is much like last weekend's storm system where we had the possibility of 50/50 chance of two storm tracks. track a keep its away from the coast like last weekend. but this storm system and the models hint this one will maybe hug the coast and the intensity of the storm could be greater than the one we missed last weekend which is still plaguing new england. so again, it looks like a sunday-night event into monday. there is still a lot of time to really put the details into the forecast and i'll share that with you in a few minutes. we have some new information in the murder of a brookland shop owner. today democrat police released pictures of the suspect taken from the store surveillance camera minutes before the shooting. delia gonsalves is live in the news room with a closer look at the pictures. and delia, you spoke to the owner's widow? >> reporter: it was a difficult day, as you can imagine. and while she opens someone -- she hopes someone watching this tonight will recognize the killer of her husband, she told us she will not return to the store. >> reporter: the patel family stopped by the newton food market but the visit may be the last. >> are you afraid to come back to the store? >> yeah. i just don't want to work in the store any more. >> reporter: she was in the family store with her 22-year- old son on saturday evening when this man caught on surveillance camera walked in just after 6:30. the thief ordered them to the floor. that's when her husband, 46- year-old rajesh kumar patel, unknowingly walked out of the back storage room. he was gunned down right in front of his family. >> it was only me and my son. >> we just wanted to pay tribute. >> reporter: a complete stranger dropped off flowers at the storefronts growing memorial. business owners describe two different neighborhoods. during the day an act fif center, but -- active center but at night a place prime for activity. and some believe it was targeted for another reason. paul mag know's said the recent addition of western union could have spelled trouble. >> i could see where it could be a temptation for a thief, especially the holiday weekend before christmas. >> it's the only thing you can do, pray for the family and hope for the best. >> reporter: tonight the police are asking for the public help and offering a $25,000 reward for information leading to an arrest. lesli? las vegas police are not calling it a criminal investigation but debbie norez navarez is considered missing. police have found no signs of foul play against the former redskins cheerleader. she is originally from baltimore but was in las vegas pursuing a dance career. her boyfriend, jay on griffith, made a court appearance on a past domestic violence incident involving her. now he denies the charge, but at the time of his arrest officers reported bruises on her and at the time she told officers she was pregnant. her sister is reported saying she was no longer pregnant at the time of her disappearance on december 12th. police say griffith is cooperating and is not a suspect. we have new information tonight concerning wiki leaks. as we reported, private first class bradley madding is suspected of giving classified documents to wiki leaks. now there are allegations that manning has been mistreated in custody. the u.n. office for torture said it received a complaint from one of manning supporters alleging that conditions in the brig in quantico amount to torture. the pentagon has denied mistreating manningch and the marine corp spokesman said the military is keeping manning safe, secure and ready for trial. president obama stepped up to the podium this afternoon for his final news conference of the year. he praised the work of congress and the strong bipartisan cooperation on several key pieces of legislation. for one, the vote for the start treaty with russia. the president described it as the most significant arms control pact in nearly two decades. and another key accomplishment, the senate approved a $4.2 billion aid package for 9/11 first responders today. that bill now goes to the house of r.tives -- representatives for approval and to the white house for the president's signature. it provides money to fund and treat first responder who's became ill since being at -- responders who became ill after 9/11. and also signed into law was the repeal of the "don't ask, don't tell." there was a lift of the ban on the gays serving in the military. >> this is the right thing to do for our security, it's the right thing to do, period. in addition, we came together across party lines to pass a food safety bill. the biggest upgrade of americas food safety laws since the great depression. >> and the president said all of these accomplishments prove that although lawmakers don't agree 100%, they can work together to enhance the lives of american people. he said there will be tough fights, especially on tax cuts on the rich. and a tentative agreement has been reached to keep the preakness steaks in maryland. the entire 146 days of horse racing were in danger ever being eliminated because of funding. today representatives from the governor's office said $4 million will be redirected from the slot machines to discover some of the cost of state horse racing. >> it is a short-term gap. i think everybody recognizes the importance of the industry so for 2011 we're good to move forward. but there are still issues for '12, '13 and on. we have to find a solution. >> if the proposal is approved by the maryland state racing commission, supporters say 15,000 jobs in the horse racing industry will be saved. ahead, the grinch who tried to destroy christmas spirit by turning someone's holiday display into trash. but first, holiday travel, we are checking the roads for you, getting ready to roll out to your christmas destination? stay with us. we have you covered. get ready and get set for a