emotional tributes throughout this newscast. we'll be right back. remembering a king inside the emotional farewell to michael jackson. gasoline giveaway. local drivers are being rewarded for free gas. find out what they did to deserve this prize and how you can claim it. and capitol congestion. how bad is d.c. traffic? we'll show you the results of the study and why your commute could get worse. good morning, everyone. i'm barbara harrison. >> good morning to you. i'm joe krebs on this wednesday, the eighth day of july, 2009. let's first check on the traffic

and weather. >> tom keirein is here with us, as always. a beautiful summer morning underway. there's the gorgeous full moon nowhe and t sky ed in owblhos swing .upup ira ot nng swiho atecarip aion ou gihend.on wen ure ihe tpper 60s for prince george's hecounty. her to nhefathor inthhe t 50r ups. around the bay, we are in the low 70s. the mid-60s on the midshore. onshower has moved out to sea and is dissipating. by 9:00, the mid-70s. by noon, near 80. during the afternoon, the mid-80s with low humidity. a wonderful summer day. enjoy. i'll have the forecast for tomorrow in ten minutes. >> okay. we'll enjoy it, i'm sure. we'll check the early traffic with jerry edwards in the news4 traffic network. >> good morning. all is well so far around town.

welcomed news getting ready to head on out. 270 near 118, the lanes are open. the overnight road work was on the northbound side of 270 and is wrapping up. coming in from the west on 66, overnight road work is wrapping up. to new details concerning marion barry. i'm sorry, we'll start with this story first. it is that kind of year when drivers like to hear the gasoline prices are falling. >> the price has fallen to $2.60 a gallon down $1.50 from a year ago. the average is $2.69 in d.c., $2.47 in virginia. some virginia drivers will get a lot of relief at the gas pump today. we are talking about 10 gallons absolutely free. all part of a gas giveaway to

reward good drivers in the area. megan mcgraf is here with the details of that story. >> reporter: good morning. things are very quiet right now, but that's because they are not allowing people to line up at this gas station until 6:00 this morning. they have very strict rules about it. take a look at the signs behind me here. we are at the shirley duke station. you can see that the price of regular gasoline is nothing. zero, zero, zero. people are not going to pay a dime for gasoline if they get here this morning between 6:00 and 9:00 a.m. it is part of a promotion that all-state is doing. why alexandria? they heard a survey where they look at the number of years drivers had between accidents and they found in alexandria the drivers were the most improved. actually, they increased the span to 1.8 years between accidents. basically, 7.2 years, every 7.2 years they have an accident. previously, it was 5.4 years

between accidents so they have improved their driving record, if you will. as a congratulations, all-state is offering free gas to nip who comes to this gas station this morning. they are giving away 10 gallons to each driver. they are here to purpose the gas, you won't have to pump it yourself, you can sit in your car. they are going to give away 7,000 gallons of gasoline or be here three hours first. we are expecting a big turnout with people to start lining up at 6:00 a.m. don't come early because they will not let you in early. in fact, you have to go to a nearby park, the ben brennaman park adjacent to this gas station. they will line you up there and then they will allow you to come to the gas station to fill up. more coming up next half hour. back to you all. >> i bet it will be a big turnout. thank you, megan. now to details on marion barry and his latest arrest on

stocking charges. city leaders show he hired the woman involved in the incident after the two started dating. the woman is barry's former girlfriend. she was hired in october to work for barry who was a d.c. council member. she was paid through his taxpayer-funded budget. late last night his spokesperson held a press cop inference conference. >> at no time was she threatened by mr. barry, and at no time was she stocked by mr. barry. >> barry's spokesperson denied the personal attacks. he'll apeerl appear in court tomorrow. happening today, president obama arrived in italy to kickoff the g-8 summit.

he'll meet with italy's president and then travel to the summit of g-8 leaders. they are expecting to discuss climate change, iran's nuclear ambitions and food security. kim jong-il was on hand to mark 15 years since the death o his father who was the founder of north carolina. kim jong-il is 67 years old and believed to have suffered a stroke last year. north koreans laid flowers and bow repeatedly before a huge statue of his father. many are talking about the star-studded memorial for michael jackson. yesterday's such as included musical tribute from greats from the music world with whom he used to perform and those who inspired him. also, it included video of those who knew jackson best.

>> as much as we may feel, and we do, that we need michael here with us, god must have needed him far more. >> and as great as smokey sang it, i thought michael was better. >> i want his three children to know, wasn't nothing change about your dad, it was strange what your daddy had to deal with, but he dealt with it. >> although our hearts are aching, we need to look up where he is undoubtedly perched in a crescent moon, and we need to smile. >> coming up at 5:15, one of the most poignant moments of the service. we'll hear from michael jackson's daughter. the time is 5:07, 70 degrees. also ahead, a juvenile jailbreak

that has people in maryland on edge. new details about the violent young offenders and how they escaped from the detension center weeks after it opened. and they are accused of stealing credit cards. look at the suspects. something about them isn't what it soneems. we'll explai

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>> today get aere fngra oe cream hair lke s whenou yuyny a a sand visit arbys.com and sign up to see a list of participating restaurants. 5:11 is our time. >> hey, tom, good morning, again. >> hello, there. here's a live picture from our city camera there. the bright spot is venus. montgomery and fairfax and prince george's counties, in the 70s. farther to the north, we are in the 50s. we had an overnight shower crossing the bay and the eastern shore is heading out to sea and dissipating for the rest of today. the highs will reach low 80s with sunshine. another moonlit night with 70s throughout the evening. low 6 0 tomorrow morning. tomorrow, clouds developing, light breezes, and highs will reach the low 80s. a look at the rest of the week

and e weekend and a look at next week, too, is in ten minutes. jerry, good morning, how is the traffic? we'll head up to see how things are progressing along the 95 corridor. so far, relatively quiet with the commute northbound headed up to the capital beltway. the inbound side of i-66 had roadwork earlier, but now that's wrapped up. the parkway is also looking good. our time is 5:12, 68 degrees. do you think your commute is bad? just wait. why a new study says traffic in our area is getting worse. plus, next at 5:15, celebrating a life of michael jackson. we'll show you the

our time is 5:14. in the news today, president obama arrived in italy for the g-8 summit. he is now at this moment meeting with italian president georgio napolitano. then the two will attend the summit on climate change, iran's nuclear ambitions and food security. questions are being raised on a juvenile detention center in maryland after inmates escaped for the second time. on sunday six detainees escaped.

they were serious offenders wanted with assault with intent to kill. drivers in alexandria will be able to fill up the gasoline tanks for absolutely free today. all-state is hosting a gas giveaway on duke street today. drivers can start lining up as of 5:30 this morning. all-state says the giveaway is a reward because alexandria topped their list of the most improved cities for safe driving. i just wanted to say -- ever since i was born, daddy has been the best father you could ever imagine.

