hello, thank you for joining us, i'm j.c. hayward. we begin with new developments in the case of trayvon martin. florida's governor has appointed a special prosecutor and the 17-year-old's parents

are talking with federal investigators. this morning, president obama spoke about the case. danielle nottingham is in sanford, florida with more. >> he didn't deserve to die. >> reporter: trayvon martin's parents joined thousands at a rally near the place their son was killed. >> we want an arrest. we want george zimmerman arrested for this crime. >> reporter: zimmerman is the neighborhood watch captain who shot the 17-year-old last month. he claims the teenager attacked him and he fired in self- defense. but trayvon's parents don't believe it. >> he seen this guy as a stranger he's going to try to run and that's what we really believe was that he was trying to get away. >> reporter: the death sparked outrage nationwide and fall out here in the city of sanford. the police chief and local prosecutor have both stepped aside. now state and federal authorities are stepping in to investigate the case. cbs news learned detectives interviewed zimmerman for five hours the night of the shooting.

a source close to the investigation says there was no arrest because zimmerman's bloody face seemed to support his claim of self-defense. >> you know if i had a son he'd look like trayvon. >> reporter: president obama says it's imperative authorities investigate every aspect of the case. >> we're going to get to the bottom of exactly what happened. >> reporter: trayvon's parents will meet again with federal authorities in washington. >> i pledge my life to continue to push forth until we get justice for my son. >> reporter: investigators are now looking at this case as a possible hate crime. danielle nottingham, cbs news, sanford, florida. >> a rally in honor of trayvon martin is scheduled for tomorrow. it will be held at d. c.'s freedom plaza beginning at 2:00 p.m. well, florida's prosecutors have not charged zimmerman because he says that he acted in self-defense. florida is one of the states with the so-called castle laws.

your home is your castle. and you can do whatever it takes to defend it. someone breaks into your home, and you fear for your safety, you can use deadly force with no duty to retreat. d.c., maryland and virginia have those laws. now florida's law extends to the streets as well. and you don't always have to try to flee the situation. former state's attorney glen icy says in our area that's not the case. >> in other words if you can get away without using deadly force, you have to do that first. you have a duty to retreat. >> some states the law even protects you in your car but in retreat states like our region, you must try to use your car to get away before the danger occurs and before you use deadly force. police believe two young people in a stolen car that died in a fiery crash overnight

were just 14 and 16 years old. police say it started with chase at east-west highway and jones mill road and ended about a mile away on connecticut avenue at the chevy chase circle. that's where delia goncalves picks up the story. >> reporter: police say the car reported stolen from the county two wokes -- weeks ago crashed and burned here at chevy chase circle after it collided into a tree. >> the officers reported that had first they saw smoke, and then flames. engulfed the vehicle. they ran to the vehicle. extracted the driver. and the front seat passenger. >> reporter: the officers grabbed this fire extinguisher and tried knocking out the flames but were unsuccessful. the two backseat passengers were trapped inside and later died. >> the driver and front seat passenger are males. and it appears to be that they are in their late teens possibly younger adults. >> reporter: a police car with front end damage was towed from the scene after it collided with another responding cruiser. southbound connecticut avenue was blocked off for six hours.

after rescue workers used the jaws of life to extract the two bodies from the backseat. investigators are unsure if alcohol played a factor in the crash. >> the front seat passenger was injured but is able to speak with us. >> reporter: police tell us they are relying on that front seat passenger to help them identify the two young people who died in this fiery crash in chevy chase circle. the scene was cleared and the road reopened at 7:00 a.m. in chevy chase, delia goncalves, 9news now. >> the driver of that car is listed in serious condition. police say they are not releasing the identities of the dead victims until the medical examer's report -- examiner's report is released. d.c. firefighters rescued two people from their burning apartment in northeast washington. flames broke out early this morning in a three story building on hunt street near 50th place northeast. both victims were rushed to the hospital. right now their conditions are not known.

authorities are still trying to figure out what started the blaze. and sky 9 was over the scene of the incident involving an armored car. the truck lost a load of money along i-270 near route 109. which is near the truck scales in hyattstown. some passers-by stopped to scoop up the money and now police are asking those passers- by to please return it. a 38-year-old army staff sergeant and father of two will likely hear today that he is being charged with more than a dozen counts of murder. military prosecutors say that robert bales left his base in southern afghanistan and then went on a deadly shooting rampage. leaving 17 afghan civilians dead. tara mergener reports now. >> reporter: officials at fort leavenworth in kansas are expected to tell army staff sergeant robert bales that he

faces 17 counts of murder and six counts of attempted murder all in connection with the shooting rampage in southern afghanistan. military officials claim the 38- year-old left his base in kandahar march 11th. walked to two nearby villages and opened fire. killing afghan civilians including women and children. he allegedly burned some of the bodies before returning to his base. the soldier's civilian attorney believes the government has a tough task ahead. >> this is going to be a very difficult case for the government to prove in my opinion. there's no crime scene. there's no you know "csi" stuff. there's no dna. there's no fingerprints. >> reporter: the shootings put more strain on the relationship between the u.s. and afghan government. last month, the u.s. military forces mistakenly burned korans sparking deadly protests. bales was on his fourth tour of duty in a war zone. he had served three tours in iraq where he suffered a foot injury and a head injury that his attorney says was never

