hello. thanks for joining us. this evening people from all walks of life are remembering walter cronkite. he passed away in new york. he was 92. he was considered by many to be the most trusted man in america. tonight friends, colleagues and even presidents paid tribute to the man known as uncle walter. >> walter invited us to believe in him and he never let us down. >> he was a great citizen, but also a profoundly good man. we shouldn't lose sight of that. all those professional gifts emanated from a very good core. >> no one has had voice today or power in print or in radio television. >> a private funeral service is

scheduled for thursday in new york. a separate memorial service will be held in the next few weeks at the lincoln center for the performing arts. cronkite is survived by his three children, his wife of nearly 65 years. she died in 2005. walter cronkite loved the water when he wasn't in his anchor chair he would visit his best friend in annapolis, maryland. we talked with mike ash ford about his 35 year friendship with walter cronkite. >> reporter: this afternoon visitors sit at the bar where walter cronkite and mike would swap stories over cheese burger and beer. >> this is his kind of saloon. >> reporter: he says one day cronkite couldn't decide between chilly and steak so he ordered both. >> he mentioned hene ver had a meal, a sachwind or nganhiyt hi named after him. so it was economically over

steak. it came back off the menu. we didn't talk much about the cronkite steak special. >> reporter: this was a place he could remove himself in the busy new york lifestyle. but where he could completely get away from it all but at sea. the two shared a passion for sailing and were ship meats on countless ventures up and down the east coast and caribbean. >> i've got an empty spot. i'll never have that kind of exciting life again. >> reporter: he shared one of cronkite's last voice messages to him. >> hello mike. it's cronkite. i just missed your call a few minutes ago. i'm awfully anxious to speak to you on a couple matters, hanging matters. just need to talk to you occasionally. so give me a call back when you get a chance. >> reporter: he knew the most trusted man in america, but he remembers the very personal side of his dear friend.

>> i didn't really have a father when i grew up. and look what i wound up with as my father-figure, my brother. and he, walter, said i want you w noconsider youth i otnever ha ini k thi'm lucky. >> reporter: he says even though cronkite's death was not a surprise, after suffering from a cerebral vascular disease he has a hard time believing he's gone. thanks. tomorrow night cbs will air a prime time special that's the way it was. remembering walter cronkite. it airs sunday 7:00 p.m. right here on wusa 9. turning elsewhere, a man suspected in the murders of six people in two state asks in police custody tonight. five of those victims were found dead in two southern tennessee homes. the sixth victim found miles away at a huntsville, alabama business. some of the victims may have been related according to authorities. >> we have taken one person into custody believed to be

responsible for this horrendous crime scene. >> the man identified as 30- year-old jacob safer is being questioned by authorities. no charges have been filed in this case. he was arrested after police found him sitting on the front porch of one of the crime scenes. police have not released the victim identities or given motive for the murders. cooking left unattended is being blamed tonight for the apartment fire that left a 5- year-old boy dead, 7-year-old brother in critical condition. their father also suffered smoke inhalation and cuts when he tried to rescue his boys. the fire started just after 5:00 last night at the oak ridge apartments in river dale. today firefighters went door to door in the community to check smoke detectors and answer questions about fire safety. >> what we found out with short time after a tragedy has occurred within 24 hours we find most citizens and residents are more apt to open up their doors, let

firefighters into their homes or apartments and listen to our speech about fire safety information, having working smoke alarms, having an escape plan ready to go and practice with family members. >> we're told the apartment complex has fire alarms hard wired to the electrical system in order to work even without batteries, meantime the 7-year- old remains hospitalized tonight in critical condition. the body of a man found inside his northeast d.c. building after a fire. they were called just before 11:00 this morning. the victim was found dead in his 10th floor apartment. that man apparently tried to fight a kitchen fire but overcome but heat and smoke. his name hasn't been released. we're told the building has smoke alarms and sprinkler system. engine company 4 in northwest washington honored one of its own today. johnson was the district's

