chris clackum, wbal-tv 11 news. >> super interesting story. >> but the numbers are scary. >> visitors at the national zoo will now enjoy these lovely giant pandas for years to come. >> with the donation of the names means for the future of the exhibit. >> the holidays are a time to spend with family, but one will not get to do that with her son. she is asking for your help in a 5-year- she is asking for your help in a 5-year-

nbc's chris clackum shows us the emotional journey home. >> reporter: the gold at the end of the rainbow over ft. bliss, texas was the return home of some 200 soldiers who had been to iraq but now back in the arms of loved ones. >> it's good. it's about time. >> reporter: over the next few weeks at military installations around the country, scenes like this will play out repeatedly. >> look dad's there! >> reporter: the drawdown of u.s. troops from iraq is just in time for the holidays. >> i'm just very happy that he's going to be here for christmas. we were not expecting him. >> reporter: it's also just what president obama ordered. he went to ft. bragg in north carolina wednesday to cheer those returning himself. >> oand on behalf of a grateful nation, i'm proud to finally say these two words -- and i know your families agree -- "welcome home." welcome home! >> reporter: but mostly the president praised those who went to fight the war since march 2003. >> and we are ending a war not with a final battle but with a final march toward home. this is an extraordinary achievement. nearly nin

here's chris clackum with more. here he was encouraged to continue. >> don't quit, herman!> tomorrow in atlanta i will make an announcement, but no one will get me to make that prematurely. >> his announcement comes on the heels of ginger white saying she had a 13-year affair with cain. >> i am deeply sorry if i have caused any hurt to his family. that was not my intention. i never wanned to hurt anyone. >> cain admitted he gave white financial support over the years but denies there was anything sexual between the two. he told south carolina supporters his decision will be based partly on response to a new e-mail soliciting donations. >> there is a lot of garbage out there about me. >> but mostly on what effect the allegations have had on his family mple chris clackum, nbc news. >> a former democratic candidate has been hospitalized after falling and hitting his head. the accident happened outside a leebri bearing mcgovern's name. mcgovern was just about to tape a c-span interview about presidential contenders. he was then air-lift today a hospital in souix falls for treat

the list and chris clackum has the details. >> top safety picks.umber of vehicles getting the honor from the insurance institute for highway safety has nearly doubled. 150 vehicles are among the top safety picks. >> that tells the consumer that they will be well protected in a serious frontal crash, side impact, and rollover crashes. >> rollover crashes is why roof strength was the focal point this year. surviving injury was behind the push to get car makers to make roofs stronger. >> the route must support four times the vehicle's weight before crushes more than 5 inches. >> every major organ maker has at least one model on the list with subaru earning zero wars for every model they build. toyota has 15 winners fall by gm, volkswagen, ford, and honda. chris clackum, wbal-tv 11 news. >> book retailers are singing and optimistic tune. pricey coffee table books and massive biographies are selling well. the initial weeks of christmas shopping have shown surprising sales for book sales. borders went out of business. >> bwi is more tech friendly the new

here's chris clackum. >> it was a bidgeyill filled with emotion for -- it was a vigil filled with emotion for campus police officer deriek crouse in what is now being called a murder-suicide. >> deriek was a husband, father, and son. and i ask that you keep his family in your prayers and thoughts. >> ballistic tests now show the same gun used to kill crouse was found beside the body of a man dead from a self-inflicted cannot shot. they do not know why center crouse was shot. >> that is a fundamental part of the investigation now. >> it was thursday afternoon during a traffic stop crouse made on campus that a man walked up and shot the decorated officer as he sat in his patrol car. a half-hour later, the dead, suspected killer was found. police say unlike the virginia tech shooting of 2007 when a student killed 32 others before killing himself, this suspected gunman was not a student. chris clackum, wbal-tv 11 news. >> there are several photos released online showing how the campus locked down. you can see them and leave messages of condolences at www.wbaltv.com. click on national news. >>

