hello. welcome to 9 news now at noon. i'm j.c. hayward. after 20 years of planning and debate a rapid transit line, connecting montgomery county and prince georges county is he tpotomi supofto the supportof

man in aap. olnn isr man in annapolis. r diw l nota conow digital correspondent, armando trull , explains. >> reporter: did you get stuck in traffic this morning? >> no, i didn't get stuck in traffic. >> that's because he has a limo and police escort. those that don't have happy that the governor has joined the course of officials clamoring for the purple line. >> number one, it is the most cost effective. number two, it is the most sustainable. number three, it is the more efficient and rider-friendly option available to us. >> link up many of the existing metro rail stations, marc stations, amtrak station. i think it will help to achieve our goal of livable, sustainable, transit oriented walkable, bikable communities. >> reporter: the route is 16 miles long and links prince georges and montgomery counties. >> the purple line is creating a great route for travelers so

that more people can get jobs from the west side and bring more jobs to the east side in prince georges county. >> 55 sleek cable cars would make 21 stops between the new carrollton and bethesda metro station. >> it pays to add more stops because it will allow more people to use it. >> what is the ridership expected to be. >> i think 70,000 plus. >> reporter: those that support the $1.5 billion project say it is greener than building more roads. maryland will now apply for a billion dollars in federal funding for the process. critics say the purple line may devastate the path along the georgetown trail and may file a lawsuit to block the project. 9 news now and wusa9.com. if all goes according to plan, the purple line could be running by 2018. right now a former prince william county police officer has been charged with murder.

mike knolls senior is accused of shooting and killing his landlord. police found the body of 73- year-old john busto in his home in stafford county yesterday. the suspect rented the basement apartment from the victim. right now investigators are not saying what touched off the violence. in what may be his highest profile diplomatic trip since leaving office, former president clinton is in north korea, trying to win the release of two jailed american journalists. drew levinson reports in clinton's office in harlem, new york. >> reporter: former president clinton arrived in north korea top secure the release of two american journalists. he received a warm welcome, and met with reclusive communist dictator kim jong-il. >> it will be a delicate diplomatic dance with president clinton on the ground. >> reporter: they report that clinton conveyed a message from president obama but the white house denies that insisting

this is solely a private mission. still, if clinton can convince the north koreans to release euna lee and laura ling i want could clear the way for diplomatic talks. the women were reporting for former vice president al gore's tv venture when they were captured along the north korean border in march. they were later sentenced to 12 years of hard labor for sneaking in the country illegally and engaging in hostile acts. published reports say they approached clinton for help. >> this is the highest profile trip for the president since leaving office and setting up his nonprofit foundation, here in this building in harlem. experts say that north korea is relishing the attention because it validates its world status. >> for the north koreans they get the propaganda of the highest level in the decade. a former president of the united states coming to their capital. >> reporter: secretary of state hillary clinton has also been pushing poreporters ' re

e.as e and has a young daughter willing has a health issue. cbs news, new york. president obama will spend part of his first day trying to rally democrat democrats around health care reform. the commander in chief is turning 48 years old. he's invited democratic senators to launch at the white house, but before they get to the cake, the president will make his birthday wishes known on top domestic policies like saving the cash for clunkers program. it is running out of money and needs the senate to approve an additional $2 billion. today on captiol hill, the full senate begins debate on the president's first nominee to the supreme court. judge sonia sotomayor is on track to become the high court's first hispanic justice. all senate democrats and at least six republicans support her. but three-quarters of the gop are still planning to vote against her. arguing that sonia sotomayor is

biased. >> reporter: virginia's council for higher education says that money from the stimulus plan will help to keep costs down at public colleges and universities. a new report says next year that the average tuition and fees will go up about 5%. that translates in to $7,984 a year at the commonwealth's 15 four-year schools. in-state tuition at virginia community colleges will be $2,781 a year and that's a 7.6% increase. virginia also received federal money for a variety of housing programs. it includes, $19.6 million for community development grants, 14.2 million for the home investment partnerships program. $1.7million in grants for emergency shelters. and almost $668,000 for housing opportunities for people with

aids. 14 local post offices are on a list of 1,000 which could be closed. it's all in an effort to save the postal service some money. the agency is struggling as fewer people send letters and businesses switch to e-mail. here's how it breaks down. the agency is looking at a total of nine offices in the district, nine in maryland and 19 in virginia. in maryland, that includes one office in rockville, one in bethesda, one in hyattsville and one in silver spring. the closest virginia branch to the greater washington area is fredericksburg. now, you can see the whole list by going to our website at wusa9.com. prince georges county police are looking for suspects in an rleay moinerg rd of. rs four people shot fhillll shore htmi. one man died from his injuries, another mamais listedin iccrital condition.

