Buzz: New year's, Friedgen, and a big stick

Good morning. I'm Elizabeth Flock, pitching in on Lori's A.M. Buzz while Lori's away.

The January thaw came early. Capital Weather Gang says the relief will continue, with warm temperatures up through New Year's Day. But be careful if you're traveling on the Rockville Pike today, which is icy after a bus fire.

Ready for New Year's? If you still haven't made plans for the night, never fear, our Going out Guide has last minute plans that include everything from vaudeville to totally 80's. Or ask the Going Out Gurus themselves in a live chat at 1p.m. today. I bet you haven't made your new year's resolution either. While you're thinking about it, check out our round up of the new year's resolutions our public figures kept and didn't keep in 2010. We hope you're better at keeping them than they are.

COMING UP 

A big stick stick up. At a Manassas Va., store Tuesday, a man barged in wielding an extremely large stick -- and then proceeded to rob the store. Armed robbery? Police think so. Check back in a few to see the video. 

NEED TO KNOW

Ralph Friedgen's finale. On the last night of his Maryland career the crowd chanted 'Thank You, Friedgen.' Our sports writer Mike Wise on how though  Friedgen never quit on Maryland, the university he loves can't say the same. Check out photos of the game if you missed it.

Immigration battle erupts in Virginia courts. Judge revisits cases for defendants who say they would not have pleaded if they had known that they would be deported. Some say the idea of a 'do-over' is ridiculous, but other judges have reopened the cases for good reason.

Car wash employee killed, another hurt. Montgomery police said a third employee apparently lost control of an SUV as he tried to drive it across a parking lot. The investigation is ongoing.

WANT TO KNOW

Pollution diet planned for Chesapeake. After this week's D grade on the 'State of the Bay' report, the EPA has unveiled a massive restoration plan for the Chesapeake Bay. It's aggressive, and it will take until 2025, but it just may work.

AROUND THE WEB

Washington Cardinal Appointed To Papal Advisory Groups (WAMU) 
Dominion Va. Power To Raise Rates Jan. 1 (WAMU) 
Vigil held on one-year anniversary of Carl Diener's murder.

That's it for now. We're here 24/7, so be sure to check with us for more news and headlines.