transportation reporter brianne carter in the midst of it all. brianne? brianne: take a look behind me. this is the rally for transit. folks gather here outside the columbia heights metro station in the evening rush hour. as you said, protesting the fare hikes and the service cuts saying they would like to see others chip in to pay more for the system. suggesting that the developers and the big business should pay for it. as you mention it come the evening rush as well. today metro employees, hundreds of them fanned out across the 91 metro rail stations handing out thank you cards to metro riders. on the thank you card a free coffee from mcdonald's to all those riders thanking them for enduring safetrack. we know it is three years of work combined to one wrapped up sunday. so riders getting that and a leaflet from the largest union. on it saying ride others not to drink the kool-aid when it comes to the thank you note from metro. we talk to riders. what do they think of it all? take a listen. >> they give us like a way to show they really care. >> i don't

jonathan: brianne carter at the graduation ceremony spoke with their friends. rich, this is a horrible situation. do we know what happened? richard: yeah, like you said, you know, these two young men both northwest high school honor students. they were due to graduate today. instead they were gunned down at this spot. police have a lot of questions. here is what we know from last night. this is the scene at 10:45 in the gallery court neighborhood. you can see detectives peering in and around the honda where 17-year-old shadi adi najjar and his friend 18-year-old artem ziberov was found shot to death. moments before the residents heard multiple gunshots, as many as ten to 12 shots. then the sounds of a car driving away. both boys told their parents they were going to sell graduation tickets. they had extras and najjar was the police, nor the boys' families, have any idea why they were in the neighborhood. if they were meeting someone or what they were doing here. witnesses say the car was facing uphill, a rear passenger door was shot out. both boys were honor st

brianne carter is live at the dupont circle station and getting us answers. hi, bri. brianne: hi, alison. take a look behind me. the sidewalk is clear. i was packed shoulder with shoulder trying to get on a bus today. but take a look at the dupont circle station. the service once again as usual. but this is after ongoing issue with metro. once again to make it a frustrating friday for riders. major meltdown on the redline. >> if you are going toward downtown, catch a train. if you are going toward shady bus, catch the service bus. >> after service was suspended on two different stretches, stranding passengers. trying to get downtown, beasley got rerouted twice. three hours. >> got off and it's like 200 people outside. there was no shuttle bus for anyone. they made us get back on the train. we said no we'll take uber here. brianne: midday there was another one at cleveland park. a year of trashwork takes effect. on sunday riders have to pay more an average of 10 to 25 cents more a trip. there will be extra time that will be designed to give more time for preventive main

reporting live, brianne carter, abc7 news. alison: on the hill a house committee is considering a bill to privatize the air traffic control system. supporters say it would make the air travel more efficient. i would compromise the safety power, opponents fear. larry: the member of the associate committee grilling environmental protection agency about the future. >> is the plan to eliminate the e.p.a. in four years? >> no, sir. there are important roles they will continue to serve and it is important we fund those and prioritize those. larry: it came as a trump administration took the steps to roll back another obama administration environmental policy. today the e.p.a. and the armies corps of engineers outlining the clean water rule. it defined which waterways are covered by the clean water act. president trump ordered the e.p.a. to review the rule that critics called too strike. alison: coming up at 5:00, the warning the u.s. is giving syria's pres country's military could pay a heavy price. >> vandals strike headstones that

transportation reporter brianne carter is live outside the high court with reaction. >> both sides of the issue declaring victory, including president trump. the supreme court saying they will take up the issue and they will start to hear arguments in the fall. in the meantime, limited portion of the travel ban moving forward. in their opinion issued earlier today the supreme court justices say foreign nationals from six mostly muslim c bona fide relationship with person or entity in the u.s. will be banned from coming to the u.s. anyone with a formal relationship for someone in the united states, foreigner with a family member here will be exempt. they say this allows them to have an important test to protect the homeland. >> they have always had the ability to deny someone a visa if they had question about the person individually. >> president trump said this would take effect 72 hours after the court ruling. the department of homelands security is going to consult with the justice and the state department before forward. council on american-islamic relations is also weighing in on

brianne carter has more. brianne: detour and a disruption. for hundreds of truck drivers going through maryland today in the name of safety. >> to cut down on the commercial truck traffic. >> they were all diverted to the parking lot of fedex field for the vehicle inspection. police in the several agencies checked every truck bumper to bumper to look at everything under the hood and the cab from the brakes to cargo load. there is a safety problem found on a vehicle it's not just left to be. it is taken up at fedex field. there are the repair companies there and it's addressed before the vehicle is september back out on the road. >> a driver put out of service for violation of the logbook it will remain for ten hours out of service. >> in the inspections last year, 25% of the trucks checked had the defects. that number is expected to be higher this year. delay in delivery is worth it, they say, to get unsafe trucks off the road. >> it's carry that they are out on the highway. that is why we do this initiative. brianne: in landover, maryland, b

