>> the one you orchestra to the will thing was karla porter, ray porter's white. he was shot in the head three times at his gas station on joppa rd.. she said at the crime, getting the gun from her sister, hiring the man and then staging a burglary phone call to lure us into his business. the motive, police say they do not know of one. but her lawyer said he is preparing a battered spouse defense. >> people will find out what really happened. >> this could turn this case into a battle of psychiatrists and experts. there is no public paper trail of trouble between the borders. police say they have never been called to their home. and neighbors said they were surprised to hear such a possible defense in march. >> agc the two together? our -- did you see the two together? >> all the time. they would garden, cut the grass. >> did there appear to be abused between them? >> no, never. >> karla's lawyer said the lack of paperwork testifies for her. >> a lot of times the spouse is afraid to go to authorities and when the cycle of violence keeps going over and over, they get more scared. >> she is seeking to get out of jail on $500,000 bail and home detention. the lawyer said it was necessary so she could see a psychiatrist. prosecutors called very cold and calculating murderer. the judge denied the request for bail. >> it has been done in 16 other cities, now baltimore is giving nonviolent offenders a chance to turn themselves in. it is from june 16 to 19th, those who turn themselves in are unlikely to go to jail. baltimore city has 42,000 outstanding warrants. officials expect about 2500 people to turn themselves in. the location has not been announced. >> in annapolis, the house and senate heard nearly two dozen measures. there was some star power, of testifying in favor of three of them. >> printers to jenson is lobbying for legislation that -- patricia jensen is lobbying for legislation that appeals to our common sense. >> the politics of gun control, supporters of a second amendment right to bear i'm not -- to bear arms are crying conspiracy. they claimed the committee chairs of both the house and senate decided to hold meetings on gun legislation on the same day at the same time to divide and conquer the opposition. >> they tried to tell you it will be a firearms safety bill. what it really is is further restriction on the rights of law-abiding as citizens. -- law-abiding citizens. >> they're tightening record- keeping -- it would tighten its record-keeping, and there's a measure allowing members of the military to have a right to carry permits in other states the same right in at maryland. another measure makes it illegal for convicted felons to possess ammunition. >> it is already federal law. someone who is prohibited from possessing a weapon should be prohibited from possessing the ammunition for the weapon. >> patricia jensen says it could put convicted criminals in jail longer. authorities say long guns are being used in baltimore city's because -- long guns are being used in baltimore city because of my hand guns, they are not illegal. >> they should not be allowed to be possessed by certain connected felons. crux of this city -- >> the state's attorney met privately with the committee chair that has the power to decide which one of these bills lives or dies. we will have more at 6:00 p.m. >> also in annapolis, leaders are considering a tax increase that could add more than $200 million to state coffers. it would raise taxes on all alcoholic beverages. the tax on beer with increased twelvefold. most of the revenue would go to maryland's trust fund for low- income residents. 35% would be split between those with developmental disabilities and behavioral issues. >> today was a busy day in the state capital. aaa was also at the capitol to rally behind the new negligent homicide charge. it would be applied to all cases where a person's driving leads to the death of another person. it would be called negligent homicide by motor vehicle. >> let's call it what it is, murder by motor vehicle. it is shocking, but it is true that regularly, motorists who killed with a car escaped with a traffic ticket. they write a check and walk away. >> the new charge would be a misdemeanor punishable by three- year prison term and a $5,000 fine. and it is that type of strict law that experts credit for the most dramatic death -- dramatic drop in vehicle dbts. that is astounding considering how many more vehicles are on the road than 55 years ago. experts say greater enforcement, less drunk driving and more seat belt use all contributed to the decline. >> here is the view from skyteam 11. investigators say woman was rented in your own driveway at 8200 market street in parks bill. -- pikesville. the driver was taken to the hospital suffering from non-life threatening injuries. the investigation into what caused the car to speak ford continues. officials are telling congress the government may ought