now, it was eight years ago when the case was closed for nearly eight years until a new witness came forward this year and police were able to arrest jose rodriguez cruz. multiple sources tell news4 that cruz led police here to stafford county, virginia, along this stretch of i-95 where he says he buried the young woman's body. i spoke with police chief peter newsham today. while he would not comment on the specifics of the search, here's what he had to say about the importance of finding butler's body. >> i know that it's very important for the family to be able to recover pam's remains. it's extremely important to them so we're working attorney's office to see if we can make that happen. >> reporter: he plans on being out here friday afternoon when the search begins. it's important to note that the landscape here has changed dramatically in those eight years, so police are hopeful, hopeful that they will be able to recover those remains. that's the very latest. leon, back to you in the station. >> thank you, mark. we've been covering this story since 2009. we are chasing more breaking news in frederick county. chopper 4 flew over a garbage truck crash. highway officials there on the scene evaluating it and say the damage is so concerning that the bridge could be closed down for a couple of days. we'll keep you updated developments on news4. >> we're working our sources to get more details on the series of raids in northern virginia. several law enforcement officials are involved with this and we have not confirmed yet why the raids are taking place. as soon as we do, we'll let you know right here on news4. >> now to a decision that drew dire warnings from europe and even the vatican. but today president trump says that jerusalem will be recognized as the capital in israel. >> this decision is not intended in any way to reflect a strong commitment to facilitate a lasting peace agreement. we want an agreement that is a great deal for the israelis and a great deal f palestinians. >> the president endorsed a two-state solution if both sides agree to it. the president acknowledges that this was controversial but a new approach was necessary because an old approach has failed. >> we are working for you breaking down this very complicated century. it involves centuries of political turmoil. three religions claim jerusalem is the holiest place on earth. for jews, it's their ancient capital and for christians it's where jesus christ was crucified and rose from the dead. and for muslims, it's where the p prophet mohamed and many fear that designating jerusalem as the capital look like the u.s. is taking sides. and the entire world is reacting to this announcement but we're focusing on here and live to explain why both feel anxious tonight. chris? >> reporter: that's right, erika, the word i would use is concern. now, when you look behind me, it's the first news conference called here at the white house. this is organized by c.a.r.e., the council on islamic relations and today we spent some time there with their leader as he watched the trump announcement. it's the organization that represents muslim interests here in washington, d.c. no emotion is shown as he watches president trump's announcement recognizing jerusalem. he's the head largest muslim civil rights and advocacy group. and when the speech ended, iwad sat down with news4. >> it's shocking to see the president of the united states casting away the region with this reckless announcement. >> president trump says the -- >> this is working towards a lasting agreement. and they are concerned about the consequences and ron hall perth is the executive director of the jewish community relations council. >> people are violence could be ignited. >> reporter: now, these local muslim leaders tell me they have no interest in violence. that's the latest from lafayette park outside of the white house. leon, back to you. >> we'll have to watch how that plays out. let's go to the forecast now with doug kammerer tracking cold weather and chances for snow now. >> and the big grin from ear to ear. >> we talked about this all last week, how we would see the shift from mild air with a high of 60 yesterday to what we're looking at now 47 degrees in d.c. and in the 30s in it a couple of spots, too. temperatures get even colder over the next couple of days. tomorrow, very similar to where we are winchester and it's a chilly night and temperatures are only going to be getting colder the next couple of days. tomorrow, cool, but still nice. colder air moves in on friday. wait until you see the numbers into early next week as well. and then tracking our snow chances, not one, not two but three snow chances in the next ten days. much more about that as well. anytime you need our forecast, download the nbc washington app now. we are working on that and putting in our own data. remember, that phone or app you get on your phone when you download it, yeah, that one, nobody ever looks at it. we do our own forecast and you can look at it right now. >> thanks, doug. a dangerous new wildfire has erupted in southern california near the upscale bel air area of los angeles. flames exploding just before dawn this morning. fueled by strong winds. drivers have posted cell phone video showing this fire burning out of control along highway 4 and 5. firefighters are now battling