crwotwwemeo ren al otsobut they do not vehae-if enatrig inveha life- threatening inri an tmarap atenan apartment complex inth64e 00 . adk of livingston ro acco. ing to police, it stemmed from an argument among people who knew each other. other. overall violent crime is down in more more. an 11% drop in murders across the state last year. the uniform crime report cites a 20 year low in homicides in baltimore, 17% reduction from the year before and a 14% reduction in prince georges county. 13 of maryland's 24 jurisdictions reported reductions in violent crime. a local lawyer says he was discussing last month's arrest of harvard professor when he said he hated cops, and a dc police officer actually overheard the comment. moments later, he faced the same charge as that professor,

disorderly conduct. but the attorney, who is openly gay, says the officer used a gay slur. andrew stack has more in this 9 news now exclusive, but first we want to warn you that the attorney does use gay slur language in this report. >> we walked by some police cars and i criticized the police twice in a sing song voice. >> reporter: on his face, saying you hate cops may be rude but does it institute breaking the law. >> the officer comes across the street like 40 to 50 feet. within seconds he turned me around and pushed me up and pinned me against a big metal electrical utility box. >> reporter: what happened next left pepin tuma speechless. >> i asked what i was being arrested for and the officer said just shut up, faggot. y? what d dihe sa us>>he jt say? >> just shp uotutgg

>>. shut up faggot. >> pore: reporter: he conttethd ch ief who said -- >> she's been quick to order an internal investigation and i think there's -- i have a lot of faith in her and already ability to make this come out fairly. in retrospect i wish i had used better judgment and a more polite tone but even though what i said is rude, arresting someone for it is unquestionably illegal. >> reporter: or is it, the statute for disorderly conduct is unusual and some say outdated. >> when you read the statute itself on the face it allows for the kind of arrest for being contempt or assaulting behavior toward a police officer. >> reporter: andrew stack for 9 news now and wusa9.com. >> pepin tuma says that he does not plan to sue, but he wants the charges dropped and his record cleared and he also says

he would like to see the officer involved disciplined for his behavior. still to come when nine news continues, talk about a happy homecoming. a dog wanders nearly ten years and now she's returning to her family. we'll be right back. i'm samantha hayes in washington. where the government's cash for clunkers program may stall without billio more in funding. i will have details on whether that is likely to happen.

this government's cash for clunkers program may still run out of gas if the senate does knotty prove millions of dollars in funding by the end of the week. samantha hayes has more now from captiol hill. >> reporter: the government's incentive program to boost sales of more fuel efficient vehicles is still in jeopardy. cash for clunkers was supposed to last until november, or until its $1 billion in funding was exhausted. the program started to run out of gas earlier than expected because so many car owners responded. >> trade-in wise i'm trying to get the most fuel official efficient vehicle i can do go to work and take my son to school. >> congress needs to approve $2 billion before the recess but disagreement in the senate over expanding the government. >> the government should not be in the used car business and this is a great example of how badly the government managing

things. >> what we need to do is not put on the brakes but step on the gas and keep the program going. >> reporter: transportation secretary ray la hood says the cash for clunkers program is helping the auto industry and that's good for the economy. >> for the first time in two years, ford has an increase in their sales and continue for other car manufacturers if the program continues. >> reporter: it is improving fuel efficiency and environmental plus that was the determinening factor for winning over some senators. >> fuel efficiency has to be a major component of this program not just to clear the inventory off of car lots. >> reporter: if more funding will be approved this maybe the last week to do it. the senate leaves for august recess on friday and it is unclear whether democrats have enough votes. in washington, samantha hayes. >> it is more -- if more funding is approved it maybe the last week to get it done because the senate leaves for recess on friday and it is

unclear if democrats have enough votes. coming up next, howard and the forecast. yeah, j.c., some kind of steamy out here. the bay breeze, if youinil l, southern maryland aup cole coof showers that ha vepopped up. a look at live doppler 9000 as we go tobr k.ea k.her than that marys ryanans e d it mait is all l ilha vethe forecast coming up. this fiber? i'd had my fill. then i found miralax. announcer: miralax is the only brand clinically proven to relieve constipation

