the head of the washington teacher's union says they feel blind sided by the move. especially since the district just hired 900 new teachers this summer. >> the circumstances surrounding this risk has made our teachers wonder whether or not this is really about a short fall of funds or if this is a back door way of getting rid of veteran teachers. >> it is at the doorstep of the council, because it's not our action. > dc councilman, chairman i should says he is surprised by the layoffs, since the mayor just signed the budget in august. she will release details later this month. >>> it was sort of some times today where you needed to have a little more than just your jacket. >> it was a little dreary, but i think everyone is going to be happy with the outcome this weekend. >> okay. >> so we get through tonight and half of tomorrow we'll be in good shape. here's your forecast first. the next three days look like this. some clouds to start. we should finish strong. high temperatures in the upper 70s. sunny, upper 70s. there will be a cold front moving through on saturda

. >> reporter: washington teachers union president george parker responded by saying he cuts would be deaf stating and he questioned why the system hired 900 new teachers to wind up announcing layoffs. >>> here's a look at what we are tomming this morning. dc fire and ems are searching for the cause of a fire that broke out in northwest. it began at 7:00 this morning on the 57 600 block of 15th street. we have been told that some hung sheets outside of the window and escape. they were evidence virtually rescued by firefighters using ladders. ten people were treated for smoke inhalation. we'll be right back after these messages. stay with 9 news now. >>> police are searching for three teenagers that stabbed a man in a subway restaurant. police say an argument broke out between the worker and three girls before the girl allegedly attacked the man. he was treated at a hospital louis in the chesapeake bay is getting worse according to a new report by environment maryland. they say overfishing and pollution are taking their toll and it is having an impact on the economy of the state. >>> n

. >> reporter: the washington teachers union president, george parker responded by saying the cuts would be devastating and he questioned why the system hired 900 new teachers only to now announce layoffs. >>> dc city council members grilled the citied ifed if and wasa. a hearing yesterday focused on an inadequate water supply during the mansion fire on shane bridge road. testimony reveals thed ifed if never got thursday row maps of the water system, even after similar problems occurred if western. listen to an exchange between council member phil mendleson and fire chief dennis rubin. >> fire and ems responded to fires without water supply maps, correct? >> i would say that's correct. >> i'm truly stunned hoar. how could you show up at a fire not knowing where the wear supply is? >> reporter: wasa officials had to answer questions about out of service hydrants in areas that seem prone to water supply problems. >>> today, virginia's candidates for governor will debate in our area. democrat deeds and republican mcdonnell will face off this morning. the fairfax county chamber of commerce i

. >>> washington teachers union president george parker responded by saying the cuts would be devastatinge questioned why the system hired 900 new teachers to only wind up announcing layoffs. >>> a warning for those who live or work near ft. belvoir. today around lunchtime a huge air force hangar plane will be flowing at a low altitude over the davis field. it is part of a refueling mission. so don't be alarmed. >>> if you plan to drive on the beltway late tomorrow night you could find it is closed. crews will doubt down all the lanes at route 123 including the exit ramp. that's so dominion virginia power can move power lines. it is part of the del dulles extension project. >>> time for another living smart report. jessica doyle makes a comeback. >> good morning. you know how google has been working to assemble a massive on-line collection of books. >> always doing something. >> here's the update. google is realizing not everyone wants to read books on the computer so it is teaming up with another company that makes a high speed establishing machine and that can access their library of 2

the president of the washington teachers union is just as frustrated if not more. george parker understands there is a $40 million shortfall. how could the school system have to fire hundreds much teachers when they hired 900 just this summer. >> they have not denied it. that it was nearly 900 teachers that is mind boggling. why would you hire that many teachers then a month later talk about a rift or layoff. >> reporter: we tried to get answers from the school chancellor. she took questions in a live online chat on "washington post".com. she was asked how her decision to lay off teachers was affecting contract negotiations. her response, this is a difficult time. she is hopeful they will be able to come to a contract that is good for teachers and students alike. here is what we got from mayor fenty when he arrived. >> aftethe press conference. >> reporter: back out live the mayor was inside taking a tour with vip's of the art in there. letters that went out to parents and school employees said that those layoffs of school employees including teachers would come by

the president of the washington teachers union says he understand there is a $40 million shortfall butsks how could the school system have to fire hundreds of of teachers when they hired nearly 900 just this summer. we received an e-mail yesterday from school chancellor michelle rhee's office. that e-mail says they still don't know how many employees will get pink slips because they're still finalizing the budget. >>> with the whole together fighting controversy behind him, michael vick is folk youing on the feature, even teaming up with the humane society and using his life as an example. on a visit to district, the nfl star opened up about the scandal and what he has learned since then. fox 5's wisdom martin has more. >> reporter: the road to redemption for michael vick hike him to the covenant baptist church in d.c. he got a standing ovation as he started to deliver his anti-dogfighting message. >> it's horrible thng and i wish i would have never did it but i can't turn back the hands of time. >> reporter: vick talked about owing up in the dogfighting culture in virginia. he said ev

