. >>> i'm alex demetrick. coming up, cyber war. that story as eyewitness news continues. >>> dangerous roads. the number of traffic fatalities up for the first time in eight years. the reason for the increase. >>> new audio shows new light. pop star justin bieber. >>> it is windy and cold outside today. don't miss your updated first warning weather forecast. >>> it is 34 degrees. cloudy and cold in central maryland right now. the complete first warning weather forecast is coming up. >>> a texas high school student is dead after a lunchtime race ends in a crash. police say an 18-year-old girl was killed after the vehicle she was riding in collided with a truck and slammed into a pole on a san antonio road. authorities say the male driver was speeding and attempted topaz the truck on the-- to pass the truck on the wrong side. he, along with two other teenage girls were hurt and taken to a nearby hospital. the truck driver and his passenger were also injured. >>> a missouri water employee is recovering after getting struck by a vehicl

. >>> i'm alex demetrick. coming up, a final adding up of the misery from super storm sandy. that story as eyewitness news continues. >>> i was afraid i wasn't going to get him back. >> the 6-year-old boy held hostage in an underground bunker, speaks to dr. phil, as she hope opens up about the trauma she fears her son may never be able to shake. i'm mary bubala. with the interview coming up. >>> theman hunt is over the wild shootout that >>> it is just before 6:30. 38 degrees, with some rain and snow falling. good evening. thank you for staying with wjz. here are some of the stories people are talking about tonight. the week-long search for a killer, fugitive, ex-cop is finally over. police say the body of krist fer dorner is believed to be inside a burned-out cabin, following a wild shootout. teresa garcia is on the scene in big bear, with the latest for wjz. ♪ [ music ] ♪ >> reporter: bagpipes played as the flag-draped coffin, carrying riverside police officer michael crane, entered the church. hundreds of police officers from across southern california attended the funeral

. >>> i'm alex demetrick. coming up, monster cranes. and why it would be scary without them.hat story as eyewitness news continues. >>> up next, i sit down with wjz's oratory conwinner. and the words that took him straight to first place. >>> don't let the sun fool you. it's chilly outside. just ahead, we'll have an updated first warning forecast with bob. >>> it is clear. 40 degrees in central maryland right now. the complete first warning weather forecast is coming up. >>> a $40 million investment is starting to pay back at the port of baltimore. after six months of installation and training for im -- four immense cranes are up and running. alex demetrick reports, they could outrun the competition. >>> there are none bigger on the east coast. four gigantic cranes, designed for one purpose. >> to take it from one part of the world to the other. >> reporter: with it expanding, even larger vessels are coming. to stay comfet tive -- competitive, they must stand 40 feet high, dwarfing the men who assembled and began operating them this month. containers today, represent only a f

. >>> i'm alex demetrick. coming up, monster cranes and why it would be scary without them.t story on eyewitness news. >>> downfall of an olympic hero? the latest on the allegations >>> it is just before 6:30. 37 degree, with some clouds. good evening. thank you for staying with wjz. here are some of the stories people are talking about tonight. shock and disbelief in south africa. five days after olympic icon, oscar pistorius is arrested on charges of killing his girlfriend. as tina kraus reports for wjz, from london, that woman's mother is demanding answers. >> reporter: lawyers for olympian oscar pistorius will speak daily bail for the runner on tuesday. the double-amputee has been in jail since thursday, charged with murdering his girlfriend, model reeva steenkasm. her mother was scoatded in a paper, asking, why my little girl? why did he do this? but pistorius's father said his son acted on instinct, thinking it was a burglar in the house. but cbs news has learned, police believe reeva steenkamp slept with him in his bed that night. she was shot once in the bedroom and

alex demetrick. >> that is really neat. data is free and available to anybody. it has been used to study everything from climate change to watering crops on family farms. >>> if you're waiting for someone to get home from work let's check on the roads with christie breslin on abc traffic control. christie i know we had that accident on the beltway. >> i know they're working on clearing it up. we have one lane that's blocked up. it is affecting traffic as well. it's backed up to green spring avenue. also having an impact on the outer loop delays stretched there to charles street. on the west side of the interloop, the ramp blocked off. an accident at baltimore boulevard. also in essex. and we still have a situation in the churchville area. some fire activity has aldino road closed between parkins run. as far as other delays go, traveling 295 watch for slow traffic as you make your approach over to route 32. let's take a live look. there's a look at the inner and outer loop. it looks like it's moving much better. this traffic report is brought to you by ski libert

