third. the devils take their first lead late in the third period. after the game, caps head coach adam oates said a few calls in particular didn't go his way. at the verizon center tonight, the ice turns into hard wood. the washington wizards play host to the denver nuggets. they will take the court without jordan crawford. he was traded to boston in exchange for a couple of guys with expiring contracts. crawford had not seep much playing time since the return of john wall so he was ready to go and now he is gone. all right. we still have plenty ahead, your weather, traffic and all your top stories. >> fox 5 morning news continues right now. right now. it is straight up 5:00 on this friday, february 2nd and a cold start to your day. also, we'll have some wintry weather rolling in here just a few hours. tucker will have the latest on

that. good morning, i'm sarah simmons. >> i'm wisdom martin. >> wick to fox 5 morning news. >> let's check tucker about our changes, our ever-changing winter weather. we will get a lot today. >> we'll only get a little bit of everything. >> you like variety, we got that. if you want to fill your plate, you go north. >> and actually you have to go west where they've been dealing with blizzard conditions. much of the can'tery getting in on the winter weather. we've been kind of skating it all winter long. we'll do it again today. there is the potential for some travel issues this afternoon. but this will not be a major event for us as we are getting what we call a little overrunning. there is your radar. you can see the snow out to the west. it is cold enough that anything that falls over the next several hours will likely fall in the form of some kind of precipitation. it will transition into sleet and eventually rain.

for parts of the area, freezing rain could be an issue and that is the big concern any time you are talking about temperatures below 32 and any rain falling. that could quickly cause issues. your morning commute here should be fine. julie will have more. i think by late morning, early afternoon, we'll get the light precip moving in from the south and west. temperatures right now cold enough for winter weather. 32 at reagan national. locally, we don't have any advisories but if you get out to the west out into parts of western maryland there, west virginia and western virginia we've got winter weather advisory and primarily the concern is snow, sleet and the potential for freezing rain out there as they will likely stay in the cold longer so anything that falls could accumulate. we could see some light accumulation, maybe enough to cover the ground. it might be enough snow and sleet that it is just kind of icy, gravelly covering. not going to be beautiful. 37 your daytime high. it will be on the cold side.

37 is warm enough to support rain. i think that is what we will see later today. tonight, maybe a little drizzle and then some showers redevelop tomorrow. i'll have more details on that coming up. >> time now to check in with julie wright see how the morning commute going so far. >> so far, so good the welcoming of the dry pavement for the drive in to work today. no accidents to report along northbound i-95. nice and clear continuing from woodbridge through newington up to the capital beltway. you are running at speed on 395 between the beltway and the 14th street bridge. right now, incident-free, the trip on 270 leave is hyattstown headed out to the scales south of 109. top stretch of the beltway behaving nicely between college park and bethesda. this happens to be inbound new york avenue working your way past bladensburg road continuing out towards the third street tunnel. light traffic volume leaving northeast to northwest. kenilworth avenue, lanes are open, no issues reported south of 50 headed out to the 11th street bridge. that's a check of your fox 5 on-time traffic. e traffic.

happening now, what is expected to be the final day of oscar pistorius' bail hearing in south africa. a judge could rule today whether he will grant the track star bail before trial in the shooting death of his model girlfriend pistorius' lawyer is rejecting prosecution claims that the double am due pee winner is a flight risk saying he is too famous to be able to slip out of the country. our other big story, the deadline to avoid void across the board federal spending cuts is now just one week away. >> congress returns from its break on monday with a bitter battle over a sequestration deal awaiting them. sherry ly live on capitol hill this morning with what all this means and it could mean to everybody. good morning. >> reporter: good morning. march1st is the deadline before those massive budget cuts known as sequestration would kick in and, in these final days, it seems there is a lot less negotiating going on and a lot

more finger pointing. here in the d.c. area, we face massive job losses and cuts because of the large federal work force and government contractors. the $1.2 trillion in cuts would affect government agencies and programs big and small over the next eight years. it would mean less money for teacher who are tsa workers at airports and fewer meat inspectors just to name a few things. democrats blame republicans for not going along with their plans for higher taxes while republicans insist deeper cuts to entitlement programs are needed, not new taxes. >> since the new congress began, they have not put forward one proposal to prevent the across the board sequester. >> the president signed it into law. he didn't have to sign it into law. did he. and for over a year from august 2011 through the end of last year, the president did nothing to stop it.

