important debate. this is the last time they will go head to head before the iowa caucuses next month. more coming up as fox 5 morning news at 6 starts now. our beautiful tower cam toward the national cathedral. we are glad you are up early with us, it is december 15th. i am steve chenevey. quick school clothing, southern high school in anne arundel county closed for students and staff due to an accident that knocked down a power line in that area. southern high school in anne arundel county is closed today all other schools will open on time. we hate for students to miss school but it is a nice day perhaps for the faculty to get some stuff done. tony perkens good morning. >> rather comfortable out there. good morning to both of you, hello everybody. could see rain showers later on

today, besides that a mild day current temperatures around the region, 45 degrees, stuck there all morning long, 45 in the district, 46 baltimore, dulles airport at 43 degrees, frederiksburg 45 degrees ocean city 49 degrees. a little breezy out there, take a look at the winds blowing 8 miles per hour. not bad breezy, winds pick up later on today they could blow between 10 to 20 miles per hour right now 8-mile per hour winds in the district. sentinel radar it is dry now so shall it be for your morning hours later on today we will get some of that rain you see off to the north and west coming through here it will not all hang together like that but rain showers popping up during the course of the afternoon and evening hours. forecast today, sunshine early skies become mostly chow di, mild afternoon showers possible. high today 60 degrees not bad at all. that is a look at what is happen being the weather now a look at this mornings rush hour

traffic. all right tony thanks to jeff and jeremy in sky fox they found this crash after the dulles toll road on the outer loop headed out towards 66 this is what is impeding your commute. accident activity to the top right side of your screen, the second lane from the right over to the left more accident activity blocking the left lane this is a zigzag formation as you try to work your way around the scene of this crash. the outer loop of the belt way towards the dulles toll road delays are starting to stack up as you work toward it is georgetown pike. fire truck on the scene temporarily blocking traffic trying to mover equipment there -- manoeuvre equipment there. some was able to get by extext delays georgetown pike outer loop of the belt way, headed out of maryland headed back into virginia. travelling eastbound 66, you too are in for a slow ride fair oaks, headed back in out towards the belt way.

the inner loop will slow at braddock road northbound i-95 checking for an incident in the express lane as you work your way north, slow going out of wood bridge this morning, southbound 270, heavy, slow and steady travelling out of german town. that is a check of your fox 5 on time traffic. new this morning defense secretary, had an official ceremony in baghdad. pentagon chief is formally retiring the flag of u.s. forces in iraq. more on this symbolic ceremony live in arlington. good morning stacy. >> well, good morning conflict in iraq is one that cost $800 billion nearly 4,500 lives of u.s. service men and women today, defense secretary is in baghdad for a ceremony marking the end of that war. during the ceremony, the flag of the u.s. forces in iraq was

symbolically cased according to army tradition. it was wrapped around a flag pole, draped in camouflage, marking the end of this conflict. 32,000 people have been wounded in the war in iraq. the defense secretary told the people that it was worth the sacrifice in lives and money. >> i believe the fundamental dream of all of humanity is to be able to give our children a better life. today, the iraqi people, move closer to realizing that dream. iraqis can take pride in knowing that through the service and sacrifice of so many brave warriors, your children will have a better future.

>> now at the height of the bar the iraq -- war in iraq, 170,000 u.s. troops were on the ground in iraq now that number is down to 8,000 they are all coming home by december 31st. live i am stacy cohen back to you. >> thanks very much. now his visit to iraq comes a day after president obama and the first lady visited troops in north carolina. the president told the soldiers the war was controversial but patriotism never waiverred. what i also agree with our military commanders in iraq, nearly unanimous in nary belief, some u.s. forces approximately 20,000 should remain [ yelling in the background ] senator mccain rallied against the president for being too obsessed to fulfill the promise to pull out all u.s.

troops. a top u.s. commander on the ground there says the iraqis are tenacious and up to the task of protecting themselves. we continue to follow a developing story. a missing 10-year-old boy, his name has not been released he is 4'0", between 80 and 100 pounds last seen yesterday afternoon a command post is set up 5500 block b street southeast. now for a check of today's other stories renewed efforts to find the potomac river rapist attacks began in montgomery county in the early 1990s and ended with a murder in 1998. today investigators will unvail a website, hoping to generate two leads. it will include a sketch of the

man seen walking behind her the night of the murder. a chase through dc ends with a taxi driver crashing into a metro bus. this all started late last night when the cabbie got hit by the driver of another car 13th street northwest that driver drove off the cabbie crashed into the bus while giving chase reports, one person hurt has life threatening injuries. a bus driver out on bail after allegedly ramming her bus into a building. according to report it is bus driver, accused a coworker of harassment and was angry when her supervisor and a judge dismissed those claims. she took matters into her own hands. >> she got into her bus and drove it into a trailer that trailer is like a portable building, a make shove treyer

and she drove -- and she drove directly into the lounge area where people were inside. >> thee people were injured in the crash they are all expected to make a full recovery. douglas is being called with assault and malicious destruction she is on administrative leave until further notice. >> more tax trouble for marion barry, a lien has been filed against his home for not paying last year's income taxes on time and in full. washington times first reported on the lien last night. he is still paying on income taxes dating back more than a decade. one final debate tonight for republican presidential candidates before the iowa caucus is kicked off next month. stakes are high and the polls are changing. >> reporter: one last debate this one in iowa tonight, these debates have played an enormous

role in what is becoming a brutal race. newt gingrich may be commanding the polls heading into tonight's debate but mitt romney was on the warpath lately after gingrich attacked him for his as a venture capitalist. >> to suggest there is something wrong, about investing in enterprise that doesn't succeed, bespeaks that extraordinary lack of understanding how the economy work. >> reporter: barrage of attacks on gingrich may be working. a look at this gallup tracking poll, gingrich's numbers have been dropping over the course of the week. romney is rock steady at 22. gingrich likes his chances. >> i am about where regan was against carter at this stage. >> reporter: debates have been crucial, fueling one candidate's rise after another. it comes down to 120,000 ' wants and what they thing before they head to their caucuses, on january 3rd. michelle bachmann and rick

santorum have spent months campaigning in iowa. something ron paul could win next month. >> amount of voter contact ron paul and his campaign are doing right now is simply astonishing, i talked to a woman today who received a cook book in the mail, with ron paul family recipes and a plea to vote for ron paul. >> those kinds of get out the vote efforts can really pay off romney and gingrich comparatively got a late start in iowa. in washington doug luzader, fox news. >> thanks doug. lawmakers on the hill working to avoid a government shut down early this morning house republicans revealed a massive year end package, cur bing budgets, it contains language the roll back president obama's policies giving cuban immigrants leeway to send money to family in cuba.

airforce is imvest gaiting 15 t as airmen for this -- investigating 15 texas airmen for this photo they were seen posing with an open casket one that looks like a metal transfer cassette used to transfer men home. below is the quote, sucks to be you. rob whitman says it is not acceptable. it is appalling, it is dispointing, unacceptable we owe it to our fallen to make sure, we show them the proper honor, respect and dignity. the photo surfaces at a time when the airforce is already dealing with sloppy handling of remains of war dead at dover. taxi war in dc about to get more heated. still ahead, how much money is on the table for casey anthony to break her silence.

