hello. and thank you for joining us. under aged drinking, it's out of control. the national institute of health says underage drink something one of the leading public health problems in our country. 9 wants us to know how and where kids are getting the

booze. our reporter andrea mccaron and photographer dave satchel started working this story two months ago. andrea is here now to tell us more about what she found. >> reporter: jc, a mom tipped us off to a northwest washington liquor store where teenagers have allegedly been buying alcohol for years. she told us that her daughter bought beer and vodka at this one particular liquor store every week, and our undercover investigation backs her up. place like this, you even need a fake i.d.? >> usually no. >> for several weeks we watched and videotaped dozens of teenagers buying alcohol at town square market in northwest washington, without being asked for identification. >> i'm 18. it's very easy, and we have been buying here for like almost two years. >> in those two years, have you ever been asked for i.d.? >> like once. >> hey, what's up? >> night after night, with the

help of a 23-year-old 9news now staff member, we interviewed the young buyers using a hidden microphone. >> i heard this is a good place for -- >> it is. >> without id? >> just looking for a place to buy. >> you can -- get it there. >> really? >> most told us they were 16 years old, some were even buying for their younger friends. >> i'm just wondering how you're 16 and you're buying. did you use a fake i.d.? >> no. >> how did you buy, then? >> i just purchased it. >> i'm a reporter. >> yeah. >> too i just watched you buy. >> yes. >> and you're not 21. >> all right. >> got an i.d. here? >> hidden i.d. >> no, just didn't know. >> many said they've been coming here to buy booze illegally for two to three years, from across montgomery county, d.c., and northern virginia. >> we keep it pretty safe usually, like where we drink we

sleep. we don't drive and do any of that stuff. >> after alerting police to what appears to be a booming underaged business here, we went inside to talk to the store owner. >> we're with channel 9news. we're been watching your store for weeks and weeks, and you've been selling to underaged children. >> it is illegal to sell under 21. >> no i.d., no buy. >> the confrontation became heated. >> 16-year-olds, 14-year-olds! buying natural ice coming out of here with cases of beer! >> miss -- why you complain? why you complain? >> because i've seen children buying here. >> no! everybody bring i.d.! i check i.d. >> the store owner steadfastly denied selling to minors. >> you want us to come back bring you video of the children you sold to. >> no. no children, no sale. get out here.

>> again, we alerted metropolitan police to this store two months ago. that department contacted the d.c. alcohol control board, yet the only citation ever issued to this business was one in 2010, which resulted in a $500 fine. not for selling to minors, but for selling four packs of beer when the store has an agreement to sell only six-packs or larger quantities. we are going to stay on top of this story. we're not letting this one go. and again, we are in contact with d.c. police today and an are demanding answers on what they will do about this establishment and any others caught selling to kids. if you have a tip to share with us to help put a stop so underaged drinking, going to wusa9.com and click on wasted, young and using. >> andrea, this is incredible. when you first said a mother knew a child was going to the store, buying vodka every week, and the mother couldn't stop

that child? >> not at all. in fact, we have just been overwhelmed with the response we've gotten to this story, including tips about other area liquor stores that are selling to minors. i've also been getting a lot of profanity laced hate e-mails from children saying, i've ruined their weekends. and that i am now the most hated woman in the d.c. area. and jc, that's a label i'm willing to accept if it keeps one child from drinking, maybe getting behind the wheel and killing themselves or someone else. >> you're right. i salute you for doing this story because it needed to be done, and i'm shocked at the information you're geting. >> thanks. >> thank you very much. tomorrow you'll have another story, and on tonight at 9news now at 11. please watch. >> hey, everybody! pay attention! is everybody clear now? >> as i said, andrea continues our reporting tonight on 9news now at 11.

video of an underaged drinking party in bethesda, what can happen when youngsters get drugs and alcohol, anatomy of a party bus. >> a blanket found wrapped around an about abandoned newborn. on january 15th a neighbor found a baby girl in the 3000 block of channing street. investigators say the child was not wearing any clothes and the below freezing temperatures. she later died at a hospital. police hope that showing the blanket will generate tips that will lead them to the baby's parents. let's look at campaign 20 tremendously. cbs news reports that newt gingrich will get a high- profile end doorsment today. donald trump is expected to throw his support behind the former house speaker. trump got to know gingrich in

