>> on behalf of a grateful nation, welcome home. [ applause ] welcome home. >> the last 6,000 u.s. forces are packing up, they'll be out of iraq by the end of this month. it's the final chapter in a nearly nine year war that killed more than 4500 americans and injured tens and thousands more. >> all the fighting and all the dying, the bleeding, and the building and the training and the partnering, all of it has led to this moment of success. >> the president recounted the challenges u.s. forces faced during the course of the war. and thanked the families who stood behind their loved ones deployed to the front line. >> every military family that has carried that load over the last nine years, you two have the thanks of a grateful nation. >> and he renewed his pledge to support veterans on the home front. and help them find work. the unemployment rate for

soldiers returning from war is higher than the overall rate nationwide. the president highlighted the bill he signed that offers a tax credit to businesses that higher veterans. even though american forces are leaving, president obama promised iraq's prime minister the u.s. will help iraq with security, terrorism, and military training in the future. >> and over the course of the war, a million and a half americans served in iraq, lesli, certainly the end of an era. >> it is. tara, thank you. one of the most recognizable faces from the car in iraq starts a new chapter of her own tomorrow. jessica lynch gained notoriety when she was kidnapped after her convoy was attacked in 2003. the former army supply clerk joined up at age 18 to earn money for college. tomorrow, set to graduate from west virginia university with her teaching degree. police say a 43-year-old man on a suicide mission was shot and killed by police after a standoff outside his house.

it happened on the 7600 block of valley park road and that is where our delia is live. police still on the scene, we understand, delia. >> that's right, we are about six hours in. let's take a look at what police are doing here, focusing their energies in the front yard of the gunman. you can see, they were combing through evidence with rakes going through the front yard. you can take a look at that maroon car in the driveway. that is the gunman's car. it is riddled with bullets. >> i heard about 30 or 40 shots. >> he heard those gun shots about 30 minutes after sending his 16-year-old stepdaughter out to walk the dog. >> i was really frantic and at that time, i ran and looked outside and i immediately ran out to get her. >> but an officer sent him back inside the house, they had just shot and killed karr's 43- year-old neighbor. >> 20 or 30 police officers

with their guns drawn behind their cars. >> i seen the two police officers standing behind that gray car right there and they were shooting up at that car. >> armed man came outside the home. he was armed with a handgun and he waived that gun in a threatening manner and several officers shot that man. >> police say around noon, the gunman called 911 himself complaining about his job, saying he was armed and suicidal. >> the rumors, bipolar. and he had a few issues with the police. >> and police just removed the remains. we are taking a close look -- >> all right delia, thank you for that. we have two big stories you'll only see on 9 tonight. first, a woman is attacked in

broad daylight on a busy d.c. street. and she says she's alive today thanks to good samaritans. it happened outside a garage. the woman says a well-dressed man attacked her. tried to drag her down into the garage. that is when a group of samaritans jumped in. not only did they stop this attack, but they held the suspect until police arrive. >> i was struggling. i tried to kick them and fell to the ground. and that's when he got behind me and grabbed my hair and just started dragging me down the ramp into the parking garage. >> i grabbed his hand and i kicked him in the head a little bit to knock him down. >> how often do you get to say that someone literally saved your life? there's no telling what would have happened or what he would have done. >> now tonight, police have identified the man arrested. he is 20-year-old juan carlos lopez jimenez. he is charged with kidnapping. and new information tonight on that woman believed to be

stealing purses, wallets, and keys from people attending church services. she may be responsible for two more. peggy fox is live tracking the thief's trail. peggy. >> this is flores united methodist church. this may be the first place she struck a year ago. as we head towards christmas celebrations. church leaders are all worried if this woman isn't caught soon, more church goers and church participants will become victims. >> you feel vulnerable and violated. you know, that somebody is preying on folks when they come for the holiest time during the week. >> the reverend says police aren't doing enough to catch an apparent serial church bandit. the same woman struck her church north bethesda and st. lukes right across the street on the same sunday morning. >> we had a virginia license tag, exact number, a description, and they weren't willing to follow it up because it was across state line.

>> that day, the thief stole joy's wallet from her purse she left in the kitchen while she attended service. >> i had my social security, my driver's license, and all that in the wallet. >> another parisher thinks she spoke to the thief right after the wallet. >> i didn't like the way she brushed me off. she didn't say, i'll come another sunday. it was like, let me get through the door. >> you think she had already stolen the wallet? >> i know she had. >> the thief matches the same description as the woman that hit ten churches. the thief is believed to hit a church in ashburn and one in sterling. >> the fact she is going into different jurisdictions, people aren't putting the pieces together. >> fairfax and centerville united methodist churches have also been hit each twice and they think by the same woman. i never heard back from montgomery county police today,

