también en washington la alcatel alcalde vincent gray y la jefe policía katy lanier, anunciaron que losieron el nivel más bajo, desde los años 60, veamos más detalles. >> reportera: el alcalde de washington vincent gray y la jefe de departamento policía katy lanier informaron que hoy se puede presentar el índice más bajo de homicidios en los últimos 50 años, esto que se presentan las principales ciudad del país. >> quiero felicitar al departamento de policía, y por el éxito de casos cerrados. >> reportera: según datos oficiales, hasta ayer hubo 108 homicidios, un descenso con relación al mismo periodo del 2010, si bien la tasa de crímenes ha disminuido, nunca había sido tan alta desde 1973, antes en promedio 479 ejidos, en el 2007 se hubo 181, en el 2886, los menores del guaraní cuatro, y en el 2010 132, también se atribuyó este logro a la actitud de cerrar los casos, sacando los delincuentes de las calles, reduciendo la probabilidad de más crímenes de violentos. >> nos conocían como la capital del homicidio del mundo, y las ideas de los casos no resueltos, nuestros oficiales de policía

also vincent gray faces a potential problem. plus, the police have cracked down a suspected serial killer, but it may be harder for them to arrest him. >> get ready for a warmup in time for new year's eve but but it. but then a big change in store after that. >>> presidential candidate rick perry has fire out -- has filed an emergency paper to get on the ballot in virginia. each kit it needed to end of the signatures of registered voters, it reached biggest -- each candidate needed 10,000 signatures from registered voters to get on the ballot in virginia. at this moment, rick perry and newt gingrich face a much more immediate problem, campaign support dropping away. at the iowa caucuses just six days away. the poll numbers suggest one candidate is in big trouble while another is a surprise. >> it is a whole new ball game in iowa. a new poll has mitt romney at the top of the republican field followed closely by ron paul, and rick santorum and third. butnewt gingrich has plummeted. just three weeks ago he had a commanding lead, bu

yesterday, mayor vincent gray announced the d.c. commission on the arts and humanities will replace an independent foundation to oversee the theatre. the commission plans to hire a new executive director and that person's mission will be able to -- will be to make the theatre self-sustaining. >> mayor gray announced the plans to bring the movie the girl with the dragon tattoo to the lincoln theatre. >> that's one of the most anticipated films of the year. >> the girl with the dragon tattoo is out today and it is bound to turn a little known rooney mara into a household name. >> no one here particularly likes her. >> it was the question in hollywood when the american version of the swedish blockbuster, the girl with the dragon tattoo was announced. it would play elisabeth salsander. >> actress rooney mara auditioned intensely for movements to get the role of the troubled computer hacker. >> i felt desperate to play her. i felt she was someone -- i just felt like i really understood her. >> mara is already nominated for a golden globe

mayor vincent gray says the company plans to donate the proceeds from the movie back to the theater. >>> getting the capitals stars to align has been a tough task this year, but last night a team effort gave the caps a dominating win. alex ovechkin started the scoring, and niklas backstrom and alexander semin with a 4-1 win to the nashville predators. this the first time the big three stars all scored goals in the same game. all the attention was on mike knuble. the assistant captain's wife and children were on hand as teammates and fans honored him for playing in his 1,000th career game. >> the other guys all chipped in and got a sea-doo. it's going to be a lot of fun in the summertime. i'm thrilled how the night went. you get a big win in the end. it turned out to be a great day. >> i think with his big night they were ready to go, and they wanted to win the game for him. >> the captain kept the game up on friday against the new jersey devils. >>> the wizard at least made it a closer game in the preseason matchup against the philadelphia 76ers but still fell short. the wizards took

residents approve of mayor vincent gray. he would lose if he faced previous mayors. >>> dozens of people were killed in a series of bombings in baghdad today. it's the worst to hit iraq in months. the attacks are sparking new concern about the stability of that country now that u.s. troops have withdrawn. >>> a compromise may be in the works for a possible payroll tax decision. speaker boehner will take a c conference call. if it goes through, american workers will not see a tax increase january 1st. >>> royal newlyweds prince william and kate spent a laid-back evening baking cookies. stephanie gosk reports prince william showed off some of his dance moves. >> reporter: just days before christmas, the duke and duchess of cam bridge had one official visit left to center point. casually dressed, they mingled chatting with kids and baking cookies. >> kate made me this cookie for my 18th birthday. i'm going to cherish it. >> reporter: there was a little dancing. the prince showed off hip hop moves no one knew he had impressing t

vincent gray indico que la meta es disminuir el porcentaje de desempleo en su jurisdiccion..ora si hasta el aÑo que viene.. le damos la bienvenida a la temporada de invierno oficialmente y con temperaturas algo inusuales... vamos a ver como estan las marcas termicas en este momento en la capital de la nacion ... 60 grados, una humedad en el ambiente de 90% y un viento que sopla desde el suroeste en rafagas moderadas de 10 millas por hora... asi se ve el area metropolitan a de washington desde nuestro mapa doppler satelital... se despeja considerablemente... y que bueno porque las condiciones atmosfericas a nivel nacional estan bastante complicadas... con intensas tormentas electricas y nevadas... asi que atencion viajeros... muy bien asi esta el pronostico para el resto de la semana laboral... un jueves mayormente nublado con 100% de probabilidad de lluvia para horas de la noche se espera acumulacion de una pulgada... atencion con eso... el viernes una leve posibilidad de lluvia para tempranas horas de la maÑana luego nos espera un dia nublado, de igual manera una noche nubla

