mommy wars aren't over yet. moments ago the woman at the center of attention spoke out about being a stay at home mom. >> the debate is still raging today. the democratic strategist who ignited the controversy canceled a scheduled appearance on "meet the press" and republicans are seizing the opportunity to redefine their pitch to women vote he recalls. andrea mitchell has our report. >> come on. we'll go home. >> reporter: the battle for the white house is a battle for women voters. >> there's been a lot of talk about women and women's issues lately. >> this president has failed america's women. >> reporter: but mitt romney is far behind, facing a yawning gender gap that could doom his campaign if not fixed. romney has been relying on his wife. >> the champion in my wife, my sweetheart, ann romney. >> reporter: comments about ann romney by a prominent democratic strategist and cnn commentator have now reignited the gender wars. >> guess what?

his wife has never actually worked a day in her life. she's never really dealt with the kinds of economic issues that a majority of the women in this country are facing. >> reporter: twitter exploded. the romney campaign called it a kill ann strategy. ann romney wrote her first tweet. i made a choice to stay home and raise five boys. believe me, it was hard work. she also went on fox. >> my career choice was to be a mother, and i think all of us need to know we need to respect choices that women make. other women make other choices to have a career and raise family which i think hillary rosen has done herself. >> then sarah palin weighed in. >> the comments hillary rosen made today have certainly awakened many mama grizzlys across the nation. >> she's been a white house ally, even a guest at the most recent state dinner but the obama campaign quickly distance todayself from her comment. then the first lady who worked outside the home part-time while raising her girls until the 2008 campaign also tweeted.

every mother works hard, and every woman deserves to be respected. finally, the president said he knows of no tougher job than being a mom. >> i've watched michelle who for most of her career had juggled work and family but there were times where she had -- was on maternity leave and i promise you that's work. so i think this was an ill-advised statement by somebody on television. it's not something that i subscribe to. >> reporter: facing a firestorm rosen apologized for her choice of words. >> mrs. romney, i applaud your decision to stay home and raise what are obviously five wonderful boys. this is not about stay at home moms versus working moms. i think your husband needs to stand up for women's economic struggles. >> reporter: she clearly touched a nerve says i-village chief correspondent kelly wallace, mother of two. >> this debate totally resonates. i think about this issue all the

time because i of course feel conflict like i think so many other women. it doesn't get any more emotional i think than the mommy wars. >> now just minutes ago on the campaign trail with her husband, ann romney fired a new round in the battle over stay at home moms. >> let me give a shout out to all moms that are working and, by the way, to all dads that are working. we love all of you. you know, i often think that you're only, as a parent, as happy as your saddest child, and you never, ever stop being a parent. >> for his part, mitt romney said today he believes all moms are working moms and called his wife a hero. president obama released his tax return today. the president and first lady filed a joint return. they reported an adjusted gross income of almost $790,000. they donated more than $172,000

to charity and paid about $162,000 in taxes. that works out to a tax rate of some 20.5%. vice president joe biden and his wife jill reported an income of just over $379,000. they paid around $88,000 in federal taxes. a bill that bans most late-term abortions is now law in arizona. governor jan brewer there signed the republican sponsored bill yesterday. it bans most abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy. the ban will not apply in cases of medical emergencies. the new law also requires arizona's health department to display images of fetuses at various stages of development on its website. along with abortion risks and alternatives. governor brewer said the bill strengthens laws that protect women and unborn babies. two police officers were released from the hospital today. two others are in stable condition this afternoon following a deadly standoff during a drug raid in new

hampshire. police chief michael maloney died when the suspect opened fire on the officers. mutrie and a woman he was with were also found dead. today the chief medical officer at portsmouth hospital says officers the officers are in stable condition and two other officers have been released. there was a surprise status hearing today in the trayvon martin murder case. the judge assigned to the case says she may have a conflict of interest. her husband works with an attorney who helped shooting suspect george zim find his new lawyer. the judge may be asked to recuse herself. zimmerman meanwhile has a bond hearing next week. jay gray is in sanford, florida with more on that part of the story. >> reporter: george zimmerman is in an isolated cell at the seminole county justice center this evening and will stay there at least another week. today his attorney requested a bond hearing for next friday full aware he says of the