possible snowy road trip for christmas. scott broom is with travels on i-95 in laurel with a new project on prospects -- project on snow this weekend. >> reporter: it has been cold here and across the country and there's been a lot of snow. so there is a good bet if you are a holiday traveler, you will see some either coming or going. >> i don't like the snow. >> i don't want to be stuck in traffic. >> reporter: and now look at this usa today map showing a projection for at least 50% of the nation to see a white christmas through the holiday weekend. including the washington, d.c. region and to the northeast. at airports, the weather looks good for getting out of town but storms in the west and midwest may make changing planes in hubs like chicago and denver, problematic in the next few days. web lights like www.travelforecast.com specialize in predicting weather and delays based on your schedule. air travel experts recommend calling now to change routes at the place where you are changing planes or your final destination looks like trouble. some airlines will waive fees depending on the forecast. 2.2million washington area residents will travel this holiday period, the largest number in a decade, the vast majority, 94%, by car. you'll also notice gas prices have come up a little bit. an average of $3.01 in maryland. $2.92 in virginia. but the prediction is the prices will stay stable throughout the holiday period. on i-95, scott broom, 9 news now. if you hope to find american airlines deals on orbitz, sorry to disappoint. you the legacy carrier has pulled it's flights. if you go to american airlines you can see they have remuched fares from orbitz. airlines pay a fee to sites like orbitz for the privilege of caring their fares but american wants to create it's own money-saving tool. they say this will cut cost and if you bought at american airlines ticket on orbitz, it is still valid. up next, we are hanging out with santa as he takes some last-minute christmas wish lists. you'll want to hang around for this. lots of lotions promised healing. this one actually does it. [ female announcer ] gold bond ultimate healing lotion. nothing feels like it, smells like it, heals like it. gold bond. this stuff really works. my name is merle dellancey i'm in bagdad, iraq. this message is for my two sons, joseph and shawn, you guys, i miss you. i hope you have a nice holiday. i'll be home soon and i love you both. well, even in this spirit of giving the grinch is hard at work. they targeted one man's effort to bring holiday cheer to his community. they destroyed holiday decorations at this home. the vandals smashed the lights and slashed the inflatable snowmen. >> who would try to do something like this to our christmas yard after being in the community and many like it. >> after hearing about the act one family donated the money for new decorations. holiday shoppers are in their final lap on the christmas express. this is video from prince george's county mall and tysons corner center. and at tysons there is even an actual procrastination station to help you buy your gift. it is serious crunch time for santa claus and he took time out to visit children and made a stop at the mall. surae chinn is in mclean with what the children are asking and in some cases telling santa they want for christmas. >> reporter: lots of requests. santa is preparing his list and putting on final touches but he wanted to hear from some of the kids first to find out what they wanted so he can prepare everything for the kids. >> santa for a must have been must have been -- a number gun and he said it would be fun. >> a kindle. >> reporter: santa has been getting a earful with wild requests. >> i asked him for a piranha for christmas. >> what did santa say to that? >> no, pet piranhas. it won't happen. >> reporter: father christmas is doing more than just listening but spending quality time with the kids. >> a little shy but very excited to see santa and they enjoyed reading a book together. >> and the stockings were hung by the chimin yes with care -- chimney with care. >> reporter: and right on coup -- right on cue, right after sitting on his lap. and santa is taking time out of his schedule to visit tyson's corner. >> we've had our pictures with santa for all three kids for 17 years. >> reporter: matthew wants the entire star wars collection. >> i'm going to have everything. the whole single star wars thing. >> santa is busy getting star wars collection. >> i have two luke sky walkers and one darth vader and two storm troopers. >> reporter: and matthew isn't done. >> i wish i could be on tv. >> reporter: well you are on tv. >> well i do. >> reporter: the tv part, santa, check that off your list. santa is the real deal and can you believe he's been visiting at tysons and making christmas miracles happen for more than two decades. live here in mclean, surae chinn, 9 news now. we were getting a chuckle out of the kids. >> i want to know where the procrastination station is. >> i'm sure sur a can help you with that. >> today we made it up to 45 degrees. this is the first day since december 1st that we actually got up to average. it's been colder than average for the last month. in fact on the first day we hit 65 and you knew it was a matter of time. every day the average high temperature continued to drop. it's been cold and we made it up. now we are dropping 41 degrees. it feels like 34. winds picking up. they were at 10 miles per hour half an hour ago. here we go. it's going to get windy and blustery for the next day and a half to to days. a chilly night, skies are clearing. temperatures drop into the 20s, some teens. without a doubt we'll have windchill in the teens. in fact maybe near 10 degrees in a few spots tomorrow morning. so winds blowing. and tomorrow afternoon possibly with gusts of up to 35, maybe near 40 in a spot or two. big story is we're tracking a major storm. you've heard about it out in california in the deserts with terrible flooding and mountain snow, that will makes it way across the u.s. -- across the u.s. and knock on our door. but first let's talk about the immediate future and that is currently and tonight and tomorrow. wind gust gusts will -- gusts will spread toward the east and southeast and then again getting stronger as time going on. especially for tomorrow and tomorrow afternoon. 