manuel gallegus reporting for wjz on a very emotional reunion. >> reporter: they are back in the arms of their families. euna lee and laura ling are now on u.s. soil. >> 30 hours ago, euna lee and i were prisoners in north korea. >> reporter: euna was reunited with husband and her 4-year-old daughter and laura with her husband and sister, lisa. the freed american journalist thanked former president bill clinton to brokered their pardon during a rare meeting with north korean leader kim jong il. >> we saw standing before us president bill clinton. [ applause ] >> we knew instantly in our hearts that the nightmare of our lives was finally coming to an end. >> reporter: president clinton did not speak at the whomcoming here but he did issue a statement saying he is happy the two journalists are reunited with their families. the reporters were working for al gore's tv venture when they were arrest for illegally crossing the north korean border. after north korea indicated they would be open for a deal with clinton, the former vice president and reporters' families both asked him to make t

manuel gallegus is reporting. >> reporter: here in the mountain west, a massive government health care overhaul is a hard sell. >> i think there will be some protesters for sure, but i also think there will be a lot of people out there that really think he is doing the right thing. >> reporter: president obama came very close to winning montana in last year's election. and plenty of bozeman residents say better health care coverage is worth a fight. >> i do know that you have we have to something. >> reporter: it is the confusion surrounding what is actually in the legislation that makes many skeptical. >> i'm not clear on what the package means but we certainly need improvements to the system. >> reporter: president obama arrived at this hangar later this afternoon to play the role of salesman in chief. the tickets were given out first come, first served. so there will be supporters and opponents. so far the president hasn't experienced firsthand the outrage that has been boiling over at town halls across the country. >> look at the picture. you are stealing from us. >> reporter: they

. >>> i'm manuel gallegus in los angeles. michael jackson's legal challenges are hardly a private matter with all of the media outside of the courthouse here. the latest on the custody e bat will coming up. ov is. >>> a judge is expected to rule over who will get custody of michael jackson's children. >> the judge is expected to name his mother as the legal guardian. it is part of a deal between the 79-year-old grandmother and debbie rowe, the mother of 0 two of his kids. >> if they see each other in court today it will be the first time they ever met. and michael and debbie were married three hours so it shows how strange his life was. the battle over his fortune is just beginning. catherine wants to be named executor of the estate, arguing she's been left in the dark about too many details. in a 2002 will, jackson named his attorney and friend in the music industry as the executors. >> he takes 40% under the will. she's a beneficiary and entitled to a intern certain amount of financial information. the judge will decide how

manuel gallegus reports. >> reporter: john wilks needs a c.a.t.can to help doctors correct a problem. >> i can't get my heart fixed without having a c.a.t. scan. >> reporter: from scans to x-rays to mammograms doctors rely on these, but each procedure exposes people to ionized radiation. the study looked at insurance claims of nearly 1 million adults. about 70% had at least one procedure over a three-year period. the result? >> about one-fifth of patients exposed to moderate radiation. >> reporter: a smaller number of patients were exposed to high levels, and multiple procedures could be a problem over time. >> the radiation may increase their chance of having cancer in the future, but we are not sure about that. >> reporter: the study may be a wakeup call to doctors. >> i think we have to be aware that the radiation that we give, and we don't have to use it freely. >> reporter: but john wilks knows his test is vital. >> if there's a risk involved, i'm certainly willing to take it. >> reporter: because it's the first step in fixing his heart. manu

manuel gallegus, wjz eyewitness news. >> and president obama likens these changes to the changes that led to social security and medicare. >>> looking for ways to lower the state's budget deficit. recommending cutting $250 million in state aid to local governments. those cuts will affect local health, police aid, community colleges and highway user funds. o'malley is scheduled to bring more than $400 million of cuts to the board of public works. just this month, the board approved about $280 million in spending reductions and fund transfers. >>> a tractor-trailer overturns in baltimore city, after colliding with a van that happened after 9:00 this morning. investigators say that everyone involved was able to escape without serious injury. but two people were transported to an area hospital. the cause of this crash remains under investigation. >>> maryland state police are asking for your help after a highway sign is severely damaged on interstate 70. take a look here. this sign used to hang over the eastbound traffic. police say that a large vehicle likely knocked it from its posting,