and i just want to say i love him so much. >> heart wrenching remarks from michael jackson's 11-year-old daughter. the last emotional tribute at the memorial to the king of pop. some 20,000 people gathered inside the staples center in los angeles for the spiritual ceremony while others watched around the world on television. dozens of stars like jennifer hudson paid tribute to the music legend by singing his songs. others shared stories and words of encouragement after losing their colleague and friend. >> i do know that as much as we may feel, and we do, that we need micel here with us, god must have needed him far more. >> a private service was also

held earlier in the day. it is still not clear what will happen to jackson's body, but jackson's brother jermaine has expressed a desire to have him buried some day at neverland hranch,is estate i snncerthoun california. stay withs4ew nth fag cer oovef ael jackson'ia memormil servic emwe 'll have more on what's happen shein tce ceremony t coming up in 30 minutes. you can also view a slide show on our website, nbcwashington.com. a new study confirms what we already knew. washington area traffic is bad, that is to say really bad. we had the second worst traffic in the entire country. while traffic is lightning up in most cities around the country, it is getting worse here. tracee wilkins is here with information to stay connected on your commute. >> reporter: the latest report says we spend the equivalent to a long workweek in traffic in washington, d.c. let's take a look at the numbers and find out what they are saying. in 2007 the average u.s. driver

spent 36.1 hours in traffic down from 36.6 in 2006. but in d.c. drivers spent 62 hours in rush hour traffic in 2007 up three hours from 59 in 2006. so here's what was wasted at the end of 2007 in the d.c. metro area sitting in traffic. $the.8 billion in gas and productivity and 90 million gallons of gas. the report is done annually by the texas transportation institute. it conflicts with a report conducted a few months ago that found congestion was slightly improving in our area. both reports declare d.c. is among the worst in the nation when it comes to traffic. this report rates our region second to l.a., which is considered the most congested. the report also said there's no one solution to fix all of this. they do agree that some of the major road projects being dope in the area, typically in virginia, are helping out with the problem, but what they say

needs to be done is better construction. they say more homes need to be where the jobs are and that folks aren't driving such long distances to get to work. i'm tracee wilkins as we overlook 495. a shocking new report reveals security breaches at several fedel buildings. the government accountability office says investigators were able to carry bomb-making materials past security at ten federal buildings. once inside they constructed explosive devices and carried them around. the security at the buildings and 9,000 other buildings is provided by the feral service. hearings on this today are scheduled on capitol hill. more woes for the nationals. >> and lance in france. lindsay czarniak is here with sports in a minute. >> hey, there, good morning.

your sports minute begins with the nationals in colorado. the nationals use the long ball to take an early lead with ryan zimmerman's three-run homer in the third, but in the eighth they blow it and the nationals lose to the rockies. venus williams won her singles match and the mixed doubles match. she won 23-16. ma ris sa coleman was back against the minnesota links, but the mystics lost in overtime forcing overtime with a last-second shot. in the end, the lynx got the win. and lance arm strong just a faction of a second from first place in stage four. armstrong's team won the time trials yesterday. have a great day. moving up on 5:21 -- >> we'll check on traffic and

weather on the 1s. hi, tom. >> we have a tangerine and turquoise summer dawn over the potomac river this morning. the bright spot in the east is venus. the bright not the southern sky is jupiter. they have a big full moon sitting in the western sky now. tempaturesround the region are in the 60s. near washington, near the bay, low 70s. near the mountains, in the 50s. for today, lots of highs reaching the mid-80s. you need sunblock or you'll have a serious sunburn without protection. norm the low 80s. low 80s again on friday. rather humid on saturday in the mid-80s. an isolated thundershower is possible, small chance. on sunday a greater chance for passing showers and thunder with highs in the 80s. it looks like it will be humid, too, but dry weather for monday and tuesday. now, jerry, good morning. how is the wednesday commute? good morning to you. we'll head out to see how things are progressing. little bit by little bit we are

getting busier from deal city to the capital beltway on 395. if you are headed southbound on 95, no worries there with the travel lanes available for you. elsewhere, we'll look at prince orge's and the capital beltway near the route 50 interchange, we are moving along well. back to you. thank you. >> our time right now is 5:22, 68 degrees. new details about a juvenile jailbreak. how young offenders broke out of the detention center weeks after it opened. and google already concurred the internet. we'll tell you about the tech giant's new ambition. plus, appearances can be deceiving. we'll tell you something about some unsuspecting thieves. and here's you money saving tip of the day. >> health care is expensive. to lower your health care bill, change the frequency of your visits. ask your doctor if you can cut down the frequency of checkups every six months instead of

every three, for example. however, you must consult with your doctor. don't decide to do this on your own. i'm

we are learning more about the escapes from a new juvenile detention center in maryland. the new beginnings youth center houses youth offenders from the district.

on sunday six of the facility's most serious offenders escaped. they are wanted for intent to kill and robbery. they were found a me away, but this is the second escape since they opened on may 9th. >> the kids made comments that we built a glass prison, how do they expect to hold us in? >> we knew once we put a resident behind the door they were behind the door. >> in a letter from john leopold, he says it is important that those behind these walls are safe from threats. this dude looks like a lady.

the employee at the home gallery store said three women came into the store, distracted her and stole her purse out of the office in the back. within moments the victim's credit cards were used at area stores. these three men were arrested, anthony austin, elliott tomorrow and michael allen. they face larceny, fraud and forgery charges. >> that is coop of interesting to see their photographs matched up with the female side there. would you like to see that? i want to see how good the makeup job was. >> pretty good there. 5:27, 68 degrees. new details in marion barry's stalking case. why the council members are seeking new charges about the women involved. d then remembering a king. more on the tribute to michael jackson.

begun too soon. an emotional farewell to the king of pop. good morning to you. i'm joe krebs on this wednesday, july 8th, 2009. >> i'm barbara harrison. some of the other top stories we are following today are gas

giveaway. looking for relief from the pain at the pump? we'll tell you where to pull up for free today. a mar joy announcement from google. find out what the company has its sights on next. those stories are coming up after we look at traffic and weather on the 1s. >> we'll begin with weather and tom krooern. good morning. we have a serene summer moon low in the summer sky. that's a picture from the eastern skyline. it is 68 in washington. the mid-80 or mid-60s in prince george's county. poolsville, we have a delightful summer morning underway with low humid any the 50s. in the rural areas, we have the mid-60s. and we have a clear sky with temperatures around the region today climbing into the mid-80s by mid-afternoon with lots of sunshine. a perfect summer day on the way. sunrise, 5:51. the sunset at 8:36.

another great evening with a moonlit night. by dawn tomorrow n the low 60s. the forecast for thursday will be in ten minutes. barbara and joe? >> thank you, tom. we'll check on the traffic now with jerry. good morning, again, tyou. >> good morning. we'll head out to see how things are progressing. rush hour is kicking into high gear. south of town, nothing to worry about so far. the inner loop of the beltway across the bridge span, the travel lanes are open. the outer loop, a little early for sunshine delays. it looks good south of up to. we had police activity earlier, but the police have now left the scene. good news for drivers. gasoline prices are on the way down. the average price nationwide has fallen 3 cents over the past week to $2.60. it is now down $1.50 compared to one year ago. the average price for a gallon of regular gasoline is $2.69 in d.c., $2.54 in maryland and

