downtown orange and blue lines are shut down in both directions between federal triangle and federal center southwest. that after a piece of a train fell off onto the tracks near l'enfant plaza. megan mcgrath is there. tell us what you're learning so far? >> reporter: things are still closed down here at the l'enfant plaza station. look behind me. you can see the fire crews and police officers who are here on the scene. now they're assessing exactly what happened here. we're told that something fell off a metro train down on the tracks. the most likely culprit is what they call a friction ring. that's a part of the brake assembly. we're told that's a redundant part so the train was able to brake even though that ring apparently fell off that breaking mechanism. at no point was anyone in danger according to metro officials. when that ring fell off, it apparently made contact with the third rail. that's the energized rail. that created some smoking conditions down in the tunnel. they stopped the train. they were able to offload everybody safety with the assistance of metro officials. they got

right now metro has suspended blue and orange line service between metro center and federal center. something fell on the tracks. no injuries have been reported and our andrea mccarren is joining us live now from the plaza with more information. andrea? >> reporter: well, j. c., no injuries but some very frightening moments for metro passengers on the blue and orange lines this morning. a series of explosions at the l'enfant plaza metro stop prompted the evacuation of 300 metro passengers and that led to some emotional reunions. >> we heard some explosions that popped -- i was on the front car. so the explosions went off. we heard about three and then there was an explosion between where the car and the wall was. so the firemen are down there, the metro police and they're taking good care of all the folk and evacuating us. >> reporter: what was doing through your mind? >> we all think about september 11th is you think about your family and you think about your kids and you know god is with you and he'll never leave you. we had fellowship with everyone on the train and you know we're

enough for authorities in the federal center and in the region we already have rotation of state officials that list half reserve system has some one hundred thousand people which is a significant figure in the presidential reservedly was stablished by my proposition has provided has supplied over two hundred a month by theatre with qualified officials salviati however this work should be done more consistently good at that and more actively with the public at me. again the open government is a more efficient way of receiving feedback that we will organise and reforming the work. of state authorities making it more at the motor and got a little more reliant on the initiative from the regions as in how it once said that the motor of a true democracy is not let the government do its but let us do it. on our own you know i think this is very right and those are situations will start work and work in just a few weeks. but first on the basis of a of an interim group e-mail entrance structure established especially for these purposes some of the public contest phase one of the first measures wil

this shut down service on the blue and orange lines between federal circle and federal center and federal triangle. all train services now back to normal. >>> pay rom taxes will go up for millions of american workers if congress doesn't make a deal into the next 11 days. today the house rejected a vote on the senate's plan for a two-month extension and republicans demanded negotiations for a one-year deal. >>> d.c. council agreeing to a series of changes in an effort to overhaul the city's ethics laws and it comes as two council members faced federal investigations. a bill approved today would allow expulsion of a member who seriously violates ethics rules. it also forces more disclosure of campaign contributions and reduces the amount of money that can be privately raised by council members. >>> police say they have arrested the man that trade to carjack not one but two cars in the middle of rush hour traffic this morning. >> this happened in one circle near american university in north west d.c. as news4's erika gonzalez reports the suspect was finally stopped thanks to a surprising sou

service temporarily suspended on both between federal center southwest and federal triangle.hat to stay on top of this story throughout the day with just a touch of a button. >> we have metro spokesperson on the phone now. dan, good morning. >> good morning. >> bring us up to speed on what's happening out there. >> this started an hour ago where we had a report of a track obstruction and what we believe happened is it's actually part of a train that became dislodged from the train car and made contact with the electric elect third tunnel. there's not been a derailment. the section of track has been taken out of service. we're in the tunnel right now working to identify exactly what this part is. we do believe it's part of the brake assembly and called a friction ring. it's something that as a redundant system on the train, the train can operate without one and so once we get that inspection completed, we'll have this disabled train moved off the line and we'll have service restored. looks like early afternoon hours. >> what's your plan for the people who have been stopped and