vincent gray and other organizers will put the winter to a test during an exercise.ding snow removal budget, equipment, and supplies. as we get into the mood, the family will light the national tree. is right. the ceremony will take place evening. this is going to be the first tree which the new in march. in february, wind toppled the been there since 1978. the ceremony will include the peas and kermit the frog. >> things are going to look brighter tonight because of the will be taking place at 6:00 in front of the tron.jumbo -- 3, 2, 1, >> the holiday continues in new with the lighting of the tree.eller it contains 30,000 lights. it is beautiful. all of this was timed perfectly the start of the winter which atamans has been waiting for. has been waiting for. >> i wish shipments now. it does not. not yet. our time will come. just not yet. seasonable conditions. what you would expect at this year.f we have clear skies overhead. parts of indiana and points western. have high pressure over head. give a sunshine today and tomorrow. that might cause a cloud and that is it

el alcalde del distrito de columbia vincent gray dice que la gente esta comenzado a perder la pacienciamovimiento de protesta ocupemos dc, que esta comenzado a bloquer cada vez mas el trafico vehicular... alrededor de 60-personas fueron arrestadas el miercoles en la noche despues de causar un congestionamiento masivo en la hora de mayor circulacion vehicular en el centro de la ciudad... el alcalde dice que quiere proteger los derechos que concede la primera enmienda de la constitucion, pero que la ciudad hara cumplir la ley... en este dia de protestas, tambien cientos de ninos llegados de todas partes del pais se dirigieron al congreso para pedir las suspencion de las deportaciones y detener la separacion de las familias..de esto nos informa fernando pizarro... cinco mil cartas repartieron en el capitolio ninos de inmigrantes deportados. cartas dirigidas al presidente obama y a congresistas pidiendo el fin de la separacion de familias. como las hijas de leslie pineda, que hace 16 meses vieron la deportacion de su padre a el salvador. mi hija vio todo, vio como lo arrestaban dentro de la

wheaton maryland silvana quiroz univision" despues de meses de espera, el alcalde de washington vincent grayproyecto de tranvia que conectaria union station con el resto del centro de washington... el alcalde calmo los animos esta noche durante una reunion comunitaria con lideres de la ciudad, miembros del departamento de transporte, y miembros de la comunidad que protestaron la posibilidad de que la ruta se construya en medio de sus vecindarios... el alcalde aseguro a los preocupados que la ruta no afectara los sectores residenciales y que se buscara una coneccion con la calle h... por segundo dia consecutivo miles de personas se apoderaron de las calles centricas de washington en demanda de trabajos y en contra del congreso que a su jucio esta mas interesado en proteger a los ricos que a los sectores mas afectados por el desempleo y la crisis economica... claudia uceda tiene mas detalles de estas protestas... con empujones, mas de una decena de arrestos, calles bloqueadas con carpas y con todo lo que se podia, asi fue como miles de namifestantes del movimiento los indignados volvieron a ha

asi lo indico hoy el alcalde vincent gray al develar su nuevo plan que incluye 45 camiones nuevos paraabajadores que estaran listos para enfrentar las tareas durante y despues de las tormentas... gray tambien indico que las escuelas tomaran las decisiones sobre si habran clases o no, a mas tardar a las 11 de la noche, para que los padres puedan hacer los arreglos necesarios.. despues de casi dos anos de una costosa renovacion, se inauguro la moderna e innovadora clinica de upper cardozo en el corazon de adams morgan, para extender sus servicios a la creciente poblacion latina de la capital, especialmente en el barrio latino... "con todos los problemas que la comunidad latina tiene con la obesidad, diabetes, vhi, alta la presion, nosotros vamos a tener la capacidad de ofrecer mas servicios para mas personas" el proyecto tuvo un costo de 10- millones de dolares... fondos del acta de recuperacion americana aprobada por la administracion obama ... la clinica ofrece multiples cuidados medicos, como medicina interna, pediatria, cuidados dentales, laboratorio, ayuda con los programas de asist

preparada para hacer frente a las eventuales tormentas de nieve en el invierno que se aproxima..vincent grayento hoy el nuevo equipo que sera utilizado para despejar la nieve y dio a conocer el plan de emergencia..dice que el cierre de las escuelas sera conocido dia antes y preferiblmente hasta las 11 de la noche..por otra parte los empleados de la comuna podran desempenarse desde sus casas y las eventuales salidas adelantadas del personal seran coordinadas con el gobierno federal para evitar el caos en las carreteras..las autoridades locales quieren evitar el caos en las carreteras cuando miles empleados y trabajadores abandonan sus puestos en forma simultanea.. @@@el condado de el presidente barack obama dio hoy la bienvenida simbolica a los miembros de las fuerzas armadas que regresan de irak al cabo de casi nueve anos de la impopular guerra... el mandatario junto a la primera dama se traslado al fuerte bragg en carolina del norte y cuartel de la famosa division aerotransportada 82 para resaltar el trabajo de los hombres y mujeres en el conflicto... la fguerra ha costado la vida de 4.500