$2.47 in virginia. we have good news for drivers in alexandria. this morning one insurance company will be filling drivers' tanks for absolutely free. this gasoline giveaway is a present to all the good drivers in the area. news the 4's megan mcgrath is joining us where the drivers are beginning to line up. good morning. >> reporter: they are being turned away at this point. it doesn't start until 6:00 this morning. according to a survey by all-state, alexandria's drivers go 7.2 years between accidents. according to the numbers. that makes the folks here in alexandria the most improved drivers in the country. as a way of saying thank you, there's a free gas giveaway here at the shell station in alexandria. look at the price for gallon, it is zero. that's going to be the case here for at least three hours this morning at the shirley duke shell station in alexandria. they are going to be giving away 7,000 gallons of gasoline or

three hours, whichever comes first. if you come here this morning, you can get 10 gallons of gasoline for free. i am joined with christie from all-state. talk about this, axandria drivers, the most improved in the country. doesn't mean the best drivers, right? >> correct. according to this year's all-state drivers report, drivers in alexandria go 7.2 years between accidents, so they have improved testimony average by 1.8 years, better than any other city on the list. >> reporter: talk about the giveaway. how do people get their gasoline here? >> we are asking drivers to line up at 6:00 a.m. there are police officers located in brenman park behind the gas station where they will cue the cars to come into the gas station and drivers will receive up to 10 gallons of free gas courtesy of all-state. >> reporter: don't come early.

we have seen drivers turned away here. they will line you up at 6:00. of course, we'll be live all morning long. >> the line doesn't begin until 6:00 a.m. earlier you said 5:30. >> reporter: they are trying to control this so it is not chaotic, so they don't have a traffic jam. go to the park adjacent to the gas station, and the police will line you up and direct you. then you come over to the gas station in an orderly fashion to get your gasoline. they have an order to this this morning. >> thank you very much, megan. it was a public farewell to the king of pop. ♪ where there is love i'll be there ♪ >> scenes from a memorial service for michael jackson. many sang songs in his honor and jackson's 11-year-old paris took the stage with tears in her eyes

saying michael was the best father she could imagine. president obama was asked on his thoughts of michael jackson. he said michael jackson was a cultural phenomenon. >> michael jackson is like elvis, like sitra, when somebody who has captivated the imagination of the country for that long passes away, people pay attention. i assume at some point people will start focusing again on things like nuclear weapons. >> nuclear weapons is one of the issues the president will focus on at the g-8 summit in italy today. he arrived in rome a short time ago after spending two days in russia. brooke hart has more. >> reporter: arriving in rome today, president obama meets with italy's president before the summit's open. the host town of l'aquila is under tight security.

they will talk about trade, iran's nuclear goals and climate change. europe wants more. on the global economy, leaders will compare progress on stimulus measures. there's talk of needing a second u.s. economic jolt. lawmakers should be open to it. republicans howled. >> i think a second stimulus is an even worse idea than the first stimulus, which has been proven to have failed. >> reporter: with unemployment edging to 10%, president obama defended his read on the economy early on. >> what we always knew was that even when the economy pulls out of recession, that you are going to see jobs emerging only at tend of that process rather that the beginning. >> reporter: obama got scant attention in russia.

>> he'll have the rock-star status going into the summit, but the question down the road is, is the perception going to met with concrete actions and successes? >> reporter: bound to limit g-8 progress, china's president withdrew from the summit to deal with ethnic clashes at home. here the president is getting a mixed grade while he's away. a government audit reports that the measure is keeping many teachers employed, but just a sliver of funds tagged for highway work has been paid out. in washington, brooke hart, nbc news. our tim is now 5:38. the temperature is 68 degrees right now. it is a capital traffic crunch. find out why a new study says your commute could get even worse. and google could get bigger. find out about big plans from the internet giant. ñc >>

heto> s'sy'day' barin as ab w hoout desserts for eew fr?fr >> sign up t o receive e-mails from theng mtiel p and oul'l receive a coupon for al free chocolate phenomenon due. sign up at themeltingpot.com. we'll check the weather and traffic. 5:41 is the time. tom, chocolate phenomenon fondue

this morning? >> well, it is a perfect morning in the 60s north of washington. near 70 in the bay. by noon, near 80. lots of sup this afternoon in the mid-80s and low humidity. partly cloudy and another delightful summer day in the low 80s. a look at the weekend in ten minutes. sunrise in ten minutes, too. jerry, how is traffic? we'll see how things are progressing. 95 northbound, we had a broken down truck that quickly moved to the shoulder. the lanes are open. let's see what else is happening if anything at all. there's a pretty picture inbound and outbound. 395 and the 14th street, all is well. back to you. our time now is 5:42. you think traffic is bad now? a new report says it could be getting worse. and a good-bye to the king of pop. next at 5:45, more of the emotional farewells to michael jackson.

our time now is 5:44. president obama arrived in italy for the g-8 summit and is meeting with italian president georgio napolitano in rome. global warming and iran's nuclear ambitions are on the agenda for the summit. nobody was injured when a plane ran smack into a flock of birds. it happened yesterday afternoon. one of the 40 birds hit an engine on the southwest flight. the pilot declared an emergency and circled back to land at dwi. drivers will be able to fill up for free in alexandria today. all-state is hosting a free gas giveaway at 4776 duke street. drivers can line up at 6:00 this morning. the give away is a reward because alexandria topped the list of the most improved cities

for safe driving. we are connected to your commute. it is now official, d.c. traffic is horrible. a new study declared the washington, d.c. area traffic is the second worst in the country. while traffic is light anything up in most cities around the country, it is getting worse here. tracee wilkins has the data. >> reporter: good morning, joe. take a long workweek with lots of overtime. and at the end of the year, that's how much time you have spent in traffic if you are top average d.c. commuter. it is not good news. we'll take a look at the numbers. here's what the latest report is saying. in 2007 the average u.s. driver spent 36.1 hours in traffic down from 36.6 in 2006. but in d.c. drivers spent 62 hours in rush hour traffic. 62 hours, almost twice as much in 2007. up three hours from 59 hours in 2006. here's what was wasted at the end of 2007 in the d.c. metro area sitting in traffic.

