right now on "nbc 10 news today," elevator accident. part of the criminal justice center is closed today after an elevator car crashed into a ceiling. watch where you hike. a hidden danger coulding waiting for people enjoying one new jersey park. rio is ready for the spotlight. the opening ceremony for the 2016 summer olympic games is just hours away. nbc 10 news starts right now. good morning, 4:00 a.m. this is "nbc 10 news today." i'm tracy davidson. we're counting down to the olympic games here on nbc 10 now. just more than 15 hours away. you can see the clock on the bottom of your screen. more on the opening ceremony and the olympic team coming up.

right now, meteorologist bill henley with your community forecast. >> right in the middle 60s for new jersey, lehigh valley and delaware. starting off with clear skies, we'll see a lot of sunshine today. high clouds that will start moving this afternoon in the lehigh valley. 77 degrees at 10:00 and we're back into the 80s just a little bit warmer this afternoon, 87 degrees for philadelphia. middle 80s for new jersey, lehigh valley and delaware. i'll go through the forecast hour by hour when i'm back in just a few minutes. let's see how the roads are looking on a friday morning. jessica boyington has your first alert traffic. >> thanks, bill. we're watching an accident scene in pottstown right now on south charlotte street and queen street. watch for maybe police activity there. also watching the vine street expressway. we are closed or at least had the beginnings of that construction east and westbound in between broad street and the schuylkill expressway. some of the exit ramps are

starting to open just a little bit early. we'll keep you updated when we start to see everything pick up. here's the schuylkill expressway. this is right through the conshohocken curve. no big problems or delays here. 12 minutes only eastbound from the blue route to the vine street expressway into center city. tracy? >> jessica, thanks. the day has finally arrivedç we are hours away from the opening ceremony of the summer olympic games in rio de janeiro. matt delucia is live in our digital operations center with a closer look at tonight's ceremony and how rio is welcoming the world. matt? >> the excitement is here. years of preparation has led to this moment for rio and the athletes, many from the u.s. and some from our area. security is tight with 85,000 security officers deployed to the city and heavily armed policemen are at the redeemer.

>> gentleman stopped us, you realize you have four hours waiting time before you get your ticket. >> one of the athletes to watch tonight, swimmer michael phelps, the most decorated olympian in history will carry the u.s. flag during the opening ceremony. we've also learned the ioc cleared 271 russian athletes to walk in the opening ceremony and compete in the games, this is following a doping scandal. they will be strictly monitored. overall, more than 100 russians have been excluded from competing, including 67 in track and field. over accusations of state-directed use of performance-enhancing drugs. details of the ceremony are top secret. so far, we've only gotten to see some rehearsals of the fireworks. this is from outside the arena. yesterday, the executive producer teased at a few more details about the ceremony which will be seen by 3 billion people. >> they're going to see a

ceremony that talks about important values and important ideas, delivered with a big smile, beautiful music and a lot of good dancing. >> watch team usa at the openinç ceremony right here on nbc 10. the coverage starts at 7:30 tonight. i'll leave you with a couple of figures to digest. an estimated 3 billion people around the world will watch the ceremony. it's taken five years to produce. it includes 300 dancers, 5,000 volunteers and 12,000 costumes. next at 4:30, we spoke with one of the more famous olympians, years removed from competition but she still takes these games she seriously. we'll have to for you. live in the digital operations center, matt delucia, nbc 10 news. >> nbc 10's jacqueline london is your guide to the rio games and local athletes. 4:04. 70 degrees outside. a man shot in the west oak lane

section of philadelphia is in critical condition. nbc 10 was open the scene along forest avenue where police tell us a victim was shot three times at point blank range after getting out of his car around 10:00 last night. a witness told police the gunman got into a white van with a woman and child and took off. and a man is in critical condition after someone shot him three times in southwest philadelphia. authorities tell us that the man was walking out of a store on south 69th street when he was shot. police made no arrests. they're still trying to determine a motive for that shooting. the upper floors of philadelphia's criminal justice center will be closed after a runaway elevator injured two employees and one victim, a sheriff's deputy, sergeant paul owens is in critical but stable condition this morning. here's the other victim, beverly smith, a clerk at the cjc. she was hit by flying debris. she was treated and released. smith and others said they heard what sound like an explosion on the roof of their elevator car yesterday morning. officials say sergeant owens was

found trapped after his elevator shot up through a ceiling near the 13th floor. >> he's in pretty bad shape. severalç broken bones in his bk and he's on his way to surgery. she was overwhelmed knowing that he had these injuries, in tears, and she understood her injury was not as bad as his. >> we have learned that that surgery for sergeant owens was successful. authorities are still investigating the accident. $23 million worth of cocaine is now off the streets of philadelphia, thanks to a series of drug arrests. yesterday, pennsylvania attorney general kathleen kane announced the arrest of six suspects. she said they were part of a drug ring from smuggled cocaine from caribbean countries to the u.s. authorities say they found hundreds of pounds of the drug in a warehouse and two cars in philadelphia. they're calling it one of the largest drug seizures in years.

