news 4's meagan fitzgerald is live in rockville with new details. >> reporter: according to the superintendent, there have been a number of changes made here at rockville high school today. for one, an increased police presence after a number of calls and threats have been made to the school during school hours. >> we had some phone calls to different about harming immigrant students. >> reporter: one day after angry parents attended a meeting at rockville high school with the superintendent and principal, the school reported receiving a bomb threat and a call from someone saying they wanted to bring guns to shoot the quote illegals at the school. we caught up with superintendent dr. jack smith before a county budget meeting. >> we certainly have heightened security across our system. and it's just unacceptable to threaten any student, no matter what their status. >> reporter: the concern surrounding immigration status after two high school students raped a girl in a bathroom during school hours. one of the suspects, 18-year-old henry sanchez illegally entered the country from mexico back in a

he's that kind hearted. >> reporter: meagan fitzgerald, news 4. >>> acting dc police chief will get a hearing before the d.c. counsel tomorrow, the next step toward confirmation for the permanent job but tonight, some opponents are coming forward. the hag tash never newsham started, it's criticizing newsham for his handing of police shooting, sexual assault cases and more. the acting chief has the support of the mayor and his predecessor kathy lanier. she will be testiin more than 80 people are signed up to speak. he will be the last to speak and take questions. >>> a local nonprofit is suing for d.c. police records related to the arrests during inauguration protest. the partnership for civil justice funds says the information needs to be released before chief newshom is confirmed. police arrested 231 people on felony charges, rioting on inauguration day. the group suing says when officers use the kind of tactics that were used that day, they are required to file certain documentation about why it was justified. now the organization is suing for those documents under the freedom of in

i'm meagan fitzgerald. some breaking news for you this morning out of laurel where a man was found dead. prince georges county police are calling it a homicide. officers found the man's lifeless body in an apartment complex on edinburgh lane. police tell us they were responding to a shooting but they didn't say if that's how the man died. >>> we're now getting a new look at some photos of a person of interest in the death of a local artist. police want you to take a good look at this guy. officers want to talk to him. on tuesday, body was found. >>> you can take part in our all state community shred. it started a half hour ago and runs until 11:00 a.m. you can safely get rid of your document there is and they will shred them all for free. just head over to the northern virginia community college campus in annedale. we'll have a look at your forecast next. >>> good morning. welcome back. meteorologist tom kierein is standing by with a look at our forecast. sounds like it's going to be a good weekend to check

let's go live to news 4's meagan fitzgerald. she has been following the demonstrations since this morning. are they happy with the turnout and what they accomplished? >> reporter: wendy, they are. they tell us they're pleased with the turnout. just a couple minutes ago we watched protesters demonstrating outside the department of labor behind us here. they made their way down constitution avenue. they were holding signs and calling for things like paid family leave and equal pay for equal work. but that was just the latest demonstration we've seen here around the district. >> shut it down! >> reporter: there were many reasons why hundreds of pr protesters marched down pennsylvania avenue towards the white house. >> we have to support immigrants, the lgbt community, women, minorities. it's not okay to divide us. >> reporter: but what was >> if we don't get it -- >> shut it down! >> reporter: -- is these demonstrators say they want to live in a world where women are equal to men. >> i came out because i wanted to support all the w

coming up, news4's meagan fitzgerald will discuss how the schools could be seeing the changes. >>> it's 5:33 right now. it was a murder that shocked and scared a lot of people in our area. today, the kathryn fuller attack heads to the supreme court. you might remember, fuller was a mother who was gang raped and killed while walking to a northeast washington grocery store back in 1984. seven men were convicted but the attorneys argued key evidence that proved someone else was guilty was withheld. it will be up to the justices to decide if that evidence is significant enough for this case to be retried. >>> an artist who was found dead in northeast d.c. at a home there may have been targeted for a corina miyo was stabbed to death. police say they have photos of a man using her car to withdraw money. toy was arrested monday night. >>> a family came home from vacation to find out that their home will be burglarized but with hateful messages. thousands worth of their belongings were taken. correspo their koran was torn to pieces there. they say it started as a burglary and then turned into a

