always a difficult decision, the mayor says the contract was paid under strict supervision and that all jobs were checked but the inspectors. >> we are very careful in the emergency operations center make sure we are tracking the funds that were going out. this was an expensive undertaking. >> of the senate by contractors, 58 were for maryland, and 27 of those were from baltimore. of the top three contractors used, the two were from out of state, with the highest paid from alabama. close to 650 pieces of equipment were brought in. the trucks, bobcats, loaders, pickup trucks, and backhoes. the baltimore part of transportation says it has received bills from the contractors. most are still waiting for payment. >> we did receive the bills after they came in, but at that time, said he was our biggest concern. we wanted to make sure we got enough equipment and resources to get the city back to mobility. >> baltimore county figures it 's cost could be up to $60 million. anne arundel county, $10 million, howard county, $6 million, and carroll county, $1.5 billion. thanks to bring the in the contractors, the mayor says all 911 an emergency call for answer. however, the looming price tag still hangs heavy, like a snow plow. >> there is always a concern this would pile onto the deficit. that is what we are working closely with the federal government to find a way to get more of our costs reimbursed. >> the federal government can cover up the seven about%. in a best case scenario, the city would still be on the hook for about $5 billion. -- the federal government can cover up to 75%. lowell melser, wbal-tv 11 news. >> not too different price tag, the one that police and firefighters are willing to pay to five pension reform. the city says reform is critical to balancing the budget, but the unions object, and they are putting their money where their mouth is. >> the reform proposal would have police and fire firms pay more for their retirement. that has not been decided, but in the meantime, their pay more out of their paychecks to lawyers. >> the take-home pay of city police and firefighters is a little lighter these days. part of their check is going to legal fund to go out to court if they feel it necessary to fight the effort to change their pension. the goal is to $0.6 million. firefighters are paying $10 of their paycheck for the next four years. union leaders say the big sticking point is the part that sets a minimum retirement age of 55. currently they can retire after 20 years' service, regardless of age. that means some can collect pension benefits longer than they were on payroll. >> is a substantial increase in the age and number of years they have to work before they can retire. >> selling is one thing, winning is another. here is what the lawyer for police retirees wrote in the current newsletter. constitutional doctrine is so riddled with exceptions, they threaten to swallow the basic rules. we would have tremendous hurdles to overcome just to get the matter to court. meantime, mayor stephanie rawlings lake says without a pension reform, the city's deficit balloons by another $65 billion. the budget deadline is june 30. >> while i understand there is money aside for the fight against our efforts to reform the pension, the pension -- the retirement pension is only on paper if the city does not have the money to back it up. right now, if we do not reform the pension system as it stands, it is not sustainable. >> the bill before the city council which is patterned after recommendations made by the business group, the greater baltimore committee. the chair of the board of that group is firmly planted on the union's team. >> city police are investigating how a toddler contracted a sexually transmitted disease. detectives are trying to figure out if a family friend is responsible for infecting and 18-month-old girl with gonorrhea. the child's parents brought her to harbor hospital on monday. criminal charges could be filed once a medical complex -- medical test is completed to determine if the child was sexually assaulted. >> see police a man is undergoing a psychiatric evaluation after reportedly attacking a neighbor's dog with a machete. we want to warn you, the pictures of this dog are disturbing. we have offered them slightly for that reason. the dog's severed slash wounds to the cheek, nose, and right eye. the dog is being treated at an emergency clinic in catonsville. >> it was meeting three day for supreme court nominee elena kagan on capitol hill. she sat down with top senators, hoping to get their support for confirmation. nichole killian has more. >> this is a ritual for all supreme court nominees, and today was no different for elena kagan. a frenzy followed her all over capitol hill as she kicked off a round of courtesy calls with key senators. but it was all smiles and no comments. kagan met with lawmakers about her nomination. patrick leahy told us his meeting with her went well. >> she has such an unbelievable grass of the law, and in some ways i feel like i am back in law school. you are moving to this position across the street is so meaningful to everybody. >> republicans said they would not rubber-stamp the president's peake. >> we intend to go through a thorough process. it is not a rush to judgment. >> behind closed doors, senators probe kagan on everything. >> i think they harbored a military issue which was a big mistake. >> it is a decision elena kagan will have to defend when she returns to capitol hill for confirmation hearings. some senators said they are hopeful they can get it completed by august. >> in tonight's project economy report, the port of baltimore is losing business to other ports, meaning more than 100 workers will lose their jobs this summer. ports will lay off 160 employees effective july 1. the workers handle shipments of canada and hyundai's vehicles which will now be delivered to the port of philadelphia. >> they are not often running just yet, but soon they will be. some of the horses competing in this weekend's and preakness arrived today, including kentucky derby winner supersaver. gerry sandusky is live out at the track with more. >> anytime the derby champion arrives, you get that sense of preakness magic unfolding. for supersaver, the magic sets up with the great story line. lester, rachel alexander stole all the headlines. the storyline emerged because the derby favorite and the derby winner will now break from the gate side-by-side in the seven and a post position for saturday's running of the preakness. looking at lucky in gate 7 and supersaver ingate no. 8. both trainers were thrilled with those opposed positions. one trader says finally he has a good post position. he has won this race with forces in the past. he is looking at 5 with looking for lucky. coming up in sports, will show you how the field will break from the gate in saturday's preakness. >> race day is this saturday. we invite you to join us for live coverage all day long. we will get started at 5:00 a.m. and pre race coverage begins at 2:00 p.m.. rex still to come, city officials are dealing with yet another water main break. >> honoring one of baltimore's longtime educators. >> shares at a few strong thunderstorms tracking through maryland at this evening. we will see what is in store for the rest of the night and as we head toward that preakness weekend. 