suzanne: charles is excited. >> eve it be a shame. suzanne: suzanne kennedy, abc 7 news. kimberly: stay with abc 7 and wjla.com to go inside the festival over the next month. media sponsorsd and we will have updates on schedule events for the cherry blossom festival. a lot of us have worried about the cold wet weather impacting the blossoms, but seems they are at a hardy stage right now. said, it the director was right before peak, a wind coming in, a little bit of snow, that would affect it. what we got today is not completely done for the winter weather. the temperatures, we may not get to freezing monday morning, so not a worry. we are holding steady, well above freezing. that means we are still at the melting and freezing temperature. doppler radar, the last couple of drizzle drops, flakes falling down. effectively done with precipitation tonight. doppler radar shows that going through. that is round one. the information today, came in a couple days ago, then came back. the trend is we will get they storm system over the atlantic. we are sure of that. how much that it

i'm suzanne kennedy. i will tell you what the weekend weather means for the flowering favorites when "abc7 news at 5:00" returns. we need women in congress. if we want to be heard, it was the women who forced republicans to include women's health and contraceptive coverage in the affordable care act. in congress, i'll fight for pay equity, family leave and tougher gun safety laws. and, as an environmentalist, i'll work combat climate change. i know as a journalist and as a senior executive in business that when women are at the table, we get things done. i'm kathleen mathews and i approve this message. you leon: the official kickoff of the cherry blossom is going to kick off in a few hours. we're a sponsor of the festivities. alison: this weekend's forecast has some wondering about the future of the flowers. suzanne kennedy live along the tidal basin to ease the concerns for us. >> they're gorgeous. so beautiful. suzanne: the blossoming beauties synonymous with spring in d.c. are poised to make the debut.

suzanne kennedy has that from landover. suzanne: the stabbing happened behind me in the apartment. today they went to annapolis to lobby for legislation. another tool if you will to help stem the tid violence. angela alsobrooks told me of seven of the eighth homicides in the county have been domestic in nature, including this that took place in early february where her woman and 2-year-old daughter were shot outside the townhouse in fort washington. allegedly by the baby's father. children have been present at the most recent domestic homicides in the county. people must speak up and get themselves and others help. we were raised in a culture that said mind your business. you can no longer mind your business. you have to get involved. suzanne: tonight at 5:00, surprising statistics about how prince george's county compares to the rest of the state. when it comes to domestic related homicides. reporting live in tonight in landover, suzanne kennedy, abc7 michelle: we want anyone you know to get help. go to wjla.com and search domestic hotline. we have the phone number of the local an

in battery park, suzanne kennedy, abc7 news. leon: talk about the weather. we're seeing signs we may be rid of winter for a little while. in place of the gray skies and the cold w sunshine. it will only get warmer. steve rudin has a look at how warm we will get. steve: this is the beginning. if you thought it was the cool side we will warm up big time. look outside. this is from the weather bug network. winter green hanging on to a little wenter with the snow on the ground. skiing looks rough. 53 degrees. winds out of the south/southwest around 9 miles per hour. middle 60's for fredericks, leesburg, reagan, manassas. wind speed five to 15 miles per hour. it will ease a little bit later tonight. there are cloudy skies. no rain to speak of. it will fall to the the early 40's in the morning. we talk about the potential for breaking records at the reagan national airport. and the pollen count, uh-oh. get ready. big changes are on the way. oh, boy. more in a few minutes. alison: that is what is going on. there are big sports stories today. one is happening here l

let's get started with suzanne kennedy in arlington. suzanne: summer is not even spring yet and yet it feels like summer. the temperature behind me is the degrees. you can see about a half dozen people getting in their evening lapse, a gorgeous night to do that on a record-setting weather day. it's the kind of day you wish you were a kid, or a dock with a great honor to take you on a long walk. -- or a dog with a great owner to take you on a long walk. not complaining area x -- >> i'm not complaining. record-setting weather had people beginning to garden. >> we are planting lettuce, celery, carrots. >> i go around every morning and look to see what popping above the ground. inside to outside on days like these, who doesn't want to play a little hoops on an unseasonably warm day? >> i am enjoying it. i feel great. i look for.weather >> lunchtime in arlington meant time to lace up and play a little soccer. like he can't miss a chance like this. perfect. suzanne: definitely perfect was the feeling with so many people at the dmv today. we h

