Somewhere new to live. A raging Apartment Fire forced them out of their homes this morning. Took more than 100 firefighters to get things under control. News4 Megan Fitzgerald is here with the latest on this. Megan. Reporter yeah, aaron, that fired started at about the 7 00 this morning. We talked to neighbors who said they smelled smoke, went outside, and saw an Apartment Building completely engulfed in flames. You cant see the building, its just beyond that one. But what you will notice is fire officials on scene many investigating trying to figure out how this started. This is the scene just before 7 00 this morning. Fire engulfing entire side of a threestory Apartment Building. Flames shooting out through the roof trapping people inside. Two residents that were found in windows and firefighters took them down by ladders. Reporter with Prince George Fire Department says dwree people rushed to the hospital to be treated for their injuries. It was kind of crazy, especially with it being less than a week before christmas. Reporter at least 20 families without a home for the holidays. Their concern is that number will rise. Hopefully some way, somehow, well be able to help the families out that went through this turmoil. Reporter now, the red cross is out here helping those families now displaced. And right now this fire is still under investigation. We are still waiting to find out what caused it. Back to you. All right. Megan fits gear tald live for us in Hillcrest Heights. Thank you. Also new today a social media assault ends in arrest of a registered sex offender. Maryland police say reyes sexually assaulted a boy that met online. Drove to frederick to pick up Silver Spring. Shortly of the boy was picked up police were called. Held without bond. After the audit. School ceo maxwell is set to unveil his plan to fix problems. State audit staff changed grades. Dr. Maxwell will sit down later today to talk about this new report. We are getting bonus weather as temperatures soar through the fifrts. Sheena parveen has our first forecast today. Good morning. We are in fifrts. 53 degrees. But as we go through the afternoon well be around 60 degrees later on today. 53 right now. Sunny. By noon today looking at the bump up to around 55. 3 00 p. M. Temperatures around 60 degrees. Normal high is actually 46. So well be almost 15 degrees above that. The 50s. Take a look at the rest of the area, 53 washington, frederick is up to 57. Quantico still stuck in mid50s. Clinton. So everyone will be unseasonably mild today chblt coming up ill show you rain in the forecast for weekend and take a look at your Holiday Travel weather. Aaron. All right. See you in a little bit. Thank you. Now turn to the latest on deadly Train Derailment in washington state. Federal Officials Say that train was traveling 50 miles an hour over the speed limit when it went off the tracks and highway below. Cranes are now in place to begin the cleanup. Nbc kirk hawkins reports the crash is raising new questions about safety on the rails. Oh, my god that train is derailed over the freeway. Reporter a block box recovered from amtrak train 501 confirms it was traveling at 80mileperhour in a 30 mile zone as it approached a curve and flu from the rails. A train is going around the curve and going too fast, yes, it will derail. Reporter speed is the cause that is now under investigation. But investigators are still trying to determine how it happened. Amtrak 501, emergency, emergency, emergency. We are on the ground. Reporter the train derailed just south of dupont, washington, monday morning. Some railcars crashing down on a busy interstate 5 during rushhour leaving three dead and dozens injured. Some grateful to it be alive. Count your blessings, yes. Try to live daytoday. Reporter this stretch of track hadnt been equipped with positive train control, a Safety System that keeps trains from crashing. Just two weeks ago local mayor dan anderson issued this warning. When there is that accident, try not reporter trying to reopen the highway for commuters. This morning the city of charlottesville is looking for a new police chief. Al thompson retired. His announcement weeks after a report criticized his preparation for and response to a White Nationalist rally. That august 12 rally turned violent and deadly when a driver piled into a crowd of people killing heather heyer. They call it inadequate and disketted. Also said officers were not properly trained or informed about the rally. Right now d. C. Police are searching for the gunman who killed a teenager 0en a basketball court. 