to include a braking system that can override the gas pedal. that is in response to these massive recalls. meanwhile, a to a woman is claiming her toyota rav 4 accelerated into a brick wall. >> just two months on the job, the top of a watchdog is defending his agency saying that they pushed for the to a recall. >> i do not see toyota has -- for the toyota recall. >> i do not see toyota as a failure. i see it as the agency doing its job. this agency opened eight separate investigations over the time frame of when there were complaints about acceleration. a lap dog does not open investigations. >> and he tells congress the manufacturers are ultimately responsible for building a state car. the >> it is our job to enforce and police in the marketplace, which we will do. >> he is asking for 66 more employees. lawmakers are looking at whether or not they have the people and resources to do their job. >> it is important to look back at the legacy of this agency and why there are some people who feel it has not greece -- not filled its responsibility to keep the american public safe. >> in connecticut, one woman's tamari slammed into the side of a church. -- one woman's camry slammed into the side of the church. and in new york, this prius slammed into a wall. >> more than 30,000 people died in auto crashes last year, but that was the safest year on record since they started keeping the records over 50 years ago. >> there is a slow-moving storm system headed this way, but we stuck in another decent late winter day, feeling like spring. mild temperatures, however, with the wet system coming in over the next few days, this system is going to linger a bit. a flood watch has been issued. same thing across southern pennsylvania. eastern shore also under the watch. here in baltimore, we are not under the flood watch yet. that could change, though. it is dry around our region right now, but not too far to the south and west, the first bit of this wet weather in virginia gets here to -- it's here tomorrow. that storm is still centered out over iowa. a long ways to go before we get rid of this system. >> tonight, democratic leaders admit they will probably lift the white house deadline for a health care reform bill next wednesday. it appears a few of their own are not yet willing to vote yes on health care reform. >> mr. obama himself is twisting arms, today calling in black and hispanic democrats. his top chief of staff rahm emanuel went to capitol hill to round up votes. but some democrats that are needed still will not commit because final cost estimates are not in in the newest version of the health care reform bill. what about the vote next wednesday that the white house wanted? >> if it takes a couple extra days after a year, it takes a couple of extra days. >> major issues remain around cost and federal restricted abortions. this 11-year-old boy from seattle, as mother died of lung disease without insurance spoke. >> [unintelligible] >> today, 70 americans will die for lack of health insurance. but republicans say the democrats' bill will not help. -- >> republicans say the democrats' bill will not help. >> it is time to vote. i'm tired of talking about it. >> but it is not republicans. it is a dozen or so of mr. obama's on democrats that are holding up health care reform. >> nancy pelosi says once the cost estimates are in on capitol hill, it will take another week to get the votes the president needs. >> still ahead tonight, anne arundel county crackdown on illegal immigrants. we will explain. >> and doctors say this vaccine is what your child may need. >> also, consolidating. when school is not just cutting back, but closing half of its schools. >> and imagine internet access 100 times faster than what you have right now. it >> johns hopkins university says it plans to cut the school's carbon dioxide emissions in half in the next 15 years. school officials also plan to invest $73 million in conservation measures. it also calls for the creation of environment, sustainability, and health institutes. >> in tonight's medical alert, doctors may be able to eliminate a potentially deadly pneumonia bacteria in the children with a new vaccine the cdc recommends all children from age two to five months to have the vaccine that prevents 13 strains of pneumonia. the vaccine for the being used only prevents seven strains. and more children are getting sick from the strains not included in this older vaccine is recommended -- in this older vaccine. it is recommended up to age 6. a 27% of 12-year-old are abusing their neilon. most of the time is up -- there inhalants. it was a the time is right under their parents' noses. a new report finds more 12-year- old have abused inhalants then have used marijuana and other drugs combined. the reason is because they provide a cheap high. but there can be long term effects. >> there can be permanent damage to the organs such as the heart, brain, and liver. and