tension and emotions still surrounding this case. >> it is going to be difficult for him to be able to walk down a street at any point in the foreseeable future. i just don't want him in jail because of that. i want him safe. but i need him available to me. >> reporter: available to help craft his defense against a second-degree murder charge in the shooting death of trayvon martin, a strategy that legal experts in florida say is sure to include the controversial stand your ground self-defense law. >> that is his only defense in this case. so, yes. we're absolutely going to have an immunity hearing where the stand your ground law will be asserted on behalf of george zimmerman. >> reporter: that would come after the formal arraignment scheduled for may 29th. >> there is an opportunity for a judge to look at this case and say that i find that this defense is so obvious, so apparent, so without question that the case should not go forward. >> reporter: an opportunity that would reveal the core of the defense. >> once that motion is filed and the hearing will be scheduled and a judge will hear all the

evidence in court we'll hear from george zimmerman, hear from every witness that there is. >> reporter: if i'm successful they would return for a trial that would surely be a highly charged emotional proceeding. george zimmerman's attorney says if it goes to trial it is not likely until sometime next year. jay gray, nbc news, sanford, florida. a teenager hit by a freight train in montgomery county today is expected to recover. it happened around 8:30 this morning near the washington grove train station in gaithers burg. investigators say a 17-year-old boy was walking beside the eastbound tracks. a csx train carrying gravel approached from behind. but apparently the teen didn't hear because he was listening to music. the passing train clipped his right arm. >> the train was approaching the station as per standard policy. they air the horn to let people know they are approaching. they did that and the juvenile was wearing ear phones and was

unable to hear the train at the time. therefore he got hit. >> the teen was conscious when medics got him to the hospital. his injuries are primarily to the arm that was hit by the train. the search is on today for a man who may be responsible for a series of attacks along a popular hiking and biking trail in prince george's county. police tell us since january at least three women have been abducted and sexually assaulted along the northwest branch hiker trail in hyattsville. that's near the west hyattsville metro station. the most recent incident happened tuesday, march 27th. a woman was abducted at knife point then raped. some of the people we talked to who used the trail every day are now on edge. >> and now i am very afraid that something could happen to me, or to another woman. >> it is disheartening because this is an area where there are a lot of children and as a woman it's frightening because you shouldn't have to fear for your safety in your own neighborhood.

>> this week police released two sketches of the man they believe to be responsible for the attacks. he is described as hispanic, possibly from el salvador in his late 20s or early 30s, 5'6", and weighs about 160 pounds. students in fairfax county may soon have a little extra time to get ready for school in the mornings. the school board has approved a resolution to start high school classes at 8:00 a.m. right now they start at 7:20. the change means some students would have to get on their buses before 6:00 in the morning. the county would look at how this change will impact other school decisions before the board takes a final vote in june. it could soon cost you more to take metro. the finance committee has approved a 5% fare hike. that means most rail passengers would pay as much as $5.75 during peak hours. the board approved a ten cent increase for bus passengers and it would cost you an extra quarter to park at metro lots. this biggest change, the biggest change would impact metro rail passengers.

you'd be able to buy a new $14 all day pass that has no restrictions or you could buy a 28-day pass for 230 bucks. if metro's full board approves the new fares they'll take effect july 1st. we got a big dose of sunshine out there today, folks, but the cooler temperatures are about to head on out. >> sounds like things are heating up. meteorologist veronica johnson is live in the storm center. hey, veronica. >> heating up in a big way as we move into the weekend, guys. as far as this morning we started out quite chilly. a lot of locations in the 30s. take a look to the north. frederick and mount airy starting at 32 degrees. 34 the start in bethesda and germantown. manassas, virginia started out at 34 degrees. say adios to temperatures like this because, yeah. we are going to be warming up. 66 right now. we've got that wind out of the north-northwest at 10 with a gust of just 17 because you know the last couple days we've seen some higher winds throughout the