manuel gallegus was there for the emotional reunion. >> reporter: they are back in the arms of their families, euna lee and laura ling are now on u.s. soil. >> 30 hours ago, euna lee and i were prisoners in north korea. >> reporter: euna was reunited with her husband and 4-year-old daughter and laura with her mother and sister. they thanked president clinton 0 who brokered their pa pardon with kim jong-il. >> we saw, standing before us, president bill clinton [ applause ] we knew instantly in our hearts that the nightmare of our lives was finally coming to an end. >> reporter: president clinton did not speak at the homecoming here but issued a statement saying he's happy the two journalists are reunited with their families. the reporters were working for al gore's tv venture when they were arrested for illegally crossing the border. after north korea indicated they would be open to a deal with clinton, the former vice president and the reporters ' families asked him to make a trip. >> this has had a happy ending. >> reporter: no one is happier than lee and ling who were serving a 12-

in the meantime, manuel gallegus reports for wjz, executives for michael michael jackson's estate were back in court today. >> reporter: get ready for michael jackson the movie. his estate has approved this. lawyers are planning the future of the king of pop's empire, and are in court seeking quick approval on a number of proposals. jackson's mother cat katherine has her own attorneys looking over her son's legacy. >> she wants the judges judges to keep a closeie on -- close eye on them. making sure they turn over all of the documents she's entitled to. >> everything from embossed wine decanters to a jackson clothe line. >> reporter: there is even a plans to release jermaine jackson's song "smile," a tribute sung at his brother's funeral. major entertainers and the jackson family are slated to perform. and the surprises surrounding jackson's personal life aren't letting up. the godfather of jackson's children, former british child star mark lester, now claims to be the father of his daughter paris. lester says jackson asked him to be a sperm donor for debbie row. in los angeles, manuel

manuel gallegus reports. he is holding another town hall meeting and facing some opposition. >> reporter: the salesman in chief is out west, stepping up his pitch for healthcare reform. >> health insurance reform will mean a set of common sense consumer protections for folks with health insurance. >> reporter: president obama is using his own town hall meetings to beat back the fiery opposition, boiling over in other town halls across the country. >> fight against the fear. this is not about politics. this is about helping the american people. >> reporter: while montana voted for president obama rival in the last election, and usually casts a wary eye toward washington, we were hard- pressed to find any ticket holders who didn't support a healthcare overhaul. >> i trust the government far more than i trust private insurance companies. >> tickets for this town hall were distributed on a first come, first served basis. most of the shouting was relegated far away from this hangar outside of the airport. >> what

in los angeles, manuel gallegus, wjz eyewitness news. >> a date will be finalized this week. say tickets will go on sale, august 20th. >>> time now for a quick look at the stories you'll find. saying goodbye to long-time evening sun outdoors writer bill burton. why credit card companies are in a frenzy, trying to sign new customers. >>> and the future of a local seniors golf tournament when a sponsorship runs out. for all of these stories and more, read the baltimore sun. and remember to look for the updated forecast. >>> if you have an idea to help the state's budget problems, you're running out of time to let them know about it. the o'malley administration says they've received thngds of comment -- thousands of comments already. you can access the budget website through wjz.com. >>> things are picking up in the local real estate market. home sales in the baltimore metro area rose by 11%. also marked the second straight month home sales rose. however, prices continue to decline. >>> it is a little-known maryland nonprofit organization with a big idea. for a chance to win a s