treated. >> of course his mental state will become part of the -- the approach that we'll take to explain and hopefully defend him properly. >> reporter: bales faces trial under the uniform code of military justice. but it could be months before he appears in a public hearing. tara mergener, for cbs news, washington. >> some afghan leaders had called for bales to be tried in afghanistan but president hamid karzai didn't agree and now many afghan officials are asking to have a role in the bales' trial. even as observers. coming up next when the news continues, the coroner reveals how singer whitney houston died. we'll share those results coming up next. >> a room full of gifts for the pope. i'm monica in mexico and i have the story behind one of them coming up.

the singer whitney houston's family is expressing sadness over the late singer's

toxicology results. the los angeles county coroner's office said that the superstar died from an accidental drowning caused in part by cocaine. teresa garcia reports now from los angeles. ♪ >> reporter: the los angeles county coroner's office confirms drugs did play a role in whitney houston's death. >> cocaine use indicated an acute use and it appeared that the cocaine had been used in the time period just probably immediately prior to her collapse in the bathtub at the hotel. >> reporter: houston's body was discovered in the bathtub of her beverly hills hotel room last month the day before the grammy awards. the coroner's office said the superstar was alive when she first went underwater but drowned because of heart problems and chronic drug use. >> chances are had she not had the pre-existing heart disease and cocaine use, she may not

have drowned. >> reporter: the toxicology report also found low levels of marijuana and other prescription drugs in the 48- year-old's some but not enough to kill her. -- system but not enough to kill her. ♪ a houston family spokesperson says they are saddened to hear the toxicology results but are relieved to have closure. teresa garcia, cbs news, los angeles. >> officials say it will be a couple of weeks before the exact amount of cocaine in houston's system is released. coming up next, howard has the weekend forecast. >> oh jc, if we can only make it last. it's unbelievable out here today. temperatures right now almost 20 degrees above the average high and we still have the rest of the afternoon to warm up. we're going into the 80s, 78 already in arlington. look at this. 79 in bethesda. i'll have the weekend forecast unfortunate going to change. 9news now at noon returns in just a moment.

we've been combing through the day's daily deals e-mails and retailer websites to find you some deep discounts and here are some. how about some free gas. cricket will be pumping free gas tomorrow. check out the exxon mobil at 13,820 smoke town road in woodbridge, virginia. the first 50 drivers can get up to $20 in gas and this event begins at 10:00 a.m. how about a trip to cabo san lucas? mexico? google offers is featuring a four night stay at the los

cabos golf resort for $275, there is a discount of 83% and includes two rounds of golf and a $50 dine-in credit. the normal price for this trip is $1,650. and best buy is offering a sony blog duo 4 d hd flash memory camcorder. you're saving 41% off the normal price and this deal includes free shipping. if you have an offer you've seen or you're a local merchant with a deal for the viewers, i would love to hear from you on facebook. i'm jessica doyle, 9news now. the pope left italy this morning for a two country trip to latin america. he arrives in mexico this afternoon. monica villamizar has more. >> reporter: pope benedict used the cane to make his way across the tarmac as he started his pilgrimage to mexico and cuba. aides say the walking stick

helps the 84-year-old feel more secure. it's the pope's first trip to mexico which is in the middle of a drug crisis. this morning, he said an obsession with money is fueling the violence and has killed almost 50,000 people. workers across the country are putting final touches on special gifts for the pontiff. a pope's visit is the highlight of maria's life. [ speaking foreign language ] . >> she says i don't care if the name is paul, john, peter or benedict. to me he represents jesus christ here on earth. >> reporter: we found the hat the pope is going to get in a room filled with all the special presents. there are painting, sculptures and of course with this region is most famous for, shoes all specially made for him, red size 9. vendors are selling paypal gifts on -- papal gifts on street corner as they arrive in central mexico to see the

pope. maria says she's too busy to leave her factory. a bishop will hand deliver her gift to pope benedict. monica villamizar, cbs news mexico. >> it's the pope's first trip to these countries and as many as 300,000 people are expected at sunday's mass before pope benedict leaves for cuba on monday. nice weather. >> unbelievable. >> oh my goodness. >> you have to get outside today. if you haven't been outside today. shame on you. >> if you can get down there do it now within the next few hours because the cherry blossoms are peaking right now and then you know you might still get a pretty good view on monday with temperatures in the 60s. they won't be in the # 0s, 80s, going back to the 80s, average high is 58. an incredible march and running way above average. one of the armets marches on record the -- warmest marches on record the way we're doing. expect lots of sunshine for the

