join mlife rewards and play scratch it rich at mgm national harbor. this is monumental. right now on news 4 this week, a new bill in maryland makes it easier for victims of domestic violence to keep tabs on offenders through their cell phone. saving the sound during the holiest time of year for christians. we'll talk to a man who keeps those church organs going and a woman goes back to where she was born nearly a century ago, her old home on display now at the smithsonian's newest museum. hi, everyone. we begin with a set of new laws now on the books in maryland. some of them aimed to increase job opportunities and improve our roads statewide but another

protect victims of domestic violence from their abusers. news 4's chris gordon has the emotional story behind amber's law. >> reporter: you're looking at a gps bracelet designed to track violent domestic abusers. it warns victims on their cell phone when the person they fear is getting too close. >> it will save lives. >> reporter: angela has made her home in maryland into a memorial for her daughter, amber. amber was brutally attacked by her boyfriend. she got a restraining order but that didn't keep him away. he killed her in 2012. she was notified that the maryland general assembly just before its adjournment deadline passed the law she's worked on for years. it allows the victim seeking a protective order fearing for her life to also apply for a gps to be required to be worn by a domestic abuser. it notifies police when the gps comes close to the victim. t'

people. it's going to help kids that have to witness fighting. it's going to help the perpetrator control his weak impulses by not breaking the restraining order. >> reporter: amber never had a child. her mother views this new law as a blessing. >> i feel like it's the birth of my first grandchild. i feel like it's amber's legacy. >> reporter: she says that amber talks to her and although this fight has been won, angela says she will be an advocate for victims' rights for the rest of her life. in beltsville, maryland, chris gordon, news4. >> that law was one of 115 new laws signed by governor larry hogan this week. one of the other key measures that passed was a new jobs bill. it's designed to give an economic boost to the most distressed parts of maryland. last minute changes to the bill mean the businesses in montgomery county and prince gorges county will also see some benefits. >> we were able to work with the

colleagues to develop something that will provide not only assistance to companies but actually real job training opportunities for marylanders. >> we have lockheed martin. major manufacturers have been at the white house saying they're bringing manufacturing jobs to this country so what we tried to do was position ourselves to say, please come to maryland. another bill that became law authorizes a transportation project to start improving highways, roads, and bridges in every county across maryland. we're in the middle of a very religious season for christians and jewish families. and music plays an important role for worshippers. an historic eapproximapiscopal d.c. is trying to make sure that music keeps playing. >> reporter: palm sunday, st. mary's episcopal church in foggy bottom

episcopal church here now integrated, a community fixture. this 1885 photo from the washington monument shows the church's original four dormer windows. they are still here today. ♪ church organist and choir master julius tillman takes the train from baltimore several times a week. he has played this organ since 1973. >> as they say, it's the king of instruments. >> reporter: but this organ has seen better days. veteran organ builder and curator michael heart says its pipes are showing their age and more. >> it's received some damage from leaky roofs. this plaster's all falling because it's water damage and it falls and gets into pipes and chokes them. >> reporter: the small church congregation, about 100 members,

restoration cost so hart does what he can for the organ valued at more than $500,000. >> the organ is a gift and a statement of faith to future generations. >> reporter: the church celebrates its 150th anniversary in june. international opera star jesse norman, once a member of the choir, is honorary chairman and will sing. in the district, tom sherwood, news 4 this week, prince georges county got a new teacher of the year. she teaches reading, writing, and social studies to 5th graders. the school's principal says she instills in her students an intense desire to learn and achieve at a high level. she'll go on now to compete for maryland teacher of the year in the fall. still ahead, we'll show you the new shopping option that's been a lo

prince georges county and problem gamblers trying to fight their addiction tell the news 4 i team the state program is letting them down.

you don't have to go far to find fresh baked bread, organic vegetables, and gluten free food. prince george's county now has its very own whole foods. the 40,000-square foot store opened its doors this week. the supermarket chain specializes in all natural products. >> we're one of the only grocery stores where you can find scratch made bread. we've got artisan bakers that started at 10:00 p.m. last night and worked overnight to bring beautiful fresh bread to our customers. >> the new whole foods is more than a new place to shop. it's also a new place to work. two-thirds of the store's 170 employees are f

if you're biking or jogging, you may have noticed some sculptures that dress up the park along harrison street. five pieces are on temporary display at the park and visitors are encouraged to vote for their favorite. the art will be going away next summer and new works will take its place. >> five sculptures have been installed here along a winding path through the park and it's called the arts park sculpture trail. there is currently a contest going on to determine the people's choice winner. >> even better, these pieces are for sale. you can vote in the people's choice contest or even find out how to buy one of the sculptures. we posted a link in the nbc washington app. just search sculpture contest. the winner will be announced later this month. when we come back, they're addicts who know they have a gambling problem. some are even banned from local casinos but they tell the i-team a state program is letting them

an old slave cabin at the national museum of african-american history and culture along with a woman who used to call that woman home. ♪living well rise above joint discomfort with move free ultra's triple action joint support for improved mobility and flexibility,

