it will be a sold out crowd at wells fargo certainty you are excited. >> yes, indeed, leslie van arsdal joins us with more excitement, as we count down to tip off, leslie. >> it is moment we have been waiting for, for so long, it seems like, it is finally here sixers home opener. jim me now a very special guest we have sixers ceo scott o'neill. i mean i cannot remember last time people were very excited about the sixers. >> i can't remember last time i was this excited about the sixer. >> me. >> i'm bounce willing out of my chair. we have a sold out house. see t-shirts in the background i cannot wait to see simmons, embiid, saric, all go at it tonight. >> what do you expect atmosphere with the fans, who finally able to see these guys all together on the floor tonight. >> i was down in d.c. for our opener on the road, and the

fans, philly fans were going crazy, chanting defense and of course trust the process. and if you brought it there i cannot imagine how loud this roar will be here tonight. >> when you look out on the floor and you see a healthy joel embiid, markelle fultz and ben simmons you just want to pin much yourself right now >> after i get myself up off the floor and stop crying they are tears of joy i swear. it is exciting. we have the young core. we have been talking about this for four years. it is here, foundation is built and we are going to the moon. >> brett brown seems to be so ready for this season to start >> i think he is too with this roster. he and brian colangelo have done a marvelous job building this culture and putting this team together and getting us started. >> is there something special coming here. >> you cannot stop this freight train. >> thank you very much, thanks for having me. ukee, back to you in the studio. >> leslie, scott, thanks very much. chester county high school community comes together in unity during a time of racial

tension. they walk out of class today to take a stand against hate after two recent incidents involving other students. "eyewitness news" reporter david spunt has more from coatsville area senior high school. >> reporter: more than 200 high school students sat in the parking lot of coatsville area senior high school wearing black, earlier this week images of students with racist word and symbols carved into pumpkins surfaced on line , today was to stop that behavior. >> i felt disgusted. just for the fact that i knew some of the people in the picture. >> reporter: administrators and local police detectives have identified all of the kid in this picture but there is not much they can do. the picture was taken off school property, and authorities are not classifying the pumpkin carv ing as a hate crime. two principals at the school tell "eyewitness news" that they are upset by the image. earlier the entire student body joined by teachers, walked out of class as a show of unity. they met in the stadium.

>> i think that students definitely needed to have a voice and they needed to feel like they were heard and the events that they planned this morning i'm so very proud of them for doing that. >> students did a fantastic job today and in unifying as one. majority of the students did leave our event that was planned. >> reporter: but later 200 students, continued demonstration in front of the school, staying outside for the rest of the day. students also claim a dark skinned female doll was found hanging by the neck in the locker room. students claimed they repeatedly told administrators about the doll. >> it offended me because that doll looks like me. that doll looks like a lot of my friends, and they are not doing nothing about it. >> reporter: most principals told me they are disgusted by the pumpkin and doll incidents they say those are both under investigation and students who stayed outside all day to day and missed class could be subject to disciplinary action reporting from coatsville, david spunt for cbs-3 "eyewitness news".

and in south jersey, extra police officers were on hand at washington township high school today after racist text messages shared on social media sparked a fight among students there. the district held an emergency meeting last night for parents and students to discuss this issue. it started earlier this week when students confronted those involved in the group text that contained profanity and racial slurs. administrators say students involved in the racist message exchange and that fight have been suspended for 10 days. authorities in philadelphia say that they busted an illegal street gambling ring that generated millions of dollars in elicit profits calling the ring a true family affair. nine members of that ring are facing charges tonight in the case that investigators tried to crack for two decade. "eyewitness news" report's leash a nieves is live in center city with more details, alycia? well, authorities will not say how they were able to finally crack this case after 20 years, just that they are

relieved to have the cray family of philadelphia finally behind bars. this has been this case that has, haunted some detectives, of the police department their entire career. for over 20 years philadelphia police say they have been trying to bust this man gary cray senior for allegedly operating one of the largest illegal street lottery organizations in the city. since 1997, detective jerry rocks has been working the case. >> gary senior, insulated himself fairly well. >> reporter: detective rocks with the district attorney's office were finally able to announce that cray, senior is behind bars with several of the family members who allegedly helped him run the highly organized and elaborate illegal operation to place bets a player would fill out a carbon slip. >> reporter: d.a. outlined how cray offerings ran illegal street lottery business in philadelphia it operated out of unmarked buildings like this on south 17th street, one of the 40 locations that they allegedly had in the city, almost all in some of the most

