welcome to "news4 this week." >> hi everyone. i'm veronica johnson and we're going to show you some of the more interesting local stories making news this week. among them taking stock of the damage and adding up the cost. we take a closer look at the toll potholes are taking. we're going to meet one man who's trying to protect your car from more dents and dings. plus they are called the silent witnesses to a monumental event in our nation's history. an upclose look at the rare artifacts from the day lincoln was assassinated. and eagles on the potomac. where the majestic birds are nest. we begin with an outrage in northern virginia community over vandalism at a local business. more than $100,000 in damage. the business has been closed for

weeks, but now fellow business owners are sending a strong message of support to northern virginia bureau chief julie carey. he reports with more. >> reporter: the tools of the business services trade, all trashed. printers copiers, even the coffee pot. this is what an employee found when she opened up on february 6th. >> it was kind of violent. there's every single machine was taken off a lot of back counters. there's multiple machines that were back there. smashed on the ground. this is a digital press. it's right around $40,000. they just totally demolished it splattered it with paint on the back side. >> reporter: james loves vienna he's a founding member of the business association. he opened post net just two years ago, but never imagined it would become a crime scene. word of the vandalism spread quickly to fellow business owners like peggy james. >> people were shocked and appalled. >> reporter: he shared what happened on social media in

hopes it might generate leads for police. he says he was still feeling beaten down a few weeks ago when he came in and found this. a visual outpouring of support. >> all this color from all these different hearts and words of encouragement were streaming through the windows. really i almost just started tearing up. it was a magical moment. it made me realize how wonderful this town is how wonderful the community is. >> reporter: mercury payton is the town manager. >> it just shows how much people are compassionate about what happened here and how we really don't stand for this type of thing. >> reporter: so will the store bounce back? >> our intention is to reopen and become more a part of the community. >> reporter: his fellow store owners say the gesture and the continued offers of support only reinforce their conviction to keep doing business here. >> i don't think it has tainted my feeling about vienna whatsoever. it's just really reaffirmed it. this community really comes together when we need it to come together. >> that's always great for any

community. tolls of coming to i-66 inside the beltway. over the next year or so vdot is planning to convert all lanes to high occupyancy lanes during rush hours. >> to relieve congestion improve travel reliability, we're looking at a managed lanes approach for 66 inside the beltway, where the lanes wor toll in both directions during peak periods only. >> for drivers who carry at least two passengers the ride will be free all the time. tolling on i-66 is expected to begin in 2017. does using the 95 express lanes help you get home faster? a lot of virginia drivers seem to think so. the lanes have been open less than three months but 70% of drivers who use them now say they're worth the cost. a trip during rush hour can cost up to $8. more than 70% of the drivers say they have fewer slowdowns in those express lanes. about one-third say they save 30 minutes or more on their trip. for most people it's about 15

minutes and about 40,000 trips are taken each day on those express lanes. well there are still a lot of potholes out there, for sure. i think island in most of them. they're putting a lot of stress on your car. david culver looks at how much money the damage is costing and introduces us to a man whose passion is smoothing out your ride. >> reporter: just the sight of them makes us tense up. irritated, painfully. but when shawn allen looks at a pothole, he seize,es well beauty. welcome to shawn's kitchen of sorts. this is his cooker. on the other end comes fresh asphalt. >> 320, 330. >> reporter: shawn and his colleagues then bring in the giant press, place it right over the pothole to melt it. >> that way when we are ready to cut it it cuts just like butter. >> reporter: set the timer for about ten minutes.

shawn's company fills hundreds of these each day. >> somewhere in the neighborhood of 500, 600. >> reporter: they do private lots as vdot tackles the roads. now it's been tough for them to keep up which is leading to lots of flats, not cheap. >> a tire runs anywhere from $200 to $400 or $500 apiece. >> reporter: back to shawn and his team. adding a fresh bucketful, sealing the edges and rolling it flat. >> we put pictures on the ground. >> you put pictures on the ground? >> definitely. >> reporter: call him a pothole artist. why do it? >> when we get thank you for doing it that's what makes me like my job. >> reporter: from one canvas to the next with plenty more to fill. in fairfax, i'm david culver news4. >> okay. come close to the tv now, because very few people have seen what we're about to show you and most of us will never have a chance to see this special exhibit again. ford theater gave us a preview