63 at bwi marshall, 62 at the inner harbor. >> officials are reporting another water main break in southwest baltimore. police were also called in because there was an accident because of that great. authorities say to cars hydroplaned and then crashed into each other. there is no word of any injuries. just over two dozen homes and businesses were affected by the broken water main. >> a special line up for joe harrison. he was presented with the proclamation. officials say under his leadership, the county's school system has emerged as one of the nation's most successful large school districts. >> i feel extremely fortunate that i am in the community and work in an organization with 17,000 employees and with the county's-and a congressman that allow me to be the superintendent here for 10 years. that is what it is all about. >> the superintendent oversees the state's third largest school system with more than 100,000 students. dr. harrison's current four year contract expires in the year 2012. >> now, your insta-weather forecast with chief meteorologist tom tasselmyer. >> some heavy rain showing up on hd doppler around baltimore area this evening. you can still get a heavy downpour and maybe some small hail embedded with the showers that are now coming into baltimore city and stretching south into anne arundel county, down toward annapolis. heavy showers expected in those locations. more severe storms in virginia and southern maryland. all this developing along a stalled warm front that briefly brought the temperatures into the upper 70 before things start to cool off again. the pollen count is benefiting from some brainwashing down a large chunk of the pollen. the mold count -- from some rain washing down a large chunk of the pollen. temperatures are starting to cool off again. a cluster of storms makes its way through and tracks of the mid atlantic coast. look at the temperature contest -- skrincontrasts. the front dividing the two air masses cuts right through the maryland area. 57 s west's mr. wallace 77 down at chrisville. the front is -- 57 at westminster. the trend should continue over night into thursday morning when we are likely to see some clearing as a storms push to this out and allow the skies to at least partially clear. the win will drop the temperatures to some chili levels again, but the front is stalled out of our region and will push to the south tomorrow. that gives us a break in this unsettled weather pattern before the next door arrives. a chance of thunderstorms on friday, but hopefully it will clear things up in time for the weekend. a mix of cloud and son tomorrow. a local of the normal -- a little cooler than normal. clearing skies heading into the weekend, almost perfect timing for preakness saturday. 64-69 tomorrow with southeast winds at 5-10. 65 with the thunderstorm possible out near deep creek tomorrow. 67 around the bay tomorrow and on the lower eastern shore, temperatures reach the mid 60's with a mix of clouds and sun. the seven-day forecast, we were hold onto a nice weekend, even though it is stormy on either side of it. warmer and more humid with a thunderstorm friday and in breezy, cool, dry conditions saturday. 51 in the morning, 71 in the afternoon. race time temperatures at the preakness should be in the upper 60's on saturday. another chance for some rain on monday and tuesday. >> it is an absolute deluge out there at pimlico were that the post position draw just about an hour ago. a busy day at the track as nine of the horses arrive today, including kentucky derby winner supersaver. he was the lead horse arriving of nine that pulled into town today. super saver looking to become the first triple crown winner, or at least keep those hopes alive. the post position draw was just about an hour ago, setting up a brilliant story line. schoolyard dreams, pleasant prince, jacksonville and finished 12th in the sixth post position. then comes looking at lucky, the derby favorites, and super saver, the kentucky derby winner. they will go side-by-side to start on saturday ingates 7 and 8. all eyes will be focusing on the middle of the pack. dublin is on the outside. this race sets of just about perfectly. >> i think it is perfect, really. we can survey things and see what is going on. >> i was so worried. i like the seven. i wanted 7, 8, or nine. >> for todd fletcher, 0-4 for the preakness. the winner's circle is not a place the orioles go very often this year. they have yet to get a double digit whein. they send nolan down and call corey patterson of from the aaa. he has struggled at the plate and out in the field. he let ken griffey in to score, contributing to a 5-1 orioles lost. the orioles take on the seattle mariners in the second with three game series tonight at the yard. of course with that magical phrase, "weather permitting." the fallout continues from the store that can reduce your allegedly fell asleep in the clubhouse last week and missed and at bat. not only did they did not the story, but following a meeting yesterday, the mariners decided not to talk to the writer from the tacoma news tribune who wrote the original story. that will probably keep the story alive instead of letting it go to sleep. tom tasselmyer will be back with the preakness for test. please give us some sunshine. >> you may be shocked to learn where our area ranks on the list of america's most dangerous cities for drivers. plus we will continue our coverage leading up to preakness with the check on ticket sales. we'll have these stories and much more when you join >> some rain, and then just in time for preakness, beautiful weather. >> we will try to work this out just right. it clears up briefly tomorrow, 67 degrees, and then back into the warm, muggy weather. as the front moves off the coast, it clears up, a comfortable saturday with a high of 71 and some sunshine. it should be beautiful. >> i might have to wear a hat on preakness day. >> thanks for joining us.