case for the wall along t u.s./mexico border. it is 5:00 a.m. good moing, everybody. i'm aaron gilchrist. >> i'm eun yangre we previewing the president's address and talking about the shutdown. we want tt look the forecast and commute. >> jack taylor is in with a look at the roads and rails. let's start with your forecast and chuck bell. >> good morning, everybody. after a fairly nice day to be outside,ng meat wasn't raining, had some rain overnight. rain s another chance of showers this evening. between now and then, it's going to be a very nice day to be outskie. the s are clearing up. still, a couple ofprinkles that could graze southern st. mary's county. it is a drying dtrend. he sunshine will be around for much of the day. your prep list, low to medium this morng. later today, sunroofs open.

there you go. current temperatures, 38 in fair fairfax, 40 free drooe degrees marlboro. 60 degrees today. chance of rain showers com this evening. jack taylor, there's not another day in the next ten-day fecast higher than 50 degrees. >> the last day to put the topep down on the all right. duly noted. if you're riding in virginia, hotween pointf rocks and leesburg, they'rng to have all

here with at the live desk with breaking news overseas. at least three people are dead after two trains collided in south africa. want to get you straight to this new video. look at that. it sho the train cars derailed. this happened in pe totoria, th

leuth rican capital. you can see the peeing treated on your screen. no word on what may have caused the trains to collide. of course, we'll be updating you as soon as we learnmore. eun, back to you. >> thank you. we're looking at a planned upgrade to union station. this is what the concourse may look like.ge the chwill hopefully alleviate congestion and increase the number of people the area can hold. construction will begin this year. if you live in maryland and are among the thousands of commuters who use the marc train and travel two-to-and from c., we have news for you. >> the safety system is not done and may not be for a f months. the news 4 that marc is 1 of 33 railway systems hoping for a extension to finish installing positive

trai control, technology that slows or stops trains to avoid crashes. marc says the safety system is on its camdon and brunswick nes. but it's still going through testing. the system should be operationai by spring. marc train. hours after app ring in a courtroom in connection to a felony assaultch ge, kevin spacey was pulled over for speeding in the d.c. area. officers pulled spacey over on the g.w. parkway outside of reagan national airport. he was given a verbal warning, not a ticket. spacey beganhe day by pleading not guilty to the assault charge. this is the first cfominal case r paspacey who faced multiple allegations of sexual misconduct. kevin spacey isn't the only celebrity, facing legal jeopardy

over claims of misconduct. r. kelly is the subject of a docu-serie highlights allegations of relationships with teenagers and accusations from women who s kellysi mentally andcally abused them. the series details the 2008 child pornography trial for acquitted.as those close to r. kelly says he is disgustedbout the allegations. if you or anyone you know needs help with abuse, you can call 800-656-hope. the number is on the btom of your screen and available on our website, nbcwashington.com. in news 4"y our health," a new study suggests it's noitonly the qualy of care that preterm babies receive but where they are cared for that help them. 5,000 preterm babies were involved in the study. those cared for any private e room, ths less of a risk ps to developing is. that's compared to those treated in open neonatal units.

if you want to live a long life, the secretatay include ou do with your time. a new british study found senior cizens involved in worthwhile and meaningful activities, were in better physical and mental health. the report suggests they had stronger persona relationships and were less likely to feel lonely and depressed. they got them motivated and excited. >> start them young and keep that attitude. this morning, a warning for anybody who received a dna testing kit as a present during the holidays. >> some of the data may be wrong. >> dr. clayton went to get a >> a radiologist said he sent the kit away. it tested positive for a genetic disorder that can lead to potentially deadly cancers at an early age. >> it was scary to t snk i might haething i have to act on the rest of my life.