at least four destructive blazes across suburban l.a. hundreds of homes have been destroyed and thousands more threatened. the latest in a live report coming up in half an hour. >> it's got to be terrifying. >> of course. now, in just the past couple of hours, the two arlington elementary school teachers accused of smoking pot faced a judge. david culver is just out of court with new details and also to explain what is next. david? >> reporter: that's right. michael and luke, both p.e. teachers, both at taylor elementary school. now, late last week, they were accused of smoking pot on campus at that school. the possession of marijuana charge is a pretty common charge. in on that courtroom with a whole docket dedicated to marijuana charge charges. however, this happened at taylor elementary. the two teachers have been suspended and it was two anonymous sources that tipped police off to this. in fact, we're learning new details that one of those anonymous sources may have actually had some sort of recording of two of those teachers and in that recording, it appears that the two males recorded something to the effect of how not to get caught smoking on school property using everything from hand lotion to eye drops, air freshener, things to mask the scent and the effects of smoking pot. as of now, the judge has moved forward with the trial date that is set for february 13th. both then suspended and a third teacher put on administrative leave. believe that any students are involved? >> reporter: the school is sticking by that, that no students had any interaction with the teachers while they were apparently using these drugs. and it's also worth pointing out that the search warrant says that there may have been distribution by one of the teachers to other unnamed teachers. that charge, though, has not been put forward by the police. >> very interesting, david culver, thank you. first at 4:00, new research on the better way to treat the winter colds and allergies. what to pick up next time while at the store. and an alert for drivers. what you may need to do to your car soon. and doug says we have three chances for snow in your forecast. 'll be back wiheth there's no sure path to fame, but two local guys think the metro might be their best route. >> this is a new video with a question about metro editing. what is going on? >> these two young men were on the green line. they go on metro and say, it's showtime and people say, what is happening? and they told people on the train they wanted to get to l.a. and wanted to audition for a so they had their routine perfectly timed. it was between the time we left the navy yard at southwest waterfront that they both danced, did their thing and asked for donations. you notice how no one is looking and no one cares. and so i got to wondering, is this a brilliant initiative, a way to get your dreams met, is to chase that path or is it completely inappropriate for metro riders. a lot of people haven't gotten back to us with their official stance but i can't imagine that they are not super for it. they called themselves the legendary boyz, with a z. if these guys make it -- oh, yeah. >> leon, can you do that? >> a little double-jointed action there. >> if these guys make it, that would be the legendary story, right? these guys used to dance on the metro and now they are super famous. >> doesn't this happen in new york, too? >> and we've talked about it on facebook live a little earlier and one of our news4 viewers stepped in and said that she's actually seen these guys and she's donated to them and she thinks it's a great way for them to get noticed and heather says this is not the place and not where you should be doing dances. >> what's the difference between them and musicians who go in metro stations and perform? >> why can't they do it outside? >> i personally reached for my wallet. i didn't have any cash. i thought it was very entertaining. we kept the conversation going on the nbc washington facebook page. you have to see the full video. mad skills. >> would you give them money because they were good or to get the heck out of the way? >> because they were good. they rocked it and got in there and had a >> when you're on the metro, you're stuck on the metro. if you're uncomfortable, you're stuck being uncomfortable. >> it's getting sorted out on nbc washington's facebook page. all right. in today's news4 your health, a better way to deal with the allergies. you sneeze and cough all the time and usually people self-medicate with anti-histamines but nasal steroids are the best single drug for fightingç allergies a available over-the-counter for some time now because they are generally safe to use. but experts say the drawback is nasal steroids are designed to be used for long-term allergy control and should be taken on a routine basis. the advantage of oral anti-h anti-histamines, they are good for occasional use. whatever works for you and the long haul. all right. doug is joining us now. a very happy ten-day forecast that he's put together for us. multiple chances of snow? >> multiple chances but those chances are fairly small. >> oh, come on, let me dream a little. >> the chance is still there but right now most of the activity looks like it wants to stay off the coast and for those snow lovers, like erika and i, this might not be the pattern that