welcome to "news4 this week." >> hi, everyone. i'm veronica johnson. this week was filled with some real interesting local stories. we're going to show you some of them. like the future of travel in virginia. look at which cars could be the first to get new self-driving technology. a ground-breaking clinical study could help people with parkinson's. how a cancer drug is giving new hope to patients, just a few weeks into treatment. and this story, it's a special one you have to see. a homecoming to remember for one high school senior in manassas. well, we survived the first cold snap of the season. just a few days ago folks were up before the sun came up to face the frost on their cars or rush to the metro. >> all i have to say is it's earlier than i expected.

i thought it would be after halloween, but it's colder than usual right now. >> parts of our area, a lot of locations dropped to around 30 degrees for a few mornings this past week. well, the future of travel is in the testing stages in virginia. if you are on i-95 monday or tuesday of this week, you may have been driving next to a driverless car. as transportation reporter adam tuss explains, it's just one of the many new ways technology is taking over our roads. >> reporter: press a button, take your hands off the wheel, feet off the pedals. it's closer than you think. tom dingus says how about two years. >> on the highway you'll be hands off the wheel, feet off the pel the pedals. >> reporter: in 2017. >> in 2017. you still have to watch in case something goes wrong, but you can sit there and relax. >> reporter: do we know which models it's coming out on? >> we do, but i probably

shouldn't say. >> reporter: insiders say in reality most of the auto giants are already developing this technology. chrysler, ford, tesla just a few. this has been described as a race to the moon, to see who can get there first. now the technology revolution really ramping up in cars. no longer are rear-facing cameras enough. some cars will now gradually slow you down if there's an object behind. >> now going backwards, not touching the brake at all, the car recognizes something is in the way, comes to a slow stop and then a full stop. >> reporter: some of the other high-tech features on display, cars that can talk to emergency vehicles and move over to protect, say, a police car that's stopped on the side of the road. cars that can also talk with highway workers who are wearing special vests so that workers and the car know they're getting close to one another. along 395 -- >> automated control engaging. >> reporter: adam tuss, news4. >> well, do you know how to give

someone cpr? that skill could soon be a graduation requirement in all d.c. public schools. public health advocates tell "the washington post" they're pushing to make sure all high school graduates can also operate an automated external defibrillator, an aed. maryland and virginia are two of 27 states who have plans to implement the requirement. also in montgomery county, you may want to watch out for school buses when you head out from now on. police in the county are looking for drivers who do not stop when those signs are out. the news4 i-team first told you about concerns over stops on busy roads back in may. police say cars have to stop for buses, even on those wide roads like river road. not stopping can cost you some big bucks. it comes with an almost $600 fine and three points on your license. well, new numbers out say more students are graduating from d.c. public schools. the office of the mayor says

64.4% of d.c. public schools seniors graduated this year. that's an increase of about 6% over last year. 72% of charter school seniors graduate e graduated, a 3% increase. in total about 3,200 d.c. seniors graduated this year. well, this week was national school bus safety week. in prince george's county the traffic enforcement unit will conduct bus stop sign enforcement. so far this school year bus-mounted cameras caught 15 people passing buses. they all got tickets in the mail. there were about 40 bus stop camera violations last school year. a new crime-fighting tool was rolled out in the district this week. d.c. police officers are getting brand new bikes. news4's tom sherwood explains how these bikes are different and where you're likely to see more of them. >> reporter: whether riding through downtown chinatown or huffing up a hill near howard

university, about 35 d.c. police officers were out trying out new patrol bikes. the first of about 250 new bikes built in seattle just for public safety. >> one of the most important features of a bike is the fact that it's tough. >> reporter: earlier the squad was given a send-off by chief kathy lanier. >> our efforts to get you the best equipment that you can get and maintain it that way. that's our goal, to make sure that we have the best mountain bike program in the country. some of you will be part of that. >> reporter: sergeant mike ware has been on bike duty since 1992. nearly 25 years. bike policing is community policing. >> we're casual, we're approachable. we're clearly in a position where you can see us. >> reporter: and chief lanier says bikes can go places squad cars can't. >> in terms of creeping through alleys and looking for those other people that might be creeping through alleys. >> reporter: the police on bikes startled a few people, but most liked them.

