. >> from the cbs broadcast center in philadelphia. this is cbs-3 "eyewitness news". and today is friday, december 19th, good morning, i'm ukee washington. >> i'm erika von tiehl. stories we're following today: outrage from an instagram photo. now the philadelphia paramedic who posted it offers his apology. an act of heroism caught on camera. foiled robbery at south jersey drug store. >> and with time running out, billionaire investors pumps much needed cash to keep the trump taj mahal casino from closing. >> let's get the friday forecast as we start off. >> it is "joy of "joy of sharin" today. we have a big truck in our lot. how is it looking? >> i think looking dry, tranquil, chilly, feels lick winter, makes outwent give. good day for.

that will really looking forward to the event. here today at the studios, expecting quiet weather for it. we continue to feel the chill through the weekends, and then next week basically whole new ballgame. a, a lot of people traveling leading up to the christmas holiday, b, looks like large storm will in fact develop. and i'll tell you exactly how we expect that to affect our region coming up the next few. back to you. >> philadelphia fire paramedic apologizes for photo post today his personal instagram page. >> the disturbing pictures shows two men pointing guns at the head after man who is dressed as a police officer. "eyewitness news" reporter jan carabeo picks up the story outside the fire administration building right now. jan? >> reporter: ukee, erika, the social media post causing quite the controversy. now the paramedics responsible for posting it has taken it down and apologize r for his actions, here it is, we grabbed it before he took it down off his stain gram account. it is again by philadelphia paramedics. picture shows white man posing

as a police officer while two black men point guns at him. the post reads: real enemy. need to stop pointing guns at each other and at the ones that's legally killing innocence. the still picture posted actually take friend music video called hands up which voices frustration over the recent deaths of michael brown and eric garner. now the pose has upset many within the philadelphia police department. the paramedics who made the post works at medics 23 in west philadelphia which just so happens to share a building with the 19th police district. thursday night fire commissioner derrick soar said he personally apologized to police commissioner charles ramsey, the head of the fraternal order of police charles mcnesby. >> i think we have a great working relationship with the police in our city. i think we want to keep that. a lot of members have family members that are police officers, also. so, it it was in poor taste. >> now, mayor michael nutter also condemned the post and issued a statement that reads in part: in the strongest

terms possible, i comdemn the behavior of a par met i can in the philadelphia fire department who used social media to post a reprehensible message and photo that targeted police officers particularly at a time of emotional volatile at this and citizen protest in our nation in the wake of tragedies of ferguson and new york city. head of the firefighters and paramedics union is also backing up the police department at this point there is no word of any disciplinary action against that paramedics who posted this photo to his instagram account. reporting live in spring garden, jan carabeo, cbs-3, "eyewitness news". >> jan, thank you. 4:33, let's get back to kate. >> i good morning, they are making snow right now up in the poconos, you can see the man-made snow coming out here almost like a jet, and it will continue, i think, to be a scene that we find up here probably through the better part of the day. because we had some milder air earlier in the week. if you see, see actually down across the southern or at least the bottom portion of the screen here how some of

the snow a chance to melt away. now the cold air is here, their stay, and pretty quiet weather at least initially. looking like pretty decent ski weekend. storm scan3 quiet, do have cloud cover out there, much like what we saw yesterday, where you have got some clouds, you have got some sunshine, sort of mix of the two, but it will be a dry day for our region as a whole as we're sort of just quieting down for couple of days here, sitting between system. 37 degrees at northwest international, northwest breeze up at mount pocono at 29 degrees, out in atlantic city at 34 right now, again still with noticeable breeze, but not necessarily a real harsh wind for you. but it is knocking those feels like values backhand full of degrees, feeling more like 30 at the airport, more like the teens in the poconos, more like the 20's in outlying suburbs, as the day progresses here expect to see the clouds thinning out, sunshine much like what we saw yesterday, and temperatures that top off to the low 40's, which it is seasonable, but chilly, so still bundle up. it is late december, what do

you expect, right, vittoria. >> absolutely, we'll take it, at least sunshine, good morning, traveling out and about right now, you will not have any problems, no delays, the roads are wide open for you, great way to start your friday, and let's start first with a little construction traveling on 95, we're used to, that traveling on 95. ninety-five through the construction zones of both cottman and girard, active, so if you are traveling out, there unless, it will be a little built of squeeze. bye it has been a squeeze pretty much every day since they've started that. traveling on the 42 freeway, also little bit of construction northbound as you make your way approaching creek road. no delays, 4:35, and really we never tends to see rush hour at this time. so you are in the clear for the most part. as we move, however, into south jersey, garden state parkway southbound closed at sea isle boulevard, all because after accident, so if you are traveling by the shore point in this area, route nine, would be your best alternate. moving now to the wide speed censors reflecting again great morning, 50 your average on the schuylkill, 55 on 95, same thing travel on the blue route, pa turnpike, another