meagan fitzgerald has more now from national airport. >> reporter: the countdown begins now. in a few hours airports like reagan national are preparing for several cancellations. and so are a lot of travelers. >> we actually have never gotten caught because of weather so we decided we didn't want to make this the first time. >> reporter: a lot of passengers are leaving today to try and avoid what will likely be a some airlines say the major snowstorm could leave passengers stranded until wednesday. >> we decided to change and try to beat the storm. >> it's horrible, right? >> reporter: yep. trying to travel during a storm can be horrible, though airport officials are trying to get their stress relieving advice out now. >> contact your airline today for the possibility of rebooking your flight for today or a date that you know is going to be working better after the storm. >> reporter: rob i didn't thihe this runway is expected to be clear of aircraft until crews are able to safely plow the snow tomorrow morning. that means cancellations are coming. >> some airlines will have

. >> and i am meagan fitzgerald. it's going to be a great day because it's the weekend and great weather ahead. it's all good, folks. >> we're in the midst of the cherry blossom festival. let's get over to meteorologist tom kierein. what do you think for folks heading out? >> i agree with meagan. we've got clouds around but no rain locally. right now reagan national at 56 degrees. at dulles, cooler in the low 50s. around the bay, annapolis at 59 degrees. fredricksburg up to 61 degrees. temperatures near 60 in the panhandle of west virginia. all dry here locally. sprinkles north of baltimore. here's your forecast. peak blossoms. a lot of clouds around. this afternoon with showers moving in from the west. i've got new hour-by-hour timing of the showers in the metro area. that's in a few minutes. >> thank you. >>> a grethe cherry blossoms ar blooming. peak bloom is expected to happen during this wonderful weather weekend around the tidal basin. thousands of folks are expected out there. opening ceremony at the warner th

. >> reporter: meagan fitzgerald talked to some of those neighbors today. what did they tell you? >> reporter: they're telling us they heard a loud bang last night, then they heard a crackling noise. when they looked outside their window, they saw engulfed in flames. it's reduced to rubble. it was 70-year-old larry polli make it out alive. this is what's left of this two story home that sat on this lot for decades. investigators spent hours sifting through the rubble trying to determine how this happened. just before 10:00 a.m. they found the body. neighbors say he was a kind man who has lived in this neighborhood for more than three decades. so far, investigators say they're still not sure exactly what started the fire that ended up taking his life. >> likely the fire burned for a while before it was noticed. there's good indication that the fire had been burning for a while before it was noticed by neighbors. >> you don't want anything like that happen like this. you don't want to see anybody dying. >> reporter: right now investigators tell us that the fire and the cause of the

i'm meagan fitzgerald. we're getting closer and closer to feel like spring temperatures. >> i think today finally is going to start feeling like it. the man who's tracking it all in the storm team 4 weather center joining us. tom kierein. a mild start. you think it's going to get warmer too. >> yeah. and a week from today is april 1st. this final saturday of march finally feeling like spring as temperatures will be soaring afternoon. we do have the sun shining through oha high overcast. we'll have that sun through the high overcast throughout the day ahead. temperatures already up now around 60 degrees. annapolis up to 64 right now. this milder air is going to continue to push on on. temperatures hour-by-hour soaring to near 70 by noontime. hitting mid-70s mid-afternoon with some sun through the high overcast. might get sprinkles of light rain tonight. cooler weather moving in for sunday. that's coming up this hour. >> thank you. >>> and if you wanted that warm weather and cherry blossoms, you're in luck to

