it's been a decade in the making but the transformation of merrifield is now well under way. the county approved a redevelopmen plan for a town center back in 2002 to make better use of a location just blocks from the dunn loring metro. >> whenever i go out to community meetings that is one of the first questions i am asked, what's happening in merrifield? when is the town center going to open? >> reporter: this is what's emerged. its developer edens is creating what they call an urban district. >> when we started this process ten years ago, we visited a hundred different places and we determined we wanted to create a place that was unlike any other in the country. and to do that, we needed a merchandise mix that reflected that vision. >> reporter: under construction, a hotel and office space, a shopping area that will eventually have as many as a hundred stores and restaurants. already onboard there? target, a neiman studio concept store, and anthropology. the angelica theater will bring art house movie fare and new town homes on the site are selling fast. developers say in

in merrifield, virginia, julie carey, news4. >> the entire development project in merrifield should beinished by the end of next year. >> i went to school out that way. >> did you? >> and it's so wonderful to see they have a plan in place for that area. there's a whole lot of real estate just waiting to be developed. >> you've got to love any time they put any development right near a metro stop. >> yes. >> that really eases up traffic so much around here. every little bit helps. >> all right, you're right about that. >> could be a lot of traffic. here's my prediction for traffic today -- anything near a blooming cherry tree is likely to have some sort of a traffic problem today. we'll give you all the ins and outs of your sunday forecast, next. >>> kudos to all of you who finished the sun trust rock and roll marathon. i'd say about 21,000 people are waking up with some extra moans and groans this morning after finishing the 26.2-mile course. and a special congrats to michael wardian, who finished first with a time of, get this, 2 hours, 26 minutes, 35 seconds. only, you know. and the

in virginia brand new stores, hotels, and town homes and more are on the way to merrifield. construction is well under way in a new urban district near the dunn loring metro, a project that's been in the works for a long time and julie carey has an update. >>> for years fairfax county's merrifield area has been known for the sometimes gridlock intersections and hundreds of small businesses and industrial style warehouses. >> it's been an ugly duckling. put it like that. how is that? it was an older inlandial area here in the heart of county. >> reporter: take a look at the merrifield makeover. the county approved a redevelopment plan for a town center back in 2002 to make better use of a location just blocks from the dunn loring metro. this is what's emerged. its developer edens has created what they call the mosaic urban district. >> when we started this process ten years ago, we visited a hundred different places and we determined we wanted to create a place that was unlike any other in the country. and to do that, we needed a merchandise mix that reflected that vision. >>

beltway runs smoothly between annandale and merrifield. southbound 270, still in good shape headed out to the lane divide. that's a check of your fox 5 on-timetraffic. imetraffic. >>> violent attacks developing in afghanistan this morning. taliban fights are open fire on an afghan delegation visiting the same village where an american soldier killed 16 civilians. >> the taliban has threatened retaliation for the shootings. the u.s. soldier suffered a head injury. president obama says the u.s. will not accelerate plans for withdrawal. >> obviously what happened this weekend was absolutely tragic and heart breaking but when you look at what00 of thousands of our military personnel have achieved under enoamplous strain, you can't help but be proud generally. >> pentagon chief leon panetta says the soldier could face the death penalty. >>> today, president obama will discuss the next moves in afghanistan with british prime minister david cameron. he will be in the u.s. on a three-day state visit. the focus is on foreign threats including iran

nice, easy drive on the beltway inare loop between annandale and merrifield. southbound 270 leaving hyattstown, lanes are open. the pace is good for go south of 109 head into germantown. >>> our big story this morning, the familiar live florida teenager gunned down by a neighborhood watch captain makes their case on capitol hill. the parents of trayvon martin testified in front of a group of lawmakers yesterday. elected leaders talked about several issues including the stand your ground law, racial profiling, neighborhood watch programs and why the sanford police department has not arrested the shooter, george zimmerman. >> we've got to make sure that what has happened in sanford with the police department and how they handled this situation never happens again in the united states of america. >> zimmerman claims trayvon was beating him up so he shot in self-defense. the u.s. justice department is investigating this case as a possible hate crime. a grand jury will convene april 10th and determine if there will be any charges against zimmerman. >>> one of georg

