9news now is hd is brought to you by verizon fios. >> i would assure you and i would assure this public that at any time i thought the system was unsafe i would personally issue the order to shut it down. >> angry words from metro manager about safety on the metro. >> it started with a published report of widespread system on a system that is designed to prevent crashes on the rail. andrew stack has the latest of what happened tonight. >> reporter: this washington post article claims that metro technicians detected malfunctions in train monitoring circuits as early as july 11th. that was based on internal documents and if true statements made by metro general manage on july 15th,

last thursday, that all 3000 circuits had been inspected without any problems. >> the washington post speculation that we have a widespread problem is a grossly false. >> this is an example of someone taking information, not understanding the information and misreporting it. >> reporter: what did john know and when did he know it? he says the question itself isn't valid. on july 15th you made a statement 3000 circuits had not noted any problem. is that what you are talking about when they say they are inaccurate? >> the statement that we have found the same problems we had before is the issue i'm taking on as being not true. when we did the test on the 3000 circumstances we communicated that there were

three circuits. we wanted to adjust the parameters of the circuits. >> reporter: as president of metro union local 689, jackie doesn't know what to think. >> they are not articulating anything to us as far as the testing results that they have found out as far as the article that was just put in the paper and we don't know whether there is truth to that or not. >> reporter: apparently this will continue. we spoke with the washington post managers just a short time ago. they say they firmly stand behind the reporting in this story. anita. >> andrew stack, thank you for that report. consumer groups are talking about an alleged government coverup all about the dangers of driving while talking on your cell phone. consumer advocates say seven years ago the national highway traffic safety administration conducted extensive research and its vast recommendations says cell phones cause so many crashes drivers should never use them except in emergencies.

but the agency allegedly shelfed those safety studies because there was pressure from the outside. >> the idea that the federal government can withhold important safety data and its research on public safety is really disastrous. >> consumer advocates claim the wireless industry did not want those studies made public and got members of congress to quash them by applying them with big money. president obama took some time tonight to kickback and relax. ♪[ music ] >> the commandser in chief welcoming allison krause, brad paisley. it is a series of events. the celebration comes on the eve of the president's broadcast plea to the nation for health care reform. today health democrats called off a critical work session on the proposal. >> if the bill fails it will be because of disagreement among

the democrats. >> the insurance industry, for example, hasn't put a dime of identified savings on the table yet. the drug companies have. the hospitals have. but we haven't heard from the insurance companies at all. >> mr. president, it is time to scrap this bill. let's start over in a bipartisan way. >> well, you can see the president make his case tomorrow night right here on. the news conference starts at 9:00 p.m. you can watch it streamlined on wusa9.com. surprise on the senate floor today much the return of senator robert byrd. the west virginia democrat hasn't been on capitol hill for two months because of illness. he returned to the capitol to vote on an amendment to a defense policy bill. two well known publications that cover capitol hill are joining forces. roll call is buying congressional quarterly. it is expected to be finalized before the month of october. the senate is considering a

bill that would permit concealed weapons to cross state lines. the gun measure comes just one year after the supreme court struck down dc's gun ban. britney moorehouse looks at how both issues are changing the lands scape of our country's gun debate. >> reporter: it has been a year since tracy registered a gun that resembled this one. she hasn't used it yet but. >> in the event that someone were to break into my house, that way i can protect myself. >> reporter: hers is one of roughly 500 guns illegally -- guns legally registered. >> i think the concern that people had over people like me owning a weapon for self- protection was unfounded. >> reporter: eleanor holmes norton saw it different. >> they don't have any appetite for guns. >> reporter: they opposed a senate bill that would allow people to carry weapons across

