>> announcer: nbc10 breaking news. and this breaking news is this. a fire that has spread to several homes in southwest philadelphia. you're getting a live picture from the scene as firefighters continue to keep the hot spots down as they look for a cause. we'll have a live report. under a bridge. look at this, we're asking septa with this tree still under the tracks will impact your morning commute. plus, that colder air that we've been telling you all week long, it's moving closer to the area. we're starting at 42 degrees. more changes are on the way as we take a live look at philadelphia. good morning, this is "nbc 10

news today" on this thursday. i'm chris cato. we begin with meteorologist bill henley as we always do. bill, there's a chill in the air this morning? >> you can feel that this morning riding in on the winds that is still kicking in on center city. the wind is dying down but not as warm as yesterday. look at the air on the aramark building. most of the area, holding out in the 30s. look at the 30s for wilmington, trenton, pottstown, just a degree above freezing for allentown. with the wind, temperatures feel like 5 degrees colder this morning. highs will be in the 50s today. traffic with jillian mele, "first alert" traffic reporter jillian mele is standing by with a look at a thursday morning. good morning, jillian. >> good thursday morning to you, bill, to you at home as well.

an accident at 422 event between sanatoga and limerick. that's blocked off right now. and king of prussia, a little bit of construction out here, southbound side, 202, near gulf road. you can see we're dealing with lane restrictions. not enough volume on the road, just yet. for drivers in new jersey, 42 freeway, looking pretty good at creek road that's the northbound side as drivers approach the bridges. we're on the scene of breaking news. again, fire cruise are on the kreevn a house fire in southwest philadelphia. nbc10's jesse gary is live on the scene. jesse, we're getting inside on the homes affected? >> chris, there were residents inside. they've all been evacuated. the fire crews are getting out hot spots right now. fire started in that picture, that row house there and spread

to the other two row houses. it started after 2:00 this morning. a total of a dozen to half dozen people, displaced by the flames, some are being helped by the red cross right now. some stories on who is living in that house. i'll investigate and find out. jesse gary, "nbc10 news." new this morning, we have new information on this stopped train in northwest philadelphia. septa said it will not impact your morning commute. the tree is stuck under an amtrak bridge on fifth and allegheny. no word on how it became stuck. normal services expected on the trenton regional line. crews are still working to remove the train. and this morning, police are looking for the gunman who killed one innocent victim and injured another in a scene that sounded like a war zone. it happened around 8:30 last

night on witten street. police say someone fired at least 18 shots. police don't know why the person fired the shots. they don't believe either victim was a target. craig watson is a man who survived the shooting. a friend called him a pillar of the community. >> just loved his children, loved his job, loved what he did, and he was an outstanding -- he is an outstanding citizen in the community. >> the man killed was identified as 35-year-old wayne jones. police have no arrests this morning. a woman in her 80s was taken to the hospital after a house fire on orthodox street. it's not clear yet how badly the woman was hurt. investigators are still trying to determine what caused the fire. happening today -- a man accused in the drunk driving death of a philadelphia grandmother is set to go to

trial. he was charged with vehicular homicide, dui and other crimes. authorities say in february 2013, his suv jumped the curve killing teresa who was walking with her husband. also today, samuel cabrera is set to go to trial to the murder of his infant son. cabrera pleaded not guilty to beating a 3-month-old baby. sources say cabrera and the mother told conflicting stories when they took the baby to the hospital. new this morning, the colder weather is here, with it concerns about heating oil both from suppliers and consumers. nbc10's katy zachry is live for us in morton, delaware county. katy, the weather is chillier than can attest to. people are burning through more heating oil but it's not stings as much, you can explain. >> reporter: it's not stinging as much right now, home heating

prices are a dollar cheaper than last year. they say customers are filling up a lot earlier, filling their tanks to capacity than they did last year. we caught up with the owner here of allstate oil company here in morton. it's a family-run business. his wife handles the calls. allstate sells a gallon of home heating fourl $2.99 a gallon. that price changes daily, but overall, it's a dollar cheaper than last year. >> a lot of people are buying 150 gallons or 200 gallons. we've had a lot of 250 gallons than in the past. >> reporter: if the prices stay lower, how much money will you really be saving this winter? we break down the numbers and vile that coming up at 5:00. reporting live from morton, katy zachry. the barrack hebrew academy

is expected to reopen after someone found a bag of ammo at the school. police say no weapon was found. students were september home early as a precaution. >> hag today, thousands of teachers working without contracts in yeah and chester county, holding a series of rallies. teachers and support staffers intend to walk in formal picture lines like media and downingtown. more than 3200 communicate members are part of this negotiation process. also today, a series of meeting addressing violence in new jersey. to get the public input on how to cut down on violence in the state. today's meeting will be held on rutgers university in camden. on december 4th, another meeting will be held at second baptist church in atlantic city. the study commission on vial

silence behind the hearings. today, police in camden county say they're going to provide more information on a firefighter who is wanted on burglary charges. we've confirmed that police have issued an arrest warrant for terrence ward, he's a firefighter in pleasantville who was laid off last year. he's now wanted in connection to a burglary investigation in camden county. and he's the son of pleasantville councilwoman judy wood. she added, quote, i have no comment at this time but i do want it known, we love our son. we support him. we don't believe the charges to be true because of his integrity. happening today, independence blue cross will make an announcement aimed at keeping police officers in philadelphia safer on the street. blue cross says it will donate $100,000 to the pennsylvania state police foundation.