2.8 billion dollars in productivity and also in gals gas and 90 million gallons of gas. this report conflicts with a report released a couple moments ago that found congestion was slightly improving in the area. regardless, both reports say d.c. is among the worst in the nation when it comes to traffic. this report rates our region second to l.a., which is considered the most congested. when they come to talk about making this better, the bottom line is there is not just one solution. you have to improve roads, which much of the area is already doing, but you also have to build smartly. they are saying we need more affordable housing in areas where people are working, for instance, the dallas corridor. they are saying along that area you use more houses and so many people are traveling from the area to d.c. and back and forth. i'm tracee wilkins live in college park. back to you in the studio. thank you very much. we have new details surrounding

former d.c. mayor marion barry arrested on stocking charges. records show he hired the woman involved in the incident after the two began dating. donna brighthop is barry's former girlfriend. "the washington post" reports she was hired in october to work for barry who was a d.c. council member. she was paid through his taxpayer-funded budget. late last night his spokesperson held a bizarre conference to talk about the charges. >> at no time was she ever staunged by mr. barry. it is our hope that the case against marion barry will be dropped by the u.s. attorney's office on thursday so we may all get back to the business of the district of columbia. >> during the news conference, barry's spokesperson launched a series of personal attacks against the woman who showed up at the conference. barry was not there and will apreer appear in court tomorrow where prosecutors will decide if

they are going to file formal charges. it was a tribute filled with love and emotion. these are the scenes from the public memorial service for michael jackson. 20,000 gathered in staples center and millions others watched on television. for those few hours yesterday, the eyes of the world were focused on one man and his music. leanne gregg is here with more on the heart felt music and tearful tributes. >> reporter: the arena turned cathedral was full of fans from around the world. the tribute fitting for a king. in the world of pop, michael jackson wore the crown. >>offstage he was shy, soft spoken and child-like, but when

he took the stage in front of the screaming fans, he turned into another person. a master, a take-no-prisoners showman. >> reporter: the star-studded list of entertainers highlighted jackson's work that spanned more than four decades. ♪ i'll be there >> he'll never really be gone. he's going to live forever and ever and ever and ever. ♪ gone too soon >> reporter: a celebrated man with a sometimes troubled life. it was an outpouring of love with an emotional high point from jackson's 11-year-old daughter. >> and i just want to say i love

him so much. >> reporter: a final farewell from a man who shared his life and his music with the world. leanne gregg, nbc news, los angeles. >> it is still not clear what will happen to jackson's body. a private service was held yesterday in the hollywood hills, but some family members would like him to be buried at his beloved neverland ranch. it is 5:51. we'll check on traffic and weather. >> we'll go to tom keirein sitting here to tell you about the weather for today and the rest of the week. >> the sup sun is up and sitting in the western sky on this wednesday morning. there's the sunrise. a live picture from the city camera on this perfect summer morning. low humidity now at 68 in washington. montgomery, fairfax and prince george's counties in the mid-60s. take a look at

radar, no atitn around the region. off to a delightful start. in the low 70s right near the chesapea bay. farther to the west and north, loudoun, frederick, howard county as well as falling and prince william, it is in the 50s at this hour. around the neighborhood network, montgomery village is at a cool 61 with a dry, comfortable dew point of 48 and a calm wind there. on the eastern shore, in the mid-60s. out in the mountains, the low to mid-50s this morning. we are off to a clear start after the showers moved across the bay in the eastern shor they are now dying off and heading to the east. we'll look at the nation. are you traveling today? could be storms with flight delays in florida and along the gulf coast as well as the upper midwest. unfortunately, for chicago, there could be flight delays there later on. also, rain for the northern rockies and northern new england.

maybe delays near boston and portland later today. our part of the world should be settled with a weak area of high pressure moving in giving us the northwesterly flow today and keeping things dry. there's a stall creating storms out there. over the next 36 hours, we stay dry. the high pressure coming over us today and tomorrow will eventually move off the atlantic seaboard. as it does, the winds will shift into the southeast bringing in more humidity by friday. for today, temperatures in the mid-70s. by noon, the highs will be in the mid-80s with lots of sunshine and low humidity. the sunset is at 8:36. another bright moonlit night tonight just past full moon. 70s for the evening. low 60s tomorrow morning. on thursday, partly cloudy iat n the low 80s during the afternoon. we'll have low humidity still in place. then on thursday night, partly cloudy down into the low 60s on friday morning and during the

day on friday where the humidity will increase a bit. still not sweltering humidity. afternoon highs in the low 80s with clouds around. then getting quite steamy friday night into saturday. saturday looks like a sweltering summer day. the afternoon highs in the 8. there's a small chance of an isolated thundershower. saturday night into sunday, it is going to be steamy and ou we are goi to have a front sort of stall out over us and hang around on sunday into sunday night. then that could be th oc fal point for some greater chances of showers and may be passing showers on sunday with highs in the f middle 80s. still rather humid ononany da md tuesday as we start off next week. afternoon highs in the 80s and morning lows near 70. that's the way it looks. thank you. we'll go to jerry edwards now in the news traffic 4 network. >> look at this. bright sunshine just coming up

over the horizon. barbara, you have to get your sunglasses out. the inner loop of the beltway, we are succumbing to the sunshine pretty soon. look at that. it is amazing how that works. as the rush hour continues, 95 northbound to the capital beltway, the lanes are open. we had a broken down truck in the triangle, but that's pushed to the shoulder. no worries from the beltway and beyond. a man has died after his car apparently ran off the beltway just before the american legion bridge. it happened around 11:00 last night. the car landed in the woods near mcarthur boulevard. kevin john was the man pronounced dead at the scene. another man was taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries. the corporate arms race between google and microsoft is

heating up this morning. google announced plans to release their own operating system to compete with microsoft windows. this would be intended for small network computers. it will be immune to viruses and other security threats and will be based near google's new chrome web browser steadily taking shares from microsoft's internet explorer. microsoft is working on a new web browser called gazelle. news4 is always looking for jobs for you and nighttime care centers are looking for call center representatives. some of the decisions call for candidates to be bilingual. they involve helping patients book appointments and updating patient information. for more information, visit nbcwashington.com and search jobs for you. well, in the tough economic times, more and more people are

looking to donate eggs or sperm to make extra cash. sperm banks and egg donors have seen an increase in the number of people inquiring about donating. you can make about $100 every time you donate sperm and egg donors can get $5,000 or more each time. females must undergo medical testing before they can donate. and still ahead this morning, why it will still get more expensive to shop in the district. plus, how to fill up your gas tank for free on the way to work today. and tom keirein says we are expecting a nice day today. weather and traffic on the 1s is coming up. and we'll also have more on the emotional tribute to michael jackson. stay with us.

free for all. gasoline prices are holding steady but still on the minds of many drivers. how you can fill up your gas tank today at zero cost. > high stakes summit. president obama set to meet with the world's economic elite. the big issues he is going to tackle with his overseas trip. since i was born, daddy has been the best father you could ever imagine. and i just want to say i love him so much. >> remembering michael jackson. tears and tributes from family and friends. the superstar-studded memorial

as the king of pop takes a final curtain call. good morning and welcome to "news4 today." i'm joe krebs. >> i'm barbara harrison. it is wednesday, july 8, 2009. take a look outside. >> let's make tom keirein look outside. the sun is up. >> no, you do it. >> i thought i was supposed to do it. there's the sun on theoriz warming things up. >> that's a big locomotive headed our way. everybody get oute othf thy.wa it>>y.r o is a mot icyr ecln t sky. it is a beautifulr semeum mnimeg with low humidity and temperatures in the comfort zone. nothg on radar. no precipitation. the clear satin blue sky. by 9:00 we'll be in the mid-70s. right now it is in the 50s and the 60s. by mid-afternoon, the mid-80s with low humidity. 8:36.unset at then a wonderful summer evening in the 70s just past full moon. by dawn tomorrow we'll be down into the low60s. it looks like another delightful