shutting down service during metro center and federal center. the rideders not get that message. pat collins joins us live from metro headquarters to tell us how all of this unfolded. pat? >> reporter: imagine you are riding on a metro train. you hear an explosion. then there's sparks and smoke. the train comes to a sudden stop and there you sit -- for nearly two hours. we begin with street story with video from down under. confusion. >> what happened? >> call metro police. >> reporter: followed by long waits and dimly lit metro subway cars. tales of fear from passengers on what has been described as the orange line incident train. >> explosion, explosion. you can feel -- heard the impact and you can feel the rocking of the train as the explosion went off. >> you see this big old flame and the train stops in the tunnel. >> all of a sudden we smelt smoke and the lights went out. >> started worrying. i was panicking and shaking. >> reporter: it happened around 9:45 this morning near tl'enfan station. this is the troublemaker. it is called a friction ring.br system. it fell off the

federation. the national center for lesbian rights. san francisco chamber of commerce. the san francisco department of children, youth, and their families. san francisco department on the status of women. san francisco zero divided foundation. we would like to thank the city department heads that are here. the department of status of women. the human rights commission, and our own director, the office of civic engagement and immigrant affairs. you have an opportunity later in the meeting for public comment. please indicate if you would like to speak or write down your questions and return the cards to staff members. i would like to introduce an outstanding leader who has worked hard to bring the diverse segments of the san francisco community together to reach a common ground. since coming into office in january of 2009, he has brought thoughtful leadership to our city. we're pleased to welcome the president of the san francisco board of supervisors. thank you. [applause] >> good evening. i am pleased to be with all of you today. i want to think the immigrant rights com

and kabul would be some kind of federal center without a great deal of power perhaps. i think you would have to do that. .. when you looked at the map that there would want to join is pakistan, especially now. in those earlier days it was soviet is pakistan, but they have shown no interest in joining them in northeast afghanistan. no east in joining tajikistan, so somehow there is something, some sort of glue that holds the country together, even if it's only to keep the foreigners out. when we are all together and we can fight happily among ourselves. >> the big worry when at third and i were there, how do you avoid a civil war? the americas move out. there is a real worry. but of the americans to withdraw people in the north. warlords. armen themselves. and there is -- i don't think it is the most likely scenario, but there is the question that there is a real chance of another civil war, which is a normal financial burden. just awful. >> well, i think the bickering did talk about the united nations peacekeeping forces. you know, obviously it would be madness for the

the better business bureau is warning about gift card scams, so is the federal government's internet crime center. it's prime season for scammers. with the big racks of cards it can be easy for scammers to write down the numbers or scan them. go for ones behind the card. look for signs of tampering. make sure the pin numbers have not been uncovered. be aware of cards sold or traded on the internet, especially on auction sites. if they're sold for a fraction, that's a red card. it's best to buy them from the card it did -- store itself. they require all the terms and conditions to be put front and center on the gift card packaging. to see all the tips, log on to a special page we've created at abc2news.com slash holiday. >> for many without a job, money is tighter. >>> the mayor of one city makes a real disturbing comment online. >>> this may be raining here but at least we're not dealing with the extreme winter weather that hit the western u.s. how they're dealing with a white prechristmas out west. >>> it's beginning to look a lot like christmas where a cold blast left people shivering. snow is

terry mcsweeney is live outside the federal courthouse that's the center of gravity today. >> reporter: just about an hour ago barry bonds ended the federal courthouse he's on the 19th floor in the judge's courtroom awaiting sentencing. take a look at the homerun king coming into court today, looked very relaxed. i asked him how he was feeling. he took a moment to say good morning to the throng of reporters. unlike the many times he entered for his trial this time he comes to court a convicted felon for obstructing justice for evasive answers. prosecutors want him to spend 15 months in prison within sentencing guidelines. defense attorneys want just probation. the federal probation officials want house arrest and community service. they may hold the day. i asked the man who wrote the book on barry bonds and steroid accusations, about the sentencing. >> i mean i think obviously it has been a long time coming. bonds testified more than eight years ago now. it has been quite a saga to get to this point for him. >> reporter: another major player of course victor county he ran the lab that