they will get new vests for the men and women of the department. >> announcer: now your nbc10 "first alert" weather with meteorologist bill henley. >> the temperatures are dropping this morning. much chillier than yesterday morning. a little bit of a breeze, too. a cold start, but we will see sunshine, at least to start with. during the day, clouds arrive. that will likely lead to late day and evening showers. late, showers north and west, but the pocono mountains could see white stuff. clear skies in northeast philadelphia. and millville is at 38 degrees. quite a difference from yesterday. we're running up to 23 degrees colder than yesterday. look at that clear view. no sign of any fog this morning for the entire area. we're fog-free. and for now, we are cloud-free. the visibility is in great shape and lifted and not a problem today. look how nice and clear it is. but there are clouds waiting in the wings, you can see them in the west.

those are the clouds moving in for the day and late this afternoon. yes, a good chance we'll see showers, rainfall north and west to start with. 10:00 this morning. 45 degrees in philadelphia that the hour. by lunchtime, mostly cloudy skies there will be a few breaks of sunshine, but it's really not going to last, 1:00 this afternoon, temperatures in the 40s to near 50 degrees. but watch north and west, as we go into the afternoon hours, here comes the wet west for lancaster, reading, allentown. mixing with snow in the pocono mountains but at 35 degrees, it's hard to get much in the waif accumulation with temperatures above freezing. might see a minimal accumulation as we head into the evening hours. by evening, that rain arrives in philadelphia. just light stuff with temperatures in the lower 40s at 10:00 tonight. so some changes ahead today. we will see sunshine to start with, clouds on the increase, nowhere near as warm as yesterday's high of 70 degrees.

and 50, most of the area will be in the 40s today. when i come back, the extended future weather to show you and a peak at your weekend. all right, bill. 11 minutes after 4:00, let's get a peak at traffic conditions throughout, nbc10's "first alert" traffic reporter jillian mele. >> we do have one accident 400 eastbound between sanatoga and limerick. it happened in the overnight hour, ridge pike is a good option to get you around it if you want to avoid 422. we have some construction, normal overnight construction on the pennsylvania turnpike in norristown. you'll notice the speed sensor reading about 28 miles per hour. we're not seeing a delay there but just a tap of the brakes as drivers pass that construction area. same thing for drivers on the blue route right now. 76 at montgomery drive. you can see both directions are

quiet. that's what 76 looks like, chris. passing the power torch, the shift happening today that realizes our nation's leadership. plus, dangle 58 stories in the air. the rescue that got these two window washers hanging from a skyscraper back on solid ground. you got to see this. and the calendar controversy. the new move to remove religion from schools that is getting backlash this morning. .

4:14, and we have new information about a dramatic rescue at one world trade center in new york. look at this, two window washe s s trapped on a dangling scaffold

64 stories up are now in the hospital. here's one that shows you just how high those workers were stuck. the fire department cut through a window to pull the men to safety. here's a photo from inside the building looking out at the trapped workers. the fire department said the two men were tethered to the scaffold for the one hour and 15 minutes of their ordeal. that was a long one hour and 15 minutes, i'm sure. >> happening today, the house on services committee is holding a hearing on the fight on isis. it will hear strategies being used on that group in syria and iraq. defense secretary chuck hagel will testify. the u.s. began launching air strikes against isis in august. and over in the senate, each party will hold an election for leadership position. current minority leader mitch mcconnell you see him here is

expected to become reelect and become majority leader in january. democrat harry reid is likely to hold on to his post and become minority leader. the national atmospheric agency oversees the service. it confirmed that four services were compromised in recent weeks by hackers in china. services have been restored. this morning, more pennsylvania workers, state workers are out of a job because of the upon graphic e-mail scandal. kathleen kane said four were fired. this came as x-rated e-mails came to light during prosecution an how they handled the jerry sandusky scandal. justice seamus mccafferity retired last night after it was

revealed that he sent or received hundreds of explicit e-mails. this morning, we have evidence of a holdup in kensington. this is video from eddie's restaurant. the woman said she was place, an order, when a man came up behind her, pointed a bloody syringe at her and demanded money. the victim threw $200 at the man who grabbed the cash and took off. the woman was not hurt. >> he need help. >> he didn't just pick up a gun and say give me your money. but they pick up a syringe. >> officers are still looking for the suspect. police are investigating another robbery that involved a syringe in kensington. we have an update in last week's beating death of a to the letter in chester county. that astaff made trips to scotty mcmillan's home to check on his

brother who had been absent from school for two weeks. they say the files at coatesville elementary school were never updated to show the family had moved. last week, the brother's 3-year-old brother scotty was found tortured and beaten to death. the boy's mother and her boyfriend were charged with that murder. parents, teachers and students want the violence stop at bartham high school in philadelphia. this cell phone video shows a substitute teacher knocked cold in the hallway. at administration says the solution is not more security or cameras but instead better examples on how to behave in school. students and teachers have told nbc10 they've had enough. >> if it happens to a teacher, what makes you think it isn't going to happen to a student?

