nearby counties, prince william, prince george's county, alexandria, arlington, falls church, and montgomery county into the low to mid 20s. much of southern maryland, northern neck, eastern shore, upper 20s to near 30 degrees. today we'll have lots of sunshine this morning. i think we'll be near 30 degrees by 8:00. by noontime, should be into the mid 30s. some clouds beginning to build a little bit as we get into the afternoon. temperatures should be hovering right around 40 degrees with a late wind through the afternoon. a pleasant day overall. sunrise at . for this evening, if you're going out, sunset is getting later and later. 5:37. we'll have a lit wind through this friday night. temperatures should stay behalf freezing through the evening. rather cold. we'll be in the upper 30s by 8:00. by 10:00, mid 30s. ought to be down to near freezing by midnight. we have a possibility of snow. that's coming in on saturday. we'll have a look at that coming up this half-hour. now a look at any morning traffic this early friday

morning. let's check in with danella. good morning. good morning. right now i'm tracking an earlier fire. the fire is out. here's your street closures now. still in northeast, lincoln road in northeast shut down between r and t street. then also closed, t street between 1st street and lincoln road. so we're going to head to the top of the beltway now. traveling the outer loop of the beltway as you make your way toward new hampshire avenue, there's a pothole in the second to right lane. a large pothole. so authorities have been and a halved. hopefully they'll get somebody out. heads up to avoid that. also checking for folks traveling westbound university boulevard. this is another work zone that's been going on for some time. it is blocking the right lane. this is just west of veirs mill road. i'm back in ten minutes. back to you. >> thank you. 4:32. we're staying on top of a developing story. the secretary of is on for a man who shot and killed this woman and left another -- the search is on for the man who shot and killed this woman and left another wounded. when the woman answered a knock

at the door, she was shot. megan mcgrath with more on the search for the man when pulled the trigger. >> reporter: aaron, there's quite a police presence here in the neighborhood. if you look beside me here, you see the three police cruisers that are parked out front. there's another down the street. yet another cruiser on an adjacent street. and we are expecting investigators to return here to the home later on this morning to continue looking for clues into this murder. you in it was 11:30 yesterday when a man came to this home on ridge road drive and knocked on the door. 59-year-old ruthann ledoto and another woman described as the caretaker of ledoto's elderly mother came it the door. that's when the man on the front stoop opened fire. ledoto was killed. the other woman was hit in the arm and ran to neighbor's house for help. she's apparently going to be okay. at this point, police have not found a connection between the two women and the gunman, and that is raising questions about whether this is perhaps a random crime that occurred here.

the gunman is described as an elderly white man. he's balding with gray hair and a small beard. while the neighborhood is not known for violence, two of alexandria's most high-profile and will unsolved murders happened in neighborhoods close to here. in 2003, nancy dunning, wife of then-sheriff jim dunning, was murdered in her dell way home. in 2013, ronald kirby, who worked for the council of governments, was shot to death inside his home. there were no signs of forced entry according to police. asked if there was any connection between what happened here yesterday and the kirby murder, the police chief said they're looking into it, but that it is simply too early to tell. we are expecting to see police in the neighborhood all day here. and as i mentioned, investigators are expected to return here in a few hours. reporting live in alexandria, megan mcgrath, news4. aaron, back to you. >> all right. thank you. 4:34. the shag comes as a shock to the community especially because of who was targeted.

ruthann le doto was a respected music teacher, wife, and mother of three. she played music in a number of churches in alexandria. church-goers held a private prayer service last night to remember a woman who affected so many. >> right now we're just -- right here in our neighborhood. just complete shock. it doesn't happen here. >> the other woman in the home at the time was shot in the arm. she is expected to be okay. as police search for the gunman, remember to stay with news4 on air and on line. we'll have live updates all morning and have more on nbcwashington.com. a murder suspect waking up behind bars in virginia this morning. earl mitchell was wanted for shooting and killing a man in pennsylvania last month. the 20-year-old was tracked it northern virginia by police. after a chase, manassas police say mitchell jumped out of his car and ran in to this wooded area where police eventually caught him. no someone sure why mitchell

came to virginia in the first place. this morning we're waiting for police to confirm the death of a police reservist. officers found when they believe is kevin quick's body in a remote area northwest of richmond. our affiliate there says quick was shot to death. he has not been seen since last friday. his suv was found in manassas over the weekend. three siblings are being held without bond in connection with quick's disappearance. 4:35. today national and local law enforcement agencies are tracking down the source of a dangerous, addictive -- additive, rather, in heroin, that is claiming dozens of lives in our back yard. today the dea and state police will announce their strategy for eliminating illegal manufacturing and distribution centers for the hair in. they're looking to pinpoint where the heroin is being introduced to fentanyl. according "the baltimore sun," police believe the drugs are making their way from illegal labs in california or mexico by being passed off as an over-the-counter medication. ♪

