not the motive. the assailant went for the purse. >> you watch all these shows and wish you know what to do, but all you can do is scream for help. >> people heard the screams. from the people passing by to the attorney across the street. >> she was screaming with all her energy. >> they all came running to the rescue of the young woman. >> by that time, there was a good number of people out here on the sidewalk and he had let her go. >> her attacker fled deeper into the parking garage where he was cornered and held for police. >> i grabbed his hand and i kicked him in the head to knock him down and another man grabbed his hand and pulled it behind his back. >> the people who came to your rescue, you didn't know them, right? >> no, i didn't know any of them. >> what do you say to them? >> they are amazing. how often do you say that someone literally saved your life? >> we have been in contact with d.c. police.

the suspect under arrest tonight is juan carlos lopez jimenez. the 20-year-old is charged with kidnapping. bruce, thank you. we are also following a developing story in prince georges county. a 43-year-old man is dead after police opened fire on him. sky 9 rushed to the scene just after noon today. this is in the 7600 block of valley park drive. delia joins us live as investigators still try to sort out exactly what happened there and what led to that death. delia. >> that's right, anita. still a whole lot of activity. five hours after this first began. take a look at the situation here. you can see that the police are in front of the gunmen's home. it appears they are taking pictures, scouring the area for evidence. the gunman's car, that maroon car riddled with bullets. his body is on the other side of the car awaiting the medical examiner. at this point, police are unsure if he fired his weapon

or not. he sent his 16-year-old stepdaughter out to walk the dog and 30 minutes later, he heard gun shots. >> i heard about 30 or 40 shots. and i woke up immediately looking for her and the dogs and they were still out, of course. >> you must have panicked. >> i was frantic and at that time, i ran and looked outside and i immediately ran out to get her and as i walked down the steps, i looked to the right and the detective told me to get back in the house. >> police say a 43-year-old gunman called police himself around noon complaining about his job and saying he was armed and suicidal. s.w.a.t. team officers quickly surrounded the house, that's when the gunmen walked out to his driveway and made a sudden move that cost him his life. >> he was armed with a handgun and he waved that gun in a threatening manner and several officers shot that man. >> the rumors are that he is

bipolar and he had a few issues with the police. the police came through a few times in the neighborhood and had some issues with the police. >> but never anything violent. >> no, nothing violent. >> and as investigators continue to work that front yard scouring the area with flashlights and pictures looking for evidence, it is still unclear just how many times the gunmen was shot by police. several officers fired their weapons. they are all now on routine paid leave pending an internal investigation. i can tell you this shooting here today makes the 14th police involved shooting in prince georges county. anita. >> all right delia, thank you. lesli. the withdrawal from troops is nearly complete. at a ceremony today in north carolina. president oh obama talked

about the great sacrifices made by soldiers. matt joins us live from the satellite center with details of today's ceremony. matt. >> president obama didn't start the war in iraq. as most people know, he was against it. so today the president said he was proud to attend a welcome home party that effectively marks the war's end. >> nearly nine years after u.s. troops invaded iraq, an invasion that barack obama vigorously opposed as a state senator and then a u.s. senator from illinois. president obama marked the end of the war during a speech today at fort bragg. >> i'm proud to finally say these two words and i know your families agree. welcome home. [ applause ] welcome home. >> addressing a group of soldiers just back from iraq. the president spoke of all that was accomplished during the war. but also all who are lost. >> nearly 4500 americans made

the ultimate sacrifice. including 202 fallen heros from here at fort bragg. >> at the height of the war in 2007, about 170,000 american soldiers were serving in iraq. two months ago, the president pledged to have all u.s. troops out of the country by the end of 2011. right now, only about 5,000 troops remain. and the last of the u.s. troops in iraq are expected to leave that country sometime in the next few days. lesli. >> a lot of families are going to be happy to see their loved ones. thank you. >> now to a story you'll only see here. we told you about a bold female thief. she's been hitting churches. >> that's right. since our story first air the, more victims have reached tout us, the list of churches is growing. peggy fox joins us live from virginia. this woman seems to strike in the middle of sunday services. is that correct? >> that's exactly right,

bruce. it is very frightening to the church goers. they don't know who this woman is. they are on the lookout for her. they think they talked to her. this is flores united methodist. it's the first apparent targeting by this female church robber and we think that it started a year ago here about this time just leading up to christmas. we also believe that she hit about 12 different times, striking churches from leesburg to bethesda and targeting some more than once. >> you feel vulnerable and you feel violated. somebody is preying on folk when is they come for the holiest time during the week. >> she strikes during worship services. while the staff is in the sanctuary, she wanders the church like she owns it. stealing keys and letting herself into offices and targeting places like choir rooms. >> it's buried back.

