a money train of sorts at metro that didn't go to making repairs, but the hiring a top- notch marketing executive to clean up its images. >> a lot of money is being wasted on things like that and that, you know, it's meaningless. >> reporter: the washington times revealed the names of the exact manager here involved in the hiring controversy. saying that therapy, the former manager hired her former colleague. and to transform metro's image for $140,000 salary, a $20,000 relocation cost and another $10,000 signing bonus. >> it kind of disturbs me. i'm out here working for a living, trying to scratch enough money to keep my home and my family intact and you've got these perks and things going on. >> reporter: the whistle blower who blew the lid off the case was fired in retaliation. wilson, the former manager could not be reached for be comment, but rebutted the investigator's findings, saying in her own statement, "the i.g.

report contains false allegations that eminent from a disgruntled employee." he's currently out of state telling me on the phone, "it's not pronism when i met with them for a year and a half and approved the art work. this is some of his work. it is still being used at metro." but the current spokesperson denies that claim. the ig report says that the only proof of work, a single banner that has since been removed from metro headquarters. the price tag on that one banner, $50,000. if they get it done, then some people, they will not need the campaign. >> reporter: speaking of the campaign, he tells me that the $50,000 banner, an exaggeration that he right now is working pr for the department of the state's superintendent. we spoke to the pr person currently the spokesperson for metro who tells me that the event and this report dates

back to 2007, pre-dates the current general manager. and he goes on to say that the people involved are no longer employed by metro. they now have policies and procedures to make sure no irregularities when it comes to hiring. we're live outside the town, 9news now. a big talk for this day was a bit of a surprise and no, your eyes are not deceiving you. that was indeed snow falling this afternoon. we'll still see the flurries falling at this hour. and what happens is the area of the low pressure, getting a little closer to the mid- atlantic area, bringing us the snow flurries. they are quiet and the beltway is quiet. but just around the mason/dixon line on the northern areas,

east of the blue ridge. some of the grassy surfaces, you might see a little white coating. but most of it has moved on out. still the snow is falling west of us and parts of pennsylvania and new york state. right now, temperatures, chilly out here. a low of 40s around the town. and 34 in gaithersburg. we have milder weather for you coming this way. i've got that including your new year's forecast when i come back. >> all right, thank you, anny. when the stories got started, we saw a flurry of activity on your wusa facebook page. >> some asked questions of the snowfall and that will be the case. showing you this picture of the snowfalling. hopefully we'll see that and we also sent our look on out here where they sparked a lot of light-hearted conversations. jonathan? >> reporter: yes, that's right. we were brave. we ventured out into the elements. it wasn't for the faint of heart and the snow that came down just a few days after christmas. all kidding aside as you mentioned, the snow came down

from frederick, maryland. some drivers may have encountered tricky spots on the overpasses and the bridges. the people we talked to were not fazed by the flurries. there weren't any mad dashes to the supermarkets and the hardware stores. but i did meet with one gentleman who is prepared for the big one. >> the generator, you know, back up towers, back up heat. you know, when it gets real snowy, the systems will move on down and you just need to be ready. >> are you getting that stuff now? >> yes, i already am. >> reporter: you need to remember we have january, february, martha could be very important. reporting live, anita? >> all right, thank you. we always want to see your pictures or videos when you have any kind of weather that will be moving through our area. you can submit your reports on wusa9.com. well, two young women are dead and a third in the hospital after a devastating crash here this morning in silver spring. lindsey mastis joins us live

now along university avenue. or should i say university boulevard. how it all went down, lindsey? this is a single-car crash. the vehicle left the roadway. coming up through here, it actually hit a fence first and then it hit the embankment, which is actually surrounded by brick. you can just see the force of the vehicle, basically crushing it. >> she's really sweet. she's like a model, she's a good person. >> reporter: the driver was just 22. both died at the scene. detectives covered their bodies. the only survivor is the 18- year-old right here. >> she was just in a lot of pain, but you know, she should be okay. >> reporter: her twin sister says she knows what happened, but is having a hard time acknowledging the fact that her friends are gone. and especially her best friend,

tamara. >> she keeps saying, you know, she's not dead and one minute, you know, she is like where is she? i want to see her. >> reporter: during the crash they hit the bricks so hard that the suv crumbled. hart flew into the tree and even the power line. >> it hurts. but i hope she will be okay. >> reporter: some of her friends will try to come out tonight. they want to plan a vigil for 7:00 here at the scene. and reporting live in silver springs, i'm lindsey mastis, derek, back to you. and we'll pick it up here. that will be the driver here. now, you can see silver springs. still in the hospital.