>> reporter: the across the board cuts are divided evenly between defense and nondefense. even the smithsonian museums and the national zoo would be impacted. according to the "washington post," the zoo says some of its exhibits could be threatened by $10 million in cuts to the zoo's budget but it says that animal care would not be impacted. no decisions have been made as to what exhibits might go but clearly the sequestration is going to have wide-ranging consequences across the d.c. area. that is the latest here on capitol hill. back to you. >> thank you. a check of this morning's other top stories, the so- called east coast rapist is set to be sentenced today. police say aaron thomas useed a fake gun to force three teenaged girls into the woods

before sexual a l. -- sexually attacking two of them. a retired atf agent is gunned down just steps from his home and police believe robbery was the motive behind this. 55-year-old greg holley, sr. was walking his dog wednesday night in woodbridge. he was ambushed, shot and robbed. the suspect was caught a short time later by an off-duty police officer after witnesses pointed him out. 25 engineered aric alexander smith is now facing first degree murder and robbery charges. an alert for parents in maryland. police believe there is a man or different men stalking young women and girl in southern montgomery county. the victim of the most extreme three recent cases said she would is most certainly have been harmed if she hadn't escaped to a friend's house. she said it happened around 7:00 last introduce night as she was walking home flu a friend high pressure shites neighborhood actual man followed her in a minivan and got out and went after her. >> he wasn't just walking out of his car.

he swung open the door and started walking towards me first and i was like oh my goodness. of his a hispanic man, about 510 slt, short hair, jeans, not normal attire in freezing cold weather. >> reporter: police say earlier that afternoon, and man driving an suv approached a 13-year-old girl and started asking questions and there was a similar incident last friday in silver spring. police don't have any evidence that the cases are connected but they want everyone to keep an eye out. a late night ruling on a change to maryland's gun laws. >> a massive recall involving sausage. what people in d.c. and maryland need to know. that is next.  almost tastes like one of jack's cereals. fiber one. uh, forgot jack's cereal.

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new this morning, maryland is a step closer to adopting tougher new gun laws. a senate committee in annapolis worked late into the night last night and approved a change for a sweeping gun control bill. it prohibits anyone who has been involuntarily committed for mental health issues from own a handgun.

the amendment was approved. a manhunt stemming from a shooting and violent crash on the las vegas strip has spread to several states now. police are looking for a black range rover and suspects in that vehicle that shot at a mazerati early yesterday. the sports car ran a we had light to escape the bullets but smashed into a taxi causing a fiery wreck. killed in the mazerati was rapper kenny clutch. the cab driver and his passenger also died. police say it started with an argument in the valet area of a stress ago hotel. nearly 40,000 pounds ever pork sausage is being recalled because it may contain small pieces of plastic. smithfield packing company in virginia is leading the recall saying the plastic is likely from gloves their workers use. it was made on january 11th and distributed to several states including d.c. and maryland. the legacy of a civil rights icon is making history

on capitol hill. >> with valentine v. an update on the nasty storm in the midwest and what other problems besides snow it is causing. >> we're clouding up. we too have the risk of a little wintry mix on the way. i'll have the details on the weather forecast. julie has your traffic too. we'll do it right after the break. 

check this out a fast- moving storm smacking much of the nation's midsection also creating what is being called thunder sleet in missouri. a combination of thunder and lightning as well as sleet, freezing rain and ice pellets on top of the snow that fell in the area too. look at that lightning. >> they got lightning, snow, sleet, thunder sleet in addition to regular cold weather. >> it is that buffet we were talking about. >> we don't usually talk about thunder sleet. >> that would be exceedingly rare but not impossible you could see that. we may get some sleet around here. >> along with rain being snow, ice. >> on my facebook page i asked if there are any sleet fans out there. there are snow fans. there are sun fans. >> the people that love to scrape it off their windshield. >> if you are a big sleet fan, let me know. accepted us a picture of the sleet you get later. we'll probably get some in