i hid it behind these. >> while the minister sat feet away leading the 8:00 a.m. service. >> i worry about people being vulnerable to theft in church while they are trying to worship and that i also worry about this person who is out there and what are they doing and needing? >> that september 13 day, they think the thief apparently needed more loot as she walked across the street to north bethesda united methodist church for their 11:00 service. >> i put my purse here and continued to help with the coffee. >> while julie was in the service, someone stole her purse and staff member linda thompson thinks she met the woman who did it. >> i just said to her, can i help you? and she said oh no, i'm fine. >> linda thought the white woman with dark brown hair looked and acted suspicious, so she kept an eye on her. and then left. >> she had pulled her car right up to the church kind of

by the handicap spots here and her trunk was up and she was stuffing her mouth with chocolate. >> now just in the last hour, i have spoken with folks at centerville united methodist church. they have been hit twice by this woman burglar and they say fairfax united methodist also has been hit twice. and in one case in centerville, women in the church choir, nine of them lost their purses and it's not just a matter of replacing the money. you have to replace the credit cards and keys in some cases and the minister we talked to up in bethesda, she had to spend $1200 to replace the locks at her own house because those keys were missing. it's a lot of hassle and certainly makes people feel very on edge and these church leaders are worried this thief is out there. they are worried people will be vulnerable as we get closer to christmas and they would like this thief caught now and

stopped. i'm peggy fox reporting live, back to you. >> the churches that haven't been hit, give us a description, what does she look like? >> she's 5'5", has a pear shaped body. on the heavy side, carries this big black bag and she has long brown hair. and she walks in and you know, walks among the parishers and acts like she belongs there. >> thanks a lot. police in fredericksburg are investigating what they are calling a scrooge-like theft. someone stole the baby jesus figure from a nativity scene. a maintenance worker discovered the theft this morning. the management firm that overseas the shopping center tried to secure the figure by filling it with 80-pounds of concrete. that still didn't stop the thieves. so far, police have no suspects. it is a freak accident that could only be described as horrifying for anyone who has been on an elevator. today a woman was killed after an elevator malfunctioned inside a new york office

building. jennifer jordan reports. >> the woman was in the lobby of this midtown manhattan building. as the doors closed, she was only partly inside. police say her foot or leg got caught and suddenly the elevator shot upwards. knew something terrible had happened. >> all of the people were running out and they were saying that the elevator crushed one woman inside. >> as the elevator rose, it dragged the woman into the shaft, crushing her between floors. >> there were two other people inside the elevator when it malfunctioned, they were not injured. but were sent to the hospital to be treated for psychological trauma. >> 26 story tower is the long time home of the advertising agency, y and r. the victim was an executive there. she was pronounced dead at the scene. >> i feel bad for everybody inside. >> police and the city's buildings department are investigating what caused the elevator to malfunction.

the victim was just 41 years old. jennifer jordan for cbs news, new york. people who work in the building say they had never heard of problems with the elevators before. we want to take you to breaking news that continues to unfold out in california. this is video from montebello. a tanker truck exploded on the eastbound 60 freeway. that is east of east l.a. all lanes of that freeway are shut down and you can see those large black plumes of smoke for miles. amazingly, the two people inside the tanker escaped unharmed, no other vehicles are involved in that fire, but right now rescue teams are working the scene and they are going to try to bring in engineers to analyze the overpass to determine whether it is structurally sound. just in to 9news now, the verdict is guilty in the case of keith little. he's a hospital maintenance worker accused of killing his boss in a hospital boiler room. little was convicted of first- degree murder in the death of

roosevelt. he stabbed his boss more than 70 times back on new year's day. little was upset about a schedule change in the poor performance review. sky 9 was over waldorf, maryland, this morning shortly after a school bus drove into a trailer. it happened early this morning on the school bus parking lot. nobody seriously hurt. police are investigating whether the driver deliberately slammed into the office trailer. there are reports she was angry with another worker there who might have tried to run her over. >> for the first time in history, there will be no one named marriott at the top of the hotel chain that bares the family name. why bill marriott is stepping down as ceo. top. temperatures not bad. temperatures are hovering around 50. in fact, we'll show you temperatures and milder air is on the way. 49 downtown. 46 in gaithersburg. 50 in fredericksburg. we'll come back and tell you how mild it's going to get tomorrow and if you are going to need your umbrella.

