>> very much still circulating in this country. >> tonight, school and the swine flu. will the h1n1 virus make a comeback? the steps being taken to prepare for an outbreak. >> that is going to hamper services to people in maryland. >> major budget cuts in the state of maryland. the workers losing jobs and the way it would affect the services you use. >> dry day tomorrow. and then big changes. tracking the storm brewing in the atlantic in the sky watch forecast. >> and the damage one diet pill could cause. >> live in high definition, from wbff tv in baltimore, this is fox 45 news at 10:00. >> 2009 h1n1 will pose more serious health threat this fall. >> thousands dead, millions infected. new concerns after dire predictions for the swine flu. >> it is a flu that spreads quickly. that got me nervous. >> safety at schools. and preparing for an outbreak. >> hello, i am jennifer gilbert. >> and i am jeff barnd. predicted tens of thousands of americans could die from the flu virus this fall. white house panel said swine flu could send 2 million americans to hospitals. the virus could kill between 30,090,000 people. 1 million people nationwide have already gotten sick. and infections may rise as school begins. a vaccination is being made right now as we speak. first round of shots could cover as many as 40 million people. >> this flu is active. it is not only in countries around the world. but it is very much still circulating in this country. >> health and human services secretary kathleen sebelius expects most people that want the vaccination will get it by thanksgiving and said people should get a seasonal flu shot as well. >> thousands of students returning to campus. swine flu emergency preparations are underway you. >> kathleen cairns has more on the efforts on campuses here in baltimore. >> you just think it and it will go away. >> at loyola college. some coeds are worried about getting sick than about studying in the upcoming fall semester. >> i am sure when school starts it will be a big topic. >> it is a flu that spreads quickly. so that part of me got me nervous. >> there is no immunization. >> loyola administrators have an emergency plan. >> we are focusing on prevention. >> hope education prevents the spread of the virus. >> we have dealt with crisis situations before. in 1997 we had meningitis outbreak. and in fact, we were the first college to do a massive immunization. >> warnings about h1n1 are posted on most college websites. >> we are preparing our faculty. >> school administrators are stressing students take precautions and be prepared. >> students that are ill with influenza illness, within six hour drive, we're encouraging families to pick them up on. >> at the maryland institute college of arts. some sick student may be quarantined in a vacant building owned by the school. >> taking a vacant building with lots of individual bedrooms. and creating shower, and bathroom space. working with dining services to provide them healthy meals. >> the emergency isolation shelter is being prepared. >> right now, isolating students in single bedrooms. but if we have large numbers, we can accommodate up to 40 students in a facility that we have available on campus, for that isolation. >> returning seniors are already taking steps. >> using hand sanitizer, washing my hands more. >> kathleen cairns, fox 45 news at 10:00. >> mississippi state university, which started classes earlier than most maryland schools, 209 probable cases of swine flu have already been reported. there have been confirmed cases of the swine flu on three college campuses in ohio, colorado and illinois. >> well, tonight on fox 45 news at 5:30. we asked you if you thought the country was prepared for an h1n1 outbreak. so far, everyone that responded said no. and nat from reisterstown writes, there is only so much prevention you can do. hear more responses on the "late edition" at 11:00. >> the health care townhall meetings continued today. including in the state of arizona with a man that challenged obama for the white house. senator john mccain addressed seniors in sun city today. crowd of 1200 people was friendly to senator mccain, with outburst against obama's proposal. mccain wants to reform health care as well but he said quality must be preserved. >> we could save $100 billion a year in health care costs by allowing physicians not to have to practice defensive medicine in the prescription of tests, and procedures that are absolutely unnecessary. >> he says reforms to the private insurance system are necessary. not a government run plan. >> a freshman democrat held a townhall in virginia. congressman connolly addressed 500 seniors in springfield virginia. he says americans are spending twice as much per person on health care as other industrialized nations. many in the crowd were concerned about how to pay for the plan. and what it would do to existing health care. >> more challenges about the public option in the lone star state