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breaking news, sky 9 is in fairfax county. we are looking live at a dunkin' donuts truck and this truck ran in to some power lines at dolly madison boulevard and churchhill road. this is in mclean, virginia. as you can see, traffic is stopped in that area. we do not have any information on injuries from the drivers or passengers. we are following this story very closely and as soon as we get updated information we will share it with you. of course, you can go to our website at wusa9.com for the latest information about this story and other news items throughout the day. well, nine years after

vanishing from her australian family's home, muffy was reunited with her owners after completing a mysterious journey of 1200 miles. by the way, a mike chip in her neck actually identified her owners and identified her. the owners hasn't seen her since she disappeared from their backyard nine years ago. but last tuesday chloe rushby was cable to cradle her pooch and just marveled at this miraculous return. isn't that a wonderful story? i love that story. >> they only check for the mike chip years ago. >> i don't know. they couldn't find. >> just went on a journey and decided to come back. >> amazing. some steamy weather out

there. >> it will be hot and humid. >> it is going to hotter and more humid than it is. it is steame outsidand the dimi s. erow dopplerdopplerdoppler 9000 er fairly qu30 minutes or so watched this form nochmu lv ca t.er onmuch in calvert. tot on the bridge from calver st. marys . uncoty there coalo route 4. we have someowsosh s. had a couple in anne arundel county e shore, north of y adshside. but you see adfr lusby to so bylomon's island, up to saint leonard here and east of prince frederick along the bay we have showers. all of this is off to the northeast. we will have some bay breeze showers and maybe some in the mountains. other than that fairly quiet. get the forecast for the next three days, 92 today. it will be kind of steamy. an isolated storm is possible. tomorrow afternoon and could be early to mid afternoon these

things start. lower 90s. by thursday, back in the 80s with a slim chance of a thunderstorm. so this afternoon, partly to mostly sunny. low 90s. south winds five to ten. the sunset 8:16. tonight we would have could have a passing shower or thunderstorm, 68 to 74 but rain chances fairly low until tomorrow. the hoot and humid day with scattered thunderstorms in the afternoon. highs in the lower 90s. check out the haze from isth mo rning. and after a few hours, we have mixed it out a little bit. visibility is improving but a real august looking day for a change. up to 85 at the noon hour with a sow wind. dew point upper 60s and it son the comfortable side. we have the air temperature now mid-80s. low 80s in cambridge, 82. manassas 84. when you factor in the heat and humidity, you get a index of 91 in baltimore and downtown. and it will stay uncomfortable

the rest of the afternoon. look at the thunderstorms in in the middle of the country. this is moving more southeast than east or we would have concerns. this is going to miss us. some clouds may get us and if this can hold together we have a chance of a shower as we head in to tonight. but as you look at microcast nine, it is tomorrow that we are concerned about the threat for showers and thunderstorms. here they go popping up on wednesday in the afternoon and the evening. the seven-day forecast, we are talking about heat, and then a break. and then more heat. drop in the 80s for thursday and friday with isolated storms. scattered storms tomorrow. look at the weekend. things really heat up on sunday and monday, mid 90s and could be warmer than that. 9 news now at noon will haright right after this. (male anuncer) if you've had a hearatta

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(announcer) new icy hot medicated roll. for wherever you hurt. icy to dull pain, hot to relax it away. the new icy hot medicated roll. with the roll, pain's under control. parents are getting ready for school to start. after a summer of fun, students will be back to reading, writing and arithmetic and today we'd like to give some parents another option when selecting a new school for youngsters. dr. davidianford is a political director at options public school in northeast washington. options is one of my favorite schools because i'm on the board of directors, but it is special to me and special to you. why is it special to so many parents and students in the washington area? >> it is special because we

offer specialized services who are in strong need of emotional support, behavior support. we know the optimal objective is to increase academic functioning but we recognize the student also needs to address some behavioral, social, all sorts of different -- physical needs. and what options does is it has a program available to address those needs. >> these are students who are unable to really pursue a traditional education that we think of. so this gives them an alternative. >> that's an important point. some of the traditional schools, it is difficult for the straighters to deal with behaviors of students might present with, such as fighting or disrespectful language. options is unique because instead of sending the student

home and doing a suspension we want to keep them in the program because we want them to be successful. >> you have openings and i will give the phone number. if there is a parent looking for a charter school, the number is 202-547-1028. thank you for being with us. >> thank you. (announcer) now skating...jim perdue. there's no skating around the fact that my perdue perfect portions fresh chicken breasts are perfect. each piece come individually wrapped, so you can cook what you need and easily store what you don't. and they're perfectly sized to cook quickly and evenly in only 10 minutes. it's the perfect answer to your dinner routine. (announcer) perdue perfect portions. also in a variety of all natural seasonings.

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