in some cases, a cardiac arrest can happen. >> experts are a urging parents and doctors to become more familiar with the signs of inhalant abuse, which include a change in mood, glassy eyes, sinus problems, and a pungent smell. a new study shows high humidity levels like you find in the bathroom and kitchen can degrade the potency of vitamin c and other vitamins even if the cap is on tightly. it happens pretty fast. vitamin c can break down within one week when high amount of humidity and moisture are added to the bottle when it is open and close. the first sign it has deteriorated are brown spots, especially on children's vitamins. and a new study shows the benefits to pregnant women and their offspring of proper weight gain in the first trimester. >> kathy jackson of palo alto is about to become the mom of twin boys. as she reflects on her first trimester, new research shows she made some smart choices. >> i've gained about 12 pounds in the first trimester. >> researchers saihave found tht permits he began in the first trimester maybe good for the help of mom and baby. -- may be good for the health of mom and baby. >> it could reduce risk of gestational diabetes to about 80%. >> having gestational diabetes could increase the mother's risk of getting diabetes after the baby. but it also increases the size of the baby. >> they could have issues with their own blood trigger early in life. -- blood sugar early in life. >> and it could increase -the babies tendency -- the baby goes the tendency toward obesity and diabetes later in life. doctors also caution that women should be careful not to gain too much throughout the entire pregnancy. >> the normal ideal body weight is somewhere between 15 and 25 pounds. >> kathy did not develop gestational diabetes and she says it is confident to know that her slow weight gain in the first trimester may have played a role. >> you probably would not even a worm, but would you let one crawl through your skin? 27-year-old robert did. he paid thousands of dollars to inflect himself with hookworms -- to inject himself with a orems to deal with -- to in fact himself with hookworms to deal with a disorder. i>> and now, your 11 insta- weather plus forecast with chief meteorologist tom tasselmyer. >> most of the showers coming up from the south state south and east of baltimore. you may pick up a light shower on the eastern shore toward the coast, but the rest of the day in baltimore, a great day. the normal high is only 52. and the morning temperatures are still quite mild. we should be dropping close to freezing. we will see zeros in the precipitation column so far. that might change before the night is over. tree pollen is in the high range today, a 766 count. spring allergies are starting to kick in and that might be why. we'll continue to monitor tree, grass, and wheat pollen -- we did -- weed pollen. western maryland is warm as well. some spots in the west virginia panhandle were pushing toward 70 sunshine out around petersburg. there you see the showers that passed through the morning. those are gone. now a new batch of whether from the south and west and as it gets closer, our rain chances will be increasing. moderate to heavy rain trying to break out in central to eastern maryland for the friday morning rush-hour. shower chances will increase as we get past midnight and temperatures stay in the 40's and low 50's. with tomorrow's rain on the way, we are monitoring the water conditions in the soil. flood watches have been posted for southern pennsylvania and garrett county and much of the eastern shore. with the soggy ground from the melting snow and this storm moving in, it is possible that flood watches could be port-- could be posted over the next day or so. we expect storms to try to reform, though pressure areas to try to reform on the coast. that will enhance the brairain. look at this know that is trying to develop and the high mountains of west virginia. that is an indication of colder air coming behind this storm over the weekend. a bit chillier at the beginning of next week. the rain will be steady tomorrow evening, high temperatures of only 50 to 55. that is -- it will be just as warm in the mountains and that is a problem. that is why they have the flood watches in western maryland. 