today russia has been waiting -- the day russia has been waiting for for four years is finally here. the 2014 winter olympics officially kick off tonight on nbc 4. you're looking like at the meddles on plaza at olympic -- meadows plaza at olympic park. in a few hours, 88 countries will march to the opening ceremony there. more than 3,000 athletes taking part in this year's games. about 45,000 are expected to pack in to the olympic stadium for tonight's festivities. with 40 world leaders among them. the ceremony starts around 11:00 a.m. our time. you can watch it in its entirety tonight here on nbc 4 starting at 7:30. coming up in our 6:00 hour, news4's jim handly sat down with team usa's flag bearer. what he says he went through -- what he says went through his mind when he found out he would be leading his team during the opening ceremonies. 4:37. new rules about what you can take in carry-ons this morning following terror threats surrounding the games we told you about yesterday. the tsa says most aerosols,

gels, powders, and liquids will not be allowed in carry-ons for passenger who are flying from the u.s. to russia. it is a temporary ban for the next 30 days. this comes after a warning from u.s. intelligence saying terrorists may be trying to smuggle explosives in to russia in toothpaste tubes. you can follow the latest out of sochi any time with your smartphone and our nbc washington app. there is an olympics tab, and we will push breaking alerts to you. just download it on the apple app store or google play. d.c. mayor vincent gray has competition in his re-election bid. the challenger who could give him a scare on election day. also ahead, trying to get the lights back on. the challenges facing utility crews along the east coast this morning after this week's winter storm. connect with me on facebook and twitter. and later today, we're going to see a wide variety of temperatures around.

welcome back at 4:41. you won't have to remember about any closed stations on the metro lines this weekend. still expect your trip to take a little longer than normal. there will be delays on three lines. on the red line, expect trains to arrive every 12 to 24 minutes. on the blue and orange lines, trains will run every 16 minutes. it is now 4:41. power crews hope to restore service to all of its customers very soon. this week's ice storm still has thousands of people without electricity. mainly in maryland. potomac edison has nearly 10,000

outages in frederick and montgomery counties. it's telling customers all electricity will be restored by midnight tonight. bge is also telling its customers it plans to have all customers back on line today. most of its outages were upnary baltimore. the number of power outages is much higher in pennsylvania. right now, crews there have more than 300,000 people in the dark. many hospitals had to power up backup generators for electricity. power companies called in help from as far away as arkansas and canada to help with restoration. we haven't had a chance to talk much to tom yet this morning. i know your power was out yesterday. how are you doing today? >> still out. i'm one of those 10,000. and hopefully, yeah, it may be late tonight i get it back. right now around the region, we have got cold temperature. for those people without power inside their homes, temperatures are down into the 40s to 50s inside the homes. off to a cold start. right now in the 20s all around the region to near 30 degrees. a light wind. we have to talk about windchill.

chilly afternoon, warmer than yesterday. highs reaching near 40 in washington. maybe low 40s farther south. north and west, it will actually get above freezing where all the icing occurred. i think into the mid-30s. then a possibility of saturday snow. i'll show you when and how much. that's coming up at 4:51. danella, how's traffic? >> good morning, tom. for folks using gw parkway north and southbound, nice and clear to i-66. waking up this morning in haymarket. not seeing any accident or delays on 66 outside of the beltway or inside of the beltway. this is outside, approaching prince william parkway. inside, as well, all the way past glebe road heading to gw parkway. you're clear. i'm back in ten minutes. back to you both. >> all right. thank you. registering your car could soon be more expensive in maryland. why the rate you pay could be based on the county you live in. i want to thank you, the audience. you folks -- >> and jay leno's signoff.

15 before the hour. a northeast family asking d.c. mayor vincent gray to fire every firefighter who contributed to the death of their father. last month, 77-year-old medrick mills went in to cardiac arrest outside engine 26 fire station in northeast. mills was denied assistance by a rookie firefighter who claims his superior told him he couldn't help. last night the family held a vigil in front of that fire station to does for change. >> we ask mr. gray, mr. gray, mr. gray, mayor gray, let this not go, let this not go unpunished. >> d.c. fire chief ellerbee said the lieutenant who denied mills' care would be held accountable.

