from the first local station with news in high definition, this is 9news now. >> we have people debating in this city whether or not i'm a stalker or not a stalker. if the inappropriate arrest had not happened, that would not have been debatable. >> we begin with the latest chapter in the marion barry saga. federal prosecutors have decided to drop charges against the former d.c. mayor. police arrested barry saturday for allegedly stalking his ex-girlfriend. at a news caverns today, bar wrrk said he didn't deserve to be arrested and it has caused great pain to his family and the community. audrey barnes was at the news conference. this just keeps going. >> reporter: it seems laoib marion barry seems most concerned about the way the arrest which he calls inappropriate went down, and while he considers possible action against u.s. park police, council members want him to answer some questions, too, mainly about the city contract he negotiated for his former

girlfriend. she was paid in lump sums at various times coinciding with many breakups and reconciliations. so far, no explanation from the barry camp. >> the first question is did marion barry break any laws? and that's what we're going to determine. >> i'll tell you what we do intend to do is deal with the information at the appropriate time. >> reporter: d.c. city councilman vince gray created a policy oversight committee in march to address these exact kinds of issues. the report is due out tomorrow. and it's going to be interesting to see if they address this type of scenario. right now, d.c. law says you can't use your political influence to financially benefit a spouse or member of your household. doesn't say anything about a girlfriend. >> right. breaking new ground here then. audrey, thank you so much. how are voters in ward 8 reacting to the latest controversy involving their councilman? bruce will lee shan is in the

information center with that part of the story. >> reporter: do you have any sense of what marion barry's victory margin was in the last election? >> no. >> reporter: 78%. and it is not clear that this dust up has eroded any of his support. >> he's a good man. marion barry is a good man. >> reporter: he has been winning election inside ward 8 since 1972, his supporters are still passionate. >> he built the playground and helped out with the projects, and gave black people an opportunity to get jobs. >> reporter: it is tough to find any critics. >> if it weren't for him, i wouldn't have ever gotten my first summer job. >> reporter: evenly a few seem to have lost confidence. >> chasing people around in cars and just the whole -- i mean, i just think he's an old man now, an older man, and he should be somewhere relaxing. that's why i say go somewhere and sit down. >> reporter: one woman called

the 73-year-old a sex addict, but she was afraid to show her face. >> until you address the addiction, the problem will never go away. >> reporter: still, there is plenty of suspicion in ward 8 of the motives of the police and the media. >> it's clear to me that we have people out here that have a lot of hatred towards marion barry, and they are going to stop at nothing until they believe they are going to get him. >> reporter: some of his fiercest supporters say all of the criticism of barry only lead them to dig in and love him even more. >> interesting perspectives, bruce, thanks. on to a 9news now follow-up, d.c. mayor has just announced he is figure five employees at new beginnings. this is the city's new detention center for juvenile offenders. he's also demoting the facilities's superintendent. the center is in laurel, maryland. it opened in late may, and already more than half a dozen young offenders have managed to escape. a total of seven suspects have now been arrested in the wake of

a gang attack in wheaton tuesday night. the victim was a 21-year-old man who died yesterday after being beaten and stabbed on blue hill road in wheaton. police chief thompson manger talked about -- thomas manger talked about the gang connection on wusa 9 this morning. >> the people we have arrested rifed themselves as gang members of latin kings. the man who was killed, we don't believe that he was involved in any gang. >> the suspects range in age from 16 to 21, all will be charged as adults. some shocked neighbors now say they are fearful of intimidation because so many of them witnessed what happened. moving on to violence overseas, as the u.s. presence in iraq goes down, the violence seems to be going up. today, a string of suicide and roadside bombings left more than 40e ppleo andpleat lst 1 00 injured. moving from the 40 killed in iraq to the more than two dozen

killed in afghanistan. the exact number in afghanistan who lost their lives 25, and that includes 13 school children. they were killed after a truck carrying explosives blue up. it left -- blew up, it left a huge accurate crater in the road. according to the pentagon, the number of coalition troops killed in afghanistan doubled from may to june. leaders at the g8 summit are wrapping up their meeting. the g8 has become the g13 as developing nations china, india, brazil, mexico, and south africa joined in. president obama took the leading role on global warming. he's pushing rich and emerging nations toward a deal for new clean climate goals. >> this week, the g8 nations came to an historic consensus on concrete goals for reducing carbon emissions. we all agreed that by 2050, developed nations will reduce their emissions by 80%, and that we will work with all nations to cut global emissions in half. >> president obama will meet