mayor vincent gray is ending his first year in office with low approval ratings. has a 34% approval rating. the poll found that he would lose re-election right now if he faced either of the former mayor's adrian fenti or anthony williams. the poll, although, has bad news or worse news for the d.c. council. it has a 30% approval rating. >> the nation's capital is one of the nation's hottest cities. washington is the fastest growing city in the country according to the sensess bureau. the city grew by 2.7% between april of 2010 and july of this year. that's an increase of more than 16,000 residents. more than 617,000 people know just call washington home. demographers says d.c.'s job market is a major recent for the boom. >>> this blorng, d.c. school, tacoma education campus suffered severe damage when a roofer's blow torch cause add three alarm fire. sdoonts were forced to go to school this past year at meyer elementary school, which was closed in 2008. >>> and the help with a booming population growth is set to boom and replace four washington area schools. school

s police union is upset with mayor vincent gray over statements he made during a television interview earlier this month. the union sent the mayor a letter accusing him of misleading and deceptive answers about pulling officers from neighborhood patrols to cover occupy wall street d.c. protests. the union wants the mayor to correct those statements. earlier today i spoke with christopher bowman about the situation. >> we know what the mayor said is deceptive because we down thed in a letter that no. 1, crime is -- we documented in a letter that no. 1, crime is up since the occupy d.c. protests. crime has been up in double digits since october 1st, 2011. if the mayor does not know we're having a double digit spike in violent crime in the district, we've got a real problem. >> bowman says the spike in crime is directly related to officers pulled from neighborhood patrols to patrol the occupy protesters. >>> meantime occupy d.c. protests are will stay in d.c. for some of the coldest months of the year. the national park service granted them a new permit to camp down at freedom plaza unti

mayor, vincent gray, a new poll shows gray with a 34% approval rating. the poll found he would lose re-election if he faced former mayors adrian fenti and anthony williams right now. that's a big drop from march when it was 54%. >>> the governor will hold a hearing today will allow the public to comment on a new restricting map. the map contains 12 districts that are minority. that's an increase of two districts from each of those categories from the previous map. malley says it is based on changes in the 010 census. but republicans argue it is a tactic to earn democrats more seats in the state senate. >>> maryland will spend $68 million to lease slot machines at a casino being built. the board of public works approved that move yesterday. they decided maryland should lease the slot machines to make sure it has greater oversight over gambling. maryland has used over $100 million tax dollars for slots. the new maryland live casino is set to open next june near arundo mills mall. >>> 5:08 is the time right now. >>> the heavy fine that pepco is being ordere

mayor vincent gray has new plans for the historic lincoln theater. once the place to perform for artists like duke ellington. it fell into disrepair after the riots. today, it's kept open with cash infusion. the d.c. commission will take over management of the theater to secure its financial future. >> the goal is to be able to preserve this theater. this is a 90-year-old theater. it's made an enormous contribution of this city, the history of u street. we owe it to the past, present and future to see it. >> a four-week run of the movie, "the girl with the dragon tattoo". >>> there's a school in northeast washington where the students are lean and fit and focused. it's the academy of ballet. there are more than 100 students becoming highly disciplined and athletic adults. wendy rieger takes us there. >> reporter: the dancers, dozens of them float in unison across the stage. it's hypnotic, like smoke. it's beautiful. but, not to this instructor. much is wrong. this toe is off. someone's heel. their hand, the tilt of someone's head. she barks instructi

mayor vincent gray commented on the raid by telling news 4, "i continue to support the investigation into these allegations so that justice can run its course." gray went on to say, "for the sake of the district i hope the investigation is concluded quickly." >>> the investigation into councilmember thomas is one of three involving the u.s. attorney and city officials. another involves mayor vincent gray, and started with a question about whether his 2010 campaign secretly paid solomon brown to aggressively attack major aide fentley. a third involves kwame brown and his 2008 re-election campaign as an at-large councilmember that probe includes a trail of unreported contributions and expenses of $300,000. >>> right now, on the beltway, traffic is clearing on the wilson bridge. take a look at that. we got the pictures for you. it's northbound traffic trying to get to the hot chocolate race at the national harbor, which started just about an hour ago. news 4's jane watrel pulled over to take some of these pictures. she hefz was trying to get to that race. she told us many of the runners