alex demetrick is live. good afternoon alex. >> reporter: well laura neuman was just elected last night by the anne arundel county council. >> laura neuman greeted friends, well wishers and future employees inside the annapolis courthouse. thursday night she was chosen by the county council to be the new county executive beating out a large field of candidates some of whom have far more experience in politics. >> it doesn't hurt she has a record of making changes that are necessary when she feels they need to be made. >> that's because she replaces john leopold whose criminal conviction led to his resignation. >> first priority is taking a look at what needs to be addressed in the county. i think it's a new day in the county and i'm looking forward to meeting with the folks here and seeing what we need to do to make anne arundel county a leader in maryland. >> a retired ceo who turned around and company and made it a multi-million dollar business, she used to be the economic chief but not anymore. >> county e

. >>> i'm alex demetrick. coming up, a maryland congressman traveling travels to cuba in an attempt to free alan gross. that story as eyewitness news continues. >>> it's one of the toughest tests a student can take. and it tells teachers who is ready for college. i'm gigi barnett at annapolis high school. coming up, i'll tell you what test this is. and why maryland's minority students are doing so we >>> it's 6:29. 34 degrees and clear in central maryland now. good evening, everyone. thanks for staying with wjz. massive winter storm. residents in the midwest are preparing for what some are calling the biggest storm in two years. vinita nair has the latest for wjz. >> reporter: a massive winter storm is wreaking havoc across the midwest. heavy snow and strong winds shut down a 90-mile stretch of interstate 70 in kansas. cars slid right off the road. >> i just heard another call, looking for a wrecker to pull somebody in. and they're talking five-hour delay to get a wrecker. >> reporter: parts of the state are b

. >>> alex demetrick reports, after 25 years and the relationship here, the navy has decided to move on. >> reporter: long observe dawn, work was under way to get the hospital ship comfort under way. for those who worked the dock and watched over it, it was an emotional departure. >> i've worked security. and i deal with these people every day. and it hurts. it hurts to see them go. >> reporter: in more than 25 years, the comfort has treated soldiers in both gulf wars , as well as civilians and humanitarian missions and disasters, like the earthquake in haiti. >> thank you guys for what you're doing for haiti and for old us. >> reporter: these have always been a source of pride for baltimore. >> baltimore takes pride in it. and the ship takes pride in it. i think it's a good relationship between the navy and baltimore. >> reporter: the reason it's ending is financial. >> maybe we'll save about $2 million per year by putting the ship in norfolk. >> reporter: it will also put it closer to most of the medical staff who are also in virginia. but the navy's savings is baltimore's loss. >>

alex demetrick, wjz eyewitness news. >> well, a devastating attack has not happened yet. more than 140 u.s. companies have lost billions of dollars in trade secrets and research. >>> and scott pelley has a preview of what's coming up tonight on the cbs evening news. >>> jesse jackson, jr., pleads guilty to corruption. how the congressman loot the the ---- looted the funds of his donors. tonight on the cbs evening news. >>> and here's a look at tonight's closing numbers from wall street. we'll be right back. >>> well, get ready, for a chilly february night. know that because it was a chilly february day. live outside, keep an extra blanket or two handy. meteorologist tim williams and bob turk are updating the forecast. poor tim is outside. said it's going to be another cold night as you mentioned. we go down to the 20s. wind chill, definitely in the single digits and teens in parts of the area. when this wind blows, it gets your attention. 27 degrees tomorrow. good bit of nine. -- sunshine. before dropping into the 20s. again, under a clear sky for tomorrow night. and for

