caroline tucker, abc 7 news. >> president obama's plan has generated a lot of feedback on our facebook page. go to facebook.com/whljlatv. maryland governor martin o'malley said he will decide in the spring whether to seek the democratic nomination for president. the outgoing governor says he is not waiting for former secretary of state hillary clinton to announce whether she will run. she is considered the leading contender for the democratic nomination. three possible gop candidates presidential candidates will speak at next week's national republican committee meeting. dr. ben carson, wisconsin governor scott walker, and texas governor rick perry will address the media. the rnc may also discuss its 2016 primary debate schedule. still cold, still winter. >> yes, still winter. >> still freezing. >> we have a long way to go, but it was nice to get a break from the extreme cold today. let's get started with the numbers friday evening. 36 at reagan national, west northwest wind that nine. the dew point temperature tells us how dry the areas. we have the potential to go a lot lower on the

caroline tucker shows us the possible reasons for the decline. >> for several years, guns have been a hot commodity in virginia. it's not until 2014 that gun shops like blue ridge arsenal in chantilly noticed a change. >> it's definitely been slower than i'm used to seeing. but not awful for us. >> the trend has been reported statewide. when you take a look at background checks done in virginia which are done for every gun sale there were just over 400,000 last year. a decrease of 15%. the slowdown is not surprisingly george mason associate professor professor. >> i think it's tens of thousands of guns. >> a lack of looming gun control legislation may play a role. >> there's also this. maybe a lot more gun sales moving towards gun shows and private exchanges on craig's list and other places. >> from 2011 until 2013 those background checks rose every year until now. >> i'm glad to hear that. i guess when i think about where i grew up i tend to think many people in virginia are interested in owning guns. >> sort of an artificial high. >> here at blue ridgearsenal, even though gun sales

in frederick, caroline tucker abc 7 news. >> congratulations. the washington animal rescue league brought some smiles to many people's face today. check this out. with the help of uber and animal planet puppies were delivered to people all across washington. for $30, people could spend 15 minutes cuddling and looking at faces like that one there. the money collected was directed to the nonprofit animal shelter and every puppy involved in today's event is up for adoption as well. for more information, contact the washington animal rescue league. u.p.s. driver was fired tonight after he was caught on camera damaging packages. ben lucas is his name. this is from houston. and he was scanning -- actually ben lucas was scanning surveillance outside his home after he got a package arrived in pieces. you see that there? his cameras caught the driver tossing the box over the fence damaging hundreds of dollars worth of ammunition chemicals and a machine that he'd used to clean guns. but it didn't stop there. the driver then went and urinated on the side o

caroline tucker explains why the county rejected the idea. >> arlington county elementary parents will tell you schools continue to be squeezed to the max. >> think it's so much. >> some think extra space needs to come from somewhere. >> somehow we have to expand some schools if they have some space or opportunity to see any land we can use. >> arlington's county board rejected a plan to build a new elementary school on county-owned land next to thomas jefferson middle school. >> it's about minimizing the impacts to the extent that we can thaurz -- there's a network of schools. once we build it it's there. >> it was slated for future park land for the county. the groups friends of t.j. park fought to save the space. >> the board made a great decision for preserving this park for future generations at least for now. >> the county did leave the door open for arlington public schools to come back if it does an analysis of county sites and school additions and provide an estimate of county funding needed. >> if we can get the answers to those questions, we're happy to take it up again. >>

as caroline tucker tells us residents raise tens of thousands of help the city buy that property on poplar avenue. >> it's a spot from tacoma park left untouched by development much the i.r.s. seized these woods behind the former mclaughlin school property after the owner didn't pay taxes. signs to save the trees soon popped up. >> those woods can't be be replaced. >> the neighbors thought they might have a shot of saving this land so they rallied together and raised more than $100,000. the money was added to a pot to help the city bid at auction. right at noon the city and resident joe egil sparred for the property. the city claimed victory. >> sold for $263,000! >> it shows a great willingness on the part of tacoma park residents to stand up for what they believe in and put the money where their mouth is. >> amazing to watch people come together to make this happen. >> the other bidder left the neighborhood group for his own development plans. >> i didn't know until i got here. >> i was still -- >> his bids ultimately drove up the price. >> i don't day it personally. people were upset. w

