former massachusetts house speaker sal dimasi is getting out of prison the politician convicted of corruption has been battling just been granted early release. >> thanks for joining us. dimasi has served 5 years of his 8-year sentence. we're joined with the very latest. >> federal prosecutors and u.s. bureau of prisons both recommended this early release saying dimasi's health issues make it difficult for him to function normally in prison. he was convicted of steering state contracts in exchange for $65,000 in kickbacks. but while in prison he's battled throat

he's said to be in remission but treatments have narrowed his he is soft gus to much. according to his wife's he's lost a significant amount of weight and she just spoke with dan ray and shared some of her feelings about the ruling. >> i'm thrilled, overwhelmed, hard to believe. and more than anything i really am streaming gratefu , and really can't wait to get him home. and get him the health care that he needs because he's really been struggling. . >> dimasi says as of right now her husband doesn't even know about the ruling yet. she just sent him an email to let him know. the judge heard evidence on this request last month saying he wanted to be sure the former high ranking politician

and we have more breaking news a hazmat situation going on in newton. police have shut down walnut street. crews are at the scene at the bank of america but police stress no danger to the public. a car slammed by a train and then slashed in half. new at noon authorities have identified the driver. >> they say he was in an accident and took off just before this crash. we're live with the white east. through there is no question of what is happening. it is loud, the lights are flashing, the arms come down. that's exactly what happened last night only one driver made a daring move. . >> just another crazy night. >>. >> reporter: and that doesn't even begin to describe it. but the images captured certainly do. >> sounded like a big smash. i didn't know what it was. >> reporter: residents have

but coupled with these images is air gasping. a car making a daring move going around crossing arms and flashing lights. >> i've never seen anybody do anything crazy like that. >> reporter: when a commuter rail slammed into it going 65 miles per hour. >> at first i was wondering if anybody was in the car. >> reporter: seconds later 2 people emerge an run from the wreckage. >> the car was completely smashed u the whole engine was away from the car. >> reporter: police confirmed the vehicle had rear-ended another minutes early. that vehicle following behind with the driver wanting to talk to him witnesses say. >> all he had was a little ding on his back fender. >> reporter: no confrontation but that mad dash ended here. police using k-9s to search for those who ran while passengers on the train were evacuated and

while this may be the norm here, nothing they say compares to that crazy oak island night. transit police say they have located the driver. they have interviewed him and he will be summoned to court. no serious injuries were reported. this moon a crash involving an mbta bus is under investigation. this is the aftermath. from maple onto main when it was cut off by a truck. about 15 to 20 passengers were onboard the bus but nobody was hurt. no word on if any charges will be filed. and a traffic nightmare on 93 this morning. police had to rescue a driver who was unresponsive behind the wheel. the scene unfolded in the northbound lanes in the middle of the morning rush. part of the northbound side was shut down for a short time causing major back ups as you can see.

happened to the driver. a new clue in the murder of a jogger. months afterwards investigators say they're looking for a dark suv spotted near the crime scene. . >> reporter: it's been 3 months since marcott was murdered and police have not been able to find a suspect. they hope sharing this new detail with the public and other law enforcement will help t a sign along the road where her body was found pleads for justice. 3 months have gone by with no arrests and no answers. police say they're searching for a dark-colored suv. it was seen by witnesses around the time of her murder parked on brook station road near where her body was found. the google executive was here visiting family the weekend she was killed. on august 7th police say she went for a jog and never returned. sources say her body was found

people the suspect is a man who may have had scratches or injuries in the days after the attack from when she tried to fight back. >> we want it to be solved. you know, we want it to be solved so that you can put it to bed, you know, put it to rest. and it's not in your mind. of course it's just horrifying to think that something like that could happen in a little community like this. . >> reporter: state police have setup a special hot line for tips on is on your screen. you can also find that number on our website cbsboston.com. police say they have received more than 1,000 tips on this case and they say investigators are welcoming all and any information about any men who had access to a dark suv on august 7th. president elect donald trump may be getting closer to naming cabinet members and some