. >>> i'm alex demetrick. coming up, pitching for the job. a disgraced john leopold was forced to give up. that story as eyewitness news continues. >>> did the man known as "the blade runner" murder his girlfriend? the evidence in the case against this famous olympian. >>> fire in the sky. a meteor's sonic boom sparks fears at the end of the world. the latest on this rare >>> it is just before 6:30. here are some of the stories people are talking about tonight looked like doomsday in one russian city. a huge meteor caused a shock wave. we have incredible video of the event. [ explosion ] >> reporter: the meteor exploded over a small russian town and caused a shock wave. >> glass shattered, injuring hundreds of people. this woman went to the hospital with a bloody arm. others had cuts on their faces and heads. the explosion rocked aun mo -- a mountain range. cameras throughout the area caught the meteor as it streaks across the sty. scientists say it was about the size of a bus. some fragments fell to the ground. but it's unclear if they hit a

first warning weather coverage begins with alex demetrick, on the incredible number of accidents during rush hour. >> reporter: those accidents were spread over a number of counties. but the most seemed to be in anne arundel county, where there was the most serious crash of all. >> reporter: temperatures dropped low enough to turn overnight snow into thin crusts of ice. getting it off cars was the easy part. getting into work was the hard part. main lines jammed up, especially in anne arundel county. >> 9750. route 100. route 2. 695. we have reports all over county. the reason was ice-related accidents. at least 60 were reported between anne arundel police between 6:00 and 8:00 a.m. most were not serious but one was deadly. an suv apparently slid near gambrels, striking a cement truck. >> there was a fatality, an adult female, who was operating that suv. preliminarily, it appears the weather or road conditions was a factor. >> reporter: because it was a fatal collision, accident investigators spent all morning, collecting evidence. but roads weren't the only slick spots. besides respond

alex demetrick is there with the latest on today's sentencing hearing. alex. >> reporter: well , when robert gladden pled guilty to attempted murder the 15-year-old opened himself up to a possible 40 year prison sentence. >> gladden's lawyers already arguing many of the same points that failed to move the teen's trial to juvenile court. calling the shooting insanity at its finest, stupidity at its best and the act of a disturbed child. firing into the crowd in a cafeteria with a shotgun wounded 17-year-old daniel borowy whose mother took the witness stand and talked about how it effected her special needs son and family. >> reporter: she said she thought her son was going to die and after burying one child she didn't want to bury another. arguments by both sides are still underway. >> daniel borowy who has down syndrome is expected to make a full recovery. >>> a former john hopkins gynecologist accused of secretly recording his patients has lawsuits piling up on behalf of the patients of dr. levy. mike schuh is live in the news room where the latest. >> r

. >>> i'm alex demetrick. coming up, pitching for the job. a disgraced john leopold was forced to give up. that story as eyewitness news continues. >>> could new information be released in the chandra levy case? >>> our whacky weather roller coaster is taking another abrupt turn. there's snow in your forecast. wjz is always on. for the top stories on cbsbaltimore.com. instant updates and first warning weather all the time, click cbsbaltimore.com. >>> i'll tell you what. life is full of pain and pleasure. we have pleasure today. but we'll get some pain tomorrow. >> or as you said yesterday, one of those weather bugs. >> a weather bug. so i guess this would qualify, what's coming, as a weather bug. >> qualify as a weather bug. it will come through, as you mentioned, in about a 24-hour period. and kind of moves on out. >> right. >> well, another one of those weather bugs is under way. the bug we got today, though, it was equally as unique. almost 60 degrees. we're now down to 55. but just at our first check at this hour, we were at just around 5

. >>> i'm alex demetrick. coming up, a close, very close encounter, as eyewitness news continues. >>> i'm mike schuh, at chase elementary. kids in this school are getting the thrill of their lives today. super bowl champion tory smith coming to visit. the story coming up next. >>> intense manhunt. hundreds of police searching for an elusive fugitive ex-cop. >>> and ready for the weekend. stick around for the updated first warning weather forecast coming up. >>> it's cloudy. 38 degrees in central maryland right now. this is a live look at boston tonight. that city and much of the northeast preparing for a major nor'easter. complete first warning weather forecast is coming up. >>> well, this valentine's day, we won't have to kiss ourselves goodbye. that's because an asteroid will come very close to the earth on february 15th. and as alex demetrick reports, it will not come close enough to hit. >>> it's called 2012d.a.14. a not very scary name for a not very large asteroid. it will only take up about half a footb