meagan fitzgerald tells us what led police to the neighborhood right here in d.c. meagan? >> reporter: it was on saturday that someone contacted them and told them that they saw stolen guns inside the suspect's apartment, which is here at the 77 h building. that same witness was able to lead agents to a garage away car. the search for three suspects who they say burglarized three shops is ended. one of the three stores burglarized was 50 west armory. these pictures show two suspects moments before they smashed the glass door and entered the shop. >> they basically smashed the first three cases and took what was closest to the door. >> reporter: according to documents, matthew jones and daniel quarrels stole 35 guns in less than a minute. then three days later, the bandits strike again. this time, two separate gun shops in fredericksburg in less than an hour's time. this video shows an unsuccessful attempt to enter ssg tactical, but it's this white u-haul van that helped link the suspects to all crimes, because it appeared in every surveillance so after receiving a tip, atf

. >>> we begin with meagan fitzgerald downtown. hi, meagan. >> reporter: hundreds of protesters demonstrated across the district today starting as early as 11:00 this morning. the latest protest was outside the department of labor which is just behind us here. that demonstration concluded just moments ago. >> what do we want? >> equal pay. >> when do we want it? >> now. >> we need to come together as women and support those who don't have the opportunity to take the time to be out here with their sisters and don't have equal pay and don't have access to family leave. >> reporter: from outside the doors of the department of labor -- to freedom plaza. >> women literally are the backbone of this entire country, this entire world. without women we wouldn't be here. i need to be here in solidarity. >> reporter: one thing was clear, the men and women below protesting say they want to live in a world where women are equal to men. >> i wanted to come out to support all the women that need equal pay. >> reporter: so with signs in hand, prote

meagan fitzgerald reports now some businesses are also bracing for the impact tomorrow. >> reporter: it won't be busy as usual on wednesday for many paradise. a day without a woman protest calls for women to stay home. organizers say that's the point. ruth breser is the owner here. >> focus some attention on the fact that women are not valued equally in the world in our society. >> reporter: breser is giving her female employees the day off and will only offer half of her menu. some customers say they weren't aware of the protests tomorrow and don't have plans to attend. but others say they're in full support. >> women are needed just as much as men, that we do deserve equal rights, equal pay. >> reporter: and over at the change center for health and gender equity participants are making signs. >> this is great. women's rights are human rights. >> reporter: sarah is the president of the organization. she says they're recent policy change by the trump administration which she believes has already had a negative impact on women and gigir girls around the world. >> trump signed the glob

let's get right to meagan fitzgerald live outside that store with details. >> reporter: police tell us that it was just before 4:00 this morning that two guys used a crowbar to pry their way through this door behind me. they say these guys were covered from head to toe and seem to be bothered by the cameras and surveillance videos. security alarps weren't enough to stop these two suspects. in less than 90 seconds they smashed three display cases and quickly grabbed 26 guns, throwing them into a black bag. before walking out, they grabbed seven long firearms hanging on the wall. montgomery county police arrived on scene but the suspects had already taken off. atf agents joined the trying to determine which guns were stolen. >> i walked in there. i saw the busted up glass. >> i just fear that the people who got the guns, what are they going to do with the guns? >> reporter: police believe these suspects took off in a four-door light colored sedan. they're offering up to a $10,000 reward for information leading to an arrest. >>> right now there's a brush fire burning deep in the woods in

our team coverage continues with meagan fitzgerald out at reagan national. >> reporter: you could kaucall the calm before the storm. >> cost me to have to schedule for today. i was supposed to leave tomorrow. >> reporter: passengers at national are leaving down before they're stuck in what will likely be a travel nightmare. >> we decided to change and try to beat the storm, get out a little sooner than later. >> reporter: yep. trying to travel during a storm can be horrible, though airport officials are trying to get their stress relieving advice out now. >> contact your airline today with the possibility of rebooking your flight for today or a date that you know is going to be working better after the storm. >> reporter: he says by tonight hi clear of aircraft until crews are able to safely plow the snow tomorrow morning. that means cancellations are coming. >> some airlines will have limited operations in the morning. others are going to wait until wednesday to resume flightins i the d.c. area. >> reporter: metro says rail and bus service could be impacted as well. if the aboveground ra