state lines. one concern is how the laws differ. some states require training, others don't. some states ban possession by convicted child molesters, others don't. >> this is an outrage and it is what happens when you let someone have its way first in dc and now they think they can get their way on any bill they want. >> reporter: an attorney that argued against the handgun ban says it is about rights. >> i hope from gay rights to guns to property rights we are seeing a new birth in the court's concern about freedom. >> reporter: britney moorehouse for 9news now and wusa9.com. >> the senate proposal for concealed weapons is wrapped up in a defense spending bill. a vote is scheduled for tomorrow. we are just getting word of a developing story out of richmond tonight. virginia governor tim kaine will call for a special legislative session to respond to a supreme court ruling. sources tell the "associated

press" the governor will make the official announcement tomorrow. what this is all about is what we told you about yesterday. how some virginia prosecutors are choosing not to pursue cases against drunk driving or drug suspects because defendants have the right to question lab techs as part of the sixth amendment right to confront their accuser in direct conflict with the law. you can learn more about the cases at wusa9.com. click on virginia news. the governor of maryland is throwing around the f word as if furlough. he is talking about putting state employees on what amounts to vacation without pay to save money. right now maryland is in the red by $700 million. governor o'mally says he doesn't like furloughs either but it is surely better than the alternative. >> i'm hopeful that together we can come up with ways to avoid layoffs. last year we ran into a couple of state employees that say they really don't like fur

furloughs. i don't like them either but it is better than having to lay people off. >> another $75 million will come by way of extra medicaid money from the federal government. time to check in with topper on the weather terrace. looking pretty nice out there, how is it going? >> really is nice. showers and storms have died out. most were in the mountains. but one did make it into frederick and carroll county and has moved away. forecast. overnight partly to mostly cloudy. 65 to 72. winds southeasterly at 10. we remove the ancech r foa overnit. most of the showers were in the mountains. a couple of them developed across northern maryland an scooting up 95 towards just north ofti bmore up towards ti. we will come back and talk about summer. it is kind of lurking.

also talk about the 90s. they are lurking too. more coming up. >> thank you, topper. miami is nice but it can get so hot in the summertime. >> maybe that is why a manatee checked out the chesapeake bay. they know it is the same guy first photographed as a calf 15 years ago in south florida. >> he was spotted several times between 1994 and 2006 all in the miami area and kind of dropped off the radar for a little bit now he shows up in the chesapeake bay. >> wow. okay, the national aquarium says it is becoming more common to see them this far north. in fact, some have surfaced up near rhode island. remember jean dixon, psychic to the stars? maybe you used to read her syndicated column. she died back in 1997 and now her estate is being auctioned

off. hundreds of things. her crystal ball. >> i would say the crystal ball has generated the most excitement and it is hard to say what that would bring. >> does it really work? might bring more. if you have a taste for the mystical break out the checkbook. this sunday in chevy chase is the auction. transparency may be the new watch word in politics but this might be a little bit much. if you have been to new york recently you have probably seen the naked cowboy in times square. the guy in tightty whiteties and a cowboy hat. hard to miss. he wants to run for mayor of the big apple. his platform doing more with less. >> i remember the naked cowboy. i used to live in new york. he has been around awhile. a stick of gum could be the key to a healthy mouth. >> more on that and how a hoola hoop could score you a better hotel room. stick around for that. big step forward bringing baseball to loudoun county.

all that ahead 9news n. on /d

i'm meteorologist topper shutt. here is your forecast. shower or thunderstorm possible tomorrow but few and far between. 86. then warming up a little bit.

upper 80s on thursday and friday and much better chance for showers and thunderstorms especially on thursday. talk about that in a minute. forecast in detail. overnight. partly cloudy skies. shower out. everything is pretty much north of baltimore now. winds still southeasterly at about 10. tomorrow morning partly sunny, mild. slight chance of a shower. 60s and 70s. i think it will be dry tomorrow. by afternoon partly sunny, little warmer maybe a shower or storm and, again, primarily in the mountains and west of i-81. for the most part west of us. high temperatures 84 to 88. winds go back to the southeast at about 10. microcast. clouds in the morning much like today. tomorrow we will see clouds and breaks in the clouds and sun. sprinkles up toward frederick on wednesday. thursday a different story.

