2010. it could ha been considered a banner day for metro. the agency recorded a record number of trips on saturday. what riders remember a overcrowd overcrowded and headaches. >> a lot of people were depending on metro last weekend, the rallies on the mall, and tens of thousands came to attend. left their cars at home, got on the metro. there were nothing but problems during the course of the afternoon regarding over crowded trains, and escalator incident, at 2:00 in the afternoon, the lawn plaza station was packed, the elevator went three to four times the normal speed. a lot of people on that escalator, people began to fall. four people who were injured, two with relatively seriou injuries. what hpened? what made the escalator suddenly speed up without warning and come to an adrupt sto throwing people from the escalator? here at headquarters, they will be discussing that issue during the board meeting. no conclusions have been reached. they have engineers who have opened up that escalator, taken a look at it. contacted the manufacturer of the motor inside the escalator, they are looking closely at the mechanism, how it works, to figure out howtorked in that way. talking to those at metro, they said, they haven't seen anything like that, with a quick acceleration and adrupt stop. fowlkes here for a long time haven't encountered that. nothing of thi nature. the escalator is out of service, remaining out of service until they figure out what is goi on and fix it. of cours it will have to pass through a series of tests. >> they were lucky there weren't serious accidents when that happened. police are looking for a drer that killed a man in prince george's county. and turning to the public for help. the victim was struck at 2:00 a.m., in marlow heights. tracy is there and joins us with the latest on this story. tracy? >> the southbound lanes of grant avenue are reopened, the police were here overnight, investigating the accident. they had to leave the scene without the evidencehey needed before getting the evidence they need to identify him. >> a deadly early morning hit and run. >> right now, we are looking for information. >> reporter: police say, there was an unidentified male walking along the avenue. then, a call for a man struck by a vehicle came in to 911. >> we had a witness come forward to say the vehicle was seen in e middle of the roadway. the witness is did not witness the accident. >> the driver did not leave much evidence behind w they need the public's help. >> even if someone who believes they may have struck something, thought it was a deero debris, were asking you to come forward. >> reporter: police are asking with anyone from information to give them a call to help them wrap up this investigation. first on 4 this morning, a new poll of fafax county drivers indicating many are way too distracted behind the wheel. combining information from enforcement efforts over the past few years, with information from an online poll. 75% of driver admitted that using a ll phone is a distraction. 75% admitted to texting while driving. in fairfax, disstrakted drivers responsible for 50%more accidents than those driving drunk. >> unnecessary or unusual braking fono reason. swerving out of your lane. riding on the shoulder. >> tomorrow afternoon, police will host an online forum. asking people t submit questions about distracted driving. >> jerry is out today. see what he has to tell us, good morning, steve. >> the ma if you are heading inbound on the toel road, it is slow approaching the belt way, an accident before you get to the belt way on the eastbound toel road. very slow from there. and the accident there on eastbound 66 right on the roosevelt bridge heading toward constitution avenue. over to the belt way in silver spri, it is still slow, hasn't let up from this morning. the outerloop. well under speed. georgia avee, and picks up over to springfield, better but heavy but steady heading to springfield. >> when it is raining. >> yes, it was this morning, too. >> and taking a look outside. we still do have rain falling in the nation's capital and around the region. talking about how long it will last. >> at least through the eveng, and lingering showers tomorrow. all morning long, slow on area roads because of the weather. now, we have fog starting to come our way. develop, if you will, from baltimore sterling. eventuality down to two miles. looking at the drops on the lens. the rain making its way, south to northeast. several low presre systems, and a cold front to follow later before the weekend. you can see, we picked up over an inch of rain. sterling, down toward motion locations, three quarters to an inch of rain. on the chilly side. you can see at sterling, mclain, 50 in indian head, with a light wind that is part of the reason for the fog and all the moisture we have around the area. the cold wll follow us, coming into ohio, and coming up later, i will tell you what high spots could see snow this upcoming weekend. airports with delays. we will get an inch of rain. >> i can't believe you are talking about snow. that is incredible. >> an arizona man is in custody after poce found guns and ammunition inside his truck