17yearold james smith was shot many times. People in that area told news4 smith was on the court whe someone robbed and shot him. Ambulance rushed him to the hospital but it was too late. Update now on a woman pulled from a d. C. Fire. She has died. Monicaal ten was 53 years old. Fire started inside of first floor apartment on downing road near rhode island area northeast last night. A second woman and firefighter were l taken to the hospital and they are expected to be okay. Firefighters also rescued a puppy from the fire. Now to a story first on news4 family tragedy and local family. Learned they were killed in a plane crash in indiana. Spoke to the doctors coworkers and they cant believe hes gone. Dr. Louis cantina, had an md, phd and pilots license. He was a top professor at the unfoiu uniform university of health and this special medical school today they are mournings his loss. Im going to miss him. He always had this twinkle, look in the corner of his eye, like have you got what i said yet. Really smart guy. Reporter dr. Cantila killed in a plane crash as he was flying his daughter home from med school in kansas. Same school hewent to. And her daughter wanted to be a doctor like her dad. To want to be a doctor and phd just like her dad, that would make any man proud. I think so. And i imagine his joy in picking her up. Reporter now that cess ma plane went down saturday night in franklin county, it had just stopped to refuel. It had taken off. And then came the crash. Killed the doctor, his daughter amy, and a pilot friend. Amy had two dogs on board. One jumped out before impact and survived. Back at the Uniformed Services university, they will not soon forget dr. Cantilana. Good doctor, good dad, good friend. News4. Two days after the travel outage, travelers slept in the terminal again. Russell things are slowly returning to normal at nations airports, but days after a power outage grounded flights in Atlanta Airport, passengers still sleeping in the terminal. They are still trying to see what caused the black out. Reporter this morning third day of epic 10hour blackout at Atlanta Airport leaving thousands of passengers in a dark holiday world. I feel like we are in a third world. I know the melt downs are coming. I didnt want anymore pretzel i didnt eat for six hours. Reporter worlds busist airport back in business, but 408 cancelations. Are the problems over with . We feel very comfortable that they are. But we are taking measures to make sure that things like this doesnt happen again. Reporter nationwide melt down was sparked by an electrical spark deep underground causing a fire that burned through primary and backup power lines in atlanta. Network services probably most reliable service. Very rarely does this have a fault like this. Reporter but some have an inaugural feeling they know what caused it. Was this a rat just chewing through some cable . You know, i dont want to rule that out. But thats the next step for us, to get to the root of what actually caused it. Carry sanders reporting there. Music mogul interview on megyn kelly sat down to discuss their Sexual Misconduct allegations against simmons. If i can see that 18yearold girl today, of course i would assure her it was not her fault. But i think this culture is up until this point now just talking about timing, so much encourages this behavior, and its transactional and it has to do with women sometimes anticipating things to a point where if it happens, oh, it feels horrible, but, you know, i was the bikini girl in the movie. Has denied the allegations. And in interview three of dust man hoffman accusers are speaking publicly. One is kathryn credits him when he helped her career, but the actor harassed and groped her. How was it to work with dustin . Ha and i tell the half truth. As an actor i owe him everything. I learned so much. And then i would stop. And there would be a knot in my stomach about what the real truth was, he was abusive and he was a bully. Nbc news has reached out to hoffman lawyers with her claims. The lawyer had called claims by other women defamatory falsehoods. Allegations against powerful men have ruled the headlines. This year for president ial inauguration, record breaking weather, and unprecedented attack on innocent concert goers. Takes us through some of the biggest stories of 2017. I donald trump do swear. Reporter it has been a year of change, challenges, conflict, and incredible loss. Screaming and crying. Reporter 22 killed at a concert in manchester, england, 58 gunned down during a slaughter in las vegas. Eight people rundown by a self proclaimed terrorist along a new york city bike path. Nearly 300 ambushed inside a n egyptian mosque. 26 murdered inside a texas church. What can you do . Not much but pray and cry and hope. Reporter hope, and hard work, is what carried houston through historic flooding. Take whatever we can take and get out of here. Reporter millions left homeless by mother nature. Wildfires in california. The deadliest in the states history. A 7. 1 magnitude earthquake in mexico city. And multiple hurricanes in multip multiple places like puerto rico. And continues to wage in washington. I have never seen anything like it. Reporter administration dealing with investigation by special Counsel Robert Mueller after president fired james comey. Former security adviser Michael Flynn admitting he lied to the fbi. While issues like north korea, tax reform, immigration, are often over shadowed by online slight and rants, rants, both sides of the aisle. Resentment are underpinning our National Reporter that anger spilling over. Republican congressman and staffers attacked while practicing for a Charity Baseball game. Divided protests across the country, fights over confederate status, marches turning violent. And deadly in charlottesville. The lights of access hollywood have never been brighter, shining now on allegations of Sexual Misconduct. The media. And congressman caught up in the ugly glare from decades of abuse, giving voice to victims sharing their pain and anger, many online, using the hashtag, me too, on social media. Questions of equality and racial profiling from police spilled on to the field of nfl athletes taking a knee. Still, there has been signs of unity. Congressman scalise back on capitol hill. You have no idea how great this feels to be back here at work in the peoples reporter millions coming together to watch the shadow of the moon race from coast to coast during the Great American eclipse. 