. >> this morning, news 4 consumer reporter susan hogan is working chr you with a crash course on those high- devices. >> alexa, turn off the likes. >> dan doesn't just write about smart home products, he uses them to his one must have device, a smart speaker. >> alexa, lock the front door. >> smart speakers make it very easy toonnect all the different products. >> to use a smart speaker as a hub or control center of sorts, you'll find three main options. amazon's alexa. >>> the $120 amazon cloud cam is a consumereports best buy and if you want surveillance inside and outside of yourhome, consider the net gear arlo o2 art camera for $220. >> susan hogan reporting there. consumer repts also looked into another smart device. smart smoke detectors. if you're considering those be careful.va they areilable but they're only able to detec one type of re. not everything. >> all right. storm team 4 weather alt. more rain chances coming up. >> who the thieves appear to be targeting and when they are striking. >> and it was once the biggest store in the country. now sears may only have hours left.

back to you. >> susan hogan.ur consumer team reached out to trevery school dt in the region to find out who has these partitions and what policies, if any, are in place. you can check out our interactive map on the nbc washington p to see which schools have these powerful walls, just search partitions. >>> after a violent stretch in one d.c. neighborhood, police are bringing some much needed holiday cheer. news 4's shomari stone takes us to northeastashington tonight. >> reporter: the sound ofirens near benning road in northeast. some people tell me it's all too common, but this time -- >> ho, ho, ho. >> reporter: -- police aren't responding to crime. >> mry christmas! >> reporter: santa claus h come to town. he teamed up withof cers. >> anybody want hot chocolate? >> reporter: dering holiday cheer. >> it's a blessing. means that everybody still has love in our heart and we have love in the community. >> reporter: santa -- >> come give me a hug. >> reporter: mrs. claus andlp ruh passed out early gi christmas s. >

susan hogan has more than you would expect in the answe ahead.lus, first responders get help and repaid with hopeful an overdose survivor turnsis life around after a dramatic rescue. >> i owe these folks so much. to think that my beautiful daughter wouldn't hav born if they had not brought me back. >>> ade local firrtment receives a touching tribute from a man they helped. you don't want to miss this onee we'll knew about six minutes. >> a hey, bbater, batter, batter, er. [ crowd cheers ] e likeveryone, i lead a busy life. but i know the importance y having time to do what love. at comcast we know our customers' time is valuable. -h that's why we haver appointment windows, including nights and weekends. so you can do more of what u love. my name is tito, and i'm a tech ops manager at comcast. we're working to make things simple, easy and awesome. >>> imagine getting anock on the door thinking it is a package from a family or friend but inste it is a highly upsetting letter from h apital and it says your blood may have been infected with a potenti

susan hogan isorking for you to help protect your money. >> what's on your holiday wish list? if you send gift cards, you're not alone. >> the kids will request it. consumer reports says those physical cards for sc stores and vendors that you buy off a rack can be an easyark fo criminals. >> scammers copy the gift card codes and scratch off the strip to steal the pin. win steal.ou load money, they >> always check for physical tampering. make sure the coating is intact and never buy a card if the pin is revealed. >> consumer reports tnks the more attractive option is to get a reloadable card from visa or american express. hey limit the liability to $50 and sometimes 0 if you report the theft within two days. >> an additional benefit? they're moreep widely accd as a form of payment. and what about e gift cards? the kind you purchase and send by te e-mail or on social media in they are convenient, fast, but aresahey ? >> first of all, make sure you're sending the e gift card ep the right person before you send itding on where you're sending it, get the right e-mail addres phone n

susan hogan is in the newsroom with deils. >> well, the recall involved children's ibuprofen and if itgested, it could lead to health problems. the company markets it under three names. equate infant's ibuprofen, concentrated oral suspension, cvs health, and family wellness infants ibuprofen concentrated suspension as well. haveompany says they m higher concentrations of ibuprofen than listed. the product were sold at cvs, walmart and family stores. too much can lead to permanent reason or kidney injuries. abies could have nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, tinnitus, headaches and other gastroin there have been no complaints yet but any child experiencing these issues should go to the doctor. if you want speci information about lot numbers and expiration dates, we have put that information for you right now on our app. >>> the golden globe nominations are out. >> this year, it is causing some controversy. a star is born. shere are some big snubs and that inclu "this is us." natalie morales, tal to us about the snub that most are upset about. before we get to the negative, let focus on the pos

our consumer reporter susan hogan is working for you tonight with rearaling the cds with the biggest bang for your buck. >> reporter: if you must use a credit cardor holiday shopping this year, then at least let's find one that's going to givehi you som back, like good rewards, right? creditcard.com says u.s. banks have produced a bumper crop of no annual fee rewards cars. american express cash magnet, 1.5% cash back on every purchase, $200 bonus, you just have to spend $1,000 in your first three months. american airlines advantage mile up card, two miles per dollarern grand eligible airline purchase b ionf us you spend $500 in the first three months. bank of america cash rewards credit card, about 3% cashack on gas, a bonus $200 if you spend $500 in the first three months. and capital one savorone, that offers 3% cash back on dining and entertainment and a $soo bonus by spending he$500 in first three months. while cash is preferred over racking up credit card debt, if you must use credit, budget up ndfront what you want to s before hitting the mall. and look at the fine print on tha