at trump tower. trump has he merged from his first meeting with a world leader. >> donald trump junior posed with security guards at trump tower this morning as the president elect's transition team continues its work. mr. trump is meeting today with former secretary of state and south carolina governor as he works on policy and key nominations. >> he's just loving this role taking into account many different people, going through paperw and forming his cabinet. really enjoying this. >> reporter: published report say mr. trump's son-in-law is being considered for a top level white house role. cbs news has learned that mr. trump has 5 front runners for key positions in the white house. former director of the defense intelligence agency mike flynn is the favorite for national security advisor. vice

talked with republicans about moving the trump agenda forward. >> rebuilding our military. >> later today president elect trump will meet with japan's prime minister. he says he wants to build trust with the next president. hillary clinton struck an optimistic tone. she told supporters to stay engaged. >> that's how we get through this. >> reporter: she spoke at the children's defense fund the nonprofit organization where they started her career. . >>. >> and among those visiting trump tower yesterday patriots owner tom craft. they have been friends for years. this afternoon president obama is in germany making his final stop on his last foreign trip while in office. today he's meeting with murkell. they also shared a dinner last night. time for a check of our weather now. take a live look over the city of boston. sun is

clouds but it's being stubborn out there. >> the sun is trying to poke out in spots. temperatures running in the 550s right now. some patches of blue sky in the thinner spots of the clouds here the farthest you come. temperature wise not too bad another above average day. 56 degrees in boston right now. middle 50s from mes 40s here at the worcester airport. so your planner goes this way, fair and quiet through the ride home you may get some additional peeks of sun over the next few hours. temperatures in the lower 50s, we should clear out tonight. clouds linger on the cape. 35 to 40 in the suburbs, 44 downtown. sunny and mild. near 60 degrees tomorrow. if you like the warmth enjoy tht couple of days because we do take a turn as we

weekend and look at that highs only in the 40s for the start of next week and in fact much of the thanksgiving week ahead. we'll talk more about all of that coming up in a few. questions remain today about rob gronkowski and his role with the patriots sunday as they face the 49ers. yesterday he did not practice and was listed on the injury report with a chest injury following a big hit against the seahawks. brady who also took some big hits was at practice yesterday. this sunday the pats take on the 49ers in san francisco. we'll have a preview on patriots all access friday night at 7 on wbz and start your sunday with us and patriots game day at 11:30. followed by the 5th quarter post game show over on my tv 38. major league baseball are hand out hits mvp awards. yesterday sox pitcher porcello was named best pitcher in the al

the most first place votes. verlander did but porcello edged him out in total points but model upton was angry, she took to twitter with an r rated tweet that we can't repeat on television. verlander won the award 5 years ago. an incredible lifesaving gift, the store rear bringing together neighbors to save a little girl's life. obesity. >> plus the community rallies for a very special vet the incredible trip he'll be able to

welcome back. students are asked to take precautionary measures after a break out of mumps on campus. symptoms including swelling along the jaw as well as fever fatigue and headache. also drinking whole milk is it better for your child's health? according to a study from toronto of more than 2,700 kids ages 6 or younger the answer is yes.

were 3 times more likely than whole milk. they also had healthier levels of vitamin d. and welcome news for parents booster seats for children are getting safer. the insurance institute for highway safety tested 53 new seats. 48 of them got the highest rating. when the group first started rating seats 8 years ago only about a quarter got high marks. ones not recommended include the costco easy elite. time to check our forecast. . >> so the next couple days we'll be above average the sun is going to come out more and more during the day tomorrow. i know the clouds have been stubborn you see some peeks trying to come out. drought monitor updated every thursday. i want

had expansion of the drought across the lower connecticut river valley. most of northwest connecticut and back through parts of eastern new york as well. parts of massachusetts in a 41% area of extreme drought again, most focus metro west north of town and in through parts of worcester county obviously watching this closely. this has just been a significant and extreme scenario here in southern new england and we need the rain and lots of it. it has been a dry monthf inch yesterday. and that's still just shy of 9-10ths of an inch below average for the month of november. no rain in the forecast the next couple days. the clouds are in place right now and those clouds will part for some peeks of sun here or there. more sun through the interior. you're level energy hanging over the top of us right now. a big ocean storm saying