parts of the area. let's get to the temperatures and here we go. i want to emphasize this is not going to be a major winter event for us. however, it has been cold enough that what falls over the next several hours will likely get a chance to stick out there on some of the roadways, some of the grassy surfaces. but we are not looking at any issues here for your morning commute. this will be later today, later this morning particularly locally and then during the afternoon commute, there could be a few challenges. we just don't have a lot of precipitation moving towards the area. it won't be a major deal for us. 28 in frederick. notice the entire region is at or below freezing. ments a cold start to your day. 32 in leonardtown. 32 in quantico and fredericksburg. it will be very slow warm up. what is going to happen is, as you climb vertically in the atmosphere, up high, up several thousand feet, temperature will warm before it does at the surface. that is a set-up for what we get around here sometimes in

the winter, sleet, freezing rain, the mixture of wintertime elements. area of low pressure off to the north and west. we showed you the highlights there of what that has been causing out to the west way lot of snow. this is all overrunning the washington area where we've got some cold air. as we get into the late morning, early afternoon, you can see we are starting to get some reports of snow off to the south and west. much of this not touching the ground because the atmosphere is so dry. we will get a chance that we will get some of this wintry mix in here during the day t will likely transition over to a period of light rain late this afternoon and tonight and then we'll get a coastal element and that will give us yet another cloudy and rainy day tomorrow with high temperatures about 40. the next couple of days will be rather action packed. there is your weakening storm off to the north and west and we are in this wedge. we have this high pressure off to the north and that will wedge in the cold air. as we get this overrunning, we get a light mix around here during the day. not looking at major accumulations. this might be enough to coat

the ground in a few spots. very light accumulations of snow and sleet out there later today. as we get into the afternoon hours, temperatures should bump up into the mid-30s. there is your winter weather advisories. nothing locally. off to the west, we do have a winter weather advisory until 10:00 tomorrow morning. with colder temperature, they are expected to hang around longer. more likely to encounter some winter difficulties later today. 37 for us. cloudy skies. wintry mix transissing to a little light rain later this afternoon. i want to emphasize one more time a light wintry mix. not going to be a winter storm. wintry mix continues if you are well out to the west. two most of us, just plain old showers tomorrow, particularly washington east as this coastal storm moves up to our north and east. sunday and monday, much improvement. highs about 50 with sunshine. things will get better around here towards the end of the weekend. let's find out what is happening with julie and the traffic. >> off to a quiet start around town. no issues reported here at the american legion bridge but as

tucker is warning us, this afternoon's commute, tonight's commute, i forgot i had on my glasses -- i look funny. what is wrong with me. the evening commute is going to be a lot different than this morning. let me warn you ahead of time. make sure have you plenty of wiper fluid and gas in the car as well. at the people, waking up to dry pavement. the bridges, ramps and overpasses tend to become slick. light volume from the occoquan to the pentagon and no issues to report on 66 leaving manassas to the beltway. that's a check of your fox 5 on-time traffic. e traffic. an update on the troubled dreamliner which has been grounded for more than a month now. in a report released today, investigators in japan said they identified the causes of fuel leaks and other problems with boeing's 787. it said the oil leak was caused by an improper paint job that

led to a switch not working correctly. a poor taping job led to cracks in cockpit glass and i afaulty part led to braking problems. they are still looking into the more serious battery problems. president's day was monday but today is actually george washington's birthday and to celebrate, the citizenship and immigration service is holding a naturalization ceremony at mount vernon where 50 people will become american citizens. the event at the historic estate includes speakers including an actor playing general george washington. it starts at 11:00 this morning. a new statue of rosa parks will be unveiled on capitol hill next week and it arrives in d.c. this evening. >> this will mark the first time an african-american woman is memorialized with a statue in the capitol's famous

statuary hall. park's refusal to give up her seat led to a nation wiewd strike. what is in the name? everything for the outcome of a redskins-cowboys game will determine what your newborn will be called. >> a couple with dueling football allegiances makes a deal. find out what that is about. 

