. hello and thank you for joining us. i'm jc hayward. we're learning more about the driver of the car who was killed after a tree crushed his vehicle. the accident happened during the evening rush hour yesterday

on the georgetown pike near walker road in great falls. zeal -- delia goncalves returns to the scene. >> reporter: vdot crews worked through the night to remove a second tree deemed damaged and in danger of falling. and shortly after 6:00 a.m., the nearly 100-foot tall tree came toppling down. crews hope to avoid another tragedy like this one yesterday. it was 6:30 in the evening. police say 64-year-old albert roath iii of great falls was stuck in bumper to bumper traffic when without warning this tree came crashing down killing him instantly. >> it's very traumatizing. >> reporter: a portion of that 200-year-old tree that fell yesterday and killed a man still sits here on the side of the road. arborists say you can tell by looking into its trunk how severely damaged it was. that trunk is completely

hollowed out. in fact, we've learned from several sources the county tried removing these damaged trees several years ago but some residents fought to keep them. >> there's one tree or two trees -- is one tree or two trees worth endangering both egress and ingrease from sites and something as catastrophic like we had here. >> reporter: the developer wayne foley points to a set of trees just a block away that have caused controversy for nearly two decades. but not these. a mile away several exits mark damaged trees on the list to be removed. >> the same minds need to come together and find out what's really in the best interest of the community. >> reporter: in great falls, delia goncalves, 9news now. >> we tried to reach officials at vdot and the county department of urban forestry for this story, but they did not respond. metro says it has fixed the computer glitch that shut down rail service over the weekend.

the agency's website says a failed module in an information management network device failed. the system allows rail operation controllers to see the position of trains during their routes. it was replaced before this morning's rush hour. a small crowd, many of them campaign workers, are at a rally right now to support d.c. mayor vincent gray. mayor gray is facing calls for him to step down after several figures involved in the 2010 mayoral campaign pleaded guilty to funning money from a shadow campaign. our bruce johnson joins us now from the wilson building with more information. what can you tell us, bruce? >> reporter: jc, first off, this is what's left of the crowd. fairly small standing on the steps of city hall, the john wilson building if you will. the size of the crowd isn't that impressive but who was here just might be impressive. a couple members of the clergy but also some former campaign workers and some people who now work for the great

administration. obviously here to support the mayor, here to criticize the three members of the d.c. council who call for vincent gray to resign amid this federal probe into this alleged shadow campaign. not alleged shadow campaign, the shadow campaign that spent some $650,000 plus to get him elected mayor. now, let's go to some of what we heard from this group and then i'll tell you what i think the headline is here. let's go to the tape. >> they want all of us to engage in language that creates a who the other debate. we refuse to do that. >> i have been troubled by the rush to judgment and the media feeding frenzy with regard to vincent gray. >> reporter: if the truth is on the mayor's side, why doesn't he tell the public his supporters, the voters, the truth? it would be the same truth he tells the u.s. attorney? >> the problem is when you're in a legal process and i've been in legal processes. the attorneys basically say that you don't help those who

are trying to get you. >> reporter: a couple of things i'm going to make this quick. some of these people are well connected with the campaign. we're not just talking about street soldiers. these are people who had a pretty good idea of what was going o. they say they don't know anything about a shadow campaign, they saw no evidence of it and take that to mean it's possible the mayor didn't know anything about it also. they say that -- they have talked to the mayor in private. can't put names on this but they say they talked to the mayor in private. they're saying to him that part of what we already reported that he first heard about a shadow campaign on january 10 in a private meeting with the convicted felon for her role in all this. he said when he heard about it, he picked up the phone and called his attorney. these people out here today, the two or three people i talked to claim to have some inside knowledge, they say the mayor's attorney then picked up the phone and called the u.s. attorney. that is a game changer if indeed it happened. we don't foe if this is just loyalty talking, blind faith or if their information is credible but these people are credible and that's what

they're saying. we already reported much of this. we'll continue to explore this throughout the day and have an update tonight at 5:00. >> bruce, did the mayor show up at the rally today? >> reporter: no. the mayor didn't show up. he wasn't expected to show up. the mayor's people said he has nothing to do with it. there's probably some truth because if he d he probably would have gotten a lot more people on the steps. it did happen at noon. any government worker who came out here woodges be in -- wouldn't be in violation of the hatch act. if anything i think the mayor is trying to keep a lid on this and didn't want the kind of rhetoric that we heard coming into here. some people were calling it race based, that it was d.c. officials who had been targeted. a lot of that was toned down once this rally started. >> bruce johnson reporting live from the wilson building. and of course bruce, as you know, we are under a heat alert. that might have had something to do with the number of people who showed up for the rally. we're under that alert till 9:00 tonight. let's get right to anny with

