Down kills himself and 149 other people onboard. The captain left the cockpit for a short while and then could not get back in. This was all heard on the flight voice recorder no leads why the first officer would take this action. They dont believe it was an act of terror. 28 years old the copilot, from germany. A slight interruption in his training that happened about six years ago. According to lufthansa the Parent Company of germanwings no red flags, no reason to keep that copilot from the cockpit. Protocol was followed. The captain left the cockpit for a short time and then could not get back in. In the u. S. If that happens a Flight Attendant goes into the cockpit so no one is there alone. Lufthansa saying they have no plans to change their policies. Melissa . Richard, three americans, of course, on that plane including two fwrim our area. Emily selke and her mother lives in virginia. Working to find a picture of her mother yvonne. Emily graduated and an alum. Comes to mind just good people that wanted to do gods work, were committed to their faith. Both emily and yvonne, and they just wanted to show theyre love to the community. Another american who also died on the plane has not been named. Melissa, new at american idol, a bloodied arrest causing protest on campus walked out of court in charlottesville. 20 yard Martese Johnson entered a plea of not guilty facing charges of public intoxication and swearing. Cell phone videos of the arrest show johnson with a blidoodied face as he was pinned down outside bar in charlottesville. John johnson is expected back in court in may to divgive police more time to complete their investigation. Meantime a hearing for the man charged with the murder and abduction of the university of virginia student. Jesse matthew faces charges in charlottesville in this case. A new trial date set in may. Matthew also faces charges of attempted murder and Sexual Assault in fairfax county. Its right here and i agree with the damage were seeing this probably was where it was the strongest. Tornado season off to a deadly start in the midwest. Three tornadoes swept through oklahoma yesterday from above you can see all the damage powerful winds knocked a radio stations antenna down. Roofs ripped off homes and schools cars and trucks ending up in peoples living rooms. Thousands without power. One man cass willed. Just outside tulsa, the area hard effort hit. Also hit moore oklahoma, also the site of a deadly tornado in 2014 that killed ten children at a school. Tom . Rain passing the metro area coming in from the south quickly heading off to north and east. The light rain in washington will taper off and end temporarily over the next 10 15 minutes or so. Moderate rain nuer bowie and Prince Georges county, lightning with it pulling away to the north and east quickly and temperatures mild. Weve got a bigger area of rain along a cold front thats in ohio. Stretching down into kentucky. Southern indiana. That will be tracking cloegs closer to us moving through later this ank. A look at the timing on that hour by hour is coming up next update in a couple minutes. Tom, im Scott Mcfarland at the live desk. The news 4 iteam learned a Police Lieutenant in need of medical treatment january 12th at the Lenfant Plaza incident. Coming from internal emails from the city just obtained by the iteam 4 team and also a communication breakdown reported between his office and Howard University hospital where more than two dupzozen patients were treated. When asked about the email Howard University said it treated 25 passengers and did have contact with First Responders that day. Our new information about the breakdown by and Howard University and other information just posted. On your phone at nbcwashington. Com. Barbara, back to you. Well continue to follow that story. Meanwhile, the National Zoos two new cute bear cubs named thanks to you. The named mini and muniri chosen in a poll. On the website the last few weeks. The names mean unique and loving. Youll have to wait few more days to see the cubs angd the rest of the family in person as they make their first public appearance that happens saturday. A crew is at the zoo now and well have a report in the next half hour. Its going to a be sweet day in college basketball. Not for my bracket. Talking the sweet 16. Half of the teams playing ball and potentially bust up your bracket by the end of the day if its not already done, like mine is of course. First up the matchup many are talking about and already pegging the champion this year talking about number one kentucky that has not lost a game so far playing West Virginia shortly before 10 00 tonight. Whoever wins plays the victor between these two teams. Wichita and notre dame facing off at 7 15. Fighting irish making a big comeback after a 17 loss seize an season a year ago. Out west, another Wildcats Team playing. Arizona won ten more games than xavier musketeer this year. The coach work ford xavier six years ago, another Number One Team here. The Wisconsin Badgers playing storied unc. Tar heels only lost five times in the sweet 16 ever. Had 26 wins but are, of course, the underdog this year. Gosh, shes beautiful. Did you hear that . All right. So that forward nigel hayes maybe a little too forward. Plays for wisconsin. Happened by players were talking about todays game. Hayes was referring to the interview stenographer challenging all week. Has been mean, saying fizzer ji a few moments ago, cattywompus, auto mon pia among choice words and others. Anti antidisestablishment aryanism, zephyr that is mean. Back in 60 seconds with the boy band news that is blowing up on social media for a