brianne carter is live with that story. anne: nancy, it was along this busy road here in annapolis. just around 6:30 this morning. police called here after the baby just hours old was found abandoned on a doorstep. now according to annapolis police, they say take a look at the the infant taken to the hospital and said to be in good help. that is the latest for police. but tonight the search is on for the child's mother. the newborn's mother may be in need of medical attention or may be the victim of the crime. folks in this part of annapolis are concerned but thankful the boy was found safe. >> we have a good community here in annapolis. but for him to be left behind like that, somebody knows something. somebody knows somebody was pregnant yesterday and they are not today. brianne: in maryland there is a safe haven law so no child should be abandoned and left alone. we have more on that coming up tonight at 5:00. brianne carter, abc7 news. jonathan: thanks. police k9's are affected by the opioid epidemic. in baltimore, polic

we have complete team coverage starting with transportation reporter brianne carter live outside union station where it all happened. brianne? brianne: larry, a much different scene than it was during the morning commute. for the most part trains are back on time after the incident on the track. tonight a number of questions leading up to how did this all happen. searching for clues after a tragedy on the tracks. >> our hearts go out to the families that were affected by the horrible tragedy. brianne: as this animation shows authorities say it was around 11:30 last night when two c.s.x. workers got off the train near union station after a problem was detected. the two workers cross on to adjacent amtrak tracks. this happened as an amtrak train was also approaching union station. the train fatally struck the two workers. data recorder -- downloading the data recorders to give us better understanding of what the speeds were. brianne: unclear tonight is how long workers were on the track and the communication the two trains may have had prior to the accident. you causing major delays. >>

brianne carter is live at annapolis police station near where the child was abandoned. brianne? brianne: well, nancy, right now we are outside of the home where we now know that the baby was found. take a look here. just here on this porch. just off of forest drive here in annapolis where the authorities say that that newborn was found. 14-year-old maluk carroll who lives here walked front door and saw the baby on his porch. the baby wrapped in a black jacket. he was not crying at the time but he grabbed the baby and brought him inside. his brother called 911. his mother trying to console the child. his father is a well-known member of the community and runs a church in the area as well. pastor carroll doesn't believe he knows the mother and isn't sure if the connection to the community is why the baby was left here. >> i think it was a young woman, going through a lot. was probably scared when she had the child. probably left it. she probably knew my father was a pastor. he is in the community a lot. a lot of people know him. probably why she dropped it off. brianne: they do no

brianne carter is at the columbia heights stop. hey, brianne. brianne: nancy, the riders will see more metro workers out at the stations just like this one this afternoon. that is because metro is sending out many of the employees to thank the riders, sending out thank you notes and a token of appreciation for what they think was enduring safetrack. a year of track work where they pushed three years of track work into one. this is as the union is expected to fan out across the station as well talking to the riders telling them not to drink the kool-aid from metro employees. they say this comes as they are enduring fare hikes and service cuts. we expect that there will be a rally from metro's largest union and the others here at this station. starting at 5:30 tonight. we have much more coming up throughout the evening. reporting live, brianne carter, abc7 news. alison: th 4:00" -- the fireworks recall. nancy: the brand that is blowing up too soon. plus, this -- >> hey, buddy! nancy: the daring rescue at sea. the one thing everybody on board even

abc7's transportation reporter brianne carter. the drivers are preparing for a new normal. rianne: absolutely. a change to get used to likely for two years. accessing a metro system or a station like this one here at clarendon, well, you have to be really aware of the hours that will be available. many riders even today making a last-minute plea asking metro to look at the service cut. at the board meeting, metro employees and the riders telling the metro leadership they don't support major changes that include closing half an hour earlier monday through thursday at 11:30 p.m., opening an hour later at 8:00 a.m. on sunday. closing an hour earlier sunday night. well, both metro's general manager and board chairman say they would like to see more service. they say they work needs to be done first preventive maintenance. riders left wondering what they will do to get to and from work next week. >> cutting crucial bus service and raising fairs simultaneously is wrong for the region. >> brian: we hear from a rider who got rid of his car to rely on metro and now is concerned he wo