it proms all of these questions. do i have a low leveof cancer now that i don't know about? >> dr. clayton went to get a test with a medical specialist.c the resue back negative. if you are curious about your genetic risk for disease, you should see a genetic counselor. i think the kits are made for fun to get a little background information but not to say this is my entire life in a kit. >> good point. for busyonmers there are a slew of new tech products about to debut, designed to make your life easier. the consumer technology show features products from 4,000 compies, like a touchscreen oven and a fresh bread vending machine. you saw that video. there are robots to help the elderly. telligence is the ingredient of the show, the

future, because that allows products to be smart and more responsive and predictive of of needonsumers. >> ike with everything connected to the internet, there's privacy concns and concerns with all of the technology t ut's phasing out. >> i know. you're worried about the rise of the machines >> yeah >> it's "terminator" stuff. >> the will smith movie with the robots? >> yeah. that's ary. >> it can happen. our house. housed and i hate it. >> you do? >> you have the ipads. it has a gee whiz factor, but if i wt the blind down, this works. >> it's notat hard. >> this doesn't work with the motorized things. i hate it. otherwise,t's get back to the real reason i'm here this morning. that's to point out that ourtr mildch of weather is coming to an end.

we had 26 days in a row warmer than average. and in hajanuary, more ten degrees warmer than average. starting tomorrow, the weatherl be noticeably colder. here in d.c., with a clearing sky, temperature 42. the light wind out of the south. and southerly breezes will push temp0atures in the uppers to near 60 degrees. our average high, 43. that's 15 degrees or more warmer than average tday. rinow, in the chilly mid and upper 30s to around 40degrees. chilly, not cold this morning. this area of low pressure is unlocking the cold across . cana that will be rushing in here on a northwest wind later tonight. it will be windy and cold around here for tomorrow and thursday. did have the overnight rain showers. they're moving on out. aew lingering drops across st. mary's county. you're hitting the road for today, a nice day to spend quality time outside. showers likely to move in after 6:00 ts evening, as the cold front comes by. here it is on future weather.

dry with sunshine to keep us near da60 there will be a burst of rain chances as the front goes by. that rain chan, really onlyex ts in a small window from about 6:00 p.m. to midnight. it willore dry tw but windy and way colder. northwest winds tomorrow, 20 to 30 miles per hour. the windchills a down near 30 degrees all day tomorrow. that's just the firstf several very blustery and cold days. highs in the upper 30s for thursday, friday and saturda saturday night into sunday morning, an increasing chance of accumulating snow. not aig b blizzard, jack taylor. >> nice to see a little bit of snow. nice weekend dthing. 't have to deal with traffic. if you're moving in virginia, loudon county, 15 betweenle

burg and point of rocks. there is a diversion due to a crash that happened in the 8:00 hour, that have the road open by 6:30 or 7:00 this morning. we'll look at the woodrow wilson idge. no worries to speak of this morning. you'll find 66, riding east out of centreville, tall way to rosyln, without issue or delays this morning. we have a new crash in upper marlboro. sounds like 301 near leeland road. authorities should be on scene. >> thank you, jack. still ahead, news 4 your health in fighting the flu. what you need t know about the flu shot and mist. mahershala alip will s by the "ellen" show and show off his dance moves.s >> t is for you, brother. oh. ♪ over hink it's 1982 all

again. >> he talks about why he shortened his real me. >>ou can watch the interview at 3:00.

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show of hands, who's a future comcast business customer here? i think we all are. yeah, definitely. sign us up. yes. two hands. two hands. yay. double hands. for a limited time, get fast reliable internet for $49.95 per month. just one more way we go beyond for your siness. and now you can also enter for a chance to win $10,000 from comcast business toget your year off to a fast start. there's a new $10,00ja winner every day iary. go online now and enter for a chance to win. comcast business. beyond fast. welcome back. flu season is here.

you have no doubtea countless warnings about being prared. >> the fluhot isn't the only thing that can help you fight the flu. but is it the most effective? >> reporter: flu seasons here and when it comes to vaccinating yourselfnd your honor childrech there's two options.e a study shows nasal spray was not as effective as the shot among children. data from 2013 to 2016, it shows that flu mist was 20% effectiv against two strains of the virus, compare that to the flu shot, which was 67% effective. flu season is in full swing and the virus is spreading across the country. look at this map. 19 states, including virginia, all highlighted in red,

