jeffrey thompson led a shadow campaign tied to vincent gray. gray was never charged in that case. thompson was sentenced to three months in federal prison. and we are told according to the court filings this morning, he'll be released today to serve the final three months at home in d.c. back to you. >> scott for us, thank you. >>> angie goff at the live desk with new video in of a fire at an amtrak station. this is about 20 minutes south of heartford, connecticut. take a look, this video posted on twitter showing the old berlin station up in flames. service was suspend in the area. no signs of trains being impacted in our region headed up north. no one was hurt. good news there. and the investigation is underway. the fire is under control. firefighters are saying they were able to contain it in the last hour and a half. now back to you. >>> angie, thank you. and developing now, families have been forced outside in the cold after a fire on hanover parkway in greenbelt. >> justin finch is there now live with more information. justin, what are you learning? >> reporter: hey there, eu

. >>> the news 4 i-team is also reporting tonight that jeffrey thompson is going to be released from deral prison in kentucky today. that's file video of thompson, he's the one in the yellow tie there. thompson was at the center of o scandal in the d.c. election six years ago. he admitted to setting up a $660,000 slush fund that helped vincent gray in the mayor's race. we invite you to go to our nbc washington app during the break where you can see past coverage of that case. >>> a controversial law u in north carolina getting national attention now. we'll tell you what's next for the so-called bathroom bill. amid growing criticism from the lgbt community. >>> ride-sharing companies are cutting into their bottom line. why barwood taxi says it's not the end of the road for the company despite filing for bankruptcy. >>> ahead on news 4, i want you to meet richard stone here, this is a guy who not only decorates his home in alexandria but helps decorate his entire neighborhood. some 20 homes. you're going to find out what motivate strand restoring ading a father's faith....

jeffrey thompson admitted that he set up a $660,000 slush fund that helped vincent gray in the mayor's race. thompson spent three months in federal prison in kentucky. now he'll have three months' confinement at his washington home. he was also fined $10,000. several others who worked on gray's campaign pled guilty to felonies. gray was never charged. >>> developing now in mexico, a bird's-eye view of that fireworks market just a short time after it exploded. now 31 people are known dead. 12 are missing. dozens injured. several children are among the victims. authorities have not yet said what may have caused the explosion that also damaged nearby homes. today, workers were combing through the debris. deadly fireworks explosions are not that uncommon in mexico. this is the third explosion at that market in just the past 11 shortly afterwards. the city is known as the fireworks capital of mexico. the explosives are an important part of the local economy. >>> there is an urgent manhunt under way overseas in connection with that deadly truck attack at a christmas market in berlin. this is

in the news today, jeffrey thompson will be released from federal prison in kentucky.inson grey's election to the mayor's office. >>> and it is official, wilson is the next chancellor of the d.c. public school system. he will get to work full-time in february. he was confirmed by d.c. council yesterday. built a reputation as a national leader in urban education reform. >>> we will have a look at your forecast right after this. >>> kind of chilly outside this morning. temperatures are still mostly until the 30s. we'll be making it into the 40s for afternoon highs today. low 50ur tomorrow. upper 40s again on friday. not too cold over christmas weekend, but off saturday. better chance of today issier rain come on tuesday and thursday of next week. last week of the year will be milder than average. >> get the latest news and weather on the nbc washington app. ♪ >> with a big holiday weekend coming up, you're running out of time to get a last-minute gift but we're about to perform a christmas miracle. >> style expert cassie post is here with gifts that will arrive by the 24