meagan fitzgerald joins us with new reaction. >> reporter: a spokesperson for the school district tells us more than 300 staff members called out and requested wednesday off. so they say because of these absences, it would affect the students' ability toe students' safety. students will have the day off. for staff members who want to go to work, it will be a teacher workday. alexandria school officials say it is not a political decision. more than 300 staff members asked for the day off. so the school district said they didn't have a choice but to cancel classes. wednesday also happens to be a planned protest that's called a day without women. it's an event organized by the leaders of the women's march on washington where one day after the inauguration millions of people flooded the streets of d.c. and cities around the world. they were calling attention to issues like equal pay for women. according to the women's march website, they're asking women to stay home from work to help demonstrate how important women are to the country. whao >> i don't really think. >> reporter: you support i

meagan fitzgerald is outside john adams elementary with reaction from parents. >> reporter: yeah. we more than 300 staff members requested wednesday off. the school district said they had to close their doors. they are drestressing this was a pliolitical decision. on wednesday all alexandria city public schools will be closed. >> i don't really mind. >> reporter: the school district says they didn't have a choice. more than 300 staff members the school district says staying open would compromise student safety and impact their ability to learn. wednesday happens to be a planned protest that's being called a day without women. it's an event organized by the leaders of the women's march on washington, where one day after the inauguration millions of people flooded the streets of d.c. and cities around the world. they were calling attention to issues like equal pay for women. according to the women's march website, they're asking women to stay home from work to help demonstrate how important women are to the country. >> what do you say to people who say it's an inconvenience? >> i do

meagan fitzgerald has reaction from some of the people who signed up to sound off >> reporter: one of those supporters who just finished up testifying before the council within the last year was former police chief kathy lanier. she said she recommended him for the job and she relied heavily on newsham when she was policing the city. there are also people who spoke out against newsham saying there were past events where they call into question transparency and accountability. >> so it's got to be a combination of bottom up and top down. >> reporter: since 10:00 this morning dozens of the more than 80 registered to testify have had their chance to voice their thoughts before the council, one of the first was marra hilliard, the executive director for the department of civil justice. news4 was first to report that her organization is suing the city and the police department for withholding arrest records from protests on inauguration day. she questioned newsham's commitment to transparency. >> i don't believeed experience we have and his actions as recently as two months ago that he is

meagan fitzgerald talked to relatives and neighbors and has more a a >> he's from wheaton originally. has two daughters. >> reporter: whose who knew larry pollyeyes he was most proud to be called grandpa. >> he's got grandchildren. everybody gets together. >> reporter: peter mcgary is larry's brother-in-law. he says when his secretary said larry didn't show up for work this morning, his family knew something was wrong. when arrived to his rockville home, they were quickly consumed with emotion. >> distraught. >> reporter: montgomery county fire investigators say just before 10:00 last night a fire ripped through larry's home. >> i saw the fire and it was really engulfed. the second floor and everything. >> reporter: she >> in that process, there was a collapse. >> reporter: for the next several hours investigators sifted through rubble as they searched for a cause. >> reporter: it-- >> he runs his fireplace. >> reporter: chief scott goldstein says investigators aren't ruling out the fact that the fireplace could have been the cause of the blaze but they can't say for sure. >> an exact

meagan fitzgerald has our report. >> reporter: for more than a century howard university has been more than just an institution. >> the importance of howard is that howard has always led the black colleges in a firm proposition that everyone who comes through our doors will contribute. >> reporter: contributions that have been made and recognized around the world. today the university celebrates its 150 year history. >> over three-quarters of all the federal judges in this country who have of african decent work at block colleges. >> reporter: presidents of historically black colleges and universities met with president trump this week. meetings with the trump administration has also been an issue for many students. jada watts says there was even more concern after president wayne frederick and other students met with betsy devos, the new secretary of education. many students say they felt blindsided by the meeting and are calling for more transp pa r transparen transparency. the students protested inside the convocation ceremony. the university says president frederick is listening. h