terry mcsweeney is live outside the federal courthouse that's the center of gravity today. >> reporter: just about an hour ago barry bonds ended the federal courthouse he's on the 19th floor in the judge's courtroom awaiting sentencing. take a look at the homerun king coming into court today, looked very relaxed. i asked him how he was feeling. he took a moment to say good morning to the throng of reporters. unlike the many times he entered for his trial this time he comes to court a convicted felon for obstructing justice for evasive answers. prosecutors want him to spend 15 months in prison within sentencing guidelines. defense attorneys want just probation. the federal probation officials want house arrest and community service. they may hold the day. i asked the man who wrote the book on barry bonds and steroid accusations, about the sentencing. >> i mean i think obviously it has been a long time coming. bonds testified more than eight years ago now. it has been quite a saga to get to this point for him. >> reporter: another major player of course victor county he ran the lab that

in a hospital that was moscow clinical hospital number six which is now part of the federal medical biological center employees specialists who previously work its nuclear power stations and so on the treatment involved many intricate procedures we had to do a long list of tests every day and samples were analyzed using some complex math formulas and thanks to prompt intervention by russian doctors the disease was nipped in the bud. as it would just mean you don't have any symptoms now no long term effects on your health. no there's been no effects except for the fact that i have to do medical checkups more often than a regular person would have two or three times a year if that other doctor's advice is to sell it yes sort of pretty used fine russian investigators now say that whole of you of littering go. where victims in this case should be but who do they accuse of. attempted murder. it was well i believe it is as follows. with any crime you should look for a person who benefited the most from it i did not have any motive to kill with the nanny and in fact he's family thinks so too. so who could b

the closest station, farragut west, mcpherson square, metro center and federal triangle. but once you're there, first of all, bundle up. it will be cool but so nice. lots of security to get through. once you're there, you know what i like to do especially on the weekend with the family is walk through the pathway of peace. great weekend to do that. >> exactly. we'll talk more about that plus there is a new entryway on 17th. big closures there. they have warm cider already there, too. >> that's a good thing. >> thanks, monika. >> well, this year is national christmas tree is a new one. we've been telling you about that. remember the old one fell last february. it blew over during strong winds. the tree had been be on the ellipse since 1978. >> to tell us more about the new national christmas tree, we're joined by neil mulholland, the president and ceo of the national park foundation. neil, thanks so much for joining us this morning. >> good morning. happy holidays. >> happy holidays to you as well. so, we have the tree already decorated. of course, we took a look at it thi

the region chief of staff for federal health and the medical center. former wisconsin gov., president and ceo of a global technology nonprofit. and rebecca, the manager of employee engagement in disaster relief for hewlett-packard. the panel brings a great deal of expertise across many fields to our discussion today. we certainly want you to be involved in our discussion, so as questions come to your mind, who write them down. after the presentations, we would love to have discourse between new and our panel. you will see his extensive biography in your program, it is written more eloquently than mine. he is the senior vice president for a pharmaceutical company where he spent the last 39 years of his career. >> is a real pleasure for me to be here, particularly talking about this topic because i am a california native. i have family here and i certainly have lived through a number of the issues we have had for natural disasters in this area. i work for a corporation headquartered right here in california and san francisco. it is the fifteenth largest

bruce beresford-redman has been in a federal detention center since his arrest in november of last year. he's appealing an extradition order that would send him back to mexico to be tried for murdering his wife. it was in the spring of last year when beresford-redman and his family went to a resort in cancun, mexico. monica beresford-redman was reported missing on april 5th and three days later her body was found in a sewer not far from her hotel room. mexican officials say she had been strangled and insists their case against the husband is a strong one. >> they have evidence that he was calling a sex phone line, that his wife found out about, that they were fighting while they were in mexico, that he had scratches on him. >> reporter: mexican authorities say he used his hotel card key to enter the room numerous times on the night of his wife's disappearance. he says that's because he was looking for her. monica's family says beresford-redman was an unfaithful husband and was upset that she was threatening to leave him. as far as the scratches go, beresford-redman's attorneys say he go