>> christmas carolers tossed out of the post office. a santa skeleton on the courthouse lawn. is there a war on christmas? i'm bruce leshan. a story coming up.

the washington, d.c. veterans affairs medical center and wusa9 salute all who serve at home and abroad this holiday

season. >> hello, my name is lieutenant colonel jim wood. i'm in afghanistan. i would like to say happy holidays to my wife, sue, and my daughters and all my friends. hope to see you soon. speculation is over. time magazine named the protester as the person of the year. in 2011, protesters didn't just voice their complaints, they changed the world. across the middle east that has spread to europe and the u.s. by the way, last year, facebook founder, mark zuckerberg. >> conservatives have been rallying against a war on christmas. we're talking about persecuted christmas carolers. bruce leshan has been looking into this. is there a battle against christmas?

>> you know, some e evangelical christians think so. this has become a cultural wedge issues. on the left, there are just as many people who think this is a manufactured, ratings driven fantasy crisis. >> they start off by saying, oh god, and that's about it. >> latest in what some see as a war on christmas. >> you can't sing here. you can't sing on government property. what do you think you're doing? get out right now. >> christmas carolers ejected from the post office. the conservative family research council and his two- year-old just happened to be in line. >> her first experience with christmas caroling involved an angry scowling post manager. >> there's been a war on christmas, a war on christmas. >> a war on christmas. >> there is a war on christmas. >> you are antichristian.

>> a war. >> at christmas time, the issue has been featured on fox news. >> gays can serve openly in the military, but our kids can't openly celebrate christmas. >> rick perry is running ads about it. >> i'll end obama's war on religion. >> skeleton santa erected by atheists and removed by an angry woman fed the fears. >> what are you doing? >> i'm talking this down. it's offensive. >> there's absolutely no war on christmas. >> with civil libertarians say what conservative evangelical christians are really looking for is special access to public spaces. look around, see the christian holiday symbols they say and you'll realize the war on christmas -- >> he thinks you're santa claus. >> is just a fantasy. >> and that's all this is. a fantastic war on christmas that simply doesn't exist. >> we want to know what you

think. go to our facebook page, let us know. i think we'll get a lively debate. a will the of people are already signing in and saying stuff. i mean, this is just one of those issues that gets people riled up. >> see what they say. bruce, thanks. back to you guys. we're in the christmas spirit, particularly topper with his special tie. >> it's time. you can't wear these ties very often. >> gift from the wife? >> yes. had to wear it. i'm mandated. got a problem with that? you met the wife. >> he has to go home. >> if your wife bought me a tie, i'd be wearing it. >> we talked about this big storm in the southwest and how some of the moisture gets in tomorrow. big time snow anywhere from 1 to 2 feet fell in the mountains of arizona and new mexico from early monday until this afternoon. it caused all kinds of problems on the interstate. they didn't get that much, but still, that's a decent snow for them for this time of year. enough to plow, enough to sand. and enough to stick on the

roads. all right, for us, temperatures are actually going up. we're looking at the satellite picture radar combined. one thing that jumps out at you, most of it is rain. i mean, even in iowa, in minnesota, and the great lakes, there's no cold air anywhere and that's not going to change much over the course of the next couple of days. in fact, tomorrow will be milder than today despite the clouds and despite the showers. even see some showers and rumble of thunder in through parts of indiana, illinois, south of chicago over toward detroit. we have plenty of clouds here, but we're going to stay dry if you want to walk the dog. showers roll in tomorrow night and this is not a power packed system. there's not much moisture with this system. temperatures, 50 in college park. 48 in arlington. mainly in the 40s. 48 in rockville. 47 in great falls and 47 in reston. temperatures just about in our wheel house for this time of year. becoming breezy and milder. mostly cloudy tonight, but dry. mostly cloudy in the morning for the commute, but dry.