suzanne kennedy continues our team coverage live from landover tonight. suzanne? suzanne: of the 18 murders committed in prince george's county this year, seven have been domestic homicides. from a mother and her 2-year-old child gunned down allegedly by the baby's father to a fatal stabbing at the landover apartment complex. to two women gunned down overnight while a child watched. prince george's county state's attorney angela alsobrooks says the violence is horrific. today he she lobbied in annapols for legislation to expand the definition of abuse and harassment. >> we need everything possible at our disposal to hold individuals accountable, to reprove dangerous people from our street looking at when they see the cases. >> statewide last year, maryland saw a 22% drop in modestic homicides. look at -- in domestic homicides. look at prince george's county the number of domestic murders nearly tripled according to the network against domestic violence. advocates say everyone needs to get involved and get the victims some help. >> we believe if they get help, they

for the latest on the global response we will turn to suzanne kennedy who is joining us live with the satellite center and the latest. >> this is what authorities feared would happen after paris terrorist suspect salah abdeslam was arrested last week. brussels is grieving and on a heightened sense of alert. >> smoke at the airport. two bombs explode. one at rush hour and the second outside a starbucks. manhunt now underway for a possible suspect in the airport prior to the explosion. >> one detonated by a suicide bomber. >> you see the smoke. >> loud and more panic set in. people started running. >> another explosion in maelbeek. the passengers were evacuated through the subway tunnel as the transport system was shut down. >> i can't explain. it looked like war. it's unbelievable. it's really hard. >> i saw injuries and people dead. i saw everything broken. >> in cuba president obama offering condolences to the victim of the latest terror attack. president obama: this is another reminder that the world must unite. we must be together regardless of nationality or race faith. >> as part

reporting live in washington, suzanne kennedy, abc7 news. jonathan: thank you. earlier trump trump did give an update on the hotel. the building, the old post office in d.c. he is doing overin the hotel. he started to interview for staff. watch. >> do you mind if i do a job interview? we ne >> fine. >> what is your experience in front of the world? jonathan: they have had problems of the restaurants and plans after trump's controversial comments. we will have more and whether or not the woman got the job at 4:30. michelle: well, we are monitoring a developing story out of the eastern shore where the delaware department of natural resources found four dead bald eagles overnight. one of them was found near dasdborough. the other three a mile away in a farm field in piney neck. 13 bald eagles found last month in maryland. if you have any information call the police. jonathan: breaking news. this coming to us from the commonwealth where there is a report now that a person has been struck by a vehicle while attempting to do repairs. this is video we are just getting

suzanne kennedy joins us. the debate ises no like we have seen before. >> there was a moment that had many people wondering allowed did he really say that? now today comes criticism that donald trump's comments have no place on the road to the white house. call it crass or classless the comment that has never been heard in presidential debate. >> look at those hands. are they small hands. and he referred to my hands if they're small, something else must be small. i guarantee you there is no problem. i guarantee it. it was eyebrow raising. >> on national tv who does that? can we be normal? we have to be outrageous on tv? is that what it is about now? >> disgraceful. it doesn't belong in a political debate at all. is this high school? >> less than 12 hours after the debate, marco rubio, pressed disappoint at the ranker displayed in the campaign. >> donald trump for the last year made it one of the most vulgar spectacles in political history. >> etiquette expert was shocked the off-color topic was brought up in t

in arlington, suzanne kennedy, abc7 news. jonathan: it could soon be illegal to smoke cigarettes in a car with young children. threes this virginia -- at least? virginia. i applies to anyone under 8 is in a vehicle. you could face $100 fine if you are caught. the house voted in february and the senate passed it march 3. now it goes to the governor mcauliffe's desk. if he signs it, it will go into effect july 1. time for a check of the traffic situation. jamie sullivan is joining us with the details. that look like a mess. jamie: you c here, a bit of activity. this is 66 right here 123. the issue we have had is an earlier accident which just added to this delay. you will be in the traffic at this point to outbound and the beltway and past the point. if you have to get into d.c. or leave d.c. we have volume on the southeast/southwest freeway. getting there from 395 to north third street tunnel approaching the 11th street bridge. we are clear southbound 295. heading north on kemworth avenue. typical volume. doug: tomorrow is the

in arlington, suzanne kennedy, abc7 news. leon: melt row plan to close tomorrow -- metro plan to close tomorrow will put extra drivers to the road in the area everywhere. jamie sullivan on traffic watch with a look at the alternatives if you have to hit the road tomorrow. jamie: we have extra people. if you drive i suggest an extra 45 minutes. if you leave anytime after 5:00 or 5:30 tomorrow morning. capital bike share, the metro buses will be running. yubeer, lyft but keep the -- uber, lyft but the surge charges will go up. the -- streetcar or circulator. carpool, or walk. tomorrow morning it's really nice to walk. tomorrow afternoon you need the umbrella. bring it with you. but weather is not terrible in morning if you want to walk. as we move to take a live look outside now. 66, volume we have and heading eastbound. keep in mind accident activity over to the left-hand side. you can get through but this is the traffic lav city, jammed to fairfax. >> 700,000 people a day ride metro. >> yeah. doug: wow! leon: incredible. you