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welcome back. this week, we told you about a growing problem in maryland. gamblers pushing their luck just by walking into one of the state's casinos because they're banned. now the state is considering using license plate readers to help catch them. some problem gamblers tell scott mcfarland and the news4 i-team that would be a welcome move. >> reporter: walking into one of maryland's six casinos is easy, but for gamblers like michael -- >> i lost $2,500 in ten minutes. >> reporter: the walking out is hard. >> addicts will understand exactly what i'm talking about. the itch. >> reporter: at just 22 years of age, he says he's a problem gambler. michael says he felt relief when he signed up from the

dealers. >> we got the pit boss involved. >> reporter: maryland's volunta voluntary exclusion program allows the gamblers to ban themselves. those who sign up risk being arrested if if caught on the casino floor so you think michael would certainly be blocked. >> i reached out to you guys because i kind of pushed the envelope over the past month and i've gone to the mgm national harbor a couple times, and every time they let me in. >> reporter: not just at the new casino. >> i just tempted fate. i went to maryland live. they scanned my i.d. to at the door and at that point, i was so nervous and i thought, okay, i'm going to get charged with criminal trespassing. >> reporter: but that didn't happen. no surprise says keith whyte. >> you never ask for identification when you start losing. in fact, you're never asked for identification when you start to play nor when you start to l

without being identified. >> reporter: because maryland's voluntary exclusion program is self-policed. participants must keep themselves out. if they don't use their player's club cards or hit a big jackpot, they're practically invisible as the i-team found when we visited mgm in baltimore. casinos don't check i.d.s of most gamblers, mainly those who look under 30. self-banned gamblers are most likely to be caught if they win more than $1,200. >> the voluntary exclusion is good at picking up on you if you win. that's unfortunately how many people who violate their self-skplugss get ought. >> reporter: since the inception of casino gambling, maryland has enrolled about 1400 people in its self-exclusion program. neighboring states have similar programs with similar membership and the same protocols. the language is nearly identical. >> if you don't win, can you avoid

>> that is a possibility. >> reporter: mary is the state official who oversees voluntary exclusion. >> in the application in and of itself it says it straight out that you are really responsible for your own behavior. >> reporter: what about i.d. checks for everyone? drexler says impossible. >> we can't check every i.d. as you walk in or we'd have lines outside of every casino here. >> reporter: for those who do get caught, the punishment is almost nonexistent. we found about 40 people arrested by police for violating the self-exclusion list at maryland live since last january. >> you ever see anybody get tossed into jail? >> no. >> reporter: a fine? >> no fine. >> reporter: community service only. michael says he expected a safety net from a multibillion dollar casino industry to be a safer bet. >> i'm mad at myself for what i've done and i also feel disappointed that the program that i thought was there to help me isn't. >> reporter: there's been a lot of reaction to our investigation. we can also teo

for months has been researching new license plate reader technology. technology to deploy in the garages to detect problem gamblers and their cars before those gamblers arrive on the casino floor. scott mcfarland, news4 i-team. >> the horseshoe casino, mgm national, and maryland live tell the i-team they are diligent about security. to find help, we posted some resources online. you can visit our nbc washington app and look under investigations. well, it has been one of the most captivating exhibits at the new national museum of african-american history and culture, and this week, one woman traveled to d.c. to see the historical structure where she was born and raised. >> reporter: isabell meggett lucas was born in this little cabin 87 years ago. she and her family are in

one of ten cabins built in 1853 on a plantation on ettis stow island, south carolina, now charleston. it was home to a family of ten, including lucas. >> it was my mother, father, grandmother, and grandfather, and i live in until i was 19 and i leave home. >> reporter: lucas's former home is believed to be the only cabin of the original ten that exists. it was donated four years ago and then moved carefully from a south carolina museum to washington. >> we dismantled it board by board, piece by piece, they put numbers on it, they took photographs of it so we could put it back exactly the way that it was. >> reporter: it was just a plain, one-story rectangular whitewashed weather board structure with two bedrooms, a living room and a kitchen but it was a house with a soul. a place where lucas and her family lived, worked, played, survived, and shared their traditions and th

