♪ >> live from the cbs broadcast center in philadelphia this is cbs3 "eyewitness news". tonight on "eyewitness news" a tour bus catches fire forcing more than two dozen passengers on to the highway. the on-ramp to i-95 north just reopened to traffic. good evening everyone, i'm natasha brown. thank you very much for joining us. officials tell us that at this hour all of the passengers made it off the bus safely. now the bus broke down in the northbound lanes of i-495 at the merge with 95 north. "eyewitness news" reporter joe holden is live in boothwyn, delaware county, at the pennsylvania welcome center right now where those passengers were taken. joe? >> reporter: natasha, good evening. all of those 35 passengers are back on their way after that unscheduled stop here at the pennsylvania delaware line because of that bus fire.

now, we have a couple of advantage points to show you. first let's take to you a traffic camera provided by the delaware department of transportation showing in the back ground a smoking bus and those three dozen passengers stranded along the highway. we're told another driver was able to flag down the bus driver to alert him to the fire burning in the bus' rear engine compartment. now the incident closed the 495 northbound on-ramp to i-95 for hours as natasha just said it just reopened a short time ago. now, those who had to flee their smoke filled bus were taken here to the pennsylvania welcome center in boothwyn. there were no injuries. >> they get here and they see fire coming out of the row engine compartment of the bus. luckily all the occupants were able to get off the bus unassi unassisted so there were no injuries. >> it was a full bus, right. >> there were actually 35 people on board. >> reporter: now crews did move that broken down bus that was the cause for the delay and

reopening the highway making sure that, number one, the fire was out, number two, that there was no environmental problems when moving the bus a wrecker was brought in to facilitate that. once again i-495 at the 95 junction is reopened. we are working to determine, though, where the busway heading to and where its final destination of course that remains to be seen. reporting right now in boothwyn, joe holden cbs3 "eyewitness news". natasha? >> all right, joe, thank he so much. meantime two people were killed this morning in a head-on collision on route 202 in chester county. it happened just after 8:00 near mill lane and east whiteland township. police tell us a vehicle was traveling north in the southbound lanes and hit the second vehicle head on. both drivers were pronounced dead at the scene. route 202 south was closed for about seven hours while investigators cleared that accident. also after what felt like eternity of rain seems most of that moisture is behind us.

mild end to february does lie ahead. let's check in with meteorologist lauren casey tracking this soggy weekend we've been having. i was just talking to you laur lauren. like when are we ever going to seat sun again. >> i know. it's like we're all just walking around. >> like zombies. >> we haven't had any sunshine it is in the forecast it certainly has been over the last several days we've been dealing with the cloud cover, the dreary conditions and persistent rain at times. we've been stuck in this blocked up pattern since last thursday so doppler radar estimations of rainfall totals since then picking about an inch of the rainfall intensity all up until last night we saw the bulk of the rainfall fall last night through the first part of today and that made up much of our totals over the last several days. mount pocono picking up over an inch since midnight. allentown close to an inch. pottstown three quarters of an inch. well over half an inch in philadelphia and half an finch wilmington speaking of delaware looking live right now at hoe hoe beth beach it's dry. the boards are dry. there is no rainfalling on storm scan3, finally that rainfall has

worked on out still lots of cloud cover that is moving through the area but as we head into the day tomorrow, sunshine. finally it's going to return. boosting our spirits a little bit with that vital minute d as we head throughout the afterno afternoon. sunshine is going to be increasing across the delaware valley. then pretty nice as we head into the next couple of days to close out the month of february. running about 10 degrees above average monday, tuesday and wednesday. thursday we kick off the month of march. so will it come in like a lion or a lamb? the answer in your full eyewitness forecast coming up in just few. did you like that tease. >> that was very good, lauren. can't wait to hear. >> thank you so much. we'll see you soon. remember when we aren't on the air you can always get the latest on the current forecast and all of your headlines as well online at cbsphilly.com. now the annual mummers mardi gras parade made its way down soggy main street in manayunk and very special guest mummer was there tooting his own horn i might add. "eyewitness news" reporter alicia nieves is live in

