage. coming up on news 4 at 6:00 a new twist in the mysterious illness that left dozens of teenage girls suffering from

tourette's syndrome like symptoms. a big surprise for a fairfax county student. she turned her dream dress into a cheeseburger macaroni?

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happening over the next couple days. i want to show you what's happening on radar right now. nothing to show you right now across our area but what you can see is what's happening out toward the west. of course we're talking about that big storm out there toward colorado and right now big time rains in through kansas city, missouri, st. louis, now moving in to indianapolis if dan and vance are live tonight at 11:00 they'll probably need the umbrella or at least something over the top of them. look at the severe weather around oklahoma and even around dallas, texas. this is the big storm that will move in overnight tonight into the day tomorrow. best chance of rain will be late during the day tomorrow. looking at temperatures for tomorrow not bad. 49 in washington. 47 in gaithersburg. 48 in manassas. i do think we have a chance for snow. let's show you who has the best chance. this would be back to around i-81 including frederick, winchester, and fort royal but even a small chance of snow around manassas, washington, maybe up around the howard county, baltimore area as well. we'll update you on this coming

up tonight at 11:00. okay. doug, thank you. no matter which team you're supporting on super bowl sunday one thing every fan cheers for are the commercials during the big game. that's my favorite part. this year advertisers are giving us a sneak peek at the blockbuster ads. jay gray has a closer look at the spots and the strategy behind them. >> reporter: they are bigger and badder. >> you are in grave danger. >> reporter: faster and, yes, even friskier on super sunday. >> whoa! >> reporter: no, not the athletes but the ads. >> ah! >> it's about getting people excited and creating the buzz around your brand. >> reporter: chocolate m & m's character remained a mystery. >> reporter: a buzz that's already building online with teasers and early releases on youtube, facebook, and twitter. >> really about integration of other mediums in addition to television where you really get the biggest bang for your buck with the super bowl advertising.

>> reporter: big bucks, an average of $3.5 million for a 30-second spot on super sunday. >> it's engaging and fun to watch and it's putting more eyes on the brand which is what we're trying to do. >> reporter: maybe the most eyes ever. analysts say as many as 115 million people could tune in on sunday. that would be the largest television audience in u.s. history. many watching. >> how could i resist? >> reporter: just to see the ads. >> air still here? do you have anything better to do? go on. get going. go. >> reporter: jay gray, nbc news, indianapolis. from the commercialtors the big game, let's go to dan. what's coming up, dan? >> we have a story about a very special delivery for the giants. this is one of the most unique super bowl deliveries you probably ever heard of and it's the final day of practice. last day for the guys to get all

the kinks out before the big game. we'll hear from both

back out to dan hellie in indianapolis where hopefully they're going to eventually play some football. >> well, we would hope so. it seems like vance and i have been here a long time. been having a good time but it has been a long time. >> you know what? they said something earlier that reminds me of something. the only disadvantage of being at the game, itself, is you miss all the commercials. >> i know. >> you can't see the commercials from the stand. >> they give you a little radio

and you can hear the radio commercials but that's not the same as seeing the tv commercials. >> not at all. >> here's the deal. the annual state of the league address from roger goodall, the nfl commissioner. they're going to have 13 thursday night games next season. that means every single team in the nfl including teams like the jacksonville jaguars will have a primetime game. it means the redskins will even have a primetime game next season. they want to play a regular season game in mexico again and they're keeping an open mind about another cold weather city for the super bowl if everything goes well. not here in indianapolis because that's inside but in 2014 in new york. as we said earlier it was the final day of practice for the two teams here and the coaches finally said, let's get it on. >> i feel like our team has had a good week. i feel we'll be ready to go and we're looking forward and excited to be representing the afc in this game and it's a big challenge for us but one we're excited to face. >> our players have been excited