the beltway looks good and traveling at speed as well annandale to merrifield.bound i-95 in the express lanes and the main lines, you will find your lanes are open as you continue out towards newington. here at the american legion bridge, traffic flowing freely as you work your way off the out are loop headed from montgomery county out towards tyson's and often the inner loop leaving the toll road back around towards 270. that's a check of your fox 5 on-time traffic. >> making headlines this morning, an all-out manhunt for i aman accused of killing his wife is now over. >> the man was found dead from an apparent suicide. fox 5's melanie alnwick is live in kensington, maryland with more. >> good morning. >>> police say that they knew there was potential for significant danger yesterday with 51-year-old philip gilberti on the run and armed after murdering his wife just back here on connecticut avenue tuesday morning. take a look at the mug shot. gilberti has a long criminal record including arrests for domestic violence. he was also arrested saturday for stalking

we had the overnight construction on the beltway between annandale and merrifield, crews in the process of picking up that work. lanes are open traveling eastbound along 66 making your way in from manassas towards the capital beltway. this happens to be the outer loop at speed leaving college park headed past colesville road. your lanes are open as you continue southbound along 270 coming in out of germantown. this is that live stretch coming in from centreville. you will find that your lanes are open northbound on 95 and 395 leaving the occoquan head up towards the pentagon. that's a check of your fox 5 on-timetraffic. etraffic. . >> thank you. >>> newly released police video has come it light in the trayvon martin case. some people believe it shows that shooter george zimmerman was not beaten by the florida teenager. melanie alnwick has a look at the video. >> reporter: the orlando sentinel reports that the city of sanford provided the surveillance video for abc news. police reports from officers on the scene the night of the incident say zimmerman was found bleeding from the nose and

lanes are open on the beltway between annandale and merrifield. you will find your lanes are open southbound on 270 working your way in from clarksburg headed into germantown. that's a check of your fox 5 on-time traffic. >>> the montgomery county council has cleared the way to install cameras on school buses. in a unanimous vote, officials approved the cameras. the move is an attempt to stop drivers from illegally passing stopped buses as they were picking up or dropping off students. violators face fines of up to $250. the estimated cost of phase two of the dulles metrorail project is much less than originally thought. phase two will cost about $2.7 billion. that is more than a billion dollars less than estimated just a year ago. phase two includes building more than 11 miles of rails through the dulles corridor out through the airport. fairfax and loudoun county have now 95 days to approve the project before construction can begin. >>> president obama is pushing back against republican critics who claim he wants gas prices to increase. mr.obama

it is a nice, easy ride on the beltway traveling between annandale and merrifield. you will find the lanes are open eastbound 66 as you travel in from manassas headed in towards the capital beltway. beltway outer loop in the dark, no problems to report leaving colesville road headed over towards 270. that's a check of your fox 5 on-time traffic. >>> now, back to the legal fight over president obama's health care law. arguments wrap up today after and historic three-day session. >> yesterday, it was all about the commerce clause, the part of the constitution that lets commerce regular late any business that crosses state lines. let's get more now from fox 5's melanie alnwick outside the u.s. supreme court this morning. >> it was described as a very tough day in court yesterday. many believe the questioning by some of the justices is signaling that some of them appear ready to strike down the key provision that everyone buy health insurance. most court watchers do feel that the four liberal justices will uphold the mandate while the four conservatives are likely to fi

the hot lane zone road work has cleared traveling between an and del and merrifield.es are open on 95 leaving woodbridge traveling up to the capital beltway. your lanes are open as you continue past duke street. this is the out are loop past colesville road. no trouble spots to report as you work your way over towards 270 in college park. that's a check of your fox 5 on-time traffic. >> thank you. >>> a commuter alert to tell you about. street sweeping is beginning in the district so from now through the end of october, if you are parked in a sweeping zone during certain hours, you will get a $30 ticket. look for the signs posted on residential streets. >>> let's talk about the internet. beware when you use google because up next, your personal information is out there like never before. >> details of google's new privacy policy and how can you keep some of your information safe. we'll be right back. >>> a consumer alert right now. new fees could be coming for bank of america customers. the banking giant has been experimenting with new check being account fees in ariz

in merrifield, virginia, julie carey, news4. >> the project at the metro is scheduled to be finishedy the end of the year. >>> president obama celebrated st. patrick's day by enjoying a pint at union station. >> he did raise a glass, but he was also spotted down in colombia. that's because the country was holding an obama look-alike contest. i love it! the 18 contestants -- hello, mr. president. hello, mr. president, again! stepped out of a vehicle and gave their best presidential wave to the crowd. the winner, carlos bettes, says his co-workers pushed him to enter the contest. he hopes to meet the real president obama next month when the president visits colombia for the summit of the americas. he actually does favor him quite a bit. >> yeah, you know? i can see it. >> you don't think so? >> it's a look. >> i would say michelle obama competition as well. that would be nice. >> absolutely. >> the first lady. >> the first lady. >> see if anybody else has guns jim wilson? here is the chase freedom 5% cash back you get on amazon.com purchases. wow! and your kindle fire. thank you. do yo

