have had to pay 700 bucks extra to the irs. and if you were up at the top of the scale here, $110,000 a year or more like a lot of folks around here, well, your extra tax bill more than $2,300. >> house speaker john boehner refused to give tea party republicans another chance to revolt, telling them this was the deal and then getting off the phone and offering an uncomfortable announcement to reporters. >> it may not have been politically the smart est thing in the world, but i'm going to tell you what, i think our members waged a good fight. >> reporter: at the white house, the president lined up americans worried about the tax hike. people who had responded to an administration campaign asking them to write about what losing $40 a paycheck would mean to them. >> i'm quoting, if someone doesn't think the 12 gallons of heating oil is important, i invite them to spend three nights in an unheated home.

>> reporter: they feared the house refusal to go along with the short-term bipartisan extension passed could have cost the gop the next election. >> i don't think there is any doubt the president and democrats have a political advantage here. >> here is an opportunity. >> reporter: master gop negotiator mitch mcconnell weighing in for the first time urged them to pass the two month extension while the senate creates a face saving conference committee. that suggestion may be what finally forced the deal. >> i don't think there's any time for celebration. >> reporter: there were just too many forces lined up against the rebellious tea party freshman. >> this is senate democrats, senate republicans, the president and the american people saying to the house republicans what are you doing? >> reporter: now, the two month extension did put an extra burden of uncertainty on small

businesses, so this deal includes a reduction in irs paperwork for them. it also requires a conference committee that will get to work to come up with a plan to cult the payroll tax cut through the end of next year. >> thank you, bruce. and we also have some good news to report on the economy just ahead of the holidays of the labor department says the number of americans filing first time unemployment benefits dropped to its lowest level since april of '08. economists had been expecting an increase. still, it is important to remember millions of americans are still without work. however, it looks like the danger has passed for those workers who are in danger of losing their federal unemployment benefits without the agreement on the payroll tax cut. the prosecutor has until january the 16th to decide whether or not bradley manning ought to be court marshalled. prosecutors ended the hearing

today. manning could face life in prison if he's found guilty of aiding the enemy. a brazen heist in broad daylight in our area, and it's all caught on tape. at this hour montgomery county police are out there looking for suspects in not one but two burglaries that happened just minutes apart on monday. now, watch closely. you'll see a green suv pull up in front of the house in silver springs. the suspect gets out, walks up to the front door, knocks, opens the screen door, looks around a little bit, puts on some gloves and takes a step back, looks around and then with one swift action, kicks the door in. the pair of thieves is also suspected in the break-in of another silver spring home. one neighbor who asked not to be identified saw it all unfold. >> they banged on the door about three or four times real hard to make sure there was no one there. they walked to the side of the house. when i was about to yell what are you doing, i saw him open the side door and saw him kick

the door in. that's when i called police. >> if you're planning to leave your home for the holidays, be sure to have a neighbor keep your eye on it even if you've cancelled your newspaper and had the post office hold your mail. you could end up with some piles of unsolicited newspapers in your driveway. police say a man is under arrest tonight in connection with several burglaries in leesburg. one of them at an art gallery owned by redskins chris cooley. in addition to the gallery, break strous targeted the spa and coffee house on september 2nd. windows on the doors of two of those businesses were smashed in. and if you're one of the thousands of people hitting the roads for the holidays in the virginia state police have a message for you. if you see emergency cars sitting over on the shoulder, be careful. move over. don't hit them. not only is this the law in virginia, but as christian fisher tells us, it can be a life saver. >> reporter: i'm kristin fisher where three state troopers were hit -- almost hit this year by a

careless driver. >> i've always told myself if i'm going to get seriously injured or killed out here, i don't want to know it's coming. and what shook me up the most about this is i saw it coming. >> reporter: master trooper lynne parker had just pulled off the shoulder when she saw a speeding car hydroplaning right for her. >> i was standing here and i actually saw the vehicle come across the interstate at my police car. and in a split second, i had to make a decision and i jumped over the guardrail and landed right here in the area. this broken glass is the back window. >> reporter: her car was totaled. her knee was injuried. but she was luckily to be alive. >> if i had been in the process of getting in my car, most likely i would have been killed. >> reporter: just last week a camera caught a vehicle pulled over to make a stop. >> pay attention. in a split second, you can't take it back. >> last year, 2010 only four state troopers were hit in

northern virginia. there were six in 2011. well, it may be the first day of winter, but try telling that to all of the people out working on their golf games today and the other golf courses in our neighborhood. everyone enjoying the 60 plus degrees temperatures. delia gongalves with more on that. >> reporter: i'm delia gongalves in a festive downtown bethesda. today's sunshine and warm temperature had them in a spring state of mine. >> this weather is great. >> reporter: on the dewy morning green . >> yesterday's rain will make it pretty sloppy. >> reporter: the sun birds through the clouds. >> how are you doing. >> reporter: warming up the spirit and the golf game. >> there are some benefits to global warming. >> reporter: call it what you may, these golfers are soaking up the signs of spring. the warm weather extending their golf season. >> it's a great day to come out and play golf. >> reporter: but 6-year-old sophia has sometg

