field. and then the bus tipped over slowly. >> reporter: children chape rons. one adult was flown to shock trauma in baltimore. state police are investigating. i'm lindsey mastis in fort washington. a 7-eleven clerk is dead and his killer is on the loose. police say the clerk was shot during an apparent robbery. it happened along oxenhill road at 3:30 a.m. in the morning. >> he is my friend. he is a nice guy. >> reporter: people that work in this strip mall say this is not the first violent crime to happen here. they point out bullet holes in the building from our incidents. >> it got robbed. >> a friend of mine got shot a month ago here. >> reporter: everyone here seems to be shaken up by this latest crime. >> i said a prayer for his family. very sad and unnecessary. >> reporter: i'm delia gonclaves in washington. congress offering a glimmer of hope for those fighting for dc's budget autonomy. surprising twist from the congressional hearing. the mayor and council chairman kwame brown presented their case to the committee saying the district has presented a balanced budget for 16 years and has raised 5.5 billion in local funds each year. >> can you now or in the near future give us, if you will, a contingency plan so that the district of columbia is never caught up in what might be weeks or months of uncertainty in the budget process. >> we certainly would be prepared to be able to do that with budget autonomy. >> well done. >> reporter: the mayor says that is good news for proposed 8.9 billion budget and residents of dc. >> i was very encouraged by the chairman's statements. dc council member wanting the city to spend $100,000 to figure out just how many police officers ought to be out on the street. earlier this year the police chief told the dc council that they would be in trouble if the force dipped under 3800 officers. well, then a council member proposed a bill requiring at least 4000 officers. mayor gray's budget adding 170 of them. a study would figure out just how many officers the city really needs. a huge break today in a very old case. dc police will announce tomorrow they solved the murder of a promising young government lawyer joyce cheung. she was abducted by a man who has already been in prison for years convicted in a string of similar abduction robberies. >> my whole family's reaction was holy cow. somebody actually cares enough to solve joyce's case and not only were we relieved that somebody picked up this case and worked on it but so elated because for so long we have lived under this cloud. >> a second man has already done his time for his roll in the abductions and he was sent back to guana. joyce was either slipped or pushed into the river where she drowned. missouri police caught the gunman accused of breaking into a military base this morning. they say 31-year-old cody wilcoxon tried to sneak into an army base then exchanged gunfire with officers after a high speed chase. police say he ditched the car and ran through the missouri university of science and technology before they caught up with him. he was released from prison back in 2008 after serving more than three years for burglary and other felonies. new york city police have foiled two terrorists from carrying out their plot to blowup synagogues. prosecutors say the two were caught after they tried to buy weapons from undercover officers. the two men, both u.s. residents, have been charged with state terrorism. they are being held without bail and they face life in prison if convicted. and the fbi is also investigating another suspicious letter sent to a dc school. this latest was found today at the fletcher johnson education center at the woodson senior high. dc fire officials say it is similar to the ones received at numerous schools last week. investigators did not find any hazardous material and nobody got sick or was hurt. hope tonight for the thousands of people who drive along the i-395 corridor in northern virginia every day. for months now there have been predictions of gridlock when the marks center opens. part of the military's realignment. today the house armed services committee passed a bill that will let the department of defense delay that move. the full house will take up the measure may 23rd. no word tonight if it would also delay the relocations to the national naval medical center in bethesda where there are also major concerns about the traffic. a change in the weather on the horizon tonight. topper out on the terrace with a check on your forecast. so far so good though, temperature. >> a great evening. that will continue, derek. we get into tomorrow though and the weekend a little different story. let's start with the temperatures. we are looking at temperatures right now in the 70s. very comfortable. not going to get cool tonight. no jacket really required. pretty much across the board. officially 74. 73 rather in bethesda. 72 in arlington. 71 downtown. satellite picture, radar combined. i'm going to zoom in on showers and thunderstorms up in ohio and pennsylvania. i think these will stay to the west of us and we have a shower into the west of us tonight. we will monitor them and see how close to us before we go on the air at 11 p.m. we will let you know. for the most part they are hammering ohio and western pennsylvania right now and will go into our mountains later on tonight. but this evening we are fine. partly cloudy skies. another very nice evening. so for tonight, well, partly cloudy, mild, maybe a shower west. low temperatures 54 to 59. winds southeasterly at about 10. tomorrow morning partly sunny so clouds will be kind of coming in tomorrow. 