. >> it has been a year since baltimore's city state's attorney greg bernstein took office. he said he has rolled out several programs. brian cube learn joins -- kuebler joins us with more. >> bernstein said while his office has made much progress, there's much more work to do. a rare press conference, greg bernstein gave what in essence is a state of state's -- >> we are seeing positive results. >> reporter: it's a 2% bump in felony convictions. they credit it in part to civil programs chief of which is the major investigations unit, a group of prosecutors aimed at the most violent repeat offenders. they are responsible for committing the lion's share of crime. >> most of the crime is committed by a small amount of people f we can focus on resources in that way, we can make a difference. bernstein said it is too early to talk about its street level impact but as high hopes for the unit as to the new prosecution model, a method of prosecuting by areas instead of type of the crime an effort that will help connect with neighborhoods, the crime trends. programs, bernstein hopes

greg bernstein...during the legislative ssssion in annapolis.berstein says the state should reduce theimum sentence so law enforrement can focus on more serious crime. < "we found in exploring the data... that very, very few people are actually incarcerated for these small amounts oo marijuana." > < "it is a bad message to send to children. the only good message is to drug dealers. that wanna have their pot."> pot.">bernstein says he'll push for morr options this year for incarceration... using community resources ... that may prevent offenders from committing repeated crimes. wwnning money from your fantasy football league... could soon be legal...if a lawmaker as his way. way. maryland is one state whhch bans fantasy league players to win cash. but baltimore county delegate.... john olszewski has a bill in annapolis to lift that ban. 3(olszewssi) "this is a quick, easy fix for something that quite frankly thousands if not tens of thousands of marylanders enjoy and we're just giviig them the same oppor" opportunity." olszewski blames outdated and confusing laws.e-s-p-n ... c-b-s sport

greg bernstein says that he will back legislation that reduces jail time for those convicted of possessing small amount of marijuana. a conviction carries a one-year jail sentence currently. the prosecutor considers half an ounce a small amount. he says he wants to change the sentence to a maximum of 90 days. >> we found in exploring the data and looking at statistics that very few people, if any, are incarcerated for possession of small amounts of marijuana. to keep us more in line with jurisdictions in other states, we think this sentence might be more proper it. >> wall bernstein was a reduced sentence, he does not support decriminalization. >> of federal indictment accuses four people of a scheme to steal 1.4 -- still $1.4 million from the city housing authority. three men and woman said up a phony company and illegally withdrew money from the account. the accusers are from prince george's county -- the accused are from prince george's county and washington, d.c. days after officials moved to seize two dozen vehicles from the baltimore city housing authority, mayor rawlings-blake is no

today city state's attorney greg bernstein will discuss initiatives for the the new year at one this afternoon at mitchell courthouse downtown. stay with abc2 at 5 and 6 to hear his plan for the coming year. >>> and governor o'malley plans to formally recognize two american indian groups indigenous to the state. executive order follows a process established to american indian groups accordings to census maryland has 58,000 identified as having american indian heritage. >>> and a new bus route connecting two busy counties will open today. harford and cecil county executives will today launch a route during an event at the david r craig park in havre de grace. it takes effect this morning starting at 11. time for a check of the forecast one more time. let's say hello, to justin. >>> all right. good morning. 6:54. take an umbrella or rain jacket with you. not expecting anything heavy today. more of a nuisance or ambience event. a sense of winter has come back. 39 ocean city and they started at 30. there's the 40s and rain to the south in virginia. a little bit of snow in the high countr

. >> greg bernstein says he will back legislation that reduces jail time for possessing small amountsrijuana. the commission currently carries a one-year sentence. bernstein wants to be -- a conviction currently carries a one-year sentence. bernstein wants to change it to 90 days. >> very few people, if any, are actually in credit for these small amounts of marijuana, and to keep us in mind -- are incarcerated for these small amounts of marijuana, and to keep us in line with other districts. >> he is taking some of the most experienced prosecutors and by 93 case-lodestones that correspond to police districts and -- and dividing them by three cases-load zones that correspond to police districts and prosecuting attorneys. >> it gets the prosecutors in each zone focusing on cases within that particular zone and understanding how those cases interact and what the impact -- how they impact the community. >> bernstein's investigation will also have a huge impact on crime and the community. >> if we can focus our resources, it will make a huge difference. >> felony convictions went up from 6

greg bernstein...sion in annapolis.berstein says the state should reduce the maximum sentence so law enforcement can focus on more serious crime. < "we found in exploring the data... that veryy very few people are actually incarcerated for these small amountt of marijuana." > < "it is a bad message to send to childrrn. the only good message is to drug dealers. that wanna have their pot."> pot.">bernstein says he'll push for more options this year for incarceration... using community resources ... that may prevent offenders from committing repeated crimes. winning money from your fantasy football league... could soon be legal...if a lawmaker has his way. way. maryland is one state which bans fantasy leagge players to win cash. but baltimore county delegate.... john olszewski as a bill in annapolis to lift that ban. (olszewski) "this is a quick, easy fix for something that quite frankly thousands if not tens of thousands of marylanders enjoy and we're just giving them the same oppor" opportunity." olszew

. -- greg bernstein also joined us today on our taping. >> still ahead, the former head sthen state coach, joe paterno, makes his final trip through campus. >> today his funeral may have been private, but it did not stop the public from coming out. the story straight ahead. >> school lunches are about to get a lesson in nutrition. this will drastically change what it on your child's plate. >> the baltimore school for students with severe disabilities has just won $100,000, and it is >> the baltimore city school system needs close to $3 billion to pay for a massive overhaul of the dilapidated school buildings. >> today a new controversial proposal service. david collins with us now live from the state house. >> there is talk here on e house side about giving baltimore city the authority to raise the state sales tax by one penny in use the money exclusively for schools. would decide whether to raise the sales tax by a penny. the proceeds would help fund a massive overall a public school buildings. >> we have to think old and creative and the incredibly innovative if we are to tackle this re