we're looking for. but it's a very cold pattern out there right now. i'm still sick. it's been 2 1/2 weeks. we've got the cloud cover. that's the way it will be for the next couple of days. winds out of the southwest at 5 miles an hour. a lot cooler than yesterday but 47 this time of year is not all that bad. the average high is 50. current temperatures, 42 martinsburg. we are dry once again and we need rain and snow. we saw good rain overnight last night and that helped to bring in the cooler air. behind it, we have the cloud cover. take a look at the wider picture. notice this is a very big storm. way up towards the north in canada, you can see the cold front all the way down to the south. look at all of this moisture. now, all we need is a storm to come out of canada, pick up this moisture and meet right off the coast and watch what happens. we've got the moisture to the south and the storm, here it is right here, coming out of canada. the rain is down around atlanta. these two could come together and give us a nice snowstorm but we get snow down to the south. i think we will see some snow early in the morning, maybe down towards ocean city may go rain to snow mix. most will stay off the coast. this storm, however, comes over on sunday. what does ma mean for us? a chance for snow flurries during the day on sunday. but yeah, we've got the chances there of mostly the moisture staying off the coast. temperatures tomorrow, 49 and partly sunny. seasonable and quiet. not a bad thursday afternoon. now, friday, a little different. we get cool again. high temperature of 42 degrees with the clouds remaining. best chance of snow is south and east. even colder air as the storm moves over on sunday and a chance for flurries and breezy. 43 on monday. a better chance of light snow coming up during the day on tuesday. a high of 38. even colder air, look at wednesday, a high of only 32. windchills in the 20s all day both tuesday and wednesday and then another chance light snow and another little system, a flipper-like system next friday. so, yes, we have a chance, but it's not a great chance. but hey, it's a chance. >> but it's a chance. >> one thing for sure, guys, we're in the cold for a while. >> thanks, doug. first at 4:00, the issues the president says could force a government shutdown. and about those gifts that give back to charity, they may not be all that they seem. y2m7ey y16fy first at 4:00, a new push for virginia drivers to put down the cell phone or pay for it. a bill was introduced prohibiting the use of a cell phone unless it's handsfree. nearly 600 crashes, some of them deadly, were linked to driving while texting in the last three years in virginia. the senator introduced the same bill last year but lawmakers did not pass it. news4 is working for you with word of a change in something you see every day if you live in virginia. the inspection sticker at the bottom of the middle of your windshield is going t over to the lower left corner. the change accommodates new crash avoidance technology and this move starts january 1st with the 2019 stickers. inspection stations are being told to not try to move the one that's currently on windshields. 'tis the season of giving. how about considering a gift that also let's you give back? >> that's right. some retailers donate a portion of their sales charity. susan hogan is working for you and you may want to take a closer look next time you shop. >> reporter: want to feel good? try shopping for a cause. some stores contribute a portion of every sale to charity. >> ideally it's a win-win but you've got to make sure that the companies are as generous as they want you to think they are. >> reporter: consumer report says the key is transparency. look on the company's website for information about its giving policy. amazon smile, for example, states very clearly that donate one-half of 1% of all eligible purchases to the participating charity of your choice. >> if you want to be skeptical of the retailer who says it's going to give a portion of the proceeds but doesn't tell you exactly how much. >> reporter: and don't give anyone your business strictly to support a good cause. make sure you're getting the same price and service you would get if you shopped somewhere else. for example, buying a $400 television on amazon smile results in a donation of roughly $2. but if you can get a better price on that, you can use the extra cash on your own. >> take a closer look at the return policy, especially during the holiday season. you want to make sure that you're giving a gift to someone who can exchange or return it if they have to. back to you guys. >> thanks, susan. a bride's dream is in jeopardy. her dress lost weeks before her wedding. we first told you about this story last night. dress was. >> maryland southern accuses a school of fake graduation rates. and we've got gray skies as we look live over the city. what you can't see, temperatures that are about to plunge. when doug says you'regoing to a break in an 8-year-old cold case. officials say they are close to finding the remains of pamela butler. mark segraves was reporting the news today. investigators believe her body is buried on the median of i-95 in stafford county. jose rodriguez cruz led police to that site. the u.s. will now recognize jerusalem as the capital of israel. during a speech