thank you so much, councilman jim graham, for being with us. also tonight, derek, i want to alert you to a story every parent will want to watch with 13 agers. we met dillon lewis in -- with their teenagers before he went into surgery after he had a drunking crash. >> i wanted to live and fight. i wanted to stay hire and i did that. >> reporter: -- here and did i that. >> reporter: driving drunk on a -- and i did that. >> reporter: driving drunk on a cold january night he hit a telephone pole and flipped over. >> some people don't get this lucky. they tonight get this second chance that i got up. they don't get to waning after their drunking car accident. >> reporter: we -- wake up after their drunking car accident. >> reporter: we met 21-year- old at shock trauma in baltimore hours after he was brought in by ambulance, minutes before he went into surgery. after tonight's 11 p.m. we will be hosting a live web chat with dillon, hope you'll join us. derek, back to you. >> thanks so much. >>> two bills that would have fined virginia drives for hav

good question and that what is councilmember jim graham wants to know later today. harry thomas,. >>, jr. pledded guilty in january to diverting that money meant for kids into his own pockets. federal officials a he used his influence as a councilmember to funnel the money from the children and youth investment trust corporation. it is said he spent the money on things like luxury golf vacations, a $60,000 suv and personal expenses. jim graham says basic rules of granted making with written proposals, reports and auditing should have been in place. now, wisdom and sarah, some have called for the children and youth investment trust corporation to be dissolved. councilmember graham says he is not ready to go there just yet. he is expecting to hear from officials at that investment trust corporation today in that hearing. the hearing begins at 1:30 this afternoon. >> all right. thank you very much. >>> the latest now from the campaign trail. voters in arizona and michigan head to the polls for tomorrow's primaries. one week out from super tuesday. the latest real clear

. >> reporter: counsel member jim graham is chairman of the committee. he wants to know why safe guards weren't in place to stop thomas from stealing. >> all it would have taken was elementary grantsmanship to catch all of this. if somebody had a properly proposal, proper report, monitoring, auditing, had any of that happen, and every foundation knows how to do that, this wouldn't have happen. >> reporter: some have called for the organization to be done away with. but graham says he's not ready to call for that yet. >> well, it has to be modified, i think. and i'm not quite sure what my views are on that yet, because i really want the public input on that. >> reporter: graham says the hearing monday won't strictly focus on the scam harry thomas was able to pull off. but graham won't rule out calling for a special hearing on that matter in the future. >>> two prince george's firefighters are in critical but stable condition tonight. they are two of seven firefighters injured during a fire this week. family members say sorell breathed in super heated air

>>jim graham confirms that she said capers had sex with her. a ward of the city was sent there. genogram chairs the committee that oversees the agency. --jim graham chairs the committee that oversees the agency. >> i want to make sure they are in the right environment. >> he had not heard about this until we brought it to his attention. capers may have given the student money for sex. >> it is scary. you send the kids to school and you have to worry about the staff trying to do something to the child. >> even after she made it clear she was not interested, he continued to make unwanted advances. in a statement, we were told -- we reached the founder of c.h.o.i.c.e, she confirmed the allegations were a rumor but would not say more. but the matter has been referred to police it will conduct their own investigation. ben eisler, abc 7 news. >> a sex abuse case may provide a crucial break in the baffling disappearance of a bethesda woman 12 years ago. she vanished from her home in may of 2000. she went missing shortly after she tried to inform authorities of the abuse of a little gir