reporting widespread flu activity right now. there's minimal cases so far in maryland and low activity in the district. peak season hits in lateanuary or february.ec we can eto see more cases over the next few weeks, with the worst possibly still ahead for us. if you haven't gotten your flu shot yet, what are you waiting for? it's not too late. it may not be 10tt effective. g vaccinated can help lessen the severity of the flu symptoms if you get it. kaiser permanente and walgreens drugs will be offeng flu shots at this year's health and fitness expo. don't forget, that is this thekend, january 12th and at the washington convention center.yo and it's free u and your family. we hope to see you there. 5:26 now. coming up, cameras, alerts and more. they're features that promise to protect your families on the roads.s

now, newis getting behind the wheel to see how they really work. plus, running low on gas? the new company that will fill you up while youleep. how it works and what it costs and how to avoid this common chore. and your dog walking forecast today, rada available for adoption today. showers moving in after. 6: way colder weatheromes back cin

news 4 today starts now. >> 5:30 is your we're taking a live look outside. we have a nice day in store before real winter temperatures move in. we're goingo fill you in on that storm team 4 forecast. it's day 18 of the government shutdown. we're working for you through it all. details on the president's primetime address tonight and how to get some extra help if you're one of the area's thousands of federal workers not being paid. that's ahead the next few minutes. good morning, everybody. i'm aaron gilchrist. >> i'm eun yang. we want to get a check on your weather and traffic this morning. jack taylor is in for melissa and your first 4 traffic.

we begin with chuck bell t.d your forec >> one last chanc to enjoy the mild weather. the string of mild days has lastearly a month. it's going to come to an end tonight. by this time tomorrow morning, it will feel like january again. there are puddles te conten contended with after overnight rain drops. but temperatures close to 60 degrees. td more chances for showers coming in durin later part of the evening. and winter temperatures return tomorrow. right now, 36 inme mont county. your planner for today, more than enough sunshine to pus temperatures into the upper 50s. some spots will make 60 degrees for a high today. sun's j downt after 5:00. forecasting 60 this afternoon. chance of showers moving back in this evening.

next time see this, i will change in the chance. gusty winds back tomorrow. that mns you have to hold on tight to the wheel. >> thank you, sir. loudon county, ourn issues 15, long-standing issue from last night. an accident b aught down pole and wires. 15 is closed this morning. southbound traffic diverts at st. clair lane. lucketts road, hopefully, will be open. fingers crossed. if you're headed in thedi rict, south on d.c., 295, slow traffic already, rolling towards theni pennsylva avenue joints that caused the slowdown most lmornings. e look at the prince william parkway in woodbridge. sounds like the issue, we have someone broking down in the middle of the adway. virginia state authorities have been made aware and will move to the scene qud remove that kly.

>> thank you. ay we begin8 of the government shutdown.s the nationeparing for a big speech from the president. the president will address the nation from the oval office for the first time. he may d of emergency at the southern border to get t money to build you can watch the address at 9:00 p.m., on nbc 4. as lawmakers and the president addressing th and every day, the paychecks remain a question. >> justin finch is live ol capill with more on how workers are dealing with the furlough. justin, good morning. >> reporr: aaron, good morning. there's frustration and anger, as well.er wo feeling like they're caught in the middle of a trug

of w tug-of-war. it began on december 22nd, on the last day of a pay period. the workers were pa next is up in the air here. they will not be paid for rd, to january 5th, it appears. a lot of eyes were on this friday, the f tste they will go officially without their paycheck. rse option the wor have on the table here is to file for unemploymeal. these fedorkers are tired of being caught in the midst of these shutdown showdowns. >> this is now, unfortunately, the norm of he federal government. and i feel that federal employees are being held hostage. >> reporter: here in d.c., the city counts some 2,000 unemployment claims have been filed. bear in mind, it can take two to three weeks t get the first check. not good news for federal workers in need. we'reive on capitol hill, justin finch, news 4. >> justin, thank you. you can watch the president's

address live on nbc news 4. you can stream it in the nbc washington app. also, you can find freebies for government worker during the shutdown. police are beefing up their efforts finding a man who went after two sisters. one of the girls was groped. th other fought the suspect off. saturday's incident happened just blocks from braddock elementary school. police are developing a sketch of the suspect. a double-homicide remains under investigation this morning in southeast washington. the victi were found dead inside a burning home on eli place. at was saturday morning. officials say the victims were beaten and choked to death. investigators believe the fire was set to cover upe.hat crim it's now 5:35. now, to our other top stories this morning. d.c. police arenvestigating the seventh homicide of the new year. the latest happened on "v" street in northwest last night.d