east extension, all good news, however, we do have accident if you are traveling at river road anbar on hill road. try to avoid that area if you can. no major delays for mass transit. ukee? >> vittoria, thank you. new this morning, one car crash on the schuylkill expressway cents one person to the hospital overnight. happened just after 2:30, i76 westbound between the exit for 30th street and the vine street expressway. the crash took out one lane, but, everything is back open once again right now. >> developing right now, heart breaking discovery in northern australia. police responding to report of an injured woman, they found bodies of eight children. they were siblings, from 18 months to 15 years old. it is unclear how the children died. their mother is undergoing treatment for stab wounds. she is helping police in their investigation. a quick trip to south jersey drug store turned into a battle with a robbery suspect for an off-duty police officers and a son. it all happened monday night at the cvs north black horse

pike in runnemede. police say that the suspect held up the pharmacy at knife point, taking $11,000 worth of pills, and then headed toward the exit. that's when sergeant dan murray sprang into action. >> i grounds him at the front of the door, started wrestling with him, at that time i saw brian murray jumped in, helped me, he went just being like a cop, like you could tell he knew what he was doing, really something else. he was saying i'm the hero. he is the hero. i'm real proud of him. >> third customer also helped subdue the suspect who police identified as 27 year old matthew donohoe. he's being held on $100,000 bail on robbery, and related charges. >> cbs news has learned, us officials are inning willing north korea to the cyber attack against sony pictures. theatres took down posters for the interview. after sony pictures announced it is scrapping release of the controversial film. the james frankel seth rogan film centers around assassination plot to kill the leader of north korea sony

pulled it after threats of september 11 style attack on theatres showing the phil graham this is something being treated as serious national security matter. there is evidence to indicate that we've seen destructive activity with malicious intent that was initiated by a sophisticated actor. >> the interview cost about $40 million to make. but insiders say the final total of the hack could run into the hundreds of millions making it possibly the most damaging cyber attack ever on an american business. >> it was supposed to shutdown tomorrow, but the taj is getting reprieve. carl eye cane, to keep it operating while bankruptcy proceedings play out, the announcement came after a deal to save the taj fell apart. it would have kept the casino open permanently, and restored health and pension benefits to union workers. >> the made when we left the room, everything looks good, told us everything is good. don't know.

>> there is just nobody in there. it is just kind of sad in there. >> icahn planes to take control of the taj, if he can get substantial tax breaks. 4:39 right now. there is much more to cover here on cbs-3, "eyewitness news", hawaiian volcano acting up again. >> in sport, flyers play last home game before they go on extensive road trip. back in two minute.

>> the search is on for this huge fire. five alarm err rips through apartment building on 97th street and queens. that will fire started on the top floors, and then spread in a attic over several amounts. everyone got out safely. there were no serious injuries. we're told there are 24 aoun knits that building, everyone who lives there is staying somewhere else. >> an update now from hawaii. lava from active volcano on

hawaii big island has flowed, but still on track to hit shopping center in the small town of pahowa. emergency officials say the molten rock was no more than 1300 yards away from the edge after marketplace, and it advanced about 165 yards since wednesday. lava from the volcano coming some flatter terrain. >> 4:33, folks headed taught do holiday shopping this weekend. how are we looking? >> final errands, if you have them on your to do list, you can check them off without the need of an umbrella very quiet start to the forecast, very active finish. so, into next week, we're leading to up christmas, a lot of people are traveling, and there is a large storm that is going to be developing. >> rain, right? >> for us it is looking like mainly rain. but depending where your travels take you, you have to be paying attention to this one, one to watch, not just going to be potent system, it will be a large one, as well. already seeing some of the moisture that will eventually

become that storm, moving on shore way out west, we take you around the map, start things offer on storm scan, which hey at least it is quiet, good today, good tomorrow, good sunday, as well. that's just because the storm we had our eye on, beginning to form right now, just going steel well clear, just doesn't have the energy or the track necessary to bring us much more than couple of clouds through the course of the weekends. we can handle that. now, here is the moisture i was mentioning a moment ago. already starting to bring in some rain across northwestern california, up toward the pacific northwest, and that will eventually merge with another piece of energy off across the deep south. those two come together, and you got yourself a large storm system. but that's not until next week. so for now, quiet. some sunshine, much like we saw yesterday, we will see intervals sun, clouds. stormy just showed will you pass us by. that bodes well for the eagles game, too. likely just looking at few clouds and chill in the air when we head down to landover tomorrow. meanwhile, sunday, back to the 40's, still with partly sunny skies, as high pressure generally ruling the roost here.

