the jury heard from 91-year-old former governor marvin mandell. >> straightforward, honest, i never had a problem under any circumstance. >> also this morning a minor victory for the defendant paul -- decide today throw out one of the charges against him, the judge decided there was not enough evidence presented by the prosecution for them to move forward with an obstruction of justice charge. wjz eyewitness news. >>> cafe consultant jewel you goes on trial for similar charges in february. >>> kidnapped overseas, al queda says it's holding a maryland man hostage in pakistan. it kidnapped him in august. al queda's leader posted a video today saying he would be released only if the united states stopped all air strikes and releases all al queda and taliban suspects around the world. >>> breaking silence, prime suspect in the disappearance of maryland woman in aruba explained his bizarre behavior after she vanished. it raises new questions about what really happened. >> reporter: in his first interview after being released, gary refused to answer questions about how robyn gardner disappear

another witness yesterday included former mayor marvin mandel and former michael republican chairman michael steele. >> when you go to church some say it's the last place you will be judge but a church voted to ban from them someone in the sanctuary. corinne redman is here with new reaction on how it happened. >> reporter: well, this story is making head he lines this morning. that's because a small -- headlines this morning because a small church is banning interracial couples from the church. the church voted 9-6 on sunday to ban interracial couples from church services and function with the exception of funerals. a couple are the couple -- the couple met at a georgetown college in kentucky where they both went to school and are scheduled to marry in july 2012. woman's parents had been church members for decades and her mother a sunday schoolteacher and father deacon twhresm shocked and stunned when they were told they would be banned from the church. -- deacon. they were shocked and stunned when they were told they would be band from the church. >> -- banned from the church. >> he

for example, former governor marvin mandell 13 months and prosecutors say it's "nonsense" that race played any role in the johnson case. >>> well, it is not against the law. it's not even against policy, but is using your personal e- mail and cell phone to conduct city, county or federal government business okay? does it make a difference if you're doing it to avoid having the information made public? those questions tonight after d.c.'s cities chief financial officer admitted in a deposition that he had used his personal e-mail regularly to avoid having his correspondence included in the freedom of information requests from the media and public. the d.c. attorney general says while it is not a crime, it is not a good policy to follow. >> and it doesn't have the effect of avoiding disclosure under freedom of information act or in litigation. >> dorothy brazil, executive director of d.c. watch says some city staff have gone to private cell phones and personal e-mails to avoid the several federal probes the council members and the mayor. >>> tonight former penn state assistant coach jerry sa

former governors ehrlich and marvin mandel took the stand yesterdray to vouch for schurick's character. schurick's lawyers have argued that the roboball was political free speech and therefore protected by the first amendment. the defense will continue their case today. kim dacey, wbal-tv 11 news. >> thank you. here is matt lauer with a look at what is coming up next on the "today" show. >> good morning. the leader of al qaeda announces they are holding an aid worker that was kidnapped back in august and he will be released after a string of demands is met. western states slammed by strong winds. thousands are without power. schools in los angeles are closed for a second day. a family reunion 40 years in the making. we will catch up with a cast of one of the most beloved tv shows of all time. shopping bargains. that and much more on a friday here on "today." >> 30 degrees on tv hill. >> we will come back and check the weather and traffic together before you head out to start your day. >> icy in certain spots. >> tony gave us the explanation. >> it is ice fog. accident on the ramp on 70

they also heard from former governor marvin mandell. >> straightforward. honest, never had a problem under any circumstances. >> reporter: the day for paul suric, started with a minor victory early this morning. the judge decided to throw out one of the criminal charges against suric, the obstruction of justice charge. the judge said in this case, the prosecution did not present enough evidence to prove the obstruction of justice. derek valcourt, wjz eyewitness news. >> derek, thank you. campaign consultant julius henson goes on trial for similar charges in february. >>> gunshots fired at the pentagon and other military targets. and now, a judge orders an exmarine with ties to baltimore to remain behind bars. weijia jiang is live in the newsroom with the latest on this high-profile case. >> reporter: prosecutors say jonathan milacku is a high flight risk and a danger. he is accused of a string of military targets in and around washington, d.c., including the pentagon and the marine corps museum. he was arrested in june, when he was spotted in the arlington