kerry cavanaugh has the latest. >> if you feel like you are getting gouged at the pump, many economists they can blame circumstances halfway across the world. many analysts a conflict in the middle east is the main reason you are paying more these days. most agreed the long-term answer lies in finding alternative energy sources here at home. a trip to the pop-up will displace -- a pump. the average price of gasoline has been going up for three weeks straight and is more than 30 cents higher than at this time last year. it is putting pressure on some local businesses. >> we have to be aware of where we are sending our guys. we cut back were can. >> one economist says american refinery disruptions are partly to blame but he says unrest in the middle east is the biggest factor driving up prices stateside. >> we are looking at high gas prices because any news headline like you saw today is going to ratchet up oil prices. >> he believes there is only one way to stabilize prices. >> the only thing the president has available him beaten him is to release a substantial amount of the strategic o

. >> and now, let's go to kerry cavanaugh. she is in the newsroom with the final push for voter turnout. >> participating in the upcoming merriman presidential primary, and president obama is running for reelection in a heavily democratic he state, it is not expected to draw much excitement. however, a stronger incentive to vote, some political analysts believe entrenched politicians will never give it a chance. >> a killer of an american democracy, but more and more in maryland are opting out on election day, making for increasingly low voter turnout. baltimore's last mayoral race had a historically low turnout rate of 12%. the city election director says he does not expect our state's primary to draw a much better results next month. >> at least 15% or 20% of early voting for the presidential election, but i think because the momentum is down and the main candidate is unopposed, think that the numbers are down. >> tuesday was the deadline to register to vote in time for the april 3 primary. jones says most of new voters are

kerry cavanaugh, wbal tv 11 news. >> here is a look at other top stories. new details surrounding the trayvon martin case. just today, revelations indicated that the teenager had been suspended from school after a baggie and terry marijuana was found inside his book bag. -- after a bag containing marijuana was found inside his book bag. some are still calling for the rest of the neighborhood watch man who shot him, jordan zimmermann. and twins are accused of burning a dog that animal rescue workers called phoenix back in 2009. the case drew outrage across maryland and sparked calls for tougher animal cruelty of laws, in the first case ended in a hung jury. and the battle over the health- care overhaul tomorrow, the supreme court is hearing the case about americans buy health insurance. during today, the justices decided whether it was premature for them to decide on this since americans are not yet forced to pay for insurance. >> the wife of the man who killed the 16 in afghanistan and said that her husband was not showing signs of mental illness. she defen

but first, kerry cavanaugh. >> they have passed police headquarters a few minutes ago, and that they are getting ready for a demonstration at 7:00, but right now, we will bring one of the demonstrators out of the crowd. many people say it is personal. we're going to put that question to two young ladies who we saw walking by. why did you decide to join the crowd and come out tonight? >> justice. >> and show me what you have got here. where did you get this? >> there was a man selling the stake for $1. anyone could get it, and they gave away free signs for anyone in support of the cause. >> we have heard people say that this is something that they are going to hold onto because they believe this is a historic moment. >> it is a good cause. everybody is out. city hall is all filled up. everything. everybody really came out. >> there is a unity, and there are a lot of people i notice to brought really young kids out here. what do you think it means to impart a message to kids at this age. >> i think they should teach them about what is going on when they grow up. it is a lesson, get a h

. >> kerry cavanaugh is live with the latest on how one american's alleged actions could impact our entire country. >> the shooting of the 16 men, women, and children in afghanistan could translate into the death of american troops. the house intelligence committee member believes the taliban will make every effort to kill american soldiers in retaliation. the shell casings are the remnants of an american soldiers rampaged, according to residents of this afghan village. he allegedly gunned down nine women, four men, and three children over night. >> this is the taliban and people are going to say this is what americans are for, killing women and children. >> it not surprise the taliban is using the shooting spree as a way to seek revenge on americans. he believes that terrorists will target members of the u.s. military serving in afghanistan. just as we saw last month after american servicemen accidentally burned copies of the muslim holy book, the koran , at u.s. military base. military officials say the recent shooting spree was carried out by a husband and father who had served three to

lisa has the weekend off. >> and i've kerry cavanaugh. rs

jennifer has the weekend off. >> and i'm kerry cavanaugh. we'll have our top stories in just a moment, but first let's go to ava. ava, why are we having the rain on the weekend? >> it has been dry, and we really need that rain to catch up. the plants are blooming, and we need to keep them blooming. winds out of the north at 7 miles per hour right now. as we head into the afternoon, we are expecting temperatures to move into the 60's. earlier on, showers and maybe areas of fog and drizzle. by noon we expect it to dry out. we'll detail this more when we come back in the forecast. >> rick santorum is vowing to press forward after a presidential primary. >> mitt romney finished second and newt gingrich third. brian mooar has the "commitment 2012" report. >> rick santorum scored big in the louisiana primary where nbc news projects he is the winner. >> the people of louisiana sent a loud and clear message that this race is long and far from over. >> mitt romney has a strong delegate lead, but can't close the deal with conservatives like this. >> w

. >> i'm kerry cavanaugh. let's look outside on this st. patrick's day with john collins. >> a lot of activities going on. people are wondering, do i have to bundle up? i don't have a heavy green winter coat. you won't need it today. just a light-weight jacket. in fact, it will almost be short will have sleeved weather during the day. we do have clear skies overhead in the city. there is a little haze in the atmosphere. we see the moon and the stars out here this morning. the farther south you go, there are a few clouds. there is fog this morning. areas of dense fog. rain activity pushed way down near the mouth of the chesapeake bay. so that's not going to be an issue today. then if you consider the temperature an issue, well, it is a good one because we will be mild again. forecast details ahead. >> our big story this morning, a plea deal for a former city police officer who admitted dealing herp. >> officer daniel redd will like 20 years in prison for selling heroin out of a police parking lot. >> officer redd, although he was a police of

why and i've kerry cavanaugh. first we'll get a look outside with john collins. >> and same to you. >> where is your green? >> because of technical reasons, i cannot wear it. there's a green wall. we can't do it, or i'd be nowhere. >> you'd be the invisible weatherman a. >> yesterday was an in-between day. tough to warm up. we were spoiled by temperatures of 80 or so. we were expecting warmer temperatures, but the clouds hung around a little longer than expected, and we wound up cooler. typical high this time of year is 54 degrees. we're splange complaining because wre -- and we're complaining because we were only in the 60's to near 0's yesterday. most clouds have gone south. there are spl scattered showers in west virginia and southwest virginia. riret now we have -- right now we have a fair-weather forecast for the weekend. we may have clouds here and there, but it will be mild. that's the story temperature wise. we'll talk about it coming up in the insta-weather plus forecast. >> a plea deal for a former balti