41 at reagan national. 36 in manassas. 41 in fredericksberg. pax river 35. freezing in easton. but it feels like in the 20s with the stronger wind gusts off toward the west and northwest. so 26 in martinsberg and winchester. tonight's forecast is mentioned. mainly clear skies. that's nice. down to 25 at reagan national. winds will be blowing but they are always stronger during the day. we'll have a lot of sunshine. a pretty day tomorrow. just if you are watching it from indoors. 38 degrees will do it. again, wind gusts near 40 in a few spots. here is the big story. they have been measuring the rainfall in triple digits. well over a foot and a half. it's been raining in l.a. for a week now, since last thursday. mountain snows in sierra approaching a 15-foot mark and more rainfall in the desert. thunderstorms in vegas today flooding the strip. that tracks across the country and knocks on our door. it's like last weekend's storm, computer models going both ways. track a, this is what happened last week. keep it off the coast. however, this time, i know we're several days out, this is sunday night and into monday, a lot of the models want to pull it in and make it stronger and intensify that area of low pressure more than last weekend's storm and that could mean significant snow and whiteout conditions. let's keep our fingers crossd it doesn't turn out that way. but if you can see it with high definition on your screen, that was last weekend in new england. if it would hang around longer it would push the storm system off but it doesn't look like that will be the story. here is your story. more of the same -- cold and sunshine. the winds are the big story for the next couple of days blowing out of the northwest at 20-25 miles per hour and gusts to 30- 35. and late sunday and into monday, we have all day friday to tweak the storm system but last week the models didn't get a handle on it until a day and a half before but they did and it favored us. >> let's hope it favors us again. donovan wants respect. >> it's going from bad to worse. last week the second string quarterback and now demoted to third string. mcnabb said he would like to come back to the redskins next season. mike shanahan responds to that statement. plus mcnabb said he was disrespected. the coach tackles that issue too when 9 sports returns. you would think the relationship between mcnabb and mike shanahan is beyond repair. but when mcnabb said on his radio show yesterday he was willing to come back to the redskins, either he was sincere, lying through his teeth or a great politician or a combination of two of the three. today shanahan said we'll wait and see. when asked he said he would keep him as a backup if he was interested in the role. today mcnabb practiced with the team but as the third string quarterback. rex grossman is the starter. john beck is the backup against jacksonville. donovan declined to speak to the media today but he also said he felt disrespected because news of his possible benching was reported in the media the week before. shanahan's response is the leak didn't come from him. >> the first person i told was him. and we actually talked about it for about 5-10 minutes. i didn't tell anybody, number one, about he would be second team this week. so people might have speculated on it, but there was nothing else. >> injury news, today the redskins put philip daniels and kemoeatu on reserve ending their seasons. daniels has injuried to his abdomen and kemoeatu because of a shoulder injury. the terps bowl game fell into their lap. and then the much-needed publicity. and ralph friedgen's last game. and today the team is gathering to promote the game. they were hoping go to an old weather bowl. that's old news. and now the talk is about the frig. he tried to grab attention in a different way. >> i told you i would bring a lot of attention to this bowl, i didn't realize it was going to be quite in this manner but i think tv ratings will be up and we got a lot of publicity. we're happy to be here and we're going to have a great time and we're going to win a football game. we're going to be 9-4 and we'll be the top 25 at the end of wednesday night. >> ralph pulling a joe namoth, guaranteeing a win. the terps basketball team back in action, facing new jersey tech. never heard of them? you're not alone. the terps are coming off a loss to boston college in the acc opener. quick reminder, d.c. area high school students can be a part of our team at 9 sports and dc high school sports.net. we're looking for campus correspondence. if accepted we'll give you a free flip cam. apply at wusa9.com. the capitals are feeling good these days. eight-game losing streak in the past. they've won two in a row after last night's win over the devils. and the fans are feeling so good they were chanting in the third period "we want pittsburgh." and the bravado is back. they are at home against the penguins. playing one another in the winter classic on january 1st but first things first. right now they are locked in for tomorrow night's game. >> it's great. >> with everything going on, leading toward the winter classic and the playoffs, we're excited. it's going to be a big game tomorrow. >> the caps confident and that's the way it should be. we'll have more on the forecast. >> tracking it again. that's it for us. the cbs evening news is next. derek will see you at 7:00. have a great night.