>> friendlier, nicer in the community? >> yes, i like it. >> it should be less expensive. and they should be able to get everybody who's fleeing from a crime. >> reporter: police on bicycles, good or bad? dozens of new tougher bikes are due early next year. tom sherwood, news4. the arlington county board voted unanimously this week to formalize the bond between retired police dogs and their partners. it's a tradition across much of the commonwealth that crime-fighting canines remain with their long-time handlers when they retire. now it's official under virginia code. dogs can now legally be sold to their handlers for $1. well, whether it's rare, unusual, something you need or just something you want, rummage can be a whole lot of fun. imagine finding it at the world's largest rummage sale. and in a top-notch evening

of comedy, tracy morgan returned to the stage, which he called home. everyone is still talking about his triumphant return. we've got it next on "news4 this we've got it next on "news4 this that sound. like nails on a chalkboard. but listen to this: (family talking) that's a different kind of sound. the sound of the weekend. unleash the power of dough. give it a pop. it's always worth remembering... that icing the cinnamon rolls is a privilege not a right. unleash the power of dough. give it a pop.

the east coast's largest rummage sale has set a record. it took in $256,000. it was held saturday by the ladies board of inova loudoun hospital. money proceeds the hospital and nursing scholarships. love that. well, the marine corps marathon is tomorrow. preparations are under way and have been all week long in northern virginia. there are two separate races. the marathon starts between pentagon and arlington national cemetery and the 10k starts in d.c. both finish at the u.s. marine corps memorial. news4 is proud to be a sponsor of the event and we'll have live coverage tomorrow on news4 today. hope you watch.

well, can a cancer drug cure parkinson's disease? researchers reveal what could be a major breakthrough in treatment for patients. ♪ ♪ >> it's a halloween tradition for leesburg family that's made their house display go viral. wait until you see what they have got and what they're running this year. that's all next.

new guidelines this week on breast cancer screenings. the american cancer society recommends women have fewer mammograms and start them later. the organization says annual mammograms should start at the age of 45 unless a woman has previous risk factors. after age 54, a woman can go every other year.

the acs says the changes are designed to eliminate false positives and overtreatment. other groups disagree on when to start mammograms. the u.s. preventative task force says it should be at age 50. the american college of obstetricians and gynecologists is sticking with 40. well, a cancer drug could be the key to treating devastating diseases like parkinson's. local doctors say a small clinical trial is yielding some promising results for people with neurodegenerative conditions. >> reporter: this is 74-year-old alan hoffman, and this is video of the first day he started a new clinical trial for parkinson's disease. >> when he's walking, he doesn't walk so straight, very slow, very decreased arm swing, not much movement. >> reporter: doctors say those are all symptoms of the

degenerative disease diagnosis that he got 18 years ago. >> everything i read said parkinson's would be a condition related to the cause of death but it wouldn't kill you. >> it removes the person that you have known from you in ways that you never wanted to see. >> reporter: but after years of feeling hopeless, the hoffmans say they now have reason to be hopeful. that clinical trial that alan joined dramatically changed his life. >> and it turned out to be so much more, that i think they were even surprised. >> reporter: doctors at georgetown university medical center are studying whether a leukemia drug can help parkinson's patients. they believe the medication may kill the toxic proteins in these patients' bodies, proteins that can cause brain cells to die. it can also help them produce

dop dopamine. the brain stops producing dopamine in people with parkinson's. >> this is really the first study that successfully repositions an already approved, fda approved cancer drurg for neurological conditions. >> reporter: she has worked with neurologists to give 12 patients the drug once a day for six months. >> we saw patients improve both in motor function and nonmotor function. >> reporter: here's another patient in the same trial, mary lee. you can see here that her parkinson's is so severe she can barely get out of bed on her own. but just a few weeks after starting the drug, she's interacting with others at her nursing home. >> we had wheelchair and bed-bound patients that began to move again, they began to speak again and that was one of the most surprising parts of this clinical trial. >> reporter: now take a look at alan hoffman eight weeks into treatment. he's walking faster and has more movement in his arms. >> i started to dress myself.

which i couldn't do anymore. >> reporter: that clinical trial ended two months ago. since he stopped taking the medication, he has regressed. now the hoffmans are trying to get the medication from the drug company. >> what a difference it would make for millions of people, and how wonderful. >> well, the hoffmans are having trouble getting the drug, since it's not approved for use in parkinson's patients, but they're working with the manufacturer. doctors at georgetown plan to do the next phase of the trial pretty soon. if all goes well, the drug could be available in the next few years. well, he's not captain of the football team or class president, but he's won the hearts of his classmates. this week, they surprise him by crowning him homecoming king. news4's shemari stone was there for the big moment and has the story. >> let's go, eagles, let's go. >> reporter: under friday night lights, osborn high school hits

