welcome to "news4 this week." >> hi, everyone. i'm veronica johnson. we're going to show you more of the interesting local news stories this week. the first the vote on deciding if the drug becomes legal in d.c. and the battle being touched off between cyclists and drivers in d.c. and making a huge wish come true. the surprise one little girl gets as she fights for her life. but we begin with a police chief in uniform. the chief didn't think twice when he walked into a local store wearing his gun. but an ikea employee told him to

leave citing the store's policy. >> reporter: on the fourth of july, tacoma park police chief alan goldburg was wearing his uniform including his side arm. he spent the morning working at the holiday parade. and stayed in uniform because he'd be back on duty in the evening for the fireworks display. in between he took his daughter to ikea in college park to buy some furniture for her new apartment. the sign on the door says weapon free environment. he was inside about two hours with his daughter when a plains clothed officer came up to him saying -- >> we have a new firearm policy in the store. so you have to leave or lock your gun in the car. >> reporter: the chief said he was shocked. he left his shopping cart behind and posted his experience on facebook. >> that's the first time that's happened to me. >> reporter: the chief demanded to see the written policy but

only got it today after news4 contacted ikea and was sent this statement. we regret there was a misunderstanding of our weapons policy. our weapon policy does not apply to law enforcement officers. we are taking steps to ensure that this is clear for all of our coworkers. >> and this written policy they sent news4, does it satisfy you? >> yes, it does. >> reporter: we saw at least three armed police officers at ikea during lunchtime. >> what do you think of people carrying guns into stores? >> not a good thing. >> what about a police officer? >> i can see that. >> if the company says it is okay, then it's okay. >> no to guns in stores. >> what about an exception for police officers in uniform? >> maybe an exception for police officers. >> reporter: chris gordon, news4. >> well, this week a final good-bye to a man credited with changing his community for the better. wayne cury lay in repose at the

administration building. in 1994 he became the first black man to be elected county executive. a position he held for eight years. 20 years after that election, it's still a moment that's cherished by his successors. >> because of his life-long investment in our future, we are a greater, stronger, and richer prince georges county. >> we are deeply blessed to have shared this journey with him together. farewell, my friend. >> curry died of lung cancer last week at the age of 63. a group that supports legal io izing marijuana took a step this week. they turned into a 50,000 petition signatures to get a measure on the november ballot. the issue faces uncertain future in congress. >> reporter: flag draped card board boxes filled with the names of 57,000

more than twice the number needed for the november 4th ballot if they're certified over the next month. if passed, adults over 21 could possess two ounces of marijuana and grow up to six plants for personal use without criminal or civil penalties. some want it legal in part because they say african-americans are arrested eight times more often than other users. >> it's a matter of the people having their voice heard. even if you are opposed to the legalization of marijuana, you should have the right to express your opinion at the ballot box. >> reporter: even at the board of elections, staffers began reviewing the petitioners, the public had mixed opinions. >> i hate to see people incarcerated for simple possession of marijuana but then i also hate to see us add another avenue for intoxicated drinking or driving. >> i don't smoke, so i don't know too much about that. but that's what their personal habit is, it shouldn't be a

problem. >> reporter: it's already a problem for andy harris. he's trying to block a related d.c. law in congress now. it simply decriminalizes marijuana with civil fines of $25 rather than legalizing it. d.c. council member david graso who favors legalizing marijuana dismisses harris. >> i'm not that concerned about it. i really think that he's kind of a wild card out there. it's not the overall sentiment on the hill. >> reporter: even if enacted, marijuana would still be illegal on any federal property here. in the district, tom sherwood, news4. well, there's a move in montgomery county to keep people out of trouble if they're caught with marijuana pipes. the county council unanimously approved a resolution to take away the penalties for having those pipes and other items. that's based on a new maryland law which removes jail time for possessing a small amount of pot. the resolution also declares

that small amounts of pot should be a low priority on the county's list of punishable crimes. well, trendy cupcake shop crumbs is crumbling. the chain is closing the doors on all of its stores across the country including four in our area. in its hay day, there were more than five dozen crumbs locations nationwide. now the company has run out of dough. business analysts call this a warning shot for silver spring is one of only 16 cities in the entire country where women earn more than men. that's according to new numbers from the census bureau. silver spring women earn an average of about $53,000 per year. that's compared to just $50,000 for men. now, the city where women salaries stack up the best against men is jacksonville, north carolina.

women earn 127% of men's income. well, looking a rise in car arsons and police having trouble stopping them. and he's back in the news. the panda on the run has a big announcement to make. that's

tension appears to be growing between cyclists and drivers in d.c. the controversy heated up this week when "washington post" columnist courtlin malloy weighed in. he describes cyclists as terrorists and seemed to support violence against them. critics say the article is unfair and cyclists have a hard time on the streets as well. >> i think about all the other times that i've been, like, hit by cars and buses and trucks. you know, animals, squirrels running out in the street and

you got to try to avoid them and then you end up hurting yourself. you know, rush hour traffic. so i got all that in the back of my mind because i've been in the hospital before. >> the column has made some bike advocates so mad there are plans to ride from dupont circle to "the washington post" building in protest. news4 has reached out to malloy about this column. so far no response. a news4 i-team investigation revealed this week a fast-growing number of people deliberately setting fire to cars in the d.c. area. some to score quick cash or destroy evidence. as scott mcfarland discovered, firefighters and investigators are finding new trouble stopping them. >> reporter: it doesn't take minutes, just seconds. once a fire is lit for it to consume a car. the i-team will show you how fast it can happen and how the car arson case numbers are

rising in the d.c. area. watkins regional park last fall, someone set fire to a stolen car and the flames quickly spread. destroying nine other vehicles nearby. all of them owned by the maryland national park and planning commission and nearly a year later, investigators tell the i-team they have no leads, no suspects. in the months since, we tracked the number of cars deliberately torched in our area requesting records using the freedom of information act. we found possible cases by the hundreds in d.c., virginia, and maryland. and not just by car thieves. >> common sense tells you that more desperate people means more desperate numbers to get themselves out of trouble. >> reporter: a surge of arsons by car owners driven by need or by greed in a bad economy since a spo -- says a spokesperson for insurance companies. we found dozens of them in fairfax county.