alex demetrick, wjz eyewitness news remember. >> -- wjz eyewitness news. >> now, because leopold is a republican, only a republican can replace him. and both hammond and ehrlich say they only want it temporarily and will not run in the 2014 election. >>> time for a look at at baltimore stun. -- sun. a baltimore woman receives the second highest honor for her work with women. >>> top-ranked wheelchair basketball team. >>> and the orioles' manny machado talks about his off- season meningitis scare. for these stories and more, remember to look for the updated sun. >>> christie ileto explains how a baltimore artist is paying tribute to little-known african american inventors for black history month. >> reporter: each painting in kaufman's gallery tells a story. but the last one tells about 50. this is the baltimore native's latest invention. >> right now, i'm asking obvious, but how does this tie into black history month? >> well, it ties into black history month by giving credit to some of the unsung heroes of inventions that are not really written in history books. >> reporter: he pays

as alex demetrick reports, it won't come close enough to hit. >> it's called dr2014.o scary name for a not large asteroid. will only take up half a football field. but what it lacks in size will make for in nearness. it be just 217 miles from earth. that put its inside the 22,000- mile high orbit. >> that's close. >> dr. james is the chief stvment. he says a 150-foot wide astroid is a drop in the bucket. >> that's pretty small. much bigger ones have impacted the earth in the last million years. >> last time was in siberia in 1908. it exploded on the way down, with the force of a couple of hydrogen bombs. leveling 800 square miles of forest. >> that's a small event. >> its orbit was calculated and double-checked. >> we know exactly where it's going to go. and it cannot hit the earth. >> coming as close as it does, gives scientists a rare chance to study an astroid. >> the possibility of understanding as it comes close is a scientific bonanza. >> reporter: one that won't come with a bang. alex demetrick, wjz eyewitness news. >> scientists say the asteroid, which weighs

alex demetrick reports, given its size, the owner thought at first wolves were attacking her pets. >> reporter: there are still photographs of smokein' joe and billy jean. but that's all sharon manning has. her pets. saturday night, the goats were killed inside their pen in thisas beana-- this pasadena neighborhood. >> i saw what i thought was a wolf, over top of my dead goat. >> reporter: manning called her next door neighbor for help. >> it looked like it was being aggressive. so to protect himself, and to protect us being out here, he shot it. >> it was only then they realized, it was the wolf's closest cousin. a husky. on the internet, there are sites dedicated to the breed, known for their intelligence and escape artist abilities, depicted on you tube. police say the husky broke out of its yard and dug into another yard with another large dog. it was locate the and hit. >> we have located a deceased dog. that dog has no prior history with animal control. and we are looking for another dog. >> reporter: the breeder says huskies take effort. >> you must work it or it am get destruc

. >> i'm alex demetrick. coming up, dogs run loose. and a family's pet goat pays the price. that story as eyewitness news continues. >>> lost and found. you go to the super bowl, take great pictures, but you lose your camera? not to worry. social media is here to help. >>> let the good times roll. a little rain couldn't put a damper on fat tuesday down in new orleans. >>> and up here, felt like spring today. but tomorrow morning, we could get a blast from old man winter. don't miss the updated first warning forecast with bob. this is dylan right here this is dylan, and this is his big brother hayden. dylan's only five, but he's already been through two surgeries for brain tumors. and he just went through his second round of chemo. and this is their mother, dawn who runs this loving and happy home. she too struggled with tumors. but that doesn't slow her down. her love of family comes first. their dad, phil, works two jobs, repairing copiers, and on weekends delivering newspapers. but the bills keep piling up and the heating bill gets pushed off. when you learn about their di