first african-american fire chief. he was appointed to the post back in 1973. he was credited with the recruitment of more minorities and women firefighters. he died in 2007 at the age of 89. a construction worker injured while working on the supreme court building. it happened around 7:30 tonight at east capital and 7th street. the female worker was on the roof of the building when she tripped and fell. rescue workers managed to get her down a short time later. she was taken to the hospital with what we're told are serious but nonlife threatening injuries. 18 virginia rest stops closing this coming tuesday. it's meant to save the state $9 million per year. what do travelers think about that tonight? digital correspondent has that story. >> reporter: during a long road trip, a rest stop can be a huge relief. but when 18 virginia rest stops close, it will mean about 120 miles between stops. >> what about the old people that come down here have to

change diapers, people pull up in here when they're too tired when they're traveling. the next rest stop is out to maryland. who's going to wait that long? >> reporter: represents say they're worried people will stop on the roadways. a lot of people use rest stops to throw trash away. they say when the rest stops shut down that trash will end up on the roads. she says for medical reasons her mother-in-law needs to get out and stretch. >> we'll have to find another way home. we won't come through virginia. >> reporter: the family says with a 4-year-old and 7-year- old it will be no problem just stopping at mcdonald's. mark is driving his truck to miami. on the way back he'd prefer to stop at a rest area. >> more convenient. you're on and you're off in two seconds. stop at a truck stop, it's nearly 20 minutes out of your way. >> reporter: come tuesday there may be no lines for the bathrooms at some of these rest stops, but they'll be no way in

either. 9 news now and wusa9.com. we've got some tips from triple a about what you should do if you have to pull over and for a list of rest stops that are closing and rest stops that are staying open. go to our website at wusa9.com. two astronauts aboard the space shuttle endeavor perform their first space walk today. they install the final pieces on a new billion dollar japanese science lab. today's walk was the first of five planned walks during the mission. before docking endeavor did a back flip for cameras. nasa says the review of the photos and other data shows it's to be in good shape for re- entry. tile that is fell off during liftoff apparently caused no damage. tonight we've got a 9 news now exclusive that should make every government worker in the area feel proud. it's a story of service in helping send one man home. griffin was flown to washington

almost four years ago when new orleans was evacuated during hurricane katrina. that's about all he remembered until two days ago. >> reporter: at 73, he doesn't see or hear all that well and his memory isn't what it used to be. he arrived in washington back in 2005. a u.s. citizen rushed on a plane by the government to escape katrina. and the only place he'd ever lived, new orleans. >> you misit? >> yeah. >> reporter: for four years caseworkers with the d.c. housing authority have been trying to locate any family that he might still have living in new orleans so they could sends him back home. >> i started calling all major agencies like fema. >> reporter: he was housed at government expense like other katrina evacuees. he was living alone at the capital park plaza apartments then came a breakthrough in the search for a family member. >> he said lloyd was his brother's name. >> reporter: she located a

lloyd griffin on the web. >> there was one particular that kept showing up from new or leans. >> reporter: he'd been in news reports. >> had a picture of his brother and his wife. i turned the computer and said is this your brother. he said that's my brother. that's my brother. >> reporter: new orleans police were called in to help. load had thought his older brother might be dead. >> i thought my brother had passed. i thought he was dead. i didn't express that to nobody. >> reporter: a reunion was planned 24 hours after his family was located and he was headed home. >> back in town. >> reporter: with a police escort late friday to washington, ronald reagan airport, housing staffers acquired his ticket, a local charity so others might eat provide add suitcase of new clothes. originally 19 people from new

orleans came to washington. by the time he gets home there will be ten left. the airline changed the departing gate three times before departure. >> really great pleasure meeting you. >> i know you're going to be so happy with your family. you take care. >> reporter: late last night a u.s. airways flight delivered the 73-year-old back home to new orleans. >> home and good to stay home. >> reporter: he had been officially listed as missing in action all this time. congratulations to the staffers at the d.c. housing department. still to come on 9 news now, dozens hurt in light rail train crash. how did that happen? we'll have the story. and later this evening, shocked neighbors watch as the oscar meyer weaner lemota bikes a wrong turn. back in a minute.

if we don't act, medical bills will wipe out their savings. if we don't act, she'll be denied coverage because of a pre-existing condition. and he won't get the chemotherapy he needs. if we don't act, health care costs will rise 70%. and he'll have to cut benefits for his employees. but we can act. the president and congress have a plan to lower your costs and stop denials for pre-existing conditions. it's time to act.