53 degrees around the bay with some showers breaking out. along the coast, temperatures in the 50's and a good chance of rain off and on. the wins will be gusting at 20 knots and waves at to 3 feet. -- two to 3 feet. a stretch of nice, dry weather for tuesday, wednesday, and thursday next week. highs only in the 50's. >> a challenging first day on the job for chile's new president. >> moments after taking the job a strong after craig said to be stronger than the original earthquake. -- a strong aftershock said to be stronger than the original earthquake. >> there is no doubt that a good breakfast makes for a more productive day for kids. >> and adults. that was true for some elementary students today who shared their first meal of the day with the grownups. for you and me, breakfast growing up with a hot bowl of grits. >> mm, but school officials are not taking any chances and that is why they are serving 22,000 meals per day. that is just in case kids missed out at home. educators showed up this morning at baltimore cecil elementary school. they're promoting national school breakfast week. the visit also gave them a chance to show off their popular breakfast program. so far, baltimore has served more than 2 million students. >> we are promoting this in all of our schools and this is the way we are celebrating it. the u.s. department of agriculture works with us in providing food to all of our school systems. >> no doubt this is what makes them one of the nation's blue ribbon schools. a local college is playing host to hundreds of middle and high school students for math and science. >> it seems last year's texting while driving ban did not go far enough. coming up, the loophole that lawmakers are trying to close. >> a local couple had the wedding of their dreams and decided it would be a fairy tale come true considering she had over 50 surgery's for a rare disorder. >> a lot of people will remember that i played basketball in college. -- will not remember that i played basketball in college. >> but she did. coming up, when marion jones is trading her baton for a basketball. >> and the city is trying to win over google. >> imagine internet speeds 100 times faster than you have now and at a fraction of the price. that is what google is looking to do and is looking for test markets. we're live at city hall with more on the competition for google's attention. >> mayor stephanie rawlings- blake made the announcement this afternoon flanked by a team of volunteers, basically saying that the city wants in on this experiment and that both businesses and residents in the city will benefit from super high-speed internet. but they're competing with other cities and towns from around the country. >> considered the shooting of a starting on that has cities all over the country scrambling to woo google. \ the company plans on testing a high-speed broadband network, offering internet speed at a fraction of the prices. >> this is a chance to move baltimore from last decade's wire to this decade's fiber. >> the mayor said the project would benefit both citizens and businesses. did was highlighted in a video. -- it was highlighted in a video. interestingly, the mayor had a team of business leaders and listed tom loveland as the city's "google brizarczar." however, he is based in towson. the we asked him if his business could benefit and he said not right off the bat, but it could down the line. >> i might actually open up an office [unintelligible] >> [unintelligible] >> so, it seems if the city does get the googled bid, not only would it be positive for baltimore, but the entire region as well. >> google plans on offering its service to at least 50,000 customers, up to 500,000 if all goes well. if you would like to get more information on being the last -- in the grass-roots effort, there is more information at our website wbaltv.com. >> thank you. anne arundel county police and officials with immigration enforcement crackdown on illegal immigration they say businesses have been hiring illegal immigrants and provide in the places to stay. -- providing them places tuesday. >> in this day and age for employers to hire -- to offer incentives to illegal immigrants is totally unacceptable. >> here's a look at some of our other top stories at this hour. state delegates have capped a measure to close a loophole in the texting while driving ban. the measure prohibits sending text messages wall behind the wheel. now there is a proposal to also ban reading the text messages while driving. the fan could -- the fine could be up to $500. and karla porter was denied bail. she is one of six people charged for the murder of her husband. her brother and sister are also charged. according to court documents, she offered a man $9,000 to kill her husband. and the chilean president was sworn in just a few minutes after a major aftershock. he hopes to use his business skills to stabilize the falling economy. the 7.2 magnitude aftershock was stronger than the quake that shook haiti. >> a school district has voted to close a large number of schools to avoid bankruptcy. we are talking about almost half of their school days. as you can imagine, parents are pretty upset. >> is an astounding and historical plan. the kansas city school district will shut down close to half of its schools. after years of declining enrollment, a $50 million shortfall and a weakening base, the final vote, a 5-4 split to close 29 school sites. the meetings overflow clout -- overflow crowd left in dismay. the plan will consolidate the remaining 33 schools. >> she is basically going to be