as manuel gallegus reports for wjz distracted drivers, especially those who are texting are 23 times more likely to crash. >> oh, no. >> reporter: a high-speed chase on an l.a. freeway is dangerous enough without the suspect being on the cell phone. >> and it looks like he's on the phone. she's got one hand on the steering wheel. >> reporter: we've all seen them, drivers texting on their blackberries, adjusting their gps, basically doing anything but watching the road. sometimes it's just fatigue. in june oklahoma had its deadliest accident ever, 10 people killed when a tired tractor-trailer driver lost control. he never hit the brakes. >> we believe inattention was the cause. >> reporter: studies show eight out of 10 accidents happen because drivers aren't paying full attention. besides playing with gadgets the number one distraction is something simple. like reaching down for a cell phone or a cup of coffee. experts say you only need three seconds to avoid an accident. >> i'd have to say los angeles is a place where i always want to say get off your cell phone and drive. >> without

manuel gallegus has more from los angeles. >> reporter: cam ares mobbed lawyers who spent the day inurt sorting through michael jackson's personal affairs. jackson's 79-year-old mother catherine arrived with latoya and randy to settle several issues. she is concerned there could be a conflict of interest with the two men her son chose as coexecutors of his fortune, the hearing offered a glimpse in to jackson's complex world. there are 20 lawyers repping sony, columbia pictures and jackson's concert promoters. aeg live produced his memorial service and planning the comeback tour and is seeking a settlement from his estate. one issue the judge settled swiftly the fate of his children, awarding permanent custody to catherine jackson and allowing debbie rowe to have visitation to the two children she gave birth to. >> she responded with heart, integrity and selflessness. >> reporter: in court the only objection to the custody came from a lawyer for jackson's former dermatologist who said he had concerns of how the children would be raised. >> reporter: the judge said the dermatologist ha

. >>> i'm manuel gallegus, in los angeles. a new study finds it will be best to keep infants in car seats only for a limited amount of time. we'll explain coming up. >>> the first day of school kicks off for many in anne arundel county. but others have to wait until later this week. i'm weijia jiang, that story is straight ahead on eyewitness news. >>> it is 5:29. 82 degrees and mostly sunny. and less humid. if you're just getting in, welcome home, everybody. here's what people are talking about tonight. it was back to school for thousands of anne arundel county students, while others have to wait to start class. as weijia jiang reports, construction workers halted the openings at nearly 20 schools. >>> even though many students had to start the school year late, after seeing why, parents and students say it's more than a fair trade. >>> summer is over for the anne arundel county students who started the new school year on monday. >> about half of our students are in school today. we try to get the schools open. >> most 6th gr

manuel gallegus reports for wjz. the president is holding another town hall meeting and will likely run into more protestors. >>> the salesmen in chief is out west, stepping up his pitch for urgent healthcare reform. >> health insurance reform will mean a set of common sense, consumer protections for folks with health insurance. >> reporter: president obama is using his own town hall meetings to beat back the fiery opposition boiling over in other town halls across the country. >> fight against the fear. this is not about politics. this is about helping the american people. >> reporter: while montana voted for president president obama's arrival in the last election, and usually casts a wary eye toward washington, we were hard-pressed to find any ticket holders who didn't support a healthcare overhaul. >> i trust the government far more than i trust private insurance companies. >> reporter: tickets for this town hall were distributed on a first come, first served basis. most of the shouting was far away from this han

manuel gallegus, wjz eyewitness news. >> last week kathryn and debbie rowe struck a personal agreement for the grandmother to have custody with rowe having visitation rights. >> another high-profile court case is happening in nevada. a state supreme court is deciding whether to release o.j. simpson from jail. simpson's lawyer is hoping to convince the court to release simpson from prison while his case is up for appeals. simpson and his codefendant were convicted in a heist at a las vegas hotel room. simpson is serving 33 years for the armed robbery and kidnapping. >>> and still to come on eyewitness news at noon as you take it another live look outside, your complete first warning forecast, now two and a half minutes away. ♪ i am stuck on band-aid® brand ♪ ♪ 'cause germs don't stick on me! ♪ only band-aid® brand plus antibiotic waterproof... has antibiotic ointment directly on the pad. and now it's 100% waterproof. one-step infection protection from the brand you trust. ♪ 'cause band-aid® helps heal me! ♪ ouch! ow! oops! it's neo to go!® ready. aim. protect. neosporin® gives you infec