of the sight witnesses exhibition. it's a collection of items that haven't been together since president lincoln was assassinated some 150 years ago next month. the brooks brothers coat that he wore to the theater, also his top hat on loan from the smithsonian. john wilkes booth pistol even the contents of the president's pockets from the library of congress. >> i think people will get a sense of the real human component of what transpired that evening. to be able to see the clothing that lincoln was wearing, the great coat the top hat that lincoln was wearing. these optics have not been together in 150 years. so to bring those together i think is really something extraordinary. >> wow. the exhibition is just one of several events leading up to the assassination anniversary. silent witnesses opens at the ford theater center for education and leadership monday march 23rd and runs through memorial day. tickets, free. but of course very limited. well it has changed the

future of dozens of d.c. students. when "news4 this week" returns, we meet the latest round of young scholars to earn a free ride to a college, a local college. it's a competition bigger than the olympics it's coming to our area. the world police and fire games kick off next we

okay guys if you're near the national arboretum, don't be surprised if you see a pair of bald eagles. this is the first time in almost 70 years a pair of them nesting on the grounds of the arboretum with a view of the anacostia river and downtown d.c. the first sightings of the eagles were last fall as they were mating and looking for a new nesting area. in january they were discovered at the arboretum. staff found that nest and it's believed now there are eggs which would hatch sometime this month. well you may not be able to just hop a bus to the new casino at the national harbor when it

opens next year according to the "washington post" mgm's transportation plan does not include any public bus stops. that's apparently contrary to previous commitments. "the post" says in a letter to prince george's officials, mgm says the number of visitors and employees who would use transit to get there would be quote, almost nonexistent. a big celebration this week for some local teens who got some pretty big surprises regarding their futures. these are the faces of the bright students who, well we found they'll be able to attend george washington university soon and it will be all for free. news4's zachary kiesch was there for the excitement when some of the students found out. >> reporter: the fruits of sacrifice and determination look like this. >> work hard okay. [ applause ] >> reporter: for byron fullerton, the college decision-making process just got a little easier. >> i just received a full

scholarship to george washington university. >> reporter: we were there with family and friends at mckinley tech. >> scholars are graduates of d.c. high schools. they are selected on the basis of extraordinary academic performance. >> reporter: but they're also leaders, in the classroom and in the community. they are the cream of the crop and are beating the odds. >> hi mario. >> reporter: like mario velasquez, a first generation immigrant raised by a single mother. >> it's a full scholarship for your entire career at the george washington university. >> reporter: eight schools, nine scholarships each student getting a full ride. since 1989 it's become tradition at george washington university. they go by the name prize patrol. school mascot president, the whole crew. and they change lives. mario's mother. >> thank you. >> reporter: dreams realized for byron, for his father who dropped out of school at 16 to help at home for his mother who emphasized the value of an

education. >> yeah it is very important in our household. >> i applied to several schools, but gw was at the top of the list. >> you've got a chance to see how expensive it is to go there? >> yeah. >> reporter: the surprise of a lifetime. he's in and it's free. reporting in northwest d.c. zachary kiesch news4. okay. get ready. preparations are under way for the world police and fire games. some 12,000 athletes will compete at venues in d.c. maryland and much of northern virginia this summer. there are 61 different competitions. the events will also bring some 30,000 visitors to this area. local fire ems and law enforcement leaders stress the impact this will have on our region. >> it's a huge event. you know the way i characterize it david, is i'm not going to see this again in my lifetime here in this area. hopefully and most likely we will in the united states but not here. >> it's a big one.

aaron gil kres announced the pairing of sponsors with a specific sport at the kickoff. the opening ceremony june 26th at rfk. all of the events will be for free to the public and nbc4 so proud to be a sponsor of the games. for many teens, it is the hardest decision of their young lives. what will their major be in college. when we return a new tool that could help students be more decisive. and they have yet to make their public debut but the national zoo wants your help to name their new addition.

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this is the time high school students are considering colleges and college students are deciding on their majors. but more than half of them will change their focus at least once before graduating. and the chance they'll find a job in their field, slim. news4's richard jordan shows us how while you can choose your career path the same way you find love online.