area. so that breezy system moving out, area of high pressure moving in. and it's going to be giving us a warm surge of air this weekend. numbers across the area right now, georgetown 66. 67 degrees now in fredericksburg. 65 degrees in waldorf, maryland. the clouds from early this morning, late last night, those two gone as high pressure has been moving in so on your fast forecast a gorgeous evening. might need to break out the summer clothes and because it has been so dry around here we're really looking over the next couple days to getting a little rain. when is our next chance? i'll have it coming up with our seven-day forecast. back to you. >> we'll see you then. thanks. when we come right back on news 4 at 4:00 we have breaking news regarding brad pitt and angelina jolie. >> beyonce writes a letter to the first lady. what the pop star reveals about her relationship with her newborn daughter. >> she is not even 50 but one actress is trying to change the image of an adult product. later we'll hear from the man who rushed into a burning

house to save his neighbor. he just happens to be the mayor of new

a man's been arrested for breaking into the home of rap mogul sean diddy combs. it happened at combs' east hampton mansion earlier this month. 30-year-old kwame taylor not only broke in but police say he also ate food, drank liquor, and wore the rapper's clothing. taylor is unemployed and hasn't posted the $2,000 bail.

as for combs this isn't the first time someone has tried breaking into his house. in 2010 a florida woman claimed to be combs' wife and was found twice at a home she mistakenly thought belonged to the rapper. superstar singer beyonce has penned a public letter to the first lady. >> the new mom posted a handwritten note on her website expressing her admiration for michelle obama. the note read in part she is a caring mother, loving wife, while at the same time she is the first lady. she added in the note i'm proud to have my daughter grow up in a world where she has people like you to look up to. michelle obama responded to beyonce's tweet thanking her for also being a role model. >> think of all the followers they have combined. speaking of followers it's a story with lots of us saying, finally, if it's true. >> "people" is confirming brad pitt and angelina jolie are engaged finally. jolie reportedly debuted an

engagement ring on her finger earlier this week in l.a. the designer confirmed that it was indeed an engagement ring designed with the help of brad pitt. didn't know he was a jewelry designer everybody has been watching her finger for a long time now. >> i'd say they should get it over and be done with it. >> let's do it. the sinking of the titanic happened a hundred years ago this weekend. the loss of a ship that many people considered unsinkable continues to fascinate new generations. >> the titanic mystic is especially evident this week as a sad chapter in the shared history between the u.s. and great britain is remembered on both sides of the atlantic. >> reporter: people are flocking to cemeteries in halifax, nova scotia, the final resting place for some 150 titanic victims. they're also boarding cruise ships here to take them 400 miles into the north atlantic where titanic lies on the ocean floor. >> as it gets closer to the 14th

and 15th it's a little more somber. >> reporter: april 14th, 1912, at 11:20 p.m. is when titanic struck an iceberg and sank two and a half hours later, the early morning of the 15th. 1500 passengers and crew were killed, most from southampton, england where titanic set sail. >> the obituary was in the newspaper. >> reporter: barbara coen's great uncle was onboard. >> i found the whole experience very moving and touching. >> reporter: there is a cruise ship from here headed to the titanic as well, this weekend arriving over the sunken ruins saturday night precisely 100 years later. we saw the ship go down and heard the cries, groans, and shouts. it was terrible. i shall never forget it. >> reporter: in new bern, north carolina fay blackner chooses to remember reading a letter her grandmother wrote after surviving the disaster. fay's father, just 9 years old, was also onboard with her.