abc7 transportation reporter brianne carter in landover with what was found. >> turn off all your lights. shut down on the brakes. brianne: from bumper to bumper, a full inspection of the trucks you see driving alongside you on the highway. all in the name of safety for everyone on today the maryland state police pulled the trucks off the beltway for inspection. every aspects of hundreds of trucks were checked while they were parked at fedex field. if anything was found it went sent to another part of the parking lot and fixed before it was put back out on the road. last year 25% of the trucks were found to have safety defects. this year that number is expected to be even higher. >> it's scary feature. that is why we try to do the initiative. brianne: coming up tonight at 5:00, what happens if a driver's lot is found not to be up to date? how soon before they can be back behind the wheel? inoverover, maryland -- in landover, maryland, brianne carter, abc7 news. jonathan: coming up next at 4:00, a bus driver bully. you won't believe how a father hands. nancy: next a reminder to be aware w

brianne carter has the developing story and how it unfolded. brianne? brianne: well, indeed. things looking different this afternoon than the morning rush hour. just checking the board in the last half hour. one train departing from here. delayed tonight. this is after there are questions how could it happen on the tracks. investigators are searching to find out what went wrong on the track. two c.s.x. employees struck and killed near union station. >> it can happen in an instant. it takes a long time to unravel. brianne: just before 11:30 tuesday night. officials say the c.s.x. train was heading toward union station from baltimore when a problem, likely one or more of the train's wheels, was detected. two of the three crew members issue, crossing on the track being used by amtrak. an approaching amtrak train slowing from 95 to 35 miles per hour was also heading in to union station when it fatally struck the two workers. questions remain tonight on what communications the trains had with one another prior to the accident. >> that scenario, we are going to be taking a close lo

reporting live, brianne carter, abc7 news. larry: thank you for that.his is mock funeral held today. mens of the transit company carried a casket that symbolized the death of the middle class status. alison: checking the other top stories. the man who opened fire in a northwest pizza shot was sentenced to four years in prison. edgar welch learned his fate and drove from north korea to to -- north carolina to d.c. after reading a fake article online. he thought he was seeking child sex slaves from comet ping-pong. no one was hurt in the attack. cindy is now a tropical depression. the storm brought flooding, tornadoes and several inches cindy is now weaker but flash flood and tornado watches are in effect. larry: protest broke out on capitol hill after the republican leaders revealed the healthcare plan to replace affordable carrie act and it eliminates the mandate for americans to have insurance and allows the states to apply for waivers to opt out of covering essential benefits like maternity and drug abuse care. at this point it does not have votes to

rope has since been removed but brianne carter spoke with people there who are concerned brianne: inhis montgomery village condo complex, distressing discovery. >> it was just, it was shocking. brianne: residents woke up to find a noose hanging from a tree. >> couldn't believe it. i kept staring at it because i could not believe it. then it got, it got to the point where i just don't feel that me and my daughter is safe. >> the large rope was found tied to a branch outside eugenia king's window. >> it could have been anybody to come on the campus. we are not fenced in. you can get in that way or that way. anyway. you can get in. >> the rope was cut down by police and there is no indication it's directed toward a specific individual or related suspicious activity in the of other similar incidents in d.c. but they didn't expect it to happen outside their own front door. >> all of a sudden, it is happening more frequently. now they feel less safe than 24 hours ago. some are saying they are packing up and moving. >> i'm not moving. i'm not thinking about it. i'm moving. up here looking t

brianne carter joins us live with more. how does it look right now? ianne: we want to show how look at this section of concrete. this is where the water lapped over on friday. sunday they pulled the plug. now the water continues to lower down here. it is a continuing process at the reflecting pool. the national park service started draining the pool after the water born parasite was discovered. it's believed to have led to the death of 80 ducks in the reflecting pool last month. the park service treated the water but they are draining it to make sure they get rid of the parasite. they are draining the water. where does it all go? according to the national park service after they go through environmental permit process with d.c. the water is drained into the city sewer system. once all the water is gone which is expected to happen by tomorrow, the pool will be scrubbed and cleaned. it is expected that that process will then take through friday. then after that, they will begin the slow process of once again refilling reflecting pool. continuing to monit

jonathan: go to brianne carter who is live outside the supreme court breaking down the decision. this is a big one. brianne: indeed. tonight the supreme court justices saying they will take up the case in the fall. still the question of whether or not it will be a moot point with just really 90 days in the travel ban. so tonight, both sides of the issue planning victory. >> the highest court in the land partially reinstating the trump travel ban. in the opinion, the supreme court justice said travel from six mostly muslim countries to the u.s. will not be allowed for anyone who looks any bona fide relationship with a person or entity here in the united states. however, people who already have a relationship with someone or something would be allowed to travel to the u.s. >> if you are a student at a college or a university, if here and work. if you are invited to participate in an academic conference or some other meeting. any legitimate relationship with someone in this country the been a does not apply to you. >> president trump calling at it victory for national security. addin