else on the mind. >> it didn't snow yet even for the 21st yesterday. >> reporter: do you want snow? >> yes. so i can go out sledding. >> yes. it was all right. i wish there was some snow also. i'm just waiting to see what happens. and let's go to topper to see what happens. >> snowflakes will fall shortly. it's going to be liquid and not frozen. let's start with doppler 9000. we have some pretty big rains flowing up 95. now we're looking at moderate rains just south of warrenton and light rain just crossing 66. this is going to be in the metro area in the district anyway in the next hour and up into frederick by about 9:00. the good news is it's a quick hitter. 55 in manassas and downtown. 52 in gaithersburg and leesburg and still 50 up in hagerstown. so if you're headed out, grab your umbrella. cloudy and cool.

rain developing. winds become northwest at 10-15. we'll come back and tell you how cold it's going to get behind this frontal system and we'll look ahead to the forecast of the redskins game, last minute shoppers and the full forecast of christmas. >> thank you, topper. still to come, john edwards says he's just too sick to attend the scheduled beginning of his trial next week. we'll tell you what else happened. it's legitimate. these things are pretty -- plus getting a little testy out on the campaign trail. how come rod paul was so urked? state farm. this is jessica.

hey, jessica, jerry neumann with a policy question. jerry, how are you doing? fine, i just got a little fender bender. oh, jerry, i'm so sorry. i would love to help but remember, you dropped us last month. yeah, you know it's funny. it only took 15 minutes to sign up for that new auto insurance company but it's taken a lot longer to hear back. is your car up a pole again? [ crying ] i miss you, jessica! jerry, are you crying? no, i just, i bit my tongue. [ male announcer ] get to a better state. state farm.

john edwards is seeking to delay his criminal trial over campaign finances to former presidential candidate. he says he has a medical condition that will make it difficult to attend the beginning of the trial which was scheduled to happen january 30th. now, what the nature of the illness is, he's not saying. federal prosecutors filed a separate motion today to oppose that delay. the trial has already been delayed once after edwards said he needed more time to prepare his defense and to attend his daughter's wedding. former president george bush senior says he thinks mitt romney is the republican's best choice to recapture the white house. the 41st president made the comment in a newspaper interview. his spokesperson said it wasn't

an official endorsement. bush also says he likes texas governor rick perry but he doesn't seem to be going anywhere. george bush senior says i'm not the biggest advocate. gop presidential hopeful ron paul is bristling at reporters out on the campaign trail. gloria borzer in iowa. she kept asking him about controversial newsletter published in his name. those containing racially charged comments. [ no audio ] >> talk to people like you. >> and then he kind of just walks away. we don't have the sound for some reason. in any case, another controversial comment included in this statement from 1992 in which ron paul said order was only restored in la when it came time for blacks to pick up their welfare checks. so what do you think about all of this? even though we didn't have the sound, should ron paul be held accountable for the things said a long time ago in his name and

were his questions out of line. he said he didn't even know what was in the newsletter until a decade after they were released. he doesn't believe it anymore. send your comments to mail bag at wusa9.com. rising from the ashes, students will be going back to their former school after the holidays. fire destroyed the school one year ago. but now that the damage is repaired, what is old is new again. here is lindsey mastis. >> reporter: i'm lindsey nas tis in mastis in northwest washington. this school was destroyed one year ago. but now the campus is ready for students. construction crews are finishing up sweeping the halls and painting. they have completed a nearly $27 million renovation in record time. it's been exactly one year since the school caught fire. >> the building was destroyed.

i mean, flames were just pouring out of the windows. >> reporter: classroom are being furnished with new desks and computers. chancellor of dc public schools says they still need the community's help. >> consider making donations of new and gently used books for the library. >> reporter: in northwest washington, i'm lindsey mastis, 9news now. >> and parents are being encouraged to bring the children to the school for an open house in january so they can get familiar with the brand new layout. santa has a brand new bag. he is visiting with patients at the hospital through a special video link. it's a hookup that wouldn't have been possible for many of the kids without that link. some of them like alena are waiting for a new heart and she is tied to her machine at all times. >> so we hope you have a wonderful christmas with mommy and the hole family. >> did you like to see santa? what did you ask him? >> dora. >> dora.