parked along the national mall. streets were closed aftern officer noticed something suspicious inside that truck. a bomb squad was called in. nothing was und. he will face unregistered weapon and ammunition charges. we may not know for a long time, who won the congressional district. election officials are counting ballots, won't be finished until today at the earliest. after the votes are tallied, the race will be probably close enough for a recount. it could take weeks to complete. >> president obama made a lunch date with vincent gray. gray isxpected to talk about how the city needs the freedom to write its own laws and own budget. that lunch date is set for december 1st. engine failure on a plane carrying 400 passengers. what happed to that plane. cluding how large metal chunks ended up on the ground. and preparing for the worst, in haiti. >> and the fit for fall segment. ñ? now to a developing story out of singh pore, quantityas has grounded its air bus fleet after an emergencylanding, the plane had blown out one of its ur engines. >> reporter: it was the nightmare air travellers hate to imagine. minutes after flight 732 london to sydney, had stopped for a refuelling stop. smoke from one of the fr roles royce engines, and casings falling from the sky, landing on a small tn, where amazingly nobody was hurt. the quantityas pilot flew all 459 people safely back to singh pore. sitting over the wing next to engine two, took this photo. back on the ground. he twittered that he thought he saw parts rip through the wi. >> one of those hollywood movie things, you think you are watching it from the outside. and you are part of it. >> reporter: officials say there was no explosion, but grounded the fleet of a380s. >> we will suspe service, until we are sure that the safety requirements has been met. >> reporter: one of the wod's safest airlines, admits it never experienced anything like this before. >> quantityas is holding over those passengers and will fly them out tomorrow. >> we have learned one of the two mail bombs from yemen last week disarmed 17 minutes before it was set to go off. french officials madethat announcement. and two brothers arrested, they are suspected to having links to terrorist organizations. they believe they were planning an attack in france. meanwhile, authorities at the california-mexico border made arug bust they had to go underground to do. they found a tunnel that connects taiwana to san diego. it has a rail system to cart drugs across the border. they found 24 tons of marijua. they dig tunnels to try to get around security at points of entry into the united states. >> we are following a developing story out of haiti as well. preparing for tropical storm thomas. one million are told to leave tent camps. unfortunately, may be of the people living in tents since january's earthquakes have no where to go. red cross said the biggest concern the rain. flash flooding years back, ended up killing hundreds. >> it seems so cruel after everything that haiti h been through, that they should be facing this. >> they feel the storm will worsen the collera epidemic. it has hospitalized 5,000. it is spread by contaminated water. it has been elevated to a hurricane, thomas? >> the latest they have on my information is that it is still a tropical storm. it will strengthen to a category 1, by the time the eye makes its way toward haiti. a terrible situation for those folks. >> we have sloppy weather fog throughout the area. the eventualities are around two miles. major airports, call ahead to see iyou have any delays. taking a lk outside. the the big drops are falling, average rainfall, just over three inches. 51 is our current temperature, dewpoint at 49. any time you get that clos to together, yocan guarantee on fog. november is the month where we cod get a little bit of snow. we are talking about it for the high elevations west of us, friday and saturday. temperatures range, 46 in mount airy, and 55 and around st. maries. the rain is moving up from the south all morning. down to the south, getting a bit of a break. generally light showers, anywhere you see the dark green and yellow. heavier rain is falling here. west of the city, and a bit of a break now around richmond and areas through the northern neck. a bit of a break, still, more rain expected throughout the day. and right through the evening. a quarter to half inch of rain. upper level winds that control our winds way down to the south this. is a complex storm, areas of low pressure. there will be another one moving up that will linger through friday. chilly air for sure. you oh, boy, this weekend will feel a lot like december. 