no problems to report here, light traffic volume continues on the beltway between anden dale and merrifield. you will find northbound on 395 as you work your way north of duke street, lanes are open continuing out to the 14th street bridge. allow extra time out there on the roads with the fog. that's a check of your fox 5 on-timetraffic. etraffic. . >> thank you. >>> we have new details this morning about a hair win bust at dulles international. customs agents say they caught a nigerian woman with nearly five pounds of heroin in her stomach trying to sneak into the country and this one is a record breaker, folks. it is the most pellets and the heaviest amount of injested drugs the airport has ever seized. wisdom martin has more on this. >> reporter: it is one of the biggest heroin busts ever at dulles airport. an officer doing a patdown of a nigerian woman noticed her storm back as abnormally rigid. david martinez is a supervisor with the u.s. customs and border protection. >> they go through her baggage. they go new her documents. they do some research. >> reporter: when they sent the 52-y

the beltway is running smoothly between annandale and merrifield. southbound 270, heavy and slow leaving urbana to a point just south of 109 and the scales. if you are traveling inbound pennsylvania avenue, before you commit to the sousa, you want to make that right turn to get north on d.c. route 295, heads up as you make your way in from branch avenue. that's a check of your fox 5 on-timetraffic. raffic. >> thank you. >>> republican presidential candidate newt gingrich shared some big ideas during his visit to georgetown university yesterday. he touched on his plan to privatize social security, secularism, judicial power and domestic energy production. the speech was his first since letting go a third of his campaign staff and canceling appearances. one. gingrich's rivals made a stop in our region. ron paul spoke to a capacity crowd at the university of maryland in college park. >> he touched on campaign themes underscoring the need to shrink federal government. the candidates have been making the round head of next tuesday's primaries in maryland

to report at this time for those continuing their trip on the beltway between an annandale and merrifieldnes are open in each direction at the wilson bridge. that's a check of your fox 5 on-time traffic. >> thank you. >>> it is super tuesday. and it could turn out to be a crucial day in picking the republican candidate for president. >> voters heading to the polls later this morning in 10 states with over 400 delegates up for grabs. virginia is one of them and for more on today's vote, we'll turn to fox 5's melanie alnwick live at a polling station in great falls. any signs of life out there yet. >> reporter: yes, as a matter of fact, there are, care a the polls will open here in just about a half hour so the campaign workers have already arrived and they're inside getting things set up. turnout is expected to be light. super tuesday, overall will deliver one-third ever delegates needed for the republican nomination. let's take a look at the numbers here. 419 delegates in all in 10 states. mitt romney right now leads in the delegate race with 203. saab santorum is in second. it will not b

inner loop, no problems to report leaving annandale to merrifield. that is a crash on the georgetown pike west of the beltway that you need to keep an eye open for. lanes are open continuing out towards fair oaks. the bus that was on fire was westbound 66 in the service road at 7100. that activity has already cleared. lanes are open southbound along 270 but in the fog heavy volume trying to head south on 109. you break free before you reach 121 only to slow in the rockville interchanges. >>> we'll go live to fox business network in new york. found out what could happen if gas prices hit the $5 mark. metro, bicycle. >> i don't want to think about t as you go to break, you may not know his name but chances are you have used his creation. samuel glazer as passed away. the businessman and a friend dreamed up the idea for mr. coffee. they hired two westinghouse engineers to actually create it. it hit the market in 19726789 he died in cleveland earlier this month. thank you, mr. coffee.   the middle class is shrinking. in this day and age

you will find your lanes are open leaving annandale to merrifield. that's a check of your fox 5 on-timetraffic. -timetraffic. >> thank you. >>> a new study shows d.c. ranks among the top five cities with speed cameras. getting a the hot under the collar? d.c. has 349 enforcement cameras right now. they again rate billions of dollars in fines across the country. the debate remains are she designed to improve safety or generate money? yesterday on fox anews at 5:00, john townsend told us the city does have a need for speed cameras. here is more. >> i think it has a persistent speeding problem. we know that speeding is one of the seven deadly traffic sins in the district of columbia and it should be. they are trying to crack down on it. >> reporter: says speed cameras have generated millions of dollars for the district and the city has become reliant on that income. >>> a man would would some day become president of the united states showing his romantic side. up next, love letters to his future bride. >>> time for a look at today's my fox half off deal