25-year-amon dukes was shot. police are offering a reward up to $2000 for information leading to an arrest and conviction in this case. we learned more detail at another murder in nllthwest d.c. potter stabbed a man in an apartment building sunday morning. no word on what led to that attack. polls will open at 6:00 for a special election in virginia to fill a senate seat in the state's 33rd district.en cudelegate jennifer boysko is the democrat, joe may is the republican candidate. the winner will replace jennifer wexton who is representing the 10th district in congress. the clemson tigers reign supreme. they are the new national college football champs. for the second time in years, they beat alabama in the title game. you can imagine fans celebrated right along with the team all ni t long. >> last night's win was

lopsided. clemson beat alabama 44-16. a lot of people expected it to closer.ey th finished the season with a perfect 15-0 record. trevor lawrence, he's 19, namede nsive mvp of the game. his future looks very bright'sas does clems. for now, they are college football champs. congrats. freshmen doing all this. still ahead this morning, classroom cutbacks. students missing out on science lessons because of staffing shortages. the changes that are coming after an i-team report. first, we're working for you behind the wheel, lookinat the self-driving technology that could soon be in your car. that's next.

> you're watching news 4 today. >> welcome back. 5:39. a consumer alert about who is reallyn the driver's seat

while more and more cars are rolling out with what are self-driving features, some warn theye not really that. >> consumer reporter susan hogan ts a unique look into how one safety agency is working to kees youafe on the roads. >> three seconds. two, one. >> reporter: the safety ency known for crashing cars is now trying to avoid accidents. at the insurance institute for highway fety in rutgers, virginia. >> put the car in drive. keep your foot steady on the gas. >> reporter: news 4 put automation and crash avoidt.ce to the t whoa. i didn't hit it. driverless cars en't here yet.s more vehiclelike the ones you e sehere are incorporating a degree of automation.ti autobraking. lain departure warning.

blind spotnd park assist. but the iihs says, just because d ur caran do this -- doesn't mean you sstop paying attention. >> it's not a convenience featurhi it's not somng the driver is supposed to rely on. it's a feature, if the driver it not payiention or aware of the hazard in front of them, it will try to mitigate or avoid the crash completely. >> reporter: one of the biggest questions the iihs hopes to answer during all of the testing, is, do they handle driving tasks as humans would? the answer so far, not always. >> we found that the driver needs to still remain engaged. have their hands on the eering wheel because while some of the systems do work wellsome scenarios, it can alsod to unexpected behavior. if you're not ready and truly n.gaged, it can result in a dangerous situat >> in case you missed it, susan went behind theof scene crash test. you can see that video in the nbc washington app.

search crash test. coming up, we know getting gas can be a pain. now, a service will fill your tank to save you time. how it works and what it costs. and school day forecast, it's an outdoor recess kind of a day today. temperatures in the 30s to around 40 thismorning. around the low to mid-50s at noontime for recess and near-60e for high ttures today. what to wear? you can leave the winter coats at homene more day. colder weather returns tomorrow. kids, we m talk about for the weeke.nd

you're watching news 4 today. >> tonight coue a big game-changer in the government shutdown now in its 18th day. w t will be his first oval office address to the nation, president trump will talk border security. he could declare a national emergency to get funding for his border wall. >>f hat could make the stand between him and congress even worse and extend the shutdown. tracie potts has more on the president's intentions and the problems it could create. good morning. >> reporter: good morning. the money for the border wall is at the center of the shutdown now ith its 18 day. the president's address wil focus on the wall and border security. if heeclares aational emergency, he can get that money from the pentagon, from other existing funds.er in owords, he doesn't have to go through congress to get the money. but that could u set a big legal challenge, will likely set up a legal challenge if he tries to do an end runun a congress