39 in deer, currently. over the next 48 hours, the system here will be making its way off the coast. watch the cold front. moving up the coast. the highest of spots around the panel of maryland -- panhandle of maryland and penylvania there will be snow. slippery go of it friday night and early saturday. the first significant la effect snows comin through. there is the latest with tropical storm thomas. wis, 46 miles an hour. it will make a path toward the center of the storm, to the west of haiti, some time on friday. when it gets just about west of haiti and to the north. category 1, it will strengthen and move off away from florida on saturday. rain, flash flooding, likely, mud slides a possibility. today, rain for us. a quarter to another half inch. temperatures holding steady in the 50s. a few more showers for us. breeze wea high of 52 this weekend. starting out below freezing. >> break out the warm weather clothes. we will see you again shortly. check on the traffic ain. here is steve. >> the silver springs, heavy, not up to the speed limit yet. taking a longime to recover. heading ea of town. an accident inbound on route 50, in maryland, near 197. it is slow there. after that okay to the belt way. toward the center of town. >> our time, 11:20, still ahead, "news4 midday," getting you fit for fall. put down that halloween cand and pick up light weights. how to entertain with style. first, a look at what is hot on nbcwashington.com. i love to eat. i lovehang. i have a great fit with my dentures. i love kiwis. i've always had that issue with the seeds getting under my denture. super poligrip free -- it creates a sl the dtures in my mouth. even well fitting dentures let in food particles. just a few dabs of super poligrip free is clinically proven to seal out more food rticles so you're more comfortable and confident while you eat. super poligrip free made even the kiwi an enjoyable expience. [ charlie ] try super poligrip free. and enjoying it less and less? stop paying for second best. upgrade to verizon fios and get tv, internet and phone for just $99.99 a month for a year. call now and we'll include this unbeatable bonus: over 110 premium channels including starz, showtime, hbo and more -- free for 3 mths. and thers no term contract required. if you don't love fios you can cancel with no early termination fee. fios gives you the best channel lineup, superior picture quality and more hd; plus internet rated #1n satisfaction, speed d reliability four. why keep paying for cable? get fios tv, internet d phone for just $99.99 a month -- plus over 110 premium movie channels free for months. call 1.888.818.fios. that's 1.888.818.3467. call the verizon center for customers with disabilities that's 1.888.818.3467. at 8-974-66 tty/v. it's time to get more for your money. it's time for fios. too much halloween candy this week? we will get you fit for fall. >> ready to thanksgiving is coming up. everybody is getting ready to eat turkey, toy, i am going to show you how you can e the turkey and all the food, ps burn it for energy fuel. >> we want to hear about that you have our cardio tip. what is that? >> sprint work, in the confines of your home. we were out on the treadmill, doing the steps. this one, gets your palms open, get your knees up, lower the upper body, look at my abdominals, 15 seconds, right in place. in 15 seconds. >> that is the length of a ws story. every other news story, get up and do tt. >> we can make this hour, the people watching the news their workout. >> all right. now, y say that most important thing you can buy,if one piece of equipment, it is not a treadmill or bike. >> it is the multipurpose bench, you can lay it flat, do every exercise standing on the bench. it serves every purpose you need for training. >> for example? >> go with- -- i think you told me -- >> inclined bench press. lay back, bring the weights here, butch up and turn. when you bring them down to this level,orking shoulders, chest, back, and this part of the arm that everybody wants to work on. >> how heavy of a weight without hurting yourself? >> you get a weight six through ten, not straining oirz. >> six to ten repetitions, and get a weight that will make you exert yourself, some people can go 10, 15, 20 pounds. as light as possible. now, take it, setit down, and take the arm, and pretend you are it works your arm. >> see exactly what you are doing? >> bring it unde like you are cranking a law mower up as home. it trims the waist, upper back and shoulders. >> it good for the neck and face. >> yes, the accordion crunch. >> you know. >> i am going to wear you out. >> no, no, i will have you help me with this one. lock your legs out. bring the body up. push it out. barb remarks come on! you try this. >> i will try it. >> lie down, hold on to the side. and bring your body up, and push it out. no not are you working your abdominals. the quads. >> you feel it here. >> it is not easyto lie down th the microphone. >> you have one invented. >> the hayes raise. this one, most pele, when they do this exercise go up like this. ha haze -- hayes raise, you are working chest, shoulders and arms. take a lighter weight. >> turn sideways to see how it looks from the side. >> here, bring it up. resist it down, let it come down, bring it back up. and resist it down. >> i will ask you quickly for your nutrition tip of the day. >> water. at this time of year, you need water more than in the summer time. the air in your house, the heat is dry, your body dehydrates, and your body is 78% water. you ne to replace that water. >> i need water now. >> you have to rest in between each exercise. >> that is super setting, the body will burn more when you are super setting like that. >> see you next