>> daddy didn't remember too much except the cold that he felt when they were in the life boat and also seeing the lights of the ship sink into the water. >> reporter: stories like that have been repeated often in the 100 years since the unthinkable happened to what was thought to be the unsinkable titanic. now moving on, bladder problems aren't sexy, we know, and neither are adult diapers, but one actress is trying to change all that. >> lisa rene is the star of the new depends commercial introducing a sexier diaper. >> the under garment is made to help you appear thinner and renna is known for her slim physiqfi physiq physique. she is only 48 years old and says she doesn't wear adult diapers. >> the star appeared on the

"today" show this morning and explained she agreed to do the commercial to help empower women. >> i did it because i think it's something that can help women and if they see me in this product and it somehow makes them feel better about themselves and less ashamed to go out into the world, i say why not? >> well the diaper company is also donating $225,000 to her charity dress for success, and the nonprofit helps low income women who are looking for work. >> an interesting campaign. they also signed up some nfl players to try them on too and do the very same thing. it gets your attention. >> a lot of people have to wear those as they get older. it's a great thing for her to do. good for her. some of d.c.'s hottest comedians are coming together to raise money for one of their friends. the local comedian joe dilly suffered a stroke last month and doesn't have health insurance. he is also the primary care taker for his physically disabled parents and mentally disabled brother.

he said he knew his medical care would be a huge financial burden but he needed it to get better. >> i don't want to be sitting around all day not being able to move my left side saying, someone please help me. i want to get up and do for myself and be able to be self-sufficient and i want to work and go back and i really want to pay this off. but it's just really scary how overwhelming the cost of health care can be. >> erika gonzalez will have more with joe dilly this sunday night on news 4 at 11:00. his benefits show is also on sunday at the d.c. improv comedy club, tickets for 20 bucks. coming up you may not be thrilled with your job but at least you're not a lumber jack. we don't think you are. a survey on the best and worst jobs coming up. and a growing trend for unmarried couples living

if you're looking for a new job you may want to consider computer programming. according to career cast.com a job as a software engineer is the best job to have this year. it's the second year in a row

that that position took the top job spot. software engineers make an average of $88,000 a year. now, at the bottom of the jobs list, a lumber jack. that job pays $32,000 a year and it's really hard work. i don't think -- >> you have to wear a red flannel shirt and this sunday it could be a little hot. >> yeah. that kind of clothing is not going to work for the weekend especially sunday. that is going to be our real summer day where it's going to feel like june. break out the short pants and the flip-flops. let's take a look and see what is going on outside. jim loves the fact that it is going to be warming up. we're at 66 degrees right now and still breezy outside with a gust at 17 miles per hour. show the temperature there with sunshine throughout the area this weekend warming up. right into, well, at least the first day of next week. as far as the temperatures go, elsewhere around the area, well, they are in the 60s, too. we'll be settling down to 58 degrees by 7:00 p.m. sun sets at 7:43.

we'll start to lose that cloud cover right down into the 50s by 11:00 p.m. on the radar it's quiet. it's dry. that's been the story the last couple days. we're abnormally dry. pennsylvania, maryland, down through virginia, and the moderate drought is starting to make its way more and more into the state of maryland. right now there are several brush fires burning around roanoke and charlottesville. all those little brush fires known as the eastern complex fire. we're going to be seeing more of those, those brush fires, as we move through the rest of spring. here are some safety tips. dispose of the briquettes and ash and lots of water. watch for sparks. they could easily start a brush fire. grind the cigarettes out not on a log but instead in the dirt. i know just a few common sense things that are really going to help cut down on the possibility of brush fires. huge area of high pressure over the east. big storm in the nation's mid section. this is what will bring us a

chance of rain as we move through the early part of next week. but that same system, too, will be sparking a big risk of severe weather. that means a huge tornado risk from texas all the way up to kansas and east to iowa. i think we're going to be seeing a lot of severe weather come out of the central part of the country this weekend. for us, high pressure, some sunshine, a few scattered clouds. but the warm front. and then a lot of warm air will be moving in for sunday. again, that's the day that'll feel like june. monday, too. there could be some spots on monday that get up to 88 degrees. for the evening though a clear sky. a great evening. 54 to 60 degrees with a light wind. mostly clear. we'll have a cool start. 39 to 48 with a light wind. here is a look at the forecast for your afternoon tomorrow. simply, jim and pat, a great day. why wouldn't you like the mid to upper 70s across the area. but then you're going to love sunday, 85 to 87 degrees on monday. right now still the possibility