manayunk tonight eagles center jason kelce was strutting his stuff just a short time ago. i'm sure he had his classic costume on, right, alicia? >> reporter: it sure did. eagles center came here on main street wearing that suit and also playing the saxophone with the avalon string band. i mean he just add to do what was already a great time happening here. a great time despite the wet and soggy weather. ♪ >> reporter: some of the best string bands in the region strutted their stuff at the fifth annual philadelphia mummers mardi gras parade in manayunk. >> ♪ >> reporter: this parade is part fundraise sr. for the philadelphia string band association but also -- ♪ >> reporter: part dance party. ♪ >> reporter: one even i couldn't resist. ♪ >> reporter: but this year it was also part, well, another

eagles celebration. >> everybody is stressed in eagles. everybody is doing the eagles chant. even the string bands are playing the eagles fight song. so we're all having a great time. >> reporter: for eagles fans the great times got better e-a-g-l-e-s!, eagles! >> reporter: eagles center jason kelce walked the parade in the iconic suit. ♪ >> reporter: performing with the avalon string band. >> jason kelce, he is the man. >> how cool is it seeing him in that same outfit he wore for the parade. >> i loved it. >> he's the best. he's a legend. >> um mrsa great tradition in philadelphia and these guys are kind enough to use their suit for the super bowl parade. i thought i'd honor them back for wearing it back in their parade. >> how is this one for you with fans here. >> this one was awesome. i've not played saxophone for like 12 years. i played earlier this week for the first time in 12 years with the central high school band. it's been fun, kind of getting back to that and -- >> how did you do this. >> very sub par i would say.

>> reporter: and jason kelce being a little hard on himself but the reality he could have hit sharp or flat notes the entire time fans didn't care. they were excited to see him again and of course to see him again in that mummers suit. live in manayunk, alicia nieves, cbs3 "eyewitness news". >> go mummers! >> he's an honorary mummer now. thank you very much, alicia. we appreciate that. well pennsylvania state senator daylin leach has now officially ended his congressional bid. the montgomery county democrat made this announcement last night in a facebook post in december leach was accused of by several female staffers of inappropriate sexual behavior including unwanted touching and comments. he made no mention of that in his announcement but he did fight toxic partisan politics in washington as the mape reason he's choosing not to run. also police continue their search for the gunman who shot a man early this morning in south philadelphia. the shooting happened just before 5:30 in the 700 block of

mckeon street in east passyunk crossing. police say the 31-year-old victim was not once in the abdomen. he was transported to jefferson university hospital where he's listed as stable at this point. and it was an emotional afternoon for many students who returned to marjory stoneman douglas high school in parkland, florida. students were invited to return to the campus today for counseling and many did return to the school accompanied by their parents. just two weeks ago, a gunman opened fire killing 17 people including teachers and classmates. >> i'm scareing to back. our school will be safer. >> the return of students comes as 74 republican members of the in order house call on governor rick scott to suspend broward county sheriff scott israel. florida's department of law enforcement is reviewing the initial response to the shooti shooting. there are claims now that three deputies did not enter the building when they should have as the shooting was taking

place. stay with us of one. still ahead on "eyewitness news" tonight. competitive gymnastics takes to the mat for the pink invitational in philadelphia but the meet is all about more than just their skills. >> it's the way these girls get empowered to give back. >> how the competitors are making a difference for those battling cancer. plus, olympic athletes from the united states are speaking out about the doping allegations that rocked the winter games. how they say it impacted moral. and coming up later, michelle obama is looking back non out her life and sharing her journey with the world. when her memoir is expected to hit store shelves.

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welcome back everyone. it does take a lot of time and skill to become a competitive gymnast and for 3800 girls today was the day to give it all they had at the pink invitational in philadelphia. but as "eyewitness news" reporter chante lans discover the annual meet also celebrated very special survivors. i like swinging from one bar to the other. >> reporter: gymnasts and sisters 12-year-old sarah and ten-year-old caitlin have been training and competing since they were two. >> it's really fun. like being a part of a team and like going pink and stuff like this. >> reporter: this competition at the philadelphia convention center is the largest gymnastics meet in the nation but its purpose is far more reaching.

