jessica jessica kartalija, eyewitness news. >> be sure your family knows your wishes. >>> they call it happy valley, and we know why. penn state university has been named the number one party school. the princeton review gave them the top ranking for the first time. they finished third last year, but visits from bernadette woods and jessica kartalija helped vault them to the title. good for for you. >> all the time, so -- that could be it. >> it's a good place, i love it. >>> okay, now over to weather. first warning doppler radar, some thunderstorms out there. centered with the same system moving through the. you can see some thunderstorms northern baltimore county, extreme northwestern hartford county and in carroll county. we'll show you no watches, no warnings, no longer in effect for us. they are all gone. but we have had a few rounds of thunderstorms today. mainly for the southeastern shore. winds are light out there. at the same time, the moisture starting to rise. because of the that, we're going to see fog overnight. now, the other thing too, temperatures drops, but not that much further. 76 in baltimore, 73 in cumberland. 70 overnight. 87 for the high today. we're going to be at or above that over the next few days. the other thing that we'll see is the chance for scattered showers and thunderstorms almost each

for now, we're r i'm jessica -- i'm jessica kartalija, wjz eyewitness news. >> everyone made it out of the school safely. >>> tonight, maryland state police are investigating a police-involved shooting in carroll county. denise is live in the newsroom with details. >>> the incident unfolded around 10:30 last night. investigators say the officer was assisting a woman, found lying in a road, when a male suspect tried to run them down in a car. the officer says he ordered the men to stop, and when he didn't obey, he opened fire. the officer noticed the driver was struck in the arm. the unidentified man was flown to shock trauma for treatment. >>> tonight, police do not have a motive for the incident. but they have confirmed that the man and woman know each other. >>> a baltimore man is arrested on charges that he tried to solicit sex from a teammate's sister. eyewitness news is live at county police headquarters. gigi barnett explains, how police used text messages to capture the suspect. >> reporter: police say charles swedel was a popular coach. now they say anyone who may have had cont

jessica kartalija is gathering the latest details. good afternoon, jessica. >> reporter: good afternoon, mary and everybody at home. s.w.a.t. teams are inside searching for that suspect, but sources tell eyewitness news there is a good chance he may have already left the building. >> a flash by. kid run in the school and police plan in behind him. >> police were questioning the man regarding a warrant when he took off running. >> we have information from staff that there was a guy seen running inside. at that point, members of the s.w.a.t. team are inside the school doing a sweet. >> sweetreport -- doing a sweep. >> reporter: all children were evacuated. >> this is crazy because it is, like, children involved and just crazy. real crazy, but i hope that they get them so the kids can go back and continue summer school because that's what it is for, the kids for summer, summer school. it is crazy. >> any time someone bursts through your door makes you nervous. you can't leave your door unlocked. it is ridiculous. >> reporter: police are asking parents to pick u

live in baltimore city, jessica kartalija, wjz eyewitness news. >> thank you very much, jessica. bge is maryland's largest gas and electricity provide we are more than a million electric customers alone. >>> baltimore city's new controversial trash program is officially in effect. the program cuts trash pickup in half to just one day per week, but it increases recycling pickup to once per week. some people living in the city say reducing trash pickup also make the rat population soar. now people are being asked to get an air tight trash can so rats and other animals stay away. the changes were made to save the city millions of dollars. >>> a downtown baltimore courthouse has been evacuated after a strange odor was reported in the building. the fire department just moments ago traced that problem on courthouse east to an overcharged battery in a forklift. not clear when anybody will be allowed back in. medics are on the scene to treat anyone who is ill. >>> the woman accused of killing her four daughters and living with their bodies for months goes on trial today. sally thorner is

. >> reporter: jessica kartalija, wjz eyewitness news. >>> and jessica says that the police are reminding people to stay in well lit areas. >>> a washington, d.c. police chief is arrested for dui. david barker had a blood alcohol level of .19. he was driving an unmarked police vehicle. they're shocked at the news. >> i'm surprised, that's the most i can say. this is behavior i've never seen. there it's something that's not a part of his career and even his ethics and i've worked with him for 19 years. >> reporter: he's on paid leave tonight and chief cook is the acting chief of police down there. >>> alaskan governor sarah palin is stepping down tonight and hari sreenivasan has more on mccain's former presidential running mate. >> we'll see, we're here to serve the people. >> reporter: today, sarah palin is the most famous exgoverner. all weekend, the former vice presidential candidate is serving hotdogs and flipping salmon burgers on a good-bye term. she announced she was leaving office early. she felt the probes against her wither a distraction and she wanted to focus on her family. >>

jessica. thank you very much, jessica kartalija, live at art scape. >>> still ahead on eyewitness news. the presidential speech everyone is talking about. >> no one has written your destiny for you. your destiny is in your hands. you cannot forget that. >> hear why some aren't singing president obama's praises after his rousing message. >>> adopted parents laid to rest. as friends remember the florida couple slain in their home. new details about the attack. >>> i'm alex demetrick. critical signs of life are becoming harder to find around the world. that story as eyewitness news continues. >>> and will the rains continue through the evening. bob is updating the first warning forecast. >>> it was condescending. >> what i see is a language by which he speaks to black populations with a tough love message that is not really applicable. >> we have to accept our responsibility to help. that means putting away the x box. putting our trips to bed. >> reporter: he wanted to outline plans to help those hurting in a struggling economy. >> i think that's something tragic that he missed an opportun