i served our dental patients who couldn't even be seen by a federally qualified health center.i can repeat stories not as bad as this because they're dental but i can repeat this all day long. it's sad. because i think what we ought to be doing is, is sharing that information all across the sandbox. not playing and not explaining who is a bad player here and allowing them to be still participating to the rules is criminal and it's criminal on our part for not changing it. that's what's wrong here. so let me ask you a question. i want to see, thinking outside the box, how could you envision something that could empower patients like mr. west to have some skin in the game, to be one of those whistle-blowers and uphold their bt ability and rank? give me some ideas, miss brice-smith? >> we have already observed there are a handful of states that have developed sort of reward programs if you will are short of the false claims act but will give cash for tips if you will related to health care fraud. so there are already a handful of innovative states that have recognized that that's

reporter: the baltimore man accused of plot to go bomb a military recruiting center will be charged. a federal judge has decided not to dismiss the charges against him. antonio martinez is charged with attempted murder and attempted use of a weapons of mass destruction. he pleaded not guilty earlier this year. martinez' lawyer says the government didn't record some of his early meetings and that an informant says they were coerced and their attempt for a dismissal failed. >>> the $1.3 million bullying suit filed against the baltimore city public school system has finished. the judge has dismissed nine of the 13 counts in that case brought by the sullivan family. they say their 10-year-old special needs son who attended several city schools was repeatedly bullied. they believe the administration for the school didn't do enough to protect him. the jury decided on thursday that the two principals named in that suit were not criminally negligent. >>> a massive fire forced hundreds of families out of their homes in brazil. up next how rescue crews were able to save those trapped in a raging fire. t

federal agency. >>> another protest centered around the economy has kicked off in d.c., this one a five- day demonstration on the national mall. the movement is called our d.c., tart of the take back the capitol protest. they want congress to start representing the 99% of the peep, not just the rich. protesters will march to the capital and to k street where they plan to deliver the message to lobbyists. >>> coming up next, sentencing today in another high-profile case. a former governor who tried to sell president obama's senate seat is about to learn his fate. >>> details on i warning,ed for 15 nations including an economic powerhouse. that is all coming up.  >>> the s&p rating agency warns it could cut ratings of 15 european counties including powerhouse germany and stocks around the world are falling. oil tell for about $100 a barrel this morning in asia. standard & poor's says it is reviewing the credit rating of countries using the euro and put them "negative watch. >>> the death toll rises in a suicide bomb attack in afghanistan. 48 people reportedly have been killed. the explosion happene

closest one to you -- outside of denver, what will become vice think the largest federal secret, top-secret agency's center in the country outside the east coast is outside of denver. this is what we call top-secret america. besides the numbers which were pretty large and many of those, a third of it was created after 9/11. we could talk about what was created after 9/11 also. we wanted to look inside and say it is big and expensive. what are some of the problems? people i had known for many years in the military and the intelligence world were talking to me about these problems even before i started doing this work. that is one of the main reasons we decided to undertake it. people who consider themselves loyal patriotic americans who wanted to keep the nation safe from another terrorist attack were very worried when they saw around them in the secret world. there was too much growth. people were tripping over each other. they were doing the same jobs. the idea of sharing more information was one of the things that came out of 9/11. while they had gotten better at that, the whole apparatus had gotten so m

trained in environmental forensics, both here locally, state and federally by the usepa in the training center in georgia and i worked for the district attorney's office in san francisco for nine years before becoming elected supervisor. >> and you spent most of your adult life in san francisco. >> yes. >> why did you make the choice to live in the city? >> oh, my god, i had never been west of the mississippi until i came here. growing up, we read a lot in our household but many of the books that i was drawn to were from authors who either came from california or spent substantial time in california dealing with so many eras that i think we're just awesome. and it all came to life with me as soon as i touched ground injust wanted to be here. >> what motivated to you get involved in politics? >> i think i have to give some of that credit to my family. my mother growing up for me in the '60's, '70's, was very involved in the women's movement and in the anti-war movement and would often take me to protest and to lectures. she was also involved union labor as her family had been for a couple gener