week. >> i look forward to it. >> and coming up in the next half hour of "news4 midday," saying good bye to a fallen police officer, the funeral procession will close roads. the calls for help from people in the district trapped inside their apartment as flames are shooting out of windows. and veronica johnson joins s, to look at when the rain w wç right now on "news4 midday," police in plix are looking for a hit and run driver. they say a pedestrian was struck around 2:00 this morning on bran avenue in marlow heights, there is nword on the victim's identity or what kind of vehicle police are looking for. an azona man is in cust dee after police found guns and ammunition in his truck parked by the international ma. police noticed something suspicious inside the truck, a bomb squad was called in. nothing was found. a d.c. police officer is laid to rest. paul motommo was kille when his car crushed, he was 32, and had been a d.c. police officer for a little over a year. his funeral began an hour ago in woodbridge, virginia. there will be a procession through whington to the burial site. it will begin at 12:30 today. expect several rolling street closures during that procession. mother nature is not cooperating with nasa, mission managers decided to postpone the lift off due to storms. they set it for tomorrow, but haven't fully committed because of the chance for more rain. the plans to rendezvous with the international space station. it will be the 39th and final mission. hard to believe. it seems like it just started. it has done a lot of fantastic work. tell us when we will see the end of the rain. >> the end of the rain, not until we get on the other side of the evening. all ming up from the south, lingering lighter showers tomorrow. periods of rain throughout the day. we are getting a breakdown around the northern neck. over an inch in springfield. tempature, 49. getting close to an inchnd a half, the next couple of hours, great falls, virginia, 46 degrees right now. a t of rain. thank godness we are not seeing any flooding. we could be looking at winter weather advisories, to the west of us later today. philadelphia, newark and laguardia, the last time i checked, because of the low visibility. high elevation, snow coming our way for the weekend. >> any measurable amounts? >> no. >>e will talk to you again shortly. a story you saw on "news4 midday." th 911 call from the winsor house apartments tell a frightening call about the firefight erszworking from the ground up to tryo rescue residents, jackie benson has more. >> i can't get out. >> reporter: the 911 call detailed panic. and the winsor house apartments, they realized they were trapped. >> i opened the door. it was completely black outside my door. >> reporter: it seemed like forever for those trapped in apartments filling up with smoke. some firefighters were desperately trying to get trucks through, blocked boyan illegally parked truck. >> stay there, don't move. >> are they coming to get me? >> rescue squad. try to wave that red sweater as you wait. >> the fire burned for some time before it was discovered, they know the cause. >> unattended candles left in the ninth floor apartment was the cause of the fire. >> it took 20 minutes to rescue everyone from the rning building. >> i am here. what is going on? >> i am out of the building. thank you so much. >> jackie benson, news 4. >> five people were injured, mostly from smoke inhalation. >> montgomery county i looking for ways to make up 14 million that would have been raised by ambulance fees. voters struck down a referendum. now, supporters are blaming volunteer fire fighters for misleading voters. saying residents could be charges $800 for a ride to the hospital. >> they created fear. i find it despicable, frankly. >> that is incorrect. we have documents facts, avaible for the county executive to prove that everything that we have said is correct. >> coun executive threatened to lay off firefighters and decomission ambulances, if the measure dn't pass. >> problems lingering o there, as you get out on the roads to go wherever you have to go today. steve. >> lingering is the right wor delays that continue on the outer loop of the beltway, silver springs to university boulevard, the left-hand side of your screen is the outer loop from silver springs, it has not eased up since t rush hour. over to ringfield, northbound here, heavy but steady, to springfield, it was a report of a sinkhole, westbound randolph road in the right lane. >> thank you, steve. >> it is a treat, once a year. >> once? >> six weeks. may maybe. >> it is back. mcdonald's is inviting everyone to share the joy, the mcrib is on the menu, for six weeks, they will beable to partalk in that mcrib. served in almost all mcdonaacdc. they used to be forced to go to mcrib locators to find the nearest fix. >> whether you think about a large gathering or small famy affair, planning is key. sandy hoffman joins us with keys to relieve the stress of thanksgiving. >>hank you. >> you know, we have in america our traditional thanksgiving foods. there are a lot of ways to serve thosetems u talk about how you plan, what you are going to do. >> first of all, i think i had