susan hogan is working for you with tips to save money as you get ready for the holidays. >> it seems like everywhere we turn huring theidays there's signs promising some big deals. have some simple steps to make sure that you're getti a good deal. fore you buy, do your resear research. scour for the best deals. price tracker and quick deals tell you when price drop and price comparison app can tell you if there's a better deal out there online or at a local store. coupon sherppa offer discounts to use at check out. >> how does price proteion sound? there are price adjustments out there that will search the web after andt will initiate a refund if the price drops on something. pretty cool. back to you. >> for today, what special counsel robert mueller is doing today that m u give more information about the russia investigation. >> plus, equal parts hanukkah and hockey. the big help one local man was given to make real his vision of ake h stick minora. >> we head to break with a live look inside capitol hill. president bush is lying in state right now. overnight mourners walk past the

they could be the ones to take a big hi consumer reporter susan hogan has what you need a to knout filingour taxes this year. >> remember as we get closer to the end of the year we run into ourlosets to find clothes or other things to donate to charity, that's going to change for an estimated 21 mlion americans. tax deductions for charitable contributions if we itemize instead of taking the standard deduction but under the new actt it's tougher clear. the standard deduction has nearly doubled. >> the standard deduction has gone up. for a married couple that's 24,000 for 2018. for an individual it's 12,000. >> if you don't have than that, you're better o taking the standard deduction. >> reporter: of course you still can donateo a charity without getting a tax break. you still reap the rewards of knowing you've done something really good. >>> 4:25 your timenow. coming up, you shopped, you wrapped, you gave. >> now it's return time. time to send i all back to the gore. what to know aboting the best for your buck on the gift you don't want. >>> good morning, everybody. temperatures way below

. >> consumer invesve reporter susan hogan has been working on it for aear now. >> we first told you about safety concerns surrounding this particular type ofai guard r known as the x-lite last year. in some cases makin accidents worse. two parents tonight calling for the removal ofua these rails aren't giving up their fight. >> this is the last place you think you will come to see your kids. >> sonya johnsonsarter vis her son's grave at arlington national cemetery every sunday. privat first class michael carter jr. was killed last february after crashinnto anx- te guard rail last february. steve joins her and the two share an unimaginable bond. his 17-year-old daughter, hannah, also died after hitting an x-lite. >> it shouldn't happen, being cuddle by a defective guard rail. >> reporter: in these accidents the r gual steered the vehicle. x-lite says it is not defective and playing into the outcome of the crash. somen' aret willing to stake the techance. 15 ss are actively roving x-lites from their roads. in july, maryland announced it would replace nearly 1,000 x-lite is in the stat

. >>> tonight on news 4 at 5:00, consumer reporter susan hogan will take you behindhe scenes at the labwhat does it take to put o of these crash tests together? and find out what researchell are r looking for in the aftermath. the answer may surprise you. >>> big congratulations this t morning tee schools in our area. they've been selected as maryland blue ribbonchools which means they are some of the highest performing in the state. theinrs include mount harmony elementary school in calvert county, urbana high school in frederick and gl glenmont. they can go on to apply to be a national blue ribbon. >>> .4: "forbes" magazine has listed the topcelebrities. george lucas a the the top of the list. he's worth $5.4 billion. g,llowed by steven spielb oprah winfrey, michael jordan and kiley jenner rounds out the top five and then kylieener, is she have -- >> wha does she do? >> she's a model. >> she has a beauty line. she's a kardashian. or a jenner. >> either way i don't care. you know what, more power to ,you. >>> we the duke and duchess of sussex are crossing the pond. it's being reported

at 5:00 this morning, susan hogan will be live with what you need to know before you head out to the stores. >>he's going to bring us good advice. >> stay tuned for that. it's not the shopping ghates you stress, it's the people in crowd.rking lot and the >> watch where you're stepping. >> absolutely. now some fun forou you and kids on this christmas eve. >> we like it. today you can watch the water skiing santa. 's going to be o on the potomac river. he's going to catch the waves at 1:00 this afternoon. this is of course video from ride.year's the best place to ch with a it from the waterfront is king street. also and the grinch may make an appearance. >> we have never done it. list. my >> skiing or watching? >> just watching. >> absolutely. >> it's a milder day today. >> holiday air traffic turned into road traffic in alabama. find out why this pilot says he put his oice but to plane down on the freeway. >> and the holiday season could last forever if your lucky numbers cmoe up toow. we'll tell you about the record jackpot up for grabs when news 4 today continues. >> f linglucky? >>

tomorrow on news 4 at 4:00, consumer reporter susan hogan reveals the topic safety for 2019. and then, at a:00, she'll take you behind the scenes, from the crash test dummies to all those cameras and sensors. see what it takes to put one of these crash tests together, and find out what researchers are really looking for in the aftermath. the answer might surprise you. that's tomorrow, right here on news 4. >>> next at 11:00, total strangers fulfill a young woisn's christmas w >> it just shows you there's stl a lot of good in people. >> why a huge stack of newspapers meansuc so m to lacey milner and her mother. >>> she gave us la verne, and so much mo. tonight, friends and fans share tributes to actor/director penny marshall. >>> and after news 4, don't miss former first lady michelle obama and jimmy fallo together. "the tonight ♪ ♪ we're gonna do it >> go ahead and sing aleg. memorable opening to "laverne & shirley" bringing smiles tonight t fans of penny marshall. the costar of that hit show and acaimed comic actress and director died today from complications of diabetes. he

