that. power outage at metro's data center and it's affecting just about everything that you can think of. we will tell you about that. bus passengers are riding for free. the call center is down. more on the bus side and rail side coming up. also part two of my interview with jenny stipanek. extraordinary young man that had muscular dystrophy passed away a few years ago. she has a book about him and their life together and tell us rather remarkable and touching stories later this morning. >> it's another hankie day. >> doesn't it seem like they all have a half brother. >> all the presidents. > it's president obama's half brother telling it all. he talks about their dad, what he was like and seeing his brother again in an upcoming trip to china. he tickles the ivories as well. they all have one and now it's president obama. >> a brother or half brother. >> before we get to that, we want to go to tucker barnes keeping his eye on the weather. it's a cold morning throughout the region. >> it has. temperatures at or below freezing. we have freeze advisories earlier that have been let to expire. we have sunshine across the area. it will feel good the next hour or two before the clouds move in. we are up to 44 at reagan national. we were below freezing in frederick. a little better to the south. 49 degrees. out to the west, when i put this in motion, we have a lot of cloud cover, a little green on the map. that will come in later today and tonight. by this afternoon, i think the sun will mix with and eventually turning to a full overcast by late this afteron. and we will present the possibility of a few scattered showers during the nighttime hours tonight. it will be a -- it won't be a big deal but there could be a couple of scattered showers around here tonight. the next couple of days will be, temperatures wise, well below average. you need a jacket with sunshine expected. high temperature about 55 degrees. more details on the forecast and we have a good looking weekend forecast coming up in a couple of minutes. >> thank you. first up we have breaking news to tell you about. we are talking about big problems for the morning commute because metro's data call center, the computer, is down right now due to a power frail yur. >> as a result of that -- failure. >> as a result of that, bus fare boxes aren't working. they are riding for free. you can't purchase fare cards with debit card. you can charge fares but there is a $20 limit. call center and pa system are down. metro access and call center reservations are not working. we will bring you updates as we get them. plenty of problems on the roads, too, especially in montgomery county. computer problems there have prevented traffic signals from being put in the rush hour pattern this morning. that has lead to backups on major road was like river road, rockville and 29. in fact, sky fox is live over 29 in silver spring. you can see that is quite a backup there. there is no estimate at this point on when that problem might get fixed. turning to a developing story out of frederick. a man pumping gas ends up covered in flames. so did his car. the explosion happened on buckie town road. sarah simmons joins us live from frederick with an update. this is a horrifying story, sarah. >> reporter: it is tony and allison. this happened about 4:00 this morning. we are just off interstate 270 here in frederick. if you look behind me at this exxon station, they are here at this hour cleaning up the pump area. investigators from the state fire marshal's office are on the scene as well this morning. what we know right now is investigators are telling us that it was a 25-year-old man from germantown. he was here pumping gas. he was on his way in to use the rest room. the attendant saw him come back out and the next time he turned around, saw the man,he gas pump and the area around him on fire. apparently investigators are telling me he was filling up a gas can between the car and the gas pump. now, he was immediately flown to the hospital in d.c. investigators still aren't certain exactly what sparked this fire. >> fuel pumps have their typical warnings of no smoking, static electricity, cell phones, any fuel pump has those warnings on there. the investigator will look at all the possibilities to rule out anything. >> it may take them a while to figure out what caused this re. the investigator you just saw told me they have not had a chance to talk to the victim. he is not able to talk at this time. he has third degree burnover his entire body. this could be a while before they know what happened here. of course weill continue to follow it throughout the day and bring you the latest coming up on fox 5 news at 567bg9 back to you, tony and allison. >> thank you. all right. here they are. the results of virginia's governor race. republican bob mcdonnell beat out creigh deeds with 60% of the vote to deeds 41%. >> the landslide victory turns e political tide in the commonwealth one year after voters leaned to the democrats in the presidential election. we have more now from richmond. >> reporter: good morning. this is the picture republicans wanted this morning after the election. a clean sweep of the attorney general's race for ken cuccinelli and lieutenant governor. here in virginia, all eyes were on this race for one clear reason, the past two terms democrats have held the virginia governor race. that will change starting today. bob mcdonnell will become the 71st governor of the commonwealth of virginia. in addressing both of their supporters last night, mcdonnell and deeds thanked their supporters who worked hard in their races the past five months. mcdonnell said that he was looking forward to the challenges, humbled by the decision of the voters. deeds says democrats can come back. >> eight months ago i applied for the job of governor of virginia. tonight you have hired me. thank you. >> i don't believe in regrets. you only get to live one time. you don't get any do offers. we have made decisions we have to live with. >> one of the big vac force ee -- factors, the role of independent voters. nearly a third declared themselves as independent and bob mcdonnell took those voters by a 2-1 margin. last year in the presidential race john mccain and barack obama split down the middle on independents. let's send it to you. >> i have to ask you, president obama took that election. the congress is controlled by the democrats. deeds wasn't able to move the momentum forward. any indication why? >> reporter: well, you know, democrats mapped out a good strategy in virginia in the previous statewide elections. if