end then time out the cold air coming in. the futurecast confirming that the heavy rain will be away from connecticut and long island by 8:00 tonight. rain ending from new york city westward. another hour or two for long island. some of the heavy rain caused minor street flooding. be aware of that. take it slow on area roadways. a lag because the front stalls but a winter wind is about 24 hours away. a few snowflakes in the forecast and record warmth down the road ahead in accuweather. bill and liz, back to you for now. >> people are ready for winter. a big set back for health advocates and medical experts that insist flu shots are important. a new york judge overturning new york city rule that young kids have to get flu vaccines before they enroll in child care, preschool or pre-k. n.j. burkett is in brooklyn. >> reporter: preschool parents

vaccinate your kids or keep them home. it was supposed to go into effect in two weeks. now it won't happen because the regulation has been struck down. the ruling means that parents in new york city will have the choice, vaccinate your child against the flu or don't. >> no one is being prevented from getting a flu shot. every parent can get one. they are not required to do so. >> reporter: michelle carol is one of several parents that sued the city insisting that officials could not mandate flu vaccines. the judge agreed. only the new york state legislature retains the statutory authority to mandate vaccinations, not already expressed within the public health law, end quote. in other words, the flu vaccine was not one of them. >> we vaccinate our kids for a couple of reasons, to protect them and those around them that can't get vaccinated for

medical condition or some other reason. we do it for ourselves and others. >> reporter: if she had been vaccinated, amanda would have been 16 years old today. instead, she contracted flu and died at the age of 4. we spoke with her dad in scarsdale via skype. >> my daughter passed away from vaccinated. had she been vaccinated, i believe she would be here today. people need to speak to their doctors and rely and trust health care professionals and get vaccinated. >> reporter: parents like michelle carol aren't convinced. >> you are taking a risk. your child could get the flu? >> i'm comfortable with that risk. >> reporter: the city's health commissioner is extremely disappointed by the judge's ruling. no word on whether the city will appeal. n.j. burkett, channel 7 eyewitness news. >> thank you. mayor de blasio tonight

the growing homeless crisis. the mayor is promising a one hour response time to complaints about the homeless. he announced a program called nyc home stat that includes teams that will visit every block from canal to 145th streets each day to provide homeless people and provide them with services. >> for all of this to work the city of new york has to own this problem. we have to own it more assertively than we ever have. we have to reach the street homeless everyday. >> this is part of a shakeup of the city's homeless service programs. earlier this week the mayor announced the regular signature nation of the homeless commissioner. police in queens on a full court press trying to find the man who slashed a 16-year-old girl on her way to school yesterday and why. they have video of the masked attacker and investigators say they have been canvassing the neighborhood all day searching

stacey sager is in whitestone with the latest. stacey? >> reporter: who is he, where is he and why, why would he do this? these are all questions that police have been trying to answer today here in whitestone in a neighborhood that is still completely stunned by this violent random crime. day two of students in whitestone walking to and from schools and police sit outside. it's because they cannot yet say where this slasher may be or who he is. this surveillance camera at a home on 13th avenue captured the images police put out hoping someone recognizes his body frame or the way he runs away. police have been canvassing the neighborhood, even nearby stores that sell surgical masks and gloves because the attacker was wearing them when he slashed the 16-year-old from her ear to the center of her throat twice an attack that seemed to come out of nowhere

>> you get worried, scared. >> reporter: residents on the block know the girl and her relatives. she is an exchange student at this small school, whitestone academy. she was in this country the past eight months. >> they are saying it's random. who knows. you just pray it doesn't happen again. >> reporter: police recovered a box cutter at the crime scene and they are testing it for dna and following up on many leads through crimestoppers. the question is, what was the motive if any and is there a pattern they have yet to find. >> wondering who he is and is he from the area, did did he know the girl? it's a shock to all of us on this block. >> reporter: as you saw from the photos in the story, the suspect was wearing a gray hoodie with what appeared to be black stripes. if you want a better look at the photos and the video of the suspect, go to abc7ny where we have posted them.