susan hogan is helping you make the right choice. >> consumer reports tested vacuums. over thousands of miles of carpeting to see which are best and here's the advice on what you need to look for.s valerie u her bagless vacuum cleaner twice a week. seeing the dirt in the been makes her clean moreoften. >> i don't like to have the dirt there. i need to get it out of sight. >> reporter: which should you go for? bag orgl s? consumer reports tested them vigorously on how easily they are to maneuver. you may think bagless are easier to maintain and with no bags to replace, they're cheaper to own. well, bagless machines have more filters to clean and replace and to keep it running its best, the bin should be cleaned from time to time. >> so entering the can be messy. it is something to take into consideration, if you have allergies or dt sense activity. >> the bag that collects the dirt might be the best bet for beam dust sensitivities. some bags can be sealed when t u remom with enclosures or filters. whatever sty you choose, bag ba stay the same. >> we add wood flowerseeo

. >> susan hogan is telling us about how a secret score may be affecting us as shoppers.his score even exists, oris how i even calculated. when we started asking questions, we found retailers don't really want to tell us. >> did you know while you're tracking the best les, retailers are tracking you? they're hook at your spending habits and how often you shop. then giving you a grade called a clv, or ctomer lifetime value. it's a score you have no way of seeing. >> a ltle big brotherish. >> that's not good. >> i think it makes sense. >> reporter: why a retailers doing this? experts say it is to call in to their best customers. >> when you call in, you have a complaint, you're seeking a discount, hey, mybo nei got this and i didn't. they know who you are and they'll know whether you deserve it or not. >> shoppers make big purchases and spend more money. they would be likely to get a refund without much trouble. >> it will be pely based on what you've done and what they think you'll do next. >> reporter: in short, he says it comes down to your relationship with theta reer.

susan hogan on how to buy and connect these high-tech devices. >> if you think about it, just about everything to the internet and also remotely controlled by our phone. setting these things up can be so confusing. we are working for you to help sort it all out. >> turn off the lights. >> he doesn't just write about smartphoneproducts. he uses them, too. his onessential device, a smart speaker. >> smart device me it very easy to connect them.>> you will find thr main devices, alexa and siri. consumer reports puts them through rigorous testing. for example, smart locks have to pass the se break-in tests. >> you want a lk that is smart but also strong. >> this recommended $230 loc connects with any of the assistants. another option for your video door bell. you can see who is at your door and some even work with smart locks. you might want to add smart meras. they can record a break-in or this littleak guy bg the rules when dap isn't home. one thing to keep in mind, you will need to pay theee yearly which is usually approximately $200. >> they storeheideo on the company server. it can cost you o

let's get right to susan hogan who is working for with you this important safety information. >> reporter right. usually when we report on recalls, we tell to you stop using the product. in this case the america heart association is warning you not to stop taking your recalled blood pressure medication. according to doctors, the risk of abruptly stopping the drug may be higher if the treatment is stoppedimmediately. the patients are being told to stay on the recalledat medn until their doctor can find a comparable treatmen pharmaceuticals expanded the recall f the blood pressure medication to exist all existing lots of the drug thatave not been expired. the drugs are recalled because of trace amounts of an impurity which may cause canc this latest recall as well as many others include ingredients made in china and once again, until your doctor has prescribed with you an alternative blood pe medication, you are being advised to continue taking it. we have a complet list of all the recalled medications right now. just search blood pressure drug recall. back to you. >>> the fda is telling pe

. >> a story susan hogan has beeg followor months with an update. >> so last december, the consumer producton released this joint statement alerting the public about the fires. they promised they would work together to resolve the issue. tonight, safety experts say little has been done to keep you safe. ey were so excited for the joyride. their good time turned on horror in an instant when the vehicle ebecameulfed in flames. >> the whole two hours, pe kept screaming, why is nobody helping me? i'm dying. why is nobody helping me? >> reporter: she died from her esjuries. josh lith the scars. they've recalled nearly a half million vehicles related to fire risk including the onea joshu and page were riding in. however torsion this day, there are accusations that the fix isn't stopping the fires. and rovs not partf the recall are also catching fire. something polaris and the consumer product safety commission acknowledged last year. both promised they would work together to ensure fire risks were addrsed. >> there's a big problem. polaris has conducted more recalls than any other manufacturer. w

susan hogan is working for you with what you need to know about filing your taxes this year. >> remember as we get closer to the end of the yr we rummage through our closets as we try to find clothes and other things to fnate to chariwrtyitoff. that's going to change for an estimated21 million americans. doing goods i its own reward. a tax deduction does help shave money off of our tax bills, if we item iize taking the standar deduction. but that threshold is tougher to clear because the standard deduction has nearly doubled. >> for a married couple in 2018, it's $24,000, for an individual, it's,0 . of course you still can donate to a charityithout getting a tax break. you still reap the rewards of knowing you've done something real good. back to you. >> former redskins safety d.j. swearinger has a new hehome. broke the n rseandew o just dsr he public live krly criticized redskins coaches after losing t th tennessee titans. the final game kicks off this sunday against the philadelphia. eagles >> and lebron james will be spending the day with doctors. he's suffering from a groin injury. h

