but 16 year-old mennet z eka was crossing at bridge water road and bensalem boulevard when she was hit. "eyewitness news" reporter syma chowdhry is live with more details, syma. >> reporter: jessica, friends of the zeka will be holding a vigil for her tonight, zeka was crossing the street and she was struck by an suv as she was trying to on her school bus. the friend we spoke with said she was a kind person who had a bright future. >> oh, my god, she's dead. she got hit. >> reporter: friend of 16 year-old mennet zeka are devastate todd learn she was killed trying to get on her school bus. it happened on bensalem boulevard near bridge water road at 6:40 wednesday morning. >> i don't think people see the lights or they just don't care they get past it. >> reporter: police say the girl was taken to the hospital where she was pronounced dead. >> i used to ride the bus every day with her. >> reporter: danielle madio

says shied saved her life at the bus stop earlier this month. >> she grabbed me a couple weeks ago to get me out of the way of cars. i was than the there for her today report report driver is an 18 year-old high school student at a technical school, police say he drove past the buses stop sign arm and hit zeka as she crossed the street were four other students. >> when didn't see it or disregarded it, i don't know, investigation is on going. >> reporter: grief counselors were at the the high school where zeka was a sophomore and technical the driver attend. there are no crossing guards for students but school officials will see if that policy should be modified and if other changes are needed. >> some of the things that we're looking at here is increasing bus routes, changing bus locations. >> reporter: school officials say it is up to the police department to deciding whether or not high school students need cross willing guards. now school officials and police will meet tomorrow afternoon, to discuss some of these safety issues. as for the driver he has, his identity has in the been

released and so far in charges have been filed. we are live from bensalem, syma chowdhry for cbs-3 "eyewitness news". >> thank you. new at 6:00 charges have been filed in the poconos crash that killed three bucks county teenager. the wayne county district attorney announced the arrest of five three-year old michael wear of scarsdale new york. the authorities say wear allowed a teenage girl to drive his vehicle even though she did not have a driver's license or a permit . the victims ryan lesher, colin keffer and shamus digney were students at council rock high school. we have learned that the u.s. and cuba will restore diplomatic relations for the first time in 50 years. the move was announced immediately after the release of american alan gross who had been a prisoner in cuba for the last five years. the president hopes to open an embassy in had van, ease travel restrictions and allow for more business between the two countries. >> i believe that we can do more to support the cuban people and promote our rally

with yous through engagement. after all, these 50 years have shown that isolation has not worked. it the is time for a new approach. >> reporter: but reaction to the move from philadelphia's cuban community has been mixed. the prospect of opening up more opportunities for business and education though is certainly encouraging for many who have settled here. our pat ciarrocchi has more. >> reporter: restaurant he will man day cuba built the philadelphia connection with cuba 14 years ago. now the co-owner, chef douglass rodriguez, who is cuban american, envisions a new economic landscape. >> this bridge that is between cuba and miami has been middle part has been broken for so many years and now to see it come back together, it is just unbelievable. it is a historical moment. >> reporter: history making a u.s. embassy will open, banking regulations eased and travel is expect to be less restrictive.

rodriguez's parents had to leave family behind, and they have never returned. >> in our own family people had to stay behind and when you see them, they regret that they didn't have the opportunity to come here and be educated or make choices, that is most important thing, making choices. >> reporter: rodriguez calls the island magical. peggy goldman a friendly planet travel believes and believe's the president step is a i good one for business. >> i see this as an opportunity to make cuba accessible to many more people. >> reporter: until now travel was restrict in time and places where tourist could go, will travelers had to prepay and carry cash. now, credit cards whip be able to be used. >> that will make it possible for more people to visit, and to visit with less hassle, less of the by chris that i exist today. >> reporter: in the meantime new jersey senator robert menendez blasted the decision. >> at a critical moment in which the regime would have to

make decision toss change because its own economic vitality will be sustain we will send tons of money. it is just fund. ly wrong. i disagree. >> reporter: he disagrees with the president. menendez says there are no guaranties that the cube inn regime will change its economic suppression of the people have the lifting embargo with cuba will take congressional approval. menendez went on the record that he would not support any change in u.s. policy with cuba. in the sat center, pat ciarrocchi, cbs-3 "eyewitness news". pat, thanks very much. the "cbs evening news" with scott pelley will have much more on the release of alan gross and this historic a announce on u.s. cuban relations coming up at 6:30 right after "eyewitness news". outside today a windy but mild december day. the cooler air is set to return, plus possibly a chance for some snow this weekend. meteorologist kathy orr is live on the sky deck, checking all of the changes, kathy. >> it is turning blustery on the sky deck, those wind