. >> councilmember jim graham said the hearing was not to investigate the illegal activity of the former councilmember but to find out why the organization didn't catch the fraud. >> this hearing will not just focus on 2008. >> reporter: how could this happen? chairman of the human services committee, jim graham, has wanted this question answered since harry thomas jr. was first accused of stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from deceit -- from d.c. youth. >> i was left to wonder how could this happen. was anyone at the trust questioning the expenditure and lack of documentation? >> reporter: graham talked about check after check that was issued from the children and youth investment trust corporation to langston 21 without proper documentation. you will remember langston 21 was funneling the money to thomas. ceo of the children's trust, ellen london was first to testify. because of a pnding law enforcement investigate, she would not comment on the harry thomas fraud which took place when she was vice president for the trust. but london did admit the standing policy to advance mone

it would have presented councilman harry thomas junior from embezzling those funds that is what jim graham wants to know in this hearing today 51-year-old harry thomas junior pleaded guilty in january today verting money meant for kids into his own pockets, federal officials said thomas used his influence to funnel money away from the children and youth investment trust corporation into two entities that he created dcs attorney general says thomas spent the money on luxury golf vacations, clothing $60,000 suv among other personal expenses jim graham is chairman of the council human services committee that committee over sea it is trust corporation and he says basically simple rules of grant making with written proposals, reports and auditing should have been in place some called for this investment trust corporation to be dissolved councilman graham wants to hear from officials at the corporation before going down that road the hearing begins 1:30 p.m. this afternoon council chambers wilson building, harry thomas junior is scheduled to be sentenced in may. >>> all right melanie thank you.

cabe recalcar que el consejal jim graham le ha pedido al fiscal de la capital que investige a la agencia de vivienda y desarrollo.... sospechan que alguien alli favorecio a una constructor a... hay miles de dolares que no se sabe para que fueron utilizados.... la policia de washington inicia una lucha frontal contra los ladrones de celulares y otros aparatos electronicos... maria rosa lucchini nos trae mas de estos esfuerzos para combatir la delincuencia.. maria rosa... cuentamos..!!! norma, estamos hablando de miles de dolares en recompensa para detectar y capturar al responsable o responsables de robar y vender celulares... todos los dias, por lo menos diez personas son victimas de robo y esto preocupa a la policia... "me pegaron de un solo jalon, me doblaron la mano y yo luche, pero fue dificil" reina describe los momentos en que un hombre le robo su celular, su cartera y otras pertenencias... "como me ha podido pasar eso a mi, si tanta gente que se queja de tantos robos y ahora para mi yo a todo en que veo y encuentro, logicamente me siento bien traumada" los robos de celulares y apa

council members jim graham -- or member jim graham says he believes the trust is still active and issuing grants despite that controversy that surrounded it. >>> fairfax county is looking to add a couple of extra bucks to your date night or family night out in hopes of raising money for transportation projects. the board of supervisors has proposed adding a 4% tax on any meal sold at any commercial restaurant from upscale to fast food like mcdonald's. the extra money could raise $80 million, they say, a year to help fund projects like dulles rail and road improvements at tyson's corner. the proposal would need approval though from the virginia general assembly or it could be put to a referendum to let the voters decide. >>> our time right now, 11:40. coming up on "news4 midday," we get a look at the smastock mark. >> [ dog growls, barks ] bring your dog to work day... not our best idea. [ barking ] george! stop it! stop. oh. it was a nice thought. [ male announcer ] some business decisions are better than others. the best decision is switching to verizon. you're good to go. that was fast!

tonight dc council member jim graham offered his take on the situation. >> we've got to make sure this doesn't go back into operation, because clearly it's widespread. it's easy to buy. these kids are getting away with it and this is not anything we want to support here in dc. >> to watch that investigation again or to send us any tips you have, go to wusa9.com and click on 9 wants you to know. >>> an unnamed staff member of the dc city council is among 130 present and former city workers apparently collecting unemployment benefits while they were working and also getting a paycheck from the city. gary nurenberg reports the latest case of corruption in dc government has legitimate unemployment beneficiaries furious. >> reporter: some unemployed washingtonians got the news standing outside the department of human services. paid government workers filing claims for and collecting unemployment checks. $840,000 in fraud government wide. >> a variety of agencies were still going through the list to try to determine their multiple agencies. >> never. never been on unemployment. i've always w

