zimmerman's arrest. randall pinkston, cbs news, sanford, florida. >> he also says zimmerman's voice is heard screaming on the 911 calls. montgomery county police charged an ex-tsa manager with running a prostitution ring. they say bryant livingston operated out of the crown plaza hotel in silver spring. he hosted men and women on more than one visit. police reportedly found different people in various stages of undress. he's now charged with five counts of prostitution. karen toll is accused of driving more than 100 miles an hour on the beltway. officers say she shoot speeds up to -- hit speeds of up to 105 miles an hour while driving a county owned car. at first toll was cited only for an unsafe lane change but when she was cited for reckless

driving. her trial starts april 20th. today the house is expected to vote on a new budget plan coming a day after lawmakers voted to reject the budget presented by the president and supported by both leaders in -- leaders in both parties. it combines big cuts to safety net programs for the poor with a plan to dramatically overhaul medicare. the projected bipartisan plan combined tax increases with spending cuts. the supreme court wrapped up three days of hearings on the health care reform law by looking closely at whether the rest of the law can hold up in part of it is thrown out. >> high court also looked at a portion which would require the states to expand their medicate programs. danielle nottingham has more. >> reporter: some supreme court justices seemed open to the idea that parking lot of the health care -- part of the health care reform act can survive even if they strike down its core but they asked

probing questions about what happens to the rest of the law if they determine the requirement for all americans to buy insurance is unconstitutional. >> my approach would say if you take the heart out of this statute the statute is gone. >> reporter: attorneys general are pushing for the court to throw out the whole law. >> it needs to go back to congress with a clean slate and start over even if there are good provisions in the bill. >> reporter: the court also spent the third and final day of arguments looking into the section of the law requiring states to expand their medicaid program. >> many families here take for granted they have health coverage but there are a lot of low income families that don't and the medicaid expansion in particular provides that kind of care. >> reporter: the states argue the federal government has no right to force them to spend millions of dollars to expand medicaid. but admit it was not the strongest part of their case. >> i think even if the court did nothing more than strike down the individual mandate it would be a very significant victory. >> reporter: but a spokesman for the president is confident

the justices will rule in the administration's favor. >> there's no contingency plan that's in place, we are focused on implementing the law and we are confident the law is constitutional. >> reporter: the justices are expected to issue their ruling in june. danielle nottingham, cbs news, the supreme court. >> now the outcome to have case is expected to -- of the case is expected to impact nearly all americans and also play a big role in the 2012 campaign. former president george herbert walker bush is expected to endorse gop front runner mitt romney later today in texasment this is the latest sign the republican establishment is beginning to accept the former massachusetts governor as the eventual party nominee. last night romney picked up the endorsement from florida state marco rubio who said it's time for the primary fight to end. former florida governor jeb bush also endorsed romney last week. it is 4:33. here's a look allison treadwell some other thing -- at some other things making news now.

the jet blue pilot passengers pinned down from a flight is now charged with interference of a flight crew. federal documents reveal the copilot locked captain clayton osbon out of the cockpit after making comments like we need to make a leap of faith and we're not going to vegas. a wildfire in colorado that's killed two people so far continues to burn out of control now. 4500 acres have been scorched so far. 28 homes destroyed and 900 evacuated. the u.s. forest service is now in charge of the operation. more firefighters are on the way to help. the flames now cover seven square miles. the whole thing started as a controlled burn last week. pope benedict xvi is headed back to the vatican after wrapping up his visit to cuba. in an unusually political sermon the pontiff demanded more freedom for the catholic church in the nation and also

discussed the u.s. trade embargo saying quote restricted measures from outside the country have unfairly burdened the people. the pontiff met with fidel castro. time now is 4:45. coming up he has yet to take a single snap in new york but tim tebow is already at the center of a lawsuit in new york between two major companies. >> welcome to the big apple. at 4:51 a new study suggests leading a healthy lifestyle can significantly improve your chances of being cancer-free. >> we're back with your weather first in two minutes. stay with us.