poor neighborhood. >> most of the people that place bets at these location where is on fixed incomes and then taking a loss of that money, you any on a daily basis or from day to day. >> reporter: illegal street lotteries have better odd but not regulated. people are not protect. authorities say most they had while cray senior, his nephew, daughter and other family members in the organization, were living a life of luxury. those in the cray organization had mansion from his florida, philadelphia and owned some of the most expensive cars in the world. >> the illegal cray organization, was truly a family affair. one that generated millions of dollars, and i congratulate everyone who worked on this case. >> reporter: while police have been working this case for over 20 years they believe that the illegal operation was going on a lot longer. in fact they believe that gary cray senior inherited the operation from his father. now all of the nine members hoff been charged with all of the charges they have been facing they face up to 65

years in prison. reporting live from philadelphia, alycia nieves for cbs-3 "eyewitness news". thank you. philadelphia's famous reading terminal market is preparing for a big milestone. the market will celebrate its 125 birthday next year. today they held a press conference to outline festivities that they have planned. >> 2018 will be the year of the reading terminal market, a year in which we invite our most important constituents, the public, our customers, to join us in celebrating our past, experiencing our today and imaging our tomorrow. >> the festivity will officially begin on february 22nd, the markets official birthday. well, if you saw people repelling from the building in center city to day, it is okay , it was all for a good cause. philadelphia outward bound school took education, 29 stories up, and then came down the side of brandywine,

reality trust commerce square to raise money for their adventure program. >> thanks to brandywine reality trust we're here at commerce square and we are repelling 80 fundraisers from the roof of the commerce 129 stories, down to the ground and those individual have all raised money to support students on our outbound program. >> outward bounties world's oldest, largest adventure based education program, philadelphia is one of the just 11 of the programs across the country where students are challenged to get outside of the classroom and learn from excursions, so far, the program has raised just about 160,000 of its 300,000, dollars goal. >> how about that. >> um-hmm. still ahead on "eyewitness news" haircuts for the homeless. >> man whose passion toys keep everyone feeling fresh, clean, is getting a little bit of help. >> go out, and conquer the

world because there is still faith, i still believe in you. despite your circumstances we will give you a look at the business stepping up to keep him cutting and shaving through the winter. tori? it is friday football frenzy game of the week we are live in garnett veil taking on springfield high school, it is a big night seniors celebrating coming up we will talk to the head coach at springfield and get his strategy, lauren, you would love it here. it looks great, yes, you will be able to get your move on because you'll be happy with this weekend forecast, sunsetting on another gorgeous day and gorgeous weather will continue in the upcoming weekend but rain and cooler temperatures are in that forecast and i'll let you know when to

you're danny? i'm steve. joseph, i'm steve. how are you? nice to meet you sir. no different from everyone else. they just want a job. they want respect and they want dignity. steve called fairly frantic. you know, he had a premature baby and i think he had just been given the diagnosis that she had down syndrome. lauren brought out the best in me. she made me a different person. lauren's the spark that started the fire. the goal is keep places like this open so all people, regardless of disability, have an opportunity for employment.

it is a powerful mission. >> yeah, we told but the philadelphia bash shore is doing his part to help out the homeless, and people are taking notice. >> "eyewitness news" reporter anita oh shows us how his

generosity has turned into a blessing for his own family that allows him to keep on giving. >> ♪ >> reporter: at times we overlook what is right in front of us. >> you become like part of the furniture, just there. >> reporter: there is one man with the vision. >> way over to the side. >> reporter: truly see those who at times feel invisible. >> none of my business how they got in that situation but i make it my best to get out there. >> since january, 29 year-old, brandon jones has been a one man barber shop offering free haircuts to the homeless around philadelphia with this message. >> up just see the person for who they are. >> reporter: eyes also on him, his mission caught the attention of capers barber shop owner. >> hi. >> reporter: sean johnson. >> what he was doing down there i was very impressed. >> reporter: so johnson who recently bought another space a few doors down from his own