jim graham is the council member forward one. he is giving credit to the media for breaking this case wide open. >>> there is a lot of this that happens that we would never find out about, but for the media and others reporting it. there is a lesson. they should let us know. let abc know. >> reporter: now the abc board will determine whether or not this store loses its liquor license. montgomery county police have been watching this particular location. they have been issuing -- citations to youngsters. 38 citations in five weeks. a 17-year-old boy was also arrested here on saturday night. police saw him enter the liquor store, buy liquor, come back out. they asked to see his id, he provided one, turns out it belonged to someone else. >> reporter: jessica doyle life this morning in northwest washington. you can see our entire series on teen drinking. on wusa 9.com. look at the lower segment of the website. >>> the body found in the canal this weekend is that of an elderly woman. she had a hospital band on her wrist. her body was

jim graham, ward one councilman, says this should serve as a warning to other liquor store owners that checking an id is simply not must. >> these are 15-year-olds who look like 15-year-olds. it would be unmistakable, you would have to be some kind of doves to not see before you someone who was under age. >> reporter: the case will be investigated, conferring with montgomery county. authorities will present the case to the abc board, which will determine whether or not this store loses its liquor license. the reason montgomery county is involved in this case is they have been watching minors going into this store and crossing over the boundary to montgomery county. around 38 citations have been handed out in the last five weeks alone for this one particular spot. 9news hears things will be back to business as usual at town square market this week. andrea, back to you in the studio. >>> opponents of same sex marriage in maryland are looking for new tactics to try to reverse their fortunes. the maryland state house approved a bill to legalize same sex marriage late friday night. last yea

the chairman of the hearing is councilmember jim graham he has a lot of questions about just how this happened how was harry thomas junior able to steal essentially $350,000 in city funds graham wants to make sure there are new procedures in place to make sure this doesn't happen again t 51-year-old pled guilty in january, to federal theft and tax charges from april 2007 to february 2009 thomas used his influence as city councilmember to steal money that was ear marked for the arts youth recreation and summer programs the money was funneled from the children and youth investment trust corporation to two entities thomas set up for personal use councilmember jim graham wants to hear from officials at that invested trust corporation about their checks and balances. >>> how did this agency perform during this period of time what did they do what didn't they do what should they have done. >>> graham says basic grant making procedures if in place should have caught this theft earlier. federal officials say thomas in their words began systematically stealing these funds almost immediately up

and councilman jim graham followed up by asking tough questions at a human services committee hearing. andrea mccarren joins us more with what has transpired. >> i have been called worse, but some interesting information came out of this hearing. first, abra's director acknowledged that last weekend's arrest of the owner of town square market was the first arrest by metropolitan police of a liquor store operator. in the last 14 months, we have learned that only one business has had its license revoked. 35 others have had their licenses suspended. during that same time, abra sent 67 warning letters to first offenders who were caught selling to someone under age. and ten minors have been arrested for having fake id's. now abra promised the council to review and revise the penalties related to selling to minors. they have not been updated since 2004 and we will keep you updated on that as well as the on going debate at the d.c. council over whether to place legal responsibility on the underage drinkers or the adults that are allegedly selling to them. >> we know change is happening along

jim graham said there is evidence that staff members with the children's trust were not asking the right. >>> a national guard soldier and father from maryland was killed in afghanistan on saturday. major robert marcanti from baltimore was shot during an attack on the afghan interior ministry. it is one of several stemming from several anti-american protests in afghanistan over the burning of those korans. the baltimore sun reports he was a long-time physical education teacher in baltimore county schools. he leaves behind a wife and four children. he was 48 years old. >>> it is decision day for republicans in michigan and arizona. republican presidential candidate mitt romney is neck and neck with rick santorum with polls heading into today's crucial primaries. if santorum wins in michigan, it could drastically change the race for the republican nomination. >>> in virginia, one write-in candidate is out there this time around. >> reporter: the purr-fect candidate can be tough to found, one with just the right ideas ark proper wardrobe, a candidate who cannot be bought. >> you think he is