4:37. not too chilly just yet. temperatures in the 50s and even 60s holding on right now but some cooler air moving in and we'll be in the 50s this

morning. lots of sunshine a bit of a breeze. a northwest wind about 15 or so much of the day and temperatures this afternoon getting back into the low 60s. i'll be back in a few minutes and we'll take a look to the full weekend forecast. right now over to beverly farmer with timesaver traffic. take a look at that drive for northbound 95. travelers, heading up out of fredericksburg stafford and to quantico, woodbridge and springfield. left side of the screen there. the hov lanes light volume. overnight roadwork out of the way too on the beltway between 50 and gallows road. so that's a good start. no early troubles beltway maryland interstates bw parkway or 50 heading into cheverly. mike back to you. it is time for the first your money segment of the morning. >> and she's counting hundreds, here's jessica doyle. >> i'm also taking a look at oil prices because that really matters. oil price fell about 2% on reports that western nations may release oil from their reserves. a report that shed an increase in -- showed an increase also

contributed to the declines and we'll have to see if it brings some relief to the gas pumps. in the meantime stocks were lower ahead of a meeting today of european finance ministers to discuss the region's debt crisis. checking the numbers from wall street -- more ceos plan to hire workers this year. the business round table says its survey of ceos at large u.s. companies found 42% expect to hire over the next six months and that's up from 35% three months ago. well, he hasn't even played one game for the new york jets yet but already tim tebow's uniform is at the center of a legal battle. nike is suing reebok for using the name on jets' related clothing. this is just days before nike becomes the official sponsor of licensed nfl apparel. nike is asking a judge to bar its rival from selling tebow

items. the company claims reebok is improperly taking away sales that nike would otherwise make when it begins its five year contract with the nfl on sunday. okay nike your contract hasn't started yet. >> you're trying to influence because you have the intent. >> exactly. >> so interesting. >> we'll see how this turns out. >> it will be controversial i'm sure. thanks jess. all right, supporters of metro silver line are trying to sway lawmakers about some doubts about funding the project past dulles airport. >> more on that story and plus your weather first coming up in two minutes. you're watching 9news now.

good morning, welcome back

to 9news now. went to dinner last night. i had a jacket in the car. just in case, didn't need it. one of the most beautiful evenings of the month. >> yeah, once we got the little line of showers and storms to pass in the afternoon. pretty nice. >> lovely. >> cooler air moving in this morning. and hopefully last night was enough showers to clean the air out a little bit but there wasn't much rain. only a few hundredths here and there. you can see the allergy update came in yesterday and it wasn't that pretty. the tree pollen once again. we're going to start with the allergy update for you and talk about the tree pollen in the high gat care. grass is up -- category, grass is up too. everything is mowing. but grass is moderate and weeds and mold spores are on the low category. at the bus stop this morning, it's cool and breezy. temperatures are going to be falling into the #s in spot -- 50s in spots, we're still in the 60s with winds out of the northwest at 10 to 15. still some gusts over 20 right now. that's going to be the case much of the day with sunrise at 6:57.

but a sunny day today. the tulips are up. 53 degrees. with noontime temps in the upper 50s to around 60. northwesterly wind look at that 16 miles an hour again with the gusts 25 possibly even 30. and 62 at 4:00. i think we'll get to maybe 63, 64 out of reagan national. we're in the low 60s now and we're going to drop maybe another ten and then start the recovery for the daytime and then by 8:00 upper 50s with lighter winds tonight. here's that line of showers we actually had a severe thunderstorm watch to our west yesterday. parts of the shenandoah valley into west virginia. this was the rougher weather and the 4:40. everything moved southeast pretty quickly. this morning we're left with generally clear skies here. some clouds up at pennsylvania. but still on the mild side. still 62 at reagan national. easton is 59. we're dipping into the mid 50s up north and west and there's oakland just starting to get into the real cool air. now into 41 degrees. locally, 61 for fairfax and great falls leesburg is down to 59. same with columbia and we're

looking at 67 still at upper marlboro. i took a little while for the cool air to come in but it's coming in as we speak. clear skies outside on the michael & son weather camera. 62 degrees. good visibility. wind north at 10 miles an hour right now and the air is drying out once again. dew points yesterday shot up into the low 50s. they're now back into the 30s a sign of the humidity levels dropping. west coast talk about a day -- a day. they're still getting hit one storm coming on shore. you can see this guy here just throwing more moisture northern california the pacific northwest. actually weather maker for us like said missouri right now. the showers gathering here and they'll be arriving tomorrow night into saturday morning. between now and then though got high pressure building in so i think we'll be in pretty good shape here for oh the next 36 hours or so. futurecast northwesterly winds a little cooler today. temperatures low maybe middle 60s with plenty of sunshine. tonight with clear skies we're dipping into the 30s and 40s and with lighter winds there are areas in western maryland have to watch out for some