hollywood's biggest night is just around the corner so it means some familiar faces are beginning to arrive. the giant golden oscar statues are now in place throughout the theater. the plastic covering will stay on the iconic statues until sunday to avoid fingerprints or graffiti. >> while the red carpet is being rolled out for sunday's big show. >> fox's alicia acuna has the story. >> reporter: final preps are under way for the 85th annual academy awards. >> with nine best picture nominees, the a did i have rears crowd vying for the top prize including lincoln, silver linings playbook, les miserables, life of pi and argo

which has picked up every major preoscar award this season. >> two months ago, everyone would have told you that lincoln is going to get best picture hand down. over last couple of months, it has become argo's award to win. >> there are nine amazing movies, any of which could win. >> the a self-evident truth that things which are equal to the same thing are equal to each other. >> reporter: in the past actor category, expect two-time winner daniel day lewis to pick up his third statue playing the 16th president in lincoln while lead actress is a toss up between emachine well r. a va, jennifer lawrence and jessica chastain. >> it has turned out that people are really connecting

with jennifer lawrence's performance. for that reason, i think she'll win. >> reporter: ann hathaway should win in the supporting category for her performance in les miserables. for supporting guys, all five nominees are previous winners. >> family guy creator seth mcfarlane will handle toasting duties. he knows how he will keep the a list entertained for three hours. >> can i just do half, just do the first half and then maybe bring out alec baldwin and he can finish up. >> reporter: if you don't care about who wins what, you can tune in to look at some of the world appear prettiest people in dezoner duds. >> that is what a lot of people end up watching for. an arizona couple will red sox rg minus the three. >> they medicine a bet when the cowboys played the redskins last thanksgiving f the cowboys

won, march is a would pick their babies name, if the redskins win won, emachine well would pick the baby's name. skins beat dallas 38-31. in april they will welcome their maybey, robert griffin vega. >> if you have to have a name from losing a bet, that is in the a bad name to have. >> guess what i named you after. i lost a bet. >> yeah. something about that. still plenty ahead on fox 5 morning news. it is decision day. new details about when we will find out if oscar pistorius will be able to walk out of jail today. >> just one week now until the automatic spending cuts take shape. can congress reach a deal in time? a live report from capitol hill.  here you go little man.

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welcome back to fox 5 morning news at 5:31. it is friday, february 22nd. we are in for a little bit of everything today. got a touch of this, a touch of that when it comes to the weather. right now, it is just cold. we've got some other things on the way. >> hasn't it already rolled in way out west too? >> yeah, across a big portion of the country. >> well, yeah. >> we'll take a look at the radar here in just a second. it is starting to move into the

south and west. it is not yet touching the ground. the air here is cold, very dry and so you have to moisten up the atmosphere before it can reach the ground. what you see there on your radar -- if you are one of the viewers off towards front royal, down 29 towards charlottesville, let me know if any of that is touching the ground. i'm not getting any reports of that touching the ground yet. i wouldn't anticipate that it will for a few more hours as we have to moisten up the atmosphere. we are looking at the possible of a light wintry mix around here today. that would include the possibility of what you see on the radar right now, snow and sleet and freezing rain and even rain primarily along the 95 corridor as you are inside the beltway here. i think we'll be concerned with snow transitioning over to some rain later this afternoon or some drizzle. this will not be a major deal no matter what happens. it is cold enough that what

falls could cause some travel issues a little later today. i think this afternoon primarily. here are temperatures. 32 at reagan national. the entire area at this hour is below freezing. so remember our last storm, temperature were a little more marginal. we are colder this morning. anything that falls over the next couple of hours will get a chance to stick. it is colder to the north and there is an area of high pressure that will funnel in some cold air later today. winter weather advisory well out to the west. wrong map but you get the idea there. well out to the west, winter weather advisory. nothing here locally although the weather service will monitor the situation as it develops during the day. there you go. think we're just cloudy at 9:00 a.m. 32degrees a a wintry mix twops this afternoon with highs only in the mid-30s. make sure the kids are ready for a cold day. -- a wintry mix develops this

afternoon. >> traveling northbound along i- 95 continuing out of woodbridge, light traffic volume headed in towards newington. coming across the american legion bridge, nice, y traffic patterns right now traveling between the toll road and 270. no issues to report on the beltway along the top stretch between college park and bethesda. here we are live southbound on 270 leave is 124 montgomery village avenue. lanes are open continuing southbound out towards the split. light traffic volume coming off of i-70 off the split. new information now in the bail hearing of oscar pistorius. a decision is expected in just about two hours from now around 7:30 on whether the track star will be given bail before trial. he is accused of killing his model girlfriend on valentine's day. pistorius' lawyer is rejecting prosecution claims that the double amputee sprinter is a flight risk saying he is too famous to be able to slip out