persist we are gusting to 30 miles an hour and cold air is moving in, as we speak. temperatures today though were quite mild, we made it up to 53 degrees in philadelphia, that is very mild for this time of the year and the average high on this date is only 44 degrees. so, we're seeing the changes and that means it is last mild day for a while. upper level low over the great lakes, keeping it cloudy over us, and those clouds will give way to clearing overnight and temperatures will fall further. forty-seven in philadelphia. atlantic city. thirty-four in the poconos. forty-two in reading. temperatures continue to plunge. we have stiff wind out of the north west between 15 and 20 miles an hour for most of the evening, and then that will continue in the overnight. we will watch temperatures fall through the 40's into the 30's by 11:00 o'clock, expect less wind buzz clearing skies. coming up we will talk more about the cold that is coming, we're looking for a sunny day, we have not had one yet, this entire month, and the next chance of snow is in that

seven day forecast. two storms to talk about before we make to it christmas. i will be back with that later in the broadcast. a student is accused of bringing a gun into a high school in northeast philadelphia "eyewitness news" reporter david spunt is live at samuel fels tonight with the question people are asking what about the metal detectors, david. >> reporter: chris, a great question that is what parents want to know, they are very concerned about these detectors, 1100 students walked through the the doors of this high school every day and they pass through those detectors and parents want to know why were they not working. students walked out of samuel fels high school after police spent several hours searching every nook and cranny of the large building. hours after learning that there was a gun inside of the school, police found a silver revolver in the trash cannot school's weight room. >> there is metal detectors, there is video surveillance of the entrance, so right new we are reviewing northeast detectives is doing an investigation and they are reviewing the video of each entrance and exit. >> reporter: student snapped a

cell phone picture of the gun and showed it to administrators but police say students were in the cooperating, forcing detectives to do their own search. students waited and they were told to be still. >> you just start seeing policeman, come by, swat. >> they said that the school is on lock down because we found a gun in here but school is on lock down monday too. >> reporter: coleman says she was not worried about the gun but outside the school her mother was and what he relieved in shots were fired. now she's demanding answer about metal detectors. >> how does a gun get inside the school when they have metal detectors. >> reporter: that student, mention that had on monday school was lock down and there was a report of a weapon on monday. turnout to be nothing but police. they want to look in this metal detector issue. an 18 year-old is in custody right now being charged with bringing a gun on campus, we are told he is a student here at the school. we are live from northeast philadelphia tonight, david spunt for cbs-3 "eyewitness

news". >> david, thank you. >> new information in the investigation in the cause of death of bradley stone, man behind a killing spree in montgomery county. authorities believe that stone took his own life, in a wooded area near his home in pens berg yesterday. prosecutors say that stone had a deep stan wound in his leg but that didn't kill him. toxicology tests are now pending, a man shed i an an ax type object covered in blood were found near his bod which medicine bottles an a energy drink. knew him didn't necessity about his troubled past. >> i don't ever remember anybody having a problem with him. >> when i saw in 2011 he was drinking, he had different prescriptions for antidepressants. >> reporter: authorities say stone kill his ex-wife nicole and five members of her family on monday. a teenager survived the rampage. new at 6:00 tonight a family of the brigantine, new jersey woman who fell down a elevator shaft in fenway a

park in boston is suing the parent company of the red sox and the elevator company. lawsuit claims that the closed door swung opened when liz scottbrand brushed against it back in may causing her to fall two stories. she suffered severe brain damage in that fall as well as final injuries and facial fractures. her medical expenses reportedly passed more than a quarter million-dollar. pennsylvania's governor elect is warning that the state's budget deficit threatens the state's fiscal health. at a news conference today tom wolf says his research shows a $2 billion deficit. he a says growth can't get the state out of debt. >> this is an example if we grow over the next five years at the outside rate, best rate over 20 to 25 years, even then we will have have an over $2 billion deficit at the end of those five years. >> wolf said state needs to brace for fiscal tightening in the coming years. local police are calling

on the community to be a second pair of eyes. still ahead at 6:00 we will tell where poem and business owners are urged to join the fight against crime. plus a major announce. from the mummers, new years day won't be the only big parade of 2015. mild air is gone, cold is coming, temperatures are plunging, i'll show what you to expect the rest of the week and as we head toward christmas. well, eagles hoping to escape another loss this week in washington to keep their playoffs hopes alive but they will be without a key player on defense. we will have much more coming up later in sports.