rest of the afternoon. temperatures and this is for reagan national. going to warm to 80 by 3:00 and low 810s this afternoon. there are going to be some spots locally 85 this afternoon. clearly on the way to -- yeah, maybe some records. not at national. ill show you that in a moment. clouds start to move in this evening with temperatures still holding in the low 70s through 9:00. and it's going to be out overnight, well, it could need the rain gear. but just beautiful this afternoon on the weather headlines. the cherry blossoms, they're peaking now. today's kind of the last day of the peak bloom period. they'll still be okay early next week but maybe not as vibrant. showers though they're going to roll in late tonight into sunday. and i don't think the showers as much a concern for the blossoms as wind would be and just the warmth. it's really speeding the whole process you know from bud to flower to leaf along. cooler also over the weekend with the showers moving in, mainly 60s although a few 70s on saturday. sunday the cooler day with mainly low to mid-60s. looking at the satellite can radar, just some high clouds

coming across the region. otherwise gorgeous out there. a little cooler at the pax river naval air station but lots of 70s, 78 fredericksburg and even up in the shenandoah valley with low 70s. absolutely gorgeous. as far as the records to beat today? well, in town not going to happen. 93. thankfully it's not going to happen, in 1907 but the 83 at dulles they are in jeopardy. i think the 86 at martinsburg is probably safe but we are getting toward record territory with lots of sunshine here in our michael & son weather camera and 76 degrees. those clouds at national is reporting are high thin clouds and a northeast wind at 9 and it's kind of muggy. dew point in the low 60s for march there's a lot of low level moisture and that's one reason we've had the fog the last couple of mornings. sucking up all the moisture from the gulf of mexico. heavy rains from western florida, southern alabama. georgia. that moisture goes up to the great lakes and this moisture is going to be drawn northward to us, it's just a matter of time for this to move over us.

we'll give you the timetable on the futurecast. unless you're in far western maryland maybe going out to fair et county. watch the low clouds move from the east overnight and then the showers move in as well after minty personally out west. during the morning hours a few showers during the afternoon. scattered showers but breaks too. not going to be all day rain and then more showers to believe with saturday night and -- possible with saturday night and again on sunday. that will cool us down certainly. looking at the next three days 81 today at national. some areas could get near 85 though. tonight 50s to around 60. 70ish tomorrow with scattered showers and storms. sunday cooler and more showers arnold. 64. next week cooler, we dry out monday and tuesday. tuesday, in the upper 50s which is about average and then a chance of showers on wednesday. stick around, we got some great treats to share with you in our kitchen when 9news now at noon returns.

i'm one-on-one with candace nelson the founder of sprinkles and guess what? do you ever wake up in the middle of the night and you have a craving for something sweet? i do it all the time. guess what? you can get the mix with sprinkles mix, and you can do it like at home in the middle of the night and make cupcakes 1:00, 2:00 in the morning and just satisfy that craving. guess what? she's here with me now. rock they're celebrating their first anniversary, they're at 30th and m street northwest and these are -- she's going to --

start mixing. >> ownership making the -- i'm making the strawberry cupcakes from scratch here. spring has sprung and what's better than a fresh strawberry cupcake. i've already got the butter and sugar and eggs in there. now we're just going to throw our dry ingredients together which is the salt, the baking powder and flour. >> the rest pee is on -- recipe is on the website. jchayward.com. if you don't get all of this down it's okay. go to the website. ha hey -- jchayward.com. >> the world's best vanilla. >> the great vanilla. >> the best. so basically at this point you just want to add in the dry and wet ingredients. >> okay. >> slowly while that mixer is going. >> okay. >> and kind of alternatings one at a time. >> and then? >> then the dry ingredients, get that in there and you don't want to overmix. it's about keeping the mixer at a low speed and you don't overexercise the glutens. then just dump the rest of this in. >> you've got the nice little papers. >> we've got the cupcake liners

and tin all ready to go and we are going to use the fun little ice cream scooper to scoop in the batter into the tin because that's what we use at the bakery to make sure all the cupcakes are baked very same size. >> you brought some cupcakes and i'm here to tell you these cupcakes are just -- the aroma. >> can you just smell it? so fresh. >> look at those you've made some special cupcakes for channel 9. >> we do customized deck races, here just -- decorations. here just scoop a little and you can see how they work so perfectly. they're the perfect size. >> that's the easy way to do it. >> then by the magic of tv we have these already baked. they been baking for 20 minutes -- about 20 minutes in a 350- degree oven. you want to just touch the top and make sure they're dry. and then -- >> oh gosh. >> then we frost with beautiful strawberry frosting. grab a spatula here j. c. and help me out. >> all right. >> and you were talking about late night cravings and i have to say, we just launched the

world's first cupcake atm. >> oh my goodness. >> in beverly hills and we are bringing it to georgetown this summer. if you want a late night craving not bake anything yourself, you can just come on down and get a cupcake at 2:00 in the morning. >> celebrating the first anniversary, congratulations. thank you for coming in. >> thank you so much. cheers. >> have a great weekend, come back and visit us at 5:00. bye byement [ captions by: caption colorado, llc 800-775- 7838 email: comments@captioncolorado.com ]