>> christmas vandals caught on camera in virginia armed with baseball bats destroying property we will hear from the homeowner coming up next pgh >> a live lookout side latest weather and traffic, coming up from tony and julie. next at 7:12 a.m. 

checking headlines this morning a close call for miners in northern idaho after a rock burst caused a dangerous collapse under ground. seven miners were trapped but all pulled to safety from the lucky friday mine. this is just a month after the incident at the same site where one miner was not so lucky and died. she may be lying low now

casey anthony could give her first interview since being akuwaited of murdering her 2- year-old -- acquitted of murdering her 2-year-old daughter. a los angeles tv producer is shopping a no holds barred interview with anthony for $750,000. so far several cable networks declined that. according to the latest holiday forecast more spending is to come national retail federation says it expects holiday sales for november and december period the rise nearly 4%, to a record $469 billion. i would be adding to that next week. next week is the week i start i enjoy the last minute frenzy. >> i have a lot crossed off. >> me? >> done. >> tuck. >> i saw him shopping at seven eleven last weekend.

not what i hoped to be getting this year. tucker says he likes 4 loco. >> that is not illegal. >> but not good. he doesn't really like it. >> i like the store. >> yes. what is going on out there, with your forecast, this morning getting the kids ready for school, partly sunny skies, this morning i know we were talking about clouds we will have plenty today. sunshine this morning temperatures ranging from upper 30s to mid-40s. most of you mid-40s. sunrise in 2 minutes, at 7:19 a.m., national temperatures we remain at 45 degrees where we have been all morning look how mild it is elsewhere, 55 in cincinnati, advance of that front going to come through behind the front temperatures drop off significantly, look, 59 st. louis, 31 in omaha, 30 minneapolis, 37 wichita got to mention miami, 71 degrees there. all right here is a look at the

national map frontal boundary rainfall all along the front extending from new england, down to central texas. by the time it gets here some of that rain breaks up showers this afternoon and this evening but i don't expect heavy rain or anything like that. here is your forecast today, next 5 days, 60 degrees today, with some afternoon and evening showers a little breezy late showers possible, tomorrow particularly from washington to points south, saturday and sunday cooler in the 40s. monday, sunshine, and 50 degrees for your high that is a look at the weather more coming up in a little bit. >> good deal let's check with julie wright. >> we have some serious problems on the roads. tyson's area where we find our crew in sky fox. outer loop of the belt way, after the dulles toll roads this where you are going to find some traffic able to squeeze by the scene of this accident almost in that construction area where they

have been working for quite some time the road is wider working to our advantage now we have three lanes to our right. working past the scene of this crash. the delay is stacking up near the georgetown pike. across the legion bridge. heads up this will impact our commute, for the rest of the morning, for those coming down out of montgomery county, jeremy shooting footage, wall to wall traffic, on this outer loop. headed down towards virginia on this dulles toll road. wilson bridge heavier than usual volume delays, accident activity on the inner loop at telegraph road left side blocked, that is what is causing this delay out of maryland as you travel out of oxen hill headed back to virginia, southbound 270, lanes are open here father hurly boulevard, slow out of german town, leaving montrose road headed out towards the split.

i-95, norton has cleared, tough go out of manassas. that is a check of your fox 5 on time traffic. >> thank you today marks the first anniversary for the green street project in one dc suburb. an example how to improve the environment and create jobs at the same time. officials will be at the prince georges county town, to celebrate the project's success which cut down pollution in the nearby anacostia river, it is one of ten towns in maryland that received green street grants. the days of waving down a taxi may be gone. now you can get a ride electronically. according to washington post a pair of technology companies are shaking up the taxi and limousine market allowing customers to use computer and hand held devices to get a ride. starting to day a san francisco based company will launch its software application in the district. >> silver lining to destruction by real life grinches.

>> several people smashed up part of an elaborate, popular christmas display at a home in fairfax. maureen is back with more on this story makes you angry. >> it does. there is a twist to the story though. vandals did a lot of damage but the homeowner has a message that shows the holiday spirit look at the damage, michael's home security camera caught three people destroying part of his incredible christmas display early sunday morning they used baseball bats to smash numerous decorations and even ran over some of them when they drove off across his yard. lesters spectacular christmas display draws thousands of visitors every year but he says he hopes the vandals take a hard look at themselves and their actions. >> young kids on a lark, 4:00 a.m. in the morning, i am sure there was something involved their parents weren't approve of, i would like to think that a couple days later, that they would like to take it back and realize it was a horrible thing

and it wasn't just messing with some guy that has a big christmas display but the whole community. certainly, the response has been that. >> doesn't he just have a great spirit about that. here is the silver lining neighbors up and down the street, came out that morning and helped him make repairget damaged displays up and running the vandals were driving a silver ford taurus damage is estimated between 7 and $10,000 again, alison and steve you heard that mr. lesters comments, he really is showing what the spirit is about, forgive, forget, maybe the kids will learn from their actions. sounds to me like not sweating material things that can be replaced. >> that is the lesson. >> thank you so much. time 7:22 a.m. on this thursday morning just how important is your first amendment right? next why students might want to tell the world via twitter

today. the prospect christmas gift for food infuse -- prospect christmas gift for food enthusiasts. annie yu will explain how you can be a chef for a day at a popular restaurant chain. we will check with her in dulles virginia later on [[ female announcer ] more people are using wireless devices... in more ways than ever. and our networks are getting crowded. but if congress frees up more wireless spectrum... we can empower more people to innovate... putting momentum behind our economy. and we can reduce the deficit... with more than thirty billion dollars paid by america's wireless companies. it's simple -- more spectrum means more freedom.

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the parchments where he wrote and read what he said. it will bless you. we'll gladly send it to you today if you'll just help us more bad news for struggling homeowners the number of foreclosed homes about to be auctioned is hitting a 12 month high. right now borrowers receiving that first default notice the number of those is down. >> an alarming snapshot just how big a toll the economy is taking on the middle class. a growing number dropping below

the low income threshold of $45,000 a year for a family of four. the main reason, pay cuts, fewer work hours, loss of a job intierly. nearly one half of americans are now considered low income. mayors in 25 cities say a quarter of their citizens need food assistant and are not getting it. >> twitter contest for free college starts today. advocates will hand out scholarships for students who tweet about their right to free expression. students between the ages of 14 and 22 can enter the free to tweet contest up for grabs 22 scholarships worth $5,000 each twitter posts must include the hash tag free -- to tweet. the competition runs 45 hours once you get that hash tag out of the way you have 125

characterses to get your point across. >> 7:27 a.m. right now, there is still a lot of work to be done on capital hill to avoid a government shut down. a close look where things stand now. >> as we head to break a look at today's my fox half off deal $99 for a deluxe night for two at bed and breakfast in annapolis, gourmet breakfast and wine tasting in addition to the accommodation the package worth over $200 for you, $99. 