>> we are targeting these drug trafficking organizes who are bringing large amounts of poison into our streets and distributing on to the streets of philadelphia and the vicinity. >> the suspects are all in jail with bail for each set at a million dollars or more. we're now hearing from the owner of the trump taj mahal in atlantic city about who he says is to blame for the now planned closure of the casino hotel. yesterday, carl icahn wrote a letter to the taj mahal's workers, accusing their union of inciting them to destroy their own jobs by staging a strike. he blamed the union for not accepting health care and retirement benefits at a lower level than other casinos. the union said icahn helped, quote, bleed the casino dry. >> the taj mahal is the only casino in atlantic city that did not sign a contract. >> on wednesday, the trump taj mahal announced it would close sometime after labor day.

yesterday, several union workers were still picketing outside the property. city officials stopped by to offer a hand to get soon to be unemployed workers back on their feet.ç >> these individuals are job ready anyway. we go around to businesses and the chamber has 700-member businesses. we go around to the various businesses, offer them or inform them about the various hiring incentives that the department of labor offers. >> no specific date has been set for the closure. now your nbc 10 first alert weather. >> 4:08. and a cool start for the suburbs, the south jersey, the jersey shore, philadelphia is at 70 degrees, there are cooler readings to be found. bustleton is 6. west mt. airy is 67. brewery tonight 69 to start with. we'll be back in the 80s this afternoon. we'll see a lot of sunshine, too. philadelphia, 70 degrees right now. warm into the upper 70s later

this morning. by noontime, we'll be in the 80s and middle 80s again today if not warmer than yesterday. more of a southwesterly wind to help boost our temperatures today. for the suburbs, 64 degrees to start with. this number is still falling at this hour. we'll be in the 60s at 8:00. that changes as we go through the noontime hour. low 80s this afternoon for the suburbs and the lehigh valley, plenty of sunshine here, too. 65 degrees. turning partly cloudy this afternoon with high temperatures in the lower 80s today. in new jersey, sunshine will be nice and bright. we're at 61 degrees right now. likely will drop into the 50s in a few areas this morning. 69 at 8:00. it's into the lower 80s this afternoon. the humidity will be in check during the day today and at the shore, you can see sunshine, nice and bright today. 60s to start with, cooler this morning than yesterday at this time. warmer in the afternoon. 78 degrees at 2:00 and still in the upper 70s later in the afternoon. for delaware, it will be sunshine today. no sign of any showers, not

today. 67 degrees currently in wilmington. 76 degrees at 10:00. then low 80s with those southeasterly winds this no showers today. but there are some showers in the forecast for the weekend. a look at the weekend forecast. hour by hour when i come back in just a few minutes. tracy? >> we'll see you then. 4:10 right now. let's check your ride to work. start on the admiral wilson boulevard. first alert traffic reporter jessica boyington has that. what are you seeing, java seaes >> we're watching the admiral wilson boulevard where 676 comes into play. the bright lights, that's where the toll plaza is into philadelphia. just a car or so heading into that direction. there's an accident that's been out there for quite some time. expect it to be clearing very soon, actually. on the pa turnpike's northeast extension. headed northbound between quakertown and the lehigh

valley. also watching route 202. there's some construction there. route 202 north and south between 29 and 30. there's some lane restrictions you can see northbound and southbound right now from 30 to the schuylkill. no real problems there and only an 11-minute trip. >> 11 minutes past 4:00 right now. danger on the trail for hikers, bikers and runners. something unexpected could hurt you if you visit a new jersey park. >> next, we'll explain the outdoor danger. >> full speed ahead for amtrak passengers. learn how new technology is keeping your daily train ride on time and why it could also be good news for people who say septa. on this cushion for generations.

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ab hikers and bikers to keep alert after finding booby traps along a popular trail. the discovery of the traps at a park in passaic county dates back to june. it includes rope tied around logs, barbed wire along pathways and pieces of wood with nails just under the surface. >> it's basically to hurt a person. >> i didn't see anything. i'm looking at the ground the whole time trying to dodge rocks, that sort of thing. i think you're safe now. it's good they got them out thereof. >> no injuries have been reported. amtrak says it reduced delays on two local lines by nearly 25% after adding dozens of new tranins. the new engines are used on amtrak's northeast corridor line between washington and boston and its keystone service between

philadelphia and harrisburg. septa plans to buy the same brand of trains to replace its aging locomotives. the board of directors has approved $154 million for the new electric trains. the first engines are due to be delivered to septa in early 2018. near atlanta, police are investigating the deaths of two baby girls who were found inside a hot car. the twins were 15 months old. police say neighbors broke into the suv last night after seeing the children sitting in their car seats. they got the girls out, tried to cool them off in a baby pool. paramedics rushed the twins to the hospital where they were pronounced dead. >> sad. because i have grandchildren and i can't even imagine my grand kid kids like that, especially under those conditions. >> they questioned the girl's father. their mother was being treated at a hospital in connection with