meagan fitzgerald is in rockville. she spoke to a family member and neighbors today. >> reporter: yeah. jim i can tell you family members are devastated. they're still in shock. they came out here this morning and this is what they saw just behind us here. their father's house literally reduced to nothing. just the chimneys on either side standing. 71-year-old larry in this home. >> a sweet and gentleman. very private man. easy to talk to. people liked him. >> reporter: the loss of larry pollyeye is one so many who knew and loved him don't want to believe. >> very good man. >> still shocked. >> reporter: his brother-in-law says larry was a loving father to two daughters and an extremely proud grandfather who continued to work as a cpa. >> we called his office this morning. his secretary said he hadn't showed up yet. >> reporter: family members rushed to larry's house, only to realize their worst nightmare was true. >> distraught. this is horrible, you know? >> likely the fire burned for a while before it was noticed. >

meagan fitzgerald is live in georgetown with more on that. >> reporter: jim, protest organizers are asking women to take the day off of work tomorrow. so you can imagine that's likely going to have an economic impact on businesses in our area. some businesses not too happy about it, whereas others say they are fully on board. the day without a woman protest was inspired by the woman's march on washington. organizers are calling on women to take the day off from work and take to the streets to protest for women's rights. it's an event that will likely affect businesses. but that's the ruth breser is the owner of pizzar pizzar pizzaria paradiso. breser is giving her female employees the day off and will only offer half of her menu. some customers say they weren't aware of the protest tomorrow and don't have plans to attend. others say they're in full support. >> women are needed just as much as men that we do deserve equal rights, equal pay. >> the gender as a whole is not valued in this society equally to men. and i think that for women to stand up and say it's time. >> hey, guys. >> hey. >

meagan fitzgerald joins us live. is that hearing still going on? >> reporter: it is going on. it will likely go on through the evening, because more than 80 people have registered to testify. among with supporters tonight was former d.c. police chief kathy lanier. she recommended newsham for the job and basically said she leaned on him heavily when she led the force. of course, there were those who were not supportive of newsham. they said they don't believe he's the best one for the job. >> there were cars set on fire. >> reporter: for an entire day the judiciary committee and other council members listened and questioned those who testified for and against the confirmation of peter newshs the city's next top cop. supporters argued that newsham is experienced, he's a proven leader who continues to effectively politician t lly po >> he's a visionary lead who are's been a big part of the success of the metropolitan police department and the safety of d.c. where all crime categories were reduced last year, including homicide by 17%. >> these people have no real concern about the

news4's meagan fitzgerald along the tidal bay son with a disheartening prediction. >> reporter: it's the news anyone would have expected. >> if we were to have a situation where a majority or significant number never reach peak bloom, that would be a first. >> reporter: cherry blossoms might not hit peak bloom. why? national park service officials say they've already started to blossom, so the extreme coming could be devastating. >> temperatures of 24 degrees or lower we could experience 90% loss of the blossoms. >> all these leaves are very tender. >> reporter: it's a similar situation for plants in your yard. >> the big deal is that these new leaves that are coming out are not going to be happy with cold. >> reporter: susan burke is the bedding coordinator at johnson's floral and garden center. she pull your plants inside. if you can't -- >> you want to cover them with something like burlap, big sheets of burlap draped lightly over the plant. >> reporter: burke says to keep them covered until temperatures rise above freezing. >> this is the kind of thing you're going to do in your