chicken is popular, low in fat and high in protein but it can contain a chemical some try to avoid and won't find it on the label. stephanie stahl has that story at 11:00. lindenwald police want to know where their town's surveillance camera are. >> as cleve bryan shows us police are hoping they can use some extra eye. and, at grocery stores, a surveillance system to be well worth the investment. >> when they see cam why they don't do something bad. >> reporter: since many of the 300 or so businessness lindenwald have security cameras police department rolled out a initiative to

create a public/private surveillance network where you can register your camera. >> it cost nothing for merchant or resident to sign up to. it is a mechanism where they can let us know that there are cameras available, should we have an incident. >> reporter: citizen electronic eye program will help businesses find out if crimes have occurred near them and then they cannery lay that video to police to help them build leads. registered camera owner will get a e-mail or call letting them know what time incident happened and what to look for. >> we build trust with the community. we have them being an extension of us, our eyes, our eyes, and, you know, solve crimes quickly. >> reporter: this past june surveillance at an apartment complex in lindenwald captured a hit and run collision on the white horse pike. soon after police released a video they got a tip to help them find the the suspect. philadelphia has a similar program that helped them solve the abduction of cash leash a gaither. >> you can read about an incident and how terrible and gruesome it was but until you see it with your own eyes you may not understand.

>> reporter: police are asking any person or business owner with cameras to contact them now about getting enrolled. in lindenwald, i'm cleve bryan, cbs-3 "eyewitness news". this year mummers will be celebrating more than the new year, they are taking on mardi gras. >> we will be hosting a mummers parade on main street in manayunk this february. >> reporter: this parade will feature string band and not just fun but it is a fundraiser designed to ensure the philadelphia tradition keeps going strong for years to come. that parade is set for sunday even if between the second, from ten until noon that sound like fun. >> santa claus made a very special deliver toy day, jolly old saint nick arrived at cooper university hospital in a helicopter, to deliver gifts to sick children. he also spent sometime with the young patients there. now you may wonder why a helicopter and in the his sleigh? apparently santa's reindeer need to rest up and build up their strength for their big night coming up next week. a reminder our joy of

sharing campaign is well underway. we encourage to you buy a new, unwrapped toy and drop it here in our studio a at 1555 hamilton street in our studio from 6:00 in the morning until 8:00 at night. for a list of other drop off locations and there are many, go to cbs philly.com/joy or call 215-977-joys. eyewitness weather watchers are saying these temperatures, don't tell the whole story. we're in the 40's across much of the region but the wind is making it feel colder. lets take a look at the locations. we will go to newark, delaware where temperature is 44. wind only at 5 miles an hour. pressure is rising, high pressure moves back in and that does mean we will see additional sunshine during the the day time tomorrow. the lets take a you'll into our suburbs and look at these numbers. it is 43 degrees right now, lewis reporting from norristown. you can see wind at 10 miles an hour, rising pressure

always a good thing. the wind continue to be gusty there. 44 degrees to the north of pottstown. kevin is reporting in temperatures that will be falling quickly as skies begin to clear, and slight wind there, so not as much of a windy situation, and north of warrington, irwin is reporting 44 degrees in doylestown and relative humidity a at 50 percent. the nice clear nice, stars, but no moon yet reported by his granddaughter. so the whole family can be involved and be an eyewitness weather watcher. the just join the team, become a watcher by going to cbs philly dot the come/watchers. it was a gorgeous sunset tonight and we captured it, with our cbs-3 cam, sky cam three in atlantic city. look at this gorgeous picture as the skies clear down the shore, long enough to see the sunset. gorgeous. we are seeing some snow, to the north, jack frost big boulder, we need those colder temperatures to make more snow and we will have the cold