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7:31 a.m., all right welcome back. we are dressed very serious today. >> very bankerrish today. >> we are. >> all about business. what is going on tony. >> well, let me tell you exactly what is happening as we look at the weather conditions. >> we can't even keep it up. >> i will try let's look at what is happen being the weather conditions. >> not going to happen. >> four seconds, 45 degrees washington, annapolis, 48 degrees, 47 down in quantico, let's see, hagerstown maryland, at 44 degrees, we've got one temperature in the 30s.

cumberland 34 but the rest of a area feels really good. milder temperatures than what we have seen during most of this week as far as morning temperatures go. we do have clouds out there. i will lookout side our studios in just a moment but looks like pretty good cloud cover right now there were breaks in those clouds off to the west, a mixed bag during the morning certainly as the day progresses more and more in the way of cloud cover as this frontal boundary gets closer. this front will have rain showers with it maybe not as many as right now but some rain showers later and cool air behind it let me show you the surface map and explain what is going to happen with this system washington, we have that warm front come through it will help us get temperatures up to 60 degrees today. then cold front comes through triggers some showers during the afternoon and evening hours then the cooler air begins to work its way in here. you will feel that tomorrow and then particularly over the weekend.

for today, here is what the forecast looks like, mostly cloudy skies, breezy, a little bit of a breeze now, that will pick up later today as winds gust up to 20 miles per hour, showers possible this afternoon high around 60 to our south maybe warmer than that. 63, 64, places like frederiksburg, then tonight, mostly cloudy again, some showers during the evening hours, that should wrap up around 9, 10, 45 degrees your overnight lows not bad overnight 5 day forecast tomorrow's high above normal nowhere near the 60 degrees, look for 51 degrees, late showers friday, saturday and sunday dry, cool, highs mid- 40s. 50 for your monday. that is a look at what is happening with weather now more on this mornings rush hour traffic. >> we are checking out that drive, coming maryland into virginia, courtesy of sky fox above the scene of the accident tieing up the left side of the road as you travel across the american legion bridge expect to find heavy, slow traffic as

you work out of montgomery county, two left lanes remain closed two accident vehicles left on the scene. v dot is there along with state police, wall to wall, bumper to bumper traffic as you work your way through, to the american legion bridge headed past the georgetown pike, headed down to this scene south of the dulles toll road. traffic backed up badly, well before wolf trap and continues south back down towards the section of 66. your commute inbound on the dulles toll road impacted by this. pack a lot of patience this will be with us for awhile longer. >> back inside we will update the ride for those coming out of maryland into virginia accident activity is on the outer loop tieing up the left side to have highway delays coming in from 210 average speed down to 14 miles per hour. southbound kennel worth avenue, average speed ben any down to 10 miles per hour that is a

check of fox 5 on time traffic. thanks democrats no longer demanding higher taxes on millionaires to fund the tax cuts meantime final vote is needed on a bipartisan, $1 trillion funding bill. stop gap funding runs out friday midnight. joining us now with more insight on all this, we hope to get to them, congressman of illinois, marty russo, now head of russo capital. and robert walker former republican congressman of pennsylvania, now executive chair of wexler and walker pa as well. what we said in the introduction, democrats are backing away from demanding, that 1% of us, i guess that is what they are calling it now, pay their share of taxes. is that completely accurate? >> well, i think at this stage of the game they understand the house is not going to move a piece of legislation that has that in it if you want to get

things done before you leave december 23rd, some deal has to be done the fact democrats are now saying that is not the way we are going to pay for it, let's find another way to pay for it. if this is an emergency needs to be done just declare it an emergency and move on and let it happen you don't have to pay for it right now pay for it later on. >> is it a victory or is it an emergency for republicans. >> well, i think right now, at least, we have decided we are not going to tax job creators and allow the jobs to be created in the near future, but there are some other issues here the key stone pipeline, where it has potential of creating 20,000 jobs, where the unions are largely backing the republican position, is still an open question, in the question of the payroll taxes. so, you know i think there are still some issues that need to be resolved the good news is

they seem to have resolved some of the issues relating to the appropriations bill, and the house is introducing the appropriations bill today that can move forward that does eliminate some of the log jam doesn't mean the appropriations bill has cleared the senate yet, but there are some signs that there are some real activities on cap till hill. the problem, the game shift they are playing all the time why do they have to put it in a payroll tax bill why not just deal with the payroll tax, get it done, every win seems to agree upon it, so why do we always have to put a little poison bill in to create all this which is frustrating the american people. >> it is not just the payroll tax it is unemployment compensation, what they call the dock fix that as sures doctors continue to get paid at their regular rate there is a whole bunch of stuff in here. and the real problem is, this

is a problem this year, and it is going to continue to be a problem in years to come because every year we are going to come up against the factor are you really going to raise the payroll full tax. until they figure out some permanent pay on it, it needs to be a pay for at the present time because we spend the money right away. what about the fact that the government will run out of money again, it feels like this is the third time this has happened in a year or so, what happens with that measure marty? >> i think it will pass appropriations committee, which is more or less a bipartisan committee, they work together to get things done, and i think they finally put a lot of pieces together, i think they have agreed on the numbers and if it comes up as a stand alone bill it will pass. democrats feel if that gets passed in the house house members will buy them out of town and leave you the payroll tax we send it to you and you

just deal with it, democrats on the senate side are basically we don't want that to happen we will tie appropriations process to the payroll tax issue and see whether we can get it done or not eventually what happens they will come to some type of agreement, move the bill, get it passed but have to go through the same oldness is it going to happen -- angst sit going to happen when will it happen do we have to thing about shutting down the government. just the worst thing to do for the american tan people. -- american people. >> i hate bills like this. in this case, the bill does fund the government for the rest of the next fiscal year it is good news we won't have to go to continuing resolutions again it takes care of the spending out toll, september 30th,. i want to talk about the debate tonight before we let

you gentlemen go. do you expect end of it newt gingrich will still be the one to beat. it will be interesting no doubt, the attack dogs will be out for newt tonight so how he weathers that will be important in how his campaign progresses from here. so far he has done extremely well in terms of having the attacks to roll off him but this will be a very tough test because there are some pretty mean things being said out there at the present time. the question with is whether or not candidates will bring it into tonight's debate. a lot of talk of ron paul, taking iowa, pass this, what would be the reasoning behind that. well, he had boots on the ground. he has a very very good organization he has been working at it longer than newt. he is one loyal guy i will tell you given all the conservatives, who are saying this is the biggest disaster that ever happened to our party, if newt gingrich gets