>> let's hope she gets a new heart. he got involved because the project was looking for a way to bring santa to children who couldn't necessarily go to him. santa will conduct those cyber visits with the kids in 16 hospitals all over america this week. well, topper has all of the important holiday weather for you. white christmas? probably not. we'll find out what is coming our way, though.

a new report is out on the earthquake damaged washington monument. it was put together by the engineering firm whose employees were felt up and down in september. do you remember when top did that? >> oh, yes. >> they found the 127-year-old structure is highly vulnerable to rainfall withstanding water collecting on the upper floor when it storms. the monument has been closed to visitors since the 5.8 magnitude earthquake shook the nation's capitol over the summer. no word yet when it may reopen. we are waiting. >> that's what mortar is for. >> apparently it needs more. all right. 62 today. that was the high. >> record? >> no. our record high is 72. >> oh, okay. >> but still it's in the ballpark. the average high is 45. it's well above average. let's start with doppler 9000. you can access this on our website at wusa9.com. good news the rain is going to roll out really quickly. we see heavier rain south of 66

down through warrenton and south of a 5 down through fredericksburg. we still have some light rain actually moving into fairfax county and light rain crossing north on the north side of 66. let's put this into motion. what happens in just one hour. this activity races northward and makes it to gaithersburg, makes it to leesburg. will probably make it very close to frederick. we also see some heavy activity continuing down around warrenton, manassas and up towards chantilly. so bad news pretty good rain rolling in tonight. good news, it's going to roll out by dawn. temperatures in the 50s. we're still 54 in arlington. 55 downtown. 54 in bethesda. when the rain begins to pick up, though, we are going to look at -- well, actually we'll look at the temperatures fall a little bit as we go through the nighttime hours. it will fall just a little bit. cooler and then chilly. rain returns tonight. both commutes tomorrow should be dry. it may be drying on friday morning. but the roads may just be

drying. no rain, though, friday morning. and then pleasant but cooler on friday. and chilly for the redskins game. especially if you are in the shade. temps hold in the 40s. by quarter of 1:00 tonight, look at the heavy rain now north of baltimore, north of frederick and we'll put this into motion. this goes away in a hurry and by 6:00, 7:00, everything is gone. by 8:00, we've gone to partly cloudy skies. now, it will remain a mix back across the divide and eventually maybe turn into a little bit of snow. i tell you what, they need the snow out there. they have had a tough december so far. so for tonight, we're looking at cloudy skies. rain developing. and low temperatures around 45. kind of cool. the good news is it will be gone by dawn. winds will become northwest at 10-15. and that will dry us out. now, by morning partly cloudy, breezy and chilly. winds northwest at 10-15. by afternoon the winds die down. really a pretty nice day tomorrow. the problem is the benchmark was

today. partly cloudy and pleasant. coolers. highs 50-55 and winds northwest at about 10. next seven days, again, chilly on saturday but sunny. 46. we're going to keep christmas dry for now. some clouds come in late. the system goes to our south, though. highs still around 50. near 50 on monday. and next week looks nice. tuesday, wednesday and thursday we are in the 50s, my friends, with sunshine. and derek is jumping for joy. >> and i don't see a temperature below freezing on the whole seven day. >> not downtown, no. >> that's cool stuff. in tonight's weird news, it is not okay to sea breeze the dog. 26 years kelly miller got into an argument and slugged her boyfriend after he used febreeze stuff on the pooch. proctor & gamble does say it's good for controlling animal stench but apparently spraying it directly and all over the dog is not actually recommended. the booking document shows miller was found to be the aggressor in the argument. police booked her and then

released her on her own recognizance. tucker did just fine after the ordeal and plus he smells extra good. >> just give him a bath. >> oh, yes. that would have been too much trouble.

in the mail bag tonight, major league reaction to yesterday's story out of new haven, connecticut, where the mayor wants illegal immigrants to vote in local elections. nobody likes this idea except for dan in rockville. i think it's a great idea. they can get their ballot and a warrant for deportation at the same time. the idea of letting illegal immigrants votes makes as much sense of using taxpayer dollars to support the occupy movement. i'm starting to think old dan didn't really like that idea after all. just like harold from germantown. what part of illegal immigrant is unclear? people who are here illegally should not have the right to citizens. being a citizen carries with it

rights and privileges and voting is the right and prich lidge of being a citizen -- privilege and being a citizen. i do not think when i visit the country holland, the country of my great-grandfather, they would allow me to vote. to put it simply, it's all terrible. and then there was this from john in chantilly. what am i missing here? the house finally did their job in past with bipartisan support a tax cut bill for the whole fiscal year. my heart quickened within me when i heard the news. now comes the president and the senate who wants to kick that can down the road for all of two months, and they are made out to be heroes and the house the villin. if it isn't too late, god help us. perhaps it's too late to learn the house republicans have given in and decided to improve the two-month extension. now we can all look forward to a similar debacle in february. oh, well. i look forward to your e-mails.

the address is mail bag at wusa9.com. that is it for tonight. don't forget log on any time you want to at wusa9.com. i'll see you a bit later. have a great evening. bye-bye.

now, "entertainment tonight," the most watched entertainment newsmagazine in the world. are william and kate expanding their royal family? the truth behind the rumor as the prince busts a move with his wife in shock. plus -- >> my plans for the holiday -- >> where the stars are spending christmas and the best gifts they ever got. >> that's a really good question. why sarah palin is blasting the president over his christmas card. plus, an oscar nominee's uncanny portrayal of palin. accent and all. >> i will be honored to accept your nomination for vice president of united states. ♪ brian wilson's beach boys home movies. secrets from inside the recording studio. >> some of the drugs that we took brought back memories of that, too.