the washington teachers union president says cuts could be devastateding. >>> i'll ask mayor adrian fentyse cuts and why they're coming now, just weeks into the start of the school year. >> you ma i be able to pack a gun in your bag the next team you use amak. the senate voted to allow amtrak passengers to carry handguns in their checked bags. the weapons must be unloaded and locked. you are allowed to carry a gun in your bag before september 11th. it must still be reconciled with a house bill that doesn't contain the gun rights provision. >>> in montgomery county, transit-related crime is on the rise. that's mostly due to thefts which were up 40% from 2006 to 2008. officials say the most common crime is thefts from vehicles parked at the stations. police are encouraging people not to leave items like gps devices, stereos and laptops visible in their cars. >> a warning this morning for toyota and lexus drivers. the investigation toyota has now launched following a deadly crash. >>> the candidates in virginia's governor's race will face off this morning. the moderator, nbc news' david greg

the washington teacher's union president says the cuts will be devastating. >>> good morning.loudy and cool. low and mid 60s. scattered showers moving across virginia and maryland. another band of rain moving into washington by 9:00. then, later on today, cloudy. a small chance of an additional light shower this afternoon with highs only near 70. increasing sunshine on friday with highs, upper 70s. mostly sunny saturday, partly cloudy sunday. >>> coming up on "news 4 at 5:00," president obama back on >>> we are back at 8:00 this thursday morning, september 17th. 2009 with a winning moment from last night's season finale of "america's got talent." another highlight of the evening, susan boyle's first ever trip to the u.s. we'll have more on that in just a moment. i'm meredith vieira, matt lauer and al roker, important information on heart disease. >> we'll be joined by dr. nancy, she celebrates fact and fiction, the leading cause of death in this country. >> where are we today? once again, we are live at an unnamed location. we need you to take your best guess. take a look. do

council but gray tells the "washington post" that rhee is just using the council as a scapegoat to fire unionized teachers. >>> a wild car chase took police through two states. it ended in temple hills, maryland. virginia state police say a man carjacked a vehicle with a woman still inside. officers chased him here until the man jumped out and ran off. >>> we are learning more about the death of a burglary suspect at the hands of a johns hopkins university student wielding a sword. the man would was killed was 4 #-year-old donald rice, fresh out of prison. the owner told police that the suspect lunged at him in his garage. new information reveals that rice was outside in the yard crouched in a corner when the man sought him out, sliced off his hand and then killed him. >>> coming up next, you may want to take a closer look at the floor mats in your car before you leave on your drive to work this morning. >> we'll tell you about a major safety concern that affects two popular brands. >>> also ahead, they have their suspect an now police are trying to find the motive n the murder of a yale graduate student.

but gray tells the washington post michelle rhee and mayor fenty are using the council as a scapegoat to fire unionized teachers. >>> new develops in the process of picking a successor to ted kennedy. the house of representatives has approve aid bill allowing governor duval patrick to name an interim appointment to fill the senate seat. voters will choose a permanent replacement during a january 19th special election. bill now goes to the state senate. >>> president obama is getting some help in the health care reform pitch from his wife. first lady michelle obama today begins what the white house says will be a fall packed with health care events. at the white house today mrs. obama will talk with women and families about the health care system and the need for insurance reform. >>> and did you see it? the white house press corp got a lesson in hygiene 101 yesterday. >> during a briefing by health and human services secretary kathleen sebelius, a reporter sneezed into his hand. she told him the right way to do it. >> this is a possible impediment to get a deal. [ laughter ] >> i mean, what is that about? geez.

teachers that they want because of the union rules. >> that's starting to change. here in new york city, it's certainly changed in washington, d.c. with their chancellor. it's changing across america. >> okay. let me switch gears here. eli, you founded two fortune 500 companies, now known as k.d. holmes, it was -- >> right. >> and sun america, which acquired by aig. can you characterize for us where you see the economic environment? >> i think we're close to bottoming out, or have bottomed out. i do not see any rapid recovery. i think it's going to take three or four years before we have any real movement in the economy upward. >> it's not going to feel much different than the recession for most people? >> no, no. look, unemployment's going to get to double digits pretty quick. then it's going to soften a bit. but we're not going back to 4%, 5% unemployment in the next several years in my view. >> how do you like what's going on at aig these days? >> well, i think mr. benmarsche is doing all the right things. >> so he was the man to bring in? >> he was. >> you've got asset sales that have already taken place. would you like to se

washington, d.c., the chancellor has been trying -- a mayoral-controlled district that's been doing better and bitter every year because of these kind of reforms. she's been trying to get ahold of teacher union contracts so she can actually evaluate people for whether or not they really do help kids achieve. and she's been fought by the unions. in chicago, the same thing. l.a., just asked for control over being able to turn over failing schools to private managers. we're seeing promising results from this kind of decentralization or sit zpen control of schools in philadelphia. charter schools, hybrid schools, entrepreneurs helping take over our schools. we're a smart country. we need to invite more people in than just the regular folks because we've got a national problem. we've got to solve it with a national solution. >> i tell you what, it's not just the kids that will have to work harder. i appreciate your time. >> thanks, kyra. >>> after years of warfare, another reminder of how dangerous afghanistan and iraq are for american military. just today alone, four u.s. troops were killed in at battle in eastern afghanistan, and in iraq, four troops were killed in a string of roadside bombings