you look what he this did, they reached out out to moderates in loudoun, prince william and gained the independent vote in those areas. yesterday creigh deeds didn't do that. he ran a campaign that focused largely on attacks on bob mcdonnell based on social issues. the polling was that was not the main focus of voters. they were concerned about the economy, jobs and creigh deeds was hit hard by the mcdonnell ads that came out late in the campaign that he would raise taxes if elected. in the end, jobs and the economy trumd most of those social issues. >> tom fitzgerald, thanks. so, what does all of this mean for the parties involved or even the obama administration? for input on that, we turn to dr. stephen farnsworth. he is assistant professor of communication at george mason university. glad to see you again. >> glad to be back. >> mcdonnell wins with 59% of the vote and independent favor him 2-1 over creigh deeds. wasthis a surprise? >> i don't think so. what you saw throughout the campaign, a clear vantage for bob mcdonnell. you had a candidate unlike previous republican candidates who appreciated the value of being a moderate, presenting himself as a centrist. as a result, parties in virginia, the elections are won in the middle. in the part mark warner, tim kaine. but this time bob mcdonnell. on the deeds side, the campaign didn't do a good job of explaining to voters why they should support deeds. although they were good at explaining why mcdonnell was a liability, they didn't get the enthusiasm that comes from explaining what your vision is and where you want to take the state. >> there are many that looked at this mathematically, anna lit psych particularly said if there is a democrat in office, the top office in the white house, chanc are in virginia it will swing the other way. i guess basically how much truth is there to that. >> there absolutely is truth. in a virginia governor race, this is a year where there isn't a lot going on nationally. what you have is the governor's race. that is it except for a house of delegates race. fundamentally what you have to do is get your voters out. you need enthusiastic supporters to win the election. one of the problems with the deeds campaign was inability to generate that kind of enthusiasm. the electorate of 2009 had fewer african americans, fewer voters under 30 and fewer northern virginiaians that 2008. that has a lot to do with the way that deeds failed to connect with voters. >> a lot of talk becoming a catch phrase, the referendum on bomb. how much truth is there to this. is this a backlash against president obama. >> it doesn't look to be the case. more than half of the people voting in this election, regardless of the candidate they voted for said they were not sending a message to obama. they were voting for the candidate that they preferred. there has been this trend where the party out of power in washington gets really energized then comes back and wins the governor's race in virginia a year later. this has been going on nearly 30 years in the state. there is a tendency for people to react and get motivated voters out. there a could use to his advantage. republicans are tired of losing. they lost the last two governor's races and senate races. with bob mcdonnell they had a candidate that was likable, put them in a better position to win in a state they have been losing lately. >> thank you. >> thank you. of course many other races across the area and nation yesterday. for those results, head to our web site, myfoxdc.com. look on the home page for live results. coming up, the touching story of a boy and his dog. for the first time the life story of the heart song kid and peacemaker is revealed through the eyes of his mother. i spent time with jeni stepanek and her new book. they reflects on mattie's legacy and shares incredible stories. >> i miss my best friend. i miss the foot massages and the snug also. i miss -- he would leave little notes on my pillow or next to my bed. i miss debate wearing him on philosophy, spirituality or how to handle today's news. a lot of this there is a limit what you write in the book but i did share one moment. it was in february of 2004. i remember one morning i went in his bedroom to wake him up and it was an odd, rare day that we didn't have to get up at 5:00 in the morning for platelets and blood. it was a day that we got to be at home and do school work, whatever. i went to wake him up and he sat up and for whatever reason i climbed out of my wheelchair, got in bed with him and held him. it's -- he's13 years old. it's not what mommies and sons do when they are 13. i just held him. all i could think was this feels so good. he hugged me back and he said that felt really good. what was that for. i said just because i love you. i am so lucky that i got to be your mommy. i just love you much. and he hugged me back and the day moved on from there. but i am so glad i did that. i would give anything to just have him in my arms just one split second, one split second. there is nothing heavier than an empty lap and empty arms. >> one of mattie's dearest friends was mika hear with you today and always with you. >> he is doing well. he is a wonderful spoiled service dog. he is in middle age for service dog years and he knows he is loved by the entire world. i can't imagine not having him. >> i think at the dedication of the park if i recall correctly, you told astory about maybe it was the day before you and mica went to the park and saw the statue for the first time. >> yes. >> do you mind sharing that with us. >> it was when they were actually unkraight the statue. it was -- jimmy lou mason made it but the foundry was in italy. it was shipped to the states, brought here. they had a big crate. mika was off leash. i was letting him lie in the shade. when they took the statue out of the crate and he saw mattie's face, all of us thought, wow, that is not just a look a like, that is the essence of mattie, looked like he would get out of his chair. dogs are color blind, they see in black and white. and he looked, turned his head, he jumped up shaking, crying -- he never makes crying noises he is -- unless the mailman comes he's a quiet dog. he ran over to the statue shaking and crying with joy. and sniffed it and sniffed it and then sniffed it again then he got obviously sad and looked at me and looked back at the statue and studied it then he walked around and lay -- on my chair he's the left side. on mattie's chair he went to the right. he went to the right side and laid for two hours and wouldn't move. when i take him to the park, we