the nomination, a lot of credit to you ron paul says it like it is. here is what it is here is what i would do. don't change who i am. a very good organization on the ground i i don't know if it will help in new hampshire, why it is the number one statement to worry about is beyond me. the caucus system is something that is horrible. if you and i are in a primary you vote once it is over with. in a multicandidate primary ron paul has enough people who are part of the core, they can show up well when you take ron paul and put him out into a situation where he has one other opponent he doesn't do as well. i mean that is what the voters have to get resolved here. i want you to know bob the gentleman from illinois i don't think was paying you a full compliment there, whatever christmas gift you were going to get him, don't get him one,

that wasn't a complement with newt gingrich. former congressman marty russo and bob walker thank you. 7:42 a.m., thank you gentlemen. annie yu this morning cooking up a great holiday gift idea we will check with her after the break. holiday greetings from more of our members stationed overseas. hi i am master sergeant jen duggan presently deployed to kirk stan i would like to wish my husband and daughter happy holidays i miss you and love you. bye 

it is the most wonderful time of the morning steve. >> hello. time to add a couple more of your ornaments to the fox 5 christmas tree. this was sent in from a viewer in wheaton with a note that

says, happy holidays to everyone especially my mom, and the rest of my family. >> all right and check this beauty out here, this 3 dimensional star ornament was hand made by 8-year-old ricky bruno thank you forgetting involved and sending in your handiwork we appropriate it. great ornaments we have this morning. >> once it is decked out with your ornaments we will donate the tree to a worthy group here in the dc region. >> thank you alison. >> back over to studio a and tony perkens. >> becoming quite the pretty tree. thank you. before -- actually, 7:45 a.m., we will get to the weather, right now, we will show you, what is happening as far as temperatures go. not a bad start i just stepped outside our studios here, there is some sunshine breaking through the clouds.

cool outside but not too bad. 45 here in washington 48 annapolis, 46 stevensville, manassas 45 degrees. winchester 46, dulles 44 more mild air out to the west. we will see our highs top out around 60 degrees today. let's put future cast in motion show you what we think will happen later today your rain out to the west during the course of the day we have more clouds coming through some of that rain gets closer to us. this isn't showing much in the way of rainfall. i think we will get some showers popping up this afternoon and evening. the forecast for today, and the next five days, high today, 50 degrees, maybe some showers this afternoon and evening, sunshine this morning, and then mostly cloudy days through the day, mostly cloudy skies through the day, rather breezy, tomorrow late showers possible, 51 over the weekened highs mid-

40s. that is a look at what is happening with weather now to julie wright. the accident activity still there on the outer loop as you work down toward it is dulles toll road. two left lanes are blocked big delays headed down towards the american legion bridge. not busy in german town, delays south of 28, head back down toward the exit to the outer loop, inner loop of the belt way slow across the wilson bridge. telegraph road our accident remains in the far left lane. travelling inbound baltimore washington parkway, inbound from 210, indian head highway, down to 14 miles per hour the earlier accident, southbound ken nil worth, east call tap, lanes are open -- kennel worth lanes are open. as you continue southbound northeast, 10 miles an hour that is a check of your fox 5

on time traffic. all right thank you very much if you are looking for a gift that is unique this holiday season, well, our good friend annie yu has just the thing for you. >> she is at the benny hanna restaurant in gin yeah. -- virginia. >> have you ever gone to a japanese restaurant and wondered how do they do that. now you can come out and be the chef here they have a program where you can come out and get a one on one lesson with the chefs here. coming up we will learn and get behind the scenes how to roll sushi back on fox 5 morning news stay with us we know a place where tossing and turning

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it is always nice when you put a little extra thought into a gift. push the envelope. if you would like to pick up a special gift package for someone this holiday season one local restaurant is doing just that. >> cool idea annie good morning. >> reporter: good morning. i had to put on this official apron is that what it is called? >> yep. >> reporter: this is ida how do you pronounce your last name? >> yes, very authentic i am asian but i can't even say it. we have servante good morning. >> good morning annie. >> thank you for having us out here. you have a beautiful display of sushi i want to start with you, talk about the experience p what makes this place so unique. >> yes, we have a teppanyaki style here and sushi here. in 1964, benny hana brought it

to u.s. chef cooking in front of you was wow for everyone. we cook in front of you healthy style cooking. now explain a little bit what exactly that type of cooking is. >> like a hibachi style he prepare it right in front of you. >> it is a limited menu what are dishes you offer here. >> seafood, steak, noodles, we offer everything, everything in one package. >> let's talk about the benny hana story the history behind it i learned this here is your symbol tell us why. >> yes, it is a flower, baby in japanese is red and hanna is plower. we make from our flower the oil. healthy oil we use.

>> let's talk about this be the chef program what a unique experience for people to come out and get a one on one lesson. >> right we do offer the be the chef program, that offer is any time, mothers day, fathers day, you can give the gift for your loved one, family member as a package you come in one of our chefs going to train you for the cooking and hibachi style. >> i wanted to get a little lesson my mother does this so nicely and beautifully at home i have not mastered it chef can you help me? i want to roll sushi. >> okay. then i am going to get a piece of seaweed is that toasted? >> toasted. >> okay. >> some oil on your grove. >> okay. >> and is there anything on -- grove. >> and is there anything on that seaweed? no. >> my mom some times uses

water. >> you have to put some oil. >> sure. >> seaweed or nori. >> just roll it up. >> yep. >> okay. spread it apart. this seems like a lot of rice but i guess you need this much. >> yep. >> got it. seaweed is very good for you, high in iron did you know that? >> yep. >> now what? >> i am not a big fan of sesame seeds if this were my real sue sieve road i would prefer it without it. >> see i am already failing now what. >> crab meat. >> all right. >> look how mine looks versus yours. >> and avocado. well, i am going to need some lessons you can too but coming out here for be the chef at

benny hanna in dulles town center steve i will make this for you buddy look at that. >> can't wait to eat it like five hours later. >> don't refrigerate it it will be great. >> i will make a veggie one for alison later. >> thank you. back next hour, 7:57 a.m. safety behind the wheel, our good friend from triple-a mid- atlantic joins us to talk about the ntsb recommendation on a full ban of use of cell phones while driving not just the not using it in your hand we will talk about it. >> after 8 we all know the holidays can do damage to our waistlines it is especially easy the over eat when you are guilted into just one more cookie son any. >> or an extra glass of wine how do you stick to your guns without hurting anyone's feelings a little psychology less son. fox's medical team will fill us