susan hogane will tak you behind the scenes at the lab and hey'll find out what researchers are looking for in the aftermath. the answers we think may surprise you. >>> talk about a lifeell lived, this morning family, iends and fans across the world are remembering pen marshal. >> according to her publicist, she died at home due to a complication of diabetes. she starred in the hit show "laverne & shirley" before becoming a director. >> reporter: penny marshall was born in the bronx and into show business. her brother gary and sister ronnie were producers. penny's earliest success was in front of the camera, including a few commercials and small roles in tv comedies, like "the bob newhart show." she became a star in 1976 as laverne on "laverne & shirley." the show, co-starring cindy willians, showcased the high jinx of two working class women in 1950 milwaukee. >> it was a blue collar show. we we working class girls, m working e the rent. >> reporter: when the show ended in 1983, marshall switched to thing about screen behind the camera. >> there's no crying in baseball! >> reporter: sh

this morning susan hogan is working for you with crash course on those high-tech devices. >> alexa, turn off the lights. >> reporter: dan doesn't just write about smart home oducts, he uses them, too. his one must-have devi , a smartspeaker. >> alexa, lock the front door. smart speakers make it very easy toonnect allhe product. >> reporter: to use the smart speaker, you'llind three main options, amazon alexa, google assistant and apple' sy ri, availabl -- .i smart locks have to pass the same break-in tests as aditional lock. >> you want a lock that is smart but also strong. >> this recommended $230 lock stood up to kicking, picking a drilling tests and connects with any of the three smart speaker assistants. anothe option for your ors, video door bells. you can see who is at your doo and some models even work with smart locks to remotely only the door through an app. you might want to add smart cameras inside and out. they can record a break-in or this little guy breakin the rules when dan isn't home. one thing to keep in mind, you'll need to pay a fee for video storage for most smart ra

susan hogan puts the most popular vacuums to the test.'ll help you find the right one for you. >>> and ar fat trying to find the daughter that he put up for adoption. >> god help me years in ie making. ands now in e works. that's a story you won't want to miss wheouwe join in about seven minutes. back to you for now. snpt a strange light show over the new york city skyline last night startled people last night. people were talking about alien space invaders. that's right.ch s explains what was really behind these flashes of light. >> what's going on? >> reporter: you are listening to a new jersey911 caller as she watched the spectacular light show from the other side of the river. 16 hours after the bizarre blast, governor cuomo toured the astoria substation where it all unfolded. a spokesman said an electrical fault on a section of 138,000 volt equipment caused a transmission disturbance and a sustained electrical arc flash. that sparked the blue light that people witnessed from miles away. >> the arcing of that electricity was basically

we'll wait for theenate to announce its vote >>> our consumerve investiga reporter susan hogan has beens story for more than a year now. they joins us wit an update. >> we just told you about safety concerns of this guardrail. several lawsuits claim they are defective and in some cases, making accidents even worse. >> theyt are giving up their fight. >> reporter: sandra johnson carter visits her son's every sunday. private first class michael carter jun was killed last february after crashing in a guardrail in maryland. >> the twon share unimaginable bond. her 17-year-old daughter has not a also died after hitting an x-lite. >> being killed by a defective guardrail. >> reporter: at least eight people have been killed in accidents involving x-tes. in most cases,he its the vehicle. they insist it is not defective. but some states are not willing to takst crash at l 15 states are actively removing them. in july, nearly 1,000re being removed. we were told work would start immediately. five months later, we' learned the project is still in theco ract stage. the state said it is working throu

. >> consumer reporter susan hogan is revealing the card with the biggest bang for your buck. >> if you must use a credit card for holiday shopping, then let's find one that's going to give you good rewards. credit cards.com says this year u.s. banks produced no annual fee reward cards. american express cash magnet. 1.5% cash back on every purchase. two miles per dollar on grocery stores and eligible airline purchases. bank of america cash rewards cards 3% cash back on gas, a nus, $200 if you spend $500 in the first three months and capital one savor offers cash back on dining and entertainment plus $150 bonus if you spend one over the past few months. if you must use credit cards, ftbudget. long you have earned that reward, you must ask yourself is this card still right for me. >> coming up, holiday decorations that prompted a rescue attempt. >> one family's creative twist spa sparked a rescue effort. you're taking your dog out for a walk here this morning, not cold at all. that won't be the case for the rest of the week. forecast coming up. we won't to follow our top story this mornin