the body recovered from the pa to mack river is believed to be that of a missing swimmer. the 32-year-old went missing tuesday just south of old anglers inn. the silver spring man was on a fishing trip with two friends when he jumped in the water to find a deeper spot to fish. the body found today was about half a mile from where he was last seen. an autopsy will now be performed on the body to determine the identity. a gunman shoots and wounds two baltimore police officers. police say the 34-year-old man forced his way into a residence this morning and threatened a woman with a gun. they say the suspect shot an officer who'd been called to the scene to investigate. the officer was treated for a grazing wound and released from the hospital. but a second officer spotted the suspect's suv and as he pulled up to the vehicle, the man allegedly fired on him point-blank. >> pop, pop, pop. i thought a gunman was running

down the road. i hit the porch. i was laying on the porch and looking up to see if anybody would open the door. [ indiscernible ] i was scared. >> the second officer was hit in the abdomen, chest and arm. he's being treated at the university of maryland shock trauma unit. police say he managed to shoot the suspect. tonight police have not identified that man buzz say he is expected to survive. metro has resumed rail service on the red line between tacoma park station tonight. the transit authority had shut down stations while they conducted tests into last month's investigation into the train crashes. those were to determine how long it should have taken the operator to slow her train before it slammed into a stopped train waiting for the station to clear. meantime a light rail train collision in san francisco sends dozens to the hospital. it happened just before 3:00 this afternoon when win rain

rear ended another train near a boarding platform. 44 people went to the hospital. we're told tonight mostly those injuries are not serious. the district's unemployment rate now stands at 10.9%. well above the national average. the department of employment services reported that 35900d.c. residents were out of work last month. that's up from 22600 a year ago. the complete story and why d.c. leaders say the district is still doing fine. that story in sunday's washington examiner. do we expect a repeat sunday of the terrific weather today? tony is up with answers when we come back. kelly saunder's nature valley,

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middle of july, no complaints here. >> there were, i was trying to count them, i think over a dozen cities that reported record low high temperatures. in other words the coolest days they've ever seen in july. in the eyed. it didn't get out of the 60s in the great lakes. >> my follow up question, what does this mean? >> nothing. i thought it was an interesting bit of trivia. no. it means the pattern is here and it's going to stick around for a while. it's been here all summer. i don't see any break to the pattern at least until the end of july. >> wow. >> we're going to keep the nice weather around. i'm not saying it's not going to get hot for a day or two, but overall the pattern is going to stick around. three day trend you'll see what i mean. high temperatures there, low 8 0z all the way through the beginning of the week. the average high temperature for this week is 89. this is the hottest part of the year from the middle of july through the beginning of august. we're forecasting high temperatures in the low 80s all the way through the beginning

of next week. that's good stuff. tonight temperatures dropping into the 50s. how many times do you say that in july? this year we've said it many times. 56 to 64 will be the temperature range. 63, 64 in the city. but most of you will wake up with temperatures in the 50s early sunday morning. partly sunny skies during the day tomorrow. pleasant with high temperatures again between 80 and 85 right about where they were today. sunrise tomorrow morning at 5:58. we were watching a couple showers out of pennsylvania believe it or not. a disturbance in the upper levels of atmosphere going to travel by to the north. all of that has dissipated now. cloud cover hanging around before sunset, but that was con selective in nature. as soon as the sun went down the skies cleared. the air is dry and the winds have died down. that's going to allow temperatures to drop quickly. look at the dew point. it's only 52. as you know it's not uncommon to have the do you wants in the 70s in the middle of july. it's already in the 60s out west. 61 at the top of the hour in

winchester. 64 culpeper. little bit warmer near the water. 76 at the naval air station. all the cities i was talking about recording the low record temperatures was off to the west and south. chicago at 70. minneapolis, st. paul, didn't make it out of the 60s. that's where the flow is coming from. it's going to stick around for a while. this mild air you don't want to call cool. a front stalled on the east coast during the day tomorrow still. and disturbance move up along that front seat tomorrow night into monday. so that's why we put the slight chance of showers in the forecast monday and tuesday. but that doesn't look like a big deal like it's going to affect traffic or anything like that. it will keep the temperatures down. we'll make it back into the upper 80s on wednesday. maybe near 90. but the best chance for rain this week i think will be thursday. we'll keep those temperatures in the 80s all the way through the weekend. no 90s again. low 80s as a matter of fact for the next couple of days.