but fairfax and loudoun county say they are working together to try to catch this woman. reporting live, i'm peggy fox, back to you. >> let's hope it happens soon. tonight at 7:00, swimming in the inner harbor. not something many of us would do, but baltimore is trying to change that and the multimillion dollar price tag could come from the pockets of everybody in maryland. we're going to talk about that at 7:00. >> all right, we'll shea you then. but still to come in this half hour, heading into the heavens at the end of this life may be more reliant on a wing than a prayer. we'll explain coming up. top. >> actually, still nice out here this evening. a lot of clouds, but no showers yet. we hit 50 today. low at national was only 38. we had a streak of four days in a row. 32 are below. average is 47 and 32. record high 70. record low 6 above. we'll come back and tell you when the showers roll in and look ahead to the weekend forecast. >> but first, tieing the knott. getting married may be falling out of favor. i'll look at the numbers, next.

salute all who serve at home and abroad this holiday season. >> i'm samuel schmidt from steven city, virginia. i'm currently deployed in afghanistan. i want to say happy holidays to my wife, michelle. i love you, baby. i'll be home soon. [ female announcer ] more people are using wireless devices...

in more ways than ever. and our networks are getting crowded.

but if congress frees up more wireless spectrum... we can empower more people to innovate... putting momentum behind our economy. and we can reduce the deficit... with more than thirty billion dollars paid by america's wireless companies. it's simple -- more spectrum means more freedom. for everyone. the idea of marriage being the norm seems to be fading tonight. according to the research center, the number of people tieing the knott is at a record low. the group studies the latest figures to find that 51% of adults had rings on their fingers. that's down from 6%. back in the 1960s, nearly 3/4 of all the population was married. critics say a vote in virginia effectively makes it

okay to dediscriminate against adoptive families based on their sexual orientation. social services finalized. the regulations only prohibit state agencies and private agencies licensed by the commonwealth from dediscriminating based on origin. rather than sexual orientation. >> startling new information out of the centers for disease control about domestic violence. one in four women say they have been hit, kicked, or violently attacked by an intimate partner. one in five women say they have been raped or someone tried to rape them. the cdc says 9,000 women took part in the survey. still ahead tonight, congress scrambling to tie up loose ends before the holiday break. we'll tell you what is on the agenda. but first, a preview of tonight's cbs evening news. >> her report on changing america. fewer people than ever are getting married. we'll look into why tonight on the cbs evening news.

salute all who serve at home and abroad this holiday

season. >> hi, my name is amanda. i'm currently stationed in guam. i would like to say hello to my family in alexandria, virginia. i miss you and i'll see you soon. 39 years ago and about 20 minutes, the apollo17 left the lunar surface and we haven't been back yet. spent three days, two hours, and 59 minutes on the moon. setting a record for mankind ice longest mission. they returned to earth with command module pilot, ronald evans. it marked the end of moon missions, but not the fascination with the star. >> tonight, there's talk of giving local residents a tax break if they choose to make outer space their final resting place. kristin fisher has this story. >> makes it possible to honor the memory of your departed

loved one with a final journey into infinity. >> this is a promotional video for the first company to offer a space burial. the way it works is that your cremated remains will be placed in one of these canisters and loaded on to a rocket. for $3,000, the canisters are shot into space, then vaporized. celeste has done thousands of these since 1997. thaw they launch at space port america in new mexico. but terri sponsored a bill that would give virginia residents a tax deduction if they pay to place their cremated remains into orbit from a space port facility in virginia. >> it's an idea to try to stimulate some demand for space launches. >> henry with the space policy institute is skeptical the tax breaks would bring in business for the state's private space industry. >> whether it's a true

incentive for commercial rockets and commercial launches, i don't know. but it's a neat idea. >> it's the dumbest idea i have ever heard of. >> most people want their loved ones to be here on earth. >> try telling that to families of people who already chose to have a space burial. >> it will be great to feel when i look at the sky, my husband will be there. >> in washington, kristin fisher, 9news now. >> now if the bill is approved, the tax break would be good for up to $2500 a year. >> tonight, democratic lawmakers are considering dropping their demand for a surtax on millionaires to pay for extending that payroll tax cut. mitch mcconnell refused to allow a quick vote. he thinks the senate should cast ballots on a measure to keep the federal government operating past the weekend. the senate did reject an amendment that would require a balanced federal budget.