. >>> we have new details about an effort tomo guardrails from our area susan hogan is working for youh this important update >> reporter: we first told you arout the safety concerns surrounding thiscular type of guardrail known as the x light last year. several lawsuits claim they are defective and in some cases making accidents worse. tonight two parents who are calling for the removal of the guardrails aren't giving up their fight. >> this is the last place you think you're going to come to see your kids. >> sandra visits her son' grave at arlington national cemetery everysunday. her son was killed last february after crashing into a guardrail in maryland. >> h might -- mike, this is steve. >> steve joins sandra for a recent visit to the grave site. the two share abond. steve's daughter also died after hitting an x-lite. >> we shouldn't bond over our children being killed by a defearive gudrail. in most of the cases the guardrails speared the vehicles. >> reporter: the maker of th x-lite says a variety of issues play into the outcome of a crash. but some aren't willing to take the c

a lite later this morning, consumer reporter susan hogan is going to be live with what you need to know before you hit the stores. she's alsoow chasing procrastinators. >> i know. she is like holding it down. >> she is. >> if you don't want to be bothered with the mall stuff, we have some options for you here. an today you can watch the water skiing claus on the potomac river.ha ens at 1:00 this afternoon. of course you're looking at video from last year's thride. best place to watch it along the waterfront is between the streets. >> i love it.wh this pilot says he had nout choice b to put his plane down on the freeway. >> and the holiday season, this could last forever if your lucky numbers come up tomorrow. will tell you about the record jackpot up for grabs when news 4 today on this christmas eve continues. y >> and if're getting ready to get out and get your jog on here early this morning, wake up weather, mostly in the 30s to around 40 degrees. get the miles run early because the wind will be ineasing after 9:00 or 10:00 this morning. it w >>> british police leased a man and wom ac

. >> susan hogan is working forroo youct your money. >> i have to say i'm a little underdressed. however, holiday gift card purchases have topped about $27 billion. some important tips to protect you and the gift cards you by. what's on your holiday wish list? if up gift cards, you're not alone. >> love gift cards. >> their easier. >> but consumer reports says those physical cards for specific stores that you by off a racky can be an e marshall. >> scammers copy the gift card codes is that then they scratch off the strep to get pin. >> always check the packaging for physical tampering. make sure the coding is attached and never buy a card if the pin is reveal. >> a more attractive option is to get a reloadable card from a credit card company like advise or american express. they will lit your liability to $50. sometimes zero. if you report the theft within two days. benefit, additional they're more widely accepted as a form of payment. what about egift cards? the kind you send by text or social media? they are convenientfast. but are they safe? >> first, make sure you're sending

>> if you like me are not feeling so smart, susan hogan is working for us with a crash course on howconnect these high-tech devices and she joins us now from the newsroom. >> that's righou ifhink about it, just about everything in our homes cted to the internet and even remotely controlled with our phones. but hooking them up can be so confusing. so we're working for you to sort darough it all. doesn't just write about smart phone products, he uses them tooflt his one smart device, a smart eaker. alexa, lock the front door. >> smartpeakers make it very easy. >> to use a smart speaker as a hub, you will find three mainop ons. amazon's alexa, google assistant and apple's siri available on the apple home pod. as for the other smart products, them er reports puts through rigorous testing. for example, smart locks still have to pass the same break-in test as traditional door locks. >> youarm to get a lock that is smart but also strong. >> this recommended lock stood g testsicking and drill and connects with any of the three smart speaker assistants. >> can you let me in? >> another option

full swin if you want to make sure your packages arrive before december 25th, consumer reporter susan hoganas some important dates to keep in mind. the clock, as you said, it is ticking down. the big one is december 14th. it is also the day dubbed free shipping day by thousands of retailers. ackages by day for fedex ground and home delivery services is december 17th. the last day to ship packages throh ups three-day service is dember 18th. with december 21st as the last day to ship next day. walmart is offering free two-day shipping with a minimum of a $35 rchase. and amazon hasn't officially released the holiday order deadline quite yet. but if you are a primemember, you get your free two-day shippi always, unless, if your order is being fulfilled by a third partyor ve make sure you check before clicking purchase. you don't want to be disappointed for sure. >> all right. good advice forsure. >>> thee m stars for a restaurant's name, the better you should expect your dinner experience to be. now a new star system schools. >> the new idea behind the d.c. school report card is to offer parent

our consumer reporter susan hogan joins us on the steps to tell us what you need to know. > and anothereak for the colts' back-up quarterback. what to expect next. >>> and the findings of a new report. there was a lot of concern about this. the impact on our housing market. see you in a couple minutes. ♪ [doorbell] ♪ ♪ when you have doctors working as a team for your health, you get the care you need to help you thrive. ♪ visit kp.org to learn more. kaiser permanente. thrive. ♪ thanks. it's like a smart thing. what's the weather? [cowza device] sunny, perfect chicken eating weather. how'd you get in here? [cowza device] it's time for chicken. what's the traffic like? [cowza device] rerouting you to chicken. okay. hey cowza, order pizza. [cowza device] ordering chicken. no, pizza. [cowza device] chicken. moooo okay, chicken it is. it's chick-fil-a catering season. [cowza device] now that's smart. with advil liqui-gels, what stiff joints? what bad back? advil is... relief that's fast. strength that lasts. you'll ask... what pain? with advil liqui-gels. >>> the d.c.ou cil isn't looking to