of a shower on tuesday. we'll take a look at the extended forecast for the rest of next week in a couple minutes. >> all right. break out the summer clothes. no problem. thanks, veronica. still to come on news 4 at 4:00 he says he's not a hero. and that he did what anyone would do. however, authorities say the mayor of newark, new jersey jeopardized his own life to save the life of a neighbor. the life of a neighbor. >> an

never in my lifetime did i think i could walk 60 miles in 3 days. if my mom can fight and beat breast cancer, i can walk 60 miles. (woman) the fund-raising was the easiest part. people were very giving. complete strangers wanting to help. i knew someday i was gonna do this walk. if i can do this, you definitely can do this. we can do this. we can all do this together. (man) register today for the... and receive $25 off your registration fee. because everyone deserves a lifetime.

welcome back. >> the so-called mommy war debate is not going away. today the democratic strategist who sparked the controversy canceled a scheduled appearance on sunday's edition of "meet the press." . meanwhile the republicans are seizing the opportunity to redefine their pitch to women voters. a teenager was listening to music on his ear phones and got hit by a freight train in gaithersburg this morning. investigators say the 17-year-old boy was walking next to the tracks near the washington grove station and failed to hear an approaching train from behind even though the train blew the horn. the train clipped the boy's arm. he was seriously injured but he is expected to recover. police need your help today

in finding this man. they believe he is responsible for at least three sexual assaults along the northwest branch hiker trail in prince george's county. that's near the west hyattsville metro station. police tell us since january at least three women have been abducted at knife point then sexually assaulted. the most recent incident was about two weeks ago. despite two days of gains, stocks finished the week with some of the worst weekly declines of the year. thanks to more concerns about debt in europe. the dow fell 137 points, closing at 12,849. the nasdaq was off 44. the s&p 500 was off 17. he ran through a burning kitchen dodging flames to save a neighbor last night. and he just happens to be the mayor of newark, new jersey. today cory booker talked about the harrowing ordeal that has a lot of folks calling him a hero.

>> a lot of smoke and fire and an incredibly heroic action. >> reporter: newark's fire director calls him a hero. others call him superman and bat man. mayor booker rushed to rescue a next door neighbor on hawthorne avenue whose apartment building was on fire. three residents made it out of this building but flames and smoke trapped one woman on the second floor. >> two detectives went with the mayor trying to slow him down a little bit and then they went through a kitchen fire. the kitchen was fully involved and the fire was spreading with a lot of smoke. the mayor then started calling out for the individual. >> reporter: mayor booker and the detectives who are part of a security detail heard a woman screaming for help in a back bedroom. >> the mayor immediately initially being held back by detectives responded, look. we got to save her. she may die. went in, grabbed the woman out of the bed and carried her through the fire and with the assistance of his detectives downstairs. >> very lucky. there was a time when i got through the kitchen and was

searching for her and looked back and saw the kitchen in flames. it was really a frightening experience for me. i didn't think we were going to get out of there so i feel just very grateful right now, very lucky to be here with you today. and over the top. i think i did what most other people would do to help their neighbors out. >> reporter: mayor booker suffered smoke inhalation and second-degree burns to his right hand. the woman he rescued had burns on her back and smoke inhalation as well. both went to the hospital. in the middle of all of this mayor booker had time to tweet writing, thanks, everyone. my injuries were relatively minor thanks to detective alex rodriguez who helped get all of the people out of the house. >> one brave mayor there. a hospital spokesperson says mayor booker's neighbor is recovering in the intensive care unit today. she is reported in stable condition. the florida mother found not guilty in her daughter's death will stand trial again in a related case.