news4 has learned he's applied for retirement after being given desk duty. today family and friends will mourn the passing of philip seymour hoffman in a private ceremony just as the actor would have wanted. 400 people are expected to attend the closed door service at a manhattan church. the 46-year-old was found dead inside his apartment sunday of an apparent heroin overdose. he leaves behind his long-time partner and three children. a larger memorial is being planned for later this month. today president obama makes a quick trip out of town. he's headed to michigan state university where he will tour the school's biotech institute in east lansing. that's where he will sign the farm bill in to law. congress avelier this week. the president could also talk about other big issues like immigration. the "detroit free press" reports the president could also meet with new detroit mayor mike dugan to discuss the city's bankruptcy. the presidentay also talk about jobs today. this morning the labor department will release its latest jobs report. many experts are concerned about

today's numbers after a weak report last month. the weather could also mean that fewer jobs were created. we have details -- we will have the details for you on that report later this morning on news4 midday. d.c. council member muriel bowser is getting an early boost ahead of the my older primary. in an election poll, straw poll, rather, in her home district, she beat out current mayor vincent gray. she took 49% of the vote among word four democrats. mayor gilroy came in second. 5% went to the third candidate. 4:48. virginia republicans call information to question one of governor terry mcauliffe's appointees. it's believed he sold the state chairmanship control board to long-time supporter boyd mark you. republicans requested an investigation into the allegations, but that request was turned down by the attorney general. this comes after a report

claiming marcus was paid $140,000 for work on mcauliffe's campaign. prison executions may be on hold. the state senate is delaying a bill to send death row inmates to the electric chair if lethal injection drugs are not available. the delay could table the measure for the year. the virginia department of corrections is out of the vehicles that make up their lethal injections. under current law, prisoners can't be executed right now unless they choose the electric chair. the redskins will be in annapolis today fighting to hold 50/50 raffles and games. the raffles would benefit the redskins' charitable foundation. because raffles fall under maryland's gaming laws, they need permission from state lawmakers. the redskins also want the amount they can raise during the raffle to be bumped up. right now the state law only allows $300 in prize money to be given out. as of this morning, the "tonight show" has a new host. it's jimmy fallon. >> last night, long-time host jay leno signed off for the last time with the help of a few

friends who reminisce good their first time meeting jay -- reminisced about the first time meeting jay. >> opened for you and the billing was "we the people" and ray pino. >> they got my name wrong. that's right. >> as you see, billy crystal stopped by to say good-bye to jay. crystal was leno's first guest ever on the "tonight show" when he took over in 1992. several other people sent their well wishes to jay like bill maher, bob costas, president obama who said he appreciated all of leno's jokes about him. and as a thank you would make leno a new ambassador to antarctica. a plum job there. among the laughs, a somber note as leno said good-bye. >> i am -- [ applause ] >> the luckiest guy in the world. i got to meet presidents, astronauts, movie stars. it's just been incredible. >> other notable stars who stopped by for a sort of modified rendition of "the sound of music's" farewell song,

oprah, carol burnett, sheryl crow, kim kardashian on the list, as well. a lot of folks who wanted to make sure that jay knew he was loved. you know, i'll tell you, just the one time i've been to the show, it's very clear that it's not just a job to him. it's not just work. he interacts with people, it's genuine. >> we'll miss him. we're excited to see jimmy start. it's a win/win for us. >> true. time for weather & traffic on the 1s. 4:51. we're all wearing red. there's a purpose. it's wear red for womes heart health day. and we're trying to raise awareness. heart disease is the number-one killer among -- for women in this country. >> yeah. it's important to take care of yourself, get exercise, eat well. this morning, if you plan on getting morning exercise, wear a couple of layers. we don't have any snow or rain or freezing rain on radar, all clear when you head out early this friday morning. a few clouds drifting east of the city now.

and west, all clear. temperatures have dropped back down into the low to mid 20s. shenandoah valley, into the mountains, many locations there. and closer to washington, montgomery county, down to the low 20s. and it's in the 20s, as well, manassas, prince william county, down to a cold 23. in much of fairfax county, in the mid 20s. upper 20s in prince george's county. near 30 in washington and by the chesapeake bay. there's a view of tinley town. and in the distance we see the lights of bethesda, the live view from our storm team 4 skywatcher camera this morning. reagan national is at 30 with a calm wind. just a few clouds around. by 8:00, i think we'll be still hovering around 30 much of the region. still below freezing. then by noon, just about everywhere ought to be into the mid 30s. by mid-afternoon, i think we'll be reaching around 40 degrees with a light wind throughout the day. overall, a pleasant february day compared to the last couple of weeks. by 8:00 this evening, if you plan on going out tonight, we'll be in the 30s through the evening. should be above freezing through

the early part of the evening and the upper 30s. and then near freezing by midnight. here's timing on snow maybe moving in on saturday. does look like it's going to be mostly in the mountains. locally, we could get a dusting, an inch or less. this is during the day on saturday. ending saturday afternoon. so a minor event on saturday. then on sunday, maybe a little sun in the morning after we reach mid 30s tomorrow afternoon. we ought to be near 30 by dawn on sunday. near 40 sunday afternoon. then sunday night, it looks like we might get a little light snow, maybe just some flurries. and maybe a little bit of the light snow or flurries lingering interest part of monday. mainly in the morning. highs in the mid 30s. storm team 4 seven-day outlook, couple of more chances of snow. and maybe a wintry mix on wednesday and thursday. danella's eyes are darting back and forth, not a happy woman. >> i want it to be light snow. i felt bad yesterday when i threatened you. i feel really bad, tom. i'm going to try to be a good girl today.