. >>> i'm alex demetrick. coming up, the comfort leaves baltimore for good. that story as eyewitness news continues. >>> and here's today's report from wall street. we'll be right back. >>> it is 5:30. 42 degrees and light rain in central maryland now. good evening, everybody. thank you for staying with wjz. eyewitness news. here are some of the stories people are taug being tonight. inside the mind of the perry hall shooter. wjz was first to show you the video of his confession to police. and tonight, investigator mike hellgren takes a closer look as the community seeks answers as to how this could happen. >> reporter: 15-year-old robert gladden, jr., calmly shows detectives how he pulled the gun from his waist, before opening fire in the perry hall high school cafeteria, on the first day of the school year. his lawyer said the teenager was desperately in need of psychiatric help, after struggling for years with demons, something gladden admitted in a rambling interview with police. >> the first time i thought about killing myself was in fourth grade. but i

alex demetrick reports, it is the possibility of a hike in the gas tax. >> reporter: there's never aood time for pain at the pump, especially when it hits earlier than usual. >> oh, it's awful. i mean, i'm putting like at least $100 a week in my car. >> reporter: now, talk is surfacing of a possible gas tax increase. >> yeah. i was listening to peter franchot on the radio today, about state of maryland wanting to raise the gas tax. and it's shocking. >> reporter: but it's also the state with one of the worst commutes in the country. >> we're not going to solve that problem by investing less. we have a flat tax on gasoline that hasn't been changed since 1992. >> absolutely not. we don't need t. motorists are already paying enough. >> susan krebs believes there is another way to get them out of gridlock by making sure fees are spent on transportation, noting in something else. and redirecting from mass transit into roads and bridges. >> 80% travel on roads to work. only 8% use mass transit in to work. >> i myself would prefer to see us dedicating the gas tax. >> reporter: increase the

. >>> i'm alex demetrick. coming up, a final adding up of the misery from super storm sandy.t story as eyewitness news continues. >>> it is cloudy outside. and a mixed mess is headed our way. meteorologist tim williams will update our first warning weather forecast. >>> it is 41 degrees with a mix of sleet and rain in central maryland right now. the complete first warning weather forecast still ahead tonight. a violent explosion reduces a duplex in maine to rubble. fire officials say a woman was killed, after the home went up in flames. four other people who live in neighboring buildings were taken to the hospital with minor injuries. the homes in the neighborhood are heated with propane. but investigators still don't know if that was the cause of the explosion. >>> in today's healthwatch report, imagine having no control overour over -- over your hands. as maurice dubois reports, it's a very real medical condition that makes life difficult for those who suffer from it. >> aaron burn and james cook have something unusual in common. neither has control over their left hand. >>

alex demetrick reports, it's the possibility of a hike in the gas tax. [ no audio ] >> and we'll trythat story to you. right now, nothing certain one way or the other about an increase in the gas tax or legislation that would keep transportation funds from being raided for other projects. >>> naval academy graduate john allen will be retiring. so they will not proceed with his nomination. that had been shelved after a pentagon investigation into e- mails allen exchanged with a civilian woman who was linked to the scandal that forced cia general david petraeus to resign. allen said he is retiring to deal with family health issues. he was the first marine corps officer to serve as naval academy commandant. >>> time now for a look at the baltimore sun. a list of area sushi restaurants, with lessons on how to roll your own sushi. >>> the latest orioles training camp. and a preview of what the ravens will be looking for at the nfl combine which begins tomorrow. for these stories stories and in, read the-- and more, read the baltimore sun. >>> charities are always looking for new ways ways

alex demetrick reports, after a 25-year relationship, the navy decided to move on. >> reporter: long before dawn, work was under way to get the hospital ship comfort under way. for those who work the dock and watch over it, it was an emotional departure. >> i work with security. and i deal with people every day. and it hurts. it hurts to see them go. >> reporter: in more than 25 years, the comfort has treated soldiers in both gulf wars, as well as civilians and humanitarian missions and disasters like haiti. >> the comfort and its missions have always been a source of pride for baltimore. >> the ship takes pride. may be in baltimore. >> the reason it's ending is financial. >> it may save about $2 million a year by putting the ship in norfolk. >> it will also put it closer to the medical staff, who are also in virginia. but the navy saving is baltimore's loss. >> it's bad for our economy. we need them back here. the more ships here, the more money brings into our mort -- ports. >> the crew is taking the comfort out. but those aboard lined the rail and waved. >> the feeling is mutual.