yesterday a judge in orlando ruled a civil lawsuit filed against casey anthony can go to trial next year. a woman by the name of zenaida hernandez gonzalez is suing anthony for defamation of character. in 2008 anthony told police that a baby-sitter by the same name kidnapped her 2-year-old daughter caylee. that woman filed the suit saying she was damaged by the accusation. investigators believe anthony may have seen the name on an apartment rental application. today the u.n. security council depolice recolored nort rocket launch and says it violates two u.n. resolutions and members are weighing the appropriate response. north korea for its part says the rocket was on a mission to send a satellite into orbit. the u.s. and several other countries believe it was a thinly disguised test of a long-range missile. the mission failed when the rocket broke up in flight. it is a humiliating failure for north korea's young new leader.

some observers expect the regime to press ahead with an additional rocket launch. nuclear test or act of aggression to show north korea's military might. there is more to come on news 4 at 4:00. facebook bought instagram for a billion dollars this week so what exactly is it? angie goff explains next. douglas kennedy speaks out about his confrontation with two nurses as he tried to take his newborn son out of the hospital

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all right. this is one of my favorite apps, one we're hearing a lot about called instagram. facebook just bought it for $1 billion. but you can get it for free. let's take a look right here. basically this is twitter for photos. you're taking a look at my life's dream. this was a girl i interviewed yesterday for a story. notice i follow richard engle on nbc news and a bunch of other friends here in the washington, d.c. area. it's like a twitter feed but it's composed mainly, mostly of just pictures and comments. now, the best part is i do a quick demo right here. cheryl is hiding behind her camera so i'll reverse it and try to keep it far away. take a picture. there we go. we can go ahead and change the filter. this is the best part about this, guys. i'm using an ipad and we all know they don't necessarily make the best pictures so instagram

allows you to choose from a dozen different filters. say i choose that one. i can geo tag the location say i was at nbc 4, say hello from studio b. here we go. and then, boom. i want to connect it to my twitter account. you can connect it to your facebook time line and i can -- that immediately just uploaded that to my stream. and now you notice people can either like it. they can comment on it. they can choose to share the post on their social networking sites as well. you can also see who is following you, who is liking your stuff. and then you can also categorize and have your own way of building a gallery of the photos you upload as well as the photos you like by building these different galleries here. and like i said before, it's absolutely free. it's really, really easy. it just is another way to add a little glitz and glam to every

day pictures. remember while you're online to download our nbc washington app now available for ipad. >> pretty cool. thanks, angie. samsung is trying to give its galaxy 2 tablet an edge with a new feature. the tablet will now be able to act as a universal remote control. the galaxy storage space will also be expandible with memory cards. the tablet will also come in two sizes. a 7-inch version will go for about $250 and a 10-inch version for $400 bucks. the 10-inch version goes on sale may 13th. >> a remote control that large should be harder to lose, right? >> yes. which is the easiest thing to do on tvs. when news 4 at 4:00 continues fighting words between actor mel gibson and the hollywood screenwriter. and results from a new study i have never encountered such a burning sensation...

until i had the shingles. it was like a red rash. like somebody had set a bag of hot charcoal on my neck.

i had no idea it came from chickenpox. it's something you never want to encounter. for more of the inside story, visit shinglesinfo.com

you're getting us really excited about this weekend. >> i know. a taste of summer and it's going to come this weekend and is going to try and hang on for the first part of next week. we've got of course sunshine and beautiful blue skies across the area right now. let's take a look and see what's going on out there. a lot less wind than the last couple days, too. hardly a cloud to be found. you have to look way to the west. our storm 4 hometown weather in gaithersburg, maryland, montgomery county, you are now at 63 degrees and a big afternoon to you folks in chantilly, virginia at 64. pax river, st. mary's, calvert county 61 degrees. thurmont, maryland, 60. a little cooler but still nice. it is going to be a very nice

evening for us indeed. we're talking about that june warmth coming. look at the temperatures. this is for the whole east into mid 70s tomorrow. but watch what happens then on sunday. that warmth is going to surge eastward and it's going to make its way up the coast. even new york getting up to 81 degrees. the plains states, the severe weather will be fueled by some of the warmth and moisture. on monday there could be some locations. we're going for highs now around 87 degrees but, again, i think a few neighborhoods 88. not just here the big warmth but new york, boston, 84. 86 degrees. and then back into the 70s for tuesday. overnight lows not nearly as low as we've been. 37 to 42. the range. 48 degrees inside the beltway. sunshine throughout the day very nice with highs at 75 degrees. here's a look at your four-day forecast. this weekend a big warmup, feeling like june on sunday. that's the day when a lot of