2017 has been a whirlwind, some might even see a circus, after 146 years, greatest show on earth, lowered its curtains for the last time this year. And now as the curtain rises on a new year, many hope it will bring with it a new sense of optimism and unity. Jay gray, nbc news. Ive forgotten some of that. It was a wild year. Its tempting sometimes to hide gifts in your car so your kids wont find them this time of year. It is risky too though. A man found that the hard way when his car and christmas presents were stolen. We are revealing for you which cars most likely to be headlines. It may be less than six days to christmas. But still plenty of holiday bargains out there. Retailers getting shoppers in on markdowns. Saturday forecast to be the busiest or second busiest shopping day of the year. But even if you hold out, many stores are planning for big post holiday activity on december 26th. And toys r us is reportedly closing at least 100 stores in the face of weak holiday seals, down about 15 from last year. Chain filed for bankruptcy in september. Another blow to toys r us bigger supplie suppliers has brow andattel. M well, it turns out our first snowfall this season december 8th into 9th was not record breaking. According to the Washington Post Weather Observers gave the wrong snow total. Instead of 2 inches of snow the actual amount totaled 1. 5 inches, slightly below the 2016 record. These things happen. Sometimes things get read wrong and have you to revise the numbers. Its human error. Yes. But we know we got snow. For sure. And today we wont have to worry about anything that l ly like snow. Its sunny, mild. Im going to go for a run because i have to take advantage for it. Let me know how it is. This is it really going to be the last mild nice day of 2017. We are going to have some nice days again as we end out the week, but this is the last milder one. Well stay unseasonably mild throughout the afternoon. Well be cooling back down tomorrow, though, and then as we go into the weekend some rain and looking at rain for Christmas Day followed by dropping temperatures. So well have to watch that forecast very, very closely. And we will for you. So make sure you are checking back here. Keep updating that throughout the afternoon. And tomorrow morning until we get to Christmas Day. Temperature right now 53 degrees in washington. 56 dulles. 56 clinton. Look at Frederick Berg 58 degrees. So already above normal for high this time of year. Above that today. Clouds are up to north seeing plenty of sunshine. Walking the dog this afternoon. Sunglasses. Maybe even short sleeves for some of you. Missy here is available for adoption at lucky dog animal website. But 4 00 p. M. , 60s for high temperatures. Still in the low 50s. Heres your travel weather. So things are actually looking pretty good locally. But if you are traveling anywhere maybe around tennessee, over to parts of the car linoli possibly tomorrow morning, travel delays, locally well be fine. But then as we go into thursday, watching our next small weather system moving into chicago into a form of wintry snow. That weather system then brings us rain for the weekend. And then well be watching that rain into Christmas Day as well. As we go into the weekend, look the mild air goes come back, but comes with rain. Then the arctic air spills in. Dropping through Christmas Day. Wait until you see what happens afterwards. Until then the rest of the week looks dry. And then will is the rain chance saturday with high of 60 degrees, well look next week coming up. Sheena, well see you in a little bit. Thank you. This local mom is employee pairing for the olympic trials. Sara bishop after she won the marathon. Now mother of four has qualified for olympics. Her running career started a few years ago. Good luck. In about two hours Congress Takes up the high less contested tax bill. What it means for you and your family. And we are following a developing story in Prince George county. A fire forces families out into the cold just days before what if more of the came from Renewable Resources . What if the electric grid could detect, fix and even prevent Power Outages . What if our grid were less vulnerable and more secure . What if all these what ifs became a reality . Well, they are. At dominion energy, were completely transforming our power grid and the way we think of energy. To move from what if to whats next. Dominion energy. Right now at 11 30 investigators are trying to figure out what sparked a raging fire in a maryland apartment complex. A number of people taken to the hospital. And at least 20 families looking for