december, when they met at several republican presidential affairs. meanwhile, the man that many consider the front-runner is in some hot water. mitt romney is trying to clarify comments he made about poor americans. >> i'm not concerned about the very poor. we have a safety net there. if it needs repair, i'll fix it. i'm not concerned about the very rich. they're doing just fine. >> my focus is on middle income americans weapon have a safety net for for the very poor and if there are holes in it, i want to correct that. >> ron paul and rick santorum got to nevada ahead of gingrich and romney. that state is holding its caucuses this saturday. republicans have pushed a bill through the house that would freeze paychecks for federal workers for a third straight year. that would save taxpayers $26 billion. the pay freeze would not apply to military personnel. many democrats are against that

freeze. president obama's expected to propose a half percent hike in several pay and this 2013 budget proposal that he will be releasing. according to the non-partisan congressional budget office, congressional budget office federal workers are paid about 16% more than private sector workers. if you believe in the forecasting skills of a very large rodent, we're in for six more weeks of winter. that's because puxsutawney phil the famous pennsylvania groundhog saw his shadow as the sun rose on this groundhog day. thanks in part to our warmer than normal weather, organizers estimate well over 10,000 people showed up to see phil's prediction in person. famous! speaking of animals, pet line 9 is ahead, and we have a cutie for you! also coming up next, more evidence that cracked rails are

becoming a bigger problem for metro and its train's passengers.

it appears that metro rail cracks are happening more and more, they are. we have a number to prove the

problem has gotten worse in the past three years. delia has the breakdown. >> reporter: we're at metro station the scene of a major rail break and huge delay last week, lots of passengers are telling us they do indeed see this problem getting worse. the clunk of a broken rail never a good sign. that cracked rail caused major delays on the red line last week and another this week at rossland. >> it's affected me several times in the last few weeks. and i know they've got their problems, but it seems like they should be able to keep it running, especially with all the maintenance they're doing on the weekends. >> and according to the latest metro numbers, the trend is worsening. in 2009, 19 rails cracked in. 2010, at 33. and last year, 49. >> it seems that the -- appears to get any longer, they're getting worse. and it seems they're getting overwhelmed. >> metro is on track to repair

the problem in a $5 billion program, but that will likely take five years.  the 106-mile rail system is aging, nearly 30 years old in some parts. that's part of the reason why metro has proposed rate hikes for passengers, to fund some of these much-needed improvements to an old system they inherited, they say, with years. >> it's outrageous that they're talking about a rate hike for us. >> i'd like to see some improvements first with the money i'm paying. >> metro says they're working on the issues but in the meantime the best recourse for commuters to sign up for metro text alerts on your phone so at least you can get a heads-up if and when the next break occurs. two young people leading the charge against cyber bullying will be joining us in just a moment. plus, if you could use the first of energy in your life, we found one in a compact four- legged package! it's ahead on today's pet line.

howard? >> i've been playing with him, cute dog. and the sun is coming out! we'll have a lot more sun this afternoon than this morning. we take to you this break with one last look here at live doppler 9000. bye to the showers, and we'll have the full 7-day forecast and pet line 9 when we return. senators

the performance was not his first accomplishment. a 16 he became the first black instrumentalist with a major u.s. orchestra. the first plaque to conduct a world-class orchestra and the first to become music director at a major orchestra. log on to wusa9.com for black history moments and events, happening throughout the month. howard has the weather forecast. >> put the umbrellas away. >> good! >> we're done. couple of sprinkles still left south and east of town. and boy, it rained heavily down south today, like culpeper, to colonial beach and down to parts of southern maryland got hammered, a 1.3-inch total even. weather-watcher in reidville, but just about done in the afternoon so looking up. here's our day planner. temperatures will be kind of holding where they are, maybe a

few degrees warmer as we climb into the mid and possibly upper 50s but with northwest wind at 5 to 10 miles an hour that will try to bring in cooler air this afternoon. and by 9:00 tonight, clear skies down in the 40s, little windchill starts to kick in. and we'll be in the 30s by tomorrow morning, so no more 70s. yesterday managed to get to 72. one batch of showers, then a second batch of rain. yellows and oranges, south and east of us. and west now we're started to go see the sunshine. one little last sliver of showers here, trying to hold together but just south crossing 50, about to cross 301, and moving through forestville, on the beltway and prince george's county. upper marlboro coming through you in the next few minutes, clinton as well. and going down to brandywine, north beach and that will be it for the day. temps, cloudy and still in the