today. >> are you going to drop yours and sign on to this health care? your family and everyone that works in the government, if this is that great. >> democrat coupler of texas answer this had and several other tough questions tonight he says he did not take the congressional health care plan. and kept the one he already had. he also said tort reform should be acritical part of the health care reform bill. >> debate over health care reform continues in maryland tonight. representative donna edwards met with people in montgomery county. keith daniels was there. keith, what was that crowd concerned about tonight? >> well, jennifer, that's right. we're live with representative edwards in germantown. standing room only inside tonight. and it was a crowd that seemed overwhelmingly in support of the congress woman and the plan. still there was a moment of push and pull. >> congress woman edwards back in front of constituents at another townhall meeting on health care reform. this time, in germantown. >> there is an engaging conversation going on across the country. >> the meetings happening inside the plum guard community center gymnasium where some believe the game of politics is center court. >> as much as i would like to trust my government elected officials, i don't. >> still edwards pushed the president's plan to overhaul the nation's health care system, that includes lowering the cost of coverage for those that have insurance, providing coverage for those that don't. >> our job, is to come up with a legislation that is going to achieve those goals. >> likely -- like we have seen in so many townhall meetings across the country, there are questions and answers, about a plan that could cost more than $1 trillion. >> what's the laws and the government that makes it so you guys can say, okay, we will do this. spend trillions of dollars we don't have. how does that work? >> we are absolutely certain that we will be paying for this, so that we don't put those costs on to future generations. >> how are you going to cover all of these people, when you cut medicare by 500 billion, which is the projection. >> we are not reducing your medicare benefits. it is not happening. >> ronald reagan said that government is not the solution. government is the problem. >> you know, to the best of my knowledge, answered honestly. i think there are people that don't, you know minds are made up. >> well, the meeting lasted about an hour and a half. with nearly 50 people standing together. to get the questions answered. of course she cannot answer everybody. so representative edward's staff took written questions with a promise to reply. >> we're live in montgomery county. keat keith fox 45 news at 10:00. >> meanwhile, there is a key group that has still not begin the president's plan its endorsement. aarp said it supports provision in several bills but does not support any bill in its entirety. biggest thing missing is long-term health care. >> the bills do not speak to long-term. that is a major problem for seniors throughout the country caring for someone with alzheimer's. so that's a major flaw. >> aarp would also like more provisions to help lower the cost of prescription medication. >> and hundreds of liberals are protesting, some even boycotting a grocery store chain they helped to make a success, all because of the battle over health care. >> boycott whole foods. >> well, the trouble all started with the ceo of whole foods wrote an editorial on the wall street journal's opinion page. john mac he argued that universal health care is no more a right than food or shelter. mckee suggests that deregulation is the way to go. and throws out other ideas being backed by names like john mccain and newt gingrich. >> this is about a ceo using one of the most progressive brands in this country, to murder any discussion of health care reform. and health insurance reform. >> well, whole foods issued a statement saying it has no official company wide position on health care reform. and that the letter from the ceo was expressing his own viewpoints and ideas. >> new budget projections however, may put more pressure now on changing health care. the white house now predicts the federal budget deficit to be $9 trillion over the next 10 years. that is up $2 trillion from the previous prediction and before adding health care reform. >> people are worried about adding to the deficit. and national debt. which is understandable. and the president has said that he is not going to sign a bill that adds to the deficit. >> lawmakers unable to agree on how to cover the costs of health care reform. >> health care reform bill moving through the house of representatives is a massive piece of legislation. here is a look at one of the sections. section 401. taxes people that don't have what it calls acceptable health care coverage. the tax would be 2 1/2 percent of a person's adjusted gross income. but not more than the national average of health insurance