. >>> tonight at news 4 at 5:00, consumer reporter susan hogan will take you behind the scenes at the and see what it takes to put on these crash tests. see what they're looking for in 6:e aftermath. >>> . coming up, facebook accused of giving more companies mor access to your personal information. a look at whether it could happen again. >>> all ght, your new surprise costumes. okay. well, we're not done yet with the surprises thanks to the natialheri blossom festival folks. we've got more coming >>> you're watching "news 4 today." >>> 6:40 right now. you probably msed it last night. former first lady michelle obama stoppedy the "tonight show" starring michelle obama.as >> lt night did not disappoint. ♪ ♪ >> in a true surprise people were taking a tour of "30 rock." mrs. oma was on the road omoting "becoming." i love the reaction in the elevator. here's your cnbc morning business report. >>ood morning. i'm frank holland at cnbc headquarters. facebook may have shared mor of your personal information than it's admitted publicly. facebook gave companies such as microsoft, netflix, spoti

consumer reporter susan hogan is working for you with what you need to knowbout filing your taxes thisear.>> eporter: remember as we get closer to the end of the year we run into our closets to try t find clothes or other things to donate to t charity f big tax writeoff. that's going to change for an 21 estimated million americans. idoing goods its own reward. ta deductions for charitable contributions does help shave money off of our tax bills if we itemize instead of taking the standard deduction, but under the new t cuts and jobs act, that threshold is tougher to clear. that's because the standard deduction has nearly doubled. >> standard deduction has gob up. for married couple that's $24,000 for 2018. for an individual that's $12,000. >> reporter: come tax time if yo t don't have more thant to write off, you're better off taking the standard deduction and it makes life easier without having to hold on to all of those receipts. >> reporter: now of c you still can donate to a charity without getting a tax break. you still reap the rewards of knowing you've doneomething ally good. ba

. >> consumer reporter susan hogan is working f help you make the right choice. >> wearae tech gadgets are getting cheaper while allowing you to even moreight on your wrist. >> text message alerts, an alarm. i don't have to have my phone on me all the time >> you might will be thinking about getting or giving one, but when it's time to shop, think abot what you're going use it for. >> if you want something that's going to count steps, maybe track your heart rate, a fitness tracker probably does what you need. if you're going to reamails, the weather, you might want to look at a smart watch. >> step trackers have text and call notifications. you should also think about how tech savvy the person using it is. lots of bells and whistles won't mean much if you don't know how to use them. >> they are often easier to use. fitness trackers are a good example. they are easy to pa, count steps, track heart rate, and even track sleep patterns. you don't have to do a whole lot. >> when c itomes to charging, fitnessrackers will last for days while some smart watches need to be charged each nigh dur

susan hogan is working for you with these tips to save as you get ready for the holidays. >> it seemsike turn during the holidays, there's signs promising big deals. we have simple steps to make sure that you really are getting a good deal. y >> before buy, do your research. the indecreesable hand blink scour the web for the best deals. set up price alerts. camel camel camel andhop ito me and slick deals tell you when prices drop and buy via, now discount, scan life and shop savvy can tell you if there's a better deal out thenline or even at a local store. while you're shopping, coupo apps like coupon sherpa offer discounts to use at check outs. there are price adjustments out there that wil actually surf the web after you have charged something and it will actually initiate refund if the p ce dropped on something that you already bought. pretty cool. back to you. >> good morning. united airlines rolled out it's premium economy class. passenger will get deepe reclines as well as amenity kits, noise reducing head phones and free alcoholic beverages. premium plus seats will be ailable on 2

consumer investigative reporter susan hogan has been following thetory from the start. has more on the major develoents. >> he was a dear sweet little boy, the kind of kid that wanted to help, wanted to do the right thing. c >> reportearol bailey is friends with wesley's grandmother. she also spent a lot of years teaching in fairfax county schools. wesley's death left her with a lot of hquestions. could that have happened? >> reporter: now these documen obtained by news 4 are shedding more light on the tragedy. attorneys for wesley's parents sent this letter to fairfax m county lasth stating their intent to sue, not just the school district, but any employees present at the time of wesley's death. the documents claim there were two teachers and one after school program employee in the jim the afternoonle w was killed. it's believed one of those teachers asked for wesley's help closing the motorized partition for a dance later that evening. attorneys say the county and the employees were negligent in wesley's death for a number of reasons, among them allowing wesley to a

news 4's susan hogan is checking out the shopping scene on this christmas eve. >> well, here at kohl's, actually, for six years in a row, they've actually opened up 24/7 since friday before christmas and they're open until 00 p.m. on christmas eve. and i'll tell you, there have been a lot of shoppersere first thing in the morning when we got here at like 4:00 in the morning. so a few things thatou can do right now, if you have not done last-minute shopping, you actually be an amazon prime member and you can get same-day delivery. that is still going on right now, as well. if you're not a prime gnmember, up, it might be worth it. the other thing you can do are e-gift cards. g you can online and grab an e-gift card, print it out, and there you go, y you haver little gift. last-minute shopper, lynn, how are you? >> hagood, you. >> reporter: thank you, how are you? >> very well. >> reporter: so you took advantage, you kind of waited until the last minute. did you really need all of this stuff? zp >> i did not need any of this stuff. this is last minute, let me go to kohl's because it's ope

consumer reporter susan hogan is working for you with what you need to know about filing your taxes thisear. >> reporter: remember as we get closer to the end of the year we rummage through o closets to try to find clothes or other things to donate to charity for that big tax writeoff. that's going to change for and estimate21li m americans. doing good is its own rewart. tax deductions does help shave money off of our tax bills if we itemize instead of taking the standardct deduion, but under the new tax cuts and jobs act that threshold is tough to clear. that's because the standard deduction has nearl doubled. >> standard deduction has gone up for a married coupl that's $24,000 for 2018. for an individual it's $12,000. >> so come tax time if you don't have more than that to write f, you're better off taking the standard deduction, and it makes lifeut easier wit having to hold on to all of those >> reporter: now of course you still can donate to a charity without getting ak. tax br you still reap the rewards of knowing you've done something. really good back to you. >>> 6:26 is our time