>> we're, um, supporting breast cancer and, like, being united. >> nearly 90 teams making up more than 3800 girls are competing while raising a half a million dollars for treatment for breast cancer patients in the philadelphia area. the event is called the pink invitational. >> it's good to be supporting breast cancer and helping women out there get through the hard times. >> it's a way these girls get empowered to give back. >> reporter: long-time gymnastics coach sue weldon found unite for her which organizations the annual meet. in tepp years her group has raised two and a half million dollars. a special accomplishment for weldon because she's a breast cancer survivor. >> i am a 14 year survivor come april, may, and i knew there was a gap in the medical community and this to me helps us get to these women. >> reporter: if there's something you could say to the breast cancer survivors that

you're helping what would you tell them. >> i would tell them it's going to be okay. you're going to get through this. >> reporter: at the convention center, chante lans, cbs3 "eyewitness news". also, tonight, several united states athletes have thrown their support behind decision by the international olympic committee's executive board to up hold russia's ban from the closing ceremonies in pyeongchang. the decision came as several russian athletes tested positive for doping during the games. us free style skier david wise said cheating is cheating shouldn't not be rewarded. bob sledder elena meyers taylor agreed saying the recent revelations shaken the faith of clean athletes. >> i feel like there's been a loss in faith of the athletes of these scales games of all games because of the offense that is have occurred. so the more of us who are clean and we'll good out there and say, hey, we stand for clean sport the better we're all going to be. >> the americans were speaking as the united states olympic committee begins its assess

system of the winter olympic. let's check in with lauren casey who i think has got good news maybe seeing the sun eventually. >> yes. >> slowly but surely starting to see improvement. look. you can almost see the entire skyline of center city philadelphia. the low clouds lifting up. the rain coming to an end and drier air slowly building in. our temperature right now 46 degrees. winds out of the east at around 7 miles per hour. still have wind chill impact feeling like 42 degrees. had temperature grading across the area today chilly in the poconos a high at 39 degrees. we're in the upper 40s in philadelphia. but across portions of delaware, high temperatures topped in the middle 50's today and right now temperatures hanging out generally in the fours for most of us. we're at 46 degrees in allento allentown. 46 in reading. 48 degrees right now in wildwood with those winds out of the north driving in this drier air but we still do plentiful moisture at the surface because of that we have reduced visibles because of fog in the poconos down to bound 1 mile. fog being reported in reading,

philadelphia, wildwood, wilmington and overnight tonight still seeing areas of fog especially in the higher elevations up towards the lehigh valley and poconos with reduced visibilities cloudy conditions still. still damp, 43 degrees. but then the sun it's going to return tomorrow. a cloudy start to the day. as we head throughout the afternoon expect increasing sunshine and by the end of the day very pleasant. high temperatures running more than 10 degrees above average tomorrow. topping at 57. but, yes, it has been a wet month so far. our totals so far precipitation now this counts rainfall and the water equivalent and snowfall over 6-inches in philadelphia more than 3-inches above avera average. and we've had 19 days out of 25 days this month where we've had at least a trace of precipitation be it rainfall or snowfall reported at philadelphia international airport. so yeah, i think we need a break. we can use a nice sun thee day. storm scan3 showing us, though, that cloud deck still philadelphia international airport until place. it will start to break down. we had our most intense rainfall move through overnight last night and through the first part of the day today. but it did bring that same

system severe weather to parts of mid south. this is yesterday over the last 24 hours and unfortunately we saw two tornado again deaths one on the tennessee kentucky border also one in arkansas last night and breaks a record long streak of 283 days with no tornado deaths in the united states. that's a good reminder to always refresh your severe weather plan as we move closer to severe weather season but never want to see that but for us quiet conditions, sunshine returning tomorrow. sunny and nice on tuesday. staying dry into wednesday. closing out the month of february. and as we head into march, things will get a little more unsettled but for tomorrow, high temperatures generally in the 50's. 54 degrees in millville. 52 in allentown. 57 degrees with increasing sunshine in wilmington. tuesday beautiful day. chilly start down at 37 degrees. we top at 58. 61 on wednesday. and then the rain of course it returns into thursday. 54 degrees. cooler get little bit of east wind going. chillier in friday with lane