coming in tonight but still skiers and snow borders taking to the mountains, you see him skiing like chris may right there. don't fall, don't fall. wind gusting to 29 miles an hour in the poconos, philadelphia gusting to 30. trenton 29. right now millville gusting to 24, at the airport in atlantic city wind gusting to 30 miles an hour. higher gusts today. right now in philadelphia 47. thirty-four in the poconos. and 42 degrees in our western suburbs. you can see the cold to the north and west. this cold will be coming in, to the south, we have some warmth. we will say good bye to that and see a piece of this cold moving in overnight tonight as temperatures do fall in the 30's and some of our suburbs in the 20's. on storm scan three the clouds starting to give way as a disturbance to the north continues to push towards the north and the east and we will see winds continue at least through evening and then subside during the overnight. it will be mostly sunny for thursday, still gusty wind but at least sun comes out finally been a very cloudy december and looking for our first

sunny day of the entire in on friday with temperatures that are in the 40's. once the cold moves in it will stay. we have talk about a system over the course of the weekend. that looks like it will be the to the south. we will see precipitation christmas eve and it looks like low pressure system goes over great lakes. we will stay on the east side of the storm and that means unfortunately mainly rain and not snow, we will continue to check on this and make sure that nothing changes a and it will be nice to have white. overnight look for a low of 33. during the the day the high only 43. it is seasonal and chilly. on the exclusive seven day forecast, the cold is here, right through the the weekend, staying dry for saturday and sunday with the coastal storm to the south and then monday, tuesday, and wednesday, temperatures warming. look at christmas eve, that is wednesday, 52 and rain, yuck. we don't want rain. we tenth want travel issues. we dent want rain. >> we will see what happens.

>> kathy, thanks. good afternoon, we will start off right now where we have jams on the vine street expressway, pretty typical for this time, drive home here, so westbound looking better here headed towards schuylkill expressway but mess of the damage is in the eastbound lanes heading toward 95 really slow go there. a spot we love to have have jammed up is the schuylkill expressway at city avenue. we are very used to this head westbound to the king of prussia area moving are slowly. a few accidents out there, one in montgomery county and haverford station road at montgomery avenue. another with fire police in montgomery county, sunny dale pike at heather drive with the accident and fire police on the scene directing traffic around the incident. 202 having no problems heading southbound but 422, westbound from 202 into oaks only a some tenth minute trip. stay right

and at eagles prepare for washington on saturday they will be without outside linebacker trent cole. he had surgery to repair a broken bone in his left hand that he injured late in sunday's loss against dallas. brandon graham will be taking his place. >> brandon can set a edge, he can rush a quarterback, do a better job in pass coverage. we have been happy with him. he a has really dedicated himself and has played better from a special teams standpoint and every phase, we have had an opportunity to get bg on the field he has done a good job. >> nick foles was back at practice as his broken collar bone continues to heel. he will not play this at day but did throw more during today's practice then he had in weeks. chip kill difficult not rule out foles returning at some point but just not right now. you you can watch eagles game right here on cbs-3. we have a full day of football action for you, we will get you red which toyota kick off special at the 3:30, at 4:00 nfl network pregame show

followed by eagles and washington at 4:30. then chargers and 49ers. all right here on cbs-3. the philadelphia flyers spent holiday cheer to day several players, and, new toys, to the salvation army center. donated, and, all part of the holiday toy drive. we will be right back with more news after this.

thanks for watching "eyewitness news" at 6:00 we are back at ten on our sister station wpsg the cw philly and back here at cbs-3 at one #. "cbs evening news" is next. scott pelley is in a havana reporting as u. is announced thaw in the relation was cuba plus remembering the amazing murrow boys. nora o'donnell is in new york, she begins our coverage tonight.

>> o'donnell: tonight, a seismic shift in u.s. foreign policy. >> i've instructed secretary kerry to immediately begin discussions with cuba to reestablish diplomatic relations that have been severed since january 1961. >> o'donnell: some cubans celebrate. others are lived. >> this president has proven today his foreign policy is more than naive. it is willfully ignorant. >> o'donnell: i have a team of corporate covering this historical day including the role the pope played in making it happen. sony pulls an interview after hackers threaten terror attacks at theaters. bob orr has the latest. he was mistaken for a waiter, she for a store employee. employee. the couple