had an idea pay it forward. >> here it is. and now thanks to a generous gifts haircuts for home less has a brand new home, new shop , fully furnished and red ty serve. >> when i first walk in i was blend away. >> reporter: when he opens in in he plans to dedicate machine to serve homeless partnering with shelters, stylist toss provide transportation, cut and foot food. >> is there a safe haven for me to continue to touch and bless those lives out there, a lot of times you obviously forget about. >> reporter: one haircut at a time is proving that his clippers and compassion. >> go out and, you know, get some energy ready. >> reporter: kindness can transform more than just an appearance, it can uplift a soul. >> i know there is good in this world. >> reporter: anita oh for cbs-3 "eyewitness news". >> how about that.

>> yes. >> i first met him, a brotherly love he has been doing great things. >> really great story no doubt bit. >> lauren has your forecast on this friday. >> yes, friday, friday eve, smooth sailing in the weekend and gorgeous sunset on going right now. look at that, cape may, a live look from sky scan red night at night, sailor's delight. >> exactly. >> that is going to come through as we head in the upcoming weekend because we have more sunshine in store, more unseasonal warmth and comfortable humidity levels. we have a live look at center city philadelphia just some blue in our sky, sunnies setting, 72 degrees, wind northwest at 9 miles an hour, so a lit built of the breeze kicking so temperatures are feeling nice and comfortable. sixty-eight in allentown. sixty-one in mount pocono. sixty-eight in atlantic city. still 72 in dover. dew points they tell us how sticky it feels when dew point s down in the 30's and doesn't feel sticky at all,

feels nice, dry, crisp and comfortable, fall like. that will be the trend again tomorrow, and as we head into sunday still feeling very pleasant but by monday dew points will creep up back near that 60-degree mark. we will be bordering on humid late day machine and tuesday in advance of the next weather system but for right now weather system high pressure giving as you lot of clear skies all up and down eastern seaboard. not even a cloud, grazing the sky and overnight tonight, clear sky condition, cool temperatures, nice, quiet falling back down to 51 degrees. for our upcoming weekend just a beauty, 78 degrees tomorrow, 10 degrees above our average on sunday, 77 degrees, under a mostly sunny skies, still very comfortable. as we head into next monday we will see more cloud cover moving in. humidity starting to increase a bit as well but we will stay dry heading out to the bird game, and of course, you are taking on washington 73 degrees at kick off, powe game 68 degrees so still a very mild, so we will keep high pressure in control for

upcoming weekend in to monday as well before our next storm system arrives as we head not until next tuesday but it will be a stronger storm system at this point models indicating widespread rain will develop across the delaware valley, even looks like we will have some stronger wind in the mid levels of the atmosphere bringing in some thunderstorms and those thunderstorms could produce strong gusty wind. stay tuned to that evolving forecast as we head in the next couple of days but until then nice, quiet, comfortable. tuesday we are still up at 74 degrees, to well above average but on the back side of the system temperatures cool down to near seasonal level, as we head into wednesday 64 degrees with gradual clearing and then nice crisp and cool as we head into next thursday. 61 degrees, until then, that is unseasonable warmth and will continue, even click on that ac tomorrow with that run at near 80-degree high temperatures. >> wow. >> ac, okay. >> nice week. >> sure has.

>> thanks very much. leslie van arsdal is monitoring the 76ers tonight from the wells fargo center. time for the home opener, leslie. >> oh, we can feel the excitement in the building, yes, moment we have been waiting for sixers home opener , this is year five of their coach brett brown and let me tell you, he is ready for this season, he can't wait , to play in front of their fans, tonight, we will hear from him next in