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history unfolding overnight in iraq. u.s. defense secretary and others marking the end of the u.s. war in iraq. >> last week we told you about american troops claiming they were cold and hungry while in afghanistan. this morning the pentagon is reacting. >> we all know a food pusher someone who insists you have a little bit more before you go. another helping, slice of pie, another spoon of whatever. >> turkey leg. >> hard to say no. fox medical team joins us with advice how to say no. glad you are with us i am steve chenevey. >> i am alison seymour. up first, we want to pass on a school clothing for you. power outage in anne arundel high school. southern high school. tony perkens not a bad day to be off. >> not bad more mild this morning, than it has been in

recent mornings a more mild day today as we see our high 60 degrees. >> nice. >> yep let's look at what is going on out there. hd radar. we talked about chance of shower activity we do have a chance this afternoon and evening, scattered showers, there is a look at where the rain is now we will see how much of that hangs together. indications are that it won't hang together that well. still with the passage of this front we have to talk about the possibility of showers. temperatures across the region, 45 degrees where we have been all morning also 45 baltimore, 45 frederiksburg. ocean city, 49 degrees, winchester 46. forecast today, looks like this, partial sunshine becoming mostly cloudy showers here and there during the afternoon and evening highs ranging from upper 50s to low 60s down to

our south, places like frederiksburg, stafford, areas like that, you could see temperatures low to mid-60s enjoy the day down there. >> that means humidity will be all crazy. >> not really. >> okay good. you know i am always thinking about humidity. >> 70% range or so. >> bring on the day. >> let's check with julie wright. >> you guys know, if it is a bad humid day outside my hair goes ... >> mine goes the other way. i feel yeah. >> tony what does your hair do. >> i take it off. >> all right guys, asking about the traffic here it is outer loop of the belt way, at a crawl at this point as you travel montgomery county fairfax, wall to wall traffic headed around the curve to the dulles toll road. tieing up the left side of the roadway this explains the delay as you travel from the outer

loop. it is backing up here as you pass montgomery mall, as you merge into the outer loop towards the dulles toll road. no problems across the 14th street bridge. heavy volume out towards seminary road the pentagon crossing over the bridge headed into downtown. early morning crash cleared, southbound kennel worth avenue east capital street the accident could be what is on the ramp, southbound bw parkway, blocking the left lane at 2, average speed down here, 10 miles an hour that is a check of your fox 5 on time traffic. pentagon chief in baghdad over seeing a historic flag lowering ceremony. more on this now from stacy cohen. in arlington near the pentagon. well, it is quite a significant day all troops will not be formerly with drawn from iraq until later this month. defense secretary was in

baghdad, for this ceremonial end of the war. it has lasted nearly 9 years, 4500 american soldiers lost their lives, 32,000 wounded, cost, 800 mill billion dollars to fund this war -- billion dollars to fund this war. the flag lowering was ceremonial, a u.s. forces flag then cased, wrapped around a flag pole, wrapped in camouflage then the defense secretary spoke to the gathered crowd and said the war was important because it put iraq on the path to democracy. >> it is a profound honor, to be here in baghdad, and to have the opportunity to participate, in this moving ceremony on this very historic occasion. for both the iraqi people, and the american people.

no words, no ceremony, can provide full tribute, to the sacrifices that have brought this day to pass. >> at the height of the conflict there were 170,000 troops stationed in iraq now just 8,000 remaining all expected to be with drawn by december 31st, live i am stacy cohen back to you. >> all right thanks. as the white house celebrates the end of the war in iraq the pentagon is responding to a disturbing report from afghanistan. last week we told you about american soldiers cold and hungry at isolated posts,. >> they were collecting items donated to a manassas real estate firm to send to our troops for christmas the mother, sister and girlfriend of army specialist, doug green telling us soldiers in greens

platoon, still in afghanistan, some times, at distant out posts want more than just stocking stuffers but blankets and food. >> four weeks before he died he was skyping me saying that he was having one mre a day, those little freeze dried meals everything else was the things we packaged in the boxes he was hungry, daily. but didn't really want me to tell anybody about it, because he was afraid there could be a backlash he just wanted to suck it up. >> green's family and friends say they wouldn't couldn't ignore it any longer now fulfilling the wishes of troops outside green's unit turning to a website called any soldier.com. >> by adopting a soldier at any soldier.com. >> reporter: the site matching troops in the field, with donors back home. >> the guy i adopted he said i am freezing at night can you

please send me a blanket. >> we always say take care of here at home first but here we have people over in afghanistan, fighting for us that are cold and hungry and i was appalled. >> army brass says it finds the story unbelievable telling us they give these soldiers everything they need in an e- mail to fox 5 new, an army spokesman explains after a thorough investigation there is no evidence soldiers, even in the most remote combat out posts are without food or equipment to keep them warm and safe. >> we got plenty of stuff in afghanistan, means of distributing the stuff. logistics is an ongoing challenge and tends to have break downs. >> national security analyst, michael oh happen loan is an expert on the war in afghanistan. >> i am going to take the word of these individual soldiers they are hungry and cold as to explanation that is probably more complicated and almost certainly not a lack of overall

army effort at the mission or pipelines to get stuff through there is a more specific tackty call break down in this case. a spokesman for u.s. and nato forces in afghanistan tells us it is possible interruptions to resupply lines in remote areas of afghanistan could create temporary short falls but every effort is made to make sure those are kept to a minimum. in the newsroom, fox 5 news. the search for a missing 10- year-old boy continues in the district police have not released his name only he is african american, 4'0", between 90 and 108 pounds when he was last seen yesterday afternoon he was wearing blue pants, blue sweater there is a command post set up 5500 block b street, in southeast if you see the little boy, then please let police know. also new this morning a dc cab driver crashes into a metro bus, this happened overnight, in the 3800 block of 12th

street northeast police say the cabbie was chasing the driver of another car that crashed into his taxi and took off from the scene six people were hurt in this one we are told one of them suffered life threatening injuries. it is just about 8:10 a.m. on this thursday morning, a story that a lot of people are talking about ntsb recommendation cell phone use by drivers be banned everything including hands free devices coming up triple-a will weigh in. christmas tree coming together, we want to thank linda smith johnson and her great grandsons, stefan and sage sending us this beautiful ornament thank you all so very much the onments and tree will be donated -- ornaments and tree will be donated next week to a local charity.  captain, we have to keep going!