some of the republican candidates to get their names here on the ballot, today, several judges have declined it. that will be a court date to hear more arguments on this case. only ron paul and mitt romney met the requirements to get their names on the ballot in virginia. that means that they each had at least 10,000 signatures with 400 from each of the commonwealth 11 congressional districts. well, voters are planning to go to the polls in virginia. and you'll need to bring more than your voter registration with them. and that is because the state board of election says that all voters must be pledging their party support in writing before they could vote in the primary. the delegate, bob marshall, issued a statement saying that the ruling sends the wrong message. well tonight at 9news now at 7:00, the d.c. handgun banned is back in the news again. the supreme court overturned it

after the man sued the city saying they violated their rights to own the firearms. well now, the city will need to fork over more than $1 million in that case. and we'll tell you why. that's tonight at 7:00. >> yes, we'll see you then. still ahead in this half hour, a new rule. we'll tell you about the in this case's largest wireless here. and what they plan to charge. but first, get the confetti ready to go. a look at some changes for the local new year's eve celebration that's coming up. washington looks great here for them and the veteran center. and you can see them serving here this holiday season. >> yes. happy holidays. yes, that will be all for them to know. nine traffic now is brought to you by geico.

some would argue that friday is the best day of the week, but that there won't be one here this week. listen, the small island nation is just east of the international dateline, which we all know it at today. and tonight at the stroke of midnight, jumping to the west side of the date line where the world is a day ahead. tomorrow in other words, that means no friday and they get directly to saturday this week alone. and the prime minister will be easier for them and the tropical island to work with the primary trading partners of new zealand in australia if they are all on the same side of the date line. it makes sense to me. now, ringing in the new year in this country, it means confetti, the noise makers, even fireworks. but check that last part. this year in alexandria, they are canceling the fireworks portion of their first night celebration due to the change in law in virginia. first night, alexandria, just one of the dozens of celebrations for the new year. some very family friendly. log on to wusa9.com to see some of the other options.

we can't stress enough. if you head out for new year's or any other late night this week and you have had too much to drink, do not get behind the wheel, call 1-800-200-taxi. the alcohol problem sober ride service runs between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. every night through january 1. covering the cost of a cab ride up to $30. the end of the year is not just about parties. a look at the rush to donate when we come right back. so where are you going to be celebrating new year's eve? you're not sure? we'll tell you why and if you could be celebrating with the adult beverages. they say don't get behind the wheel. we'll tell you how they are ready for the first night.

i want to say happy holiday to my wife, susan, happy holidays. i love you. i'll be home soon. the largest company, posting a notice on their website. but come january 15, all customers will need to pay a $2 convenient fee. that will be over the phone or online, it's a lot of people. it will the not be be applied

through the company's auto pay system or in person by the credit cards in a store. starting sunday, finding a watt lightbulb will be tougher. that's when the mandated fazes will begin. now to more energy efficient bulbs. they will need to carry the old ones, but no longer be manufactured or imported. there are only a couple of days left before writing off your 2011 tax deduction. the rush to donate is on. there's a mad rush at giving the drop-off locations. >> nothing like a good tax credit. thank you. that's a benefit. but the point is, it will help someone else out. that's one of the things you need to pass on. >> everything will be good. >> reporter: and the goodwill location, it's the busiest and the top-moneymaker in the metropolitan area. for every $1 that's donated,

$0.92 goes back to the actual cause of this organization, which is job training and job creations. >> it takes a little homework to make sure you're getting on out here for the organization. make sure you have transparency and know what is going on over there. surae chinn, 9news now. tonight, we're learning that they might end up charging several bp employees and in connection with the massive oil spill in the gulf of mexico. they could face criminal charges for giving them the false info about the risk of their drilling operations. they died in an explosion on the deep water horizon platforms. we are also getting a better picture as to how some of them impacted the spill spending the money bp that gave

them afterwards. a review by the associated press shows that it includes blankets, music festivals, poker tournaments, millions of dollars in advertising that you may have seen it on tv. on to a 9news now computer alert. a heads up for drivers here in northern virginia. they will close the right lane of southbound route 123 tonight for the construction work. and a stretch running from the drive here to the ramp to north i-494 shut down at 9:00 tonight until 5:00 in the morning. and the ramp from southbound route 123 to northbound i-495 also will be closed. that will be a little slow going. they would like to make it easier for people to know which buses will be running when they snow. so arlington transit is adding a new snowflake decal to have service. the hope is that no one will be left standing out in the snow waiting for a bus that will not show up. >> yeah, that would not be good. >> not at all. a little bit of snow. >> yeah, i think so.