you have any information on this case. the girl and her family remain traumatized by it. they are trying to protect hire identity and get some of her immediate family here from china p. stacey sager, channel 7 eyewitness news. controversial promotion for a new york cop involved in one of the nypd's most infamous and questionable deadly shootings. kenneth watts a sergeant with the nypd, the 21 year veteran one of four officers acquitted in the 1999 shooting death of the man shot in the vestibule of the bronx. cops cops fired 41 shots. the owner of a convenience store in dutchess county speaking out after his confrontation with a gun caught on camera.

rushing the gunman forcing him out of the store. he said he wasn't scared. >> he told me put $100 bill, put $100 bill. i fell down. he didn't hit me. >> reporter: he did shoot? >> he did outside in the parking lot. ground. tonight the search is on for the suspect. well, a small church on long island vandalized a few days before christmas. police say someone tossed a bird bath through the shrine of st. jude's church in mastic. police are offering a $5,000 reward for any information leading to an arrest. new charges have been filed in the san bernardino mass shooting against a friend of one of the shooters. enrique marquez is charged with illegally buying two assault

farook and his wife tashfeen malik used to kill 14 people. rough day for investors on wall street and energy companies. the dow losing 253. nasdaq down 53. as we continue at 6:00 for this thursday night, trying to solve a mystery. some workers becoming sick that forced a local high school to close. what exactly made them ill. >> >> why would fans with "star wars" tickets brave the elements to be first in line at

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will be back in class after they were rushed out of the building. this is after nearly 20 cafeteria workers got sick on the job. it's the second time this week a school was evacuated because of fumes. it could be pepper spray. they are working to see who is responsible. the latest "star wars" episode opening nationwide. maybe you heard about it. >> that little movie. >> we have done a couple of stories the last few weeks. >> ticket sales are breaking records. it will be out for a while. why do so many people seem worried they won't get a chance to see it? why are they lining up in the rain to get the first seats? sandy kenyon is talking to those waiting to get in. sandy? >> reporter: bill and liz, consider this. the folks behind me bought their tickets in october and a group of fans even crashed the fandango sight there was a

yet they still came early to brave the elements to get a good seat that they would not be put off. they had their tickets. a confirmed seat to the first show. still they stood in the pouring rain to get their choice of places to sit and be part of an experience. >> it's a cultural phenom my mom. the millennium falcon hasn't flown in 32 years. >> a memory me and my best friend will have our entire lives. >> a decade has passed since that famous theme was last heard in a new movie and a younger generation weaned on half a dozen "star wars" films was anxious for a movie to call their own. >> this is my first. this is a milestone for me. >> for months excitement has been building. a glimpse here and there. why was markham mill front and

luke skywalker character went missing from the trailers. >> i don't care what i see because it's "star wars" and i'm so happy that it's anything to do with "star wars." i would like to see what is happening with luke. >> where was lupita nyong'o in the mix? what was it about daisy ridley and john that made them fit to carry the franchise on their shoulders. are you excited to see "star wars." >> yes. letter. >> reporter: well, that was a little girl very excited. are you excited to see the film? >> absolutely. i have been waiting a long time. >> reporter: you, sir? >> i have been waiting since i first heard about it. i i remember going to the midnight premier so memories are coming back and excitement all over again. >> what is it about the "star wars"

to generation. >> how they change how everything goes about and change from one thing to another and different situations. >> evolution there. a lot of fans tonight. less than an hour from the first showing. i'm sandy kenyon reporting live on the upper west side. >> okay. >> thank you, sandy. >> finally. >> they are gathered tonight. >> "star wars" is produced by walt disney company, the of wabc. just ahead on eyewitness news, another happy holiday surprise story.

grab the tissues. this is in michigan. dad spent most of the year in jordan. the son had no idea what was happening. thanks to the help of the teacher, look at this. they are looking forward to relocating to colorado. daddy. not letting go. >> eating snake together. awesome. nice to see for all the people waiting in line for the "star wars" movie that the rain finally stopped. >> you pushed it away. that's what we did. now we are drying out. >> as a force. >> did i just do that? >> yes, you did. this is your meteorology now. >> magic. >> science. >> i just hit the hyper drive to a different place. outside we go, a cloudy night.