. >> reporter: alex demetrick wjz eyewitness news. >> police say the second dog may be a shepherd husky mix. if you see it call animal control. >>> another record setting year at the airport. 22 million travelers passed through the airport hast year. that makes three straight years of record traffic. two new airlines began flying out of the airport in 2012 hoping to add to the passenger total. >>> coming up, mid-air disaster, skydiver crashes to the ground after passing out in the jump. how faulty equipment nearly cost him his life. >>> they're pushing for a separate prom for their children. >>> he went to the super bowl but came back with someone else's memory. ow facebook and photographs united the fan. >>> i'm have the complete forecast coming up next. . >>> morning cloudy, 39 degrees completes first morning forecast is coming up. >>> we begin you an update to our breaking news in cal. los angeles police are disputing reports that the body of christopher dorner the former officer on the round has been found. investigators have not yet entered the cabin where he was hiding because it'

alex demetrick was dock side as the is the ship left. >> that new home is norfolk virginia and logistics and money are the reasons. >> long before dawn, work was underway to get the hospital ship comfort underway. for those who worked the dock and watch over it it was an emotional department. >> i work security and deal with these people every day and it hurts. it hurts to see them go. >> in more than 25 years the defendant comfort has treated soldiers in both gulf wars as well as civilians and humanitarian efforts and disasters. the comfort and its missions have been a source of pride for baltimore. >> also the ship takes pride, there's a good relationship between the navy and baltimore. >> the reason it's ending is financial. >> the navy will save about $2 million per year by putting the ship in norfolk. >> it will also put it closer to most of the medical staff who are also in virginia. but the navy's savings is baltimore's loss. >> it's bad for our economy. we need them back here. the more ships here the more money it brings in. >> today there was no time to visit a port. only a part

people should keep their dogs contained. >> reporter: alex demetrick, wjz eyewitness news. >> and the second dog may be a shepherd husky mix. call animal control if you see it. >>> still to come on eyewitness news saturday morning -- >>> well, today going up to around 39 degrees. rain and snow showers through the day and the afternoon. no accumulation. 34 tomorrow and windy conditions. 38 on monday. 47 with rain. 41 and 39 with the sun returning on wednesday and thursday. >>> san francisco was recently named america's happiest city. it may be because of events like this one. >> hundreds of people got together for the 8th annual great san francisco pillow fight. >> pantments could only hit someone else holding a pillow. that is the rule. >> one was happy and had a good time, except for those who had to clean up the feathers. >> they were taking out their frustrations. >> yes. ravens. ravens. >> we know. >>> all right. that's the first hour of our eyewitness news saturday morning. there is another hour of eyewitness news saturday morning straight ahead. >>> good morning. coming up next

alex demetrick has more on the sentencing, reaction to it and the just released evidence, alex. >> reporter: denise, robert gladden came to school with a shotgun and 27 shells after killing as many students as possible he planned to kill himself. surveillance photos show gladden pulling the stock of a shotgun out of his shorts as he walked into the school cafeteria. he fired one shot that seriously wounded 17-year-old daniel borwoery. a special needs student. >> i walked into the cafeteria. i didn't have anyone special that i wanted to shoot i just started shooting. >> reporter: students rushed to the school. no one else was hurt. one student who saw it testified during gladden's hearing. >> all i could think about was seeing my family again and would it be missed. >> reporter: a suicide note was found in gladden's pocket. >> how has this worked out ideally for you. >> as many as i could, then i would kill myself. >> then you wanted to kill as many people as you could who were innocent. >> reporter: his attorney worked to lower the punishment. >> we don't penalize people with mental illness

alex demetrick reports lansat8 is the latest launch from an experiment eight years in the making. >> reporter: looking is what this payload is all about. lan8 will take place of seven earlier satellites. >> it's given us the best view of how our planet is changing due to natural and human effects. >> reporter: changes created by massive forest fires or the change in rivers where they swell into floods. and the change in us as cities grow and expand outward. a time lapse covering years and the godard space center. >> the continuity of that data is critical. we have to keep going. we're measuring the rate of change. of our planet at scales that people aren't used to. >> reporter: like its earlier versions the spacecraft orbits the planet from point to point. but new sensors will pick up greater detail with both thermal and visual images. creating a full look at the bigger picture. >> data is free and available to anyone. it has been used to study everything from climate change to watering crops on family farms. >> that is incredible isn't it. >>> still to come tonight on wjz eyewitness