a little bit of a surprise for you. maybe just a little closer until we were on the outer fringes of that. it's now pretty quiet. just a couple scattered places here north of hagerstown. it is quiet on down there. it's down to 44 degrees near the freezing mark where a lot of locations will get around to the mid-30s overnight. now, milder the next few days. then much colder. cloudy and cold tonight for you. mild with the clouds on friday. and then mild for new year's weekend. and then dry arctic air arrives here. so you know, it's not a bad idea to get that going out of the attic. the future cast, you can see the cloudy conditions for you overnight. and then we're looking at, well, only a slight chance for an isolated shower on friday.

if you do see a little shower, it will be light and again, isolated in nature. showing that most people, they will be dry. tonight, mostly cloudy and cold. and lows in the 30s. downtown, mid-30s. 33 in gaithersburg. frederick right around the freezing mark. 31 in martinsburg. culpepper down to 33 degrees. bundle up on friday morning if you're headed out to do some shopping or if you're going to work still. partly cloudy and cold. temperatures in the 30s. not as breezy on friday. that's the good news. the variable cloudiness, it will be mild again. isolated showers are possible. highs around 55 degrees for you. lower 50s. winchester at 53. warrenton at 54. culpepper at 53 degrees. we should be around the mid-40s for this time of the year. a lot of us will be at least 10 degrees above the average high. including downtown. 55 degrees for you. annapolis in the mid-50s. even out here, you're getting up to the upper 50s on your

friday. and here is a look at your seven-day forecast. all right, mild on friday and through saturday. however, saturday, we'll be a bit breezy. and then on sunday, even milder yet. in the upper 50s. new year's eve, looking pretty nice. in fact, a little on the milder side, considering to be a lot colder as we are getting into january now. i have a couple of, well, a few rain drops for monday. and we have a few snowflakes for monday and tuesday because we may have a chance for some flurries again on monday and tuesday. add the arctic air to come in. you'll really feel it, i think on tuesday and wednesday. and with the highs there, they will be in the low to mid-30s. it has been a very mild december. some people do. >> all right, thank you. i think it is fair to say

at the end of the long year. >> it's been a long year covering the redskins. >> yeah. i think that everyone is just about ready to be done. but one game left. when you are nine games left, your job security is in doubt here, aware of that. and an interesting answer when asked about it by the report ors. you know why annoying soccer dads, you know, that you just need to shut up. i'll explain coming up next.

it doesn't have the usual civil that we're accustomed to. it means absolutely nothing in terms of the post-season play. still counting for the win/loss column. each wants to go out on a positive note. it has been a disappointing year for them. they will finish with back-to- back seasons and wins. and they will end up with a two- year record. it's not as good as this one. imagine that. that will be hot for them. when reporters are asking them about the job security for next season, e he says, i'll be back. >> that is no doubt in my mind. i talked to him when i first got here. you're hiring the wrong guy. it will take some time to do it right. >> we shall see. one guy looking forward to it

with the redskins. he was released earlier this year and brought back. and that will be another reception for them speaking of birth. asked about the age in the locker room today. [ laughter ] oh my gosh. 37 is not old. one last look here. giving them a good day here. that will be a great interview. always candid. especially helpful during the lockout o o. telling them where all the practices will be. he hopes he does not end up like the past winners. jason campbell, released here or traded. let's hope not. all right on sunday, don't be surprised if they slip their way into the top 10. yeah, it's early. it really doesn't matter right now. sort of. especially if you consider they lost their anchors last night

in their freshman area. they are playing well, knocking them out on the road. it looks like he came up big with the massive clutch plays. not ready to get back there. and they are glad to have them. >> yeah. especially for the first one here. so that will be hard to compete. >> all right, we've got much more coming up later on tonight. we'll have some funny stuff on my kickers tonight. >> yes. >> we'll look for that. i like that. >> yes. just like that. all right, that's all for 9news now at 6:00. stay with us. the cbs evening news is next and derek mcginty back at 7:00 with our area's only local newscast at that hour. so don't forget to join all of them and monica tomorrow morning starting at 4:25 a.m. we'll get you out the door the right way and you can always find us on wusa9.com.