around and we could have a cool unsettle the start to the month of march. so not necessarily a lion not a lamb but just like,. >> what's in the middle. >> hybrid of those. >> a lion an lamb. >> let's figure out what that hybrid would be. >> thank you so much. >> think about that. appreciate it. is there church such a thing. >> i don't know. >> what's going on in sports. >> sixers keep rolling looking to keep their post super bowl momentum in a couple of hours. last night against the magic joel embiid helped lead the sixers he 28 points grabbed eight boards. the sixth time in the last seven games that joel has scored 20 or more points. after the game brett brown told us what impressed him most about joe joe's performance. >> he really has a disposition to defend. he's got a skill package to score but he's got a disposition to defend and him blocking shots and letting people know about it, that was the thing that excited me the most.

>> the flyers had the day off back in action tomorrow against the canadiens. orange and black and one point out of first place in the metropolitan division they won their fifth great game yesterday beatinbeating ottawa five-three. could the flyers make a move doctor the deadline. they can use a winger, defensive man. vorachek likes the team's make makeup. >> when you're winning when off season like that makes you feel more comfortable than if you're, you know, looking -- obviously you don't want the leaving you. you don't want to leave them. it's always tough. but i think it's different than the past. >> to baseball phillies outfielder will middle brook season is over. he suffered a broken fibula when he collide width another player yesterday. phillies had signed former red sox to a minor league deal during the off season. aaron nola with his first start of the spring today against the yankees. in the first he strikes out greg

bird. later in the inning danny espinosa with the bases clearing double to right. nola went two innings giving up three runs on four hits. striking out three. then in the fourth maikel franco crushes his first homer of the spring to left but the phillies will fall to the bronx bombers eight-three. >> you know the type of player you are, you know the type of person you are. i mean as far as the game goes, bro, i'm excited to see our bo boys. >> whatever it take eagles cornerback jaelin mills with a pre-game speech before the temple game. temple beat ucf. >> coming up tonight in the sports zone nhl trade deadline come up will the gm another player. dave isaac will weigh in and athletic meghan montgomery

murrow joining me to give us the latest from phillies spring training tonight after the late news here on cbs3. jalen got them going today. >> winning is contagious. >> i tollly agree. thank you so much leslie. we appreciate that. >> stay with us everyone. still ahead tonight on "eyewitness news" a former first lady getting real about her life and her past at the white house when you can get your hands on the new memoir michelle obama is publishing. it's very very revealing. coming up next.

welcome back everyone. former first lady michelle obama is putting pen to paper for second book but this time she is working on a memoir. book titled becoming is scheduled for release on

november 13th. publishers suggest the book will be about more than just experiences in the white house and will include intimate look at the early years of michelle obama's life. in 2012, she publish american grown which documents the white house kitchen garden and also promotes healthy living. stay with us, everyone. we're back in a moment.

this is not just another cute little dog. this girl has a job. a big job that brought her to old city because her nose knows what's dangerous. meet the girl making us a little safer that's tomorrow on cbs3 "eyewitness news" at 11:00. >> aww. >> that's my story. you guys will love it. it's a great story. >> can't wait. >> if i must say so myself. [ laughter ] >> i know. >> one laugh check of the forecast. >> drying out finally and turning sunny as we head into tomorrow afternoon. 57 degrees tuesday and wednesday looking very nice. high temperatures in the upper 50s and low 60s. then cooling off and the rain returns as we head into march. >> okay. all right. >> we had to end on downer. i'm natasha brown. thanks for watching. for lauren,

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captioning funded by cbs and ford. we go further, so you can. >> pelley: over seven years of civil war, the syrian government has repeatedly bombed its civilians. as we saw this past week outside damascus. incredibly, it has also continued to use chemical weapons on civilians-- not just a few times, but nearly 200 times. and tonight in our story you will see the awful truth. >> mulet: we have the big crater, sarin was released, more than 100 people were killed, more than 200 were affected, women and children. >> pelley: who is using the sarin? >> mulet: only the syrian government. >> jr: the people made me realize it's important in everything single pasting. >> cooper: dignity is something