as mark seagraves reports, not everyone fwrees on keeping it free. >> we are on our community outing totey. >> repor christian herbert relies on the circulator to take her group around town. they are headed to the southwest wharf. >> it works for me with my job. some people don't he metrocards. it helps us out. we get on the bus for free. >> reporter: donald williamson living on a fixed income rides the circulator almost every day. >> because everyone doesn't have money to pay for transportation. certainly it's free, it helps someone save some money. >> reporter: in february, the mayor waived the $1 fee in an effort to get more people on the bus and out of their cars. since then ridership has gone the first month. free ride more than 20,000 additional rides than february of last year, and then in march nearly 80,000 additional rides over march of last year. >> that tells us that free circulator has been working and people are excited about the service and we see that didership grow as a result. >> reporter: fun runs out at the end of this year. d.c. councilmember mary shea isn't conn

our mark seagraves takes us on a journey from the service member's aareer as frog man to the decades that he fought fires here in the district. > reporter: we know them today as navy s.e.a.l.'s. back in 1943, they were called naval combat units or more commonly frogmen. at age 17, bill dawson was part of the very first tea of frogmenment he'she last surviving member of that groundbreaking unit. dawson authored a book about his unique experiences, "fore they were s.e.a.l.s, they were fr>>s." no one today developed it into what it is today. it's one o the greatest outfits in the world. >> reporter: after returning from serving his country, dawson joined the d.c. fire department where he served his community for more than 20 years. ♪ happy birthday >> reporter: tsoay dawn celebrated his 94th birthday surrounded by friends and family including his granddaughter and great granddaughter. as for what dawson credits for his longevity and surviving two very dangerous careers -- >> somebody's looking out fore all them years. >> reporter: with the last surviving frogman, mark seagraves, news4.

akes us mark seagraves onth a journey from e service member's career as a frogplan tc the des that he- frogman to the decades that he fought fires in the district. >> reporter: we know them today as navy s.e.a.l.s. in 1943, they were called naval olcombat dition units or, more commonly, frogmen. at age 17, bill dawson was oneo he first teams of frogmen. he's the last surviving member of the groundbreaking unit. he authored t a book, "befohey were seales, they were frogs." >> i helped start it and developed into what it is today. it's one of the greatest outfits in the world. >> reporter: after returning from serving his country, dawson jo the d.c. fire department where he served his community for more than 20 years. today dawson celebrate the his 94th birthday. surrounded by friends and , fami including his daughter and great granddaughter. as for what dawson credits for his longevity and surviving two very dangerous careers -- >> somebody's looking out for me all them years. >> reporter: with the last survivin frogman, mark seagraves, news4. >> wha an incredible story. >> ye. >> 94.

mark seagraves was able to seen them a learn idea they spend -- learn why they spend most of the you're under wraps.r: >> reportet doesn't get out much. onlyees the light for 36 hours each year, and it's one of the most important documents in our country's history -- eman emancipation proclamation. >> what if affected was anyat ste still in rebellion against the union. >> reporter: the dument that led to the ending of slavey is o delicate and fragile it's kept in a vault. it has protection and is taken out once a year. today they were lining up to get to see it just as americans have lined up for generations to view was abraham lincoln sai his greatest accomplishment. >> it's inspiring. very touching to know that that was said andnd briefed a should be today. >> reporter: the d.c. emancipation act is also on display. that act was the first act by congress to free slaves. at the national archives, mark seagraves, news4. >> the preservation effort for the old, original documents, ane you know t keep -- once every few years, they bring them out. it is special to see. >> you can't -- you ca

as mark seagraves reports, the plan is creating new jobs. >> reporter: driving around the frustrating. be even the mayor admits some of the parking signs around the city are confusing. >> this usually happens whenti have me signs that at first glance are confusing. sometimes on second and third glance, as well. >> if i want to park, legally which of these takes precedence? >> we aren't trying toonfusion anybody. g reporr: mayor bowser announced thed sign d.c. campaign. a way to allow drivers to let the city know when there are lems with street signs. >> it is important, too, that signs make sense, that they're in the right locations, that when they're damaged they're replaced. when they don't make sense that they're removed. >> reporter: if of know of a damaged or confusing sign, report it or call 311. the district, mark seagraves, news4. >> when i first moved here, i go $1 0 worth of parking -- $130 worth of parking tickets in th first year. >> i believe you. i've lived here nearly my entire life and still get parking tickets. i should know better at this rate. >> at least when you g