sindicato que representa a la policia del distrito de columbia, envio hoy una carta al alcalde vincent grayentado en el distrito porque los oficiales estan siendo sacados de las patrullas de barrio para ser reasignados a controlar las protestas de occupy dc. algo con lo que ellos no estan de acuerdo. no conocemos los números que ellos están manejando, no hemos visto un dato firme indique que se ha incrementado el crimen pero puedo decir que están sacando a cientos de policías de los vecindarios para controlarnos, es totalmente falso segun el presidente del sindicato policial, los crimenes violentos se han incrementado en un 17% y los crimenes generales en un 14% desde que los manifetantes se acentaron en la ciudad hace mas de tres meses. quizá nosotros también seamos parte de una tendencia que comenzó antes de septiembre y ahora ellos quieren hacernos aparecer como parte de un problema con el propósito de removernos de la ciudad. gaied dice que ellos no necesitan a la policia para que los controle. todos nuestros campamento tienen su propio equipo de seguridad sacamos a la gente que causan

mayor vincent gray is among the supporters and at the same time he's finding himself in the middle of a controversy concerning whether crime is up because of pulling officers from other areas to come and police the occupy d. c. movement. kristopher baumann is the chairman of d. c.'s fraternal order of police. he says the mayor made claims the occupy movement has not caused an increase in crime two weeks ago. some occupiers agree with that but baumann tells 9news now that simply is not true. >> there's been a double digit increase in violent crime and overall crime in the city and as time as passed it has become worse and worse. in fact right now the 21% increase in violent crime through the city and 18% overall increase. >> they don't have to surveil us 24/7 okay? we can take care of ourselves. >> reporter: baumann has sent mayor gray a letter along with supporting documents that claims the occupy movement is to blame for the spike in crime and this is pretty significant. the letter claims violent crime is up 13% and overall crime is up 10% since the occupy movement began in d. c.. no

mayor vincent gray will sign a bill into law that will help d.c. residents get jobs created by city financing and development programs. it is part of the district's first source program. it also creates a work force program designed to match job seekers with employers. a major overhaul to d.c.'s ethics law will go to the mayor's office for his signature. the d.c. city council passed an ethics reform package 12-1 yesterday. d.c. council member tommy wells was the only one who voted against it. the package sets new limits on donations to campaign transition committees and just how much council members can raise for their constituent service funds. now, it also requires more financial disclosure. some of the new rules would require changes to the city charter that needed to be approved by voters. now, those include a council member convicted of a felony would be required to give up their seat, and the council could reprimand, censure, or impeach a member for violating the public's trust. it does not include impeaching the mayor. >>> new from overnight

mayor vincent gray and police chief cathy lanier say the dramatic drop in murders is, in part, due to what they call community policing as well as strong leadership in traditionally more violent neighborhoods. >>> the activists who are on a hunger strike for d.c. voting rights will launch an online petition today. they hope to get one signature for every resident in d.c., which is roughly 618,000. they are also proposing a new one cent tax on bottled water that would fund a full-time lobbyist for the district. artists and occupy d.c. protester adrian parsons has been consuming only electrolyte enhanced water and vitamins for three weeks now. a few others fasted for shorter periods. >>> a federal judge has ruled that d.c. must pay more than $1 million as a result of a court case over guns in the district. in 2003 dick heller sued the city saying a ban on owning guns was unconstitutional. five years later the supreme court agreed ruling the ban violated the second amendment. the $1 million will pay for heller's lawyers fees. now d.c. residents are allowed to own guns, but there are stri

first in the district, where mayor vincent gray will celebrate the completion of the new 11th street bridge complex today. it will allow drivers on the southeast/southwest freeway to get on northbound 295 without having to get off on pennsylvania avenue. the new inbound freeway bridge will open to traffic this weekend. the outbound bridge should be open next week. this is the largest project ddot has ever undertaken. there is also relief on the way for virginia commuters who take eastbound i-66 to the inner loop of the beltway. starting this weekend, you'll take a new flyover ramp that will put you on the right side of 495. that should make it much easier to merge into oncoming traffic. the new configuration will particularly be useful to drivers trying to get off at route 7 in tysons corner, who will no longer have to ventura cross all lanes of the beltway in order to make it to the route 7 exit. vdot will close all exits from eastbound 66 onto the outer loop overnight tonight so that crews can prepare for the new traffic configuration. you got all that? you ready for this? >> i'm r

mayor vincent gray honored them yesterday with a pizza party!hey beat a team from california 34-6 to become the peewee national football champs. they were 15-0 this season. >> that will do it for your morning sports, i'm kristen berset, have a great wednesday. >>> a group of current and former washington redskins help make christmas a lot merrier last night. they signed autographs from people who donated to children's national medical center. they donated toys. the toy drive was held at nordstrom's in dulles town center. the donated toys will provide presents for kids spending the holidays in the hospital as well as some other charitable groups. >> if you're putting the finishing touches on your holiday decorations, exercise a little caution before you go all out. that story is coming up. >> federal safety officials say even hands free isn't good enough when it comes to preventing death from distracted drivers on their cell phones. a quick check of the commute now. monika? >> mike, on the northbound side of i-95, we're taking a live look in spri