that's good stuff. just like we have had for most of the summer. >> makes you wonder what august is going to be like. >> these patterns stick around for a long time. this type of pattern. so i would say we're going to be in this for a while. perhaps lasting for a couple mo nths. thanks. > preciate it. neighbors can hardly believe their eyes as an oscar meyer weaner mobile crashed into a home in mt. pleasant, wisconsin. smth>>ase trsmk hed into the de d angarage d of the home as the 22-year-old driver tried to turn the k uctraround in the uc driveway. it appears the driver lypa ntre thought e ntshinwashs ve rse but instead went forward. no kidding. fortunately, nobody was hurt. you can't tell which is the front end. you don't know if you're going forwards or backwards. [ laughter ] okay. nats i how did they do? >> they're struggling still. trying to get the jim era underway. trying to get their new leading man a win. the cubs not cooperating. and some soccer in town tonight. d.c. united back in town. fighting the reigns against

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interim coach get? >> i think he's got the rest of the season. maybe 75 games. >> okay. >> but people like ratings. they've got to get it going. the nats haven't gotten the era underway the way they would like. two losses, very little run support. in fact over the last 29 innings washington has mustered just one earned run. but it was a nice night for baseball out there if you could get to the ballpark. this is how strong adam dunn is. he just flicks this thing to left center field. nats off to a quick start. up 4-0 after two innings and looked like that's all jordan zimmerman would need. funky cold ma din in. you just can't fool am phone so once. three run jack. the nats up 4-0. but they lose 6-5. they'll try to avoid the sweep tomorrow. junior circuit, orioles looking to even the series against the

white sox. that is jerome dye. mama said knock you out and he does just that. chicago is down 1-0. now they're up 2-1. ninth inning orioles threaten nick. 12 hits not enough. white sox win 4-3. the first two games of the series. d.c. united has scratched their way to a tie for third in the east by simply being scrappy and refusing to lose this year. their nine ties are the most in the nl. back in league play for the first time in a couple weeks, colorado playing a visit to rfk stadium. it was a good one. 55th minute, on the corner kick nasty there. five minutes later, fred hits the net, finds the nylon. d.c. united wins 3-1. columbus

also a winner tonight. so d.c. united still tied for first. ladies played first today at rfk stadium. good defense until the 74th minute. squeezing past the goalie. freedom takes the win today 1- 0. they're all alone in fourth place. wnba mystics, they've lost five of last seven games after starting 4-1. lindsey harding ripping the rock and sharing the sugar up to we are niece for the lay in. mystics led by as many as 14. they hold onto win by one. during last year's british open, 5-year-old gregg forman turned back the clock and led three rounds before being called, this year tom watson is doing a reverse aging prosays but he's 60. and he's playing like he's 20 or 30. this is why he wins, putts like

this. keeps them tied for the lead. on the 16th, that one won't get it. the share the birdie there. on the 17th nods by but tap in bird. watson all alone on the top. oldest player ever with a 54 hole lead at a major. >> i felt i guess serene is the right word for it. it was a day that even though i messed up a couple times, i didn't let that bother me. part of the game. i made up for it coming in again. >> all right. he's doing it well. here's your leader board. looking for his sixth british open championship. he won back to back back in 82 and 83. jim, lee, steve and john still hanging around. marie know from fair fax. stage 14 marred today by a

spectator killed while she crossed the road hit by a police motorcycle that was escorting cyclists. american george jumped up to second. lance armstrong is 4th. finally tonight, we've seen the nats have their problems with the tarp trying to pull it out on the field, that was them back about a month ago. we can kind of forgive them for that because it was early in the season. down in florida they have no excuse. it rains every day at 4:00. and these guys still can't get it right. they're struggling today against the phillies. can't get it out but finally get it out. we're not the worst in everything in baseball. >> you'd think they would have a lot of practice. >> because it rains every day at 4:00 . >> no doubt. ng ksanr thfohi tc everybody. bye. >> bye.

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