go to >> ellen braitman has this morning's bloomberg business report. >> christmas is over so let the returns began. you may want to wait a few days before heading back to the stores. today is the worst day to return unwanted gifts because lions are the longest. return policies at some stores are getting tighter, especially target and sears. holiday retail sales were up less than a % from last year. worries over the fiscal cliff and hurricane sandy disrupting shopping. don't forget to recycle the old devices you do not want. a 30% rise in e-waste. lawmakers headed back to washington tomorrow. stocks continued to fall on concern that time is running out. anger from instagram users may lead to a class action lawsuit. the move prompted the company to dial back the changes after so much backlash. i am ellen braitman with the bloomberg business report. >> 32 degrees at the airport. >> and extreme tale of making amends in helping struggling families. >> we have all done things we wish we could take back. >> one person is making amends for a deed done decades ago and helping families this ho

ellen braitman has more. good morning. >> good morning. 7-eleven does want to change their perception. they are increasing the amount of healthier food they sell. obesity rates among preschoolers is on the decline. this is the first time this has happened in a decade. there has been greater awareness of health problems caused by obesity. let's talk netflix. the site was down on christmas eve. there was a disruption from the amazon web system in uses. not good news. this is a vital source of revenue for amazon. time is running out to come to a budget agreement. the lawmakers will head back to d.c. tomorrow. military families are tightening their belts and cutting back on everyday spending. they expect fewer promotions at their jobs. i'm ellen braitman. >> thank you. >> 33 degrees at the airport. we'll have a look at sports. >> the ravens will be back to work today. >> don't forget to e-mail us your response to our water cooler question of the day. would you continue to buy milk no matter how high the price goe

i am ellen braitman with the bloomberg business report. >> 5:23.eenager riding the holidays for her community. >> don't forget to e-mail us your response to our water cooler question of the day. how will you be spending christmas? you can share your response at wbaltv.com and on our facebook page, or send us an e-mail to watercooler@wbaltv.com. >> the girl is spreading some holiday cheer to some families in carroll county. >> this 16-year-old is busy wrapping christmas presents for low-income families in carroll county that have children with chronic illnesses. >> i like working with kids and i want to be a nurse. it is nice to be able to help the families. >> she was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. the whole community pitches in to donate toys. >> people will comment backed and we have donations and we had donation boxes set up at different restaurants and it would collect donations for us. >> she and santa travel to the kids' homes and delivered the toys. >> they do not expected and you walked in and they are surprised. moneyids don't have the an

ellen braitman reporting.e a great day. >> thank you so much. 7 is on your side with something we have long suspected. it's more difficult to avoid chocolate's when you are on a diet. >> researchers found sweet taste better when you are cheating on a diet. they made the discovery. >> something about it being bad that makes it so good. >> kate middleton is out of the hospital. so that's good news. jummy olabanji will have an update in a couple minutes. you can see her leaving the hospital, the royal couple with a bouquet. >> morning sickness is difficult. >> and having to announce to the world earlier than they had wanted. >> i know. on this side of the pond is chilly outside. we have to bundle up. it is cold. different from earlier this week. the coldest day of the week foreshore. but we have changes in the seven-day forecast, so that's good news for those who don't like the chilly start. this morning it's 36 degrees but it feels like 218 with a north wind at 12 miles an hour. nippy start. 31 degrees at dulles

ellen braitman reporting for wbal-tv. >> 34 degrees at the airport. he got by with a slap on the best the last time but can the ravens safety avoid a hefty five because of a controversial hit during last week's game? the latest decision is next. and here's a look at last night's maryland lottery numbers. you have them. >> good morning. sarah caldwell with a look at their friday morning commute. let's update you on the major roadways. thankfully they continue to run smoothly. a lot of folks are still off and the kids are out of school. 57 miles an hour southbound 795 out of zero wings will. 50 in the area of ritchie highway. the earlier accident near jenifer road is clear. looking at a nice start on the harrisburg expressway at york road from the park in the region -- parkton region. we will keep you posted on any problems. ava come over to you. >> fortunately the weather is quiet. a little on the chilly side. 33 at bwi marshall. 34 in ocean city. 36 in easton. the forecast for today -- hide some of the 30's to low 40's bubp partly cloudy skies. wind n

ellen braitman, bloomberg news. >>> :49.it that's the key going to be a minimal storm compared to what we've been dealing with for the earlier parts of this month. good morning open up the weather window fromnzv our east bay camera towards san francisco, you can see off in the distance, looks hazer than it did earlier clouds on the increase, radar returns as we look into the clouds, no truth this is make it to the ground, if it does it will be in the form of sprinkles, a lot of evaporation going on. that is keeping temperatures down in the 30s as that water evaporates into the air it also cools it from sea ranch, fort ross towards occidental, guerneville, forestville that whole area, blue"emj green, still, i don't think they are going to have more in the way of sprinkles if anything through the morning this is just the beginning of the system who having in. 30s, easier to talk about who is not in the 30s, -- [ unintelligible ] , today frot there, by the around clouds thick enough that light rain will start reaching the groun