with pope benedict on saturday and visit the african nation of ghana. now to iran and a showdown in the streets. hundreds of protesters have been on the march chanting death to the dictator. this is the first significant protest since a police crackdown more than a week ago. the demonstrators say the ruling government stole last month's presidential election. just ahead... forget three strikes. metro says it's now one strike and you're out when it comes to texting. plus, the price for one local city to go green. it was another beautiful day today, but we do have a touch of rain in the forecast for the weekend. we show you the seven-day in a les,mite fnuut bir we wutlil keta yo y t trehe bakrom b op ahelook tt n fbersm tro the of t hher.ou rr.peup 70s apend 8ow l0s, it's nice. stay tuned. weather is coming up next. ow

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welcome back. let's talk about saving on household essentials, in tonight's living smart focus, alice.com says it can save you time and money. you don't have to clip coupons to reap discounts. they will track what you spend, and before you run out of items like tp or toothpaste, the store send an e-mail reminding to stock up. for more information, go to our website and click on living smart. the city of falls church is hours from finalizing a proposal to the federal government for

$30 milon. the cityhean tts stimulus t package to create a more sustainable green community. city council has voted unanimously for the proposal. >> we have set it up so it's not using local tax dollars to implement it. >> we know we want to stall solar panels using a new type of construction, we want to install vertical access wind turbines that work in new urban territories like we have here. and a comprehensive geothermal heating and cooling and hot water system. >> if the request is approved, the bulk of the money would come from the department of energy. a side note, dominion power most recently approved funding smart meters for the city. you're fed up with high gas prices? what do you do? you can make your own way like this teen, we will explain coming up. plus metro's new zero tolerance policy, but first, here's a preview of the cbs

evening news. a new study rates hospital performance across the country, how does your yours measure up? weil tllouel y what you need to know tonight on the cbs evening news. when i get my period

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pamprin multi-symptom since 9news now showed you the videos that hit youtube of what appeared to be metro workers engaging in questionable behavior, the agency has taken action. today, it announced a brand-new policy. workers using phones while operating a train or driving a bus will be fired immediately. we have more. >> reporter: general manager john catto says he's going to put a piece of paper in front of the 2800 bus and train operators that says very clearly, you cannot use any electronic device while you're operating the train such as a cell phone or a pager. if you do, and this is not an emergency situation, you will be fired immediately. he expects all those employees to sign it. all of this has come to light and created a zero tolerance policy because of the youtube videos in recent days. one of them showed a train

operator texting while operating the train. that train operator was suspended for five days under the old policy. this happened in june. we showed video to metro of a bus operator with a phone in her right-hand that was also on youtube, and they have not been able to track down the bus driver. metro says they have heard loud and clear what people have to say about this. they believe it themselves, this is a policy and this is an activity that cannot be tolerated. here's what the public has to say. >> you don't think it's harsh? >> i think it's harsh, but you're endangering people's lives. >> nothing wrong with that. people's lives are stake, and it needs your full attention anything you do. >> reporter: then there's another video which shows a train operator with his head down as the train is moving, appears to be sleeping. metro says we don't know if the train operator is sleeping or just not paying attention. either way, it is serious. they are investigating it, but still no outcome there. but it is not expected to come under the policy of using an

electronic device. also, we should tell you that the maryland transit authority is doing a similar situation up in its area as far as trains are concerned. train and bus operators, they will have a zero tolerance policy, too. back to you. >> lots of people watching this, dave, thank you. metro's operators union put out a statement in response a short time ago. they say they don't condone the use of cell phones or personal electronic devices while operating the rail or bus, but the union contend that at times, it's the operator's only means of communication because of ongoing problems with malfunctioning radios and other communication equipment. disgraced financeer bernard madoff will not appeal. he was sentenced last week. he pleaded guilty to charges he bill beinged thousands of investors out of billions of