but i bet i'm playing the piano still. >> reporter: with the doctors of jazz, mark seagraves, news4.pplause ] >> a lot of talent there. >>6:26. coming up, the students have spoken. georgetown votes a plan to pay back the families of former slaves. we have the results that ca in overnigh >>> if you're headed out tohe school bus stop with the kiddos, not too bad out there. mild.tle we'll be dry through the morning, midday, a few light showers, and later on thi afternoon, some rain and then some storms after that, especially if you have friday ght plans. ght plans. ni hi, i'm jeff. ght plans. ni in my johnsonville commercial, we open up in the forest. i'm out in the wild eating my breakfast. and all of a sudden, raccoon we opcome up and asked me, "are those bigg patties?" i said, "yep." wolf comes in and says, "wow, that's a lot of sausage." and we had a good laugh about that. (laughing) johnsonville breakfast sausage has 15% larger patties. fits on a biscuit. look, i never wanted to hebe the popular day.y. !y look, it's thursday but in this place, it's just gettinout of hand! thursday

. > in the district, mark seagraves, news 4. >> it's not far from my house. my kids have taken clinics there. the coaches are amazing. i'm so glad to see citi open which draws some big names. >> yes. >> last number nishik gi. >>w up in richmond where they did the same thing there. all of the confederate statues and he wasthere. it's great to see things expanding. >> chuck bell, it is 42 degrees and give me 65. can i put in a request, just 65? >> thank you. >> easy enough. what else you got? what else you need? >> chocolate crssants? we'll figure that out. i was worriedou would ask for something i couldn't deliver at all. 42 degrees inwa ington. dry start. after a cloudy and somewhat ery finish to yesterday, the showers have moved out quickly. clearing skies allowed temperatures to drop rather precipitously for most of the western suburbs. 36 in quantico. 42 downtown and near the bay. not much of wind yet. it will be adaindy winds out of the west 20 to 30 miles per hour. wind chills down below freezing. won't have to worry about wind today's high, i can do bet

in the district, mark seagraves, news4. >> everybody h a ory. i've seen them. you've seen them. i like your tip -- park mobile. when you go in the map, it won't let you sign up to park there. that saved me. i love when people out of town go, can you park here i rea the sign, i don't know ei er. >> maybe today's a good day to walk. >> not bad out lithere. ter winds but more clouds. yesterday it was a blue bird day. today not the case. part three mostly cloudy skies, still pleasant. mid to upper 60s. we're running five, almost ten degrees abale no tomorrow a different story. heading out tomorrow, you'll want to grab the jacke and the umbrella. rain potentially impacting the area from sta to finish on yourfriday, nothing heavy, but soggy and damp. the weekend looking okay. more rain for your monday. currently temperatures right now coming in in the 30s and 40s om 36 in manassas to 49 in the district. and 40 in college park we're at 45 in gaitheburg. you'll want a light jacket this morning. here's the planner today. 7:00 a.m., 45. lunchtime, 62. t as windy. peaks of sunshine out the

. >> reporter: with the doctors of jazz, mark seagraves, news4. >> cool stuff. >>> 26.ing up, the students have spoken. georgetown votes on a plan to pay bk the families of former slaves. wee the results that came in overnight. >>> plus, a surprise celebration for special olympians. ahead, a story that will start your friday off with a smile. >>>e'nd got some cloud cover out there early this morning. temperatures are mild wsgo through the morning. however, we have rain. >>> 29 as we take a live look outside on this friday morning. we've nearly made it to the weekend. after a beautiful week of weather, rain returns tonight. joy. it happens, right? >>> good morning, everyone, i'm aaron gilchrest. >> i'm eun yang. whatever weather is in our way, there's reason to celebrate this morning. the caps a one game closer to defendin the stanley cup. >> took the shot -- he scores! [ cheers ] >> see that empty-net goal? final goal within less than a minute left secured the win over the carolina hurricanes. thank goodness. wasetting diceythere. more highlights and what to knom about