the gridiron against battlefield high in manassas city, virginia. it's a homecoming game. this crowd, along with senior alex sanchez, is excited. >> do you like the homecoming defa game? >> yes. >> why? >> it's a lot of fun. >> reporter: alex has special needs. students and teachers admire his devotion to school and his nice personality. >> he is a great kid with a great heart. he is always smiling, he's always willing to help anybody out. he always says hi, always has a high five for me. he's just wonderful. >> reporter: so wonderful that the senior class voted him to be homecoming king. he just found out at halftime. >> congratulations. >> congratulations, alex. we're so proud of you. >> thank you. >> awesome job. >> reporter: homecoming queen octavia samuel doesn't mind sharing the spotlight. >> i was happy he won. i just think it's so special because i want alex to win. >> reporter: a special moment he will never forget for the rest

of his life. it's his time to shine under the friday night lights. >> i feel happy. >> happy? >> yeah. >> and you look pretty nice with that crown on. >> well, thank you so much. ♪ downtown downtown >> this is one crazy house. looking for something to do with your families for halloween? this singing house in leesburg is getting some national attention. it's known for his light shows during the holidays. you may recognize that song. the owners usually make a christmas version also. well, walmart is one of the many retailers marketing "back to the future" day which was this past wednesday. they are letting you get in on the wait list for products that might be available in the next 30 years from now. they include, these are all the things that you might need, a jet pack for cats, a 3-d bacon

printer. but what about products mentioned from the movie in 1985? nbc's marc barger takes a look at which predictions held up. >> where are we? when are we? >> reporter: back in 1989, "back to the future 2" predicted a lot about what this exact date -- >> on wednesday, october 21st, 2015. >> reporter: -- might look like. >> the future. >> reporter: some of it is still pretty fanciful. >> he's on a hoverboard. >> reporter: but real-life engineers aren't trying to get us closer. while deloreans haven't taken to the skies, this can take riders for a spin. they got one of the up-close looks at one used in the films. >> it's all about the car. what kid hasn't wanted to travel through time. >> reporter: for james, the next best thing was collecting "back to the future" memorabilia.

>> when you think about those movies, you can't help but smile because they're fun. >> that's an important historical landmark. >> reporter: and while some of the film's foresight -- >> wait a minute, cubs win world series. >> reporter: -- may have to wait, given the past few nights -- >> i'd say maybe next year. >> i've got to check this out, doc. >> reporter: some of it it was inevitable. >> one prediction that "back to the future 2" got right was that marty had a receding hairline. >> reporter: but a movie series that was all about time, enjoys the popularity that's timeless. marc barger, nbc news. >> yes, it does. well, it was a recovery months in the making. tracy morgan makes his return to snl after a horrific crash that put him in a coma. the promise he kept that fans just can't stop talking about.

that sound. like nails on a chalkboard. but listen to this: (family talking) that's a different kind of sound. the sound of the weekend. unleash the power of dough. give it a pop. it's always worth remembering... that icing the cinnamon rolls is a privilege not a right. unleash the power of dough. give it a pop. he's back! actor tracy morgan made his return to television one week

ago today hosting "saturday night live." it was the first appearance on the show since being seriously injured in a car crash last week. in one skit he appeared with 30 rock co-stars, including alec baldwin and tina fey. >> good god, tracy! >> i'm black and better than ever. >> oh, let me smell your sour ears. >> tracy! i'm so happy you're alive! and if you receive any kind of insurance settlement because of this, i may also be in love with you. >> morgan revisited some of his most recognizable characters, like tracy jordan, astronaut jones and a homeless man named woodrow. morgan is coming to d.c. he'll be gracing the kennedy center stage next year as part of the picking up the pieces tour. he will perform one show only on april 22nd. that's all for "news4 this

week." i'm veronica johnson. we leave you with pictures of iconic "back to the future" history. history. see here in vineland, home of progresso, we figured out how to get rich inedients like bacon into 22 light soups, so if you want 100 calories or less per serving without giving up rich flavor do what we do...make it progresso. this moment is perfect in every way just like my kid

gooey...flaky...happy. toaster strudel. now with more icing.

welcome to "redskins chronicles" from redskins park. each week we take an in-depth look at a piece of this storied legacy and today we celebrate alumni homecoming by focusing in on two of the all-time great redskins. the bulk of today's show committed to showing you significant manies of the documentary day already-made for the hall. this week's homecoming king is hall of famer charlie taylor. tampa bay is the opponent sunday.