wjz's jessica kartalija has a preview of what is coming up tonight. >> reporter: good morning. i am jessica kartalija here at john hopkins hospital where doctors and nurses save lives over day, but one angel proves you don't have to have a fancy title to save a life. robert iams a painter at john hopkins never thought his lifeline will come from the vice president of human resourceses, pamela polk, but it did. pamela took a genuine interest from robert's health when he returned from medical leave. >> i said so great to have you back. how are you feeling. anything i can do for you. he said, well, not unless you have a kidney. i go, i have one. >> reporter: and there is more. pamela's gift actually helped save eight lives. see this heartwarming story tonight on eyewitness news. now back to you. >> and you can watch this wjz special health report tonight on eyewitness news at 11:00. >>> and still ahead on eyewitness news at noon, as you take another live look outside. stick around. your updated first warning forecast just two and a half minutes away. >>> a look at today's midday stocks. it's w

in baltimore city, i'm jessica kartalija, wjz eyewitness news. >> thank you, jessica. bge hopes to have the meters in place by the end of this year. >>> the road to the supreme court begins with confirmation hearings of sonia sotomayor kick into gear. and even though they were concerned about president obama's pick, her path to the bench appears to be relatively smooth. hari sreenivasan has the latest for wjz. >> so help you god. >> i do. >> reporter: judge sonia sotomayor promised senators if she's confirmed to the supreme court, law will drive her decisions, not emotions. >> my personal and professional experiences help me to listen and understand, with the law always commanding the result in every case. >> reporter: in the first day of her confirmation hearings, lawmakers on both sides, laid out the lines of questioning they plan to follow when they grilled the first hispanic nominated to seven on the high court. >> she appears to believe that her role is not constrained to objectively decide who wins based on the weight of the law, but rather who in her personal op

in east baltimore, jessica kartalija, wjz eyewitness news. >> jessica, thank you. fortunately, everyone made it out of the school safely. >>> a soccer coach is busted in a police sting, accused of sending nude pictures of himself to a 14-year-old girl. vic is live in the newsroom now with more on the suspect and his arrest. >> reporter: police say that 32- year-old charles fridel is out on bail for soliciting sex with a minor. police say he sent inappropriate text messages and pictures to the 14-year-old sister of a girl he coached in soccer. an undercover detective set up a meeting for the two to have sex. police are concerned there may be more victims. they want them to call the crimes against children's unit at 410-853-3650. sally, back to you. >> thanks, vic. >>> he is charged with possession of obscene matter. and solicitation of child porning on arrest -- pornography. his bail is set at $250,000. >>> tennessee titans quarterback pay their respects to the athlete. they brought displays and photos, honoring mcnair. some signed a commemorative book for mcnair's

jessica kartalija brings us this inspiring story. >>> i'm alex demetrick. coming up. worry on the chesapeake, as crabs disappear during the height of the season. that story as eyewitness news continues. >>> i'm jessicaartalija. in baltimore county. i'm guilty of it. you may be, too. texting behind the wheel. but one group is especially dangerous to other drivers. i'll tell you who, coming up. >>> and more storms coming. stick around for the updated forecast. >>> many people are guilty of texting while driving. eyewitness news is live along the beltway in baltimore county. jessica kartalija has more on the study. >> reporter: good evening, denise. good evening to everyone at home. i'm guilty of it. you may be, too. texting behind the wheel is not illegal here in maryland yet. but one group of drivers may be putting us all at risk. >> reporter: on the inner loop of the baltimore beltway, we pass a driver, hauling a heavy load and texting while driving over the speed limit. >> eventually, they're going to mess up. they're going to hurt somebody, hurt themselves. one of the two. >> reporter: this trucker isn't the only one with fast fingers. researchers at the virginia tech transportation institute used

live in canton, in baltimore city, i'm jessica kartalija, wjz eyewitness news. >> jessica, thank you. >>> , now, if approved, the red line would run from hopkins bay view. >>> if you're waiting for someone to get home from work now. joy ponds. i know there is a nightmare out there. >> looks like we'll have closures definitely in the downtown pikesville area. captain mike, we are going to be shut down, due to that fire at the suburban house restaurant. we will be shut down. closures around reisterstown road and sherwood. lots of activity, lots of smoke. and they're trying to put the fire out safely. do not get near the area. that huge fire now, in pikesville, at the suburban house for us. we will keep you updated. that will save you some time. we also have a second major problem working. southbound 95, heading towards the capital beltway. don't. we still have that overturned tanker truck. that's still a nightmare. approaching 198. a mess. a parking lot, prior to 175. looks like southbound 295. it's all to the right there. route 1. want to wait it out at all costs if you can. northeast