second straight day. A look what you cant miss this morning. A member of one direction going in a different direction. Malick wrote on facebook he feels the time has come for him to move on to leave the band. He says id like to apologize to the fans if ive let anyone down, but vie to do what feels right in my heart. The alwaysinourhearts say its the number one topic on twitter and the band is sad to see him go. Another music story for you. Rihanna releasing a new single part of her first album in three years. Right now only one song a available, and fans can only download that song through the video messaging app. Another catch. The first people to download were disappointed. Only ten second snippets of the song were available. Look at this. Sad story out of southern indiana. Scott county here. A Public Health emergency. At least 72 people infected with hiv from sharing needles. The governor calls it an epidemic. The cdc is sending investigators to test residents and try control the spread of the virus. The patients are linked to opiate injections with former congressman jesse jr. Walked out of prison spending 2 1 2 years inside he weaked out today. Shielded from reporters left the alabama facility. Heading to a Halfway House in d. C. Reverend Jesse Jackson and his family with him. On the way to meet his son calling today a great morning. Jacksons wife who also served time. Right now Actor Ben Affleck and billionaire big gates in d. C. Talking about diplomacy and development at an appropriations meeting on capitol hill. Lets take a listen. Senators if we continue to make smart and effective financial and diplomatic investments we will help foster the nexteveration congaolese. Both known for their advocacy work nap extra attention from the hearing to give a boost to Committee Chairman senator Lindsey Graham considering a run for president. Former president ial candidate mitt romney talked 2016 on the today show wanting to hear more from the next generation of republican leaders, mentioning jeb bush, marco rubio and others offering support. One supporting role he wont play. Check it out. Would you consider being one of these nominees vicepresident s . I dont think anyone wants to be vp. Not a good job . I wont say the things said about the job. Im looking to try and support one of these folks and help them become our next president. A little later in the hour, bringing you the back story on the Romney Instagram pick with rapper 50 cent that went viral and recapping the best moments of romneys visit to the tonight show. And in washington over the last hour or so now beginning to exit, the rain, heading north and east. Light rain southern montgomery county, northern Prince Georges moving now into anne arundel. Another batch of rain in southeastern virginia tracking across the Northern Neck and around virginia tide water into the lower eastern shore. Temperatures now in the mid to upper 450 50s. Farther south into the 60s. 50s around washington. Southern maryland in the mid60s. Afternoon highs today beautiful. Shortsleeve weather. Low to mid70s around washington. A little cooler to our north. Much of North Central virginia into the mid70s. A look at the rain moving in timing on that hourbyhour coming up next. All right tom. A new ad campaign is hoping to motivate your friends and family to quit smoking. We must warn you some of the images are tough to watch. Lung cancer. The ads from the cdc feature graphic images and stories from former smokers. Hoping that these reallife stories will act as a scare tactic. It was devastating to me when i found out that i could lose my central vision. Whoever thought that smoking could do Something Like this . The ads air nationwide next week. New this morning, powdered alcohol will not be sold in maryland. Alcohol wholesalers and distributors agreed to a voluntary ban here. The powdered form of alcohol also called palcohol can be dissolved in a beverage but fears it could be snorted or abused by minors. Virginia also banned that powder. A racially charged email at a local university and how the school hand u. S. Led air strikes targeting isis are under way now. Iraqs president says the u. S. Led coalition began air strikes yesterday targeting isis in the tikrit area of iraq. The Iraqi Military recently asked for u. S. Air support after three weeks of failed military activity. Part of the offensive is commanded by an iranian general who has publicly rejected any u. S. Role in the fight. Former Army SergeantBowe Bergdahl faces charges oftr de desertion that could put him in prison for life. You may remember he was freed in a swap for five taliban commanders last year. Now the u. S. Army charged him with deserting saying he endangered fellow soldiers lives. He could be dishonorably discharged but will likely take a plea barge ton avoid being behind bars. A University Student joining us from college park. Megan . At the time the email was written the student was a member of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity and the message wrote to six friends was about plans for rush week. The email offended many and weve learned that that student is no longer attending classes here. It was an email that sparked an uproar on the college park campus. Racist slurs, sexist comments, even a statement asserting that Sexual Consent doesnt matter. Now comes word that the student who wrote that email will not be returning to the university of maryland. We have freedom of speech but at the same time should be held accountable for what you say some of the things said in the email were very inappropriate and i was uncomfortablety. It shows a lack of tafrtste and