but, it is only partially in control. so even though we don't have system, we might still have few clouds. sunshine out there today, seasonable chill, low drops to 29 tonight. it will be cold but not quite so breezy, so what you see a lot closer to what you get on the thermometer really the next few days, monday already starting starting to see the signs of life on radar from the combination of the next storm, how big it is, so warmfront moves through, through tuesday, that allows us to warm up. and because we're warming up so much, again, this generally looks like it would be heavy rain and wind on christmas eve. and then as long as the timing pans out, we will be clearing out in time for christmas. ukee, back over to you. >> thank if you, katie n sports the 76ers have good chance to win their first home game tonight when they host the six and 19 charlotte hornets at the wells fargo center, both teams are at the bottom of their division, time is 7:00. flyers get ready to kick off eight game road trip after another tough loss last night to the panthers. flyers and sixers are going to be moving out so the ice show can move in.

former flyer scottie upshall got the first goal of the game. fly guys tide it up, by jake bore check there is usually goes to shoot-outment something philadelphia struggled with this season, yes, mason just scored on twice, comes down to final shot by sean. but it is stopped by florida goalie robert. panthers win this one. final score two-one. >> the eagles get ready to head south for key dish i have i shall until markup against washington tomorrow afternoon. mat atticly not miss win for the birds, did you depending what happens with the cowboys, lost could set them back even further in the nfc east where time running out at one and 11, washington look to go play spoiler, shady mccoy knows they cannot take anything for granted. >> unique wins, and they're a team where just trying to finish the season out, and i've been there. i know that type of role. even play hard, but i mean, you probably got your flight always scheduled where ever you are going.

>> making reservations before the offer season. don't forget you can catch that game here on cbs36789 coverage begins with toyota kick off special at 3:30 followed by nfl network pre-game show at 4:00. at 4:30, eagles and redskins, bonus coverage as the charge he is take on the 49ers, full day of football action, right here, on cbs-3. still ahead on "eyewitness news" this morning, that long wait for your tax refund could be a little longer next year. >> not what outwent hear. >> i here you. >> first what's coming up today on cbs-3.

>> here is a look at your headlines this morning, the philadelphia fire department is apologizing for a picture posted on paramedic instagram account. it shows a man posing as a police officer with two men pointing guns at him. off duty police officer foils an armed robbery at cvs

in new jersey surveillance video shows the officer wrestling with a man before a back up arrived and he was taken into custody. >> billionaire investor carl icon is putting up $20 million to keep the trump taj mahal casino in atlantic city open until the conclusion of bankruptcy proceedings. the gaming hall was originally supposed to close tomorrow. our time now 4:49. let's get a check on business. >> money watch's wendy gillette joins us from the new york torque stock exchange, good to see wendy again. impressive showing on wall street, too. what happened? >> reporter: yes, the dow jones posted biggest gain in three years yesterday. the dow gained 421 points, ex standing ram i that began wednesday when the federal reserve indicated it is in no rush to raise interest rate. the nasdaq finished 104 points higher, so very good day for stocks yesterday. ukee, err dismay. >> wendy, before getting tax refunds, we all want it right away, usually, but that may not happen next year, i here? >> yes, unfortunately, the irs says budget cuts may delay

your tax refund, in 2015. congress cut the agency's budget by $346 million. the irs says it will have fewer agents auditing returns, and that 50% of people calling the agency for help won't be able to get through. this makes me very, very sad. i hope i get a refunds this year. >> i know, it is like christmas in march, when it arrives. >> isn't it, though? isn't it? we'll see what happens, thanks, wendy, see you later this morning. coming up after a short break, traffic and weather together, we do it on the

cbs-3 asking you to be part of the annual "joy of sharing" campaign. today last chance, looking liver right now, that's where we walk in every day, that's the cbs-3 studios, in about an hour we'll start excepting unwrapped toys. that will go to children in need of big old truck that will pull in there, oh, hang on, it is already there. there, ready to go. all that's missing is you and