caroline tucker, abc 7 news. >> very interesting. open house takes place this saturday and we're asked to tell you to be sure to arrive before 3:00 p.m. so you can get inside. there may be lots of crowds. for more information, check out our website at wjla.com. and we are happy to hear that the snow has ended. but you left a little bit of a question mark in your last -- >> yeah. one concern tonight is refreeze. that's a real concern. and the possibility, another coastal storm could come our way on saturday. so let's get busy and cover the bases for you. first, though a time lapse. this from cardinal ridge elementary school in centreville and the snow came down heavily for a while. quickly covered everything up. started to melt off. and this last image that i want you to take a look at a little bit of shine from the lights. right now, it's just wet there. overnight, it could be icy. that played out all over the place. here's the problem. you can see that shiny reflection, is it ice or is it just wet? i don't know. you got to treat it

live tonight, caroline tucker abc 7 news. >> caroline, thank you. new at 5:00 now, a baltimore judge is dropping all charges against the suspect in the felicia barnes murder case. michael johnson was convicted in 2013 of killing 16-year-old barnes. however, today, the judge said there was not enough evidence for a guilty verdict after two mistrials. barnes was from north carolina and disappeared while visiting her family in baltimore in 2010. her body was later found in the river. >> president obama is preparing for his first state of the union address facing republican majority in the house and the senate. plus a partisan balance doesn't appear to be slowing the president's push for big changes focused on the economy. karen traverse is live at the capitol for us this evening and has a look at the issue that's expected to dominate tonight's address. karen? >> good evening, leon. president obama is facing a very skeptical audience in the republican controlled house and senate. but his message tonight for the lawmakers in the room and americans watchi

caroline tucker has this 7 on your side report. >> charlotte white is getting ready for a trip. she got the flu shot. >> i have been exposed to so many different people, i don't want to increase my risk. >> the flu has been spreading across the u.s. the cdc has called it an epidemic. most states have seen it widespread, including in maryland and virginia. this physician says up to four to 10 patients per day have been seen for the flu. >> symptoms come on suddenly with fever, the chills coughing. >> the flu test -- >> if anyone tests positive, you will see two lines. >> have been in high demand. d.c. has a localized outbreak. >> if you compare it to the ebola outbreak we went through in october, influences much more serious because it's much more life-threatening. >> the cdc says that most people have gotten a strain that has not been protected by the flu shot, but doctors say to still get it. >> people do feel better and they are not as sick as long. >> patients can also received tamiflu within the first 24 hours to treat it. >> the flu claimed the life of a fifth grader in ash

live tonight in ashburn, caroline tucker abc 7 news. >> thank you, caroline. well, members of the d.c. council heard an update on the metro's smoke investigation today. it was also the first time that we've had a chance to hear from an official at metro about monday's deadly incident. joce sterman is live at the wilson building in northwest with more on what he had to say. joce? >> sadly, alison, he didn't have much to say because of that ongoing federal investigation, the board chair is bound by confidentiality. he's got to keep what he knows quiet and keep it to himself. earlier today on the fifth floor, city council put tom downs through the paces. they wanted answers and so do we! auto >> were the maintenance records up to date? >> i can't speak to it. >> metro's board chair says the st and needed repairs underground all part of the national transportation safety board investigation which he cannot talk about at all. downs appeared before the city council today fielding their questions and ours as well. it was a frustrating session so says the members who

live tonight in northwest washington caroline tucker abc 7 news. >> all right. very pleasant disposition considering those conditions. all right, caroline, thank you. so while many worked today, others got a snow day. take a look picture that page posted to the wjla facebook page. big smile in rockville from the little girl maybe her little brother also there making a snow angel in the background. nikita showed her dog dane enjoying snow for the first time in gaithersburg. apparently, he liked catching and eating the snowflakes and a final picture from jill shows us a serene view in northwest this morning as a whole herd of deer a ascended upon an apartment complex. >> coming up next on abc 7 news at 5:00 why sony says a walkman is worth get this, more than >> more on the weather now. in addition to today's snow, we've seen temperatures dip into the 20's. now, imagine facing that and the even colder weather ahead without heat. that is the reality for one southeast washington community and 7 on your side trouble shooter horace holmes is there tonight with what's