i served our dental patients who couldn't even be seen by a federally qualified health center.i can repeat stories not as bad as this because they're dental but i can repeat this all day long. it's sad. because i think what we ought to be doing is, is sharing that information all across the sandbox. not playing and not explaining who is a bad player here and allowing them to be still participating to the rules is criminal and it's criminal on our part for not changing it. that's what's wrong here. so let me ask you a question. i want to see, thinking outside the box, how could you envision something that could empower patients like mr. west to have some skin in the game, to be one of those whistle-blowers and uphold their bt ability and rank? give me some ideas, miss brice-smith? >> we have already observed there are a handful of states that have developed sort of reward programs if you will are short of the false claims act but will give cash for tips if you will related to health care fraud. so there are already a handful of innovative states that have recognized that that's

>> surae chinn live at the information center this morning. >> federal workers who rely on a metro subsidy will probably end up shelling out more money, at least through march if not longer. congress hasn't passed an extension of transit benefits yet. that means instead of getting $240 a month for metro, federal workers will only get $125. the move also affects marc and vre riders who use transit subsidies as well. "the washington examiner" reports congress probably won't take up the issue until february which means no changes until march. >>> it has been closed since august now the national park service is out with a 35-page report on the earthquake damage to the washington monument. and the inside of the landmark could be closed for a long time. the report finds at least six panels of the top of the monument are severely cracked all the way through. several other panels have damage to the corners but they could be easily fixed. several joints holding the monument stones and panels together shifted during the quake and have to be replaced. there is also stone and water damage inside the m

but a recent report on federal prosecutions from a research center at syracuse university says the number brought against financial institutions for fraud is at a 20-year low. when we come back, we talk to a whistleblower who was inside citigroup during the financial meltdown. >> cbs money watch update sponsored by: nia-sue nitchum good evening. the troubled u.s. postal center will close hundreds of processing centers and end next-day delivery. italy has imposed austerity measures. gas is down 14 cents in a month. and three straight weekends in a row for the new twilight at the box officement i'm russ mitchell, cbs news. >> kroft: if you had looked at the financial statements of the major banks on wall street in the weeks leading up to the financial crisis of 2008, you wouldn't have guessed that most of them were about to crumble and require a trillion-dollar bailout from the taxpayers. it begs the question, did the c.e.o.s of the these banks and their chief financial officers withhold critical information from their investors? if they did, they can be subject to criminal prosecution unde

but a recent report on federal prosecutions from a research center at syracuse university says the number brought against financial institutions for fraud is at a 20-year low. when we come back, we talk to a whistleblower who was inside citigroup during the financial whistleblower who was inside citigroup during the financial meltdown. >> cbs money watch update sponsored by: nia-sue nitchum good evening. the troubled u.s. postal center will close hundreds of processing centers and end next-day delivery. italy has imposed austerity measures. gas is down 14 cents in a month. and three straight weekends in a row for the new twilight at the box officement i'm russ mitchell, cbs news. here's a little holiday secret. there's only one place that has the new kardashian kollection, apostrophe, uk style by french connection, structure and bongo... all under one roof. sears has all the styles they love, at prices you'll love. and all the money you save... well, that can be your little secret. right now, get an extra 20% off with your family & friends pass. that's real gifts. real joy. sears. the fin

police officer messerly caid in court d.he was overcome with he mess when federal jury cleared him and 4 other bart of centers a case alleging excessive force this manikin evident said messerly and others hog tied him after they prevented car burglary at the bart staichlingts he serve $2 years for involuntary manslaughter of the death of grant back in 2009. >> highway patrol is investigating a crash that killed 2 men and closed part of highway 4 for several hours da day. this happened at about noon. witnesses say it appeared the pickup truck tried to pass the big rig when the larger truck driver turned left into the small farm road. pick up driver and his passenger were both killed. >>> apple being questioned tonight about the seamingly anti-abortion slant of the popular virtual assistant known as series. part of apple new i-phone 4 app. you you ask it a question it gives you the answer. that's not the question when you ask it about abortion clinic or cop from session it draw as blank and apple says it's the result of a glitch. of people question that. >> they are a listening time media company have made it m