mayor vincent gray appeared for a taping of the nbc 4 viewpoint program. he told tom sherwood the federal investigation of him and two d.c. councilmembers is a serious distraction in the city. he doesn't believe the probes are racially motivated. >> i have not been asked to appear before anybody at this stage. >> but you would go, obviously? >> absolutely. >> i guess you would have to go. the u.s. attorney is african-american. attorney general, eric holder is african-american. do you get a sense the probe of three elected officials who are african-american in this city is tied to a racial consideration? >> i don't know anything of the sort, tom. i certainly would conclude comfortably that the u.s. attorney will investigate issues that are put before them no matter who they are about. >> the viewpoint program airs sunday mornings at 7:00 a.m. >>> flash floods drenched parts of prince george's county last night. now the people who live there are assessing the damage. more than three inches of rain fell in upper marlboro. water street near the courthouse was

kristopher bauman, presidente de la orden fraternal de la policia de dc, escribio una carta al alcalde vincent grayen violento se ha incrementado un 17% y la delincuencia en general un 14%, desde que los manifestantes se acentaron en la ciudad hace mas de tres meses. y una familia salvadoreÑa busca a su hija adolescente que desapareciÓ de la escuela secundaria jefferson stuart hace varios dÍas, pero como nos dice silvana quiroz, casos similares se repiten en muchos hogares hispanos... ella es nohemi reyma amaya cruz, ya son 15 dÍas que sus padres no saben nada de ella el 15 de diciembre fue "yo tengo muchos temores en este paÍs hay muchas cosas que estÁn pasando con la juventud, esta mucha delincuencia prostitucion tantas cosas, yo no, en realidad desde ese momento yo no duermo" sus padres afirman que la adolescente de 17 aÑos se escapo de la escuela varias veces y talvez por temor a ser castigada no volviÓ a casa. este es un problema que ha ido incrementando en nuestra sociedad en los Últimos aÑos "hay muchos factores que esta n interviniendo que los niÑos se desvÍen de su deber de sus responsabil

mayor vincent gray. welcome. >> thank you, tom.e here. >> i have a lot of questions to ask. >> you always do. >> all the reporters said this is what you have to ask the mayor. we're going to talk about some of the things you want to talk about. first of all, it's almost a year you've been in office. some days it feels like three days you've been in office. it seems like three years. >> absolutely. >> how are you doing after three in office? >> we're doing fine, tom. we have had a great year. you and i have set certain priorities when we came into office. >> i have all four of them down. i'm going to ask you about each one. >> and we have added a couple. i will be happy to talk about those, sustainable d.c. and self determination. we have to talk about that. >> but sit a seven-day-a-week job for you. >> it is. i've always been a workaholic. it needs into my personality. i love being around people. i love having the ability to work with folks and move them to another place. it's probably one of the most rewarding aspects of this job.

council chairman kwame brown and mayor vincent gray are being investigated by the u.s. attorney's office. the former chief of staff to council member jim graham is currently serving time for corruption. graham failed to report he had been offered a bribe in that same federal investigation. >>> coming up on 9news now at noon, see how a young boy's generosity is spreading through his small hometown this holiday season. >>> but first, dozens of occupy d.c. protestors march to the white house. we'll tell you what happened when police ordered them to leave. [ female announcer ] more people are using wireless devices... in more ways than ever. and our networks are getting crowded. but if congress frees up more wireless spectrum... we can empower more people to innovate... putting momentum behind our economy. and we can reduce the deficit... with more than thirty billion dollars paid by america's wireless companies. it's simple -- more spectrum means more freedom. for everyone. >>> 11 occupy d.c. protestors hoping to give president obama an earful were led away this handcuffs.

mayor vincent gray will spend the day courting tv producers in new york city. in the past industry officials have said it's too difficult, between capitol hill, the national park service, and the district, planners say they have to work with three different police agencies in order to secure permits. gray has proposed a tax on movie theater concessions as a way to help build a film incentives fund. >>> d.c. public schools are closed today for a professional development day. the district's public libraries are also closed today for staff developme development. a library spokesman says the timing was a coincidence. libraries were closed last year on the first friday of december as well. >>> a set of conjoined twins will be discharged from the vcu medical center in richmond. the twins were joined at the lower chest and abdomen. the girl underwent a marathon separation surgery about three weeks ago. the twins will be going to the hospital hospitality house in richmond. there's no word on when the girls will be able to return home to the dominican republic. >>> it i

mayor vincent gray, kie ya henderson and murial bouser are just a few of the officials expected to attend. >>> mayor gray has a 34% approval rating. the poll found he would lose re-election to former mayors. the poll shows the d.c. council with a 30% approval rating that's a big drop from march when it was 54%. mayor gray and two members of the d.c. council are under investigation for alleged criminal activity. >>> this morning, pepco says it is not planning to appeal a $1 million fine handed down by the maryland public service commission. they were ordered to pay the fine yesterday after a four-month investigation. the reports found pepco provided inadequate service. poor communications sxin consistent tree trimming practices were cited as reasons for the fine. residents in forest glenn, where outages are common, say they're pleased with the penalty. >> it was good and i was happy. >> you have to cut back those trees during the summertime. maybe they'll learn. >> well, i guess they kind of had it coming. >> the commission will require pepco to submit a five-year plan on how to better upd