the lanes are open on the beltway between annandale and merrifield. no trouble spots to report here on the beltway as you work your way past connecticut avenue on the upper loop and outer loop. traffic flowing freely on the american legion bridge. that's a check of your fox 5 on-time traffic. >>> the national cherry blossom festival is now officially under way. five weeks to celebrate d.c.'s national treasure. the peak bloom of the trees is now past. it only lasts a few days, of course. taking care of the trees is work that lasts all year long. reporter lee powell from the associated press shows us how new trees are bred with help from the old ones. >> reporter: the capital's famed cherry blossoms paint the shores with color and fill cameras with snapshots. but in this spot, a few of the trees are original, just plain old. march27th you go, 1912 was the big day for the gift. shovel to soil, first lady hell entaft and the japanese ambassador's wife presiding. >> none. us were around then and the people would planted the trees then are no longer with us

beltway inner loop, no trouble spots to report, annandale to merrifield. this is southbound 270 coming now of germantown. lanes are open headed out to the split. that's a check of your fox 5 on-time traffic. >> thank you. >>> president obama will host a state dinner at the white house tonight long oirg british prime minister david cameron and his wife -- honoring british perform david cameron and his wife. apparently the wine list will be kept mum. this comes after criticism following a state dipper last year where a antibiotic ofen wine on the market for nearly $400 was served there. you want to try to avoid any backlash from that. >> that is the kind of wine where you swirl it and say i smell root vegetables. >> with all of them, right? >> we'll go live to fox business network in new york coming up next. >> pass or fail? the nation's largest banks put to the test. could they handle 13% unemployment arrest a 60% stock plunge. find out who got a good grade and who the fed says couldn't cut it. we are back in a moment with business beat  a

trouble spots to report there n river, the beltway looks good as you travel between annandale and merrifieldccident activity reported on the shoulder. northbound i-59 as you approach route one in woodbridge. >>> the big story, the tornado aftermath across five states in the south and midwest. thirty-nine people have now died from friday's violent storms. the latest victim is a toddler who had been found alive in a field in indiana. she passed away last night after being taken off life support. rescuerers are still going door to door in remote areas to rule out any more victims. residents who had their homes destroyed are still sifting through the debris. >> all my jewelry and stuff like little statues i got from my mom at different dates, my jewelry, my rings. we're looking for my class ring. i don't know if it is in here or in my boxes and stuff. >> total devastation for some of the victims. but there are up lifting stories coming out of this strag ditch the there are donations pouring into the affected areas and people are volunteering time, money and food to help the victims. >>> branches

nice easy ride so far on the beltway traveling between annandale and merrifield.und 270, so far, so good leaving 109 headed out towards the exits for montgomery village. height traffic volume along the way. >>> the second annual rally for roads is being held today. it begins at 11:00 a.m. on the national mall. members from 15 transportation construction industry association and lawmakers are gathering to show their support for fully funded multi-year transportation bill. the rally will also showcase the role transportation plays on simulating the economy. also maintaining the nation's global competitiveness and creating american jobs. >>> there is a push to halt the enforcement of those red top parking meters. the program that would make people with handicapped plates and placards pay for parking is supposed to be fully implemented by april 17th. there will be a public hearing on the matter because she believes elderly and disi believe ad constituents are furious. >> mostly, they just don't understand what the program is. they don't understand if there is going to

most locations, from georgetown to lanham, new carrollton, oak happen, merrifield, rockville, low 50s. by 9:00, near 60. by noontime, low 60s. could have some blustery winds developing by noontime. during the afternoon, we could have gusts to around 30 miles per hour. and that wind will diminish under a clear sky. down into the low 40s by midnight. all these counties in blue under freeze watches and warnings. freeze warnings, areas in blue getting the 20s by this time tomorrow morning. we'll look at the week and weekend in ten minutes. danella has traffic. good morning. >>> good morning, jupdate on an accident, outer loop at little river turnpike. that accident, nothing there, it's clear. we've got to head to eastbound. this is university boulevard at colesville road. intersection here is blocked because of an accident. this is the eastbound lane of university boulevard. you see police and ambulance are on the scene. traveling 66 eastbound, still have the crash blocking the right lane. this is at 28. and you're jammed. look at this, sudley road. big delays. back to you both. >> all ri