>>--ellen braitman . >> citigroup will cut 11,000 workers worldwide. other banks will have cuts next year as well. let's talk fiscal cliff. the median prediction is 1.5 million jobs may be lost next year including 110,000 in the defense industry if lawmakers fail to come up with an agreement soon. let's talk about the rivalry between twitter and facebook. twitter says users are experiencing issues with viewing instagram photographs. facebook looking at purchasing the service, driving traffic to its own website. a 13-year-old girl thinks the classics easy-bake oven should be marketed to boys as well. and wonder bread/host this may have a buyer -- hostess. >> we will talk to you soon. still to come, an online business has turned into a court battle in fairfax county. >> and a boost for those >> president obama has declared d.c. a disaster area, opening up federal money to help cover emergency work and repairs from the storm. and to protect against future disasters. chris christie expected to be in d.c. today pressing for more aid following hurricane sand

ellen braitman has more with the bloomberg business report. >> home-improvement retailers are gearingup for spring. customers are stocking up on gardening projects. a possible strike at ports has 15,000 workers potentially ready to walk off the jobs. a lot at stake for apparel workers. apple may be a favorite among consumers but not when it comes to customer satisfaction with the website. it is dropping from last year. the company introduced more products during the holiday season including the ipad mini and the iphone 5. amazon had a record high. another down day for stocks as we close in on the fiscal cliff deadline. taxes will go out by an average of $4,400 for u.s. households if we go over the fiscal cliff. >> 5:23. maryland has a state bird and the state fish. >> what about a state sen w >> the star of bethlehem has been shining bright. the new owners have put the property up for sale. this will be the last year the ght the baltimoree baltimor sky. >> some lawmakers want the soft selhell crab to be the maryland state sandwich. lawmakers passed such legislation making it the offic

i'm ellen braitman with the bloomberg business report. >> 5:22. support pours into newtown, connecticut. a memorial that includes every gift and a letter. don't forget to e-mail us your response to our water cooler question of the day. will you be more likely to visit a maryland casino now that some are open 24/7? you can share your response at wbaltv.com and on our facebook page, or send us an e-mail to watercooler@wbaltv.com. >> we near the two-week mark of the shootings in newtown. >> the residence have a plan for a permanent memorial. >> it is overflowing. they stopped to drop off flowers on the way to visiting family in massachusetts. >> we wanted to pay tribute in this tragic event. >> he is called the sidewalks home. he understands the importance of these memorials. he lost a loved one on 9/11. now they are making preparations with what to do with all the mementos. there will be a future permanent memorial. >> we will turn everything into the soil that is biodegradable. >> a phone message to residents that this will be sacred soil, visions

i'm a ellen braitman from bloomberg news. >> thank you so much. >> 37 degrees at the airport. keith mills will have sports coming up. >> don't forget to e-mail us your response to our water cooler question of the day. will you be more likely to visit a maryland casino now that some are open 24/7? you can share your response on wbaltv.com, on our facebook page, or send us an e-mail to watercooler@wbaltv.com. >> here is a look at last night's winning maryland lottery numbers. >> now insta-weather plus and traffic pulse 11 together. >> time to take a look at your morning commute. we are dealing with what roads -- wet roads. wind warnings are in effect at the bay bridge. 55 miles per hour on 295. 55 miles per hour on the north side. 295, southbound traffic is starting to build. the harrisburg expressway, 55 miles per hour. this is 50 at sandy point. a little delay at the toll plaza. watch for some slow going in general around the area. that is the latest on traffic pulse 11. >> you mentioned that the roads are wet. the temperatures are above the freezing mark. that means it is not

ellen braitman reporting for wbal-tv 11 news -- that is business news. back to you. >> happy holidays. >> you, to. >> 28 degrees at the airport. the ravens make the giants look small. >> don't forget to e-mail us your response to our water cooler question of the day. how will you be spending christmas? you can share your response on wbaltv.com, on our facebook page, or send us an e-mail to watercooler@wbaltv.com. >> here is a look at last night's winning maryland lottery numbers. chances are, you're not made of money, so don't overpay for motorcycle insurance. geico, see how much you could save. >> now insta-weather plus and traffic pulse 11 together. out, righte heading now the major roadways are shipping out to be very nice. we have one accident. this is in the city at saratoga. watch for closures. moving well. no problems on the area roads. 295 looks pretty good at 175. 55 miles per hour prior to 100 ioon 295. 50 at sandy point checking in ok. in light ride on the span of the bridge. that is the latest on traffic pulse 11. >> the roads are dried right