center. [music] >> i'm elsa scott and i'm a retired federal employee and i'm a native of san francisco. i use paratransit because, i've been using it for about six years because six years ago i had to start dialysis treatments at cpmc. so i'm very dependent on paratransit three times a week, coming and going.. my current driver is brian berquist.; he's just such a friendly, sort of a teddy bear kind of a guy. i don't know what it is about brian, but all of us old ladies want to feed brian. [music] >> hi, my name is fred lein. i'm most proud of driving a ramp taxi since the beginning of the program in 1994. [music] >> fred, you are the absolute best! thank you fred for providing transportation for me and opening up my social life, and taking care of medical appointments, taking care of my mother [music] >> hi, my name is ann bailey and i've driven for luxor for almost five years now. i drove for desoto cab for 10 years prior to that. i drove in 1976 for the old, old yellow cab. this is frances mecchi and i've been driving her for about 11 or 12 years to her alzheimer's day program, which

center cut steak. now just so you know, federal health inspectors don't know of any safety issues with the turkey, it's just mislabeled. but we do know that some of that meat was sold in maryland. >>> you might expect changing tables in public bathrooms to be contaminated with all sorts of things, probably not cocaine. but that is exactly what one group of researchers found traces of on 92% of changing tables they studied in england. they set out to test facilities in shopping centers and hospitals, police stations, courts, churches, and supermarkets and then last month after britain was named cocaine capital after europe or of europe, they discovered all that stuff. who knew? >>> still to come, the clock ticking and now the rush is on to buy last minute holiday gifts. time to get out there, folks. we'll be right back with 9news now. >>> fix your feet. now come from an unlikely source. cosmetic treatments are finding amazing new uses. anita brikman reports. the foot fixer tonight at 11:00. >>> the washington, d.c. veteran's affairs medical center and wusa9 salute all who serve at home and abroad this h

police officer messerly caid in court d.he was overcome with he mess when federal jury cleared him and 4 other bart of centers case alleging excessive force this manikin evident said messerly and others hog tied him after they prevented car burglary at the bart staichlingts he serve $2 years for involuntary manslaughter of the death of grant back in 2009. >> highway patrol is investigating a crash that killed 2 men and closed part of highway 4 for several hours da day. this happened at about noon. witnesses say it appeared the pickup truck tried to pass the big rig when the larger truck driver turned left into the small farm road. pick up driver and his passenger were both killed. >>> apple tonight about the seamingly anti-abortion slant of the popular virtual assistant known as series. part of apple new i-phone 4 app. you you ask it a question it gives you the answer. that's not the question when you ask it about abortion clinic or cop from session it draw as blank and apple says it's the result of a glitch. of people question that. >> they are a listening time media company have made it more difficult for w

federal agencies. the fda and the centers for disease control say there's no evidence that four cases of a rare bacterialelated. four of the babies consumed enfamil. >>> more than 100,000 cyclists, not to be equivalent of a red shirt, filled the streets of taiwan to break the world's record for the largest bicycle parade. the record was set in italy more than a decade ago. >> i don't know, ron. >> that's all i got. >> it was close. >> i know. >> that's impressive. >> i tried. >> yes. >>> time, now, for the weather and ginger who is out in times square, where they're getting ready for the big night. ginger, go. >> it's a big night. and it's a big morning already. so many folks feeling the excitement around here. really, i was talking to people who do this every year. they say the novelty never wears off when you see the huge crystal ball. you also have the confetti, which does not come from this building. it comes from balconies and windows from buildings surrounding times square. of course, folks write their wishes on this. all year, you can go to the times square visitors center. write your wish. i've d