go straight to the statue, i touch mattie's hand and go for a walk around the park. he goes to the statue, turns his head away and won't look at it. it's a testament to how wonderful that institute few is and the love and memory mika has for his daddy. i think i sit here balanced with, perhaps, the greatest burden in life to bury ones on children yet i have the simulneous blessing in life. i am seeing my child's legacy unfold. and it's beautiful. i love living across the street from the park and mattie's statue, everything that has grown from him, not because i can look on the statue and remember him but because i see people who go to the park and they read the quotes owned the benches. they press the buttons and hear his voice. i see children run up to the statue and say hi, mattie. parents stopping to tell their children what that means. mattie taught us peace. this is what peace looks like, sounds like. this is how you can be peace in your life. i watched children and adults from every walk of life, every language. i don't always understand what they are saying because they don't speak english, yes they come to this park and take something, some essence of my son. his body is gone but the message, the essence of his life is alive and well. >> it really is a remarkable book, well worth reading. she will do a book signing tonight at the whit flint borders in north bethesda maryland at 7:00 if you want to see her. you can see part one and two of my interview on myfoxdc.com. click on the morning tab. people asked me it must be a sad book. there are sad passages but it's about mattie. he was an extraordinary child but a normal kid, funny, liked to play practil jokes. it's extraordinary. they are extraordinary people. >> she is all alone to be a mother who has to bury her children and stand there with that brave face. >> she is loved by many and has many close to her. the must see lar dystrophy is with her. i congratulate her on getting her ph.d. >> wonderful. we told you about the justice of the peace that refused to perform marriage ceremonies for interracial couples. what the louisiana man has done now. >> holly is helping you answer your pet related questions this morning. good morning. >> good morning, we are live at the hospital for animals. it's a big moment. >> welcome back. sky fox is over 270 at tuckerman lane. you are looking at quite the traffic backup. our understanding is there are traffic backups across montgomery county. there are computer problems with the traffic system there. traffic lights apparently were never able to set them for their rush hour settings so they have been miss timing, on the regular time and have not been allowing for rush hour traffic. that lead to backups across the county. this is 270 at tuckerman. you see a huge backup. we don't have any indication when montgomery county expects it to be fixed. when we get more information, we will let you know. if you are expecting anyone at work or home, there are delays throughout the county. we told you about the justi of the peace in louisiana that refused to marry interracial couples. >> he resigned after weeks of calls for him to quit or be fired. keith barredwell acknowledged that he routinely avoided marrying interracial couples because he believes children born to them suffer. louisiana governor bobby join dell called barredwell's -- bardwell's resignation long overdue. tension between d.c. council and fenty administration is growing. we are remembering a major day in history, the fall of the berlin wall. p a 35-mile rift in the desert in ethiopia will likely become a new ocean. here what we are saying a new i front property just yet. scientists say it won't happen for a million years but they are excited about the research possibilities. they are finding the process that is creating the rift could help them learn more about the bottom of the ocean which is almost impossible to access. they say the ri that opened following a volcanic eruption in 2005 will form an ocean that will join up with the red sea. that will change -- >> how fascinating. >> it will change the globe. >> the living planet. >> it is a living planet. this is not the only place that it's happening. >> this will be the ocean floor that we are looking at. >> right. >> that is really cool. >> much of the central part of our country was once an ocean. >> okay. we won't be around to see it. >> i wish we would be. >> in a million years but that is fascinating. i don't i don't have use that word. >> you don't. i do. you don't. >> early to invest in real estate there. >> i don't know. >> temperatures are rising quite nicely. >> they are. we were cold overnight. temperatures in the 30s in many spots. later today we will be dealing with cloud cover and it will be cool but temperatures will be just about where they should be for this time of year. 48 reagan national after overnight low of 30. frederick 46. they are in the upper 20s this morning. winchester 43. warm spot closer to the water 50. afternoon high temperatures in the middle 50 yesterday we were in the mid- 60s. it felt better yesterday than it will feel this afternoon. sunshine to start the day. lots of bright sunshine. feels good. later today the clouds will move in. after morning sunshine, we have afternoon clouds on the horizon. eventually a chance -- you can see the green on the map, out to the west in west virginia. a chance for scattered showers. they will get in here tonight and hey will be scattered in nature as we get erie enforcing shot of cool air. the weather pattern will remain intact the next couple of days as we get periods of clouds di necessary and the cool temperatures sticking around. high pressure is parked across the washington area. it will retreat later today off to the north and east. that will allow a chance for rain showers to move in later today along with the cold front. increasing clouds this afternoon as we will see at least the chance of showers later tonight. early sun, afternoon clouds, coor. 55 for an afternoon high. wind out of the north about 5 miles per hour. the next couple of days, cool tonight, 42. chance for scattered showers. tomorrow partly cloudy, a chance of a few isolated showers in the afternoon, 56. nice warming trend into the end of the week and the weekend. by saturday and sunday, temperatures will be back in the upper 50s and mid-60s by sunday with a lot of bright sunshine. this weekend should be a dry one. that will do it for the forecast. back to you. >> tucker, thank you. well, it might not seem possible but it has been 20 years since the berlin wall fell ending