in there alone. she's 6 years old. it just does not make sense. >> what i'm asking you to do is give our children justice. >> but the aging schools, many approaching 100 years old, need repair and upkeep. with the dwindling tax base in a district that once had 75,000 students that now only has 17,000. >> they left because of poor resources and the closing schools. >> there is a fear that this will drive out more families. >> i do not even have a high school legacy. i have nothing to go back to. >> but proponents say a trigger district will improve academic quality. >> -- a tremor district will improve academic quality. >> it is not the building, but the quality of the education. >> and there are also staffing decisions to be made. 1700 positions in the district are to be eliminated, including close to 300 teaching jobs. >> still ahead, the 911 call that led to a 7-year-old being healed a hero. -- being hailed a hero. -- being hailed a hero. >> a horrifying scene in california after an suv plunged into the guardrail and into the water 40 feet below. the woman behind the wheel was submerged for about 20 minutes. but officials say the 23-year- old survived and is responding to treatment officials say other vehicles have gone over the side in the past in this same place. and a school bus driver was charged with drunk driving. it was just 15 minutes after she had dropped off 50 elementary school students. police were responding to a report from one of the drivers co-workers reported smelling a call on her breath. she agreed to take a breath test at the scene and blue and all level that was three times the legal limit. -- blew an clcohol level three times the legal limit. >> a boy is being heralded as a hero after he called 911 while his parents were being robbed. the crux 911, what is your emergency? -- >> 911, what is your emergency. >> there are some guys out there with my mom and dad. can you come? [unintelligible] >> listen to me. i have them coming. >> i did not know what happened to them. all i heard was a screen and of boys is fading. i was horrified. i got very shaky -- all i heard was a scream and voices fading. i was horrified. >> we found out that was his sister screening in the background and not him. >> once an athlete, always an athlete, that is true of marion jones. >> we found out today she's getting the wnba shot. -- giving the wnba a shot. >> and a storm over iowa is slowly moving in this direction. in baltimore right now, cloudy skies and mild temperatures. winds out >> here's a look at what we're working on for 11 news at 6:00 p.m. , the city attorney is throwing the weight of her office behind gun legislation to make the streets safer. and a university is trying to get students interested in math >> a man known as a fierce giant on the football field and a gentle one on television has died. merlon olson played football for the los angeles rams. he was named to the pro bowl at 14 times and earned a spot in the pro football hall of fame and also went on to the announcer's booth in a pretty fine acting role. he is best known for his roles on little house on the prairie and father murphy. he died at 69. we found out that marion jones is pursuing a new career in the wnba. she admitted to using steroids in 2000. she was drafted by phoenix in 2003, but never played in the wnba. she says it is a challenge, but that is not the only reason for the switch. >> it is an opportunity for me to share my story of hope, of second chances, of people giving me a chance on a bigger stage to share my story. >> she was stripped of her five medals after admitting to using performance enhancing drugs. she also spent six months in a texas prison for lying to federal prosecutors about doping. >> and now, your 11 insta- weather plus forecast with chief meteorologist tom tasselmyer. >> mild temperatures all across the mid-atlantic and eastern united states, but it looks like those temperatures will hang around even with rain coming in. pooler 30's in areas we of tooten new york -- cooler 30's in areas where up into northern new england. in the meantime, just a bank of clouds coming up from the south and west with some rain underneath those clouds appeared is not expected to get your until sometime after midnight. some jaret to view will gradually increase after midnight tonight -- some shower activity will gradually increase after midnight tonight. some showers did try to move across the lower eastern shore today. here comes the second round of rain as a seated with this storm and there is likely to be another batch friday into saturday. yellow and orange on the map for friday morning. computer models are trying to generate some decent rain, 46 to 53 for the overnight low. 52 is the normal high temperature. and we will not be much below that for the load tonight. washington, allegany and garrett counties, flood watches tonight. you can see that baltimore city is not under any kind of flood