here's chris clackum. >> it was -- virginia office deliver called deriek crouse -- officer deriek crouse was killed. >> we ask you keep him in your thoughts and prayers. >> the same gun to kill crouse was next to the body of a man killed from a self-inflicted gun shot. they do not know why. it was during a traffic stop crouse made on campus. a man walked up and shot the decorated police officer as he sat in his patrol car. a half mile later, the dead suspected killer was found. unlike the virginia tech shooting of 200 when a student killed 3 32 others before killing himself, this suspected gunman was not a student. chris clackum, wbal-tv 11 news. >> and there were several photos released online showing how the campus locked down. you can see those pictures and leave messages and cone -- condolences at www.wbaltv.com. >> a morgan state student found shot to death in his apartment. lowell melzer has the story. >> thursday night baltimore city police investigate a murder in the 2900 block of north calvert street in charles village. police say the body of 22-year-old brandon hudson seen in t

here's chris clackum with more. >> supporters thought herman cain should continue.ater he said he will make public saturday what he does next. >> tomorrow in atlanta i will be making an announcement. nobody is going to get me to make that prematurely. >> ginger white said she had a 13-year affair with cain. >> i am deeply, deeply sorry if i have caused any hurt to her, to his kids, to his family. that was not my intention. i never wanted to hurt anyone. >> cain has admitted he gave wide financial support over the years but desnies there was anything sexual between the two. he told his south carolina supporters his decision will be based partly on response to a new e-mail soliciting donations. >> there is a lot of garbage out there about me. >> but mostly on what effect the alings allegations have had on his family. >> chris clackum, nbc news. >> democratic presidential candidate george mcgovern has been hospitalized after falling and hitting his head. the accident happened outside the library bearing his name. mcgovern was just about to tape a c-span issue about pre

chris clackum has details. >> a sure-fire way to reduce your income tax bill next april. >> charitiesill be happy to accept your cash and checks and securities, even your used items. >> charities need the help. food banks like the one in los angeles are ending another year with shortages. >> it is a more difficult year for the food bank and the agency's we serve and for people seeking food assistance. >> goodwill had a record year, splitting some -- putting some 3 million americans to work. the salvation army assisted -- provided assistance to more than 30 million people. long lines for this year's paper angel christmas drive. a country singer was a paper angel recipient at age 8 wrote a song about it. >> paper angel in my thoughts and prayers ♪ >> it is not just about christmas wish to be helping. we should be helping all year around. >> if you want to be tax deductible this year, donated by saturday. >> wall street is closed today. here is cali carlin with your bloomberg business report. >> good morning. the new year is fast approaching. nearly half of u.s. adults are optimistic tha

chris clackum explains why. >> historically, last saturday before christmas is the last full day of last-minute shoppers have to make amends. that is why it is called super saturday. super saturday this year it is this saturday. >> that means super saturday will not be as super as 80's when it is closer to the actual christmas eve, -- as 8 is when it is closer to the actual christmas eve, christmas day. >> next saturday is christmas eve. retail experts expect the stores to not only offer good deals this saturday, but beyond. >> i believe that savvy retailers will come up with something in the middle of the week before christmas to r eally incent the shoppers through their doors. >> online retailers are extending free shipping offers, too. on amazon, regular members get eight free through monday, prime members through wednesday. >> you get all the way through and find out, wow, that is $10 i did not really want to spend. >> the coming weeks could be viewed as a procrastinator's paradise. >> now your 11 insta-weather- plus forecast with meteorologist john collins. >> decided to call the to debris

chris clackum, news4. >> holiday travel rush is under way now. despite the uncertainty in our economy, more americans are expected to take to the air and roads to celebrate with their family and friends. travel experts say there are still last-minute flight deals available but you should expect most flights to be filled to capacity through new year's. >>> tonight is first night of hanukkah and just over an hour ago national hanukkah menorah was lit during a ceremony on the ellipse. the traditional potato latke was given out. hanukkah is the jewish festival of lights and lasts eight nights. there are events throughout the area each night. to find out more visit nbcwashington.com. >> barely have top coats on for the menorah lighting ceremony. >> why you need them. >> just not natural. >> not natural at all. >> to be this warm. >> but i like it. >> 12 degrees above average. >> you like it. >> i do. >> i would like to have it feel more like christmas to tell thank you truth. >> wouldn't you? >> yes. >> mother nature is saying no. not going to happen.