. >> reporter: i'm manuel gallegus in los anges s wyer ae major movie deal.that story is coming up. >>> if you are having a hard time handling this hot weather we've been talking about, imagine working out in 25 pounds of football gear. that's coming up at redskins ? r 'lweja. me? erl we'll come back and take thtoe record hetoat da y. itit 'sit 101 li keelfelike in and manassas. we'll talk about what you should and shouldn't do in the heat and we'll talk about the ted. b@ >>> the lundberg survey said a gallon of regular gas is up 16 points to 2.64. you if looking for a cheaper way to get around, perhaps a scooter is the way to go. i will save on gas but there are other things to consider before you hop on. rosemary says her scooter is a great way to get around town. >> i don't like to take it out on big highways because people could overlook it. i like to take it into town, pick up a couple of things and just for joy rides. >> reporter: besides being fun, scooters are great on gas. consumer reports found they deliver 55 to 75 miles a gallon -- >> they cannot

in los angeles, manuel gallegus, wjz eyewitness news. >>> court documents are also looking into michael jackson's dealings with at least six are the doctors. >>> three people in ocean city are hospitalized, after possible carbon monoxide poisoning at a boardwalk hotel. the three experienced symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning. the source of the leak is still under investigation. >>> in tonight's healthwatch, a brain aneurysm is like a ticking time bomb. a health condition that in a moment's notice can become deadly. doctors have long treated the problem with open surgery. but there is now a less invis -- invasive alternative. >> another benefit. this two-hour procedure requires a much lesser recovery than the traditional open surgery. >> reporter: kay shepherd is getting ready for a procedure to correct a life-threatening problem. an aneurysm in her brain. the condition is something that could rupture suddenly, leaving her disabled or dead. >> i don't want to go through the rest of my life, wondering every time i get a headache, if that's the end. >> she has opted for a treatment,izin

in los angeles, manuel gallegus, wjz eyewitness news. >> you'll recall that several investigators had raided the home of dr. murray, as well as the pharmacy they believe he used to obtain the drugs. >>> it only took a day. but now, three are charged with selling the drug salvia. >> it was banned in the resort town on august 3rd. august 4th, the charges were filed. the three merchants were charged with having some pacts of the her -- packets of the herbs for sale that day. now, one merchant says they should have been given more time to get rid of their salvia before cracking down. salvia can give users an out-of- body sense of traveling through space and time. sally, back to you. >> the charge carries penalties of up too 6 months -- up to six months in jail. a fine or both. >>> a park police officer. authorities say it occurred during a traffic stop on the baltimore washington parkway. they say the officer was standing on the shoulder, when a pickup truck struck his patrol car from behind. the impact caused him to be pulled underneath his vehicle. the injuries injuries to the officer a

manuel gallegus has more. >> reporter: michael jackson was having so much trouble sleeping that the daye his death his doctor gave him several drugs. the newly released document shows that conrad murray said he gave him doses throughout the night on june 25th in an intravenous drip because the 50- year-old entertainer could not fall asleep. when he was awake at 10:40 in the morning he gave him a sedative used for surgery in hospitals. he said that jackson repeatedly demanded it and peered -- feared the pop star was becoming addicted to it. he finally fell asleep and he stepped away less than two minutes and when he returned jackson had stopped breathing. dr. murray said he had been monitoring him with a pulse ox meter that was keeping track of his oxygen intake and pulse. according to the search warrant, they found seven prescriptions from three doctors on jackson's bedside table. most can be used for insomnia. a law enforcement official tells the associated press the l.a. coroner has ruled jackson's death a homicide. dr. murray has been keeping a low profile. putting a message out on y