day tomorrow, too. i'll show you that forecast in ten minutes. now to the roads to see if the sun is playing a part in the commute this morning. >> it absolutely will if not right now it will happen shortly. 66 at the toll road. parts of the george pike, anybody headed eastbound this morning, watch out for that. other than that, quiet along i-270 so far. i had a report of a medical emergency very close to the 118 interchange on the northbound side. i don't see evidence of that, but we'll keep our eyes open and let you know that things are moving along nicely. elsewhere, we'll check the speeds to see how things are progressing. on the capital beltway at this hour, the inner loop to college park, eight minutes. from the route 50 interchange across the wilson bridge, 16 minutes. seven minutes from the wilson bridge to i-95 in springfield. barbara and joe, back to you. well, this morning a new report is out ranking alex anry ya residents and the most

improved drivers in the nation and people all across the region are reaping benefits from this distinction. >> if you are headed out the door and need to fill up, listen up. megan mcgrath is joining us with details on aig gas giveaway today. good morning to you. >> reporter: good morning. it is about to get underway. all-state is here to congratulate alexandria drivers. they are the most improved drivers in the country going 7.2 years between accidents. and this is the first lady in line. hello, you are on live television. talk a little bit about why you came out this morning. >> i have no gas money or nothing so i want free gas. it is great. >> reporter: and how did you find it? you came at what time? >> 5:00 this morning i waited. >> did they move you around before they let you line up? >> yes, they did. >> reporter: what do you think about the fact that you are going to get 10 gallons?

>> that's great. it will last me about a week. i don't go nowhere but work. >> reporter: let's get to it here. they began to line up at 6:00 this morning. we are expecting a crowd. there's a process. you can't just drive up to the gas station. you have to go to the ben brenman park adjacent here to the shirley duke shell station on duke street. they will line you up there and then you will come down to the gas station in an order fashion. you get 10 gallons of free gas. they are going to give away 7,000 gallons of gas this morning. it is first come, first serve. we are expecting a big crowd this morning. back to you, barbara. >> thank you, megan. some drivers in our area will soon get paid to commute in a three-month test program beginning this fall. the commuters along several congested routes will earn $2 per day for sharing rides to work. that's accordingo "the washington post." those routes will include i-395 across the 14th street bridge and the capital beltway from

bethesda to tyson's corner. new details on marion barry's arrest for stalking charges. he hired the woman involved in the incident a few months after the two started dating. donna brightff is his former girlfriend. "the washington post" reports she was hired in october to work for barry who is a d.c. councilman. she was paid through the taxpayer-funded budget. late last night barry's spokesperson held a press conference to discuss the charges. >> at no time was she ever in fear of mr. barry. at no time was she ever threatened by mr. barry. and at no time was she ever stalked by mr. barry. >> barry launched a number of personal attacks at brighthoff who showed up at the press conference, by barry was not there. he is scheduled to be in court tomorrow where prosecutors will decide to file formal charges.

a 2-year-old child almost drowned in waltorff. two adults left the 2-year-old in the care of a 14-year-old. then the 14-year-old went fishing leaving the 2-year-old at home alone. then the 2-year-old fell into the family pool. the toddler was taken to the hospital in grave condition. michael jackson was an entertainment phenomenon, both try yum tant and troubled. he transcended barriers, transformed the music worlds and transformed fans in every corner of the earth. 20,000 people gathered inside the staples center in honor of michael jackson. at the same time, millions of others around the world were watching from their homes. the memorial was a star-studded

event. musicians such asthma rye ya carrie, jennifer hudson and stevie wonder paid tribute to the music legend by singing his songs. others shared stories and words of encouragement after losing their colleague and friend. >> he is simply the greatest entertainer that ever lived. >> we need to look up where he is undoubtedly perched in a crescent moon, and we need to smile. >> many fans who were unable to attend the memorial service gathered outside the debates of the jackson family compound in encino last night bringing flowers and balloons and held a vigil in his memory. michael jackson's death certificate has been released know but it doesn't list a cause of death. they are still waiting for the results of the toxicology results to determine the real

cause. jackson's brother jermaine expressed a desire to have him buried some day at neverland ranch in southern california. president obama is on the third day of his week-long overseas trip. the president and the rest of the first family arrived in rome about an hour ago after spending the past two days in russia. today the predent will meet with italy's president. later he'll attend the g-8 summit in la kill louisiana. items on the agenda include global warming and food security. while mr. obama was greeted warmly, some are beginning to wonder if the romance is beginning to end. >> i think he'll have the rock-star status going into the summit, but i think the question down the road is, is the perception going to be back with concrete actions and successes? >> the president will meet with the pope in italy on friday. and then on saturday he'll visit the african nation of ghana.

today is the 35th anniversary of the supreme court hearing arguments in the u.s. versus nixon. the watergate is at nixon's library. what a county executive is demanding after a second jailbreak at a juvenile detention center. also, offseason football workouts. and the air scare that forced a southwest airliner to

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good morning. it is clear and cool on this wednesday morning. now 66 in washington. the nearby suburbs in the low 60s. near 70 for the bay. by mid morning, mid-70s. then with lots of sunshine and low humidity, it should be mostly clear tonight. 70s through the evening. low 60s tomorrow morning. partly cloudy with low humidity and a few light breezes with afternoon highs in the low 80s. the wonderful summer weather continues as we do get into tomorrow. it looks like it will turn a little more humid by friday and into the weekend. i'll show you that forecast and a look at next week as well at 6:21. jerry, good morning. how is traffic now? take a live look at see how we are progressing. we'll check out the south capital street at m street, no

worries here. we have word of an accident near wakefield chapel. a motorcycle and a vehicle involved in that. the police and fire rescue crews are on the scene near wakefield chapel. be careful if you are headed in that direction. that's how we are doing right now. back to you. the time is 6:and, 6:13. >> is it even possible that congestion can get much worse than c.? wellte wl ou t yhathe l ha

in the "news4 today," drivers in alexandria can fill up their gas tanks for free. all-state is hosting a gas giveaway at the shirley duke shell station on duke street until 9:00 this morning. the giveaway is a reward because alexandria topped the list of the most improved cities for safe driving. president obama is in italy where he will and attend the g-8 summit. the leaders from around the world will discuss climate change, the economy and iran. the white house says the leaders will likely exchange views on

the economy, but don't expect concrete measures to come from these meetings. friends and family of michael jackson eulogized the kinger at his public memorial service yesterday. nearly 20,000 people packed the staples center for the event. it is not clear where or when jackson will be buried. this morning we are connected to your commute. the study finds that drivers are spending more time stuck in traffic each year. while the nation is getting better, washington is getting worse. here's more on that part of the story with tracee wilkins. >> reporter: it is hardo appear we can get worse, but it appears we have done just that. if you take the equivalent of a long workweek and plenty of overtime at the end of the year, that's how much time you have wasted in traffic. we'll look at the numbers. in 2007 the average u.s. driver