somewhere to live now just before christmas. News4 Megan Fitzgerald is at the scene in Hillcrest Heights this morning. Megan. Reporter it took around 100 firefighters 40 minutes to get this fire under control, so this is how big the blaze was. We families displaced. And many firefighters still on scene, many investigators trying to figure out how this fire started in the first place. Now we want to show you some cell phone video moments after the fire broke out. You can see the flames shooting through three floors of the Carriage Hill Apartment Building. Firefighters worked quickly to rescue two people trapped inside. Three people were rushed to the hospital. Telling me that the flames were heading over to our building, so i was trying to make sure i came back to get them. Reporter Matthew Chester says he and his family are okay, but still without power. Important to note that the red cross is out here helping those families who have been displaced but we are told that entire build that caught on fire is now a total loss. Report inning Prince George county. And download the washington app and well send updates as we get and house is expected to vote followed by the senate. Many polls or most americans oppose it. All this in the shadow of a possible government shut down. Reporter President Trump promised voters new tax bill by christmas and posted to keep that promise. This tax reform is growing paychecks for middle class families, growing jobs in america, and about our jobs stopping leaving the united states. Reporter the house expected to vote on the republican tax plan today despite changes such as fewer deductions for state and local taxes. Ive lived in livingston 41 years. Reporter walter pays more than 25,000 a year in state and local taxes. And under the republican only 10,000 of that will be deductible. We are going to be paying. And a lot of these benefits are coming off reporter protesters at the capitol rallied against the bill. In it increased child tax credit. Standard deductions doubled. And Corporate Tax rates cut. Critics say sa provision in the gop plan benefiting people with large Real Estate Holdings was a sell for holdouts like senator bob corker. He now supports the tax bill. One major provision taken out of the bill obamacare individual mandate. So the bill, in short, is a cynical one, two, gut punch to the middle class. Reporter it appears the house will pass the bill today. There are parts of it i like. Reporter it cob on the president s desk by the end of the week. The next bat sell government shut down. Wougt abut the federal government could run out of money as early as friday. Nbc news washington. Prince George County police they have retailed suspects they were arrested on sunday after phone star in capitol heights. Take a look here surveillance here, they show the men robbing a story. They say the men robbed a third story this month. Talking about a real life grinch, someone stole this mercedes, filled with christmas presents. Eventually the car was found at a toe lot and after turning up in d. C. The cars owner says its infuriating but no charges to press charges against the theyve. Even if they caught the guys i wouldnt have pressed charges. Why not . Its the holidays. I dont want to be in jail and dont want to see anyone else in jail. Reporter owners says hes not sure if the presents are still in the car. He thinks he may have dpropd his keys. Working with you to keep your cars safe. Police say common sense things you can do. Your car. Keep your vehicle turned off when you are not near it. Hide your valuables. And try to park in well lit areas. Your cast is most likely to be stolen on new years day. You can find more tips in the nbc washington app. Well, one of the most talked about viral videos of the weekend has happy update. Find out who is getting a new best friend. And as the flu starts so show up in our area, reversal about the shots. And certainly allergy. Why peolep w but having his parents over was enlightening. You dont like my lasagna . No, its good. Hmm. O huh. [ both laugh ] here, blow. Blow on it. You see it, right . Is there a draft in here . Im telling you, its so easy to get Home Insurance on progressive. Com. Progressive cant save you from becoming your parents. But we can save you money when you bundle home and auto. So we have a happy update to video we first showed you offer the weekend. Rescue of a puppy caught on camera. You see it there. Dog was found in icy stream shiverin rescued the dog plans to adopt him. They didnt find a micro chip. So one way or another we hope hell end up in a good home. How do you say its yours if you dont have a micro chip . Would you show pictures to prove it . Yeah. But glad that. You have to put identification on your dog. Or im going to come along and find your dog and take it. Now we know. Now we know. Good day to take your dog on a walk. Sunny skies already up to 53 degrees. Normally we should be in the mid40s for this time of year. But this is not our high. These numbers will keep warming up as we go through the day. Stay nice and dry for travel until we get to the weekend. Thats when we are looking at some rain. So at least thats good. Only looking at rain this weekend. Nothing frozen, because that makes roads much more difficult. 