and declare the emergency. the question being, what is the emergency and what are the numbers that support it? the administration has had 4,000 known and suspected terrorists were stopp at the border. homeland security numbers provided to congress, only 41 in the first half of last year. only six ofhose were immigrants. >> o tracie potts the hill this morning. thank you. there are empty booths and tables where federal workers once gathered. usually bustling tables here in beltsville stay empty. the same is true at mosaic cafe in rockville. this shutdown is having a big impact on sm l businesses all over our area. federal employees worried about when they will see the next e paycheck, dining out is first thing to go. >> people come in during lunch, dinner, around our bars. right now, you see, all empty. so far, we had three customers. usually we have a lot more than

that. >> restaurants say they're worried they can't recover from the last revenue because of this shutdown. we'll have more on how the shutdown is affecting federal workers and their budgets coming up at 6:00 a.m. we're learning about information about a crash that killed a volunteer. zachary fry admitted he drunk when he ran into a woman, killing her. lauren mcdarby was walking inve sville last week when she was hit. the crash w near the church where she volunteered for more than a decade. the driver isho being held w bond. today will be the first full day on the job for prince george's county's new state's attorney. aisha braveboy was sworn in at the courthouse. braveboy says her topririorities her term will be reforming the juvenile justice system and aggssively prosecuting domestic violence

offenders. governor ralph northam is applying for a bill for absentee voting during election southbound. vors can onl use one of the ballots if they have a qualifying reason, being out of town, business, or a severe illness.nd maryland virginia's general assembly sessions begin tomorrow. > new efforts to force clergy to report child abuse and neglect. some want to close a loophole when the session begins. doctors, nurses and teachers are mandated to report ase. not clergy. they're not required to. while the proposed legislation would make clergy mandatory reporters, there would be one exception, disclosures during confessions. d.c. public schoolsays it is taking action to make sure middle schoolers receive science instruction. it revealed that four middle schools were not providing i enough scientruction.

those middle schools include eliot-hein, brookland and cardoza. there were several reasons why, including budget shortfalls, difficulty hiring science he te and an effort to, instead boost math and reading scores.is the schoolict tells the i-team it is attempting to make up for srtfalls with a series of science-only days this semester. one parent said she is satisfied alth the proposed fix. >> i think it's acly good. it allows for a really intense look at a particular topic. >> he science-only days beg this month. we'll keep you posted on the changes at the other three schools. some folksere saying bah humbug as the season comes to an end. the rockefeller tree in new yorn citydark last night. the tree will be given to ma habitat for ty to build

homes.e' thyour bright spot. the spruce was decorated in five miles of multicolored l.e.d. lights and topped with a crystal star. maybe they just stick that away for next iyear. >> shi up. >> 2018 is over now. >> this is about the timepe tha le start wrapping stuff up. >> the tree is down. a new national championeg in co football. it's not my sooners but congratulations to clemson on a massive win against alabama. >> huge. >> and our stretch of mild weather that dates back to 2018, also quickly coming to an end. about 18 hours to the end of the mild pattern that we'veeen enjoying. 42, now, here in washington. that's mild for an y-earning temperature. our average high for today's date is only 43. we will be in plus again this afternoon. 41 right now in warrington. 31 in martinsburg. wee had s rain and there can be one or two spots in west

virgin. washington county and frederick county. if it's near freezing, there can be frozen puddles this morning. on the whole, it is a d mild today. temperatures in the 50s to near 60 before rain chances this evening. chances later on in the evening hours stands at 40%.'s art of this storm in the upper midwest that will unlock the cold and bring a very stroni northwes in. here's future weather over the next few days. i mention this because it could get interesting for the weekend. this is 5:00 today. a little chance for showers pushing on through here. and a gusty northwest wind for all day tomorrow. that continues through the day thursday. but drier air is settling. ld and dry weather thursday and friday. watch what happens on saturday, tlough. a l area of snow out here south of st. louis on friday night. as we get into saturday night, it looks like an increasing likelihood of snow around here. saturday night into the first part of sunday morning, before things dry back out again sunday