this afternoon, the president endorsed a two-state solution but that both sides would have to agree. the decision has sparked widespread criticism. >> and wildfires continue to rage in southern california right now. thousands of families have been evacuated and a first look at the damage left behind coming up. >> now on news4 at 4:00, fake progress. the reaction came during a briefing in aannapolis on the grade tampering investigation. two school board members testified. tracee wilkins has our report. >> reporter: strong words for an investigation into alleged grade tampering. >> they either knew or didn't know. either way, it's either corrupt or it's not. >> reporter: maryland's comptroller called for two school board members to testify to validate the nearly $500,000 that they spent investigating allegations of grade tampering. the state was made of the allegations of wrongdoing through a letter from four school boar governor thanked him for his courage. >> it all started with you and so i want to thank you for framing all of this. >> it's unclear if many were qualified to receive dip employee mas. >> the most highly educated african-americans in the nation. however, it looks like we're cheating some kids and passing them when we shouldn't be. >> reporter: governor hogan will meet with the naacp to speak about the concerns of this investigation. the ceo of the prince george's county school system will explain what he plans to do about the problem in about two weeks. tracee wilkins, news4. a house vote that would keep a government running has been postponed until tomorrow. gop leaders say they want more time to iron out disputes within their own party and across as of right now, the federal government will shut down at midnight on friday if a short-term spending bill is not passed. during a cabinet meeting, president trump says a shutdown could, quote, happen. now that has got lots of people happening. whur's taylor thomas is here with today's "talk around town." the republicans are going to need some help from democrats to get the 60 votes they need to pass. what are your listeners saying? >> this is the worgs is st time talk about not having money. whether you're celebrating or having family in here, you're counting on that money. and our listeners are calling in and saying this to us. >> i have family and friends who are in single-family without a check until congress figures it out. historically, they have paid the money back but it's not a guarantee and that's creating a lot of anxiety. it's christmastime. bills have to be paid. >> reporter: this is the sentiment that we're hearing from our listeners. we're going to stand by. they are keeping their fingers crossed because they need the money. >> this is the worst time of year to have that conversation. >> how about this other topic, the motorcyclist who was shot and killed by a d.c. police officer last fall and an internal review has determined that the shooting was unjustified. what are your listeners saying about that case? >> leon, they are happy that some action has been taken against the officer. many want jail time. we'll see if that comes. certainly go into swift action and i think that terminating from his position is not too stringent enough punishment and we should not allow this to happen to anyone from grarace, creed or color. >> thanks so much. >> thank you. >> erika, back to you. >> leon, thank you. almost all of us have lost something in the mail, but a weddingç dress? a local woman's horror story and how a news4 report may have helped to make things right. and a local family willing to try anything to stop their daughter's sei daughter's seizures. the new medical treatment giving their daughter hope. and snow chances over the weekend. what do you think? hey, think ben will like it? yeah, was i the only one hearing the angelic music? i'm serious, i never know what to get him. just tell me you got him fios too. sigh. mrs. layne, fios is a 100% fiber-optic network. that, plus this sick console, he'll be like whaaaaaattt. your new tech is best on the 100% fiber optic network. so get fios. now just $79.99 per month with a 2-year price guarantee with a 2-year agreement. we first told you about two maryland dads when they were recognized by ellen degeneres. they create special care packages for kids in foster care and now they are taking it to a whole new level for the holidays. they have started a unique campaign to help give those deserving kids some new pjs. >> our molette green is with the cast of "annie" where they are giving back at the only theater. >> reporter: that's right. the cast of "annie" giving back in a big way, collecting new pjs that will go to children in foster care and to give to children in foster care and rob sheer is the founder. why pjs? >> kids in foster care carry garbage gag. we give them dignity. >> reporter: the cast of "annie" is in full swing. the show runs through the month of december. ♪ so we want you to some see the show and bring new pajamas. molette green, news4. >>. ups lost this lady's wedding dress not once but twice but now she's walking down the aisle with the original. she found her dream dress in it california but it crisscrossed the u.s. until it down. the gown was delivered in a battered cardboard box. ups said that they would pay for any last-minute alterations. >> that's