consumer reporter susan hogan is working for you with this important alert. >> reporter: when gladys dean lost h something else. st >> the biggest challenge you could put there is being lonely. >> reporter: that challenge also comes with the fear of what ?at f something happens and no one is there to help? >> connecting your call to the dypport center. >> reporter: glas, like so many seniors, is considering buying an emergency alert device to help her keep her independence. >> if i should fall you can just press the button andthey will send help. >> call in progress. >> reporter: but help may not come as quickly as gladys thinks. >> we found that in most cases, theyinder getting care to yo >> where is your emergency? >> reporter: with the help of arlington county's emergency communications center, washington consumers checkbook recently tested 11 devices. only one unit tested -- great call -- can directly connect you to 911. for the rest, pressing the alert tetton puts you in contact with a company call c >> is everything okay? >> do you need a paramedic? >> reporter: the operator ta

our consumer reporter susan hogan will join us to find out what's different this time and what you canto save yourself time and money. >>> plus, d.j. sweringer kked off the redskins for critical comments about a coach. days later he signed on with another team. and for the first time we are hearing from head coach jay gruden. >>> and metro making safetyes upgrow to some 30 stations. we are goingo show you where. see you soon with those stories and a good deal more in just minutes. back to you. see>> >>> a new york city police officer is being hailed as a hero for fighting off five men who triedo attack him. the officer was alone when all this went dow and the department is praising him for both what he did and what he didn't nbc new york's michael george has the story. r orter: one officer versus five attackers. the officer shouts, stand back, as he backs away. he kicks onef them, knocking them down, and the officer says he doesn't want to hurt them. >> i don't want to hurt you. >> reporter: thi video has been viewed online more than a million times. police say it started when a woman

consumer reporter susan hogan working with you for what you need to know about filing your taxes thisr. >> remember as we get closer to the end of th w year rummage through our closets to find clothes or other things to donate to charity fhe big tax write off. that's going to change for an estimated 21 million americans. doing good is its own reward. tax deductions for charitable contvebutions does help s money off of our tax bills if we itemize instead of tak standard deduction. but under the new tax cuts and jobs act that thresho is tougher to clear. that's because the standard deduction has nearly doled. >> the standard deduction has gone up. for a married couple $24,000. for an individual, it's om2,000. >> so tax time, if you don't have more than that to write fff, you are better taking the standard deduction and it makes life easier without having to hol on to all of those receipts. now, of course, you still can donate to a charity without getting a tax break. you still reap the rewards of knowing you have done something really good. back to you. >>> some people are calling it th

. >>> susan hogan reporting there. a live look outside at 6:28 on this saturday.tart to your weekend. lauryn rickets tracking when that will lif t >>> at 7:6:30 we welcome youin. hope you're enjoying this last saturday of 201. as you headou outside,l encounter mild temperatures. lauryn rickets, really it's the fog that's going to be encountering mostfolks. coming over the key bridge, it was tough to see a few cars ahead of me. >> mem,ial brid same deal. the fog is really bad out there right now. an that's why the national weather service has placed dense fog advisories across the region. maybe a slow ride. with the fog you're like whatever. i definitely slowedown early this morning because i couldn't see as david was saying, a few cars in front of you. dense fog out there this morning. it will lift. the dense fogy advis is until 7:00. low visibilities out there. itthey may extend fog through the morning. dryer through this weekend. and we have more rain on the way, unfortunately for new year's eve. here's a look at the dense fog advisory. those are the counties im

i-team investigativean reporter consumer reporter susan hogan are here with us. you learned new details after you filed a public recordsre est. tell us what you learned. >> we filed it weeks ago and justhe received this week. inside there were some stunning details that describe what exactly happened the das w that wesley died. there's also a letter from attorneys and their inten to sue fairfax county and all employees in the gym at the . particular ti the documents claim at that time there were actually two teachers and o afterschool employee a one of those teachers -- which was redact sod ed so we't d hav name -- sought wesley and asked themo move the motorized partitioner, use the key to open it up which was just like, according to the attorneys and we spoke with them as well, they were stunn by that. number one, there should be no children operating these motorize partitions according to tm sohey said why ask wesley to help them with moving were artition when the two teachers and an afterschool employdu? there weres in the room. so they're suing them in terms

. >> susan hogan is telling you a about deal that can impact you.our traffic. > a look at your first 4 traffic. camp springs before allentown road crash with one lane blocked. eastbod 66 before 50 a disabled vehicle on the right shoulder. 270 at montgomery village avenue, northbound and southbound looking pretty good. >>> another local news update in 20 minutes. >>> back to the "today" show after this short b. ♪ 'cause this is already bigger ♪ ♪ this is alre y bigger than love dare to be devoted. jared. >>> back, now, 7:30 on thi monday morning, the 10th of december, 2018. you don't see that every day. the south is blanketed insnow. that's how it looks right now in greensboro, north carolina. a lot of folks digging out. >> it looks pretty from afar. when you'reown init, trying to commute, it's a toughy. >>> that's where we start on this monday. parts of the southeast are digging out of a foot of snow this morning. georgia, virginia and the carolinas got the worst of it. some areas saw 20 inches of snow. about 00,0400,000 homes without power this mor