in new york city. a lot of umbrellas have gone away. yes,ing we pushed the rain to the east. it's still pouring over long island. that's about it. 59 degrees. not far from 60 today. three away from a record high. it's the warm yeast december on pace. record was 62 in 2,000. 7 on 7 the showers ending over the next hour. a couple of sprinkles around. it remains mild much of the night until the winds shift to the north later on. temperatures struggle to move through the upper 40s and 50s. anywhere from 1/2 inch to an inch and a quarter. heavy rain moving away. two soakings in one week. rain ending this evening. limited sunshine through the day. especially first half. brightening during the second half. better chance of sun in the northern and western suburbs, not so much in eastern long

the back edge of the heavy rainfall just getting to the east of smithtown and brentwood to babylon and deer park, there is the rain in if stratford and connecticut. just right now leaving belmar and neptune down to lbi and barnegat. shore as well. this storm system will put on the brakes offshore. see the gusty winds over the ohio valley. that's cold. that -- there is a lag before the chilly air arrives, teens, below freezing in chicago. that is coming in this weekend. by saturday freezing or below. better half of the weekend not as harsh. let me show you the temperatures overnight as the rain moves away from long island 8:00, 9:00, in the 50s overnight. tomorrow morning a chill north and west. 35 to 41.

we clear from northwest to southeast during the day. brighter skies in the afternoon hours. then watch what happens tomorrow night. once we clear and the colder winds kick in,ing look at the snow shower depicted across the hudson valley. mid-20s to mid-30s feeling like around 20 to 25 on saturday morning. so, cloudier on the coast. about 50. clearing late day. look at saturday. 40 feels like 30s all day long. maybe a couple of flurries. rain ends early tonight. mostly cloudy. tomorrow about 50. doesn't feel that warm. clouds break for sun. the chilly breeze. tomorrow night dress for winter. here is the seven-day forecast. blustery and colder saturday. midday windchills 20s and 30s. sunday less wind. kick off for panthers and giants, about 44. regular football weather. warming up by christmas eve regard warmth.

rob is up next with sports. >> the weekend has two days. local football fans get two games.

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giants revving it up. >> all hands on deck and then some. giants needed help on the d line.

bowl winning past and found it. barry could field back -- cofield back on the field. he signed with washington but starting today he is back to lend a helping hand. >> feel like a rookie trying to pick up the play back. the d line is great. they welcome me with open arms the classroom. a great group. >> as for sunday's game, the giants host the 13-0 carolina panthers. only unbeaten team in the league. odell beckham against panther corner josh norman. >> there are 11 other people on the field. everybody has a one on one match-up.

against, the cool is to win the match-up. espn reporting the jets owe the houston for fitzpatrick. jets may need 11 wins to grab a wild card play-off spot, that would mean winning the final three games beginning in dallas. tony romo is out for the season but they can't take anything for granted. >> nfl is probably going to have a game every day. we have to figure out how to get your body right and get ready to play. >> things are at stake. one game at a time. take care of dallas and move on from there. all three hockey locals are in action. delves and knicks back on the

last night knicks and timberwolves. . >> still have to get a lot stronger to be able to push those guys off the block and then do some of the things that i need to do defensively but i am getting there. that's the position i will play a the future. >> angela remain my and her daughter grace raised the most money in a fundraiser, earned the right to take three half court basketball shots to knock 4 grand off the tuition next year. watch. she said her eyes were closed and had to be convinced that it

mom's reaction priceless, grace's not bad either. we show melo, everybody. listen. thank you for taking the video. >> $4,000. >> good holiday present. >> time to take a look at stories we are working on at 11:00. >> love that reaction. at 11:00, calls to remove donald trump's name from a local park. could it be a break through in the fight against autism. what scientists discovered in the brain and the connection to the disorder and some fans seeing the "star wars" movie. what did they think about it. it's coming up on "eyewitness news at 11:00". >> i guess they will like it. >> think we will know. >> if the weather guy's reaction is any indication -- >> still beaming from it. >> that's it for us for now. i'm bill ritter.

>> that's better.