57 degrees right now. Temperatures in leesburg and frederick 58. So beawe are warming up. Great day to get outside. By 4 00 p. M. , 60 degrees, thats about 15 degrees above normal. By 7 00 p. M. We are still going to be in the 50s. So heres airport travel as we go into thursday and friday. Probably the busier days. Looking good weather wise. Sunny thursday. Friday well see more clouds move in. And rain doesnt get here until maybe overnight but definitely look at saturday. Highs will be around 60 saturday but comes with rain. Saturday we still have the rain chance but cooler on sunday. Upper 40s. Christmas day, there it is degrees, well see the rain, but then through the day monday temperatures drop off. Take a look at tuesday twreez f temperature. Sheena, thank you. Today we are kicking off our holiday choir showcase. From the billboard charts to the Kennedy Center, largo doing big things. Group of students put on a show in the kennedy hall of state sunday night singing rejoice. News4 molette green has mon Silver Spring under the direction of musical director Brandon Felder who joins me over here fresh off of their Kennedy Center performance on sunday. You have cd rising up the charts, brandon. How are you feeling about tonight . Im so excited about tonight. Its the next and final performance for the choir. Reporter High School Students. High school students. They are what we call allowing the humanitarian, artistic and religious communities to be exposed to the arts in public skoolsz. Schools tonight. So we are hoping everyone can come out. Reporter thats right. Performing free at the tempo north church. Come out and see them. This is awesome for the High School Students from Prince George county to get this kind of exposure. End this. Joy and happiness and see your day reporter im molette green at largo high school. News4. One of the most be loved shows of all time is coming back to d. C. Al t one day soon you know that song, it is one of the most popular musicals in the world. Les miserable and brand new production comes to d. C. National theater tomorrow. Today fortunate to have one of the stars, or the star with us. Nick, we appreciate you being here today. Thanks for having me. Welcome back to d. C. So good to be here. This is one of the most popular shows in the world. But few people may not be familiar whats the story . My character gets out of prison after pretty much goes on a quest to figure out how he is supposed to fit into society now where hes a convicted criminal. In the process, he ends up breaking parole, and we have in investigator who travels with him and constant battle between the two of them for lifetime. And like you said its a story of redemption and love and all the characters that comes into his life throughout his journey. So you play that. And long list of incredible actors. Hue jack man brought this to life on the big screen. How is this role special for you and how do you make a difference . You know, very big shoes to fill. And huge honor to portray this character every night. I think tore me and one of the great things about our directors, they really harken back to the book, and allowed me to delve into the story in my own way to find my own character behind it. And so i think that is what is so exciting havent seen the show, you are seeing a fresh take on a classic like this. So given the fact this has been around for almost 40 years, its been a popular production, how is this one a little different . What will d. C. Audiences see different . If you saw the original which has been running for 33 years, we do not have a turn table like the original did. But one of the things that they did find when going back to redo this version, he was this amazing artist, so able to take his artwork and incorporate it into the production through projections and its really inventive the way that they have kind of reimagined this version of it. So new for 2018 . Exactly. So this tour relaunched a couple of months ago. You had a chance to be in front of a few different audiences. Whats the reaction . Reaction is great. Audiences loving it across the country. People have seen this before. And the thing that they are finding is they are seeing it you may have, if you have seen the production, you may have connected with a character that you are connecting with someone different. So not only bringing it to audiences who have seen it, but exposing it to a whole new set of audiences across the country and exciting. The music is breathtaking, stories that are there. What do you think made it so popular and long lasting . I think one of the things youve mentioned was the music. Not only recorded in the theater, but major recording stars as well. So i think people connect to those songs, not only the songs, but also this amazing story of love and redemption and sacrifice and fighting for a better world which i think a lot of people want right now. Just to make the world a better place. And i think the audiences can come into the theater, feel that from our story, and walk away with that when they leave. Opens wednesday night. The runs through january 7th with nick cartel. We appreciate you being here. Thanks for having me. Have