live in east baltimore city, i'm jessica kartalija, wjz eyewitness news. >> okay, jessica. thank you for the live report. >>> there are new legal developments in the criminal case against baltimore's mayor. >> reporter: denise, prosecutors have withdrawn three subpoenas issued in a bid to bolster their case. attorneys for dixon had filed the motion, challenging the subpoenas, arguing they were abusing the grand jury's office. the state prosecutor had thought to subpoena two current city employees and one former employee to provide information about gift cards under their control. the charges against mayor dixon all relate to her alleged theft of gift cards meant for needy families. >>> in may, a judge threw out five of the original 12 counts against the mayor. >>> in just about two hours, the official memorial service for former ravens player steve mcnair is scheduled to begin. he was killed by his girlfriend saturday shortly before she killed herself. those who know him want mcnair to be known for the circumstances of his life, not his death. >> reporter: people are coming

i'm jessica kartalija, wjz eyewitness news. >> okay, jessica. thank you very much. towson catholic has been open for almost 90 years. >>> a baltimore police officer forced to open fire. tonight, there is new information on the string of events that led to the gunfire. kai is in the newsroom with details. >>> police have charged the 17- year-old as an adult with the attempted robbery of the off- duty officer. it happened near this bus stop in south baltimore yesterday morning. police say officer michael gold was waiting for a ride when three youths approached him and ordered him to hand over money. when one suspect pulled out a gun, goal tried to flee but tripped. that's when gold i'veed himself as -- identified himself as a police officer. one suspect was hit in the forearm. that 18-year-old will be charged when he is released from the hospital. denise? >> thank you, kai. officer gold was not hurt in the robbery attempt. >>> is there is a lot of excitement about the government's cash for clunkers program. car buyers could get as much as $4500 for fuel for a vehicle.

live at city police headquarters, i'm jessica kartalija, wjz eyewitness news. >> thanks, jessica. if you have any information on the third suspect, you are asked to call police. >>> a d.c. police sergeant takes back a statement he made about one of the deceased daughters of the d.c. mother who is on trial in her death. in january, 2008, authorities found the decomposing bodies of banita jacks' four children. the sergeant said he saw the older child and she looked healthy. but he has since recanted that statement. meanwhile, a neighbor says she has repeatedly called cps on jacks, but nothing was done. >>> maryland's budget crunch continues. now, they are asking your opinion on where the state can save money. political reporter pat warren has more on how that's going to work. >> reporter: under pressure to find savings in excess of $400 million, with top officials assembled to look for ways to cut the budget, governor o'malley finds it easier to say what he won't do than what he will do. >> you want to look at how maryland differs from other states. we're not going to release people

jessica kartalija has more on what is going to be done about it. jessica? >> reporter: good afternoon. that's the big question tonight. i spoke with dozens of state workers who say they don't want to go on camera. they're not sure where the cuts are going to stem from. and they're worried about losing their jobs. >> reporter: days into the start of the fiscal year, maryland's $14 million budget is already facing a 5% shortfall. >> it is a daunting and huge challenge to have to find approximately $700 million in cuts or spending reductions in the current year budget. the fiscal year only began july 1st. >> reporter: the governor is asking his budget chief and the heads of every state department to find places to cut. a list will be presented to the board of public works later this month. >> everything is on the table. what we do not want to do in addition to protecting families who through no fault of their own, are hard hit in this economy. the other thing we do not want to do is add to the economic woe. >> we have a lot of things to look at. but it will be

jessica kartalija has the outcome from today's hearing. jessica? >> reporter: good evening, kai. good evening to everyone at home. three weeks ago, they told students and staff and alumni they were all out of money, the schooled have -- school would have to close. so today, several people came here in a last-ditch effort to try to appeal that. unfortunately, it failed. >> reporter: pep rallies, fundraisers, and now this. >> two sets of families are going in there. >> i'm hoping we get the injunction. and we can prove to the towson catholic community and the ics community that we are a great school. we are a great alumni. and we can reopen. >> reporter: a last-ditch effort to save towson catholic proves unsuccessful. >> the court decided not to grant the release we were requesting for a temporary remain -- restraining order. we're very disappointed. towson catholic has been a great little school. the little engine that could. >> i think it's ridiculous. >> there, i didn't understand until like theind, when she was just like, we deny it. and i was just like, hocan you -- how can yo

here is jessica kartalija with a preview what is coming up tonight on eyewitness news? >> reporter: good morning, i am jessicars and nurses save lives every day, but one angel proves you don't have to have a fancy title to save a life. robert iams, a painter at john hopkins hospital, never expected his lifeline would come from the vice president of human resources. pamela polk. but it did. pamela took a genuine interest in robert's health when he returned from medical leave. >> i was -- i said how great to have you back. how are you feeling. what can i do for you. he said not unless you have a kidney. i said i have one. >> there is more. pamela's gift actually helped save eight lives. see this heart-warming story tonight on eyewitness news. >> you can watch the special health watch report on eyewitness news at 11:00. >>> yet to come on our morning edition ... >> reporter: they call this epicenter of the storm. i am mary bubala live in reistertown this morning with more on the damage and destruction and the cleanup. >>> a fire-fighting tradition continues here in baltimore despite a year of economic constraint