about getting from the meeting room to practice field and that has built up very well over the last couple days. we look forward to today, to our normal friday practice and of course going through our saturday routine and on into game day. >> all right. i talked about that special delivery earlier. >> what is that? what are you talking about? >> so the giants have a superstition. they've been going to this pizzeria in new hyde park in new york for the last five or six years. a lot of the linemen so they said let's have pizzas delivered. so they had a plane brought in here from new hyde park in new york. >> i wonder if they're still hot. >> a good question. they had 20 pizzas and the pizza place had a police escort to laguardia that got on the plane. they were out here and the guys were eating it today because that's their friday afternoon tradition. >> when you're in the super bowl all kinds of wonderful things just miraculously happen don't they? and yeah when you're in a bowl you are supposed to have a

police escort to the plane. >> i think that worked out just fine for the giants today. >> wouldn't we love to have one sometime? once after what, 20 some years. bring it on. >> just once. that's the giants. the patriots, good news from rob there tight end, did practice on a limited basis again today. he is officially questionable for sunday but he is going to be good to go. speaking of the tight ends, man, they are awesome. maybe the best combination ever in the history of the nfl. rob grenkowsky and aaron hernandez have been fantastic. killing everybody this year. an nfl record 17 touchdowns for a tight end. hernandez didn't have quite the same eye-popping numbers but he still had 910 receiving yards. that's more than 2,000 yards and 24 touchdowns from tight ends. you have to wonder if there is a friendly competition between the two. >> maybe when we first got there we competed a little bit because we kind of didn't know if we were supposed to be friends or

laughing with each other. we were both trying to get a starting job. but when we both started working together and as one, we really took it as one and the thing we do talk about, maybe stats together and both of our stats adding up compared to other two tight end sets. >> when we saw the opportunity we talked about it a little bit and knew if we told each other if we just keep working hard and doing what we got to do we can do good things. and count each other as one and the numbers combined together are pretty awesome and it was definitely a great year with us two. >> i'd say the numbers are pretty awesome. the two tight ends one of the reasons the patriots are favored by three in the super bowl. but for some reason, the giants started as the hot trendy pick the minute they made the big game despite a 9-7 regular season record. and they remained the popular pick among the experts and some, well, nonexperts on radio row. let's hear from a couple guys who do know what they're talking about. >> i think the giants are going to win it.

they're the hottest team right now. i think eli is the hottest quarterback. i think if they do their job pressing the quarterback they should win. >> i like the giants in this one. i think the giants' wide receiving corps is going to be a real task to deal with for the new england patriots secondary so i'm leaning to the giants 27-17. the reason i picked that score was it was the score of super bowl 17 when the redskins beat the dolphins. all right. that's joe thiseman, deacon jones, both men picking the giants. bad news? caps fans. you've lost 2 of your last 3 games. good news you're getting ovi back from that three-game suspension, alex ovechkin, and ready to go. the capitals need him back there out on the ice. >> it's kind of, you know, you miss a game and the decision was made and, you know, i don't know

if it is going to change my game or not. again, it's a physical game. i'm going to do my best to help this team take some points and, you know, make some hits, score some goals. it's my goal. >> nice to have him back. had a little vacation in south beach. he's been seemingly away for about two weeks since that suspension. >> i have to tell you something about grankowsky. mike ditka was not a bad tight end in his day. i heard him say something really scary. he said he doesn't even know yet now good he is and as soon as he finds out like maybe next year, instead of worrying about high ankle sprains he'll start breaking people's necks and he said i guarantee it. and i'm inclined to believe it. that guy is awesome. >> he is amazing. >> that fast, that strong. >> when guys like ditka say that, other players say the same stuff, you know he is the real deal. >> i believe it. coming up tonight at 11:00 we have something that is absolutely delightful. we floon joe gibbs today.