brianne carter monitoring that hearing from our live desk as it continues. briann? brianne: that is right. the hearing is continuing now. after an hour plus of testimony from attorney general jeff sessions, a number of new developments. start with the opening remarks that sessions made saying that the suggestion he was part of any kind of collusion to hurt this country is, "appalling and detestable." sessions denied he had any undisclosed meeting with the russian ambassador, any conversation with the russian officials about the mr. sessions says he recused himself from the russia investigation not because of any wrongdoing but because he thought he needed to based on justice department regulations. when asked whether he knew anything about a possible pardon for the people involved in the russia investigation, sessions had this to say. >> mr. chairman, i'm not able to comment on conversations on high officials within the white house. that would be a violations of the communications rule. brianne: now attorney general sessions saying he is not invoking executive privi

brianne carter on the mall right now. you have been reporting that the water has also been treated here? brianne: it has but not enough to rid the problem for good. so the national park service says they will have to drain it. the water here behind me may look normal like on any other day but there is a problem lurking here in the water in the reflecting pool. the national park service says between may 20-21, 80 ducks were found dead in the reflecting pool. tests showed a water borne parasite was the cause. now they have to drain it thoroughly, clean it and refill it. a prose that will take about -- a total process that will take a week. folks are not in the water but the park service is warning folks that come in contact with the water they could develop a rash. known as swimmer's itch. officials say the risk to the public is very, very low. >> the parasites that affect the ducks don't live in humans. only thing people could get is a mild rash. brianne: back behind us there are ducks in the water. the reason that the nati

brianne carter? brianne: met re's general manager long said -- metro's general manager long said safetrack is not the end but the beginning to get things back obtrack. we know of three additional shutdowns that will happen later this year. metro's year long safetrack program is set to wrap up this month but the shutdown and the disruptions will continue. >> it's very metro needs to get on the ball about this. brianne: today metro announced plans of three additional shutdowns between this summer and next spring. the first will impact green line riders. suitland will be closed from august 5 to 20. inner locking work will be done next fall on the redline from november 25 to december 10. takoma station will be closed. the work shifteds to nel low line next spring with a closure of may 12 to the 27th at two stations. >> i will be optimistic. i look to look at it as short-term pain and long-term gain. and metro will be in better shape. >> they add the work was scheduled in the low ridership times of the >>

abc7 transportation reporter brianne carter near the mall to help clear things up. this is all brand new. some folks understandably confused. brianne: absolutely, michelle. some are having a tough time starting out today. this is what would happen. get out of the car and walk away from it and leave your car there without paying. but now you want to visit one of these because parking and paying now in effect. along the national mall, free parking now a thing of the past. >> coming back here and seeing paid parking here. a little bit of a shock. >> monday the 90 new pay stations were activated. drivers who parked in one of the 1100 spots around the street surrounding the mall and the monuments have to pay $2 an hour. >> the streets nearby, that's comparable. brianne: drivers can no longer park all day. with the paid parking comes a three-hour time limit. >> it seems steep. three-hour time limit considering how long you have to walk to the mall doesn't give you a lot of time. brianne: often finding parking along the mall can be difficult. they hope this paid par with he

our transportation reporter brianne carter will be there getting a first look. watch for her reports later today right here on abc seven. happenign now - senate republicans, facing a major setback in the push to repeal and replace the affordable care act. g-o-p leaders unable to rally enough support to pass the new bill - or even bring it to the floor for the discussion. abc's janai norman is following the new developments from northwest. also today - president trump will host his first re-election update on the state of the chesapeake bay. maryland's congresssional delegation will meet at the capitol to discuss the health and future of the bay. last month, lawmakers on both sides rejected the president's proposed cuts in federal funding to bay-related programs. the annual chesapeake bay report card found the health of the bay has improved.. but itls still only getting a "c" grade from scientists. speaking of the bay - bad news for a regional favorite. maryland has shortened this year's crab season by ten days because of a loss in blue crab population. the annua