afternoon showers. some folks will have a wet commute on the way home. and chilly for the weekend. but nice for the weekend. another bright, but brisk weekend. let's put the future cast into motion. a lot of clouds. there's no green blobs anywhere, which is a good thing. we get into the morning hours, we'll find clouds and showers by tomorrow afternoon. for tonight, mostly cloudy, breezy, milder. call it a one blanket night. lows 46 to 42. so most folks remain in the 40s. certainly inside the beltway and downtown, you'll be in the 40s. a few upper 30s in gaithersburg and reston. but a far cry from the 20s we've had. tomorrow morning, mostly cloudy, breezy, just cool. a light coat should take care of you. and by afternoon, mostly cloudy, breezy, even milder with just a few showers. again, not a power packed system. highs 54 to 58. if you're a gambler, you can leave your umbrella at home. cooler by hind the system on

friday, but pleasant. and there's the weekend. chilly, but very nice. mid 40s, that's not bad with sunshine. showers develop, rain develops as we get into tuesday night into wednesday. and really there is just no arctic air in sight. temperatures next wednesday still around the 50-degree mark. >> wow. >> we're working on it. >> okay, stop, folks, a judge actually praises actress lindsay lohan. we'll tell you why coming up. and they take the guess work out of giving, but we'll tell you why you may want to think twice about gift cards.

requested holiday gifts. the survey shows spending on gift cards will reach $27.8 billion this holiday season. according to the nrf, shoppers will spend more than $155 buying them. that's $10 more than last year. and that makes five years in a row that gift cards have topped consumer wish lists. and it's tempting to give one because the gift card is easy and convenient. but there is a downside.

up to 19% of them are never redeemed and though new regulations limit some fees, you can get burned. you want to pick those gift cards carefully. >> sure, a gift card may seem like the perfect present. >> if it's a store i go to, then yes. >> i waste them. i lose them. >> they get forgotten. >> consumer reports says it's important to think twice before giving a gift card. >> gift cards are better than they used to be. new regulations have eliminated some fees so you can't be charged if you don't use it in the first year and cards can't expire for five years. >> with new protections in place, there are drawbacks. >> merchant and bank issued gift cards. so if you have a reloadable card or one that is not marketed as a gift card, you're going to want to pay close attention to those terms. >> bank issued cards are convenient. you can use them almost anywhere, but they come with fees. this visa gift card from u.s. bank cost $395 3.95 if you get

it from a branch. after a year, you'll get an inactivity fee. >> we found one that has a transaction fee and it charged another 3% to transfer the funds. >> if you still want to give a gift card, retail store cards usually have little or no fees. but just make sure the person you buy it for likes to shop there. >> when you're giving a gift card, you want to include the terms and poll sis policies as well as the receipt. >> even better, consider giving cash or a check. that way the person can shop when and where they want with no strings attached. >> now if you do receive a gift card, you want to check out the terms and whether you have to register it in case it's lost or stolen. keep it in your wallet. spend it as soon as possible. you don't want to be left holding a gift card for a company that goes out of business. >> good advice. still ahead, the signs of adult

adhd and what works to get it under control. >> also ahead, talk show queen, oprah winfrey gets a tour after the progress made after the earthquake devastated haiti. bill marriott hands over the reigns of his global hospitality empire today and looks back on his surprising humble roots. [ female announcer ] more people are using wireless devices...

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hotel icon, bill marriott handed over the reigns of his empire today. there will be no one named as marriott as ceo. this is big news today, isn't it? >> it's a big deal and a big hometown company. bill marriott is about to turn 80 years old and he is just as humble and humorous as he could be. >> employees strained to get photos as bill marriott stepped aside as ceo in north bethesda today. >> i started out as a soda jerk and through family connections, here i am. >> marriott is head of a hospitality empire that includes 660,000 hotel rooms in 72 countries. at $1.3 billion, he is one of the richest and most generous men in washington.