chris clackum, wbal-tv 11 news. -- it must be donated. >> 43 degrees on tv hill.gain shopping is the name of the game around the holidays. how many people are using a 100% discount? >> a crime spree in texas. >> it is a nice weekend. sprinkles and showers move to our north. the good weather continues tomorrow. >> folks will need the good weather as we take a live picture. a lot of folks heading out to make their returns. 95 looks good at the fort mchenry. for north overnight. >> good morning. we have a few scattered clouds this morning. the temperatures have remained mostly in the 40's. not bad. a little breeze out there this morning. that helps to keep the temperature up just a little bit. 46 right now at the inner harbor. 6:11. look at the radar. that disturbance is producing rain off new england. some like a fax nose behind it, but they are dissipating in pennsylvania and new york state. -- some like effect snow. 43 is the typical high this time of year. record snowfall for record was 9.3 inches. 43 at the ocean. 39 in edgewood. a few places have dropped into t

chris clackum, news4. >>> when we come right back on "news4 at 4:00," as mark twain might say, rumors of one singer's demise were greatly exaggerated. imagine that, something on the internet that wasn't true. >> tv show host piers morgan defends himself in the investigation into phone hacking by the british press. >> and these are a few of his favorite >>> cnn host piers morgan denies any wrongdoing in britain's phone hacking scandal. morgan testified via video link to a media ethics committee investigating the matter today. morgan ran two british tabloids before he began his television career. he said never hired private investigators to hack phones or pay police for tips. things did get testy when he was questioned about a voice mail he heard during the divorce of former beatle paul mccartney and his then wife heather mills. morgan refused to give details about who played him the message saying to tell would disclose a source. >>> the rumors of his death are greatly exaggerated. singer jon bon jovi is alive and well and is joke being trorts of his early demise. the death rumors spre

chris clackum, nbc news. >>> 500 people lined up at westfield annapolis before the mall opened this morning. the crowd was out of hand at pentagon city. security had to limit how many people went in and out of the mall at the time. many people waiting in line are trying to get the shoes to resell them. they are going for up to $550 online in our area. >>> 'tis the season for holiday lights. one neighborhood in fairfax county is exuberant. most of the show on two houses. shomari stone looks at the dueling displays. >> reporter: this is a friendly competition between neighbors. let's get ready to rumble. ♪ tim smith and randy depew face off. their christmas decorated homes brighton the holiday spirit for thousands of families. tim's house has a santa theme with eight santas, more than 30,000 lights, 15 inflatables a nativity scene and a flamingo. >> we found it and put it up in the tree. and the neighbor doesn't really like the flamingo. zblth. >> reporter: randy sync niced his lights to a song with a nutcracker, wreaths and presents that open and close. >> i turn on the radio and just watch

chris clackum, nbc news. >> 11:27. 48 degrees out there. ride a bike.d out how the novel idea of the capital bike share program may get bigger. a christmas day tragedy. how a holiday gathering turned heartbreaking in a matter of minutes for a family in connecticut. and the device that's letting more people put down the phone and drive. also ahead, wind, rain, sunshine. meteorologist veronica johnson meteorologist veronica johnson is back to tell white house we i sweated the details. all the phone calls, the emails, the lost weekends. and then after twenty-two years, just like that, i was laid off. today there are so many americans like matthew. he worked hard and played by the rules. suddenly, he's out of a job. it's been a struggle not being able to find a job. but it's been our faith and family and friends that have helped us get through this. citizens energy was created to help the forgotten ones keep warm. we asked the big oil companies and oil producing nations to help. only citgo and the people of venezuela answered the call. and this year, in spi