. >>> susan hogan >>reporting. come on news 4 day. >> tha includes an hour by hour forecast with lauryn ricketts on this sunday morning.it stay us. we'll be right back. here's your receipt. have a nice day! thank you. ♪ ♪ start the car! start the car! start the car! start the car! the ikea winter sale. wooooooo! save up to 50% off select items in store only december 26th to january 6th. ikea. >>> re's what we're following for you. breaking overnight. police in prince george's county working to track down a killer after a deadly shooting o the streets. >>> in virginia, a driver running over andng kil a o-year-old then taking off. the latestn the search for the driver. wizards.a tough break for the their fears nfirmed. all-star point guard johnall t for the season because of a foot injury. we'll have the details on at. t first, welcome in on this sunday morning. thank you for being here. i'm adam tuss. >> i'm david culver, the last week end in 2018. a busy sunday. >>> let's check in with lauryn ricketts who is dialin

toda4 on news at 4, consumer therter susan hogan revea top safety picks for 2019.. >>> a on your forecast after this. stay with us. >>> clear skies and a freezing cold start thiser morning. teures in the mid-20s for most ofs suburbs. it will be a sunny day. a nice recovery. upper 40s to near 50 degrees for highs today. no rain today, a but quiit of rain, one to two inches of rain starting tomorrow afternoon lingering into the day on friday. >> thank you. >>> another local news update in 25 minutes. >> for now backo he today show" after this short break. have a great day. ♪ hark how the bells ells ♪silver ♪ all seem to say throw cares away ♪ ♪ christmas is here bringing good cheer ♪ ♪ to young and the old weak and the bold ♪ ♪ ding dong ding dong that is the song ♪ ♪ with joyful ring all carolling ♪ ♪ one seems to hear words of good cheer ♪ ♪ from everywhere fiing the air ♪ ♪ oh, how they pound raising a sound ♪ ♪ through hill and dale telling a tale ♪ ♪ gaily they ring while people hear ♪ ♪ songs of good cheer christmas is here ♪ merry, merry, merry merry christmas

. >> susan hogan u shows how these kids are getting a jump start on adulting.n that's tonightws 4 atmorning out there. the sun came up at about7:21 and we'll have plenty of sunshine out there today. it's going to be absolutely gorgeous as temperatures rise into the 50s. no rain out there today. we're looking good for that. 40 a little breezy today. nexts chance of rain comes thursday into friday. >>> oh, thisone. they're playing our song. >> 7:30 on a monday morn7g, decemberth, 2018. one week until christmas eve. check out the gardens. our tree, shining so bright. >> i've been singing like we did all weekend at home. >> a check oftoday's headlines. aseries of powerful storms could force airport delays and cancellations on thursday. the storm moves north and is likely to cause proems in the northeast on friday. heavy rains, gusty winds in places like new york city and boston. if you're traveli this week, check with your airline before heading for the airport.il all be back with the forecast in a few. >>> 40 people were hurt at a restaurant in northern japan. it happened in sappor the

h involving abu 5, consumer reporter susan hogan finds troubling news about emergency artevices. >> thatrea your forecast is next. stay with us. alright, everyone. santa will be right back, but i just got to say, if you're going to ask him for tech this year, you got to ask for fios too. sorry, why is that? because fios is a 100% fiber-optic network. don't you guys want all of the tech on your wish list to work as awesomely as you dreamed? i'm back! and he's back. 100% fiber-optic network. 100% phenomenal. switch to fios gigabit connection, plus tv and phone with a 2-year agreement and get a year of amazon prime on us. >>> good morning. partly to mostly cloudy. definitely cold thisr morning. up0s and low 40s. and not a big warmup coming your way for thell day at a mix of clouds and sunshine. afternoon temperatures not much higher than where we are right now. mostly in the low, perhaps as much as the mid-40s. ere is your ten-day forecast. cloudy tomorrow with rick osk snow flurries around. cold and dry the rest of the week. >> thank you. >>> another local news you update in 25 minutes. >>

. >> susan hogan will help you make the best tech decision. your forecast is up next.n easy, has it? ♪ there have been days when you doubted yourself. ♪ and days when you were ready to quit. ♪ but you didn't. ♪ because you had the courage to venture into something powerful. education. if i leave you with just three words of advice: never...stop...growing. [cheering] wat t. rowe price, hundreds of our experts go beyond the numbers to examine investment opportunities firsthand. like a biotech firm that engineers a patient's own cells to fight cancer. this is strategic investing. because your investments deserve the full story. t. rowe price. invest with confidence. >>> clear skies overnight have allowed for a very cold but sunny start thisni m. currently 28 in washington, but 14n manassas, 15 in gaithersburg and zero out in stanton, virginia this morning. so sunny and cold start to finish with afternoon highs up to around 40 to 45 degrees at the most. so warm enough to melt what little snow is left out there. for tomorrow it will be another sunny and chilly day, below fr