>> reporter: college classes can be stressful. but deciding on a major is often what causes the most anxiety. kimberly can relate. the georgetown sophomore took two years to settle on international business. >> when it comes to my major, it's always been like i was interested in so many things psychology sciences. it's always been a bit of a struggle to pin it down. >> reporter: many other students feel that pressure. >> the timing is right on this. >> reporter: joseph was the ceo at andrew jackson university in birmingham and now runs university research and review. a team of higher education specialists help anyone who is uncertain about their future find their best fit by asking a series of multiple choice questions, like would you rather build a space vehicle, work as a doctor in a medical clinic or teach kindergarten? the answers are evaluated, and like online dating there's a science behind making the perfect match. >> we put it into a system that

we've designed with algorithms. >> reporter: the results take a few days to come back. this is what you'll get, suggested careers and a list of universities who offer that curriculum to help you avoid wasted time and money. >> i see statistics that say if you switch majors this adds 40 to 50 to $60,000. a lot of it goes into student debt. >> reporter: and that may never pay off. the federal reserve bank of new york found only 27% of people with an undergraduate degree are working in their field of study. a career builder survey shows only 32% of workers have ever had a job matching their major. the online questionnaire may help to improve the statistics but career counselors say it shouldn't be the only factor you consider. >> these are a guide, a tool. they're not black and white, right. this gives you a range of options to explore. >> reporter: kimberly agrees.

she says she tried a different but similar survey that didn't quite hit the bull's-eye. >> the questionnaire itself makes you really consider these thoughts and really makes you think about what you want to do but doesn't quite give you the results that you think it will. >> reporter: the outcome may be a surprise but you may find it worth exploring. richard jordan news4. >> wow, that's really amazing. only 30% of the people working in the field of their major. incredible. the online survey can also be helpful for adults considering a career change. we posted that link of course to the free evaluation and other helpful sites on nbcwashington.com if you want to check it out. well he's the big ten coach of the year and has led maryland back to the tournament. but how did he turn what many view as a lost season into a success? we ask mark turgeon next on

well of course it has to do with animals. it's one of the most popular stories on nbc washington

facebook page. the national zoo is asking you to pick the names for their newest indian bear cubs. just go to the zoo's website and vote on your favorite choices. each of the names have some significance to the indigenous communities where the bears come from. voting lasts through tomorrow. in two weeks, the bears will make their debut at the zoo. well the terps are back in the ncaa tournament. pretty amazing, considering just ten months ago the team was in complete disarray. four key players transferring in a span of a month. carol maloney recently sat down with coach mark turgeon to find out how he's orchestrated what is considered an incredible turnabout. >> carol, i've never failed at anything. maybe a test in college that i wasn't prepared for. but i've never failed in anything that i've wanted to be good at. so i want to be good at coaching. >> reporter: the will to win. could it really be that simple?

from hard times to happy days in just ten months. big ten coach of the year mark turgeon shows all kinds of emotions. never once was he defeated. >> i knew if i could just get the right pieces and the right people around me that he'd be successful. i think if i asked if i'm the same guy that coached last year he'd say yes. maybe a little bit not so uptight because we're winning, but i believe in myself. >> we share that trait with each other. >> chip on your shoulder trait? what trait are you talking about? >> that and we don't want to get -- like we just focus on what's now. like we just want to now i'm ready for the next one. it's almost like we expect to win every game me and coach turgeon, that's how competitive here. we know what we can do and what we can bring to the table. >> reporter: and now the battle-tested terps would like to run the table. >> what do you have to have happen for this postseason for you to consider it a success? >> this time of year is about having fun. i think if we can have fun, it's

going to be a success because if we're having fun, we're going to play well. i do think the pressure is off us now. even though we're going to be a high seed in the tournament these guys have accomplished so much i think right now it's icing on the cake whatever we do. >> i love it. you want to know how turgeon is getting some of the top recruits in the nation to come to maryland? he gave us inside access to one of is little secret weapons. all you have to do is search terps on the nbc washington app to check it out. that's all for "news4 this week." i'm veronica johnson. thanks for joining us. remember be safe be kind and always be happy. bye-bye.

>> announcer: news 4 today starts now. >> right now on news 4 today it will feel and look like spring today. chuck is forecasting 60 degrees but says the march chill returns for the later part of the weekend. >> developing news. a bizarre machete attack on tsa agents in a new orleans airport. the actions that preventeded other travellers from being hurt sl. >> welcome to news 4 today. >> it is saturday march 21 the first full saturday of spring. we are off to a promising start. >> it's a soft spring come back. >> nice loo