folks may decide to head on to the park, maybe the bay. really nice weather for that. 87 degrees on monday. we'll start the week out. again, like summer, then most of next week with the exception of monday our temperatures will be hanging out in the 70s. from 78 on tuesday of course that's the day. the shuttle discovery will be coming into town piggy back on the 747 and then around 70 degrees the rest of next week. there is a slight chance for still a shower, maybe a storm i think afternoon on tuesday. >> we need it. but we want to see a clear sky. that's the money shot. >> thanks for the bay weather. a vicious war of words between actor mel gibson and a screenwriter. >> the two were teaming up on a film about a jewish warrior but as amy robach reports now they're going after each other. >> reporter: gibson was to be the producer and director for the already controversial film dubbed "the jewish brave heart" until warner brothers stopped production.

that's when estherhouse fired off scathing letter to gibson which leaked online. in the letter he recounts threats gibson allegedly made about ex-girlfriend oxsana writing you said you'd become friends with two fbi agents and they were going to help you to kill her. the letter describes wild outbursts that estherhouse says put his family in fear for their lives while staying at gibson's home. i kept my golf club by the side of my bed all night and held my rosary with my other hand. >> this comes down to a battle between two hollywood dinosaurs. >> reporter: it is not the first time gibson has been under fire. he pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor battery charge after those now infamous audio recordings with his ex-girlfriend. >> you need medication. >> you need a [ bleep ] bat to the side of the head. all right? >> reporter: some called gibson's 2004 film "passion of the christ" antisemitic, a

complaint he denies. several years later when arrested for drunk driving he told the officer the jews are responsible for all of the wars in the world according to a police report. he pleaded no contest to a dui and later apologized for the incident. gibson denies estherhouse's allegations. in a letter he sent to estherhouse and also provided nbc news gibson writes the great majority of the facts as well as the statements and actions attributed to me in your letter are utter fabrications. i would have thought a man of principle as you purport to be would have withdrawn from the project regardless of the money if you truly believed me to be the person you describe in your letter. gibson says he apologized for what he called his intensity and said he is pressing on with the project without estherhouse's screen play. in 25 years of script development i have never seen a more sub standard first draft or a more significant waste of time. he says estherhouse is upset because warner brothers rejected

the screenplay, adding, the decision not to proceed with you was based on the quality of your script, not on any other factor. >> if you believe joe estherhouse he wrote a brilliant script mel gibson didn't like because he quote hates jews. if you believe mel gibson estherhouse wrote a terrible script. >> nbc reached out to oxsana for a response and her public relations representative said this is an extremely serious situation and there is no scenario where i think these comments if indeed uttered by mr. gibson are acceptable or tolerable. >> coming up on news 4, a family affair. a growing trend among unmarried couples living together. i'm wendy rieger coming up on news 4 at 5:00 a warning for women about several sexual assaults on a popular hiking trail in maryland. going to hear from the survivor of the virginia tech massacre. she is using that experience to help others some five years now

after that attack. jim vance talks to people about the howard theater and what life was like and what it was like back in the day. you don't want to miss his special report coming up tonight on news 4 at 6:00. what makes the sleep number store different? the sleep number bed. the magic of this bed is that you're sleeping on something that conforms to your individual shape. wow! that feels really good. you can adjust it to whatever your needs are. so whatever you feel like, the sleep number bed's going to provide it for you. now, sleep number redefines memory foam, combining coolfit gel foam with sleep number adjustability! during our white sale, receive $400 in free bedding. only at the sleep number store, where queen mattresses start at just $699. yeah, but the feeling wasn't always mutual. i want you to grow big! if you grow for me, you'll get cookies for free. nothing worked. ♪ but we started using miracle-gro garden soil. you just mix it with your backyard soil... and it feeds your plants for up to 3 months.

