wusa9.com. this is 9 news now. >> i have come to the conclusion that there is no viable path forward for me in this 2012 campaign. >> organizers are shuffling the podiums for tonight's gop debate after rick perry abruptly with draws from the presidential race and endorses newt gingrich, but that good news for gingrich is tempered tonight by some explosive claims from his ex-wife, claims that he wanted her to share him in an open marriage. we're going to sort out the roller coaster of a political day. >> as you know, gingrich had counted on conservative values voters who don't trust the depth of mitt romney's stated conservative views. the perry endorsement was good news for gingrich. bad news that, open marriage claim from his former wife. it appears we're having some kind of technical difficulties. marianne gingrich, wife no. works appeared on nightline last night -- two, appeared on

nightline last night saying that newt wanted marianne to share a relationship with him saying apparently according to marianna she doesn't care. marianne told newt that was not a marriage. also this morning texas governor rick perry who was vying for conservative support got out of the campaign saying he wanted his supporters instead to back a true conservative gingrich whom he said yes, is flawed but then perry went on to talk about his religious beliefs, that even those with flaws if they believe in god can be redeemed. he said he believes that is what happened to newt gingrich. other news today in that roller coaster political day that derek talked about, the iowa gop announced it was wrong when it said mitt romney won the caucuses there 2 1/2 weeks ago. instead the new winner, i rick santorum by 34 votes. that changed the political momentum of the santorum,

gingrich and romney campaigns and will have a big impact on this year's race, particularly in south carolina. big, big debate there tonight, wide open format it. could get wild. if it makes news and it will, we'll cover it at 11:00. >> nice job recovering just now. thank you for the update. president barack obama traveled to florida's walt disney world for some campaigning of his own. florida holds its primary january 31st. the president said his administration is working on a new national tourism strategy all aimed at creating jobs. >> we want people visiting not just epcot center, but the everglades, too. the more folks who visit america, the more americans we get back to work. >> president obama laid out plans to speed up visa processing and make it easier for people in fast growing nations like china and brazil to travel to the u.s. if one virginia delegate has his way, pot and booze

could be sold together in the hundreds of state run liquor stores. ken molestina joins us live to explain the purpose of a new piece of legislation. >> if that legislation is approved, it was first introduced by david england, a virginia house delegate. he's looking to study and calculate the kind of revenue that marijuana sales could bring if it is legalized. grande represents parts of arlington and fairfax county and the city of alexandria. if his legislation passes, a committee made from the general assembly's house and senate and other experts will analyze the amount of money that regulated marijuana sales could bring. the marijuana would be sold throughout the commonwealth abc liquor stores which are run by the state. england needs a study should be done in order to have a factual discussion about legalizing pot. he says right now there is no indicator of how much money marijuana sales could contribute to the commonwealth. he tells us the money would be used for schools, roads, public safety and healthcare, all services as being woefully underfunded as he describes.

>> over the years a surprising number of constituents have asked me hey, instead of raising this tax or that tax, if we need more revenue, why don't we legalize marijuana, sell it through abc and get the revenue that way? >> if approved, the study findings would be submitted before the start of next year's general assembly session. police are on the lookout for a suspicious man who has been hanging out near an elementary school. the kids at clermont elementary in alexandria say they have seen the same man five times since december. police say he's watched and called out to students. he hasn't done anything wrong, but his behavior is considered strange, so police are hoping to talk with him. meanwhile parents are talking with their kids about the possibility of stranger danger. >> i used to let him go to the playground by himself, but now i just have to be with him all the time and watch him. >> they love school, but we've been telling them they have to be careful. don't walk with strangers.

reporter: police say the man drives an old red pickup truck. parents are meeting at the school this evening to talk about these latest incidents. today police issued an arrest warrant for a woman suspected of robbing an elderly woman in langley park. she's identified as 48-year-old linda mccorkle. police say she had three small children with her when she approached the victim in a store parking lot on new hampshire last week claiming to need help cashing a check. after the victim agreed a second woman led the children away while the other two drove to the victimbacks and that is when the victim says the woman threatened to shoot her if she didn't withdraw several thousands of dollars from her life savings. police were able to identify mccorkle from bank surveillance photos. metro watched a huge forensic audit of its treasury tonight after a cop and fare machine worker allegedly siphoned off thousands, perhaps hundreds of thousands of dollars. first of bruce leshan reports the scheme is a major black eye for the financially troubled

agency. reporter: small change adding up to a ton of money. horace mcdade was assigned to restock empty fare machines and clean out full ones. police officer john haile was supposed to keep an eye home, but investigators say the two in -- eye on him, but investigators say the two instead conspired to pilfer scores of bags loaded with hundreds of dollars of coins. in three years airlines allegedly deposited in his bank account $150,000 in unexplained funds. >> i am thoroughly disgusted and dismayed by the events that are alleged to have taken place by these two employees. it's a betrayal. reporter: here's 100 bucks in quarters. authorities say these guys were pilfering thousands of dollars nun rolled coins. so you can -- in unrolled coins, so you can imagine how heavy and bulky they would have been. like something out of a spy model, they say after their