. >> meagan fitzgerald joins us live with the developments. >> reporter: as soon as those suspects entered front door behind me here, the alarm system went off. that wasn't enough to defer the -- deter these guys. >> i guess it's a little scary. >> reporter: scary and unsettling to think that two criminals got away with 30 guns. it happened in less than two minutes. after prying open the door to the united gun shop, they used crowbars tosh glass cases. this surveillance video shows the men quickly grabbing as many guns as they can and tossing them into a black bag. while crews cleaned up and repaired the front door, montgomery county police searched for clues. >> it's not a good thing. a lot of desperate people out there. >> reporter: atf agents were also on scene, spending hours inside the shop trying to determine which guns were stolen. >> not good they're on the street with the wrong people. >> reporter: that's the concern for law enforcement as well, which is why they're hoping the public can help them identify the suspects buy paying close attention to their voices. >> let's go. >> re

we begin with news 4's meagan fitzgerald. >> reporter: protesters are in front of the department of labor. i'm not sure if you can see all the way down behind us here on 3rd street, but they are protesting and asking for things like work place equality for women, an end to work place discrimination, and asking for equal pay for equal work for women. of course earlier today we were there as protesters made their way to the white house. >> if we don't get it -- >> shut it down. >> reporter: just before noon, hundreds of people started their march to lafayette square. protesters chanting slogans and holding signs which advocate for women's rights. the demonstrations were part of a day without a woman strike which called on women to wear red, stay home from work, and to protest. >> i came out because i wanted to support all the women tha >> i think it's important that the country know that women are standing together. >> women literally are the backbone of this entire country and this entire world. without women, we wouldn't be here. i need to be here in solidarity. >> reporter: these protest

meagan fitzgerald explains. >> reporter: for 150 years howard university has been one of the leaders in higher education and an institution with a rich history. and today the university celebrates and remembers its past. >> over three quarters of all the federal judges in this country who are of african decent did their work at black colleges. >> reporter: that's why presidents of historical black colleges and universities met with president trump this week, hoping to speak with him about the challenges and needs of hbcus. shortly after trump signed the exec order for hbcus, >> it's a very hostile environment right now. >> reporter: there was even more concern after the president met with betsy devos. many students say they felt blindsided by the meeting and are calling for more transparency. even on charter day, the students protested inside the ceremony. >> disappointing that students close to do that during his occasion. you know, i would charge students to do some research and, you know, explore the unique relationship that howard has with the federal government. >> reporter: the

and meagan fitzgerald, a howard alum is there. >> reporter: it was 150 years ago today that the charter howard university was signed. so many people on campus celebrated at a ceremony this morning, while others looked back at the school's rich history. prominent figures like the first associate justice of the supreme court, thurgood marshall and presidents who grace the campus hang inside founder's library. but the day wasn't all about ale obama administration f -- all about celebration for everyone. some protested the visit by betsy devos. the president's office says not only has the president been hearing the concerns of students, but he has an open-door policy where he's been meeting with all the student groups who are interested in meeting with him as he understand their concerns. >>> it is a busy afternoon here on news4. we are' we're working for you. >>> hey guys. from the breaking news about the attorney general jeff sessions to that teenage tragedy going on right now in oxon hill, we're gathering new details for you. >> that new reaction for you tonight at 5:00. plus, a local ho

i'm meagan fitzgerald. we are following several stories for you this morning.xpect large crowds down by the tidal basin this weekend. cherry blossoms are expected to reach peak bloom and the weather is supposed to be awesome. metro says they're scaling back some of their maintenance work to accommodate the extra people. >>> and you can safely get rid of all those documents you have piling up. head to the nbc 4 all state community shred today. it's free at the college campus in annandale. we'll have a look at your weekend forecaswh back. >>> good morning. meteorologist tom kierein is standing by for a look at our weekend weather. tom, it's looking beautiful out there, huh? >> yeah. we're in the 50s right now. a lot of clouds around, but we'll stay dry. and temperatures as we get into the afternoon will be jumping into the 70s. ought to hit the mid-70s by mid-afternoon. a lot of cloudiness. maybe a little sunshine breaking out from time to time. then this evening there is a possibility of a passing rain shower. that's going to be between generally around 6:30, 7: