the handrails line the steps at stations. underunderneath the handrails lights are built in to light the steps in the dark. a couple of those handrail lights overheated and caught fire. no one was hurt. the root cause of the fires has still not been identified. so now all of the lights in these handrails are off and riders are left shaking their heads. >> i mean it does surprise me it's starting on fire but this being a new station you kind of surprised when stuff is breaking already. but a handrail starting on fire was not really in the things you thought would occur. >> reporter: now, this is an important point to remember here. metro didn't build the silver line. the metropolitan washington airports authority did. metro says it's going to hold them and their contractors responsible for this work. coming up at 6:00 why metro is now calling this problem with the handrails a systemic problem. back to you, jim. >>> firefighters are still searching for the cause of an early morning fire that killed a man in springfield. two peo

the handrails there, a fire during the construction. recently right here at the tyson's corner station and tallas greensboro station, two of these

if it's a handrail it could be something else? >> yeah possibly because you're walking up and down the steps. >> reporter: it's important to remember while metro runs the silver line it did not build the silver line. the metropolitan washington airport authority built the line and metro says it's going to hold them accountable for this work. now tonight we did receive a statement from the airports authority. they say this is a warranty issue and they're going to be working with metro on the problem. back to you. >>> target has agreed to pay millions of dollars to customers as part of a settlement from that massive data breach in 2013. today a u.s. district judge granted a preliminary approval of that settlement. if it's formally approved target se there will be a notification process so customers understand how to submit a claim. victims who can prove they lost something in the data breach may be eligible for up to $10,000. this impacted as many as 110 million people. >>> finally some answers tonight for the family of a murdered p

but the lights were left in the handrails and the line opened up., back to you. >> reporter: thanks adam. new metro safety videos are about to be seen on tv screens throughout the washington area. those videos show rider what is to do in the event of an emergency involving smoke or fire on a train or in a station. the videos are in both english and spanish. back in january, a woman died. dozens of passengers were taken to hospitals when a tunnel filled with smoke outside the l'enphant plaza station. >>> and new details on the deadly metro smoke incident uncovered tonight by the news4 i-team. details about exactly how many metro employees were hurt revealed in internal e-mails obtained by the i-team. you can see all of those e-mails at nbcwashington.com. >>> a maryland teenager may not be competent to stand trial. >> that would be for the attempted rape of three women. those women were attacked while walking or jogging along a trail at walkersville community park. two of the incidents happened last april. the third was in november of 2013. a 17-year-

the handrails will be back at his service once they are fixed. metro says it will install temporary lighting until that happens. an estimated 400,000 rate kits sit in crime labs nationwide waiting to be tested. vice president biden says that is about to change. brad bell looks at the newest initiative to bring justice to victims. brad: helen stands right next to the vice president and summons the courage to tell her story. >> when my induction took place in 1996, i was 17. brad: she went to the police, her body examined for dna evidence. it was put into a so-called rape kit for analysis in a dna lab, but like hundred's of thousands across the country, it sat untouched for years. >> it was the invisible injustice. brad: today she joined the vice president and senator barbara mikulski at the announcement of $40 million newly available to help police agencies eliminate the backlog. vice president biden: testing rape kits should be an absolute priority. brad: it took helen's over 10 years to be tested. >> for a victim to be able to leave her home, to

these lighted handrails reportedly overheated. no one was injured. metro is calling this a systemic problem because fires also happened during construction. metropolitan washington airport authority built the line and metro says it will hold them accountable. >>> montgomery county is moving ahead with plans to extend the mid county highway between gaithersburg and clarksburg. it would run between goshen road and ridge road. transportation officials have studied nearly a dozen routes for the road over the past officials allowed development in the area believing the extension would be built. it still needs to go under reviews. >>> berkeley and morgan county schools are closed this morning. >> and in virginia warren county schools are opening two hours late today. >> and this is because of the snow that is heading our way. and in some places has arrived. let's check in with chuck bellwether and traffic on the 1s. >>> and welcome to your friday everybody. winter weather advisories remain in effect from really the immediate downtown washington area northb

temperatures most of the roads are okay, but elevated surfaces some of those sidewalks and handrails could get a little glazing of ice. so be extra careful. we don't need anymore problems on the road and i know melissa agrees with me. >> to sure. beltway at new hampshire avenue looking good and dry for now. you know that rain is coming in. 66 and 95 area 95 at cherry ril road hill road no problems. wider look at things everything rolling along quite nicely. 95 in virginia no issues. same thing with 66 and 395, no issues as you're heading in will to town. remember when you get in your car, you can tune in for more traffic information, wtop 103.5 fm. >>> parents you need deep pockets to acceptedsend your kids to college. uva is raising tuition. >>> and baby-sitting is getting more expensive, too. who parents are pay to go have those few hours of freedom >>> following a developing story from maryland. police officers there finding a man stabbed in the neck laying on a living room couch last night. this happened on edmonston road. victim taken to prince george's county where he died. ano

. >>> the lighted handrails at tysons corner and greensboro have overheated and they caught fire. nobody was injured. tonight all the lights have been turned off. metro is calling this a systemic problem because the fires also happened during construction of the silver line. metro says it's going to hold them accountable for this work. >>> fairfax county is cracking down on truck drivers who don't follow the rules. they stopped 11 trucks and found 22 violations. the officers conducted the inspections in a parking lot at northern virginia community college. police issued ten summons and ordered four trucks to be taken out of service. >>> a university of virginia student left bloodied after an arrest outside a bar is sharing his side of the story. as we report from charlottesville martese johnson said the incident shocked him and he did not try to use a fake i.d. >> reporter: walking up to the podium with his attorney he tells his story. >> his mother works the night shift with social services and was just able to fly in today from chicago to be here and to support martese during th

, the doors just drop down and those particular paws are very dangerous and i was hoping to have handrails along the pod as you approach it. it the one on top fits all three together. tanya was talking about developing another rope climb. i would like to add another rope climb -- this particular place, you have the air requirements so they can have the air conditioning when it's too hot and warm when it's too cold. thank you. >> anybody else wishing to make public comment? being none, public comment is closed and commissioners that was informational only. >> thank you. we are now on item 8. the st. mary's square expansion and commissioner, i believe you said we're only going to be doing 8. >> that is correct. b is not operable. >> commissioners dawn kamalanathan of the planning department to tell you about the 500 st. mary's square area. i am joined by city attorneys as well acid representatives from [speaker not understood] in may, 2000 the board of supervisors city planning commission and recreation and park department approved the general framework of a deal to have basically an exchang

. >>> met stroero is promising accountability after handrail fires at tysons corner reportedly overheated, no one was injured. metro is call this is a systemic problem because the fires also happened during construction of the silver line. metro says it will hold the contractor accountable. >>> new pictures of the damage inside of a bethesda rite aid after a bmw plowed through the window. the car almost went fully inside the building and took out a refrigerator in the path. this was yesterday. no one was seriously hurt. no word on what caused the driver to lose control. >> the ncaa tournament has only just begun and there have been some pretty amazing upsets so far already. georgetown and vcu both in action last night. >> well, wait to get to vcu, but you let's start with george up to. if you watched, you're probably a little tired morning. the hoyas taking on eastern washington in portland oregon. eastern washington's coach predicted a win before the game. he was wrong. georgetown won that game 84-74. see, you can't trash talk like that. georgetown is a strong team. they play again on sa

where you live, if you haven't had a chance to put any kind of salt or chemical down on either your handrails, stairs sidewalks, driveway, plan on a skating ring first thing this morning. this is warren street in northwest washington not too far from where the tv station is. we didn't have on go far to start finding icy roads. we're allege anxious to take a look this your neighborhood so you can send me your neighborhood address at@chuckbell4 and we'll try to put as many of your icy neighborhood streets on tv as we can. but the rule of thumb is if it looks wet, it's probably ice first thing this morning. use extreme caution today for at least the next couple of hours until we get things above freezing and get it thawed out. it will be a slippery commute for many. so be careful. >>> we'll take you over to boston where they just can't catch a break from all the winter weather. another round of snow slamming new england. this could push boston over a 20-year-old season record. it already has had 102 inches with 4 to 6 more expected today. the real concern right now is roof collapses. >>> minimal

. >> he will anchor a tether hook to a near by handrail. >> reporter: two astronauts rigged cable and equipment to prepare for the installation of new docking ports. the docking ports will be set up later this year followed by a spacecraft being developed by boeing and space x. >>> and tahoe is preparing for a new record in snow. that report was set in the 95- 96 season. with 102-inches boston now only needs 5.7-inches more and looks like that's going to happen. another four to 6-inches is expected there by early tomorrow. >>> thousands of runners and walkers laced up this morning in san jose 408 race. it's the same race where a veteran put on his uniform and greeted runners as they ran by. that has started a new tradition. >> reporter: on mile 33 of this ak race through a san jose neighborhood. >> all right. >> hoorah. >> reporter: a record player plays a 1920s tune. the older generation of veterans here. the people doing the cheering and high fives got some appreciation in return. >> thank you. >> these vets young and old hope they are part of a new tradition inspired by the actions

. >>> metro is promising accountability after handrail fairs at the tysons corner and greensboro reportedly overheated. no one was injured, but metro is calling it a systemic problem because the fires also happened during construction. metropolitan washington airports authority built the line and metro says it will hold them accountable. >>> steps being taken by police to address concerns raised by students at the university of virginia. >>> plus the crazy first day of the ncaa attorney the achltament tournament. how you're helping cheer aaron up after the tough vcu loss. >>> right now we're getting yet another dose of winter weather. crews are finding the worst of the conditions right now in northern maryland. take a live look here. these are the complains innditions in fred rick county. >> snow across all of frederick county montgomery loudoun county warren, fred rick koubtsd fred rick county virginia as well. could be seeing snowflakes towards annapolis. in a couple minutes, we'll show you when it changes back over to rain. i spring i can, i spring i can. >> i like it. snowflakes are fal

could hear the rat-a-tat-tat of sleet on your windshields or you could have a glazing of ice on the handrails and staircases this morning. that could make a tricky walking commute into walk and school. another new crash promise as tricky drive, too. >>> outer loop at connecticut avenue looks like it is off to the shoulder at this point. things have picked up a bit in the past couple of minutes. i tweeted that out from first 4 traffic. again, not looking so rough. right now as far as travel time quantico to the beltway, 35 minutes. about ten minutes behind. 395 inbound taking you twice as long as it should. 66 east about 16 minutes there. 270 south 21 minutes from germantown to the beltway and outer loop 95 to 270, 31 minutes. remember to join our friends on wtop when you leave the house, start drive manage to work today, for the latest on traffic. >>> startling new information about what your teens are doing behind the wheel. the distractions most likely to cause an accident and some things that you can do to try to prevent it. >>> plus new information on a proposed tuition hike at the univer

anything that falls, the roads are so cold especially driveways, sidewalks and handrails could be iced up first. it might be most treacherous just getting out of your drive weigh. >> thanks chuck. we'll be right back after this. stay with us. when heartburn comes creeping up on you... fight back with relief so smooth... ...it's fast. tums smoothies starts dissolving the instant it touches your tongue ...and neutralizes stomach acid at the source. ♪ tum, tum tum tum...♪ smoothies! only from tums. >>> opening day for the nationals, isn't that going to be nice? we'll think about spring training get away from all the snow and all that nonsense. that's just a little more than a month away. >> when the team takes the field at nats park the face of the franchise, ryan zimmerman will be trotting out to a position fans aren't used to seeing him at. >> jason pugh has more from nat's spring training on zimmerman's move to first base. >> reporter: ryan zimmerman is making the transition from third base to first base this season. it's the same transition his manager matt williams made during his pl

town freezing rain has some of the sidewalks, any of the untreated or elevated surfaces like the handrailse be really careful. the road crews have great success treating the roads. temperatures fairly close to freezing. the amounts of precipitation are light. the untreated surfaces from the front door to the driveway needs to be treated carefully. blue ridge, already ice covered road in her neighborhood. carrie hoover also a fresh inch in northern montgomery county. that's the location in northern maryland. could get two to as much as three inches. everyone under the winter weather advisories. most snow locations two inches or less. mostly sleet or freezing rain as soon as the suchb goes down. still a cold and icing up 28 degrees in the washington area with the light rain coming down. 27 lore done and quantico 28 in fredricksburg. all the surface temperatures still below freezing for now. with time they will get up to the freezing mark about 4:00 this afternoon. as a result frkts that will cut back a little bit on the potential accumulation amounts. as far as snow and ice goes probably a c

we broke the news last week that new lighted handrails along the silver line were overheating and catching fire. metro says those lights have now been turned off. while metro runs the silver line, again those lights have been turned off. the metropolitan washington airport authorizes built the line and they are responsible for those fixes. >>> controversial plan to hike property taxes is moving ahead. the steps being taken by prince george's county executive baker that could push the hike through without your vote. >>> and new developments in to the racist video involving a fraternity at the university of oklahoma. the actions being taken by the school in the hours ahead. >>> we're watching a line of rain and the impact it's having on the morning commute. when you'll see come to apn end in your community. (brad) my friends, i give you... ...the apartminternet. the new apartments-dot-com is bigger. stronger. faster. and bigger. it's got so many more apartments than on, on that old internet. how do we do it? we're powerd by web five-point-o. what about web three-point-o and 4-point-o? we ski

. >> sreenivasan: they've created film to be attached to high-touch areas like handrails and door knobs million people a year get hospital corridor infections meaning they went in for minor surgery and ended up getting an infection they didn't bring with them. of those, we spend about $30 billion a year treating the infections and 100,000 people a year die from the infections. >> woodruff: a superbug outbreak at a l.a. hospital, two died. >> sreenivasan: recent news about superbugs brought urgency to the issue. a professor of engineering at the university of florida was asked by the navy 14 years ago to keep barncals from attaching to their ships. >> if i was doing some evaluation force office of office of naval research, i came up with the idea of nurse sharks and i said they don't get barncals on them but a ship sitting in a harbor on a dock will have that same current and they get barncals. >> sreenivasan: when brennan mimicked the surface topography in his lab -- >> lo and behold the shark's skin is effective against green agoy. >> sreenivasan: brennan believes the the texture on a

metro's deactivating light handrails at five silver line stations. this comes after safety incidents last week at the greensboro and tysons corner stations. they'll be put back in place when deemed safe. it will install temporary lighting on those stairs until that happens.on: coming up on abc 7 news, odds are you'll sit in traffic on the way to and from work but maybe both. find out how our region stacks up when it comes to commuting. reporter: a battle continues to brew in prince george's county. we'll tell you where and what's happening next. jeanette: a royal meet and greet. who got a chance to talk to the duchess of cornwall? we'll tell you coming up. leon: "7 on your side" to answer your questions about landlord/tenant issues. you can call in with your leon: the white house was just one of the stops for the royal couple on a busy last day in washington when prince of wales and duchess of cornwall met with the president and the vice president this afternoon. alison: that's right. brianne carter is live at the national museum of women in the arts

here's the really scary rep talking metal quick 8.0 or higher like the one portrayed in movies san handrail sizes of not telling us the chance of that is higher than before it is up from 4.7% to 7 percent that is because we now see the quakes are not just on separate fault of the start on one and jump to a fault lines in just like the pilot of all the fault the southern san andreas fault remains the most dangerous because it has ruptured in such a long time. >>erica: live and what the center storm track and for all the strong light to moderate breaking the entire bay area. [suspenseful music] [suspenseful music] [male narrator] child abduction by a parent or family member is a crime. get involved. if you have any information concerning a missing or abducted child, plea call 1-800-222-find or contact your locallaw enforcement. you might be the one who saves a child's life and their future. >>james: we're here at the weather center talked about the redder which is fairly active this morning. >>erica: the system overseas to work its way east last four saw the heaviest rain and in the shoreline