in bethesda, maryland, suzanne kennedy, abc7 news. maureen: for more details and tributes to nancy reagan go to our website wjla.com. leon: now to the race for the white house. and a new poll that finds a tightening race in florida. donald trump has an eight-point lead over senator marco rubio in rubio's home state. previous po 20-point advantage. the primary is fete for next week. tomorrow there is a republican contest in four states. trump has 87 delegate lead over senator ted cruz. >> clinton and sanders squared off in flint in their latest debate. they campaign in michigan today. candidates will attend a town hall tonight. late this afternoon, former new york city mayor and billionaire michael bloomberg announced he will not be running for president as a third party candidate. alison: coming up -- announcer: you're watching "abc7 news at 6:00". no stafford county firefighters are back on the job after trying to do the right thing. they rushed an 18-month-old child to the hospital in a fire truck rather than to wait for an ambulanc

in that crowd, our very own suzanne kennedy, autria godfrey, were participating.o this was an indoor cycling event at the equinox sports club. the money raised goes to the memorial sloan-kettering cancer organization. they are so pumped up. devon: that bright and early ride. kimberly: some of us will ride monday and tuesday. devon: spring is finally returning. before we get there, one last push of winter coming in. cloud cover in washington. national harbor, looking south of washington, high of 45. 38washington, 39 baltimore, annapolis and patuxent river. the south and west. view with the radar imagery, rain is headed our way. the interaction with the colder air and some snowflakes are coming down. upper-level system is quick to come in and go out. mainly just rain at the start. of washington and we just get clipped by it. some sunshinep tomorrow to bring the temperatures up as well. real warm-up begins monday. we don't stop there, going into tuesday, wednesday being the warmest. a more highly detailed forecast where you are, the exact same forecast. tracking what is going on tonight

suzanne kennedy is live at one polling station in arlington. suzanne? suzanne: michelle, we have seen a steady stream of voters throughout the day here at the wilson school in the rosslyn section of arlington county. i just checked a few minutes ago. they have had close to 900 people cast their ballots at this location. that is a very strong showing on this important day. with record high numbers predicted, some virginia precincts reported 20% voter turn-out. by midday nearly a thousand people cast their ballots at the i have -- vienna polling place with the votes nearly bound and determined i had to be here today. suzanne: like many millennials, this first-time voter is casting his ballot for bernie sanders. >> he looking for the things i want -- he's looking for the things i want. like free tuition. >> donald trump is trying to preserve the culture, the border and the language. he is unashamed act it. suzanne: some virginia voters were motivated by the attitude. >> it's a mess. for grown-ups they should be acting in a more mature way. >> it is like no

in tappahannock, virginia, suzanne kennedy, abc7 news. scott: it may have been 70 degrees in the district yesterday but parts of iowa got hammered by spring snow there. sioux city residents digging themselves out today after getting battered with more than 14 inches overnight. after interstate 29 was actually shut down for hours the city officials said 50 workers will spend the day clearing the roadways to make them drivable. makes you realize how lucky we are with this weather. michelle: a rough easter weekend for those folks. but us on the other hand are looking good. doug: it will turn cooler for tomorrow and sunday for past couple of days. we'll take it. delightful outside. we are counting down to the cherry blossoms for a long time. a couple other things we're counting down. the nats' home opener, summer begins in 87 days. so we are thinking warm spots on friday afternoon. the temperatures, good today. not 75 from yesterday but it's 68. we'll take that with the reagan national and skies partly cloudy. it's upper 60's to lower 70's in

suzanne: in tappahannock, virginia, suzanne kennedy, abc7 news. alison: that will do it for "abc7 news at 5:00". here is what is coming up at 6:00 -- it is a big weekend, of course, events in d.c. with the cherry blossoms. there is a wizards game, a caps game as well. stepped up security in the wake of the brussels attack. also ahead -- candidates feuding over spouses. the war of words between donald trump and ted cruz takes a new turn. christians around the world and in the district mark good friday. the "abc7 news at 6:00" starts right now. announcer: now, "abc7 news at 6:00". on your side. leon: this week's terrorists attacks attacks attacks in europe is on the minds of eve the minds this weekend. and we have a look at the stepped up efforts. stephen tschida? stephen: maureen, the nation's capital is bustling right now. you have a game here tonight at the verizon center. a lot of people are here. cherry blossoms, crowds there, and the standard attractions sum as the museums -- such as the museums. a lot of people along the capital and a lot enj