frost or even a light freeze there. freeze warnings up in far western maryland for tonight. now tomorrow midday we're still sunny but here come some clouds for the afternoon. looks like some showers up to pennsylvania if you're headed that way for the weekend. you may run into them friday afternoon and evening and then friday night and saturday morning that's when that next round of showers will be with us. but i think the weekend always in all not too bad. high temperatures today about 64 this afternoon here in town. may hold in the upper 50s hagerstown out to cumberland. still areas well south in the upper 60s to near 70 the cool stuff coming in a little bit later. here's a look at the forecast. today 64 breezy. those winds again out of the northwest could gust to 30. tonight 30s and40s. tomorrow 65 although late in the day clouds increase and a few showers into saturday morning. cool on saturday. 62. sunday looks nice 72. look at monday and tuesday the lower 80s with a better chance

for a few afternoon storms on tuesday and then cooler and breezy on wednesday back into the 60s. it is 4:46 this thursday morning. monika is off but here's beverly farmer with timesaver traffic. howard looking good around town making the drive right now on 66. in from i-81 into markham heading into manassas and on east you've got a very light volume. 66 near 234 very light volume on into fair oaks and vienna. overnight road work on the beltway down near gallows road the express work cleared out of the way. i-95 lanes are open for you northbound. into woodbridge for that matter heading north into newington and springfield volume has been light 395. no troubles there overnight road work down at quantico pulling out of the path. light volume as you make your way past 109 and the truck scales on down through jermantown and gaithersburg and rockville. no early troubles in your path.

back to you. thanks. there are some serious concerns now about phase 2 of the dulles rail metro extension it could be in jeopardy. >> members of the board of supervisors would be looking for cays to -- ways to opt out of the project. peggy fox has more. >> reporter: construction of the silver line to dulles airport might might just stop right -- might just stop right here in reston with phase one if loudoun county board opts out of phase 2. george mason economist stephen fuller says that would be a huge mistake. >> you can't go back and say i wish i had done it. let's do it now. once you don't do this it's an opportunity that may be lost forever. >> reporter: the reston chamber of commerce put on a show of force promoting all the benefits of continuing the projects. >> if we want to continue to grow in loudoun county and our eastern end of the community with businesses wanting to locate there, we have to put the infrastructure in place. >> reporter: if loudoun opts

out of rail it could mean the future looks about like it is today. with empty fields, either remaining as they are, or turning into houses. instead of major corporations and job centers. >> it makes this county a suburban county with a very high tax cost on residents because it has no commercial base. >> reporter: opponents of the project say that $3 billion cost for phase 2 is too high. the rail ridership is too low and tolls on the toll road will be too high and they hate the pla, the project labor agreement that gives a bonus to contractors that use labor unions. >> we've got the pla preference that we need to deal with. we need to deal with ways to get this down. we need to look at alternative funding sources. >> reporter: fairfax county supervisor is opposing the project at least until the pla preference is removed. peggy fox, 9news now. >> now if the silver line

extension is completed, travelers will enjoy more space at dulles airport as well. a new design doubled in size. there are six new baggage carousels and the goal is to make things easier for international travelers when it comes to getting to the main terminal. >> we now have over 400,000 square feet undercover that provides ample queuing space and baggage delivery and secondary inspections so that we can handle passengers through the facility. >> more than 26% of the travel through dulles airport involves international passengers and that makes dulles one of the largest gateways in the nation. little more about metro. it's working to retro fit 47 of its hybrid buses. the move is designed to eliminate the potential of an electrical short in the vehicle's battery. it will increase inspections of the buses as they undergo the process. they expect to have the problem corrected by may. metro operates a fleet of

nearly 1500 buses. police in prince george's county have launched a new effort to reduce the number of pedestrian deaths in the region. this comes as new numbers reveal that one out of every four traffic deaths in this area is a pedestrian or bicyclist. the new effort by police targets both drivers and pedestrians. >> drivers need to be cautious and ready at all times. and pedestrians need to walk as if their life depends on it. because it does. >> the street smart crackdown aims to reduce traffic fatalities through education and enforcement. well, live healthy and you can help to prevent getting half of all cancers. this is a new study scientists in st. louis say many cancers could be avoided if people didn't smoke, maintained a healthy weight, and protected their skin against the sun. the research also shows that getting vaccinations can prevent many cervical and liver cancers. well, scientists are finding new ways to personalize