manuel gallegus reports on the president's town hall meeting, where he is expected to face some opposition. >> reporter: the salesman in chief is out west, stepping up his pitch for urgent healthcare reform. >> health insurance reform will mean a set of common sense consumer protections for folks with health insurance. >>> president obama is using his own town hall meetings to beat back the fiery opposition boiling over in other town halls across the country. >> fight against the fear. this is not about politics. this is about helping the american people. >> reporter: while montana voted for president obama's rival in the last election, and usually casts a wary eye towards washington, we were hard-pressed to find any ticket holders who didn't support a healthcare overhaul. >> i trust the government far more than i trust private insurance companies. >> tickets for this town hall were distributed on a first come, first served basis. most of the shouting was relegated far away from this hangar. outside of the airport. >> when do we want -- what do we want? >> healthcare. >> when do we want it

as manuel gallegus reports for wjz, in tonight's healthwatch report, they may do you more harm than good. >> reporter: john wilks needs a cat scan to help doctors correct a heart problem. >> i can't get my heart fixed without having a cat scan. >> reporter: from scans to x- rays, doctors rely on imaging. but each procedure exposes patients to ionizing radiation. and new research finds that people are being exposed to moderate to high doses. the study looks at the claims of nearly 1 million adults. at least 70% had at least one procedure. >> about a fifth were exposed to moderate radiation. >> reporter: a small number of patients were exposed to high levels. and multiple procedures could be a problem over time. >> the radiation may increase their chance of having cancer in the future. but we are not sure about that. >> reporter: the study may be a wake-up call to doctors. >> i think we have to be aware of the radiation. we don't have to use it freely. >> reporter: but john wilkes knows his test is vital. >> if there is a risk involved, i am willing to take t. >> reporter: because it's the

the president wrapped up a town hall meeting in montana and manuel gallegus is there. salesman in chief is talking about health care reform. >> president obama is using his own town hall meetings to beat back the fiery opposition boiling over in other town halls across the country. >> fight against the fear. this is not about politics. this is about helping the american people. >> reporter: while montana voted for president obama's rival in the last election and usually casts a wary eye toward washington we were hard-pressed to find ticket holders who didn't support a health care overhaul. >> i trust the government far more than private insurance companies. >> reporter: tickets for this town hall were distributed on a first come, first serve basis. most of the southing was reel gated far away from this hangar outside of the airport. >> what do we want health care when do we want it now. >> reporter: 500 demonstrators for and against health care reform staked out ground nearby. >> no one knows what is on the bill. >> reporter: many hope the president can better explain

manuel gallegus has more from los angeles. >> reporter: the coroner's investigation in toe death of michaelinished but there is a security hold on the details. the l.a. police department doesn't want information coming out while it still has an ongoing possibly criminal investigation ♪ [ music ] ♪ >> reporter: while jackson's death is still a mystery the lawyers in charge of his fortune are working on getting him more exposure than he has had in years. they won approval for a major movie deal involving his promoters aeg live and columbia pictures ♪ [ music ] court papers show columbia pictures paid $60 million for hundreds of hours of recent rehearsal footage. the deals that john maclean and joel katz put together in the columbia picture and the a -- aeg, bravado deals were once in a lifetime deals that will bring substantial revenues to the estate. >> reporter: it is open in late october and parts in 3-d they are proposal a multiple city tour of jackson memorabilia and still to be determined which companies will gain the rights to michael jackson's merchandise. there were no family members

manuel gallegus reports the trip doesn't come without controversy. >> reporter: he was at it again. >> nobody is going to force you to leave your health care plan. if you like your doctor, you keep seeing your doctor. i don't want government bureaucrats medaling in your health care, but the point is, i don't want insurance company bureaucrats medaling in your health care either. >> reporter: some who came to see him believe it. >> i'm thinking it was a lot of truth to it. >> reporter: others think it's just politics at play. >> i think they stacked it with obama supporters. >> reporter: before the crowd of 1600 in a high school gym, president obama again went after health insurance providers, accusing them of turning their back on the sick when they need help the most. >> we have found that in the past few years more than 12 million americans were discriminated against by insurance companies because of a preexisting condition. when we get health insurance reform, those days will be over. >> reporter: the president is telling americans he wants a health care reform plan in place by lat