right now, on news 4 this week. safe streets. a new effort to make intersections safe for pedestrians. and we explain the markers popping up along streets in d.c. shutdown slow down, how a big closure is impacting businesses in alexandra. and remembering the titan, a look at the ian whopired the movie "remember the titans." hello, everyone. i'm leon harris. icou may have n a lot of yellow at intersections. but we're not talking about traffic lights but new plastic pylons that have been cropping

up. we started investigating and we report it's all in the name of safety. >> reporter: after 53 years of crossing the same intersection, aieda arudis takes a little more time. are you worried about the cars and the driver ths? >> yeah. yes, they're speeding, you know? >> reporter: and as she rightfully points out, speeding and turning don't mix. that's why they are using more and re of these yellow pylon and yellow stripe devices, a lot more of them. we have 85ti locas across the district. they're known as left turn hardening devices, designed to protect pedestrians. the whole idea here is to force drivers to go out into the intersection and stay away from the crswalk. ore of a 90 degree turn.

that cuts down on therisk of an accident. and drivers are still getting used to them. >> i do't have an expert opinion on it. i think they'll study it and see. >> reporter: but the city says they have data that shows thesee interions need these devices and fatalities are down 25%. they've created a position to cut down on traffic fatalities. they've put in a lot of other measures, like no right turn on red. as far as aida, she got across the intersection safely and plans to keep doing so. in the district, adam tuck, news 4. there was a welcome change for commuters. all trains began traveling all the way to and from the glen mont station. since 1984, metro had been turning around every other train and returning it to the

district. the problem was commuters were left waiting on the platform. montgomery county leaders have been pushing for the change and they finally pulled it off. >> bad for businesses in alexandra goin through businesses blaming the shutdown for empty tables. we dropped in on well-known hot spots that have gone cold. >> reporter: inside one of the staple restaurants, the same delicious food that has brought people for years, but this summer they're not coming in. >> we've seen a stagnant drop off. >> reporter: it dropped off at the end of may, when metro shut down the king street station to do much-needed wrk on the station's platform. for businesses on king street, itut their lifeline. >> it's right across the bridge, but, when it comes wn to the metro not being there, that bridge feels like it might as

well be miles away. >> reporter: alexandra's tourism arm conducted a survey three weeks after the station shutdown >> why wouldwe take the pulse three weeks in. we wanted to know about it in the moment. >> reporter: and they'llco sider adjustments now, because the survey finds four in ten businesses are losing money. the closer you get to the metro station the worse it gets. >> as you can see, i don't have a single guest sitting in the building. >> reporter: heys sa his restaurant has taken a 30% to 40% hit. he and th h others wille to endure, because the shutdown just started. blue and yellow line service won't flow through king street again until september 9th at the earliehe. >> till t we should be able to survive, hopefully, hopefully. hoech hope is the world.w remember our area lost a titan.

pg nes passed away this week. he was the fullback whose championship team story prompted the movie about the titans. >> taught us h toespect each other. you got to love each other, t you got to respect each other. >> reporter: this video was posted by alexandra public schools. the man immortaezed in mber the titans" spent the last three decades of his life as the heart and soul of the sool, retiring months beforeea his from cancer. it was the story of the school's improbable, heroic, 1971 state football championship, months after three reluctant city high chools had been fused into one

racially integrated school. former alexandria mayor himself a tc williams gduate says the team struggled, bonding and triumph leaves their mark on the city. >> he would meet me and say i want to be like you. >> reporter: in an instagram post, the actor who paid jones in "remember the titans" says people still come up and talk about how the movie impacted their lives. when mr. jones retired, the scholarship fund began to honor him and the 1971 titans with a scholarship. as of yesterday, it haraised $225 of its0 $3,0al to help a williams student get to college.ch >> jones' dren released a statement saying in part that their father's work impacted

many, adding that his legacy will continue. no doubt. when we come back, a status report on maryland's prized blue crab. a look at how many of them are swimming in the chesapeake bay these days. plus, do you really haveto wait an hour after eating to jump in a pool? we have

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the best selling electric hicle of all time. this is nissan intelligent mobility ♪ this geek weot a new report that says the blue crab population in the chesapeake bay is booming. in fact the advisory reportsh ows it is up 60% from la year. resource managers attribute part of the increase to the waters not being overfished. other factors include emalensible harvesting of blue crabs, and it helps that the water is cleaner. news 4 is working for you in the community with a look at the tall ship providence. it's now docked at its new home

in alexandria. the ship is a replica of a ip merchant shfrom the 1700s. it was built for the nation's bicentennial celebration and played a part in two of the disney pirates of the caribbean movies. >> we will do tours, and themed cruises every friday night. family-fridly pirate cruises on saturday morning. and we'll do once a month adult pirate cruises, wine cruises and sunset sails. >> organizers say that no one has to walk the plank during the pirate cruises. so you can go home dry. you can see it om the dock now, but it won't open to the public until later this summer. have fun if you check it out. now, when we come back here, summer is in full swing. that means crowded pools a beaches. ming up, we explain what's fact and fiction when it comes

to swimming safety. a introduced to duke's. i i feet always been there. it feels like home to me. duke's mayonfaise has been in our ly ever since i was small. i love the way that the duke's mayonnaise toasts on the outside of the bread.oo it's nice and and tangy, and you don't have to worry about any sugars. it's good, right? oh, yes. we cure our meats in-house, we make all of our pickles in-house, and b duke's mayonnaise. we can't make it any better. can't beat it (laughs).