cancer treatments now. researchers in massachusetts are studying how individual cancer genes interact with certain medications. they hope they can use cancer drugs more effectively by targeting patients most likely to respond to specific treatments. the emotional stress on emergency dispatchers could lead to symptoms of post- traumatic stress disorder. a new study at northern illinois university found that people can develop ptsd even if they are not directly exposed to the traumatic events. researchers say the findings highlight the need to train dispatchers hon how to handle emotional distress. 4:352. time for the question of the morning -- log on to the wusa9 facebook fan page and leave your response. we'll reveal the answer during the 6:00 hour. >> and our facebook page is a

popular place. here's another reason why. you can enter our 9news now and hyatt regency chesapeake bay wonderful weekend sweepstakes. once you like us on wusa9's facebook page, you can enter the contest by guessing the lowest score of each round of the 2012 masters golf tournament. >> if you have the score closet to the total. -- closest to the total. you'll receive a golf and spa getaway valued at more than 4,000 for you and three of your friends. head to the facebook page for all of the details. we'll be right back.

welcome back. will:55. -- 4:55. your weather first. we'll be dropping into the s other than the next couple of hours and then slowly recovering into the low to mid- 60s this afternoon. lots of sunshine and that

breeze will be up all day out of the northwest at times gusting 20, 25, even 30 miles an hour. let's go to beverly farmer for an update on timesaver traffic. and right now very light volume around the area. no early obstacles to report from state highway departments downtown police say everything is a-ok and right now no early -- well, they're picking up all the of night barrels from construction and we're in good shape around the beltway and in maryland. no troubles to report. back to you. a key habitat seems to be disappearing from the chesapeake bay. the amount of underwater grasses has dropped by more than 20% in the last year. that's the lowest point in the last six years. the grasses provide oxygen and a habitat for many of the fish living in the bay. the bay program blames heavy rains, snow melt, and extreme summer heat for the decline. today the "national geographic" museum opens a special exhibit about the titanic. it coincides with the 100th anniversary of the sinking of

the titanic. it features the work of robert ballard. he helped lead a team which discovered the ship wrecked team in 1985. james cameron just organized 33 -- he organized 33 dives to the titanic site. the exhibit runs through july 8th. if you know the theme song to the beverly hillbillies tv show you know the work of bluegrass legend earl scruggs. he worked with other legend too in the bluegrass world and worked with very popular artists as well. he's credited with elevating the banjo to a bona fide lead instrument. i was interviewing him before, very, very nice man. earl scruggs died yesterday at 88. relationship rumors are overshadowing rihanna's upcoming movie debut. >> and amy winehouse leaves her millions to her family. bigad shaban has those stairs and more in inter-- stories and more in this day's look at

entertainment. >> reporter: it shows amy winehouse left behind an estate worth more than $4.5 million. she died of accidental alcohol poisoning last year. oprah winfrey is planning to stop by "cbs this morning" next week to visit her best friend gayle king. on monday she will sit down for the first interview with the show to discuss her struggling cable network and what life has been like since the talk show ended. rihanna is keeping quiet about her relationship with ashton kutcher. rumors started swirling after she reportedly visited the "two and a half men" star at his los angeles home. but at a london news conference for her upcoming movie, the singer refused to address the rumors. >> will we be seeing a certain mr. ashton kutcher perhaps making a trip over here? >> how disappointing was that question. >> should we move on to another one? >> absolutely. >> i think that was the question. we need to move on. >> i'm happy and i'm single.

that's what you were really asking. >> reporter: it's rihanna's first film role. she plays a weapons specialist in the movie which is based on the popular game. >> is this some kind of exercise? >> reporter: it opens in the u.s. in may. we are going to -- america! >> a new trailer for his movie "the dictator" reveals the plot. cohen stars as a former dictator who who has to start over after they abandon him in new york city. that's your eye on entertainment. bigad shaban, cbs news, hollywood. >> i thought adam sandler did that movie before. being abandoned somewhere. >> i didn't know you were a -- >> maybe that was the one where we say -- >> haven't seen a movie in about ten years. >> moving right along, good morning and thank you for watching 9news now at 5:00 a.m. on this thursday morning. i'm andrea roane. >> and i'm mike hydeck, beverly farmer is in for monika