>> it's heartbreaking because schools are about education, when you're distracted by the negativity and violence. >> according to numbers provided by the district, last year, students committed 186 aggravated assaults at staff on philadelphia schools and 99 on other students. >> announcer: now your nbc10 "first alert" weather with meteorologist bill henley. got a colder start this morning, and the temperatures are still falling right now. and the wind at times is picking up. not too windy just yet. you can see the flag here at the nbc10 studios. for now, it's at rest, but we have been watching winds of 12 miles an hour in the area. boat house row. clear, no clouds overhead right now. that's going to change as the day goes on. 42 degrees in philadelphia. most of the area, though, is in the 30s. at times, the wind picks up to make it feel even colder. the windchills have been running five degrees cooler and the

actual temperatures. feels like 37 degrees in the city. it's actually colder than that in pottstown, doylestown. trenton is 38 in wrightstown and new jersey. and look at this, 36 degrees in chester springs, phoenixville is 35. running about 20 degrees colder than yesterday morning. we will, though, see a lot of sunshine to start with. but the radar screen is what we'll be watching later in the day. doesn't look like much right now. but this is part of the system that is going to be affecting us late this afternoon. future weather shows wet weather pushing into the area, right on out of here for tomorrow. increasing clouds today. a chance of late day showers north and west. temperatures in the upper 40s to near 50 degrees this afternoon, but getting colder as we head towards the weekend. coming up, less than ten minutes a look at the latest temperatures and the seven-day forecast in the next half hour. at 20 minutes after 4:00, it's time for a check of the roads with nbc10 "first alert"

traffic reporter jillian mele. you've had an accident throughout how is that? >> we still have an accident we're dealing with. they're just clearing that we'll update you. jesse gary is between 54th and 56th street. you can take warrant area. that street is still closed in that area. 422 eastbound between san sanatoga and limerick, that accident is cleared. if you're heading out the door on 422, you shouldn't run into problems. the same thing on girard avenue. times looking great, about 15 minutes between the vine and woodhaven. and the reason for two local schools to sell is great, another reason, the potsgrove springfield delco, 67% of the vote out there. you can see that game in the

spotlight on "high school blitz" saturday night, 7:00 p.m. on nbc10. a play jaud edition this year. a rebirth for a shuttered casino. the plan to reopen showboat. and coming to delaware beach next summer. how some are fighting to keep tradition in place.

4:24 on your thursday morning. the debate of bringing another casino to philadelphia is heating up. these are opponents of that casino plan. they packed south philadelphia last night. they are against a casino coming to -- possibly coming to a hotel near the sports complex in south

philly. here's a alive picture at the holiday inn. many are worried about increased traffic and crime and how close the casino would be to schools. the holiday inn is just a few blocks away from nazareth charter school. >> too close to our children. tomorrow is going to be their future. if we don't protect them, you're going to see that. >> now, there are a total of four proposals being considered for that new casino. state gaming officials are set to take a vote on tuesday on whether or not to grant another casino license to philadelphia. now to the casino crisis in philadelphia, this morning, there's a new plan to bring a casino back from closed. richard astockton college will buy the casino closed in august.

they plan to turn it into a college campus. the deal still has to be approved. we talked to the president of stockton college about what will happen to the old casino. >> the towers that are right on the board walk, they'll remain a hotel. the other two towers, they're actually joined as one, will be mostly residence halls and things of that nature. >> now, this all comes as governor chris christie led a closed-door summit yesterday aimed at solving the ongoing casino crisis. 4:26, from our delaware bureau. a long time area in bethany beach may have to close because it's been taking out their operation. the steen family has been renting chairs for the beach but now the town is starting to think about starting their own business. some people have signed an

online save steen's petition to keep it up and running as it has been. >> we are taxpayers. not only will they be putting my family out of business, they will literally be spending our tax money to buy new umbrellas and take it over. and it's a real kick in the teeth. now your nbc10 "first alert" weather. >> clear and colder this morning. it's 42 degrees here at nbc10 but with the wind blowing, feels like 37. the time, 4:27. "first alert" traffic reporter jillian mele is standing by. >> good morning to you, bill. to you at home as well. if you're at delaware, christiana mall road, both directions moving along just fine. no accidents to report in delaware just yet. coming up in a few minutes, i'll take you out to roads in new jersey. plus, a family's home deliberately set on fire. a mother and her young son found

dead inside. what the only survivor tells police he saw happen.

>> announcer: nbc10 breaking news. our breaking news this morning is this fire that spread to several homes in southwest philadelphia. here's a live picture from the scene as firefighters look for the cause. also, look at this, stuck under a bridge. we're asking septa how this train still stuck on the tracks will impact your morning commute. plus, the cold blast we've been telling you about all week is moving in, and chilly changes are ahead later today. right now, it's 42 degrees, much chillier than it was yesterday. good morning, this is "nbc10 news." i'm tracy davidson.