i'm brianne carter.te on the murder of 2 high school students. they were found shot to death in the car the day before their high school graduation. so far, no arrests and few leads a news conference is set for 11:00 this morning. you can watch it live on our sister station, news channel 8. a show of unity at the conjestional baseball game, a at that after a man opened fire on lawmakers during their practice for the game. one of the people injured will, louisiana congressman sam sweeney steve scalise remains in critical condition. they raise more than 1 million dollars, more than double the money from last year. we want to get an update on our forecast >> reporter: out the door, grab the umbrella. we're not going to see much in the way of sunshine for today. maybe a few peaks here and there. 70s throughout lunchtime. mid 80s later today. better chance of thunderstorms thrown in with the showers right through 11:00. some of them could be quite strong brining high winds. better chance of storminess, the hi

nancy: brianne carter is covering metro tonight. this was a huge met! brianne: it was. free and clear on the sidewalk. when we got here in the mid-morning rush, though. it was shoulder to shoulder and you could not see the road behind me. folks waiting for a shuttle bus because they could not access the station at the dupont circle station. we had arcing insulator causing delays on not one but two stretches of it happening on rush hour. this morning service had to be suspended and the single tracking was put in place mid-day for arcing insulators along the red line. metro tonight saying heavy rainfall may be to blame. metro apologized it didn't touch the core of the system or downtown. some riders say they have had enough. >> i had friend trying to get there. the kids are like are we ever going to get there? brianne: we know about the problems from the past and we know that a general manager canceled a contract when he came on board to look for a better solution and a fix to the problem. how long did it take the folks to finally get to work? we outline all that and hear

as brianne carter reports there is strong support, not everyone is in agreement. >> say aye. >> opposed. brianne: for the first time the metro board weighing in on the general manager financial plan to fund the system. a 14-1 vote opposition made his opposition known. >> wiedefeld mapped specific actions some of which i will not support to achieve the goal of the long-term health that require additional study and con sellation. >> -- con consultation. brianne: there was concern over privatizing the job and changing the benefit for employees. it's not expected time to pact the current workforce. >> the support shows that the board is willing to take a leadership board in the region. >> it called for dedicating funding. it's up to the jurisdictions on how they plan to bring in the money. >> every place i have been to, there is concern with the different part of it. >> it varies by jurisdiction. >> wiedefeld believes that the region will see the need moving forward knowing what happened and slipping backward when the maintenance issues are not addressed. >> this comes as the year long main

alison: brian van de graaff is out there -- brianne carter is out there. have they treated the water? brianne: they have. but it is just not enough. a gorgeous day out here. this is an iconic spot. with a problem working in the water. >> to me it's sad. put a preventive measure in effect. >> the national park service says over two-day period last month approximately 80 ducks were found dead in the reflecting pool. >> yo suffer. >> the problem is the water borne parasite in the pool. >> we have shocked the water with the chlorine to kill the parasites. the bacteria. brianne: but that is not enough. the park service will drain the pool and then have it cleaned and refilled. a prose that is expected to take a week -- process that is expected to take a week. >> it's probably necessary to drain it. >> visitors are told to stay out of the reflecting pool. the firms say folks who come in prolonged contact with the water could develop a rash but the risk to people is low. the park service says once this wraps up and the water is back in, they will continue to test

brianne carter is standing there by their live. brianne: the graduation is wrapping up. the students are filing out. many of them with the heavy hearts. we spoke to the principal. he said he found out and he talked to the families and are planning to take two diplomas to the two families mourning thes will of kids two should have graduated today. >> heavy hearts given the recent loss yesterday evening of two of the seniors. >> a moment of silence and mix emotions filled d.a.r. constitution hall this afternoon. as northwest high school graduation took place without two >> a lot of their friends will be sad walking across the stage without them. they should be here with us. >> last night ahmed nazif and artem ziberov were found dead inside a car in montgomery village. fellow graduates saw the two yesterday. >> graduation practice we saw them and everything. it's crazy for them not to be here. >> one of the classmates. >> if you saw him in the hall he was smiling. cracking a joke. you could count on him to be happy and be there. brianne: the two teens bound for college desc

brianne carter is live to explain more. >> we have been through it.ck and now the year of the round-the-clock track work that is coming to an this month. safetrack is coming to an end but the work to rebuild the long neglected system and the disruptions will continue. they announce shutdowns that could impact the commute. >> the branch avenue and suitland station will be closed as the crews work to replace the grout pad. metro says the work is done in low ridership. >> this is not the only thing they're doing to get back on air fresheners on trains along the green line or this music pouring through the speakers at two downtown station. the pilot program to give customer experience. >> the core user experience matters. >> this is in line with what the general manager said that safetrack is not the end but the beginning to get back on track. larry: update to a developing story we're following. the little girl found wandering last night has been identified. police were trying to find out who the little girl is and who her parents are. we are told after t