[ growling ] one step at a time. come on, snowy. look! did you ever see a more beautiful sight? captain! it's just a mirage. - snowy? what is it, boy? - [ barks ] what do you see? [ yipping ] [ woman announcing ] just like snowy, your dog's one of a kind. overactive imagination and all. [ barking ] long live your buddy. long live your dog. [ tintin ] snowy! purina dog chow. see the adventures of tintin, only in theaters. certainly no warm up factor

needed today. >> let's go to the straight cuteness factor. >> sorry tony. >> that's okay maureen. >> time for my first 5 photo of the day. check them out. >> hey, baby. >> james. making his way into the refrigerator. >> james is hungry. >> he likes the cheese. now this is james but everyone calls him jack jack while mom was cleaning the house he decided to help himself to some cheese. >> cheese is good. >> my sense is that the cheese was on the shelf he could really reach. >> yep. >> he is letterly handsome. >> cute photo. >> all right thanks for sending that in enjoy your cheese jack jack if you want to send us your child's picture go to myfoxdc.com click on mornings. here is a look at what is going on outside around the country our temperature changed

finally, we are at 47 degrees, 47 here 57 in cincinnati, we are going to get mild air in here, today as well. you will see our high climb into the upper 50s. around 60. now let's show you what is going on around the country much much cooler lincoln nebraska, 36 degrees, denver 19 degrees at this hour. cold northern plains and out to the west, mild to warm to the east temperature of 61 degrees in tampa. let's look at the national map there is your frontal system rain showers will make their way in here later on today, a few showers here and there, during the afternoon and evening i don't think we will get heavy rain i don't think we will get much in the way of rain expect showers here and there, afternoon and evening, five day forecast looks like this. partial sunshine mostly cloudy for the bulk of the day, breezy

as well high 60 degrees tomorrow late showers, 51 for your high, still above normal, saturday and sunday back to normal temperatures mid-40s. and on monday, 50 with sunshine. that is a look at what is happening with the weather now tucker barnes will be up in just a little bit with your next weather forecast here is julie with the traffic. >> i think that little baby and i are related some way. >> because you also enjoy cheese. >> because i am usually in the refrigerator. i will take cheese, left overs whatever is in there. >> right. >> in some body else's fridge. still struggling to get it outer loop, we are doing this bumper to bumper thing, southbound 270, delays with us out of german town headed out towards the lane divide that is a good 40 to 45 minute lane commute. lanes are open, no incidents

reported, dulles toll road grid locked from wolf trap. travelling virginia, 395 across the 14th street bridge. heavy, low and steady, outer loop south of town tied up. 35 states and the district of columbia, ban texting while driving, dc and nine other states have restrictions on hand held cell phone use now ntsb is saying it is not enough calling for a nationwide ban of cell phone use by drivers entirely. john town send of triple-a mid- atlantic joins us to talk about the issue. >> good morning steve thank you for having us. >> how much is enough when it comes to this. >> we know this is dangerous behaviour 3,000 persons were killed in distracted driving related crashes last year that may be just the tip of the iceberg we thing between 30 to 80% of all crashes in the country are caused by some form

of distracted driving. at the tip of that spear is texting while driving and another major factor is using a cell phone while driving. the question becomes, when it comes to enforcing this ban, which rolely is only on the books in a number of states as we mentioned what do you feel should be the limit should texting by outlawed nationwide, or go this extra step of saying hands free cell phone use should not be allowed. >> we know texting while driving should be banned, 35 states have done that as you indicated a moment ago. we are moving towards, where more states are imposing hands free devices, and this other step, is a major step forward, this is what the ntsb was doing jump starting that conversation and under scoring danger of texting while driving or using a cell phone while driving and the whole issue of distracted driving. >> all right when it comes to

trying to get this across, an entire country, these decisions are made by the state is there at some point a federal mandate that should be in effect in your opinion of course >> i think more states will eventually get to where the district of columbia is, all forms of it is banned it will be gradual, it will be moving at how a glacier melts but we may get there. have we shown it has worked in states including the district, areas where it has been on the books to not chat while driving not use a phone unless it is hands free. you have to have good laws followed by tough enforcement to change behaviour the other thing you have to change our understanding and our actions and most people say, 88% of us in fact say, using a cell phone

while driving is dangerous guess what, 66% of us did it in the last month a third of us do it regularly behind the wheel. yeah, and definitely tough we hear that all the time, for people who say they don't like the idea of it yet still go ahead and do it. >> i can understand the texting i understand holding a phone in your hand, do you thing the hands free ban would ever get through any type of law making body? >> >> it will take a long time the one thing that may be a game changer is the insurance industry. if they say this is unacceptable behind the wheel if you do it once and caught while doing it and treated like drunk driving that may be the game changer in all this but it will be a gradual, up hill battle to change this and the change attitudes and you first have to start with changing attitudes we all have the lake woe begone effect.

i think i am the exception to the rule that is the problem when dealing with societies where lawmakers are reluctant to impose such a ban. >> john great to talk to you happy holidays. coming up on the morning show, one family has a lot to be thankful for their tiny baby is getting ready to go home from the hospital after being born weighing just 9.5-ounces more on that when we come back. >> you realize that is a half pound. >> tiny baby >> our super chef, annie yu, food preparation is not just tasty it is an art form, annie is learning all about it. we will see if we can get her hands dirty coming up

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get a boneless beef loin ny strip roast for just $5.99 a pound. plus save on gift card multipacks. right now get 15% off of $40 itunes multipack. safeway. ingredients for life. >> police are on the hunt for vandals who targeted an elaborate christmas display in virginia. three people were caught on camera, destroying the massive display. early sunday morning they used baseball bats and ran over some of the decorations when they drove off. they may have destroyed items but not the man's christmas

spirit >> i have been doing it almost 20 years on sunday as i was outside assessing the damage neighbors up and down the street started coming out and they volunteered by sunday night we had what was not damaged beyond repair back up and working again and never missed a single night. >> that is michael lester his holiday spectacular draws thousands of visitors every year. another kind of sad note, baby jesus is missing. so will he be home for christmas? that is the question ma frederiksburg residents are asking this morning after someone stole that little baby jesus from a shopping centers nativity scene it is not the first time this baby disappeared in 2005 a person took the same jesus, it was later returned but this time around the baby's a little heavier, shopping center management put 80 pounds of cement inside to prevent theft. police are investigating this

crime as of now there are no leads. >> one of the tiniest babies ever born will soon head home nor the first -- for the first time little melinda star weighed just over 9-ounces barely a half pound when she came into the world at 24 weeks back in august. melinda is believed to be the second smallest baby to ever survive in the united states, third smallest in the world she will go home as soon as she learns how to bottle feed. >> look how tiny she is. doing well. great thing. 8:26 a.m. on thursday morning. maybe you have seen a food pusher before you know you go to a holiday party someone says hey, just a little more. >> no, no,. >> eat it i spent all this time in the kitchen. >> all right. >> it is the hard to say no. the fox medical team will give us advice how to say no. >> golden globe nominations being announced this morning we will have a complete wrap up ahead here on fox 5 morning

news stay with us

or creates another laptop bag, or hires another employee, it's not just good for business. it's good for the entire community. at bank of america, we know the impact that local businesses have on communities. that's why we extended $13.2 billion to small businesses across the country so far this year. because the more we help them, the more we help make opportunity possible.