council member jim graham told us that's not a surprise because the store is now on alert. if that's the case, it didn't stop montgomery county police from busting two more underagers crossing the d.c. line with booze from town square market just last weekend. so we continue up until this afternoon to ask abra for more details. we know they tried and failed to do their underage sting, but aren't 36 violations written by montgomery county police in december enough evidence for immediate action? if not, why not? at our last contact the agency continues to say due process prohibits them from explaining more. >> it certainly doesn't keep us from keeping the spotlight on them until they do. >> andrea mccarren and now a whole team are on it. >> absolutely. thank you, scott and andrea. >>> well, of course, liquor stores aren't the only ones at fault here. andrea's reports have shown in some cases parents are seeming less angry with their kids when they're caught drinking and more with the cameras there to witness it, much of the reaction from others on our facebook page blaming pa

council member jim graham says he believes the trust is still active and issuing grants despite the controversy surrounding it. u.s. attorney for the district ron machin showed the council in january how the trust paid out money at thomas' direction so the former council member could then pocket it himself. >>> 6:36 now. the "today" show is coming up next at 7:00. let's check in with ann curry to see what they're working on for "today" this morning. good morning to you. you must be so tired after last night. >> good morning -- we are. we are. hopefully we have enough concealer to hide the bags. good morning from los angeles this morning. coming up here on a monday morning, of course we're going to have the highlights from the oscars. it was a big night for "the artist." we'll talk with the casted when they join us live coming up. >>> and we're going to break down the hottest looks from the red carpet. which stars dazzled and what were the big trends in color, hair, and accessories. very important questions. and of course we'll have all of that coming up, as well. >>> plus this morning, mitt rom

jim graham, council member from ward 1, colby king wrote an article about him in the post on sunday in terms of allegations in terms of influence peddling on contracts. all this is not very good and, of course, then harry thomas will be sentenced in may. so you have a lot of members in the d.c. government at the highest level under intense scrutiny by the u.s. attorney. >> such a long list would. you agree this employment fraud and some of these other cases you've mentioned play right into the argument that d.c. shouldn't self-govern? >> well, that's an irrational illegal and long statement. i mean there's malfeasance all over the country and people still are allowed to govern themselves, but what it does provide is a justification for people that do not wish the d.c. well and don't want to enhance any government powers, they can say rightly or wrongly see, why give them more power? they can't even govern themselves. >> on the other hand, mark, really a feather in the cap for mayor gray's administration and department of employment services for catching this, bringing it to light, tell

the chairman of this hearing is councilman jim graham.lot of questions about how former councilman harry thomas, jr. was able to rob the district government of about $350,000. he says he has a lot of questions because he wants to make sure there are procedures in place to make sure something like this does not happen again. the committee on human services overseas, the children and youth investment trust corporation, federal officials say harry thomas, jr. was able to use his influence as a councilmember to funnel money from that agency into his own pocket. later today, officials from that investment trust will come before graham and other council members who will ask how this could happen and if it could happen again. >> all it would have taken was elementary grantsmanship to catch all of this. if somebody had had a proper proposal, had a proper report, had there been monitoring or auditing, had any of that happened and every foundation knows how to do that, this would never have happened. rotor council hearing will take place at 1:30 th

. >> reporter: committee chairman jim graham of board one pressed the government trust fund on oversightits more than $3 million budget. in past years the budget has been as high as $10 million when thomas's diversions of money were occurring. >> i think it is fair and to say that the trust has received considerable scrutiny and has been the subject of very, very intense criticism over the past several months. >> reporter: former council member thomas who diverted money he had earmarked from the trust resigned when he pleaded guilty and faces a likely prison sentence of up to four years on may 3rd at his sentencing. at the crowded council hearing youth advocates and parents said some summer and academic programs could be forced to close if the government funds aren't available. >> the major concern is making sure that the money is available and used appropriately for our students. >> i know that the programs like our program need that money and for somebody to misuse it just kind of made me feel very empty inside that someone would take advantage of such a good program. >> council member