and he really did start at a hot shop's restaurant, a chain his father built. >> that is all we had back then in 1951 was the hot shop restaurants, which are famous for old time washingtonans. i learned what it was like to be on the other side of the aisle and what it was like to work in the kitchen. how demanding it was. i loved it. >> and now to the old twin bridges motor hotel in arlington. long gone now, but the company's first, $8 a night when bill marriott ran it for his company in the eisenhower era. the reigns are being handed over to arnie sorenson. >> marriott through many respects through absolute drive, has built the modern hotel industry in the united states and around the world. >> i'll do what i can to promote the industry. >> bill marriott promises to

stay busy, promoting global travel and employment to keep the company's hotel rooms full. >> one thing for sure about all this, the marriott headquarters stays here in d.c. because all the other majors in the u.s. industry are here to do business. they have 15,000 employees in our region alone. bruce, not bad for a guy that started out really pouring root beer. >> absolutely. and how is the marriott doing worldwide? >> they are doing great. they are in the chinese market. there are a lot of people traveling there. a lot of new money and they are building hotels and rooms there. >> thanks a lot. all right, gentleman. talk show queen, oprah winfrey is traveling to haiti taping an episode for her new show on her own cable channel. she is touring refugee camps and new housing projects in the earthquake ravaged island nation. it's been nearly two years since 300,000 people died. and oprah visited a tent camp

in port pore port prince. >> i connected with my friend, sean penn, went to his camp and saw some of the really great work they are doing. moving haitians back into their homes. i wanted to get a broader view, so i went to visit an orphanage to see people who have taken in kids whose families were lost in the earthquake. >> oprah is also offering her support to a program developing the sale of haitian art. lindsey lohan was back in court today, but this time she heard praise. the judge overseeing her case says lohan is doing well under her strict new probation routine of counseling and working at the county morgue. she remains on probation for a 2007 drunken driving case and a case filed earlier this year.

and her spread in playboy hits newsstands this week. a new center will explore the life and legacy of president, abraham lincoln. it called the center for education in leadership. the plan calls for two floors of exhibits and funeral artifacts. there's also going to be a three story tower of lincoln books. center is expected to open next february. tonight, only on 9, when you think of homeless camps in our area, rockville may not be the first place that comes to mind. >> did you know for the last seven years, a small homeless village has been moving around the woods, all for a major intersection in rockville. right now, it's located on a hill behind the u haul center. and tonight, lindsey mastis says these folks were afraid they were about to be evicted from the place they currently call home. >> it is hidden in the woods, a neighborhood with streets and tents. it's home to a half dozen

people, including amber. we're not showing her face because she doesn't want her family nor her employer to know she's homeless. >> i was evicted in july of 2010. >> she was living here with her boyfriend, but their relationship turned violent. >> they issued a warrant for his assault against me. >> the situation put this encampment on the radar. >> the police came up here yesterday and said that because of his behavior, we all had to be out of here. >> no one knows when the police will come, but the people who live here are convinced they will. and they are trying to prepare. >> carmen lived in this area for years. >> i don't feel it's correct to have us suffer because one person did something wrong. >> after noon, a group of montgomery county animal control and police officers came to take amber's two dogs. the dogs stayed, amber went with them to talk about

options. i made some calls and found out that police will be back thursday morning with an inspector from the epa and representatives from the county's homeless outreach program. they'll work with carmen, amber, and the others to find them shelters and they'll condemn the property that will give these people five to seven days to pack up and leave. >> i really don't know. i really don't know. >> in rockville, i'm lindsey mastis, 9news now. >> there is some good news for amber. she's going to be staying in long-term housing and that starts tonight. her dogs will stay in a shelter for the time being as well. now montgomery county councilman says he is working with the department of health and human services to make sure everyone in the camp has access to the services the county provides for homeless people and they want them in a shelter versus out in the woods. >> coming up, police want to know why three cowboys on horse back settled into a colorado safeway. but up next, man behind the wheel of his pickup truck takes

aim at his exgirlfriend while she was inside a convenience store. and don't forget, we are always on at wusa9.com. stay with us, we're back in a minute.

all right, caught on tape,

amazing surveillance video from a convenience store outside of nashville. a man plowed into this market trying to run down his exgirlfriend. the video shows he misses the woman, but he hits the store owner, crushing her under debris. amazing pictures. somehow the owner emerges. walks away with just bumps and bruises. the pickup driver ran from the store, stole an suv, and he is now in critical condition after colliding head on with a bread truck. he faces criminal charges. >> at least. >> a black bear caused quite a stir in downtown vancouver. >> yeah, the bear was sighted on monday. police moved in and surrounded the truck. a large crowd gathered around. >> suddenly when the doors open from the dumpster, a bear hopped out. we said there's a bear. there's a bear. >> i was thinking, what's going on in downtown vancouver?