take this by a grain of salt. thursday evening in the early part of the nighttime we could see a line of showers and thunderstorms through the immediate metro area extending from frederick down through downtown and also down into fredericksburg. we will take that with a grain of salt but it is possible. file that away. zones for you. all six zones on our website at wusa9.com. slight chance of a shower in middleburg. better chance in royal. 85 in manassas. downtown mid to upper 80s. slight chance of a shower on the bay. not much wind tomorrow on the bay. not a bad day to be on the water. as you go up 270, 85 in gaithersburg. 86 tomorrow. slight chance of a storm. better chances on thursday and friday. upper 80s. 90 on saturday. 91 on sunday. again, 90s have to come eventually. maybe a storm on sunday.

better chance for thunderstorms on monday lingering into tuesday morning. highs fall back into the upper 80s. this is pretty cool video here. check this out. this is the longest solar eclipse until 2132. lasted 6 minutes and 41 seconds. occurred in india. really spectacular. you're looking toward the moon then moon is locked in the sun's rays. >> wow. >> of course never look atthe sun. pretty cool. we won't be around when the long one comes in 2132. >> and when it gets into the shadow that's called the umbra of the earth's shadow. chewing gum. >> that's what i chew. >> even in the middle of the show. >> here is why. in living well tonight growing evidence that chewing sugarless game may really help prevent

cavities and keep your teeth healthy and strong. there are two things in it. look for chewing gums that lists these as the first ingredient on the pack, chew often especially after meals. now, you may not want to try chewing gum as you work on your hoola hooping because perfecting your technique could land you a better hotel room. running a promotion for a free room upgrade if you can hoola hoop for 20 seconds straight. it is one of several deals out there as hotels and airlines try to lure people out of staying home. you can see more of the promotions at wusa9.com. click on "living smart." >> never could do that. if you see planes and helicopters buzzing around it is only a drill, don't be alarmed. tomorrow a wide ranging training exercise will happen right in our area involving a lot of military and civilian aircraft. so be ready. some local wounded warriors hit the hard court in dc today.

hosting a wheelchair basketball tournament today, the first in what therapists becomes an annual event designed to help improve morale as troops recover from combat injuries. >> the whole point is to get the soldiers back up and independent. >> i'm just confident, absolutely, that this improves their attitudes because this is out here, this is them out here showing what they can do. and showing that they may have a disability but it doesn't stop them from doing what they love to do and right now it is to play wheelchair basketball. >> today's tournament was a round robin competition for troops who have been playing pickup games every thursday. well, loudoun county is a step closer to having its own baseball team tonight. iue proposal would build a adstm at thade intersection of routes 7 and of28 and digital correspondent has a report for us. >> reporter: the loudoun county board of supervisors there a 6-

2 vote has approved a complex that would include a baseball stadium. >> more than a ballpark. overall project is really going to be a great gathering point for the community. >> reporter: vip baseball reached a deal with the atlantic league of professional baseball to field a team in loudoun. >> it is very competitive quality baseball and bottom line is it is entertainment that is affordable for all sorts of families. >> reporter: the project will include at least six acres of open space, tree conservation and pedestrian walkways. the stadium will also be available for local schools and organizations when not being used by professional teams. county residents are ready. >> i think it is awesome. i think we need a place like that. there is not really a center place in the county and it will give people a place to go. >> i'm actually a baseball fan, by the way, so i think it would be great for the area. >> well, if that stadium does get final approval from the county there could be baseball in loudoun by may 2011 and we

thank our digital correspondent for that. >> quality baseball. we had some quality baseball -- i know this comes as a galloping shock to the rest of us. >> one day off. a zero on the scoreboard and it wasn't for us. i know it is strange. a gem authored by john lannan tonight but tempered by troubling news ven with steven straussburg and his talks. and it's the good, the bad and that guy. we are back after this. (announcer) illness doesn't care where you live...