50s and 60s. should be dry in the morning. but by afternoon increasing clouds, mild, a shower possible. highs only 70 to 75. between the clouds and showers and southeast wind it will be a little bit cooler. so the next seven days. not as bad as it looks but it is unsettled okay. an afternoon shower tomorrow. a lot of showers and thunderstorms on saturday. a little bit less though on sunday. but still, quite a few. upper 70s on sunday. milder. mid-70s monday with more storms. a lot of storms tuesday. some storms possible wednesday and thursday. so it is not going to rain every day all day but it will be unsettled for the next six or seven days. >> nothing lasts forever. if you watched the town hall meeting with the president you may wonder who the folks were who were asking him questions. we will tell you. they were students from local units and people who have previously responded to telephone surveys by cbs news. they all help make up that audience at the president's town hall meeting down at the museum. it all aired this morning 8:00 a.m. right here on wusa9. when it was taped last night down at the museum my colleague lesli foster was the only local journalist there. she joins me now more. i know you like the seemingly unscripted exchanges between the president and folks that were asking questions. >> there were plenty of them. cbs was trying to get in as much questions as possible but it was clear that the president wanted to do more than just give a standard answer. he wanted to engage. so there was considerable back and forth between the president and the people asking him questions. and many people told me that they were happy just to ask him a question. the bonus was that they actually got that back and forth exchange with the president. some of the best stuff, derek, as you know happened when the camera was not rolling and the president took questions from people who weren't just the ones chosen to ask them on camera. so during these designated commercial breaks people were just firing away asking him questions and he would answer them and he was joking around with the people in the room. they were kind of talking about how cold it was in there and the president joked that it was cold so that erica and terry didn't break a sweat. so not only did they get a chance to see the lighter side of the president they got to get some really tough questions answered and i kind of joked with a lot of them. i said, when i took them upstairs to the ninth floor to interview them you went from the ice box to the beach because the lights are so hot up here. but it was really interesting to see how the president engaged with everyday, ordinary citizens who have got issues that have impacting them an sort of really brought home what america is facing directly to the president. >> did he ever seem stumped? >> no, not at all. he didn't seem stumped but he didn't seem preachy. he was talking to people in a normal voice in a way that they could understand and they felt like there was a real connection. >> he was able to connect with them. that's why presidents do these town hall meetings. gets them out of the bubble. appreciate your time, lesli. we will be focusing on the town hall and we will cover some of the questions and answers that maybe you didn't see. >> i think people feel like the american dream, the core notion that if you work hard and you act responsibly that you can pass on a better life to your kids and your grandkids a lot of folks aren't feeling that any more. he joke? what's so funny? prices at the pump on a lot of folks' minds today. aaa saying the average price for a tank of regular unleaded went up another 2 cents today. actually, it is the price per gallon. $3.98. we are at $4.07 in the washington area. i know somebody brought that up with the president yesterday. >> sure did. it was the very first question, derek, about gas prices and what the president could do to help relieve the pain at the pump. and after about 2 minutes it all came down to this. >> we are going to have to do efficiency and alternative energy. we have got to develop electric cars that can be cheaper and those are all things we have been investing in over the last few years which is why it will be important for us to continue making those investments in the years to come. now aside from the gas prices the other big topic seemed to be unemployment and, of course, the housing market and some of those exchanges in just a minute. >> i just wanted him to hear my plight and i feel like i really heard me. he listened and cared and offered to follow up with me. so, again, it was an opportunity of a lifetime. >> join us every weekday morning at 4:25 a.m. for 9news now. >> local news that happened overnight and what is making news as you wake up. >> plus weather first with howard. and more. >> then after that join us for the early show. >> morning news that is worth waking up for. >> tonight's special presentation of 9news now is sponsored by the dc va medical center. join us for a celebration saturday, may 14th. >> it used to be there was broad based shared prosperity. now, if companies are doing really well