rounds they would stop here under this overpass. they'd take the money, stuff it in a plastic bag and take the bag, throw it in the bushes. then they'd go check in at work. then they'd come back here after work and grab their share of the loot and head home. authorities say all of this is captured on surveillance tape. >> i am not going to pay for them stealing stuff. i do not like that. reporter: family members declined to talk, but they wept openly in federal court in alexandria as they heard the charges against the two. in alexandria, bruce leshan, 9 news now. in other news tonight we've known for months it will take a chunk of change to fully repair the cracks of the top of the washington monument after the earthquake last august. tonight we know where a large chunk of that money will come from. reporter: i'm kristin fisher on the national mall where today david ruben stein of the carlyle group announced he's

donating $7.5 million to repair the washington monument. >> i come from very modest circumstances and i'm very fortunate to have achieved wealth beyond what i ever expected. i kind of want to repay a debt that i had to the country. reporter: four months ago a helmet camera captured the daredevil difficult access team as they rappeled down the washington monument. they found about $15 million in damage, chips and cracks up to an inch thick in several marble stones. >> this is a complex job. this is a one of a kind structure, but please rest assured that the national park service will get it right. reporter: right now they're still designing the repairs. around august they'll begin making those repairs. construction will take between 10 to 12 months. so it will be june, 2013 at the earliest before the monument is back open. in washington kristin fisher, 9 news now. coming your way tonight at 7:00 on 9 news now a mother

allows her 10-year-old son to get a tattoo in honor of his dead brother, but that decision has her in trouble with the cops. we'll tell you why they charged her with child cruelty on 9 news now at 7:00. still to come in this half hour a plan to light up the area around the verizon center may be finished before it begins. >> you want an average january day? we had one for a change. officially at national high temperature 40, low 25, 16 to 20 at dulles, but averages of 42 and 26. so this is what january should be like. we'll come back and talk about the prospects of seeing some flakes tonight and again tomorrow night. plus people are starting to line up to fill harry thomas, jr.'s city council seat up next.

today kenya mcduffie became the first person to officially toss his name in the ring for the district's ward 5 city council seat that former councilman harry thomas, jr. resigned as part of a plea deal in an embezzlement scheme. we're hearing as many as 20 people all want that seat and we'll have more on that tomorrow morning starting at 4:25. a new poll shows nearly 2/3 of maryland voters support increasing the day restoration fund currently funded through an annual $30 household fee. the poll also shows large majorities believe the state should actively manage growth and restrict septic systems and nine voters of 10 agree it's important to take action to make the chesapeake bay and local streams clean and healthy. it's important to note this poll was commissioned by the clean water healthy families coalition conducted last month by a survey company based in annapolis. still ahead thousands take

an icy plunge today. we'll tell you why when we come back. 9 news now is brought to you in part by your local toyota dealers.

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join the conversation on facebook and twitter and let us know what you think. we want to hear your story ideas and opinions. our studio here at 9news is lined with all kinds of bright lights and television monitors, but i wouldn't say we had anything on new york's times squares. >> but if captains wed ampeds owner ted leone -- wizards owner ted leonsis gets his way, it could. reporter: as you know, chinatown has become a vibrant entertainment district, but now new plans are pitting residents against the verizon center and ted leonsis' plans and his staff said they want to light up seventh street like you've i never seen before. see that banner? they want to replace it -- you've never seen before. before. see that banner? they want to replace it with a large digital sign. >> it will look like new york with all the billboards.

>> it will probably fit in well. >> i don't see how it could hurt. reporter: that's what tourists and locals who dine here say about the new jumbotron, but some folks in chinatown who live and work here don't think it's such a bright idea. >> this is a bad deal for the community. reporter: martin ditto is trying to put lights out on verizon's plan. >> adding additional signage and billboards to make it more like times square is not what they bought into. >> we're looking for three signs. it's not going to be times scamp. reporter: the executive vice president that owns verizon center says there's been a lot of misinformation about their plan. >> we'd like to replace these with signs about half the size that are digital video of. reporter: including this one here. >> this one here and that one there. we would eliminate this marquis right here that's been there for a long time and then we would like to place one on the fourth floor of our space wrapping around from the corner

of seventh street on to f street. >> it's bad for the community because it brings down property values and because it is dangerous for both vehicular and pedestrian traffic and it's bad for the community because it's illegal because these signs are currently not legal. >> that's why we're asking the city council to change the legislation to allow us to seek the permits. we have no interest in hurting the neighborhood and we want to be a good neighbor. reporter: a planned public hearing scheduled next week for city council has been postponed because verizon center wants to have a community outreach to explain more of their plans. >> thank you for that. kings dominion looking to hire more than 2,500 people. the hanover county amusement park reopens a 6th and plans to hire workers to fill entertainment, security, admissions and other seasonal positions. you've got to be at least 16 and auditions for those entertainment jobs start next month at the park. today thousands of people