>> a gentleman down the street said there's a bear. so it took me by surprise for sure. >> okay, there's a bear. an officer arrived and tranquilized the officer. the officer comforted the bear and released the grip, following safely into a sling and it was tagged and released into the wild. >> and this in colorado. cowboys taking their horses into a starbucks and a safeway grocery store on sunday. shoppers and clerks called the police. officers had to taser and arrest one of the riders because he ignored police. no word on what inspired the three to ride their horses through town and into locations with shoppers. what is that? >> there's no sign that says no horses. >> thank god they didn't taser the horse. the redskins face a challenge from the resurging new york giants. we'll go inside the locker room to hear how the players are

preparing. coming up. topper. >> cleanup on aisle 4. coming up, we'll talk about when the rain rolls in. we have a lot of clouds, but not going to rain or shower for a while. we'll let you know when that's going to roll in and what the weekend looks like as well.

salute all who serve at home and abroad this holiday season. >> this is andrew, currently stationed in camp humphries, korea. i would like to wish my wife, christina, my daughters, and my two sons a merry christmas and a happy new year. in tonight's health alert. kids can outgrow a number of childhood health problems. there is one that if it carries into adulthood, can hinder a person's ability to focus. >> back to the second most common psychiatric disorder after depression. >> adhd or attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder is a neurological condition. most people think of it only affects kids, but millions of adults never outgrow the

condition. >> trouble paying attention, easy distraction, trouble sitting still or feeling restless. >> we know how frustrating they can be in children, but in adults, they can have devastating consequences. >> twice as likely to be divorced and separated. twice as likely to be under employed. you get bored easily. you lose interest. you know, poor performance. >> 46-year-old james davis was first diagnosed with adhd at age 40. >> okay. this is what -- everything started making sense. >> the disorder made life difficult, especially when it comes to keeping a job. >> i wish i knew what i was dealing with. it would have made different choices. >> let's just say i have been let go a few times. >> 46-year-old gina also just found out she has adhd. she says it made her so

unorganized, distracted, and unbearable it contributed to the end of her 14 year marriage. >> i can understand it would be difficult to be with someone like me who is all over the place. >> with treatment, which consistents of medication and therapy, it can give adults the clarity and focus they need. >> mytry to correct this so i can live out the rest of my life feeling fulfilled. >> last week, a study confirmed the drugs used for adhd are safe for adults when it comes to cardiovascular health, putting them at no greater risk than the general population. bruce. >> marijuana use among teenagers is on the rise. a new national survey finds one of every 15 high school seniors report smoking pot on a daily or near daily basis. that's the highest rate since

1981. the percentage when who see a risk dropped in recent years. that survey comes out of the university of michigan for the national institute on drug abuse. the students and faculty at public charter schools for public policy, they have come out winners. that is when it comes to t- shirt slogan contest. they won a competition to express what inspires them to remain drug free. the contest is sponsored by the mentor foundation. its mission is to prevent drug abuse. all the students win t-shirts with the winning slogan. children from the easter hills child development center were showered with holiday gifts today. santa delivered the gifts. there were holiday songs. >> all right. ask for lots of great gifts, and plenty of kids might want to see today's holiday gifts under the tree. this is the hot wheels video

racer and we left it in the packaging because this is going to go to a lucky child this season. but take a look at what this can do. you can race it on a track. it records your moves. you can down load it to your computer. you can add a sound track, some graphics, and you turn the car over. i'm going to turn it to this camera. you can see really close. there's the camera right there, so you can show it to your friends. they can check out your moves. this is popular. it ranges from $50 to $60. you have to go into a store to get it. you can't get this online anymore and this is not for small children because it has small parts. this is for 6 and up and there's a specific notice, not for kids 0 to 3. >> and a lot of things aren't available online anymore. you have to go to the store. >> part of it is, they don't have the excess inventory anymore. so when it's gone, it's gone. >> got it. >> that's a winner there, nice job. >> thank you, topper.