mentioned when we were here on fourth of july, how it might be nice to meet with your family or meet with a group of friends that you always entertain with. i think it is nice for everybody to chose a holiday. if you are spread thin, and have to entertain all the olidays, it makes it more expensive and more difficult to focus in on the one holiday that maybe you would have during that year. >> going to grandma's house. >> grandma's turn, focus in on the more casual family style thanksgiving. if you can shoot over here. i will show you that initially, i thinit is nice to have th family sit down at the table. youan do a welcome, can you talk about how wonderful it is that some of the people have travelled from out of town. whatever you want to say. i think it is nice to always serve the first course. that would be a plated first course. a soup or salad, something like that. >> at the table. >> yes. this is considered more casual. i love the gsses you have used. mason jars. and this is a very family-friendly, child-friend setting. >> exactly. if you notice on the chairs, did do place cards for everybody. we have a menu set. for the little ones, monogramed aprons the kids can wear. you can fill it with games and things that maybe the kids can play during the dinner when they t finished, the parents want them to sit at the table. >> at this particular setting, you sve a fit course, maybe salad. >> sp or salad, something like that any first course that you prepare. because people starttching to stand up, i think it is a nice idea to do buffet. so that everybody can get up and chat with one another. thats thanksgiving is a time for everybody to talk to one another. if you are seated throughout the whole meal, you only get to talk to the people closest to you. >> the alternative would be this dramatic setting, sit down and stay seated. you would not get up to serve yourself. >> that is true. this is a setting more for say, if your children are grown and this year, you are not going to be celebrating with them, you invited friends over. you want to do more of a formal setting for thanksgiving. >> in these economictimes, is this more expensive way to go? >> whenever you do a buffet, believe itr not, it is more expensive. because when you portion a plate and you set a plate on a ten-inch plate, you are actually counting out the amount of food that you are serving. it is like in any event, if you prare for a buffet, the chef always has to prepare more food. when you portion out, you save a lot of money. >> you probably throw out less, too. thanksgiving, piled high, if you have a buffet t all goes in the trash later. it may be the better way to go? >> it is depends on the style of serving that you want to do. i am not a huge fan of taking platters to the table, asking your guests to pass the platters around. there is no where to put them. hard t balance, serving yourself and holng the plaert. i like it to come out of the kitchen, already plated, a lot of wt you serve on tat plate can be preset. so you are not running around, doing it at the last minute. >> just you, and no help in the kitchen, that won't be easy to have to serve 12 plates. >> a lot of what can go on the plates can be predone. we have this ting called the microwave. shot in the microwave at the last moment, slice the turkey, maybe serve the gravy hot. >> this is beautiful. >> i want to take one minute and say, edge flowers in rockville, maryland did a magnificent job. >> a lot of ideas for the table. i think the setting is half the task for making a beautiful meal. this is gorgeous. >> thanks for having me. >> we love having you here. you leave us wanting more. >> i will be back. >> i am hungry now. thanks. >> i have candy on the table for you. >> i am ready for it. we will be right back. "know the species, know the stain." lanolin-free coat, i know it's an alpaca. walks in here, looks says "hey look, it's a llama!" cleaning the stain like he would a llama stain. time he's wasting. ♪ call 1-800-steemer politics for jobless benefits jumped for the second rise in weeks. courtney joins us with more on that and the rest ofhe day's business heaines. >> despite that news, wall street is dow is up, after closing at a two-year high. as they digest the fed's plan. we had a couple of hours to react. the fed deciding to buy 600,000 in long-term treury bonds. it drives rates lower and encouraging spending on equipment, and services. the con, some economists feel it could make the dollar weake erw. the first time claims for jobless benefits did rise, that reverses two weeks of decline. and many of the nation retailers beat estimat with the october sales figures, including j, c penney and kohl's. according to a new survey by johnson associates, pay increases for prate equity employees wi decline in stock and bond trading, despite the levels, the forecast, still 20 to 30% lower than the all-time high posted. reflecteby employees with bigger salaries instead of bonuses. >> see you tomorrow. our wednesday's child this week, a 15-yr-old thinks she would like to be a police officer, who would like to help people. meetandrea. >> hi. >> i am barbara. >> i am so happy to see you. i hear you want