maryland congressman is facing a challenge. today republicans say delegate, anthony o'donnell threw his hat into the ring for the fifth district race. he represented calvert and st. mary's county since 1995. he has been the minority leader since 2007. today, maryland senator helped introduce a bill to toughen the laws to make voter suppression a crime. that comes a week after an aide to bob ehrlich was convicted of taking part in calls to stop some voters from heading to the polls. makes it a crime to falsify information during the last 90 days of any election. information like the wrong date or time or inaccurate information about voter eligibility. >> they will be checking the calendar, because you have temperatures that don't suggest it's december. >> mainly upper 50s, but i would think fredericksburg might hit 60. it's not out of the question. and really, we're not looking at much rain fall . it will generate a few showers, that is

it. it is not a big rainmaker. let's start with the temperatures. the satellite picture first. this is actually that monster storm out in the southwest, it produced the snow in the l.a. mountains mountains and 1 to 2 feet of snow in new mexico. most of the rain, it is rain, which is also sort of surprising, is up in the great lakes. there's not much snow. you don't see hardly any whites or blues or anything indicating frozen precipitation. that's the deal. there's no arctic air anywhere in the 40 states. this is going to slowly move its way north and eastward. the bulk of the precipitation will stay to our north and nothing gets in here tonight and tomorrow morning. so we're dry tonight, you're dry for the morning commute. just a few clouds and that's about it. we will stay overcast. temperatures, 47 in bethesda. 47 arlington. still 50 in college park. upper 40s in rockville, gaithersburg, reston 46.

sterling 47 and springfield also 47 which is just about average this time of year. now becoming breezy and milder. mostly cloudy tonight, but dry. mostly cloudy in the morning. should be a dry commute. a few afternoon showers tomorrow. and another chilly weekend, but another bright weekend, lots of sunshine saturday and sunday. that system does appear, we talked about it yesterday, will stay to our south. so the future cast, we'll put this into motion. we'll stop it at 7:00. some clouds around, but no showers. we'll put it back into motion. around lunchtime, some clouds around. the showers, cumberland west into the mountains and a few showers find their way through gaithersburg, montgomery county, and maybe the district and over to annapolis by this time tomorrow. but this is light green. it's the lightest precipitation we can have and it's not going to fall everywhere. it's a weak system as we go through tomorrow night and early on friday. friday is going to end up being a nice day. tonight, mostly cloudy, breezy,

milder. a one blanket night. 36 to 42. winds out of the south at 10 to 15. lows downtown in the 40s. we're talking mid 40s at that. maybe some upper 30s in gaithersburg. and 39 in fairfax. tomorrow morning, well we're looking at mostly cloudy skies, but dry. light coat should do it. and then by afternoon, a couple of showers possible. again, not a big rainmaker. you're a gambler. leave your umbrella at home. highs 54 to 58. some areas could hit 60 tomorrow. next seven days. friday is very nice. 51. a little cooler, but still nice. a chilly weekend, but a nice weekend. mid 40s. next chance for rain will be tuesday into wednesday and even so, temperatures in the upper 40s on tuesday and back to 50 next wednesday. so it's time to think about getting it cooler. >> all right. they used to call us the toughest division. >> now the two top teams are 7-

6 and could make the playoffs with almost 500 record. it's pretty bad. so the fact that the redskins are 4-9, maybe not as bad, or could be worse. whatever you want to think on that one. they beat the giants in week one. find out why they think the redskins can do it again this sunday. plus, the terps back in action tonight with a little distraction on the sidelines. find out what coming up next in sports.

now, 9sports with kristen burset. the best sports in town. after a win over dallas on sunday, the new york giants edged him out for the top spot in the division and continue their push to the playoffs. now it's the redskins that are looking to spoil that this weekend. plus, they would love nothing more than to sweep their division rivals this season. it would be the first time since '99 that has happened. the redskin season opened with a victory and even though it is 13 weeks since that game, they feel they have a slight edge and added confidence to get it done. >> trying to keep getting better and go out there and try to play it and win. >> we can't beat that team, you know, the matchups, things like that. so it does help. >> and defensive tackle, well he is like a sleeve of his former team.

he has been progressing each week, getting used to the defense. he leads the tackle. his teammates know how important this game is to him. >> i think he's pretty fired up. he's not going to say a whole lot. he's still friends with those guys. >> everybody wants to meet the old team they played for. i'm going to try my best to get them a win. >> and a quick injury update. right tackle jamal brown sent out a practice today. landry missed the last two games with a groin and akilllies problem. not sure if they're going to play yet this sunday. the terps host fiu tonight, better known as the team led by isaiah thomas. yeah, that guy. this should and i stress, should, be somewhat an easy victory for the terps. in front of a home crowd. their star may be limited after hurting his ankle last

wednesday. hoping their guys can turn their focus to the action on the court and not to standing on the sidelines. >> i'm sure our guys will be fired up to see who is on the bench. it's my all time greats. once the game starts, you don't think about who is down there. >> all right, high school, the game of the week poll, those include georgetown prep at undefeated potomac falls. for the girls, seneca valley. dc.highschoolsports.net to vote. finally tonight, monday's practice, attempting a goal from the upper deck at the bridge stone arena. looks like he attempted a few of them. off the post and in. apparently they don't have -- they have a lot of extra time after practice. >> kind of cool. i like that. >> that is it for us. the cbs evening news is next.

have a great night.