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more unmarried couples are having babies, news from a new study released today by the

centers for disease control. one in four babies is born to unwed parents these days. the increase represents a 12% jump from a decade ago. health officials did not say why there was such an increase but data showed more men and women choosing to live together instead of getting married. more than 22,000 men and women were interviewed for this study. vitamin d does not help your kids do better in school. british researchers released the new findings yesterday. some 3,000 students between ages 13 and 16 were followed using their vitamin d levels from sun light and from plants. evidence showed that vitamin d was not associated with better academic performance. higher levels of plant sourced vitamin d were linked to poorer grades in kids who were 15 and 16. >> okay. stop that right away. >> it's good for your bones. >> it is for that. as we get older. >> maybe not your brains but your bones need vitamin d. still ahead on news 4 we're hearing for the first time from douglas kennedy son of the late

robert kennedy about his confrontation with two nurses as he tried to take his newborn outside the hospital. >> for all your news be sure and follow news 4 online. just search nbc washington on facebook a

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the 14th street bridge. take a look at that. it is a parking lot. yes, that's inbound. a whole lot of folks there trying to get into the city. we believe that they may be, some of them, may be going to the nats game. the nats are playing cincinnati this afternoon at nats stadium, but my goodness if you're stuck in that or know someone who is it looks like it is going to be a while before it clears out. again, a live look at inbound traffic on the 14th street bridge on this sunny friday afternoon. the son of the late senator robert f. kennedy stands accused of trying to attack two nurses after the birth of his son. and now we're hearing from douglas kennedy for the first time since that confrontation in january. jonathan dienst has the latest on the legal battle. >> reporter: douglas kennedy walked out of court and blamed the nurses for the confrontation over his newborn. >> i was protecting my son from a complete stranger who tried to

grab him from my arms. i was shocked. >> reporter: kennedy says he just wanted to leave the hospital for a short time to be with his son in the fresh air outside. he invoked the memory of his father robert kennedy killed when he was so young. >> my father was taken from me when i was a baby. and i think that is certainly what makes me appreciate me being with my son. >> reporter: prosecutors say they're moving forward with the charges, in part because of this tape first obtained by news 4, which appears to show kennedy knocking a nurse to the ground. the nurses told news 4 exclusively they were trying to stop him because no baby leaves the maternity ward unless a doctor and parent sign the baby out. >> he brought his leg up and kicked me and i went flying through the air. >> reporter: kennedy is facing a misdemeanor child endangerment count and two violations.

supporters of the nurses want tougher charges. >> it should be a felony charge. you know, because a nurse was hurt. the nurse was assaulted. >> reporter: but kennedy took aim at our reporting about the tape and his initial arrest. >> i may disagree with jonathan dienst or a few other people. i do not think a father holding his son is dangerous. in fact, i think the safest place my son can be is in my arms. >> reporter: kennedy's lawyer accuses the nurses of seeking a cash settlement. outside court kennedy's wife spoke for the first time, too. >> this is supposed to be a very special time and, unfortunately, our lives have been turned upside down. >> reporter: kennedy added -- >> i love my kids. i love my family. >> kennedy is due back in court june 14th on the misdemeanor count and two violations. if convicted, he could face probation or even up to a year in prison.

now shots are fired inside a d.c. pharmacy. breaking news tonight. fbi agents haul out boxes of evidence several days after a local college campus suddenly shuts down. >> first, shots are fired inside a rite-aid pharmacy in northeast. an employee taken to the hospital and now a man hunt to find the person who pulled the trigger. good friday evening to you. i'm wendy rieger. >> i'm jim handly. someone shot a pharmacy employee in a botched robbery attempt at a rite-aid in the district. it unfolded in an area already on edge over recent crimes. pat collins is live for us in northeast washington with more on the chaotic search. >> reporter: the employee was shot in the back and is in the hospital tonight. police are trying to track down the gunman responsible, trying to see if he is linked to other robberies here in this neighborhood. it was an all out man hunt.