and montana. this is what the storm that's going to drop feet of snow in parts of the northern plains. a blizzard warning that's up for the areas in red parts of south dakota stretching through minnesota. this is eventually what's going to bring us the little shift in the weather pattern to cooler temperatures for much of next week. so if you like the above normal temperatures enjoy these next couple of days. high pressure in control. tomorrow looks like a beautiful end to the week. we'll see sunshine i do think this is a little underdown. otherwise we'll wedged in between 2 systems to start the weekend. saturday is looking good. the storm out of the ocean tries to back up towards us and here comes the front in from the west both converging in on us. notices the snow on the northwest side of the storm we don't have to worry about that. the month may pick up a few fresh inches and

showers come in. most don't come in until saturday night and a passing shower on sunday. so our wbz holiday spectacular happens at a perfect time because the clouds start to come in but that helps to keep our temperature up a little bit. 4:00 still around 50 degrees and only gradually cool right on through the mid-40s even by the time we get to 10 p.m. if you're planning on heading out not too cold. looks like we'll stay dry and inside you can 8:00. clear skies tonight, 35 to 40 in the suburbs, 44 downtown the international space station flew by this morning. you can catch it again tomorrow morning 6 a.m. just look up you'll be able to catch that in the sky tomorrow. lower 60s at the -- through the interior, upper 50s at the coast tomorrow, 7-day forecast cooling

on monday. now, the million dollar question what whether this winter be like? or weather team has the answer. we'll reveal or forecast tomorrow night a world war ii veteran from south boston is getting some help from the community to make a special trip to mark the 75th anniversary of the attack. ed hamilton's family members s although he is no the a pearl harbor survivor he did fight in 9 major battles during world war ii. he spent his retirement sharing his story with schools and community groups. and the community is now paying him back donating over $6,000 to cover his expenses. he deserves to go. happy for him. >> absolutely. z viewer is stepping up to save a little girl's life. >> the baby has a rare disease and needs a new liver now, she's

the next town over. mary beth was one of the thousands who saw our story on baby gabriella. she needs the transplant to survive. so she'll donate 25% of herself hers. >> i am a mother to 2 girls and i've been blessed that they've been healthy. i couldn't help but put myself in her shoes. >> someone i couldn't have hand picked a better >> this is wild. it turns out that they have friends in common, they're part of the same moms group and mary beth also has a daughter named gabriella. mary beth will have part of her liver removed in december. doctors say it will take about a year for it to grow back. >> it was like they were meant to meet each other. coming up the planning for the holidays. >> the go-to guide looking to

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we continue to following breaking news walnut street is back open following a hazmat situation at the bank of

the response. again everything is clear now and walnut street is back open. well, thanksgiving is just one week away, can you believe it? >> no, get the turkeys out. google is trying to help boston drivers avoid the holiday rush. they say wednesday is the worst day to travel but if you have to leave then you should try to head out by 7 a.m. at the latest and avoid the roads around 3 p.m. the best time to hit the road actually this coming sunday. again try to avoid getting out as possible. and for your return trip aim to get home before 4 p.m. on friday, saturday is also the worst day to head back home if you have no choice you better leave by 6 in the morning on saturday. we have a final count down to kick off the holiday seen here in boston. this saturday night wbz is proud to host the holiday spectacular. you can watch it right here on wbz at

>> the very special honor that would have one boston man smile if they ever smiled. there's a hint for you. weather watchers checking in with temperatures running in the 40s and 50s for most of us. there are stubborn clouds out there in spots. ryan says 57 degrees in reading, mostly cloudy and more sun in the

. coming up out of the ashes, months after fire destroyed a turkey farm's barn filled with thousands of chicks, the family-owned business is gearing up for thanksgiving. today on the wbz news credit the community for their survival. and today a very special honor for a boston entertainment favorite. >> the mayor has named blue man group day in the city. it comes as the group celebrates its 25th anniversary today. a big congratulations. they'll be at the holiday spectacular. >> has anyone gotten them to smile?

>> phyllis: traci? >> traci: oh. hello, phyllis. >> phyllis: i didn't know you were in town. >> traci: yes. i'm actually here to add my congrat to all the praise for the new jabot makeup app! and spend the holidays with my family, of course. >> phyllis: of course. yeah. so. >> traci: so? >> phyllis: i assume this is where you're gonna let me have it. for driving a wedge between your brothers, breaking jack's heart with the affair.