premiums. certain religious groups would be able to apply for an exempt shun. find out exactly what it said, the bill is linked to our website foxbaltimore.com/news links. >> if you want to contact your congressman about what you read. contact information is on our website foxbaltimore.com/your voice. and ask lawmakers what they think about health care reform. three other congressmen will be appearing on fox 45 news morning news this week. representative kratovil will join us tomorrow morning. representative sarbines are thursday and representative elijah cummings will join us friday. joins us during the 7:00 hour on fox 45 news morning news. and you can tweet your questions to @foxbaltimore on twitter. >> stay with fox 45 news for the latest on the debate about health care reform. >> another perfect august day. >> yes. however, this nice weather should be short lived. here is vytas reid with a look at the forecast. >> things are heating up as we continue to see the temperatures go up for the next couple of days here. especially tomorrow. see the temperatures possibly in the lower 90s. so definitely the heat is on. looking at hd radar. mainly clear skies out there. not a lot of activity. we have seen mainly clear conditions as we continue to watch our temperatures go up for the next couple of days. more humidity. chance for more showers potentially across the area. again, zooming back out. we can see across the area. where the rain is. along a strong front up in parts of michigan. heavy thunderstorm activity right now across northwest michigan. but around here. nice and quiet. clear skies. 79 in downtown on baltimore. 77 in dc. and overnight, looks like we will see clear skies through tomorrow morning into the afternoon. and right around lunch time. 85 degrees. one of the days you can have lunch outside but it will be a warm one out there. show you what the rain will be getting here in the forecast coming up in a bit. >> and you could be in charge of your own personalized forecast. i radar is available at foxbaltimore.com. simply use the interactive tools to track storms down to your street. go to foxbaltimore.com/i radar. . >> breaking news to report out of baltimore county. police are on the scene of a stabbing. apparently in catonsville before 10:00, on the intersection of old on frederick and holly manner road. police are investigating what happened. and they say that the suspect fled into the woods. we have a crew on the way to the scene. and, of course, we will have more on the story tonight on the "late edition" at 11:00. >> baltimore police arrest three in a series of gang rapes in the parking lot of seton keogh high school. first attack happened july 27th. two girls were walking near fayette and calvert streets, when they were offered a ride by two men. one of the girls told the driver he was going the wrong way, his passenger pulled out a knife, and threatened to stab her. court records show the men drove to seton keogh high school when a second car pulled up and three men raped the girls. while police were investigating that case, another rape occurred on august 8. >> this is a successful investigation, and as a result of a very courageous victim. that cameford and was able to provide very specific information, including two investigators that helped to identify the perpetrators. >> now the victim provided part of a license plate number. that helped police track down the car that belonged to one of the suspects. who police say confessed and provided the names of the other men. anthony edoror, jr, opeyemi adigun and adeamoloa adeniran. are all held without bail. >> a scary situation downtown. fire officials say four manhole covers moved by underground blast. near fayette and eutaw streets before 6:00 tonight. bge said a gas leak was the cause of it. traffic has been diverted around the area. and intersection will be partially closed tomorrow morning while they fix the gas main. . >> we have to fight the battle in order to make it better for the individuals. >> later on fox 45 news at 10:00. the bloodiest battle in american history. see how it is still changing lives. in our cover story tonight. >> also ahead. the damage one diet pill could do to your body. >> whole new meaning to drug bust. secret hiding place for the cocaine that one woman tried to sneak past security at bwi thurgood marshall airport. hey i'm worried about mrs. lowenberg next door. why? i don't know she's wandering around the lobby, yammering about fios tv, internet and phone all for $79.99 a month. she seems crazy. actually, fios customers get that price for six months. it's like getting three services for the price of two. so am i the one that's crazy? no? (announcer) get fios tv, internet and phone for just $79.99 a month, plus a free dvr for 3 months. call the verizon center for customers with disabilities at 800.974.6006 tty/v . >> more than 200 state employees are losing their jobs. this as the state makes another round of deep cuts. jeff abell has the latest from the state capitol. >> these are difficult times. >> at the statehouse on tuesday, the governor delivered the news many workers had feared. 