in northwest washington, suzanne kennedy, abc7 news. michelle: you can learn more about the warning signs for colon cancer at wjla.com. jonathan: coming up next at "abc7 news at 4:00" -- sitting down to do your taxes this weekend? there is a warning before you start so you don't waste your time and money. michelle: but first -- >> 911. hello? greenville county 911. michelle: knew the right numbers but not exactly what to say. this toddler's adorable reason for calling 911 is next. jonathan: trending now in an emergency you know to call 911. more parents teach their children that important series of numbers, three numbers we threat the great stories about the kids saving lives after learning to dial. as we little bit more education on what an actual emergency is could be useful. >> deputy sheriff two times. >> 2-year-old little girl named alea was happy to see deputy martha lonus. they sang and laughed together in her home on el dorado drive where the deputy was yesterday responding to a call. >> her grandfather answered the door. and sh

for the latest on the global response we will turn to suzanne kennedy who is joining us live with the satellite center and the latest. >> this is what authorities feared would happen after paris terrorist suspect salah abdeslam was arrested last week. brussels is grieving and on a heightened sense of alert. >> smoke at the airport. two bombs explode. one at rush hour and the second outside a starbucks. manhunt now underway for a possible suspect in the airport prior to the explosion. >> one detonated by a suicide

reporting live, suzanne kennedy, abc7 news. leon: all right. keep an eye on things. get back to us if you see something interesting. aipac conference is about more than donald trump and his views. scott thma this is a rare event where the candidates from both parties speak to the same audience in the same day. scott: that is right. they are all put under the microphone. this is as far as the testing grounds go on the road to the white house that is seen as one of the bigger ones. we are talking about the pro israel lobbying group. they will let you know at the voting members. the only person not here is bernie sanders. he had a scheduling conflict. but a lot of the controversy as you mentioned is about the impending comments of donald trump. well, he hasn't even spoken yet. critics are known. hillary clinton was speaking earlier today and she went after him with the not so subtle dig at his stance saying that you need to seem as if you are neutral when going into the negotiating process. take a >> we need steady hands. not a president who is neutral on monday, pro is

suzanne kennedy live at the zoo with the latest with what is going on out there. they have moved in the barricades that wi have moved ie barricades that will remain in place. this will remain closed down for the rest of the day. >> this happened at popular habitat for the beavers and the otters. >> a big loud bang that sounded like something falling off of a crane. >> the zoo officials say the situation took place at a small mechanical building that houses filtration at the american trail. discovered by a con track that smelled chlorine while working. >> he left the area and following that there was a bang. he was not overcome. he has been checked out by the e.m.t.'s and the health unit. >> e.m.s. responded to bring in has doz response team. they spent hours to figure out the source of the problem and if it's safe to reopen to visitors. >> with chlorine it can be dangerous. if in high concentration. >> sarah tidwell visiting from texas. she and her 12-year-old was near the exhibit when it took place. >> it sounded like metal or banging on the door. >> it was conce

reporting live at the national zoo, suzanne kennedy, abc7 news. michelle: thank you. metro showed us this video of the frayed jumper cables and now more than a dozen are fixed. jonathan: all lines on time today as wmata visibly over the past to change the strategy from metro. brianne carter has more on the strategy. brianne: this comes after a show-stopper was discovered here at the foggy bottom metro station. ment to the general manager said there will be a change with the policies and the practices to keep the rails safe. we sat down today with wiedefeld less than 24 hours after defects were discovered. if it wasn't for the fire, this wouldn't have been discovered until inspections were slated to happen and it wasn't to happen until june. he is coming up with a plane to detect the issues before they threaten the safety. >> we will come out with a different plan. it will require different technology. >> now remember the metro officials said tracks were checked after the deadly smoke incident. we have the situation 14 months later that happened this week. wiedefeld ca

including suzanne kennedy who is there with a look at what we can expect. a few trees are opening up and are showing off now. suzanne: very few but it is hard to believe on a day like today, when it is unseasonably warm we'll head into a cold snap. i want to show you what is happening here along the tidal basin. some of the trees look like this, the buds are closed and not open yet. if you look here you see a few peaking through. all of these are poised to open. for most part the buds are in the stage between the fourth and the fifth stage of blooming. there are a total of six stages. they are in what is call the it means right before the bloom they are in the stage where they will head to the puppy white stage as you saw the one i just showed you. the national park service says the roller coaster temperatures made planning for the peak bloom very difficult. they are hoping this weekend's weather that the impact will be minimal. >> cautiously optimistic the blossoms are not far enough out, at least the most abundant of the trees are not far enough out they