spent 36.1 hours in traffic down from 36.6 in 2006. here in the d.c. area, drivers spent 6 the hours in rush hour traffic up three hours from 59 in 2006. almost twice the national average. here's what we have wasted at the end of 2007 in the d.c. metro area. 2.8 billion dollars in gas and productivity and 90 million gallons of gas. the new report has been done annually by the texas transportation institute. it conflicts with a report that came out last month showing traffic in our area was improving. both reports show d.c. is among the worst when it comes to traffic. we are second behind l.a. which is considered the most congested travel area in our country. when it comes to solutions, there's no one way to try to fix this problem. they say that all of the highway projects that we have going on in our area, including the ones

in virginia, are a good start. they say there needs to be better mass transit and suggesting a better bus system using the hot lanes from virginia into d.c., but they also say the construction needs to be better and more people need to live where they work so that they are not commuting. that means more affordable housing and smarter development. well, everyone needs to come together on this to make it better. when you hear that, it doesn't sound like it will be better by tomorrow. i'm live from college park back to you. friends and family are remembering a montgomery teenager who died after collapsing ooothle faltb field. edwin miller attended northwest high school in germantown. he collapsed last thursday during an offseason football practice. this past monday miller died in the hospital. school officials say it was not particularly hot when he collapsed and he was not wearing his football gear at the time. >> it is just devastating to the school and the football team and the community and the coaches are taking it really hard.

everyone is just saddened by this and just trying to come together to support each other during this time. >> it is still not clear what caused edwin miller's death. a tv production company is apologizing for fighting neighbors in northwest washington. four officers stormed a house with guns drawn last wednesday. neighbors were not notified before it happened. confusing even more w the fact that the officers were from montgomery county. the police department says the production company didn't realize the officers were outside their jurisdiction. the crew was filming for a new tv series called prison wives. police got a big surprise when they arrested three suspects in fredericksburg. the three women they were looking for were actually men. an employee at the home gallery store called police and said three women came into the store, distracted her and stole her purse from the back office. within minutes the victim's credit cards were used at several area stores. police traced the card usage and

arrested anthony austin, elliott thorpe and michael allen. tense moments onboard a southwest jet liner yesterday. a flock of 40 birds hit an engine. the pilot declared an emergency and ccled back to the airport. mechanics checked the plane for damage. nobody was hurt. after suffering two losses, the washington nationals get one more chance to try to beat the rockies in colorado. >> lindsay czarniak has more in your sports minute. >> hey, everybody. good morning. your sports minute begins with the national out in colorado. the long ball gives them an early lead with ryan zimmerman's three-run homer in the eighth, but then the nationals bull pen blew it again. the nationals lose to the

rockies. in team tennis venus williams came into d.c. to win her singles match and the mixed doubles match. fans got to see her there. marissa coleman is back against the lynx but the mystics lost in overtime. in the end the lynx got the win 96-94. in the tour de france, lance armstrong just a fraction from second place after stage four. armstrong's team won the team trial yesterday. that's the sports minute. i'm lindsay sarng yak, have a great day. time for traffic and weather on the 1s. >> tom keirein is in storm center4. >> it is a cool summer morning with temperatures in the 50s. around the metro area, we are in the 60s. this afternoon we'll see highs in the mid-80s. it is a little more humid on friday in the low 80s.

we have a slight chance for an afternoon thundershower. otherwise, a steamy day and partly sunny in the mid-80s. in the low to mid-80s on sunday with a greater chance for passing showers and thundershowers. we are drying out on monday and tuesday, although still quite humid. how is the traffic, jerry? good morning, everyone. sunshine will slow you down in a couple of spots. we'll take a live look and coming in from the west along interstate 66, intense sunshine this morning. we are checking reports of a broken down truck in the roadway near route 50. everything west of that point certainly will be heavy and slow. elsewhere, out at the route 50 interchange on either side of the bay bridge, no worries. the wilson bridge is okay near wakefield chapel with a motorcycle accident. be careful over there. back to you. thank you. 6:22, 66 degrees. whatome say hollywood actress megan fox did to land a role in the "transformers" sequel. and we'll introduce you to a 15-year-old pilot soaring into the record books. plus, why it will soon get

more expensive to go shopping here in the district. and here's your money saving tip of the day. >> health care is expensive. here's a tip to lower your health care bill. change the frequency of your visits. ask your doctor if you can cut down the frequency of checkups every six months instead of every three, for example. however, you must consult with your doctor. don't decide to do this on your own. i'm liz crenshaw on the moy.al

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with a coolatta for $1.99. america runs on dunkin'. well, may oregon fox is making a name for herself in hollywood and she's not afraid to put in the hard work to get there. fox got the role in the "transformers" movie because she washed the director's car. can you believe that? michael bay reportedly videotaped fox washing his ferrari. she must have dope a good job because she got the role in the first sequel. >> what are you trying to suggest? a 15-year-old girl flew a plane to college park hoping to land herself in the record books.

sh hopes this will inspire other young people. >> they can do anything they want to do slomgs as long as they put their mind to it. >> kimberly hopes to become the youngest african-american girl to fly across the country. she took off from california last monday and she'll finish her trip in newport, virginia. she isinspired by those from world war ii. 6:27. new details in the case against former d.c. mayor marion barry and his arrest on stalking charges. also, why a local gas station is in a giveaway fuel mode. we'll show you what's going on. a final farewell to the king of pop as family and friends remember michael jackson. is making compromises.

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gas prices are still on the mind of many drivers. how to fill up your tank at no cost today. remembering michael jackson. the superstar sendoff from the hollywood elite famil and friends. the star-studded memorial as the man described as one of the greatest entertainers of all time. >> good morning, everyone. welcome to "news4 today." i'm barbara harrison. >> good morning to you. i'm joe krebs on this wednesday, the 8th of july, 2009. we'll take a look outside. it is bright with beautiful sun. blue skies. 66 degrees. a lovely day so far. kind of low humidity. >> it is beautiful. will it last, tom? good morning. it is a perfect summer h weth e.ave idwe i humit ny plac noong th rada atitpripn.ecio r.a ss i myostleacl cle filaments oigh h diasne psssi o pver w.no

66 in washington. inlen yn low 60s f f r'sce orgetgy monomernd rtifauncofa.es. heto he our west, the weather atcrsherengeprstior temperatures in the 50s. the weatherti watchers around t naary reporting the upper 60a ear 70. liayttto wles t wo the waters inland on the eastern shore, there's som pyo atchfog. it is in the 50s. we'll have lots of sunshine today. the high pressures iov ming in with the low humidity with highs in the mid-80s. we'll have plenty of sunshine. a look at the thursday forecast coming up at 6:41. we'll go to jerry edwards to see where the sunshine is affecting traffic. >> good morning, yes, it is. particularly coming in on 50 and parts of 66. you know the drill. route 7, anything from the west, you are going to find a sunshine delay. now to the american legion bridge, we are moving quite nicely. the outer loop of the beltway is spanning to tyson's and continuing over to the i-95

interchange. i-95 southbound the lanes are open with a light volume of traffic to the beltway northbound. no hang ups with a bit of volume headed north on up to the capital beltway. back to you. thank you. this morning more signs of relief at the gas pumps a gasoline prices continue to drop. the average price to fill up is now down more than $1.50 from last year. >> last july the average cost for a gallon of gas was $4.11. now the average is $2.60 and expected to hold steady throughout the summer, but even with gas prices falling, watching the numbers at the pump can be painful, but that won't be an issue for hundreds of people across the region this morning. >> megan mcgrath is joining us live from alexandria with details on a big gasoline giveaway. >> reporter: good morning. all-state did a study and found alexandria drivers are the most improved drivers in the country going 7.2 years between