afternoon. how much snow? well, obviously, that's the million-dollar questiong there's a l way to go between here and there. not i do think a couple of inches of are a real possibility. saturday, late in the dard sa night, especially, into the first part of the day o sunday. computer models, the european model says hardly anything. e american model says anywhere up to potentially 6 to 8 inches. i think in the 2 to 4 inch range is a reasonable -- what? what? >> he just said it. >> it was a possibility. ree feet is a possibility. but i think 2 to 4 inches is a greater likelihood. needless to say, jack taylor, we will be watching the forecast very carefully. > please do. wow. 15, moving between lucketts and leesburg, remaeds cl we had a crash last night in the 8:00 hour, it brought down a pole andwires. hoping to have the roadway opened by 6:30 or 7:00.

southbound detours. plan for it if this is a normal path of travel. chapp chopper 4 just hit the roadway. should find no big worries. 95 northbound, after the prince william parkway. you see. traffic is moving well here, broking down near 123. that was the middle that got a look at the shoulder. 270, with little heavy. leaving 85 as you move southbound. you can see the brake light the sheen from the showers. oxon hill, looks like a new reported crash before wilson bridge drive. a little delay, unclear how severe the accident is. back to u. >>jack, thank you. talking about driving, it haens to all of us. you get into your car to realize you don't have any gas. >> now, there's a service in the district that wants to keep that from happening again.

>> filld brings the gas station to you. you sig up online, share details about your car and leave your gas flap ope and you're all set. some are already swearing by it. >> i love hitting the snooze.tw i get more snoozes in the morning. >> lld will cost you more than filling up yourself. pricing her gallon is based on the average local price plus a $4 delivery fee. >> reporter: >> right now, the serviceer c every ward in the district and parts of montgomery county. the company is looking to expand. i'm sure there's a lot of takers. >> nice option if you need new this morning, looking to begin your career or start a nen the best jobs of 2019, that list is out. the top job is softwar developer. statistician, physician assistant, dentist and orth on the orthodontist. there arseveral factors that go into the best job, median salary, stress level and employment rate.

that's some of the things they look at. >> to see a completelist, go to our website or visit nbc washington's app. it's 5:55. el> history coming on the football sarah thomas will be the first woman to officiate a postseason nfl game. she will work the chargers/patriots game at 1:00 p.m. terry valenti will also work her first assnment on the colts/chie game on saturday. way to go. a lot of football to watch, too. good morning. i'm frank hollandt cnbc headquarters. the going out of business signs could soon go up at your local sears. sources say the company is preparing for possible liquidation because there's doubts about a rescue plan put forth by a hedge fund billionaire who is the chairman and largest sheholder. liquidation would put up to $68,000 jobs at risk at sears

and kmart stores, making the once-mighty company another casuty. sti ahead, children, the courts and hundreds of thousan of federal workers. our coverage of the impacts of the government shutdown t continues nexn news 4 today. plus, hours after appearing in a massachusetts courtroom, kevin spacey pulled over by police in virginia. we'll tell you why. news 4 today will be right back.

news 4 today starts now. >> a big day for president trump tonight. heill address the nation from the oval office and make his se to build that wall along the u.s./mexico border. how he c ild do without congressional approval. fast approaching 6:00 a.m. on this tuesday morning. >> today, we're covering the shutdown and previewing the heesident's address. we want to on your forecast and commute. >> jack taylor is standing by for melissa with a check on the roads and rails. let's start with chuck bell. had a little rain last night. maybe more today. >> yeah. a little rain last night. lingering drops down acrosshe northern neck.

they will be grazing across st. mary's jucounty. a couple of rain drops here. that's it. everywhere along i-95 and points wrth and west already dried out. l be dry until after the sun goes down this evening when another chance of passing showers comes our way. the evening shower chance, that's a cold front that will bring a significante to the weather. the 30s, a lot of spots above 40 deees here this morning. seasonably mild here early today. hit the road forecast, the seat heatow to medium at most. later on today, open up the sunroof and enjoy it. it will be a pleasant day to be outside. afrnoon temperatures, 5s to near 60. 40% chance of a few showers afte 6:00 this evening, as way colder air blows in tomorrow ans for the of the week. there's a chance for