restraint. Drawn out longer to think about a more sufficient punishment for what he d. News. Students status came last night. The Vice President for Student Affairs sent out and email of her own saying, by Mutual Consent between the student involved his family and the university, he will not return to campus this semester. Some wonder if thats too harsh a reaction. Hate speech is defended under the First Amendment. Now, the First Amendment isnt there so that people can say, oh, the style looks nice. Its there particularly for these reasons, for unpopular opinions. Reporter and the email was written over a year ago, but it just came to the attention of university officials. In college park, megan mcgrath, news 4. And rain falling there in college park is quickly pulling off to the north and east on the storm team 4 radar. Seeing a few lingering light showers in northern montgomery county, southern part of the county northern Prince George, temporarily pulling away. Timing on another round of rain coming our way. Not until later today. Much later. After sunset. A line of showers and thundershowers moving just east of the Shenandoah Valley toward frederick toward 6 00 p. M. By 8 00 p. M. , a line of showers and thundershowers stretches across Northern Virginia into the district and the metro area moving east of the metro area after 8 00 p. M. And lingering light showers between 10 00 and 11 00. After that temperatures drop as we get into friday. A look at the weekend coming up next. Well, its all aboard the carnival pride returns to baltimore. You can sail yearround from baltimore to bermuda or the bahamas. The ship is welcomed back to the south locust point after a major facelift. Check out the new features including an allonly serenity room. The ship docks at 6 30 a. M. Saturday. A new country song is stirring controversy. Why it could all be a big a closely watched vote soon under way on capitol hill but not happening on the house or senate floor. Nominations are open for the hills annual 50 most beautiful competition. A link on our Facebook Page with info how to submit your nomen aches and yes, you can nominate yourself. This is the competitions 12th year. Last year list included familiar faces. Representative Donna Edwards senator cory booker and senator rand paul all made the cut. And there is controversy this morning, barbara, over lyrics in a country song. Little big towns new song girl crush making a fierce debate on the bands Facebook Page. Some say the song is promoting a gay agenda. Some radio stations actually pulled the song out of rotation after listeners complained and parents not wanting kids hearing it. Judge for yourself. Take a listen to the lyrics here. I got i want to ive got a girl crush you can head to the nbc washington Facebook Page and let us know what you think. Little big down says its an a breakup and one woman jealous of another. The new woman. Even saying if it was about two women, it shouldnt matter. The ugly truth about p developments out of florida. Why a 13yearold boyne killed his two brothers then himself. Apparently over food. They were all home alone. The 6yearold died and the 16yearold hurt but able to call police. The 13yearold then committed suicide. The Sheriffs Department is not releasing the names of the kids because they are all minors. Snow days dont hurt student progress, with winter reluctant to leave this year researchers at Harvard University comparing weather data and student test scores. Seem as number of cancelled school days because of the snow doesnt hurt reading or math scores however, progress was affected on days when it snowed and cool stayed open, but there were fewer students in the classrooms. No snow now but many seeing rain. Tom, can we get rid of this too . You have magical powers. I do. Presto, chango, theyre gone. Showers quickly ending. Storm team 4 radar, temporarily ended and getting sunshine breaking out right in washington and across Northern Virginia. Still a few sprinkles here in southern montgomery county, northern Prince George moving into howard and anne arundel county. Another batch of rain passing south and east of washington and southeastern virginia and this one, this is a line of showers with embedded thunder that will move our way, not until later tonight. Afternoon highs climbing into the 70s. Showers and thundershowers this evening into the metro area between 8 oclock and 9 00. A look at the weekend. Cooler weather moving in after low 50s friday afternoon. Highs only 40s saturday. A blustery wind could get a sprinkle. Sunny sunny sunday. High near 50. The today show talk and the ugly truth of parenting and also talked about what many parents wished theyd known before having kids. Among those talking on the panel, our very own angie goff. My favorite decline of personal hygiene. So, randy, this happens, right . We have a new baby. Why you dont see moms in facebook photos anymore. You only see the baby. The truth is out its the truth. Anyone led into their personal record for not showering . I showered today, because ive been gone from home about a week. Thats right. I remember my husband coming home at one point when i was home and said, baby i need to tell you something. Its been five days. You need to go get a shower. Im like you dont know my life. Dont judge. Survey on today. Com and talked to 3,000 parents. 73 said being clueless was a very popular truth, and its true. Were all clueless. Anybody whos acting like they know what theyre doing, angie theyre not letting on. The way i describe parenting its like your performing daily at the improv. There is no one whos a professional at it. If you try to be a prof