accidents. that's a way to congratulate ople, so now they are sponsoring a free gas giveaway this morning at the shell station. we have quite a line, quite a few people. they are going to get 10 gallo of free gas. among them, bruce here, talk about what brought you out here and how much this is helping with the economy. >> this helps a lot considering the high gas prices. this is a blessing this year. i'm just glad to be here. i heard about it early this morning. i zoomed on out and here i am. >> reporter: how much does this save you? >> well, this saves me a lot considering i need gas today. >> reporter: all right. they are filling you up now. thank you for talking to us, bruce. you can see the line here stretching down duke street here. you can't just drive up to this station. i should mention, we are at the shirley duke shell station on duke street, but they do have a system here. they want to make thises a orderly and to go as smooth as possible. go to the ben brenman park adjacent to the gas station.

the police are there on hand and will line you up. when it is time to make your way over to the gas station, you go down the designated lain and pull up to the pump. the folks here will pump gas for you and you get 10 free gallons of ga they are going to do this until they give away 7,000 gallons of gas this morning. >> quite a deal. $26 worth of gas, that's a good deal. >> that is right, megan. looks like a party. new details surrounded marion barry and his arrest on stalking charges. city records show barry hired the woman involved in the incident after the two started dating. donna brighthoff is barry's former girlfriend and was hired in october to workor barry who is a d.c. councilman. on saturday he was arrested accused of stalking brighthoff and he is scheduled to appear in court tomorrow on this charge. his spokesperson says barry was never involved in any stalking. president obama arrived in

rome today on the third day of his week-long overseas trip. the president will be in italy until friday attending the g-8 summit and meeting with world leaders. brooke hart is reporting from capitol hill now. >> reporter: arriving in roam today, president obama meets with italy's president before the summit's open. the host town of l'aquila is under tight security. roads into it shut down. g-8 leaders will take up a range of issues, trade, iran's nuclear goals and climate change. poth president obama says he will show u.s. resolve but europe wants mo. the leaders will compare progress on stimulus pushes and there's talk of a second stimulus jolt. lawmakers should bopen to it but the republicans howled. >> i think a second stimulus is an even worse idea than the first stimulus, which has been proven to have failed. >> reporter: with unemployment edging to 10%, president obama

defended his read on the economy early on. >> what we always knew was even when the economy pulls out of recession that you are going to see jobs emerging only at the end of that process rather than the beginning. >> reporter: is the global romance with obama over? he got scant attention in russia. >> i think he'll be a rock-star status going into the summit, but the question down the road is, is the perception going to be back with concrete actions and successes? >> reporter: bound for g-8 progress, china's president withdrew from the summit to deal with clashes at home. here the president's stimulus is getting a mixed grade while he's away. the government reports the measure is keeping many teachers employed, but just a sliver of funds for highway work has been paid out. in washingtoning brooke hart, nbc news. >> the president meets with the

pope on friday and will visit ghana on saturday before he returns here to washington. a past former bush administration official is under the microsoap on capitol hill. karl rove was questioned by lawyers yesterday on any role he may have played in the political firings of nine u.s. attorneys. the judiciary committee has been seeking answers to who created the list of fedal prosecutors who would lose their jobs. during his term in office, president bush refused to let rove testify. well, the "today" show is next at the top of the hour. let's go live to meredith vieira out in los angeles where she had a big day yesterday. good morning to you. >> reporter: hey, good morning to you, joe. you are right, i'm in l.a. matt is still in new york. let me tell you what's going on this morning. we have reaction to the emotional farewell to michael jackson. and the tearful good-bye from his daughter that has everyone talking. then a conversation with a

man in charge with jackson's finances at the time of his death. we'll hear from him as he speaks out in his first television interview. also, "today" investigates a quick and easy way for crooks to pick the lock used on 95% of our homes. and is it okay to hide money from your partner? we are going to get into that when we get started on a wednesday morning right here on "today." back to you, joe. >> thank you, meredith. have a wonderful day. >> thank you. you, too. it is 68 degrees at 5:38. the airline offering tickets for as low as $30, but you only have until midnight tonight to book. plus, what a county executive is offering after a second jailbreak from a local detention center.

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weather and traffic on the 1s at 6:41. it is clear and cool this morning. it is 60 in washington. farther to the north in the 50s and here around the bay in the 70s. tomorrow, partly cloudy, low humidity with light breezes. highs reaching the low 80s. a trsk terrific summer day tomorrow. the forecast for friday and the weekend and a look at next weekend in ten minutes. now with breaking traffic news, here's jerry. good morning, everyone. following the accident we have

been telling you about, chopper 4 is over the scene right now with pick xhurs pictures eastbound on brad dick road near wakefield chapel. tow trucks are already on the scene and the rescue equipment has already left. the police officers are there. eastbound on bradick road near wakefield changele, expect a good-sized backup as it is beginning to grow coming in from the west on braddick road. into up to this morning, most of the major roadways including new york avenue are looking pretty good. back to you. thank you, jerry. >> it is now 6:42 and 66 degrees in washington. the major move by google and its latest efforts to top microsoft. plus, remembering the life and the legacy of the king of pop. next at 6:what we'll go live to

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they sang his songs among the stars and imagined him dancing across the moon. for a few hours in the most

public of memorials, all eyes were on michael jackson for one final time. some 20,000 people gathered inside the staples center in los angeles for a somber, spiritual ceremony worldwide. leanne gregg is here with more from california. >> reporter: it is certainly quiet this morning compared to yesterday morning. we expect later today the risers and the barricades will come down. police said there were no arrests, there was no chaos like some had predicted and no use of force. it really was a successful sendoff to the pop legend. ♪ we are going to see the king >> reporter: the arena turned cathedral was full of fans from around the world. a tribute fitting for a king. in the world of pop, michael jackson wore the crown. >> upstage he was shy, soft spoken and child-like, but when he took the stage in front of his screaming fans, he turned

into another person, a master, a take-no-prisoners showman. >> reporter: the star-studded list of entertainers highlighted jackson's work that spanned more than four decades. >> he will never really be gone. he is going to live forever and ever and ever and ever. ♪ gone too soon >> reporter: a celebrated man with a sometimes troubled life. it was an outpouring of love with an emotional high point from jackson's 11-year-old daughter. >> and i just want to say i love

him so much. >> reporter: a final farewell from a man who shared his life and his music with the world. it is still not clear what will happen to jackson's body. some family members would like to see it buried some day at his beloved neverland. >> thank you so much, hen leann. fans here in the area also took time to remember the king of pop. many of them took the day off to attend viewing parties around the area. the side line restaurant in largo hosted a party yesterday. local fans gathered to watch the memorial service on tv and listen to the music. >> didn't we all know, i feel like we all knew him. i never met the man personally, but, you ow, he is a part of so many people's lives. >> i knew ever song he had, i