caroline tucker shows us the s to recovery. >> they are putting the pieces back together here at eden center in falls church. >> very heard a very loud bang. with an explosion. and then she ran -- everybody ran outside. >> that was yesterday when fire officials say propane and oxygen missed to create that explosion inside princess diamonds. it destroyed the jewelry store, neighboring businesses like this salon which are now feeling the effects. >> so there is damage. some electrical wires. >> outside, the water on the floor. >> over at this neighboring restaurant, power was lost and so were pounds of pork and other food. >> take the damage, it really hurts. >> three people were hurt. the center's senior vice president says it was a customer, jewelry repair worker and the shop's owner vivian wynne who were cut up from the glass. he says she is out of the hospital. >> it wasn't the injury. it was how is our store? >> only a small portion were affected and repairs are already under way to that jewelry shop. >> they'll be back in business as quickly as the contractor can put the space bac

at the lincoln memorial caroline tucker abc 7 news. >> how about that? that's got to be really special for those kids to be at that special place. it makes the speech and the message come real to everybody, don't you think? >> it's amazing. gives you chills to hear the little voices reading such big words. amazing. that's it for us at 5:00. >> all right. coming your way at 6:00, new information on the metro's smoke investigation. what the just released preliminary report reveals. plus -- >> it is moving day at the governor's mansion. take a look at this. i'm brad bell in annapolis. coming up, governor martin o'malley takes time away from packing to talk about his legacy and his possible future plans. >> right now, we're learning new details into what led to monday's l'enfant plaza metro smoke incident. the national transportation safety board just released its preliminary report about the incident that killed one woman and sent more than 80 people to the hospital. richard reid is live at l'enfant plaza with the new information from the report. rich? >> y

caroline tucker shows us how one d.c. teacher received the surprise of her career today. >> take off! >> this is what learning looks like inside michelle johnson's second grade classroom. the elementary school in northwest d.c. inspires her students. >> we learn more with her because she is smart and we're smart, too. rying until i get the right answer. and miss johnson said don't give up. >> many here qualify for free or reduced lunch. and some are just learning english. >> their hard work pays off. they mean everything to me. i'm here every day because of them. >> little did johnson know that at a morning assembly all these people were here for her. >> the winner for this year of the milken award, miss michelle johnson! >> the milken award is known as the oscars of teaching. it's recognition and $25,000. >> she has engaged with children that will generate one to two years behind their grade level. and after a year with her, they're not only at grade level but well above grade level. >> johnson is in her sixth year of te

our caroline tucker tells us how many have been exposed and why many students are angry at the school. >> a student who attended classes at the university of the district of columbia's community college on north capital street has tuberculosis. u.d.c. was told january 12th when d.c.'s tuberculosis unit at the department of health notified school officials. >> that student is under the care of d.c. d.o.h. and will not be returning to the public until he has been cleared by d.o.h. >> according to the school the student took classes in the fall of 2014. they've identified 60 students and three staff members who had close contact. they were all sent a letter in the mail. >> primary concern. >> u.d.c. posted a memo on its website and also put out a tweet about it today. students here though don't think that's enough. jasmine reid checked her e-mail but said nothing was sent out to the student body. >> i think that's crazy. something is going on. >> there should be something signs posted on the window somewhere just to let students know. there should be a massive e-mail. >> definitely shoul

one of the only issues found on this continent is at the newseum where caroline tucker is live tonight. caroline? >> alison you know we're standing right under the words of the first amendment here at the newseum and right on display here in color is that edition, that first edition of charlie hebdo which states that, you know, "i am charlie" and this is the first edition since that terrible attack in france last week. >> you can get your international news fix at the newsroom on connecticut avenue in northwest. >> yesterday almost -- >> 200 calls looking for one hard to find newspaper. charlie hebdo's first issue since last week's deadly attack hit newsstands today. but not in d.c. tom shelton used to live in france. >> most interesting supporting the idea of free speech. >> at newsworld down the street, no luck either. the charlie hebdo weekly prints 60,000 copies normally but this time, three million copies were printed which still isn't enough. lucas leblanc is a franco american who wanted to spend his money to show support. >> it's important that we show solidarity. doesn't mean t