advisory just yet, but it is possible as the storm gets closer. the weather service will continue to monitor that. off to the west, a storm center over iowa and as this approach is our region, we expect to see low pressure off the coast. rain steady through the afternoon and evening to marc. showers -- tomorrow. showers through the day. colder air will begin to follow this storm into the mid- atlantic. regy tomorrow, highs stuck in the low 50s. we will barely get below 50 tonight and barely above tomorrow. not much in temperature change. western maryland is under a flood threat because they have that deep snow pack that is melting with temperatures in the 50's. around the bay they -- we will be watching very closely as the tides may run a couple feet above normal, especially friday night into saturday and sunday. with the rain coming through and the melted snow recently with strong east winds, coastal flooding may be a problem around the bay and ocean city. showers are likely on the eastern shore to bar with a high of 55. east winds gusting to 20 knots tomorrow. the water temperatures are chilly in the low 40's. rain is likely both friday and saturday. we spring forward on the clock sunday morning. you will lose an hour of sleep, but it will be lighter in the afternoon and evening. highs only in the 40's on sunday and monday. >> a major restaurant chain will count the calories for you, and a safety warning for those popular baby swings. >> we told you about a report due next week on the dangers of baby swings. but it seems is not the swing that is dangerous, but rather, how do use it. do not put your baby deep into the swing where you cannot see them. they could possibly bend their neck and stop breathing. make sure the fabric is high enough above the shoulder and acts as a swaddled beneath the baby's bottom. >> check on him and her once in awhile. do not do too many other things. >> another danger is the baby falling into a tight curve position. but remember, keep the baby's head out and keep checking on your little one. in the meantime, the number of children with cell phones continues to rise. the number of kids with phones doubled since 2005. 22% of book -- girls have them compared to 18% of boys. a female entrepreneur has a hit new product for martini lovers. it is a spill proof glass. renee williams created the set and easy glass -- the sippin easy glass. she said she has an i.t. background. >> i was at a girls' night out and we were having fun and i kept hearing requests for dawkins and paper towels because there were spills. >> -- for napkins and paper towels because there were spilled. >> it will be coast-to-coast eventually. and the sandwich chain panera brad is adding ispanera bread is adding calories to its menu. a spokesperson says they are committed to providing information to their customers so they can make it more nutritional choices. nsye >> in baltimore county couple are getting married after undergoing a lifetime of reconstructive facial surgery. >> they will finally get the wedding of their dreams. >> $100,000 in winning the crate and barrel a ultimate wedding would be the icing on the caske. theirs is really a dreary to love story. aaron was born with -- erin was born with a condition that affects the bones in your face. >> i do not have the new canal opening. >> she has undergone more than 50 surgery's, mostly reconstructive, to her chin, eyes, and cheeks. she has had scoliosis, hearing loss, and had to live with a traiach in her throat to. for nearly 21 years. -- former throat tube. the -- for her throat to breathe freely 21 years. but now she has found love. the -- they went to school together and reconnected through myspace. but she is such a strong person and -- >> she is such a strong person and i have met few debtors are genuine. -- met few that are so genuine. >> i have seen them all -- hold eyes on her face after getting something done and hold the trash can for her after a procedure. >> after everything they've been through, kevin wants his girl to win. >> she's been through a lot and i think having a fairytale wedding would be nice. >> to find a link to vote for them, go to our website wbaltv.com. >> what a remarkable girl, but also a couple. >> that is all for us at 5:00 p.m. m]ñ >> accused in the contract killing of her husband, a white marsh woman provide new clues about her possible defense. scruggs will democrats in congress ms. -- >> will democrats in congress is yet another deadline on health care reform? -- miss yet another deadline on health care reform? >> live, local, late breaking, this is wbal tv 11 news at 6:00 p.m. in hd. >> our big story tonight at 6:00 p.m., sunday in annapolis brought out scores of people to restrict firearms laws. >> the city attorney is putting your weight and her office behind several bills designed to make baltimore streets safer. >> patricia jensen is a veteran at the statehouse. she knows how to navigate