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it feels like that old sixers celtics rivalry again too. >> leslie van arsdal joins us from the well with fans ready to go, leslie. >> oh, we are ready to go. you can feel the excitement. is there only a few guys left on the court warming up, it is the home opener, sixers taking on the celtics, so much excitement and expectations for this team, and especially for coach brett brown. this is going to be year five

of the process, brett has not had much to work with in his first four years, his record 75-254. now he has a healthy joel embiid, ben simmons and markelle fultz. you have the team that has a direction, and foundation. >> this crowd that we will go play in front of in here, it is loud, it is proud. good for them. good for them. we want to give them something to cheer for and cheer about. rarely has it been any simpler then just spilling your guts on the floor and playing hard. >> we have eagles getting ready for that huge game monday night down in washington linebacker michael kendricks, limited in practice today, but lets go back to the great game, the way they started the season, down in washington, and these two met in week number one where

eagles won this game 30-17. carson wentz threw for 307- yard, two touchdowns, let me tell you, he expects another tough, hard for the game monday night. >> big test for us, without a doubt we know week number one we did some things well, we left a lot of plays out on the field and they did good things too t it is one of the things when you know each other so well like this, both teams, you just got to come down to making plays and hopefully we can make more of them. it is friday night, you know what that means it is friday football frenzy and this game of the week is springfield at garnett valley. we will send it down to vittoria woodill with the all of the ago. >> all of the action, everybody is right here, that is right, it is friday football frenzy game of the week. i have two questions, one who will win tonight. >> wow, wow. >> here's my second question, willie make it on your snap chat story.

>> awesome. >> well, both teams tonight are eight-zero, garnett valley hosting springfield veil right here right at home and we talk to the head coach of springfield to see what he has as far as a strategy for today 's game. >> obviously garnett valley is well coached, they are well prepared, they play all faces well, big strong and tough, big game obviously. i'm hoping we will be ready for the challenge. >> is what your strategy. >> to keep them off the field but they are good in all phase s, they play everything well, like i said, they do, they don't make many mistakes they run the ball a lot and we will see if they will do something different. >> we will see what happens it comes down to this, two great teams, one big, big night and one fantastic crowd. ukee, nicole, back to you in the studio. >> i'm telling you, go ahead. >> she's ready. >> she's ready to go.

>> give them a wave. >> is what up, gang. >> hey, guys. >> that is great. >> "cbs evening news" just a few minutes away. >> anthony mason has a look at is what ahead, hi anthony. >> tonight white house keeps up attacks on a florida congress woman but video surfaces that appears to show chief of staff john kelly had his facts wrong. plus another harvey weinstein accuser comes forward, what one state is doing to put puppy mills out of business. he wanted to inspire act of kindness steve hartman's on the road tribute just ahead on the "cbs evening news". but first up for magic. >> harry potter is taking over chestnut hill look at how, little witches and wizard are celebrating the boy

adventure for, mushroom growers. crystal based in kennett square, is helping the chinese start a state of the art mushroom production facility just outside shanghai. >> chester county commissioners and chester county economic council is part of the partnership a lonzo expects to grow 12 million-pound at the new facility becoming one of the larger single site producers, of mushrooms, in the world.

>> um-hmm. are you a harry potter, super fan? chestnut hill is opening up its doors to wizard and witch these weekend. >> harry potter festival has return to germantown avenue, and tonight you can energy live musical performances, shopping, lots of food, drink specials, and then at 8:00 show off your best costume for the contest. the harry potter theme fun continues saturday with 12 blocks of activities, and the eighth annual philadelphia brotherly love, cup quitditch tournament at chestnut hill college. >> and the celebration of all things potter isn't just happening here across the pond a new british library exhibit exhibit is tracing history of magic to mark 20th anniversary of the first book, exhibit harry potter a history of magic looks at magic and nature of belief revealing many of the things, the fans thought were imagery were actually based on fact or foulke lure. >> how about it. >> thanks so much for watching "eyewitness news" at 6:00 we will return at tenor our

sister station cw philly. back at >> as we say in the south, all hat, no cattle. >> mason: the feud escalates. >> he was wrong yesterday. >> mason: video does not support john kelly's allegations about a florida congresswoman. >> if you want to get into a debate with a four-star marine general, i think that that's something highly inappropriate. >> mason: also tonight... >> we're at a watershed moment. >> mason: ...the star aligns against harvey weinstein. >> i think his last name will become a noun and a verb. >> mason: california orders pet stores to sell only rescues. >> we will no longer tolerate the inhumane treatment of animals. >> mason: and steve hartman remembers a man with a modest ambition: >> if i have enough time, i'll change the world.