to be a police ofcer some day s that it right? >> yes. >> i think you will enjoy what we are doing today. see what it is like to be a police chief. >> d.c. police chief welcomed us. >> nice to meet you. >> nice to meet you, too. >> on the walls of her office, signs and symbols of the importance opolice work in the nation's capital. the chief showed her around, and shared stories of the interesting aspects of her job. wh it takes to be chosen for the force. she asked her about her first job as an officer? >> what was your first assignment as a police officer? >> my first assignment was walking a foot beat in the fourth district. >> andrea listened closely to the chief's answers, those who know her say she is a bright girl, who has been unftunately without a real home and family most of her life. >> she has been in care since january, 2001. brought in due to neglect. she has had some group homes, things like that. >> what do you want to be when you grow up? >> police officer. >> what is your favorite subject? >> math. >> what are your grades? >> as and bs. >> outside, we met the bomb squad. she said she has always wanted a family with a dog. >> amother, father, kids, and a pet. >> i am looking for a family that can help her learn how to trust again. someone to love and care for her, for all the good qualities she has to offer. >> not a dog, but a cute police pand a she warned to keep it away from dogs like red. >> he would love to havthis. >> thank you. >> you're welcome. >> if you have room in your home and heart for an dre'a or a child th is waiting. call 1-888-to dapt me or nbcwashingtocom. 11:50 is our time. and coming up, meteorologist veronica johnson back with another look at the forecast. and tomorrow, the author of sweet cheek. the author will be at borders tonight to sign copies of that book. on wisconsin avenue. signing books, can you meet her tomorrow and get baking advice right here at 11:00 on "news4 midday." hope you join u óó it is time to check out the weekend scene. great to see you. we have a lot going on. first, photo week. >> photo week has become one of the major art events in washington over the past couple of years. a celebration that continues across the city for on week. find it in gallies and museums, and you will see a lot of photos and parties as well. one place you want to know this week, the launch, the corkran museum of art. they are hosting one of the biggest exhibitionsof phot week. >> do they sponsor photo week? >> home base for photo week this year. >> it is a city-wide thing. it stard a few years ago, it has been amazing. there will be 40 or 50 exhibitions in asingle week. >> residents, peoplell around the area, invited to participate? >> yes, come out, meet folks, and chat and learnore about the arts. >> miya angelou, coming to town. >> she is 82. she will be talking about her life at the warner theater next thursday, tickets are $50 $100, an amazing oppounity to hear her talk about her life as a dancer, poet and writer. >> and the film festival. >> one of my favorite of the year, it is called the eve show fi showcase. foreign film buffs to get out there and see the big films of the oscar season, the european films, starting tonight at 7:00, and continue through the 23rd. opportunities to see tons of movies. >> especially on a rainy day. >> thank you very much. for more informatn on your weekend scene, log on to "around town." nbcwashington.com or "washington post.com. >> good morning, coming up this afternoon on news 4, starting at 4:00, actor charlie sheen has a new shadow, it is called a sober coach. we will find out how it works for him. how do you pick a pain of jeans that feels good and looks great. we will get advice on someone who knows the ins and outs of jean fashion. how unsuspecting consumers are keeping puppy mills in business. how not to fall victim. those stories at 4:00 this afternoon. >> time for a last check on the forecast, here is veronica. >> this is the first cold rain. it feelslike december out there. we have gotten more than an inch in locations. rain likely today through the evening. it will be chilly, a quarter to hafrl inch of rain. the wind is light, i think it will pick up, breezy with a high of 52. the cold blast this weekend. cold air over us, should get cold air back, and into the 60s, a taste of winter. this is goo inside weather to work out, barbara. >> i will do my walk in place and run in place. >> we will have a link to his website on our website, nbcwashington.com. the rain will contue. >> rain will continue. hopefully, everybody will take it easy on the roadways, still leaves on some of the area roads, slippery o, with the fog. >> thank you very much. happy exercising, happy running in place. that is "news4 midday" for today. we thank you for being with us today. be sure to tune in tomorrow. before that, news 4, 5:00, 6:00 and 11. we will look for you. have a terrific day. this is your captain speaking. we are 14th in line for takeoff. looks like it's bumper to bumper on the interstate. i gotta get to cleveland! remove your belt, your watch, your shoes. i wonder what gas costs today. seven dollars for a pillow! an extra bag costs what? i hate traffic! ♪