what i want to hear. that's what i was most concerned about because she's just about three weeks away from the big day and that's hard to get something that intricate and with lace and beading and have somebody tailor -- >> you would know. >> but no bride wants to be freaking out three weeks before her day. >> not oem ththat but everythin, like the weather. >> yeah, but not that. all right. we have absolutely terrifying new video that's come in to the news4 newsroom. wildfires ripped through california burning an acre a minute. we're taking you inside the inferno with where the fire is headed next. and an inside look at the special counsel's investigation into russian meddling. what the man who authorized it is say in aswitch to new pantene light as air foam conditioner, full of rich pro-v nutrients. for 100% conditioning, 0% weight new pantene foam conditioner. ♪...nausea, heartburn,♪ indigestion, upset stomach, diarrhea!♪ ♪nausea, heartburn, indigestion, upset stomach, diarrhea!♪ here's pepto bismol! ah. ♪nausea, heartburn, indigestion, upset stomach, diarrhea!♪ first on news4, the only man who can fire robert mueller says he's satisfied with the work of the special counsel's office. >> mueller's investigating the russian election in the 2016 election and has charged michael flynn. mueller answers the deputy attorney general rod rosenstein who spoke only to our scott macfarlane. >> reporter: robert mueller is pretty well known here and now he's deputy attorney general in the trump administration and he's the person who oversees the major investigation, one that has transfixed the nation. we want to know what he thinks of what he's seen so far. >> this is a much different job. a lot more scrutiny. what's it like to be under such a different imagine glass? >> there's 115,000 employees and a lot of people pay attention to a small number of people at the top of the news but it's very rewarding for me to work here and manage that and work with our career professionals and accomplish things that we're doing for the american people. >> reporter: we now this week the office of special counsel will release the budget and tell people what they've been doing, to a degree. you've seen the work. are you satisfied with what you've seen so far from the office of special counsel? >> yes. when we conduct vuszinvestigati we don't conduct them when they are ongoing. there are several cases that have been charged to date and we're not in a position to talk about anything else going on. >> you're satisfied with the administration of the offic autonomy from the department of justice but there's an appropriate oversight that includes certain details of the office. it's part of the department of justice and we're accountable for it. >> it was rod rosenstein who authorized that investigation. he signed order number 3915. he did so in may. he's the point person because his boss, u.s. attorney general jeff sessions, recused himself. sessions was active on the campaign trail for president trump in 2016. more of rod rosenstein tonight at 6:00. >> did he give you any indication of how long he thinks it will go on? >> no, i tell you what, the office of special counsel did not give us an indication when they released their budget so it's a real open question. >> scott macfarlane, thank you. we're working now on a story for you that is 5:00. wendy rieger joins me with more. wendy? >> this is a holiday disaster you do not want. fires like that happen every year and that is just one kind of holiday emergency that can hurt your familiar. so tonight we'll work for you with some important tips to make sure that your holidays stay safe. also, new at 5:00, this is a groundbreaking new method to help people who suffer from seizures. it's only approved for adults but a local teenager is giving this a try and doreen gentzler will show how it works and d.c. wants to crack down on its rat problem. who wouldn't? we'll show you how that works and introduce you to a woman who describes herself as a frustrated rat warrior. and we're going to get her take on just how bad this problem is and what a rat warrior is. so i will be joining you in just a afternoon. >> you've got it, wendy. this we've got to see. see you in a little bit. to your forecast now, amelia dr has your zone 4 forecast. >> first we go to doug with the weather. >> cold weather here. 60 today. mid-to upper 40s and it's going to get colder over the next couple of days for sure. out there right now, take a look at what we're dealing with. the cloud cover around the region. coming in courtesy of a frontal boundary just off the coast and a system along the front tal boundary. temperatures dropping through the 40s but not dropping too fast. why? because of the cloud cover. 43 by 9:00. down to 41 by 11:00. 