let's head over to northeast d.c. fire department still on the scene of an earlier fire. that fire's out. hares how it affects your commute if you're leaving any time soon along lincoln road. heads up, the road is shut down between r street and t street. also closed, t street, that's between 1st and lincoln road. out through 50 we'll go in maryland. nice and clear from the bay bridge. traveling past, this is 424, davidsonville road, continuing all the way to bowie. even inside the beltway, continuing on to new york avenue, nice and clear. i'm back in ten minutes. back to you both. >> all right. thank you. after all the build-up, we officially get the winter olympics underway today. >> you are looking live at the medal plaza in olympic park. next on "news4 today" at 5:00, jim handly joins us for what we can expect at the opening ceremonies. first, the unwanted discovery that had people turning away shoppers at this d.c. grocery store. plus, the surprise ellen had in store for a local family.

welcome back. at 4:57, pretty son it could cost you nor register your car in maryland. a lawmaker is pushing for ay if for transportation improvements. state senator richard matalona wants to allow an annual fee of up to $20. "the gazette" in maryland reports the proposal comes after a new report that the state needs more transportation revenue, even after raising the

gasoline and tolls last year. it could raise $9 million a year. today in northeast d.c., crews will start construction to change an old middle school into a new police station. that new station will be near hayes and 51st streets in northeast. the vacant school will be gutted and turned into a gym and community room. students and staff at fairfax county public schools will wear black todayo mourn the loss of two langley high school students. police found a 17-year-old boy dead in scotts run nature park monday. on wednesday, a 17-year-old boy was found dead at his home. police don't suspect foul play and don't believe the deaths are connected. langley's principal says crisis counselors are available for students who need them. if you usually shop at the safeway in the brightwood area, you won't be able to get any grocery storeeries today. the store is shut down after failing a health inspection. health officials closed the store along georgia avenue and tuckerman street in northwest washington after finding evidence of mice.

safe its way officials tell us the -- safeway official tell us the building is clean and they hope to reopen in a couple of days. a centuries' old virginia landmark has a new owner. the natural bridge belongs to the legacy fund. paid the owner $8.6 million for the 1,500 acres that includes the 90-foot-long limestone bridge you see here, a hotel, and cabins. natural bridge was once owned by thomas jefferson and will ultimately become part of the state park system. >> beautiful. some of you may recognize a couple on national tv today. >> ellen degeneres surprised a maryland family with a home makeover. >> i didn't know what was going on. the deer in the headlights look when i had down the stage. >> that is the stevenson family from chesapeake beach in calvert county. alex stevenson is in the army and survived an ied attack in iraq. his wife, heather, was in bad motorcycle accident a few years ago. with medical bills running high, ellen pitched in with a home

renovation. you can see how she surprised the family on her show at 3:00 on nbc 4. the family will get to see their new home next week. love how ellen gives back to the community. >> will do. doing nice things for good people. stay with us, "news4 today" continues rate now at 5:00 a.m. a manhunt underway now after a woman is shot to death on her doorstep. what we're learning about the man who pulled the trigger. good morning, everyone, i'm aaron gilchrest. >> i'm eun yang. welcome to "news4 today" this friday, february 7th, 2014. at 5:00 a.m., 31 degrees. a chilly start to the day. storm team 4 meteorologist tom kierein has your first forecast. tom? and we've got above freezing yesterday. the ice melted. boy, when the sun came out and hit those trees, it was absolutely dazzling. this photo posted by ashley, one of my twitter followers in

frederick county. temperatures in the mid to upper 20s. everything's frozen solid. counties generally in the low to mid 20s this friday. near 20 shenandoah valley, parts of the mountains, southern maryland, the bay, eastern shore, just partly cloudy sky. in the upper 20s there. here's how your friday is looking. you'll need a warm winter coat this morning. a light wind. we'll be below freezing through 8:00 with lots of sunshine. then partly cloudy by noontime. should be into the mid 30s by mid-afternoon. and then i think by mid to late afternoon, we ought to be hovering in the upper 30s right around 40 throughout much of the region with a light wind. and if you're going out tonight, we'll have our temperatures this evening generally above freezing. we'll stay in the 30s through the evening hours. love your photos, post them on twitter and facebook. you can share them as well, weather@nbcwashington.com. i know danella does that. good morning. >> good morning, here's what i'm tracking. we'll start by heading up