dollars in life savings. house speaker nancy pelosi says it is still her goal to pass a healthcare reform bill before congress takes its august break. right now, house democrats are trying to work out details behind closed doors. but the speaker says one thing is certain... >> we will not be taxing benefits, healthcare benefits in any legislation that comes from >>e house. b@ house democrats are still trying to finalize a proposal and unveil it on friday. the white house says the h1n1 flu is all but certain to make a comeback this fall. so they are planning a preemp active strike. the administration outlined its plans at a summit held at the national institutes of health today. they are talking about giving h1n1 vaccine to kids and other high risk groups starting mid-october. state and local leaders at the summit covered a lot of ground and said they liked what they heard. here's maryland governor martin o'malley. >> one of the triggers, the

things that makes it clear that a school, a particular school should close, and those are all of the things that we are discussing now, and i'm grateful we have an administration that's so committed to homeland security and preparedness. >> this fall, people considered high risk for flu complications are going to be advised to get a second vaccine, that's the one that guards against the regular seasonal flu. tomorrow, the folks at general motors plan to announce the launch of a new gm. today, a judge cleared the way for the car company to come out of bankruptcy protection thanks to government cash, gm is now free of the debt and operating costs that nearly dragged it into liquidation. the new gm will be smaller and bring fewer modeling to the car market. they may want to consider hiring 17-year-old andrew loader sometime in the future. this kansas teen has built a street legal electric car. andrew says he was tired of asking his parents for gas money and getting turned down, so he took what money he had, bought an old fort escort from the i

couldn't think yard, and a forklift motor online. he combines all this, and he's riding gas free. >> i had to write a letter to mom and her friend convince her not to ground mere or kill me. >> you didn't take an automotives class or electricians class? >> no, i can't even change my own oil. >> andrews escort goes 38 miles per hour and 11 miles per charge. at least he won't be speeding. bet you've never seen a birthday cake like the one we're about to show you. the birthday boy just turned 4 to celebrate the folks at the national zoo whipped up this three tiered concoction made of bamboo, shredded beets, and frozen beet juice. i guess that's where it gets its color. if you were hoping for chocolate icing, out of luck. >> i don't know if a panda would like that. he looks happy with that. >> there's nothing like frozen beet juice. >> nothing like this weather

either. this is just outstanding. i love it. it's great to do everything out, and i don't see this pattern changing for the next two weeks at least. >> what? >> maybe not until the end of july before we get into the muggy and the heat index near 100 and all that kind of stuff. this is outstanding. we will take it. we will start with the three-day trend. nothing is going to be perfect, because we will throw a little rain into the picture over the weekend, but the temperatures will stay below normal. the normal high is 88, and we will be close to that on saturday, but the rest of the seven days in the seven-day forecast will be below the mark. there's a slight for a slight thunderstorm on saturday, and if you're planning your weekend right now, take saturday opposed to sunday. temperatures have dropped to near 60 in most spots, wind light out of the northeast. during the day tomorrow, another nice one, partly sunny skies, not completely sunny or cloudy. the high temperatures range between 79 and 84, and

east-southeast wind at 10 miles per hour. right now, we do have a little cloud cover out there tonight, nothing of any consequence, there's a weak system passing by to the west in the mountains, and it is producing some showers and even a few thunderstorms in the mountains of west virginia and western virginia. all of this activity will stay to the west, and we will just wind up with a little bit of cloud cover as the system goes by. the current temperatures, upper 70s and low 80s, it's a beautiful thursday evening. 82 degrees, one of the warmer spots in fredericksberg with 79 in winchester, and in the city, it's 80 degrees exactly. and the winds have shifted to the northeast and that's the key to the forecast over the next few hours. the dewpoint still very comfortable at 54. that produces the relative humidity in the lower end of the 30s. right now, the major dominating factor in our weather is the big area of high pressure coming down the east coast that is producing the east-northeast wind. after the high goes parallel with us, our surface wind turn

to the south and it will begin to warm up. and in addition to that, watch the systems kopg across the plains states tras producing some thunderstorms out there. the heat will come in, and the system will come in, and we will wind up with scattered thunderstorms over the weekend. and you can see the heat i'm referring to, it is still 102 degrees in dallas right now, 89 in kansas city, 90 in memphis. a chunk of the heat will slide off to the northeast and come in over the weekend. nothing unusual for this time of the year, but it will be a little bit warmer and more humid on saturday and sunday. scattered showers and thunderstorms possible, mostly on sunday. i think for the most part, saturday will be okay. then a front goes through on sunday night, and we get rid of what heat is left. the high temperature only 83, again on monday, mid-80s on tuesday, and there are no 90s in this seven-day forecast. and if i were to do a 14-day forecast, you probably wouldn't see any 90s there either for the next two weeks. it's going to be just like this. >> and stay out of the soup