. >>> i'm alex demetrick, coming up 15- > a baltimore county councilman accused of driving under if influencewe're learning about phone calls he made the night of his arrest requesting special treatment. i'll have the story coming up. >>> the gynecologist secretly recorded his patients in east baltimore. i'll take a closer look at his professional records and i'll tell you where else he worked. >>> nice start to the week but the first warning weather team says a lot of rain is on the way. >> check in for these stories and all the day's breaking news. >> wjz eyewitness news at 6:00 starts now. >>> judgment day, decades in a

as alex demetrick reports while it will come close it won't be close enough to hit. >> it's call 2012t it lacks in size it makes up for in nearness. february 14th it will pass 17,000 miles from earth. >> that's close. >> doctor james garvin is the chief scientist. he said a 150 wide asteroid is a drop in the cosmic bucket. >> it's small. >> the last time a similar size object hit was in 1908. it exploded on the way down with a force of a couple of bombs levelling 800 square miles of forest. >> that's a fairly small event relative to the history of what's happened to this planet. >> it's orbit was calculated and double checked. >> it's orbit is very well known. it cannot hit the earth. >> come ing ing as close as it does gives scientists a rare chance to study an asteroid. >> the possibility of understanding it as it comes close with the kind of telescopes here on earth is great. >> one that won't come with a bang. >> scientists say the asteroid which weighs about 130,000 tons has a slim chance of hitting satellite communications. >>> next this morning right here on wjz. >> a $1 millio

first warning weather coverage begins with alex demetrick. >> those accidents spread over a number of counties. but the most seem to be in anne arundel county, where there was the most serious crash of all. >> reporter: temperatures dropped low enough to turn overnight snow into thin crusts of ice. getting it off cars was the easy part. getting it to work was the hard part. main lines jammed up, especially in anne arundel county. >> 97, 50. route 100. we have reports all over the county of just major backups. >> the reason was ice-related accidents. at least 60 were reported to anne arundel police. one was deadly. an suv apparently slid into oncoming traffic near gambrels, striking a cement truck. >> thereof a fatality, an adult female who was operating that suv. preliminarily, it appears that road conditions was a factor. >> reporter: because it was a fatal collision, accident investigators spent all morning, collecting evidence. but roads weren't the only slick spots. despite responding to 37 car accidents, they also responded to -- >> six falls, due to icy conditions. >> individual

first, alex demetrick is live, with the incredible number of accidents during the morning rush. alex? >> reporter: those were spread over a number of counties. but anne arundel seemed to have the most and the most serious. >> reporter: temperatures dropped low enough to turn overnight snow into thin crust and ice. getting it off cars was the easy part. getting it into work was the hard part. main lines jammed up, especially in anne arundel county. >> 97, 50, route 100. we had reports all over the county of major backups. >> reporter: the reasons were ice-related backups. reported between 6:00 and 8:00 a.m. most were not serious but one was deadly. an suv slipped intoan coming traffic -- into oncoming traffic. striking a cement truck. >> there was a female operating that suv. preliminarily, it appears road conditions were a factor. >> reporter: because it was a fatal investigation, accident investigators spent all morning, collecting evidence. but roads weren't the only slick spots. besides responding to 37 crashes, anne arundel also responded to -- >> six falls. >> people steppin