have every album he had, it is just a big loss. >> fans also gathered in front of the white house to sign a book of condolences. complete coverage continues this morning on the "today" show. you can also view a slide show on nbcwashington.com. a new juvenile detention center in maryland has a big problem. its inmates keep escapi. the new beginnings youth center houses juvenile offenders from the district. on sundayix of the most serious offenders escaped and were found less than a mile away in laurel, but it was the second escape since new beginnings opened on may 29th. they have a more educational environment than the old oak hill prison, that means noazor wire and fewer locked doors. >> the kids made comments that we build a glass prison, how wi they expect to hold us in. at oak hill, we knew once we put a resident behind the door they

were behind the door. if they were in the unit, they were secured in the unit. >> in a letter to mayor feet ty, ey said it is imperative that the residents are protected from the potential public safety threats. the cos of grocery shopping will be going up in the district. mayor fenty signed the bill to put a 5 cent tax on every disposal bag used at the grocery, drug and convenience stores. this takes effect on january 1st. it is meant to encourage shoppers to use reusable bag and cut down on litter. a bell sell-off on wall street has futures on the rebound and a major airlining offering deep discounts. courtney reagan is live with more on all of today's headlines. good morning, courtney. >> reporter: good morning, joe. futures are pointing to a rebound. that's good news after you mentioned the sell-off on wall street yesterday when the stocks dropped in line with oil prices that fell for a fifth day. they are down again today with crude oil trading near $62 a

barrel. the asian markets were lower and europe is also in the red so far. we'll get a report on consumer credit today and earnings season officially kicks off this afternoon when alcoa reports results. the dow was at 8163 after falling on tuesday. the nasdaq lost 41 points and will start off at 1746. well, google takes aim at microsoft planning to launch a computer operating system to compete with windows. the software called google chrome will be targeted at network users. it should be available in the second half of next year. you have until midnight to book a really low fair on southwest airlines. the airline is offering flights for as little as $30 one way, but you must flight between september 9th and november 18th. jet blue is also matching fares on those routes. you have a couple moreours to get that ticket.

>> okay, i'll do that. i don't have a place to , though, that's the problem. >> come to norveg new york, joe. >> i'm all dressed up, too. thank you, courtney. see you. a shocking new report reveals security breaches at several federal builds buildings. the investigators were able to carry bomb-making materials past the security points of ten buildings. security at the buildings and 9,000 other federal buildings across the country is provided by federal protective services. the report was obtained by the associated press in advance of a heing scheduled today on capitol hill. news4 is looking for jobs for you. night time centers is looking for call representatives. some require candidates to be bilingual. they are based in maryland and involve helping patients book appointments and updating patient information. you can go to nbcwashington.com for more infortion and search jobs for you. 6:51.

time for traffic and weather on the 1s. tom keirein is here to starts off. >> joe, you have no place to go? i can tell you where to go. >> my wife does from time to time. >> a great summer day underway. good morning. we have low humidity in place with temperatures in the mid-60s for washington. the nearby suburbs,'s trehe are live picture fm cthe eyit camera showing sunshine there on n e jefferson myiaoremlndor o ma ithn inshwagton. nothing on radar. no precipitation. it is in the low to mid-60s in prince george's county. montgomery and fairfax counties at this hour, the same. chesapeake bay near the water is at 70. in southern maryland, you have to get farther inland away from the waters, it is in the mid-60s. to the north, west of interstate 95, they are reporting temperatures in the 50s to near 60 degrees. and around our neighborhood netdwork in princ shgeorge's county and andrew'sir fceor baseace comfortable 62 with a gentle northerly wind. sn the eastern shore.

mid-50s out of the mountains with quite a bit of sunshine this morning. there's a weak area of high pressure moving in from the midwest. there could be travel delays near the gulf coast and the upper midwest. rain to the northern rockies in the pacific northwest as well as new eng land. for us we have the weak area pressure moving in giving us the dry pattern today with low humidity. here's how we are looking for this wednesday, the 8th day of july. the highs are reaching the mid-80s. we need the sunblock if you are going to a pool. then tonight it will be clear with a bright moonlit evening in the mid-60s. low humidity around in the lower 80s. humid on friday with highs in the lower s and partly cloudy. a steamy weekend with a small chance for an afternoon sa.ndershower rd greater chanc for showers and thundershowers on sunday. then the first part of next week, partly cloudy. that's the way it looks on this wednesday morning. now to jerry edwards in the news4 traffic network.

still problems? >> a couple things going on. good morning. we'll start on 395 northbound. you see this vehicle right here sticking out a little bit more into the exit ramp taking you from the g.w. parkway to 395. help came along and they got him to the shoulder. the lanes are open. that's good news, but it is loaded up headed north from the pentagon. chopper 4 is over the scene of what's left of the accident. this is near wakefield chapel. the left side of the roadway is typed up in both directions. the backup is there and should be gone in a few minutes. alexandria residents are this year's most improved drivers in the nation and people across the region are rapping the benefits from this distinction. >> if you are headed out the door this morning and need to filler up, listen to this. news4's megan mcgrath is joining us live with details of a big gas giveaway. good morning. >> reporter: good morning.

alexandria drivers go 7.2 years between accidents according to a survey by all-state. they are the most improved drivers in the country. as a way of saying tnk you, they are giving away free gas here today at the shirley duke shell station. 7,000 gallons or until 9:00 a.m. this morning, whichever comes first. regular gasoline is absolutely free. you can get 10 gallons. you don't even have to get out of your car, as a matter of fact. the folks here are pumping it for you. there is a system to this, however. you can't drive up to get free gas, but you need to go to the ben brenman park adjacent to this gas station here on duke street. go there and the police will line you up. when it is your time to get your gas, they will have you come down here to the gas station. they are trying to keep this as orderly as possible. it really has been this morning. expecting a very, very busy morning. you get 10 gallons free. back to you. >> sounds good. thank you. >> thank you, megan. the morning person is

described as a bucket of sunshine on a rainy day. misfay hinton is the head cashier at the amtrak washington union station. she's been employed there for 30 years, more than 30 years. her coworkers say fay has an infectious laugh and a warm personality and always has a lovely smile on h beautiful face. if you know somebody like faye hinton, e-mail that story to us at nbcwashington.co i like that bucket of sunshine. we have that out there this morning, haven't we? >> that's right. great beach and pool weather. if you have to work outside, a perfect day with not too much humidity. it will be in the mid-80s. tomorrow a bit cooler with a possible shower on saturday. a greater chance for afternoon showers and thundershowers on sunday. let's get a final check on the roads, jerry? >> in addition to what we have been talking about, we have

traffic lights out near kettleworth avenue. be careful. that is "news4 today." thank you for starting your day with us. >> stay with us for news4 midday coming up at 11:00 a.m. we are connected with you throughout the day on facebook and twitter. wake up with us tomorrow at 4:55 a.m. have a great day. >> bye. vo : last year... when companies were laying off hundreds of thousands of workers... walmart was creating 30 thousand new jobs... all right here in america. ve et b onve mlite. waet art.

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