her forecast. anny? >> reporter: yeah, jc. it is steamy out there. the temperature really climbing quickly. as you mentioned we have a heat advisory if effect for the entire d.c. metro area till 9:00. so heat indices are expected to be 105 to 110 this afternoon. right now temperatures in downtown 97 degrees at this noon hour. 97 also in ma narch sas. lower -- manassas. lower 90s in gaithersburg. this is what it feels like when you factor in the humidity. 104 downtown. 105 gaithersburg. 105 manassas. leesburg 107. even annapolis you feel like you're 105. the humidity today is a little higher than yesterday. that's why we have a heat advisory for this afternoon. for for the rest of today, temperatures will be very hot. by 3:00 100 degrees. i think we have a chance to challenge some records today, especially at dulles where the record high is 100. we have some scattered showers and storms coming through because of a cold front approaching. that means we'll see cooler and

drier air. we'll talk more about that a little bit later. back to you. >> thank you, anny. well, there's a new redskin in town because it's now official. robert griffin iii has signed a $21 million four-year contract. 's' real redskin. the washington redskins posted a photo of the signing this morning. there it is. he has a happy smile on his face. guess what? about two thirds of the $21 million is his signing bonus. today's signing comes as the team prepares for training camp which officially begins next thursday. syrian government is vowing to punish those responsible for a crippling attack that struck the government's inner circle. randall pinkston has the latest from the united nations where diplomats are scheduled to discuss that crisis. >> reporter: syrians celebrated the bombing of a high level cabinet meeting in damascus. the attack killed a defense

minister and president bashar el-assad's brother-in-law. rebels claim the bomb was detonated remotely. the government says it was a suicide attack. the u.s. says it is time to put more global pressure on president assad to step down. >> this is a situation that is rapidly spinning out of control. >> reporter: the battle to overthrow the government is inching closer to the presidential palace. for a fourth straight day, heavy gunfire was heard in the syrian capital. and video posted on the internet shows heavy damage in one neighborhood following what witnesses say was a fierce battle between rebels and government tanks. the developments in syria are creating new pressure on the united nations to act. later today the security council is scheduled to vote on a respect lawtion aimed at ending -- resolution aimed at ending the 17-month crisis. but russia has veto power and opposes the demand for military sanctions becaused russians fear they could eventually allow the use of force.

u.n. envoy kofi annan has been in moscow meeting with russian president putin. he's hopeful a peaceful resolution will be reached in syria. randall pinkston, cbs news, the united nations. >> there are reports that several other officials, including a former syrian defense minister were killed in the blast. syria has already named a new defense minister who vows to cut off the hand of anyone threatening his nation. still to come when the news continues, if you thought there was a tough crowd at the howard theatre, try auditioning in front of thousands of people in a metro train station. >> and the gsa tightens the purse strings following our investigative report into questionable bonuses. we'll be back.

in the wake of a 9 wants you to know investigation, the gsa is cutting bonuses to 85% of its high ranking officials. we've learned that organizers of the now infamous las vegas conference were among gsa employees who received thousands of dollars in bonuses. 9news reporters say former executive jeffrey neilly was paid nearly $10,000 in bonuses after officials learned of the $823,000 trip. but it doesn't stop there.

we also found out that 67 high ranking gsa officials split more than half a million dollars in bonuses. coming up next, anny with the hot forecast. >> it's hot and pretty miserable out here. lots of sunshine and, boy, it is humid. i've got your forecast. i'm going to talk about some showers and storms coming this way. could be some pretty big storms. stick around. 9news continues. we have the forecast after the break. ?gw?qyjw

it is not american idol or star search, but dozens of musicians auditioned in washington yesterday. they're hoping to make the cut and get to perform for metro riders. matt jablow explains. >> reporter: the d.c. musician who calls himself the unknown pianist has been tickling the ivories at metro stations for 25 years now. often without permission. >> i just get locked up a lot. >> reporter: now apparently tired of keeping one eye on his keyboard and the other on the lookout for metro police, he wants to play by the rules. >> this time i'll be playing and i won't be getting locked up. >> reporter: so today he waited in line at metro headquarters for several hours with a few dozen other musicians for the chance to be selected to play at certain metro station

entrances. >> thank you very much. >> reporter: michael mcbride is manager of metro's art and transit program. while careful not to criticize any of the people who auditioned today or even acknowledge the wide range and abilities. >> billy, your mike is not hot. >> reporter: he did say many of those that came out will not make the cut. judging by the judges' overwhelmingly positive reaction, this woman has nothing to worry about and should soon be playing at a metro station near you. i think you killed it in there. >> you think so? >> reporter: absolutely. >> did you hear it? >> reporter: the judges seemed to have liked you a lot. >> you were in there? >> reporter: yeah. >> shut up. >> reporter: the musicians selected have to perform for free and are not allowed to sell merchandise or solicit donations on metro property. >> the best acoustics is at friendship heights at the top

