i'm scott macfarlane. >>> soldiers, spies and espionage. all things that made tom clancy's stories hits in the literary world and also on the big screen. >> the author passed away last night at the age of 66. mark barger has a look back now at his impressive career. >> tom clancy's goal had been simply to write one book. but he wrote more than 20. his high-tech cold war thrillers sold more than 100,000 copies and made him among the most popular authors of his time. >> people write about people who believe in something. people with a sense of duty, with a sense of mission, who will make the world better in some way. >> reporter: his success started in 1984 with "the hunt for red october." later turned into a movie, it was the first of several books featuring cia hero jack ryan. >> i got information from those interviews. none of it is classified. it's all in the open. really a matter of doing good research as a reporter does good research. >> reporter: it fascinated readers. the pre9/11 thriller dead of honor included a jumbo jet crashing in

scott macfarlane broke the story. the exclusive gym that was supposed to be closed because of the shutdown remains very much ope open. >> the u.s. house members have retained one of their perks. this private gym behind these closed doors. one day after the news 4 i--team captured it the house members are either walking in or walking out of the gym despite promises it would be closed. they are drafting former legislation to make them close it. on day nine of the partial government shutdown, it was the gym that became the topic of debate on the house floor. >> some of the most fanatic about inflicting unnecessary pain on the american public are regulars. enjoying our house gym members do pay a fee for the use of the gym. the former legislation has been introduced now but has just two sponsors. >>> thanks, scott. tonight police are looking for people driving with a cell phone in their hands. officers handed out 115 tickets in the last nine days. just over 5 # 0 tickets were issued in all of last year. the new law went in

scott macfarlane, news 4 i-team. >> thank you, scott. >>> the rescue mission is over.ind out how a hiking trip ended in tragedy for one family. >>> plus, they are using stun guns to rob people. still to come tonight on news 4 at 5:00, new details on the crime wave hitting d.c. >>> we are talking about another beautiful day. temperatures today ten degrees above average. take a look at this shot from the reston camera as we look to tyson's corner. it's nice if you are doing shopping today. >>> a number of buildings in and around the u.s. capital are closed right now because of the government shutdown. that includes the visitor center and the library of congress. people trying to get in found roped off areas and signs saying the facilities are closed. >>> some furloughed workers say the shutdown isn't only weighing on them, it's punishing their kids. >> take a look at this picture from a parent who brought her kid to the park to discover they were locked out. >> chris gordon is there with another look. a look at another side of the shutdown that's got residents angry. chr

the news 4 i-team canvassed the capital and scott macfarlane found out even though federal workers aren furlough, some conveniences are much in place. >> they were spending tax money on themselves in ways you might not expect. no need to walk all the way, the underground subway saves members of congress a hike between congress and is u.s. house floor, still running. operators still on the job. in-house physicians and the staff at the cafeteria and bank and post office where they can grab a meal, cash a check or buy a stamp within feet of their offices. the recording studio where they can use tax money to record cable tv shows stays open and the franking commission is still running. they review mass mailings and newsletters members of congress send home at taxpayer expense. both allow members of congress to communicate with constituents. david williams says -- >> what these perks and benefits do, really, help them get reelected. when you talk about a recording studio, when you talk about mail services, this is about getting reelected. >> reporter: the shoe shine is still open and they m

scott macfarlane, news 4 i-team. >>> an ohio man pleaded guilty to rigging his jeep so it would crash near the white house. this was back in june. he wedged a wooden block on the gas pedal sending the jeep down pennsylvania avenue at 40 miles per hour. he was trying to create a distraction to spray paint a message on the white house. he'll spend almost three years in prison when he's sentenced in february. >>> a married couple living near the navy yard is feeling twice the pinch. they are both federal workers on furlough. they are trying to use their down time in a productive way. they are both feeling stressed. >> i think the stress of not being -- not being able to work is -- it's not a happy space to be in. >> a lot of it is a distraction. trying to keep ourselves together, so we don't lose our minds over this. >> heather works for a federal contractor serving nasa's goddard space flight and her husband works at the census bureau. >> two polls out in the race for governor of virginia. 800 likely voters find terry mcauliffe is leading 42% to 37%. libertarian candidate, robert sarvis

i'm scott macfarlane. >> the fbi shut down a major website linked to drug traffickers.ourt documents say the site was used by thousands of drug dealers and hundreds of thousands of customers worldwide. ross albright. the site's owner is facing a possible murder for hire charge. >>> virginia's two candidates for attorney general came face-to-face today. they debated issues in front of the loudoun chamber of commerce and took on medicaid expansion in virginia and how to fill judicial vacancies. but also how they would be different from current attorney general and candidate for governor, ken cuccinelli. >> he has bent and twisted the law in order to impose policies that are wi touds the mainstream. and this senator will be a continuation of that. >> a great place to do business we have to keep them low. our regulatory system fair. and to make sure we have a level playing field. and i've supported those policies. >> both candidates promise more transparency should they be elected. >>> the washington nationals now looking for a site on i-95 in fredricksburg to build a new s