your toys. >> come on down, we'll help you put it in the truck, take it from with a smile and a thank you, thank you so much, that time of year. >> we're asking to you drop off those toys right here at the studio at 1555 hamilton street in philadelphia. we will be out there at 6:00 this morning until 8:00 tonight. for list of other drop off locations, go to cbsphilly.com/joyce or call 215-977-joys. and if you want to drop that toy off right now, i mean, you got smooth sailing out on the roads, vittoria? >> the roads are wide open for to you bring as many toys as you can to cbs-3 studios, that's for sure, and is there any better feeling than the feeling of giving? i don't think so. you know what? it feels just as good as when you jump outside on the roadways, and they look lick. >> this take a look at the ben franklin bridge, no delays in either direct, all of the bridges look great. all of our majors are still looking beautiful. here is a look at 422, not too far away from the area of trooper. both sides of the roadway moving just fine. all of the majors are moving just fine. speed censors are high up to the 50's, 55, on 95, ooh on

the schuylkill expressway, 55 traveling on 476, the pa turnpike, northeast extension, they're all clear. however, moving our way, down to the shore points, the garden state parkway southbound is closed at sea isle boulevard. all because after accident, so your best alternate is to take route nine, if that's where you are headed. back over into pa do still have accident at river road at barren hill road. try to avoid that intersection if you can. and as we continue, i mean, really i feel like i have barely anything to report because mass transit looking great, the airport looking great, and i think that weather wise we're looking great. at least initially, vittoria, yes, and through the weekends, where earlier this week tends looked as though we might have storm system clipping our region. that will continues to steer well clear of our region, so looking at three straight days of quiet weather. even part of monday looking good, too, for nowment storm scan3, still showing cloud cover as we saw yesterday. and nice wide zoom shows retreat, though, still of the

storm system that brought through those two frontal boundaries earlier in the week. so still dealing with some residual cloud cover through that, high pressure trying to take over, and despite the clouds that we find here outside palmyra cove nature park overlooking center city offer in the dis tan here, you know, looking good. we have lighter winds than we saw yesterday. we certainly are looking ahead to some pretty great skiing weather if you are headed up to the pocono region, low mid 30's, general expectation, making snow as we speak, up at a lot of the resorts, and we can expect that chill to stay in place, but quiet weather, right through the weekends. now, things really starting to a little more downhill here in the next week. of course coming up on the christmas holiday, lots of people will be traveling, and wouldn't you noah large storm is set to develop. starting to bring in it first rain showers to our area for the second half of monday. that's the general timing we're expecting right now. and even though we warm up, into the next few days, beyond that, we will still have to deal with some rain specially on christmas eve itself. ukee, back to you. >> katie, thank you. here is a look at stories our sister station "kyw news

radio" 1060 will be following for you all day long. local congressman says the us should respond to the sony pictures cyber attack with severe sanctions. the roll that pope francis paid in getting the us and cube to normalize relations no surprise to philadelphia's archbishop. and the philadelphia orchestra fills the kimmel center with the glorious sound of christmas. check in two, three, four times a day, "kyw news radio" 1060 on your a.m. dial. erika? >> coming up in the next hour of "eyewitness news", latest on a par metric's. >> a truck employs into convenience store. police say that's not the only crime that driver committed. >> controversial comedy isn't the only casualty of the sony hacking, the latest move that i will never make it to theatres because of the scandal. we'll be right back.

>> philadelphia paramedic ignites a fire storm with this picture, now he's a p pom jews gment finds out what and his boss say about the controversial picture. >> also, a pharmacy robbery foiled during this violent confrontation. meet the brave heroes who risk their lives to stop that suspect. it is friday, december 19th, good morning, everyone, i'm ukee washington. >> i'm erika von tiehl. also this morning, unspeakable crime. eight siblings, all found dead in their home, their mother's now in the hospital. we have the latest developments in this family tragedy. katie? >> erika, today is going to be nice quiet day for our area, we keep things very quiet in the weather department right through the weekends, but that will all begin to go downhill as we head into next week,

leading up to the christmas holiday, large storm to track, all of the details you need to know for your travel plans coming up. vittoria. >> thank you, on the roads right now, things are just wide open, giving awe big hug this morning. take a look at 95. we do have active construction zone, traveling through cottman avenue and girard. you will notice bit after squeeze. not seeing much for rush hour; however, things can definitely change. full report coming up. ukee? >> vittoria, thank you. in the news this morning, philadelphia fire department par met i can apologizes for photo posted to his personal instagram page. >> now the photo takes a dig at police, sparking outrage among first responders, who work side by side with officers every day. "eyewitness news" reporter jan carabeo, joins us now, outside the fire administration building with more on this story. jan, good morning. >> erika, ukee, good morning. what is clear is that the fire commissioner believes that this photo crossed the line. what's unclear at this point is whether the paramedics responsible for posting it will be disciplined. he