so glad you like this. >> absolutely. i tell you, hot wheels have come a long way. all right, let's start with temperatures. temperatures are really nice. we have cloud cover. temperatures in the 40s. looking at upper 40s across the board and we did touch 50 today. satellite picture, we're looking at showers, but not until tomorrow afternoon. we are in good shape until tomorrow afternoon. it will become breezy and milder. mostly cloudy tonight, but it stays dry. looking at a few afternoon showers thursday afternoon, but cloudy in the morning. it also stays dry in the morning. another chilly weekend, but a dry weekend. all right, let's take you to the future cast. notice the clouds, that's good. we get to 11:45, showers will show up in the mountains just before lunchtime. notice the showers aren't pronounced. some may not make it south of town and not going to amount to much. the weak frontal system and behind it is not that much in

terms of colder air. it will be cooler on friday. we'll get a second shot of a colder air over the weekend. tonight, mostly cloudy, breezy and milder. 36 to 42. winds out of the south at about 10. and eventually 10 to 15. by morning, mostly cloudy and cool. light coat will do it. 30s and 40s. winds pick up southwest now at 10 to 20. and by afternoon, mostly cloudy, breezy, even milder. a few showers. highs 54 to 58. winds out of the southwest at 10 to 20. that's a warm wind. all right, next seven days. friday, pleasant, but cooler. chilly over the weekend, but it is december, folks. mid 40s saturday and sunday. upper 40 #áz on monday. next chance for rain will be tuesday into wednesday. and even then we're in the upper 40s on tuesday. so there's really no arctic air in sight across really much of the country. >> very calm. almost 60. >> yeah.

>> that's great. >> thank you top. now, 9sports with kristen burset. the best sports in town. >> it's going to be another long december for redskins and redskins fans after launching their fourth straight losing season. now is the time they look towards the draft and beyond. >> with a 4-9 record and no playoff push, the redskins have taken on the role of spoiler. >> that's basically what it has come down to. if we can't get it for ourselves. >> next up, the division leading new york giants in a chance to repeat a season opening victory. >> really have what we thought was going to set the stage for a really good year for us. >> we beat them. i think it will carry over. we have to show we can do it again. >> but that's not the only thing the skins are playing for these last few weeks.

their pride is on the line. along with their job. >> it's important to really continue to get better and establish, you know, who we are on all three phases of the game. >> in recent weeks, we have gotten a glimpse of the redskins future. nine first and second year players face new england on sunday, showing signs of progress, the redskins hope to build on for next year. >> i thought we did the things you had to do to win the football game. >> it's comforting we have been able to do some things. we aren't happy because we aren't winning, but you know, we're moving the ball a little bit and we need to move it better. >> we need to figure out a way to finish the games that are tight and figure out a way to eliminate mistakes. >> all right, we'll have more on the redskins prep for sunday, plus mark, the terps host isaiah thomas. all that coming up later in

sports. lesli, over to you. >> still ahead, as the u.s. mission draws to a close, one of the most recognizable faces of the war prepares to enter her own phase. and later on, you may not be able to head into the cosmos in this life, but what about the next? how to get a break on a stellar eternal resting place. and up next, you may have been known for her white diamonds, but it's her gems of all colors getting noticed tonight. look at the auction for elizabeth taylor's jewels after the break.

this time of year, people are typically looking for the best bargains on holiday presents. >> tonight, buyers are snapping up jewelry at record setting prices. >> inside the auction of elizabeth taylor's jewels. >> for decades, stood a chance. stunning when she wore them and now. >> $10,500,000. thank you very much. >> stunning because she wore them. cristie is auctioning through friday. >> we wanted to let the market decide what premium it would pay over the value of the

jewels. we begin this $40,000? >> $40,000, $45,000. >> bidding on a bracelet. prices went up from there. this ring, $600,000. >> these earrings, $1.7 million. then came the jewels that outlasted taylor's storied romances. this pearl necklace was once part of the crown jewels of pain. valued at $3 million. >> $4 million. $5million. >> the highest bidder paid nearly four times that. the 33-carat diamond burton bought in 1968 sold for $8.8 million. >> if anybody asks you if diamonds are a good investment, the answer is yes. >> the auction set records, as for one more night, elizabeth taylor's star power proved unsurpassed. i'm emily schmidt reporting. >> elizabeth taylor died in hair at the age of 79.

the rest of this week's auctions are for art and hollywood memorabilia. this is 9news now. >> if you're commander in chief and on behalf of a grateful nation, i'm proud to finally say these two words and i know your families agree. welcome home. >> the president and first lady went to north carolina today to pay tribute to the troops who fought and died in iraq. all american troops are set to leave that country by the end of the month. tara is live at the white house with more. tara. >> reporter: good evening, lesli. that's right, president obama welcomed home troops at fort bragg today. a military post that sent thousands of soldiers into iraq. >> soldiers cheered president obama and the first lady as they paid tr