here. >> outstanding at the beginning of the july. >> thanks. brett is here. nats finishing up a game tonight. >> i don't know what uniforms they are supposed to wear, and i don't know who is allowed to play and who isn't. we have to get into the details of this. what they started two months ago they will finish tonight, and the home team becomes a road team, and a whole bunch of other circumstances. plus, albert haines whort plea deal in nashville today. we will have the details coming up in sports. (male anuncer) if you've had a hearatta

caused by a completely blocked artery, another heart attack could be lurking, waiting to strike. a heart attack caused by a clot, one that could be fatal. but plavix helps save lives. plavix, taken with other heart medicines goes beyond what other heart medicines do alone to provide greater protection against heart attack or stroke and even death by helping to keep blood platelets from sticking together and forming clots. ask your doctor about plavix, protection that helps save lives. (female announcer) if you have stomach ulcer or other condition that causes bleeding, you should not use plavix. when taking plavix alone or with some other medicines including aspirin, the risk of bleeding may increase so tell your doctor before planning surgery. and always talk to your doctor before taking aspirin or other medicines with plavix, especially if you've had a stroke. if you develop fever or, unexplained weakness or confusion, tell your doctor promptly as these may be signs of a rare but potentially life-threatening condition called ttp, which has been reported rarely, sometimes in less than two weeks after starting therapy. other rare but serious side effects may occur.

and now, 9 sports with brett haber. albert haynesworth will not go to jail. he will serve just three months' probation. he pleaded no contest this morning in nashville to a charge of rec last driving. according to witnesses, haynesworth was driving his ferrari at over 100 miles an hour and made contact with another car accusing the driver to lose control and crashing into the median. a civil suit has been filed against haynesworth for $7.5 million. also in nashville today, a public memorial being held for steve mcnair. you're looking at a live picture of the mount zion baptist church as fans walk by the casket and pay their respects.

many says the details surrounding his death did not diminish their love for their longtime hero. we move on to baseball, and in about a half hour, the nationals will be part of a rather bizarre situation down in houston as they finish a game that began more than two months ago. as you may recall on may 5th, the nationals and astros were playing at nationals park when the skies opened and the score tied at 10 in the 11th inning, the game was postponed. they will pick it up at that point tonight in houston. several guys, including niger morgan and mike macdougal who weren't on the team back in may can't play because they were not in the rosters. after that game concludes, they will play another regular baseball game. meanwhile, more all store love more cristian gusman. he was one of the five finalists for the last spot on the nl roster, but he got beat out by

the phillies shane vict reason. there's a controversy offer a dunk that you and i have never seen, the tapes have been confiscated to protect lebron james. it happened at a nike basketball camp in akron last flight. lebron was in a pickup game with some college kids when xavier universitisoftmore jordan crawford dunked in king james' face. the gym went nuts, and nike confiscated the tapes from the videograefers who were shooting the game saying it has long been their policy not to allow videotaping during the pickup games. to which we say whatever. stage 6 of the tour de france today, actually in spain where the rain was on the plain and everywhere else. the story line remained the same. lance armstrong, it's tough to ride in the rain, in the main

part of the race, still one second behind the leader for the overall lead. our beloved washington capitals dropped to 0-4 last night, the only winless team in world team tennis. but the head coach has guaranteed victory tonight, and the fact is, murphy's no dummy because they get serena williams on their roster tonight. she comes into the match as the second ranked player in the world. finally tonight, a play unlike any we have seen in baseball. watch as this groundball hits the bag, and murphy goes hin the bag and gets the runner. i don't know how he got anything on the throw. and let's forget about the fact that the runner appears to be safe, because that takes away from what was a sick, sick play. >> it looks staged. >> i guarantee, you don't

practice that in spring training. >> you can't call him safe after that. that is all for 9news now at 6:00. the cbs evening news is next, and join derek for the area's only local news at 7:00. tonight, a new study that shows one in three people being treated for breast cancer may not need to be. we will explain what that's about and have a live interview at 7:00. don't forget, wusa9.com is always on. have a great night.