42 in gate theithersburg. we have a couple of chances for some snow over the next couple of days. tomorrow, no chance of that. cold air to start and actually not a very bad day but then we get into friday, saturday and sunday. now the zone 4 forecast with amelia. >> we broke it down into four distinctive zones and then we move west through the area. this is going to include areas like southern maryland and down through the northern area and if we're in these areas, calvert county, anne arundel county, we get a best chance for rain and snow into saturday but here's the thing, little or no accumulation. but getting home from work after that, maybe rain and snow at zone, this is where most of us live in the district. prince george's, montgomery, fairfax county, howard county, a pretty quiet county. saturday we keep it cloudy with temperatures around 40. look at sunday. feels-like temperatures in the 20s and low 30s. however, you could see flurries out there in the d.c. metro zone. same goes for the western zone. frederick, loudoun, prince william, culpeper and orange counties. over the weekend, snow chances looking very low but maybe flurries out there on sunday to add to the holiday of festivities going on. windchills in our western zones in the 20s on sunday. definitely want to bundle up. head out to the mountain zone. this is typically the coldest zone that, for the most part, would see the most snow. in the panhandle of west virginia, a dusting to two inches for areas like this. hopefully weekend or next. there are chances of snow in the ten-day forecast. >> it's very stormy. cold and windchills in the 20s on sunday and then another storm on friday. these like like fairly minor storms but they have to come in a little off the ocean and turn into bigger storms. it's something we'll be watching but one thing for sure, we're on the cold side. next wednesday, a high of only 32. a windchill around 20 to 25 all afternoon. the cold is here. hope you're happy. >> all right. coming up on news4, stay with us, a major new lead in a case that has left a local family heartbroken and very angry. coming up at 5:00, a murderer reveals where he says he left a woman's body. we're live with her wildfires close in on homes and on highways. we're going to show you some of these desperate escapes, coming up next. how a d.c. celebrity chef's effort fuels california's wildfire relief. i'm here with your celebrity 60. and our very own jose andres is the reason he mobilized and cooked after wildfires in northern california near his home. >> i said, listen, if this guy is able to go to a city that doesn't have power or running power andç he's able to start feeding thousands of people, we've got to figure this out and he did. >> on the stage together at metro cooking d.c. that was slash from guns & roses in downtown d.c. today. a very rock star lunch. he had a salad and diners know that he'll be in town for the next two days. we're not sure why he's here. and the and on eminem's album, pink may show up. and christina aguilera and pink have a song what do you think? hey, think ben will like it? yeah, was i the only one hearing the angelic music? i'm serious, i never know what to get him. just tell me you got him fios too. sigh. mrs. layne, fios is a 100% fiber-optic network. that, plus this sick console, he'll be like whaaaaaattt. your new tech is best on the 100% fiber optic network. so get fios. now just $79.99 per month destructive wildfires continue to grow across southern california. the picture you see behind me is a live picture this evening from los angeles to ventura county. thousands of families have been forced to evacuate their neighborhoods look like this. nbc's jay gray reports. >> reporter: southern california on fire right now. >> it's bad. it's bad. everything is burning. >> out of everything in their past. >> to watch it burn -- >> reporter: everything gone in just seconds. >> i'm kind of devastated. it's overwhelming. >> reporter: the flames stretch from the skirball fire through the thomas fire in ventura county. exploding and expanding overnight. >> this fire just got way bigger. it's now on the freeway. >> reporter: tens of thousands have been forced to evacuate. >> i honestly have no words. it's hard to see your home town be like this and just to be helpless. >> a feeling shared by more than 1,000 firefighters along the front line. >> i can tell you that there's a definite, active fire fight, not only from the ground but from the air. they are trying to do what they can to get this fire control. now at 5:00, a break that this desperate family has been waiting for. >> i'd just like to know why, where and when. >> only on news4. police now think they know where a murdered d.c. woman is buried. new allegations and mounting pressure for senator al franken to step aside. why his days in the senate are numbered. >> you feel it, the colder air already moving in but it gets a lot colder the next couple of days. i'll talk about that and plus our chances for snow. plus, relief for a condition that has no cure. >> i wasn't sure what was happening because i just remember losing control of my body. >> meet the local young woman who just became the young recipient of a breakthrough treatment for epilepsy. they say they are honeymoon happy and peacock proud. those are words used by a an eight-year nightmare has ended. >> for nearly a decade, pamela butler's family has suffered through nights not knowing how she died or where her body is. but today the confessed killer told where he buried her. >> police will soon start the search. mark? >> reporter: good evening, wendy. i spoke with derek butler. the family is elated at this latest news. this is the stretch of area where on friday they will search. >> we want to give her a proper burial. >> reporter: pamela butler's family may finally be able to give their loved

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