40s in annapolis. easton 46. 49 in baltimore. but sun out for the west. so culpeper at 57. but there's a sign of the cold coming in. you see oakland now, 32 degrees. so yes, it's colder out there. should be a good weekend for skiing. you'll notice the sun shining off the capitol dome. else that a good sign. cloudy skies and 53 with calm winds and dewpoints in the 40s at 47. and we'll see the dryer air move in. want to take you flying here over to denver, colorado. they're expecting a big snowstorm, even blizzard conditions in parts of northeastern colorado, going towards nebraska. it could be a foot of snow in denver, up to 20 inches east of there near the colorado- nebraska bother determine around here, this system is pushing through so we don't have too much to worry about for the next couple days. we'll put our future-cast in motion. you'll notice the skies clearing this afternoon, this evening. tonight with the clear skies we'll dip into the 30s. many areas row 30s, tomorrow

with sunny day for friday, but chilly. it's going to be in the 30s and 40s up here. for us we'll probably make the low 50s for highs, then another chilly night friday night, but by saturday morning here comes some clouds. see this rain here? looks like this wants to stay south of us, so slight chance it sneaks towards us saturday night, early sunday moisture, but not too concerned with that next system at this time. today 55, maybe 57 if we get enough sun. milder south and west. 30s tonight. 53 tomorrow. by saturday around 50, and we'll see if we get some of those clouds to thicken up as we head towards sunday. maybe an early rain or snowshower or flurry, 48. 54 on monday. and then some 40s as we head towards tuesday and wednesday. christy is from brigs animal adoption center. if our producer didn't already have a jealous cat, hey, ton

can, you would not be looking for a home. >> thank you for having me. >> sweet guy. >> he's just wonderful. he's not your typical jack russell tearerrier. he likes to play once in a while but very submissive, very laid back, and they all need a job. when they have high energy in the breeze. >> so i have a jack russell mix myself. so i'm aware of these dogs. >> it's like probably do great with agility training, and be able to participate and maybe that would help him too because he's a little shy. >> he's a little shy now but i think he would settle into somebody and warm up. they are great demeanors in general and could be a lot of fun. and not that big a dog. >> no, he's very small. and he's so sweet. he just loves to hang out and he is just a good boy. loves cats. he's very submissive to them and loves to give people kisses all the time. >> snuggle buddy and also your exercise buddy. they like to run around, get that energy burnt off.

work out. the dogs are happy and you couldn't have a better friend. >> people can call us at the center at this number. or go to our website. >> all right, thank you for coming in. if you missed that, go to our website, wusa9.com, pet line section, and learn about ton can and our other dogs we feature. stick around, we'll be right back in a minute. you're a good boy!

welcome back. i'm one on one with two teen mentors. it's being called the largest youth-led national campaign against cyber bullying in american history. we have two teenagers here that are inspiring other young people to take the challenge. so i'd like to welcome michael and jennifer, and the two of you are with the non-profit organization called project change. tell me exactly what you're trying toe do. >> well, private change started up it's a youth involvement program, and so private changes started up a program called you have the power, bullying prevention through peered occasion, mentors teaching different high schools about different bullying situations, how to handle being a target and through this we got invited to very -- to be partners in

the great american no bull challenge, on the advisory. >> because of my participation in the program i've been invited to obon the council, and that is a national anti- cyber bullying campaign and video con of the some of the middle school and students are invited to create videos about signee bullying and enter them in the contest. and it's about spreading awareness for the issue of cyber bullying. >> and are you find that you're having success rates with this program, talking to younger kids, telling them what to do, how to handle it? is it working? >> so far, it seems to be working. when we were talk to the kids, lot of them say lots of their situations get better. they see improvements in their school overall. so just talk to the kids it seems to be working. >> do you know anyone personally who has been bullied and what effect does it have on a young person? >> there are so many people in schools even starting in elementary school that have been bullied, that i'm sure

many people know, and it's hurtful to adults the people around them. they see their confidence going down and they don't succeed as much in life and it has long lasting effects. >> what advice would you give to a young person today about bullying? >> i would say speak out about it. if you're being bullied, you deserve to be respected and if you are being bullied, speak out and ask for help. stand up for yourself. >> and do not allow someone to bully someone else. you're right, speak up. i congratulate the two of you, because this is a national problem, and it takes young people, i think, like you to eliminate it and eradicate it. so congratulations on the work that you're doing! >> thank you so much. >> very helpful. and i'm glad to have you on my show. thank you. >> thank you so much. >> i thank you for being with us on 9news now at 9. please come back and visit us at 5:00. have a good day! bye-bye.

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