all right we will check headlines at 8:30 a.m., prince georges county we will start there. police shot and killed a man last night valley park road inland over. the man called them threatening to kill himself when they responded to the home the man came out waving a gun. he was pronounced dead on the scene. veteran prince georges county bus driver theresa douglas is out on bail after allegedly ramming her school bus into a building injuring three people the driver accused a coworker of harassment and was angry when her supervisor and a judge dismissed the claims. douglas is being charged with assault and malicious destruction. she is on leave without pay until further notice. there is a new snow

emergency plan in the district. yesterday, vince grey announced a new plan dozens of new dump trucks, bobcats, backhoes to better clear the streets. decision to close dc government offices will be made by 4:30 a.m. and for schools, they also have that information by the night before if possible. that will be great. >> a little better heads up we all know we cannot always control what happens out there. >> change all the time. >> i can guarantee you, we will not have a problem today. >> great. >> 60 later this afternoon, hard to believe it is middle of december. i tried to put up christmas decorations out in the yard. >> yes. >> i am a chilly blood. >> put your gloves on friend. >> i did. >> how is it looking? >> pretty poor. >> really? >> pretty poor. >> get mark to work on that. >> not a good showing this year. >> if you are out today and

want to do some last minute lighting of the -- >> decorating. >> exactly. >> get the girls up there. play the put up the lights game. >> they are bigger cry babies than me i am cold. >> oh, alison. no excuses today guys, near 60. yeah, 60 your daytime high expected here in washington. watching to our south end frederiksburg, southern maryland, south central virginia you might see mid-60s mild out there later today. 45 out at dulles, 46 winchester, temperatures on the mild side, yesterday, mid-30s. day before mid-20s. nice start to the day breezy, winds now out of the south and southwest, they will be gusting at times to 20. just be ready for -- it will be a cloudy day and rather breezy day ahead of showers which will move in from the north and west during the course of the afternoon. i know the front looks impressive and will bring us cooler air the deal with this one is most shower activity

will fall apart as it pushes across the mountain. watching out to the west, west virginia, western maryland, as this gets into the washington area by mid-to late afternoon, we will see scattered showers and the whole thing will settle south during overnight hours and allow cooler air in. nice warm up ahead of the front, later tonight, tomorrow, cool air will get in from the north and west. cooler as we get into the weekend. your five day, 60 later today, afternoon showers, 40% chance we will see them, there is your cool down tomorrow 51 could be late showers tomorrow south and east of the city as that frontal system is hanging out nearby. there is your weekend forecast. sunshine temperatures mid-40s. saturday and sunday. steve, alison back to you at the desk. >> thank you. something about the holidays that always seems to draw the food pushers out of the wood work. relatives bullying you into eating. >> right how about your third

piece of pie what is it going to hurt. >> or the neighbor doing the full court press with the chocolate fudge it is hard to stick to your guns without hurting other people's feelings, beth galvin is here with a little advice for us all this is funny but serious too. >> it is steve and alison, i think we all know a food pusher i have one in my family we call her mom, she is sweet, she is lethal trying feed you. >> it is so good. >> no, >> i swear really good it wouldn't be the holidays without someone strong arming you into another bite. >> there is someone who says you must have another piece. gorgeous fudge i stayed up all last night to make for you. >> these are home made i baked them. >> if you are trying to eat

light beware. >> come on you know you want it. >> food pushers are on the prowl >> the guilt pusher. >> oh, my gosh they went to all this trouble i don't really want another piece of fudge. >> i am trying to stay healthy. >> there is the i am over eating you better over eat too so i won't feel so bad. >> come on you are skinny. >> you are thin you can afford it. and not just food. >> secret refiller all of a sudden your wine glass is full, vodka and tonic is to the brim again you have to keep an eye on this. hold on to your glass and don't set it down. >> how do you say no to the pushiest of the pushy, registered dietician says the key is defend your place without getting defensive. >> oh, no, thank you thank i'm good. >> you've got to stand your ground and have a plan of action your plan of action is to say it is so delicious i would love to take a piece home

with me. >> maybe gush over the food, show excitement, remember your host is just trying the make your happy >> it means the world to them especially, people who are showing you they love you through food. it just is their way of loving you don't make a big deal out of it or start a fight over it. >> remember that flattery will get you everywhere, if you are trying to say no, gush about the food gush about how great it is ask if you can take it home ask for a recipe all that will distract the food push i away from pushing more food on to your plate. >> beth this is real how much would you thing we can expect to gain after like if we go on the scale january 10th how much have we gained? it is not pretty they -- experts anticipate you will gain any where from 5 pounds to 2 points, so it can be significant you don't want to start off the new year with 5 extra pounds you've got to lose in addition to what you already

want to lose it can be significant. >> all right beth we appreciate you, out of atlanta georgia today, stay healthy. >> happy holidays. 8:37 a.m. weekly jobless claims just coming into the newsroom find out if that is good news or bad news. first a special holiday greeting ♪ [ music ] seasons greetings i am curt o'bryan new bury, transit center, kerg republic a quick shut out to my family in ash burn virginia, i want to wish you the happiest of holidays we will keep flying safe out here

good news about the economy just in to fox 5 newsroom unemployment benefit applications have fallen to 66,000 the lowest level in more than three years, more signs the economy is struggling, two third of chief connectives do not plan to hire in the next six months, up the same as six months ago, business round table forecast, economy will expand 2% next year not enough

to produce job growth. >> don't forget about today's job of the day, congressional, credit union, looking for a financial analyst, go to myfoxdc.com click on the job shop tab at the top of the home page. airforce is investigating a scandalous photo of 15 texas airmen in the photo taken back in august one of the airmen is inside a casket with a noose around his neck, chains across his body and the phrase, sucks to be you, appears at the bottom, virginia congressman who serves on the house committee says this is the last thing they need after mishandling of remains of war dead at dover. i think what happened at dover is also unacceptable why it happened how it happened how we present it from happening a- - prevent it from happening again. this doesn't bode well for the overall culture of the

airforce. the airforce investigation is under way outside san antonio. >> time now thursday morning, 8:42 a.m., her yam webster dictionary out with its word of the year. thing about it. >> okay. >> we will share coming up. we will check with annie getting some chef training today, chef annie. >> hello steven and alison. have you ever gone to a japanese steak house and thought man those are impressive knife skills look at our chef here he has been grilling already coming up we will learn some of those techniques and how you can be a part of the be a chef program here in dulles town center [ female announcer ] more people are using wireless devices...