they are not necessarily hiring back workers they are just figuring out how to do with more workers. that may increase profits but it doesn't help folks who are looking for a job and oftentimes that puts a lot of pressure on the people who are already on the job. >> unemployment the big topic at the president's town hall meeting airing this morning. but there was some good news this morning as well. the number of people seeking unemployment benefits in this country dropped by 44,000 last week and the labor department says that is the largest dip since february of 2010. of course as you know people wanted to know what do i have to do to get a job and what are you doing, mr. president, to get me a job? >> unemployment is still at 9%. >> right. >> if you're in that 9% this is a very personal thing for you and i thought one of the more emotional moments came when the first woman spoke up. her name was karen galo and asked the president about unemployment and here is what she had to say. >> about three years ago, just under three years ago i took a job with the federal government thinking it was a secure job. recently i have been told i'm being laid off as of june 4th and it is not an opportune time for me. i am seven months pregnant in a high risk pregnancy. my first pregnancy. my husband and i are in the middle of building a house. we are not sure if we are going to be completely approved. i'm not exactly in a position to walk in and do great on interviews based on my timing with the birth. and so i'm stressed. i'm worried. i'm scared about what my future holds. i definitely need a job. and i just wonder, what would you do if you were me? >> well, first of all, i think you'll do great on interviews just based on the way you ask the question and congratulations on the new one. >> thank you. >> where were you working? >> the national zoo. and i would be nonessential employee number 7. >> right. >> well, look, let me just first of all say that workers like you for the federal, state and local governments are so important for our vital services and it frustrates me sometimes when people talk about government jobs as if somehow those are worth less than private sector jobs. i think there is nothing more important than working on baffle of the american people. >> i thought that i would be more important and secure. >> i agree with you. i think the challenge has been that in some of these negotiations to try to reduce the deficit. i think the feeling particularly on the part of some folks on the other side of the aisle has been that we want to just cut and cut and cut and that somehow is going to create economic growth. folks like karen provide vital services. so when we have discussions about how to cut our debt and our deficits in an intelligent way, we have to make sure that we understand this is not just a matter of numbers, these are people are behind these decisions. >> but in 20 seconds assume the economy improved dramatically. >> right. >> say in the next year or two. would karen get her job back? >> well, i would hope so. >> karen did ask the president what would you do if you were me? he did not answer that question. you talked to her later. >> he tried to answer the question by telling her why don't you follow up with me and let me see -- she kind of got the impression that he really cared about what was going on because part of that exchange that was sort of condensed he said, you know, let me without taking up too much time, let me get your information after and find out a little bit more. but you see how long those exchanges were, right. so the president took that amount of time with almost each question and answer exchanged. there was a lot of that. obviously karen said it was very comforting to know that she had the ear of the big boss because he is essentially the c.e.o. of the government. so what she came away with was the fact that he had a sense of what it is like for folks that don't live at 1600 pennsylvania avenue and that was comforting for her. >> did you ever see someone there say mr. president how come you haven't done, or mr. president, i'm angry with you because you didn't do or whatever. >> there was no why didn't you do. it was what can you do and what will you do? so again, keep in mind we only heard from about six or seven folks in that hour's worth of time with the president because as you can see those exchanges were pretty long. perhaps there were people in the room that would have asked the question that way but it did not come up during the televised portion of it. >> nancy logan. tell us about her. >> nancy logan has a rather interesting story. we will hear from her and then talk about it. >> i'm a single mom with an 11- year-old daughter divorced for four years and receive little to no child support. after my divorce i worked with my mortgage company and was given a loan modification so i could afford to pay my mortgage on one income. my loan modification ends in january 2012 and although my credit is good i can't refinance the house because i owe more than it is worth. my new mortgage payment may increase up to $1000 more a month. and my question to you, mr. president, is do you have any plans to help improve the housing market so hard working americans like myself don't lose our homes? >> one in four mortgages in the united states under water right now. >> this is probably the biggest head