205 state employees will be laid off. >> these are not things that we decided upon lightly. and we did so only where there was clearly both a short-term and long-term benefit. >> state spent the day notifying workers about their fate. the union, which represents many state workers had rallied the governor to save their jobs. >> obviously we are incredibly disappointed. >> patrick is the director. >> that ham percent services to people in maryland in these tough economic times. >> those with state jobs are forced to take furloughs, for those state workers, earning more than $40,000 a year, they will take five furlough days. those earning less take three. >> the cuts come as the state of maryland attempts to close a $740 million budget gap. the state is slashing millions in aid to local governments. >> we have one simple intention, that is, to get maryland through the other side of this reare session, as quickly as possible. with as much of our priorities intact. so that we can see a better day. >> but a better day may be a long time in coming. right now the state is crafting the budget for the year 2011, and the picture is grim. >> we anticipate that the budget problems of 2011 will be over a billion dollars. >> as the size of government shrinks, the governed spending is less too. the state board of public works is set to approve the cuts on wednesday. jeff abell, fox 45 news at 10:00. >> as part of the cuts, the state is consolidating prisons and closing mental health facilities. >> and the cuts governor o'malley announced today could mean more job cuts and furloughs for baltimore city. karen parks is live at city hall with the latest on that. karen? >> well, jennifer, we just endured cutbacks and layoffs once the city passed the budget back in june. and now the state is saying, get ready for millions more in cuts. >> nobody is exempt. we have to feel the pain. >> governor o'malley released the budget cuts. >> core services will be fake. >> in baltimore city, state aid of $200 million was hoped. for now a reduction of more than $35 million. that is nearly 13 percent sliced from what was originally expected. in baltimore county, reduction of more than $20 million from the county's nearly $80 million expected from the state. >> baltimore city passed the $2.3 billion budget in june, which already includes 5 percent in cuts. and talks of furloughs. >> i have heard things that we may be close down between christmas and new years. >> baltimore city could lose $3 million in health services, and nearly $30,000 in place aid. >> the mayor's program is a cleaner, greener, safer, and healthier city, well, if the health department gets cut. that will affect the healthier city. and the cleaner city. if we lose money, solid waste, street cleaning, you will see a dirty city. >> what i do is empty the trash cans. it is part of keeping baltimore. not just the inner harbour, but baltimore pretty and clean. >> evans has kept the inner harbour clean for two weeks, and after hearing about the proposed cuts, said where there is a will, there is a way. >> happened to me before. i have to look and try to find another job. >> but he and others wonder about the $100 million rainy-day fund to help them all weather the storm. >> of course, it is going to be raining worse than what it is now. and for every dollar that we take, we have to, in the coming year, put back in. so you know, potentially down the road, we probably will have to. >> jeff abell mentioned board of public works is expected to vote on the proposal tomorrow. reporting live at city hall, karen parks fox 45 news at 10:00. >> the white house is keeping fed chairman bernanke, president obama said renom gateing bernanke helps maintain market stability. he helped to guide the country through one of the most difficult economic times. >> he is an expert on the causes of the great depression. i am sure ben never imagined that he would be part of a team responsible for preventing another. >> bernanke said he will pursue a foundation for growth and stability. analysts say picking bernanke is a safe choice and defense of his economic policies. he was first appointed by george w. bush. >> when it comes to fiscal restraint could congress be playing by a set of different rules. tomorrow's big story tonight. executives in the private sector were secured by u.s. congress for taking bonuses in tough economic times. >> the washington times has a story running tomorrow that cites u.s. congressmen however are handing out perks to a lot of staff. >> the house passed quietly, in may, a change in its own rules, that will allow its top staffers, that make a little over $168,000 a year, to get additional money to pay off their student loans. which amounts to a kind of bonus for them. >> also in the times to