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makes it easy for anne to view her finances from anywhere. like gate d12 for the next three hours. citibank for ipad. easier banking. standard at citibank. is as easy as... making breakfast. omelet? sure. scrambled eggs. [ male announcer ] actually, it's easier. citi financial tools. easier banking. standard at citibank.

the merriam webster's word of the year. pragmatic it means practical, logical describe as kind of quality that people value in themselves but also look for in others. now, part of the deal the

searches online for pragmatic jumped in the weeks before congress voted in august, to increase the nations debt ceiling again as the super committee, tried to craft deficit cutting measures this fall. >> wouldn't be a bad thing >> it would have been also this year, austerity, stop gap, indecision. >> yeah. and then they just get worse from this. >> pragmatic is pretty good. >> we will take that one. >> 8:46 a.m., ever wonder what it would be like to be a restaurant chef and not just any restaurant chef. >> no. but we will find out how to go and get training in the be the chef program, steve is right, annie, not just any chef but bennie hanna you are right there in front of the customer. >> i am here but i don't think i am going to participate in the actual cooking part today but you know steve, alison in japan the preparation of food is really an art form here if

you come to a place like benny hanna it is entertainment, joining me now is ida, the chef is cooking up his favorite dish, fried rice, watch his skills. ida let's talk more about the be the chef program who can come out and enjoy this. >> anybody 18 and older make sure they are 18 and older what they can do is purchase the be the chef gift card for the family member loved ones and 140 for four people chef come train by our chef. >> one on one lesson. >> include food and everything. >> yes, include food and lesson. it is a steak and soup and salad. fried rice. >> now 18 or older restriction is that just for the person doing the be the chef you can still bring your family and

kids. >> sure. any additional guests say you have more than four your family, $35 for each guest. >> that is not bad at all. when you graduate i understand you get somethings you walk away with a certificate. >> yep then you get a benny hanna hat. >> yeah, that is nice and what are some other things that kids can participate in. >> they have a nice kids kabuki club. they can sign up, bring here, then sign up do online and what they do, they receive the post card through the mail and bring it here for their birthday and then get a free mug. with their meal they can collect every year. >> you said you just took a drink in here is this a japanese thing. >> mm-hmm. >> i have never seen these but there are multiple characterses to collect that is cool for the kids. >> now chef, i want to ask you a question when you are coming out with your little cart you are putting on a show, right.

>> we are the person we make for the guests we have to make everything -- i mean, make them feel important, happy. >> exactly how hard is it for you to get like the timing of the food, engaging, entertaining, doing tricks and all that. >> it is really hard. you have to see how they, if they want -- how they like it. pretty hard. >> well, you do a very good job. ida and i will be your pretend customers and have a seat here we will do -- we like that. are you ready. >> i am ready. >> ready to test your skills? >> yes, i am. >> you want to find out more about the be the chef program log on to our website. let's go. yeah. thank you very much. ida your turn go for it.

oh, man. i am so disappointed back to you in studio. >> annie i watched you eat i know that is a small appetizer for you. 8:44 a.m. thanks annie. national retail federation expects record setting sales this holiday weekend, it expects more than $469 million to be spent. bad news for struggling homeowners the number of homes about to be auctioned is hitting a high. it is due to a spike three months ago of people receiving the first default notice. a growing number of middle class are dropping below the low income threshold of $45,000 a year for a family of four. the reason, pay cuts, fewer work hours orloss. one half of americans are now considered to be low income,

mayors in 29 cities say one quarter of citizens needing food assistance are not getting it. thanks so much i was just talking and meeting our new friend steve encouraging homeless families with children to get back on their feet that is the goal of christopher and home stretch, home stretch's executive director chris fay joins us in studio good to talk to you and meet you. >> great. lovely to be here. >> i can -- in talking to you feel your enthusiasm and how dedicated you are to the mission of home stretch could you tell the viewers about it. >> home stretch is the largest housing program for homeless family, in northern virginia, we house around 65 families at a time over 100 a year and we are the opportunity for that family to come politely transform their life. when they come to us we have such a comprehensive array of services we are able to help them end homelessness for that family forever.

>> you are changing lives. >> yes, really a transformative experience an amazing opportunity for this family we can do so much for them while they are in with us they can even go to school we will help them get employed, go to college, help with child care, transportation, language, legal issues, virtually anything that caused their homelessness we can address in two years they can move from homelessness to secure permanent housing and obtain economic self- sufficiency >> you thing north earn virginia, affluent area, how big of a problem is homelessness. >> it is a surprise how big of a problem it is. there is a survey, in the coldest day of the year, last year over 1500 homeless people counted on that one night in fairfax county alone, consider the whole dc area, many thousands. so and we deal with homeless families these are mothers and some times dads with children under the age of 18.

they are less visible most people thing of a homeless person that single individual begging on a corner we represent a different population little children average age of a person in our program is only 8. >> heart breaking but thanks to home stretch and other organizations you are helping to end that. >> could you pass along the website. >> absolutely home stretch- ink.org. >> make that easy for you at home we will link it to our website you brought a home to put on our tree >> yes. >> as you do that let me thank you christopher fay, executive director with home stretch for coming in we hope you get all the funding everything you need to get everybody into a home. >> thank you. >> steve over to you. >> thank you. 8:53 a.m. on thursday morning the golden globe nominations have just been announced we will run down who has been nominated this year when we come back after a big win this weekened, some are

saying maryland's own heavy weight could be the next american heavy weight champion he has to face off against dave ross next. dave will sit down with the star after 9:00 a.m. 

we would like to say hello to our facebook fan of the day she is up early feeding this little guy, her 5 day old son. congratulations if you would like to be tomorrow's fan of the day, search fox 5 morning news, and then post a comment under her photo. award season in full swing we are learning which starmovies are in the running for a golden globe award. the silent film the artist leads with six nominations, the help and the descendents tied

for second. george clooney's movie, kate winslet and brad pitt also nominated ran go, adventures of tin tin, puss and boots, winnie the pooh and arthur christmas. the show itself is january 15th. that does it for this hour one more hour to go we will turn things over to alison tony is back up as well. >> thank you very much right now at 9, hundreds ican troops are headed home the war in iraq is officially over this morning. live report from the pentagon. plus looming government shut down, money is running low and a number of agencies face closing their doors the three bills lawmakers can't agree on and a possible solution chef >> lawmakers not agreeing, shock. chances are you bought something in the past few days where did they come from? >> this morning smart phone

zone, look at a new ap that helps you track how many legs are making the product -- slaves are making the products you buy. seth mitchell in studio live with us this morning to tell us why he is a true contender if you watched him fight saturday night you know why. >> no explanation needed. >> tucker barnes is in the weather center a look at this thursday forecast. >> hey, alison off to a mild start, by later this afternoon we will have high temperatures upper 50s and low 60s so, enjoy the afternoon as mild temperatures will stick around for at least a day. 47 now in washington and mild start ocean city, 50 this morning yesterday at this hour ocean city was 32 degrees. all right, nice push of air out of the south up ahead of our frontal sys