mayor vincent gray wants to federal government to pick up the tab for the city's costs related to the occupy protests. the two encampments on mcfearson square and freedom plaza have cost the city more than $1.5 million since october. the district is routinely reimburses for costs incurred by protests, marchs and rallies. >>> republican presidential candidates jump into the final weekend of campaigning before the holidays of last night they -- 408 days. last night -- holidays. last night they faced off in their final debate before the iowa caucuses, susan mcginnis has more. >> i believe i can debate barack obama and i think in serve three hour debates, barack obama would not have a leg to stands on. >> reporter: the gop front runner spent much of last night's debate plugging the conservative record and sending off a -- fending off attacks from his rivals. >> we can't have as our nominee from the republican forte someone who continues the stand for fannie mae and freddie mac. they need to be shut down. >> reporter: michele bachmann accused gingrich of being a washington lobbyist for acc

examining claims by sulaimon brown that he was paid off by the campaign of a eventual winner, vincent gray council chairman bought with city funds two fancy suv unrelated, the office of campaign finance referred to federal prosecutors, allegations of violation by brown's campaign. today, gray issued a statement supporting the investigation of harry thomas and brown called a special session to talk about what to do, but then canceled it when most council members didn't show up. >> what i want to do is reschedule this until monday so we can have every single member around. >> but brown said that meeting will not be open to the public. >> so they'll try again after the weekend. it's important to say in the past, thomas denied any criminal wrong doing and agreed to give the city some money back, but the impact of that agreement on federal law enforcement officers looking for criminal activity is likely to be negligent. >> officer walker arrived to a home in silver spring this afternoon after a mother found her child not breathing. walker was the first to get there and when he realized the 19 m

mayor vincent gray launched the one higher campaign back in september. the program encourages local businesses in the d.c. metropolitan area to hire qualified, unemployed d.c. residents. mayor gray says the one hire campaign is showing great promise. >> which is designed to begin to chip away at unemployment here in the district of columbia. we have had a -- an unemployment rate of about 11% overall. i think when we get the next data, i think we'll see some coming down of that which is good news. >> reporter: the program is open to d.c. residents only. you can register at any d.c. public library. >>> coming up next, howard and the forecast. >> j.c., a little chilly out here. not a bad day considering it is december, temps in the 40s, even around 50. we'll take a look at the temperatures. springfield, 50. along with college park. great falls, 42. got some rain in our future. we'll look at that and looking ahead toward the upcoming weekend when 9news now at noon returns. [ female announcer ] more people are using wireless devices... in more ways than ever.

. >>> vincent gray spoke out for the first time. up until now, mayor gray has said the legal process should play out before any action was a taken. but yesterday after a press conference to welcome a big boxing match to the district this weekend, the mayor went more in-depth talking about the toll the probe is taking on the city and on the thomas family. >> assuming that it's true, of course it's a bad situation. again, i can't get into the details about it because i don't know the details about it. i've known him for years. i know his mother, his father, he's somebody i've known, i know his wife, his kids. this has to be a very difficult situation for them. >> thomas is accused of using $300,000 of government money earmarked for a youth clarifity group for personal use, including the purchase of an suv and some trips. >>> president obama and republicans remain at odds this morning on how to pass legislation that will prevent you from paying more taxes starting next year. the president is threatening to veto any bill to renew payrol

mayor, vincent gray, on the sidelines dreaming about the days the washington redskins played on this field. >> we want to bring them back to the city. this is where they belong. they are the washington redskins and they should be in washington. >> not just to play, but to practice as well. mayor gray and two d.c. council members recently going to florida to visit the tampa bay buccaneers new training complex. >> and by the way, they are only 500 yards or so from the stadium. raymond james stadium. they have it all right there together. we had a wonderful time viewing their facilities. it's a facility i would love to see us have in the city. >> what are the chances to have it here? >> we need to work with the team's ownership and work to make it happen. it's a long ways out to ash bourn. >> training facility since jack kent cook owned the team. >> a little rfk. >> this is where district officials want the redskins to move to, but prince georges county also want them. as county land available near bowie state university is conducting a feasibility study right now. >> i'm sure our good

mayor vincent gray and the police chief say that they realize even one unsolved murder is one too many. >> and we're still working them. we never give up. we never give up. we'll keep working the cases until we come to -- and we asked the family to stay with us and have faith in us. >> reporter: for this resident, businessman and taxpayer, 20 heaven delivered a crushing blow that no crime stats could erase. >> the pain is still there and is still real. i am glad it was the lowest, but i just, you know, i wish it were lower than. that. >> reporter: bob barnard, fox 5 news. >>> two doctors in maryland were charged with murder after the police say they performed abortions as late as 36 weeks. dr. steven brigham from new jersey and dr. nikola riley from utah allegedly came to perform the procedures. police began their investigation after two of their patients ended up in a hospital. they say they found the remains of dozens of fetusus inside the clipping. both doctors are charged with first- and second-degree murder. >>> in in virginia, abortion clinics are getting ready to face tough new