>> reporter: and she says they never talked about slavery. lucas's mother, who was also born in the cabin, moved out in 1981 when the owners sold it. today, displayed here, the cabin is helping to tell the stories of slavery and freedom and life and more. >> so this cabin had a life from 1853 all the way up to 1981. we want to make sure that it's filled with all of these stories so that every curator in the future can remember this and can display it for all of the nation to learn from. >> reporter: today, isabell lucas and her family gathered in front of the cabin to share their memories and to make new memories to pass on. what an amazing piece of history. we have posted a gallery of the ten things you must see at the museum and they include that cabin. you can search african-american museum to see what else made the

will make you smile. we'll show you a group of high school seniors who achieved something very unusual and special. at perdue, we take some unexpected extra steps to raise healthy chickens with no antibiotics ever. like putting oregano in their water. it has natural antioxidants and we don't have to use antibiotics in their diet. perdue. over 200 products no antibiotics ever.

how to brush his teeth. (woman vo) in march, my husband didn't recognize our grandson. (woman 2 vo) that's when moderate alzheimer's made me a caregiver. (avo) if their alzheimer's is getting worse, ask about once-a-day namzaric. namzaric is approved for moderate to severe alzheimer's disease in patients who are taking donepezil. it may improve cognition and overall function, and may slow the worsening of symptoms for a while. namzaric does not change the underlying disease progression. don't take if allergic to memantine, donepezil, piperidine, or any of the ingredients in namzaric. tell the doctor about any conditions;

seizures, stomach ulcers, or procedures with anesthesia. serious side effects may occur, including muscle problems if given anesthesia; slow heartbeat, fainting, more stomach acid which may lead to ulcers and bleeding; nausea, vomiting, difficulty urinating, seizures, and worsening of lung problems. most common side effects are headache, diarrhea, dizziness, loss of appetite, and bruising. (woman 2 vo) i don't know what tomorrow will bring but i'm doing what i can. (avo) ask about namzaric today. we take some unexpected extra steps to raise healthy chickens with no antibiotics ever.

it's part of our 100% veggie diet and helps support their immune system. perdue. over 200 products no antibiotics ever. there is a special celebration for high school seniors in southeast d.c. this week. national collegiate prep public charter school hosted its first ever academic signing day. nbc 4 has more on the special accomplishments this class achieved against the odds. >> i'm taking my academic talent to rutgers university. >> reporter: this is the senior class at national collegiate prep charter school in southeast d.c. every single one is graduating. the school has had a 100% graduation rate for the last five years. >> i will be attending university of pennsylvania. >> reporter: unique wilson is the valedic

from national prep to be accepted into an ivy league school. >> i'm a good example to other people in the school to show them that you can come from a neighborhood like this and, like, still be great and be all that you can be and more than what people expect of you. >> reporter: every senior has also been accepted into college. many held up shirts and other memorabilia with their chosen school's name as fellow students and parents cheered. riggens plans to study at st. augustine university. >> i feel accomplished and i feel as though it's a steppingstone in my life that will help me proceed and prosper. and i'm ready. >> reporter: his mom is thrilled that her son is not only graduating but heading to college. >> my son actually going off to college, i'm happy. it's real big for me. i'm very, very excite that had my son, my baby

>> reporter: this was not a graduation. this was a signing day, making sure the students know that they're special and celebrating their accomplishments. the girls received pins. the boys, gold ties to remember their experience here. school officials say many students in this school in ward 8 have already overcome so much to become a success. >> it's very important and a lot of challenges, lot of obstacles that they've gone include the to get to this point today and even more so getting to graduation june 12. we're excited, they're excited, so we're ready to go. >> reporter: in southeast, darcy spencer, news4. >> got a feeling they're just getting started. that's all for news4 this week. i'm chris lawrence. we're going to leave you with pictures of cars of the capital. the vintage vehicle owners make their annual pilgrimage this week. thanks for joining us. have a great week.

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it's 6:00. getting around safetrack. right now on "news4 today," the next big disruption you'll feel even if you don't take metro. a show of force. the new military display in north korea as growing tension puts world leaders on alert. and virginia tech ten years later. we'll show you how the campus is reflecting this weekend on what was a dark moment in history and pushing forward together. a lot to get to on this saturday. we welcome you into "news4 today" on this april 15th, 2017. i'm david culver. >> and i'm molette green in for