winds along with high gas prices, biggest headwind on the economy is the housing market. we have got more work to do. so we are trying to expand the loan modification program to reach more people. >> a lot of what you first introduced hasn't worked very well. >> well, it is not that it hasn't worked, the problem is, is that the need is so great. so it is like you have a huge pothole and you only have so much gravel. and if you're talking about $5 trillion worth of home value and a program that only is a few billion dollars, then there are a lot of people who are not going to be helped. we are trying to figure out how can we get the banks to do more and we are going to continue to work with congress to see if we can propose more legislation to encourage longer loan modifications. i'm not sure about your particular circumstance, nancy, about you've gotten a loan modification i don't know why it would expire in 2012. it seems to me that it should be able to continue if you are making regular payments on it. >> it was just for three years and they won't extend it as far as i know. >> this is why we are -- >> maybe you can make a call. [ laughter ] >> it work for karen. so... >> this is where we are going to be talking to the banks. i mean, on a regular basis our attitude to them is how do you benefit if the house goes into foreclosure? you know, if somebody is there, they are making regular payments, you know, stick with those customers. >> the president is going to be making a lot of calls i guess. i should say and i will condense this. the administration introduced a plan last year to help people just like nancy who were in these underwater mortgages who had been making their payments, doing the right thing. that program still has not reached everybody that needs to help but as you heard him say he is talking about the potential for extending that program and hopefully nancy will fall unthose parameters. >> when we come back we will talk with a republican strategist to get a little more insight into how the president did. >> they think the government is waste, and if we got rid of the waste somehow we would solve our debt and our deficit is what people think. >> president obama laying out his thoughts about what we need to do to keep the economy on the right track during that town hall meeting. cbs is planning another town hall next month on the economy with leading republicans. so far though no concrete details or just who will take part in that one or exactly when it will happen. and that is why we have asked a republican strategist to join us. the president wants to connect and look like they really care. mission accomplished. > >> leading the polls for two and a half years, almost three years americans have said the economy, jobs and unemployment have been their number 1 issue. i give the president credit for trying to engage with the public on an important issue particularly since he did his victory laps. the new ipsos reid shows he gets 10% of an a grade from adults nationwide. lowest a grade he gets on any of the seven or eight issues the poll tests. >> we saw in 1992 president george bush i lost even though the economy was getting better at the time because people thought he didn't care. >> it was getting better but people didn't feel it yet. they looked at that richmond debate. >> the president gives the impression at least that he cares about this issue. >> shows he is focused on it and of course that he cares. i think the difficulty is people are focused on the price at the pump and are reminded of the failures i think of this economy every time they fill up the gas tank and think about chronic joblessness. >> thank you. wish we had more time to chat. we will wait for that republican debate a little later on. appreciate it. >> you bet. >> we will be right back. >> we want to hear what you think. sends your e-mails to mcginty's mail bag. the address mailbag@wusa9.com. 9news now will be right back. that's our report. i will be back tonight at 11 p.m. with anita brikman. log on anytime you like to wusa9.com. we will see you a bit later. have a great evening. bye-bye. captions by: caption colorado, llc 800-775-7838 email: comments@captioncolorad o.com [ male announcer ] with the most branches and atms in the dc area, it's hard to miss a capital one bank. alright, let's get ready to work alex. rosslyn! ♪ arlington! ♪ falls church! nice save! 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[ metal dings ] ♪ [ male announcer ] capital one bank. the most branches and atms in the dc area. ovie. we still got maryland. what's in your wallet? now, "entertainment tonight," the most-watched entertainment news magazine in the world. mary tyler moore's brain surgery. a tumor found on her brain, her long battle with diabetes. >> i've lost a sense of balance. >> her unsteady appearance just last week. >> then -- >> new shots of arnold and maria, the latest on their split. >> are their friends taking sides? >> plus, what their daughter told me about their relationship. >> i think everybody perceives my family as being perfect. >> we're going to say good-bye to mary hart in new york style. >> take a look at this. >> regis, mary and a flash mob in times square. >> is this the way it is every night on "entertainment tonight"? >> two double decker buses, a marching band. a serenade from rege. ♪ no business like show business ♪