. >>> i'm alex demetrick. coming up, a final adding up of the missare ery from super storm standee. that story as eyewitness news continues. >>> oh, what a feeling. "flash dance" comes to baltimore. i'm gigi barnett at the hippodrome. coming up, i'll introduce you to two of the lead actors. that story is next. >>> rain and sleet. is snow next? don't miss the updated first warning forecast with bob. >>> we're seeing rain and sleet. and it's 39 degrees in central maryland right now. the complete first warning weather forecast is coming up. >>> a 6-year-old boy held in an underground bunker for days, in a dr. phil exclusive. ethan gillman and his mom appeared today. and for the first time, they speak about the ordeal. >> i was afraid i wasn't going to get him back. >> reporter: in an exclusive interview, the mother of 6-year- old ethan gillman tells dr. phil, he now has trouble sleeping. ethan was kidnapped from his school bus and held hostage by vietnam veteran, jimmy lee dykes. ethan and his mom are now speaking about the hostage situation. jennifer kirklanded he first watched his bu

alex demetrick has coverage. >> reporter: in just 12 hours, laura neumann went from political unknown to the top job in county government. >> reporter: laura newman grated friends -- greeted friends and employees. thursday night, she was chosen to be the new county executive, beating out a large field of candidate, some of whom have a lot more experience in politics. >> certainly a nontraditional choice. and i appreciate their vote of confidence and i will serve them proudly. >> it doesn't hurt that she has a record of really making changes that are necessary when she feels they are necessary. >> reporter: changes that may be indeed be coming in the wake of criminal resignation of county executive john leopold. >> i'm virtually certain he had help in committing some of the things that he is convicted of doing. >> we are going to restore confidence in anne arundel county. >> reporter: those who know her think she can do it. besides raising a family, she also turned a struggling company into a multimillion dollar business. she is also leaving her approximation as-- position as chief eco

alex demetrick attended that ceremony. >> reporter: talk about a quick turnaround. laura newman has gone from a virtually political unknown to claiming the top job in the county. >> reporter: laura neumann greeted friends, well wishers and employees. thursday night, she was chosen by the county council to be the new county executive, beating out a large field of candidates, some of whom have more experience in politics. >> certainly a nontraditional choice. and i will serve them proudly. >> it doesn't hurt that she's got a record of really making changes that are necessary when she feels they need to be measmed -- be made. >> reporter: changes that come in the wake of the criminal imiks of john leopold. >> i'm fairly certain that he did some of the things he was convicted of. and i'm looking forward to her putting an end to that. >> we will restore confidence in ann anne arundel county. >> reporter: those who know her think she can do it. besides raising a family, newman has also turned a failing business into a multimillion dollar business. >> i never underestimate

reporter alex demetrick got reaction from lawmakers and maryland drivers. >> reporter: there's never a good time for pain at the pump, especially when it hits earlier than usual. >> it's awful. i mean, i'm putting like at least $100 a week in my car. >> reporter: now talk is surfacing of a possible gas tax increase. >> i was listening to peter french on the radio today about the state -- peter franchot on the radio today about the state of maryland wanting to raise the gas tax. it's shocking. >> reporter: it's also the state with one of the worst commutes in the country. >> we're not going to solve that problem by investing less. we have a flat tax on gasoline which hasn't been changed since 1992. >> motor is are already paying enough. >> reporter: republicans like susan crebz believes there's another way of getting people out of gridlock like making sure fees are spent on transportation, not something else and a redex of money away from -- redirection of money away from mass transit to roads. >> i myself would prefer to see us -- [indiscernible] >> reporter: which might spread the p

alex demetrick attended the ceremony. >> reporter: in the span of just 12 hours, laura newman went from a little-known candidate to taking the oath of office. >> reporter: laura newman greeted friends, well wishers and future employees inside the annapolis courthouse. thursday night, she was chosen to be the new county executive, beating out a large field of candidates, some of whom have far more experience in politics. >> it doesn't hurt that she's got a record of making changes necessary. >> reporter: that's because leopold replace -- jewman replaces john leopold. newman is promising a fresh start. >> first priority is taking a look at what needs to be addressed in the county. i think it's a new day in the county. and i'm looking forward to meeting with the folks here and seeing what we need to do to make anne arundel county a leader in maryland. >> reporter: a retired ceo who turned around a company and made it a multimillion dollar business. up until today, she had been the economic chief. but not anymore. >> according to the constitution and laws of this state. >> ms. county execut