. >> both changed the course of or american hist mark seagraves was able to see them and learn why they spend most of their year keptnd u wraps. >> reporter: it doesn't get out much. it only sees the light for about 36 hours each year. it's oos of tht important documents in our country's history. the emancipation proclamation. >> what it affected was any state still in rebellion against the union. >> reporter: the document that led to the end of slary is so delicate, so fragile, it has to be kept in a dark vault. archivists keep clear protective sheets over it, then put it in a frame, and then inside a sealed box. it's only taken out about once a year. todayhey were lining up at the national archiveso get a chance to see it just as americans have lined up for generations to view what abraham lincoln said was his greatest sh accomplint. >> it's inspiring. touching to know that that was said and believed and should be today. >> reporter: the d.c. emancipation act is also on display. that act was the first act by congress to free slaves. at the national archives, mark seagras, news4. >>> 4

. >> reporter: with the last surviving frogman, mark seagraves, news4. >> what an incredible legacy.im. >>> .6: >> it's look at your weather. lauren? >> we're looking at clouds pushing in w. a few peeks of sunshine right around the horizon. sun coming up in about one minute. official sunrise here in d.c. not a lot of sun today, but we will have a lot ofg storms comin our way. we'll talk more about the timomg of those cing up. >>> also ahead at6:30, uber improving safety. the changes you'll be seeing on the a the next time you order a ride.or >> repr: good morning and happy friday, folks. >> we've got a busy afternoon on tap. join us at 4:00. coming up we'll be tracking those storms and have an updated holiday forecast. >>> plus, our kids spend so iuch time front of screens these days. on today's "harris' heroes," we'll show the local program that's transforming the way schools teach health education. >> that's this afteron. (music throughout) you can make roomancial cfor everyone. get rewards and more with suntrust advantage banking. ♪re you ready? ♪ are you ready for some fun? ♪ ♪ ♪

. >> there is something new the park service and crowds are dae mark seagraves is here to say how scooters are impacting the trees. >> reporter: it's crowded down here. the sun is out so that is helping to warm things up a bi but let's look at some video from earlier today to show you e crowds thatave been down here since earlier this morning. predawn people started showing up to get picture about noon the park service announced we are at full peak bloom. sat's about 70% of the tr are at their peak right now. but as you mentioned, one of the things ty're calling a new phenomenon down here this year are the use of those scooters, those rentable scooters you can represent by the minute. we saw them all over the place both being used in areas where llople aren'ted to ride bikes or scooters and people have been leaving them propped up against the o treesr in other places around the tidal basin. we asked the park service officials about what the scoo drs are doingn here and how it's impacting the tidal basin. >> when we are as crowded s we are during peak bloom, bicycles andcooters are f a lot

. >> reporter: with the doctors of jazz, mark seagraves, news4.use ] >>> we're looking at temperatures on the mild side out there this morning. pack that umbrella, you're going to need it for this afternoon. rain and thunderstorms for your friday night. we'll talk morabout that and e weekend coming up. fast, reliable internet is crucial. does it every go down? yes. can't do my job. business grinds to a halt. k our gig-speed netw not only downloads files up to 20 times faster, we go beyond fast wi r 4g backup for compleiability. pe so if the uned happens... (snaps fingers) you stay up and running. we lost power... but not to that. i want that. (laughing) ti for a limite get fast, reliable internet for a low price. call nmc. t business. beyond fast. >>> 5:30 as we take a live on a friday morning. a little wind near union station in the district. we've made it to the weekend just about. after a beautiful week of weather, a little rain's rolling back in. it happens. good morning, everyone, i'm aaron gilchrest. >> i'm eun yang. whatever weather h isdin