mayor vincent gray and the police chief plan to talk about that tomorrow. >> the national park service extended a permit for campers in freedom plaza until the end of february. occupy d.c. is in mcpherson square where a permit is not needed as long as the group is smaller than 500. d.c.'s police unit says every day crime has increased since occupiers arrived and their presence is putting a strain on police forces. >> d.c. will pay more than a million dollars in feeps as a result of a gun case decided in the supreme court. dick heller sued the city in 2003. he said the district's ban on handgun ownership was unconstitutional. in june of 2008 the supreme court greed graed. it ruled that the ban violated the second amendment. today a federal judge awarded heller's lawyers more than $1 million in fees and expenses. after that decision the district rewrote its gun law to allow ownership, but there are still very strict registration requirements. >> a lot of customers that use verizon wireless are not happy tonight about a new policy that the company announced today. beginning on january 15t

mayor vincent gray and police chief cathy lanier say the drop in murders is from what they call community policing and a strong police presence in traditionally violent neighborhoods. >>> an online petition will be launched today in d.c. they hope to get one signature for every resident in d.c., which is 116,000. they're also proposing a new tax on bottled water that would fund a full-time lobbyist for the district. online protester adrian parsons has been consuming only electrolyte enhanced water for three weeks. >>> in 2003 dick heller sued the city, saying the ban on owning guns was unconstitutional. five years later, the supreme court agreed, ruling the ban violated the second amendment. yesterday a federal judge awarded heller's lawyers more than $1 million in expenses. d.c. now allows people to own guns, but there are strict registration requirements. >>> two gop candidates who failed to make virginia's primary ballot are headed to court over the decision. an attorney and tea party activist has filed a lawsuit on behalf of newt gingrich. jonathan mosley filed a suit yesterday conten

. >> we should note the campaigns of both dc crown kill chairman kwame brown and vincent gray are being investigated. the current chief of staff is being investigated for corruption. he had been offered a bribe in the same federal investigation. >>> well, more shenanigans out in the courthouse. the county is sa howing all sorts of -- is allowing all sorts of religions to put up their decorations. it is a display put up by a group calling itself the church of the flying spaghetti monster. it sounds funny but not everybody is amused by this. >> you know, if you want to put an atheist poster here that says i don't believe, that's fine. you have the right to do that. but don't go to the extent of making fun of my religion. >> take it all down. if you want to put a nativity scene up in front of your church, in front of your front yard, at your own home, it doesn't have to be at the courthouse. >> the chairman of the board of supervisors wants to meet with the new incoming board next month to take up the issue of holiday displays outside the courthouse. >>> well, tonight congress is running o

mayor vincent gray will spend the day courting tv producers in new york city. he's trying to get more television shows filmed in the district. in the past, industry executives said it's too built. between capitol hill, park police, and the district, they have to work with three different agencies to get permits. gray has proposed a tax on movie theater commissions to build a films fund. >>> three took the witness stand to decide if there was election fraud during last year's governor race. former governor bob ehrlich was called as a character witness for bob shurlick. he is accused of putting out robo calls last year to convince voters to stay home and not vote for martin o'malley. >>> montgomery county's public safety committee has voted against a proposed curfew, that despite high profile crime by teenagers, including flash mobs. the committee voted 2-0 against the curfew, which would keep teenagers off the streets beginning at 11:00 p.m. on week nights and midnight on weekends. the vote now goes to the full council, which is considering delaying a vote on th

mayor vincent gray hopes it will attract more technology firms to the city. specifically, he says east of the anacostia river. the chief technology officer says it will make a big difference when it comes to public safety. new net works feed will speed up internet access to health clinics and even law enforcement. >>> our time is 4:36. at 4:41, a consumer advocacy group is attempting to simplify the relationship you have with your credit card company. >>> pay it off. >> the obama administration stops the fda from making the morning after pill available to teenagers. >> we're back with your weather first in two minutes. you're watching 9news now. >>> it is 4:39. a breezy morning out here. we'll see less wind as the day wears on. northwest winds 10 to 20 with gusts to 30. this afternoon looks better. look at the winds by 3:00, west at 8 with highs today only about 45 degrees. i'll be back with the weekend forecast in five minutes. right now, here's monika samtani. >> big problem this morning. it is going to be high standing water in the area and even flooding t

first in the district, where mayor vincent gray will celebrate the completion of the new 11th street bridge complex that will allow drivers on the east west freeway to avoid getting on pennsylvania avenue. the new bridge will open to traffic this weekend inbound. the outbound should open later in the week. this is the largest project ddot has ever undertaken. and virginia commuters who take i-66 to the beginning of the beltway, beginning this weekend, you'll take a new flyover ramp that will put you on the right side of 495. that should make it much easier to merge into the oncoming traffic. the new configuration will be particularly useful for drivers trying to get off at route 7 in tysons corner. you will no longer have to ventura cross all lanes of the beltway in order to make it to the route 7 exit. vdot will close all exits from eastbound i-66 onto the outer loop tonight so the crews can prepare for this new traffic configuration. >>> today the man accused of leaking classified information about the wars in afghanistan and iraq to the website wikileaks will be in court. it will