chris clackum, wbal-tv 11 news -- might work. >> how many chia pets do we need?tors are keeping a close eye on europe's dept crisis. jane king has the bloomberg business report. >> good morning. prices at the pump on the decline. the average price nationwide went down about 9 cents to $3.29 per gallon. about $3.19 in the baltimore area. a car marker is headed to their best performance. stock futures are looking strong today. we can point to europe. italy's government is cutting their debt. tim geithner is expected to push european leaders for quicker and more decisive action. stocks were mixed on friday. they were strong at the opening bell. the list of highest-paid presidents of private colleges is out. 36 private college leaders received more than $1 million each in pay in 2009. topping the list was the leader of drexel. the president of johns hopkins was the next highest compensated. i'm jane king for wbal-tv 11 news. back to you. >> a lot of folks watching the situation with the european debt crisis, and apparently so are rock bands. >> especially bands going

chris clackum has more. >> fedex plans to move 70 million packages today, a record -- 17 million. if sales are any indication, it will be a record season for ups as well as fedex. both shippers are looking to stay busy after today. a few shipping tips may be in order. causing the best ways to package something for shipping. they don't like packing peanuts either. >> you have peanuts sticking to your pants and shirt. >> bubble wrap is ok. the protective bobbles could burst -- the protective bubbles could burst. >> arnett with a fresh new box -- start out with a fresh new box. >> center whenever you're shipping and surrounded with packing material. shipping wine gets tricky. >> you cannot go to a ups store and ship the wine wherever you want to ship it. >> tabla owners use them to shop owners use them to shop. those without tablets generally feel stressed about holiday shopping. shopping relaxes you. >> it takes me an hour to buy one thing. more workers say no vacation, no problem. maryland is full of self starters. jane king has the bloomberg business report. giving up vacation? i

chris clackum explains. >> historically the last saturday before chris mass is the last -- christmas is the last full day shoppers have to make eapeds. check the calendar. super saturday this year is this saturday. >> that means super saturday is not as super as it is when it is closer to the actual christmas day. >> next saturday is christmas eve when families gather and gift-giving begins. we tell experts to expect stores to not only expect good deals this saturday but beyond. >> i believe zahavi retailers will come out with something to really get that last shopper through their doors as opposed to their competitors. >> free shipping is a deal break are for many. >> you get all the way through and you find out that's $10 or $12 i didn't want to spend. >> the coming weeks could be viewed as a procastinator's paradise. >> holiday sales won't necessarily get you the best deals on everything. spoveg products are priced to sell in certain months. according to deal news.com. you might find some deals on big screen teefs. >> when you get those magazines, just ask for free shipping. all y

chris clackum, nbc news. >> there are several picgreesre oor uine showing hgreesr the ca locked down. you can see the photos and Ãitespmrges of condolences at www.wbaltv.com. >> a 23-year-old morilln state stflent found shot to death in his apartment the discovery found on north calvert sheneet. lgreesrell melzer has the investigation. >> teve-weday night baltimore police iday.estiillted a murder the 2900 block of north calvert stre"11 in charlestbillage. police say the body of 2 2-year-old brandon hudson was found on his couch. he had suffered a gun shot wound to the head and h-y been dead an und"11 ermined amount of time. a neighbor in the building next noor deseld toed the chaotic scene. >> around 11:00 we heard a lot of commotion. Ãity wife aith ed me to look oue window. we heard some strange sounan s. poss toly gunfire. i don't know what it was. loud noise. >> hflson, who was from clinton maryland was a senior majoring in bher hiness at morilln state. his facebook and twitter accounts also touted this informatior as a-y ording to court recoran s h had no previous criminal record.