jumped into frigid waters across russia to mark the celebration of the russian orthodox epiphany. according to orthodox tradition priests in moscow bless the water cut in the river before believers could take the molely bath. the age old ritual -- the holy bath. the age old ritual commemorates the baptism of christ in the river. believers symbolically wash off their sins and believe the dip in the cold is good for their health. >> you won't catch any germs because the water's cold. >> i'm still looking for a religion that likes hot showers, swedish massage, something more comfortable. >> it feels like you're creating your own. >> not a bad idea? >> not a bad idea. russia has had much less snow than average this year and so have the rockies and new england and, of course, the mid- atlantic. we may see a couple flakes later on tonight especially up near frederick and points north, but a much better chance tomorrow night.

let's start with the live look outside. our weather cam brought to you by michael and son, gorgeous shot of the white house, isn't it? it's very nice outside and it's actually what january should be. it's 39, dew point 21, winds out of the south at 13. that just tells you the frontal system is west of us. when the front goes through, the winds will turn and become northwesterly. satellite picture and radar combined, there's another storm headed for the pacific northwest and this time now northern california. it will not be snow in seattle and portland. it will change to rain quickly. heavy snows continue in the rockies. this is our little system that rolled through tonight. it's a cold front, most of the snow north of us essentially moving from ohio across into pennsylvania, but western maryland will get some snow, timberline, canadian valley and down towards snowshoe will get some snow tonight, no doubt about that and a couple flurries or snow showers could make it across the mountains into the metro area, probably not south of d.c. southern maryland probably won't see

anything. temperatures, 37 in bethesda and arlington, 38 in beltsville, 37 at andrews. a touch of winter, maybe a flurry or snow shower tonight, no worries for the metro. morning and afternoon clouds tomorrow and then a mix before midnight on friday. that one is something we could worry about a bit. 10:15 tonight we see the snow showers getting just to hagerstown north of frederick. we'll put this into motion. then we see clouds give way to sunshine by afternoon. then clouds come back very quickly tomorrow afternoon and then we see the precipitation begin to develop from the west as early as 7:30. we see snow across the divide and this races in here early in the morning on saturday with a mix. so be advised. get the kids home early friday night and maybe you should get home early with the sleet and snow and freezing rain. mostly cloudy tonight, breezy, cold, a flurry or snow shower possible, lows 28 to 32, winds west, southwest 10 to 15. the next seven days, 43

safford. the mix goes to rain and another -- 43 on saturday. the mix goes to rain and another cold day. rain and showers, maybe even a thunderstorm on monday. back to you guys. the rumor mill is churning. >> it is churning and it is heating up. it's that time of year all the rumors start swirling about. find out why that one about peyton manning and the redskins is heating up, plus the ravens weigh in on what's at stake this sunday in foxboro, those and more next in sports.

now 9 sports with kristen berset, the best sports in town. >> if the baltimore ravens have any chance of beating the patriots sunday, they need to get the ball into the hands of ray rice. we saw them struggle against houston sunday after the texans defense held rice to 60 yards, but expect the patriots to try and neutralize the run game forcing flacco to make the big plays. this is the second time the ravens under coach harbaugh have been to the afc championship game but have yet to get back to the super bowl. so the ravens are well aware of what's at stake. >> there's an underlying understanding that the next opportunity is theirs. it's an afc championship game.

in that sense we understand that and it's meaningful. >> we have total experience on what it feels like, how you're supposed to prepare and what the mentality is going into it. so i think our confidence is definitely very high. >> you can watch the ravens/patriots match up here on wusa9, kickoff at 3:00. the peyton manning to redskins rumors aren't going away. espn is reporting hearing those same injuries. peyton missed all of last season due to a neck injury. if you told me kevin durant and russell westbrook would combine for 69 points last night against the wizards and still lose, i would have called you crazy, but that's what happened. not that the wizards didn't try to give it away. trevor booker fouled, struggled at the free throw line. javale mcgee of jump one --

just one of six. seventh ranked lady terps host wake forest tonight at the verizon center. maryland has won the last 10 meetings between the two teams. time to vote for this week's high school game of the week. some of your choices in boys basketball including williams at west potomac and for the girls washington and lee in mount vernon. you can go online to vote. the winning game will be featured friday night. second round of the australian open, in the 2nd set roddick reaching for a shoot and it looks like he rolls his ankle. he tried to play on but ended up retiring in the 3rd. finally tonight this also from the australian open. a little bit of anger issue, wasn't too happy about a shot there. he broke four racquets in a span of 45 minutes. >> too much caffiene, marcos? >> dangerous man. that is it for us. it's not that deep.

the cbs evening news is next. derek will see you at 7:00. have a great night.