a good one. You too. New love is born speaking of beautiful music, the songs are song and votes cast. Tonight a new winner of the voice will be crowned. Nbc mark bets you caught up on last nights performances. Emotions of the note were evident early on. Jean adams overwhelmed by the lyrics of humble and kind. Im surprised i made it through without crying. It was a beautiful, beautiful night. Included the original song, what is beautiful noas well as holiday hymn. I believe they believe in me and vote. Reporter also team blake. The confidence to take on a 80s classic like kim carne. Dwait was the energy of the m was insane. Reporter but it was a quiet energy including a Team Blake Song song himself i pray. I dont know. I had a lot of calm and said a lot of prayers. And obviously they worked really well. Reporter tonight will work out better for one of the four finalists, taking home the voice crown. Mark, nbc news. And news for your health this morning, National Panel of experts says the flu shot is safe for people who are allergic to eggs. For years they hav avoid the flu vaccine because it contains egg protein. But they stress no special precautions are needed. Of course, talk with your doctor before you make any medical changes. If youd like to use alternative treatments or products to fix ailments, there could be some changes coming. Nbc katie bechtels us why the government is taking action. Reporter when blame calvert was teething and in pain, his mom brought homeopathic teething tablets. They said natural on the label so she thought they were safe, but then saw an alarming change in her baby. Started having seizures. Scared me to death. Reporter stopped when the tablets ran out. And he is now a healthy fouryearold. But the teething products later recalled for harmful levels of belladana a plant based product. Says there is no link between that. Now the fda planning to crack down. A 3 billion industry thats never been regulated. They think they are taking active ingredient that is going to benefit them, thats where the snake oil, scam part of this is. Reporter fda plans to target high risk products first, for canister, heart disease. Natural product are pushing back. Homeopathic products have been used safely since 1700s and we are sure the agency will factor that into decision. The fda will take input for 90 days. Katie beck, nbc news, atlanta. Well, whether you are busy we are helping you will wrap up last minute well, the clock is ticking to get your presents to loved ones out of town. Longer you wait more youll pay at the post office. Today is the final day first class mail. Packages out today, aimee is working for you, she has tips to checking off your list. Reporter if you still need to get to the stores this holiday season, well, first of all have no fear, you are not alone. I just literally started today, in person. Reporter we took a trip to wall nart take a look at last minute gift. Store manager showed us options for everyone. For the little ones sporting action figures. For every little kid nurf gun. Reporter also slippers. For adults high tech toy like a drone or video game. Hottest gift is na continint hitch. Reporter according to not t doesnt have to be fancy. Walking through the store they are using apps ahead of time. And before you know it youll be able to check out on another year of successful shopping. How far along are you in the christmas shopping. Probably two days in. So those two days are a little hectic. So hopefully today is the last day and i can relax after that. Reporter in northeast, hoaie cho. News4. Sheena, pretty good weather for last minute shoppers. I think a lot of people today will take advantage. Theyll have the short sleeves on, maybe the shorts too. But look at these temperatures quickly climbing to near 60 degrees. Thats where well be later on today. Nice and dry. Good travel weather as we end out the week. But cooler after today. Into the weekend, rain move traveling over the weekend. But at least it will in the form of rain and nothing frozen, makes it easier on the roads. Then we zb on monday, Christmas Day. Looking at rain likely. Temperatures will be mild when the rain moves in. But then quickly through the day those temperatures will be dropping. So watching monday very closely because we can still be changing that forecast as we get closer to it. But look what happens, we go into the freezing mark for tuesday, wednesday, even thursday. Looking at temperatures at or below freezing. So close eye on monday. But for the rest of the week looking good for travel until we get to the weekend. So plan around the rain if you do have those weekend plans. Aaron. All right. Sheena, well keep the coats by. Thank you. That is it for news4 midday. Join us later. Have a good day everyone. Well see you back here tomorrow morning. Were live in five, four, three, two, one. Three and a half weeks the met will be hosting its annual ball and we are going to robin, not the ball itself. Daphne kluger. Over 150 million. Its 150 billion, actually. Do we have to steal stuff . Yes. Okay, i love a good heist. Thats a look at oceans 8, allfemale cast, anne, cate, sandra, the list goes on and on. It doesnt come out until 2018. Im looking forward to it