hundreds more cases of potential vehicle insurance fraud uncovered by the i-team in d.c. in 2013 and 2014. but most eye catching, what we found in maryland where the state's insurance investigators report more than 2,000 cases of potential vehicle insurance fraud in 2013. but investigators say it's a very difficult crime to prove and to prosecute. >> most of the time we can find the origin and the cause. the hard part is finding out who did it. >> reporter: the news4 i-team wanted to find out why. so we brought our cameras here and watched as firefighters set fire to this old ford and found in less than 60 seconds, a small spark turned into a raging inferno. investigators say they've seen repeated cases lately. thieves or owners setting fires to cars in the most remote corners of the county. >> the white sparks are most likely magnesium. white hot. >> reporter: the clues of arson

are usually clear. >> a flammable liquid was used inside the cab area versus around the motor compartment. >> reporter: investigators did catch one of the recent arsonists in april. a 27-year-old d.c. man named marcus jackson. jackson at the time was working as a d.c. firefighter. he's awaiting trial. if found guilty he'd be one of the precious few successfully prosecuted. maryland alone investigated 2,000 cases of vehicular insurance fraud last year. about 100 fwloimpbwere referred prosecutors. >> and we have information on vehicle fires on our website nbcwashington.com. all you have to do is click on investigations. you can also send tips to the news4 i-team by e-mail or by calling 202-885-4444. well, dozens of dogs and puppies are headed towards

loving homes after a lifetime of neglect and abuse. video shows animal welfare seized them from rural virginia last weekend. the dogs were kept in filthy conditions there. th week the dogs what is likely the first vet care of their lives at caring hands animal hospital. they then went on to rescues all over the area where they will be adopted. the case is expected to include criminal charges against the former owner. well, big news for the national zoo's red panda that escaped last year. you remember this guy. he was found wandering around the morgan area. the zoo released video of the mother and three cubs born on june 26th. these are the first of rusty's cubs. he was moved to the facility to be part of the breeding program there. the national zoo has a baby red panda boom at the moment.

they've had seven surviving cubs this year alone. well, finding help in a home in d.c. when "news4 this week"

well, many in our community who are homeless also suffer with mental health issues. now homeless women with mental health diagnosis are finding shelter in the road to recovery at a special little place they call home in northeast d.c. we explore how hianthis is changing minds. >> feeling good, feeling fine. >> reporter: denise is doing great and feeling fine, but a few years ago that wasn't the case. >> i had a very high high. and then i would automatically go to the low low within maybe an hour. >> reporter: she is 59, homeless, and has been diagnosed

with scizoeffective disorder. she found help here at a tiny haven for homeless women with mental health issues. >> what we're trying to do is get to the bottom of the issue of women and homelessness. >> reporter: the director says hiasinsis is trying to break a cycle. >> addressing those mental health issues is as important as the housing. >> reporter: women who come here get comprehensive services, mental health therapy, help with medication and finances, learning enrichment. and what they don't find here the program helps them find. >> it's about getting back into the community stable enough to function. >> reporter: herehey can stay as long as they need to. no deadlines. they get private rooms with

kitchenettes and bathrooms, dinners prepared by a chef, and all the comforts of home. building this program was a struggle. first there were construction delays. then neighbors didn't want this in their back yard. the women have planted a healing garden in their back yard and herbs on their balcony. symbols of the new life and hope they found here. >> my hours are from 7:00 to 2:00. >> reporter: denise has found work as an administrative assistant and fresh inspiration for the poetry she writes to help heal her mind. >> i may not want to go on living in the wake of devastation, but the way you love and cherish me lifts my wounded spirit so that i rise every day removed on the constant caresses of your love.

>> it is operated by the institute of urban living. if you'd like to learn more, log onto nbcwashington.com to get more information. also find more resources in our special changing minds section. well, it's a summer vacation anyone would wish for. and for one little girl fighting for her life, that wish is coming true. her story next on "news4 this week." uncle craig, what's the deal? oh...you can't record that many shows at once. why?

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well, a little girl from our area battling leukemia is getting ready to take the trip of a lifetime. it's 9-year-old tara. she's from fairfax, and as you can probably tell from the decorations and everyone cheering aloha, she and her family will soon be headed to the big island of hawaii. that's thanks to the united health foundation and the make a wish foundation who hosted a sendoff party. >> just amazing. we get to go see the dolphins,

the trained dolphins and the wild dolphins. and we get to go out snorkeling. and i think we get to go out to a luau. >> she's darling. tara's mom tells us the surprise party came on the same day as tara's final chemo treatment. they're crossing their fingers that it's the last. we are too. go, tara. that's all for "news4 this week." i'm veronica johnson. thanks for joining us. until next time remember be safe, be kind, be happy, and come back right here.

new images of a car ripped to pieces. what police are saying about what caused this crash straight ahead. but first, a warm weather weekend. wait until you see the seven-day forecast from storm team 4. good morning. thanks for joining us this morning. happy saturday. >> welcome to news4 today. we start with that forecast for this saturday morning. let's get right to meteorologist amelia segal. >> some amazing moon shots this morning, huh? >> absolutely. we'll be taking a look at those throughout the morning. it is a nice start on your saturday morning. happy sur