and, you kn, joe gibbs was absolutely the finest coach ever in washington. he is still coaching but he's not coaching big, brawny men anymore. he is coaching his sons and others and what he has to say about those kids is really, really funny. check us out tonight at 11:00 with joe gibbs. >> all right. >> back to you. >> i don't think we've heard your super bowl predictions yet though you guys. >> who? >> you two. >> oh, ours? >> you heard mine. >> you've heard vance's. we're going to give a complete synopsis of our predictions coming up tomorrow. >> oh, coming up tomorrow. >> have a good weekend. >> all right. i got a super bowl -- >> you'll have to tune in. >> i have a prediction. i predict madonna brings some, one or more special guests out with her during the halftime show. >> yes. >> in all seriousness? >> yes. >> i've heard that she could have some very risque stuff on. this is going to be a hot halftime show. >> no, not madonna. >> i'm telling you it is going

to be controversial. >> fcc be alerted. >> fcc be alerted. >> if she's still got today my journey continues across the golden state, >> fcc be alerted. >> if she's still got where everyone has been unbelievably nice. mornin'. i guess i'm helping them save hundreds on car insurance. it probably also doesn't hurt that i'm a world-famous advertising icon. cheers! i mean, who wouldn't want a piece of that? geico. ah... fifteen minutes could save you fifteen percent oh dear... or more on car insurance.

new developments in the mystery illness in upstate new york. a 36-year-old woman is now saying she has the same symptoms as more than a dozen teenagers. 15 students in le roy, new york

are suffering from uncontrollable tics similar to tourette's syndrome. neurologists initially said the teens have something called conversion disorder but their families disagree and the most recent victim is a licensed nurse practitioner who says she is being treated for the same thing and is not connected to the school where the students attend. she does live in the area. investigators are also testing the soil there. a train derailed 40 years ago dumping toxic chemicals about four miles from that school that is at the center of the investigation. broa senior in fairfax desid a prom dress that beat thousands of others in a nationwide contest but didn't know it until today when david's bridal store and "17" magazine surprised her in the school cafeteria. they revealed her dress and a $25,000 scholarship. news 4's pat lawson muse has more on the local winner. >> we're here because sam has

won our contest. >> reporter: 17-year-old samantha bryant's life changed today. the wt woodson high school senior designed a prom dress that beat out the dresses of more than 2,000 other high school students in a nationwide contest. >> it just, when i sent in that sketch so many months ago i had no idea i'd be here right now. it's amazing. >> reporter: david's bridal and "17" magazine were the sponsors and judges. they surprised bryant with a big win in her school cafeteria revealing her dress and $25,000 scholarship. bryant is a devoted art student. her day begins with art classes at woodson then she spends the second part of her day taking fashion design classes at the fairfax academy for communication and the arts. >> every night she is up until the wee hours of the morning spending time on this dress and her academy classes for art and it's her entire life is art. >> reporter: her prom dress

rendition of van gogh's starry night will now go on sale in david's bridal stores starting next week. >> her design was everything that the david's bridal team was looking for. we felt the color was right, blues and brights are so big in the fashion world right now. and especially in prom fashion. >> i didn't think i'd actually have anything of my own in stores until i was in my 30s or even later. i always assumed it would take me so long and i'm 17. i'm going to have a dress in a store that's mine. >> reporter: pat lawson muse, news 4, washington. >> very cool. coming up tonight on news 4 at 11:00 a grandmother beaten and robbed inside her house. what police are saying to warn neighbors. also a student in montgomery county is furious that he had to prove his religion with a letter to wear a yarmulke to school. how drinking on the job got a starbucks barista fired. see you at 11:00. >> one more check on our weather, doug. the weather the next couple days is going to be anything but

what it was over the last couple days. we have 72. we saw 60s. today we saw high temperature in the low 50s. tomorrow we get to 49 but the rain moves in late in the day and will persist overnight tomorrow night and may change to some wet snow to the north on sunday morning so watch out for that. could be a fairly rainy sunday, too. we are going to see temperatures rebound though as we head into next week. >> thank you, doug. >> finally tonight we want you to meet a baby everyone is talking about. he's become known as the pingpong baby. he as toddler named jamie who appears to have a real future in sports given his powers of concentration and hand-eye coordination. we don't know too much about jamie except that his youtube video has gone viral and that his father's been working with him since he was about 6 months old before jamie could even sit on the table by himself or hold a paddle on his own. he doesn't look that much older than 6 months there. you think he is even old enough to walk yet? >> all i know he is a lot better than handly. >> awesom