...or if you're already sick... ...or if you lose your job. your health insurance shouldn't either. so let's fix health care. if everyone's covered, we can make health care as affordable as possible. and the words "pre-existing condition" become a thing of the past... we're america's health insurance companies. supporting bipartisan reform that congress can build on.

it is time for 9sports with brett haber. the best sports in town. years from now when the nationals finally get good, 90% of the guys who are on the team now will be long gone by john lannan will not be one of them much the lefty starter was an 11th round pick in '05 but he is giving the nats first round stuff. hosting the mets tonight.

only managing four hits in the game but that one one of them. driving in adam dunn. nats led 4-0 after five and they gave john lannan leather. look at cristian guzman. in left field somehow getting alex cora. keeps the shutout in tact and the bull pen can't blow it when they don't pitch. 106 pitches for the first shutout of his career. meanwhile, troubling news on the steve staussburg front. they are not on pace to sign the number 1 pick by the august 17th deadline a source says close to the negotiations saying nats have offered nothing more than a standard minor league deal. there are talks ongoing behind the scenes. os visiting the yankees. bombers won it last night with a walkoff. no such drama necessary tonight. 4th inning robinson cano, two- run show. 6-4. i believe it was the great george allen who said there is nothing like the playoff intensity of world team tennis.

if our beloved washington castles want to experience that they must win their final two matches of the season the first of those tonight in north west against the new york buzz and nadya ranked number 10 in the world holding double duty tonight. castles crush the buzz 23-12. uz u.s. cup semis. burying the rebound. hitting the imaginary jump shot. united wins 2-1. hoops, mystics taking on the indiana fever. this is a player celebrating her 30thed about and almost shooting her age. she had 28 points tonight. sticks fall to the fevers to 82- 70. with that my friends it is time for our weekly look at the excellent and not so excellent in the world of sports. anita, the drummer, the good, bad and ugly for july 21.

we start with the good. second best fan catch of the week in phoenix. y'all know the diamondbacks have a pool out in right center field. watch the guy there on the jeremy home run. shirt off while enjoying the barbecue. catches it while going into the water. he could cramp up and drowned because he didn't wait a half hour after eating. my mom used to tell me that. >> speaking of mom. chief gets the number 1 fan catch of the week. san francisco. dad holding her by the ankles. full extension. almost a little overexposure but she gives the ball to her son. moms can do anything. >> strangest reaction on a golf course. number 6 at the john deere. approach shot headed right. hitting the lady in the crowd but she didn't seem to mind. >> what is she yessing about? she really likes golf.

go to the bad. giants first baseman travis ishikawa going after the pop foul here. gymgymnasticsics routine. let's go to the ugly. you know sometimes in soccer h's hard to tell what is and what isn't a foul. not much doubt on this as panama's roman torez spikes him in the -- then torez complains he didn't do anything. how do you know you're on a hilly golf course? you lose your camera. >> great par 3. are you all right? >> i'm good, man. >> it is all good. >> we got a man down. >> he got back up and their cameramen are like their cameramen they are tough. >> they are intrepid.

>> exactly. >> coming up in tomorrow's "washington examiner" metro's crash alert system failed four years ago just as it did in june when nine people were killed. aminow. n "the mo era itiotun torrow. mo a tuition fraud investigation. check that out tomorrow. b@

9nnow ewin high- definition is brought to you in part by infinity. i'm lesli foster with your money saving tip of the day. ready for a vacation t to tophe to the destinatn?wae ony way e e tharrf urbeyo . ve . the lerfe be your gu an clphe. tyth can help ris ct lowestou i you city. you can use the site to save thousands on your next trip. go to wusa9.com for more money saving tips and click on "living smart." in that same vein you may

take your next trip to the seven natural wonders of the year. >> 28 finalists like the dead sea and great barrier reef, all part of a contest by the new seven wonders organization. people can vote online or by phone. the winners lln wi be announced in 2011. got a long way. >> you can see it all on wusa9.com. good night. captions by: caption colorado, llc 800-775-7838 email: comments@captioncolorado.com wi

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