of the escalator. >> reporter: while not exactly thrilled with some of those conditions, many of the musicians say the metro gig is not about the money but the experience. >> once you start playing, people say wow, where's that music coming from and they come over. it's real personal. >> reporter: matt jablow, 9news now. >> i think that's a great idea. >> i love it. it really is. >> i want to say something. i want to salute leonard and grace gardner because last saturday they celebrated their 75th wedding anniversary. congratulations to you. >> did they say what the secret was? >> no, i need to talk to them. >> we need that story. >> find out how they stuck together for 75 years. i think they live in maryland. pat jackson sent that information to me. congratulations. 75 years. >> that's fantastic. >> it is. okay, it is hot out there. but your hair looks good. not affecting your hair. >> thank you. >> it's also very humid. in fact, a little more humid today which is why we've got

the heat advisory. she's still primping her hair. you always look good. >> you can borrow it any time. >> thank you, jc. heat advisory in effect till 9:00 today. this includes pretty much the entire d.c. metro area. the day planner for this wednesday afternoon, we'll get up to 100 degrees so, yes, we will challenge a record or two. we are seeing some scattered showers and storms coming in because of a cold front coming through the mid-atlantic. by 9:00 temperatures in the mid and upper 80s. you will want to have your umbrellas today just in case you're caught in a storm. here's a look at your michael & son weather camera. kind of hazy out there. the temperature 97. the dew points though are in the 70s. that's why it feels so heavy and sticky out there. in the mid-atlantic, much of us really under this heat dome. 95 in philadelphia. even new york city at 98 degrees. atlantic city 97. ocean city not much relief out there. 95 degrees. now, you factor in the

humidity, it feels oppressive. 104 in downtown. 105 in gaithersburg. 107 in leesburg. even cumberland 100. tappahannock, you're pushing close to 110. you go out east, also the eastern shore getting no relief. even salisbury you feel like you're at 107. so this is a day you want to take it easy. i think some records will be challenged including the one at dulles. the high there today 100. that's the record high set in 1986. so here's a look at our 9 future cast. some scattered showers and storms coming through tonight. again, some of the storms could be strong or severe. tomorrow, thursday, generally partly to mostly cloudy and a better chance for some wider spread showers and thunderstorms. again, those storms tomorrow could be strong or severe. monday looking to be unsettled, too. this is canadian cold front coming through which means drier and cooler air. we are under a risk for severe weather today. a slight risk. you see the areas in yellow, that does include the d.c. area points north and west of town. the main threat being damaging

wind gusts and hail from any of those strong to severe thunderstorms. highs for today we're going to 99, 100 degrees in downtown. close to 100 for manassas. upper 90s in tappahannock. the nats are playing the mets today. going to be a hot and muggy one. first pitch at 705. temperatures mid-90s. bring an umbrella just in case. could see some showers and storms come through. bring also lots of water and ice. next three days 9 weather alert code yellow because ever the heat and storm potential for today. high of 100. thursday lower 90s with more unsettled weather. friday, though, we are in the mid-80s. the relief is coming very soon. check out your next seven days. cooler through the weekend. the weekend looks pretty good. saturday 83 with a chance for a shower. sunday temperatures in the lower 90s. we're back with jc cooking in the kitchen and it smells good.

today i'm one on one with chef rich. he's been on before but guess what? he's starting his own restaurant. it's going to open up in the fall. >> it's in falls church, virginia. >> today he's cooking sausages but the reason why he's on today is because he's part of a special tournament. >> yes. >> the 2012 city open tennis tournament. >> one of my favorites. >> what does cook having to do with tennis? >> nothing like eating sausages and going to play tennis.

no, don't do that. >> let me let everybody know that the city open tennis tournament is being held at rock creek tennis center. you'll be participating. >> we're doing a cooking competition with a very well known chef. it's on july 30 from 6:00 to 8:00 at the grounds there. >> rock creek park. >> the players aren't going to be eating right before they go on. >> but look at that. >> these are torizzos. they can be bought right next to -- in falls church at my mom's butcher shop. these are dried herbs that i like to smoke with. a lot of people smoke with wood and all that kind of stuff. i like to get dried herbs and get that flavor infusing in there. >> what kind of sausage?

>> a mexican core reese zoe -- chiorzzo. we're going to transfer this. i'm used to the arch teejian style sausages. -- arch teengian style sausages. this is more of a chunky version. i'm going to take a little tortilla, lay a piece of chore reese today. >> can i make this? >> yes. we're doing heart of palm, nice charred corn. these are pork rinds. >> very good. are you going to do this in the competition? >> no. the competition is a competition so i'm not going to give away what i'm going to do. >> all right. >> but we did pork ruined on top of there. >> you can see him july 30 at

rock creek park. >> you going to be there? >> i'll try and come. the city open tennis tournament in rock creek park. that looks good. can i have a piece? >> of course. come back and visit us at 5:00.