all right, s fhool's out the summer. but, before your kids dive into the swimming pool or head to the bea, there's important information for parents to know when it comes to their safety. news 4 helps debunk swimming myths before you get back in the water. >> reporter: when it comes to swimming safety, there's a lot of information online, and some of it is dangerous. chances are you've asked yourself, do you really have to it up to an hour after eating before getting in the pool? and is dry drowning a real thing? we took your questions to an emergency room doctor. >> misinformation seems to spread faster than actual research. >> reporter: dr. christina

johnjohns is a mher of two. she says th are busy withit vis from panicky parents worried about dry drownings. >> it catches on like wildliffi. >> reporter: children who inhale pool water do not need t be onitored for several days for signs of respiratory distress. >> if there are anys, symptom they are going to occur in the r first seve hours and not days later. > reporter: she tells parents to watch their child immediately after they swallow a mouthful of water and get medical attention quickly if you think the.e's trou >> are they have be trouble breathing, having trouble speaking or seeming like they can't catch their breath? coughing a lot?>> eporter: fact or fiction. you should wait town up to an h

before getting into the pool after eating. >> there is some truth and some fiction. >> reporter: but dr. johns says waiting to swim really isn't necessary. blood will be diverted away from your arms and legs and towards your stomach's digestive tract putting you at risk of drowning is the thought.ju >> that's st not true. you can go into the water. your tummy may not feel very good if you're full, but it's not harmful or dangerous. what is harmful dangerous is when kid goes into the pool chewing gum or with food in theirit mouth. 's easy to choke. it's easy to get things way.he mouth and air yay that really is a no, no. >> reporter: ctct or fin, swimming with arm floaties will protect my child. not true. they do not keep a child's head above water in case of trouble.

th americancademy of pediatrics recommends a coast guard approved life vest. these are unlike floaties. they can't pop or get destroyed as easily. >> reporter: fact or fiction. if my child gous into tre in the pool i'll hear the splashing and struggling in time to help. not true. drowning is often ail st struggle and can happen in seconds. that's why it's imant to have aatesignated w watcher not distracted bay cell phone. >> they need to have one job and one job only, and that is keeping an eye on the safety of kids who are swimming. >> the american academy ofed ptrics recently updated their guidelines and recommends children start learning to swim around the age of. one that's three years earlier than prestigious group previously advisd. >> that is great advice. drowning is the second leading

causef unintentional death, that behind car accidents among children under the age of 14. be creful out there. the life lessons kids learn as part of a team or club can tay with them throughout their entire lives. coaches for special olympics cheer. and we got to a chance to see the team in action. and they love performing together and celebrating who they are, that's thanks to this week's hero. >> rerter: they are attached at the hip. >> i met her at her church. >> reporter: these two redheads are best friend and it's all anks to gayle waterson and her special olympics cheer and dance team. >> she doesn't care where you came from. she will put you on the team. >> reporter: coach gayle gav c these twonce to be themselves. >> it's nice to show the world what inclusion .

>> she is not just a coach. she's a mother to this entire team. don'start crying. >> reporter: coach yle has en coaching the team for the last 11 years. it brings together ably bodied athletes with oth is. >> helps bridge a gap in our local community for inclusion and respect and acceptance ofop pe with intellectual disabilities. >> reporter: theytl receny represented the usa national team at the world championships. and they won. >> and we got a chance to take these two teams, the unified hip-hop and unified poms to disney to compete.th ey got awesome gold medals, rings, trophies. we got to carry the american flag. >> usa! >> let's go! >> reporter: anna grace's mom says this has been life changing for her daughter. >> inclusion is everything. if you can include those that

are different, you just won. and it's like winning a gold medal every day that were with these people. >> reporter: leading by example is something coach gayle hopes will stick with her athletes, long after they leave her team. >> just spreads the word that we're all probablyre alike than we are different. >> reporter: that message has already sunk in for alexia and hanna grace. >> well said indeed. when we come back, asi sterhood of young commuter sterhood of young commuter we are sisters. and we just moved in together. why alissa and aleah cse fios. we stream sooo much. of

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may be summer vacation time, but a group of high school girls from the d.c. area are choosing tospend their break in the classroom. we take you to georgetown law's us to a computer science

camp. >> reporter: ask any of these girls and they'll tell you the first key to success is simply knowing how to press forward. >> it's not going to learn because i did not initialize. >> reporter: she says the boys in her class told her she'd never make it. now, not only is she a successful software developer. >> take a couple minutes. >> reporter: she's here at the summer camp, teaching others thousand write computer code. >> i've never seen so many girls coding at one place at one time. >> reporter: it's put on by software.org. >> that's review. >> reporter: they want to encourage girls to go into computer science. >> ju believe in yourself. don't care if males are dominating that field. >> reporter: every day for seven weeks the girls will spend spend their bre

their break hitting the books. >> i enjoy it.>> wanted to keep practicing over the summer and maybe advance even more. >> reporter: the goal is for them to program their own projects, building websites and a sisterhood of computer scientists. >> it's heartening to see so many women learning to code together and havg that support with each other. >> reporter: in t district, aho c it's summer. it's hot out there. so we're going to leaveou with ideo of kids enjoying a cool down at a local splash park. thanks for joining us, have a great week.

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