committee chairman jim graham of board one pressed the government trust fund on oversight of its more than $3 million budget. in past years the budget has been as high as $10 million when thomas's diversions of money were occurring. >> i think it is fair and -- to say that the trust has received considerable scrutiny and has been the subject of very, very intense criticism over the past several months. >> reporter: former council member thomas who diverted money he had earmarked from the trust resigned when he pleaded guilty and faces a likely prison sentence of up to four years on may 3rd at his sentencing. at the crowded council hearing youth advocates and parents said some summer and academic programs could be forced to close if the government funds aren't available. >> the major concern is making sure that the money is available and used appropriately for our students. >> i know that the programs like our program need that money and for somebody to misuse it just kind of made me feel very empty inside. that someone would take advantage of such a good program. >> reporter: in the d

jim graham said the goal of the hearing was to find out how a nonprofit didn't catch the fraud the childrenyouth investment trust corporation issued checks to the group langston 21 without proper documentation and it was funneling the money to thomas. >> the policy has been to make quarterly payments depending on the grants. >> does that continue on today will you issue a 25% advance payment. >> yes, we do. >> before any work is done. >> correct. >> graham said there is evidence staff member s with children's trust asked the right questions when proper documents were not provided but administrators did not stop the checks from being issued. >> prosecutors are asking leslie johnson to pay a $15,000 fine in full before she reports to prison next month the former prince georges county council woman was sentenced to one year and one day for obstructing the investigation into her husband's corruption case. jack johnson reported to prison earlier this month to serve out his sentence of over 7 years, similar request to pay his fine in full was denied, by the judge. >>> we might soon be able to fin

graham. >> i agree with jim on that particular issue, that the media doesn't care about persecution of christians and religious faith and i see that and that's absolutely true. on the other hand, you know, you have someone in the media who comes out and says, well, he's using some of the politics. he should have said i'm not going to talk about this, i'm here to talk about this. >> jon: all right. graham has also said that the president has done more for muslims and islam than he has in some respects for christianity. and terrence jeffrey on human events said essentially the same thing. the burning of the koran brought a direct apology from the white house where, for instance, the catholic birth control edict from the obama administration brought nothing. >> and dana perino did a very similar apology from the white house podium when. was some other kinds of incidents exactly like that. >> but is there a double standard from the white house when it comes to islam versus christianity. >> i'm not going to get into that. you talk about a double standard. let me say two things about this, first of all

. >> jim, when you look at that and see what franklin graham is saying and speaking for the, you know, the nation as a thought leader for the religious right of this country, is that the conversation that people are having behind closed doors? isn't reaching the national level that people aren't publicly having? >> it's a good question. i'm not sure how big of an i affect it actually has on the campaign. i don't trust polls that ask the question whether or not they think that his faith. there's no doubt you're going to hear from christians like franklin graham that they don't consider mormonism to be a christian faith. does that disqualify romney from getting their vote? we won't know. i do agree with anne that his biggest problem is people are not enthusiastic about him, whether or not it's his faith or economic policy or how he carries himself on stage. for whatever reason there's a big chunk of the party that doesn't like him, doesn't trust him. that's why michigan is so important. if he were to lose in michigan, it would be a devastating to me indictment of mitt romney. it is a st

graham. he is one of our members at large. inwe also have people in the parking directors, ray sweeney adnnd jim alberts.ause] when you came through the door, these are your registration tables. the chairman of that was carry and andrew chris stands otanza. barbra mendall tracy ireland susan caveillier, don newton, ron carters renae taylor, terry rey. dick hays, jim lelegh dan schultz. these are people that ran your introductory table and gave you assignments and tags when you came in. can we have a hand for the registration table, please. and [applause] we also have our sergeant of arms. you see him here every time. that is all bordeaux. - - alberto. with him is our security expert. small man. not very big man in stature. let's have a hand for the security and press team. inwe also have a crew that works the republican committee office. these are all volunteers and work in fun city. that is headed by dan doran. is there a table of volunteers by the sun city office? thank you very much, sun city office volunteers. appreciate that. and we also had the awards committee, and that is carol turloff and leo ma