mayor vincent gray attributed the decline in part to community policing and strong neighborhood leadership. >>> a couple of thing to watch out for come the new year. a heads up for the drivers on the dulles toll road. starting sunday, rates go up to 25 cents at at main toll plaza to $1.50. rates will rema off-ramps at 75 cents. shopping bags in maryland are about to get more expensive. beginning january 1st, stores will charm a five cent bag tax on both paper and plastic bags. >>> two desperate attempts by republican presidential candidates to get on the virginia ballot. more trouble is brewing for bp following the massive oil spill in the gulf. who prosecutors are zeroing in on now. >>> a little girl murdered by her baby-sitter in indiana. we are now learning that girl had ties here to our area.  >>> federal prosecutors are preparing to file the first lawsuit against bp. ate conviction could mean five years in prison. >>> a 9-year-old indiana girl brutally murdered has ties here to our area. she lived in hagerstown, maryland earlier this year. wash county school officials say she att

mayor vincent gray will hold a press conference to discuss the snow and winter emergency plan.eviewed last year's emergency plan and have made changes to better ensure the public safety this winter. they'll also show up better equipment to show off for the snow removal. hopefully, we won't need a whole lot. >>> the nation's leading transportation investigators are now calling for an all out ban of cell phone and mobile device use by drivers even if it is hands free. the national transportation safety board made the sweeping recommendation yesterday even though it has no regulatory authority. they say the only exception should be gps devices and the use of mobile device ins an emergency. the ntsb is also hoping the car and cell phone manufacturers will develop ways to disable cell phones while a user is driving. >>> a proposed new traffic law could make it harder for college students to park their cars in d.c. legislation before the d.c. council would eliminate a program for out of state students. it allows them to pay $338 for a local parking permit. d.c.'s transportation depar

mayor vincent gray will also be on hand to give some pregame remarks and attend the game.ff is set for 4:30. >>> to the ice now. mike green who has mid missed 20 straight games is back to practice. he participated in the entire 45 minute practice with the rest of the team for the first time since before he suffered a strained right groin muscle in november. still, there remain no official timetable for his return. >> something that you got to take care of and especially had with hockey, it is such a common thing. it is just maintenance right now making sure i am on top of myself and getting better. i don't think i'll be 100% for a long time but just got to get to that statement where i can play. >> and next up for the capitals, it is rainers at the verizon center tonight. the puck drops at 7:30. >>> to college hoops now. 23rd ranked virginia hosting maryland eastern shore. percy woods has the ball stolen by eve an. he did this to mike scott for the jam. uva up by 10 at the half. in the second half, it was all virginia. they excused past maryland eastern show 69-42. >>> in

dc's mayor vincent gray is being accused of making misrepresentations about a spike in crime.was on a talk show two weeks ago. it was there that the chairman of the fraternal order of police tells us the mayor made remarks saying the occupy movement has not caused crime to rise. gray is wrong. >> in fact, there has been a double digit increase in violent crime and overall crime in the city. >> reporter: as a result, they have sent a letter and supporting documents totaling 40 -- he says the spike is being seen in districts where officers are being pulled from to patrol the ok pierz. he says -- occupiers. >> this is on top of the fact we're down 400 police officers. >> reporter: crime is up across dc by 13%. he also says crime overall is up 10% since the occupation began in october. >> occupiers were quick to react after hearing the claims. >> they don't have to surveil us 24/7. we can take care of our steflz. >> reporter: it's unfair -- ourselves. >> reporter: it's unfair to peg it on the occupiers. >> which is worse? did the mayor really not know there is a double digit incre

mayor vincent gray's office tells us negotiations for microsoft to take over part of st. elizabeth's hospital have been underway for a while. a formal announcement could come within weeks. the site is across from the west campus where the mammalian security department is developing its new head -- where the homeland security department is developing its new headquarters. >>> shawn yancy has your fox 5 top five. >> up first tonight facebook is reaching out to people considering suicide. no. 5, facebook launched a new service today called lifeline. it allows users to instantly connect with a crisis counselor. the crisis center workers will be available 24 hours a day to respond to users selecting the chat option. no. 4, an early heads up for metro, weekend track work will cause delays on parts of the red, orange, blue and yellow lines. trains will single track between various stations. work begins 10 p.m. friday and wrap up in time for the monday morning commute. no. 3, working moms are healthier than stay at home moms at least when their kids are young. according to a new

it accuses of vincent gray of downplaying the rising crime rates. the protesters are planning a demonstration outside the capitol next month. it is scheduled for january 17, the day the house reconvenes. they hope it will be the largest protests that has ever been held in the u.s. >>> new figures confirm retailers made big gains. a research firm says spending rose four 0.1% compared to last year. spending rose 4.7%. an increase is considered a successful season. the combined figure will not be available until saturday. 5:36 and 31 degrees. >> neighbors are concerned about a recent crime in part of northwest washington. we have the latest. >>> disturbing news for tens of thousands of hurricane victims. why the agency is asking for some money back. >>> we are the american association of pharmaceutical scientists and we are celebrating our 25th anniversary. good morning, washington! >>> 5:40 on this cold thursday morning. satellite and radar composite clear skies overhead. notice the extra cloud cover showing great. just off to our west. we will get cl