a car accident at the time. no one has been charged. darleneç horton of florida was murdered wednesday night. five other people hurt in the stabbing spree. the suspect who police arrested is a norwegian citizen originally from somalia. investigators in the uk blame mental health issues with not terrorism for the attack. back in this country, south carolina church shooter dylann roof suffered minor injuries after another inmate attacked him. he was near the shower area when an inmate punched him several times. the jail's medical staff checked him out and returned him to his cell. the inmate who attacked roof will be arrested for assault. turkey wants to arrest an islamic cleric living in the poconos that it says plotted an attempted coup last month. a warrant was issued for the man. the government claims he was

behind the failed attempt that left nearly 300 people dead. he's been living in exile in monroe county for years. he's denied being involved in the coup. he says it is well documented that the turkish court system is without judicial independence. this warn the is yet another example of president erdogan's drive for authoritarianism and drive for democracy. hurricane earl is a tropical storm moving across southern mexico. but before its downgrade yesterday, the storm dumped up to 18 inches of rain on parts of belize and guatemala. damage was caused in towns and villages there. now your nbc 10 first alert weather. >> 17 minutes after 4:00. our skies are clear in wilmington. get ready for a sunny day today. bright sunshine and it is cool this morning.

we're seeing 60s andç very low 70s but like yesterday, we'll enjoy bright sunshine and no sign of showers today. but that changes as we head into the weekend. right now, it's the temperatures that are changing. 61 degrees in the suburbs. lehigh valley is 65. there's that 70 in philadelphia. while it's 10 degrees cooler in south jersey and at the shore, 63 degrees. delaware, 67 degrees. that's in wilmington. there will be cooler spots but not a lot cooler. right now 66 in newark, claymont is 64. reidy point, warmer at 67 degrees and 65 in lewes. rehoboth beach is 67 degrees. lots of sunshine, will be another nice summer day today. there are some changes ahead. you won't see activity on the radar, the satellite today other than a few high clouds coming in this afternoon. but this is the line of wet weather that will be affecting our weekend. look at the heavy storms that are moving toward the st. louis area at this hour. and it's part of the system that

extends into canada. this is the line that's slowly going to move into our area. won't bring us showers but we'll start to see high clouds later this afternoon. you can see that line making it into pennsylvania early in the morning. even a possibility of some scattered showers in the pocono mountains, first thing tomorrow morning. early tomorrow morning. then that line is loosely held together, scattered showers and thunderstorms, could be heavy downpours as it moves through the area. that's 1:00 saturday afternoon. a possibility of some scattered showers at the shore as well. then the storm threat moves out and we'll see clearing skies for sunday. today, sunshine, a few high clouds later this afternoon. 87 degrees. the humidity about where it was yesterday. there's not a little bit lower this afternoon. 87 degrees today. low 90s tomorrow. it would be steamier tomorrow, heat and humidity, the chance of scattered showers and thunderstorms during the afternoon hours and into the late afternoon hours, and then moving offshore. sunday we'll see some sunshine. 88 the highç after a morning l

of 70 degrees. and 80s for monday and tis, the humidity will be dropping on these days. in fact, you'll start to feel the drier air coming in to play later on sunday. by monday afternoon, 86 degrees and back in the upper 80s on tuesday. then here comes the hot weather for wednesday and thursday into the low 90s. it continues on friday with enough humidity, give us a chance of some showers and thunderstorms on friday. then the sunshine returns, just in time for the weekend. still a bit hot on saturday but cooler sunday with partly sunny skies. tracy? >> bill, thank you. 4:20 right now. let's check 76. first alert traffic reporter jessica boyington has that. where on 76, jess? >> 76, this part is over in new jersey. we're over in gloucester city right now, around our cameras on market street. these lanes are headed towards the philadelphia area. not a lot of cars in place. southbound we're seeing more. towards the 42 freeway, the deptford area in new jersey, that's where those cars are

going. no problems there. pottstown, watch for an accident on south charlotte street and queen street. another one on the pa turnpike's northeast extension. headed northbound between quakertown and lehigh valley. there will be lane restrictions. watching 95 drive times, southbound from woodhaven road to the vine street expressway, just a 13-minute trip. speeds still into the 60s and no problems headed northbound either. tracy? children in need are getting help as they prepare to head back to the classroom. citizens bank donated $50,000 to cradles to crayons. they will use the money to fill backpacks with notebooks, crayons and pencils. they hope to give out 30,000 backpacks this year. nbc 10 needs your help to spread the word about free money we're giving away to those making a difference in the community. we're giving away grants to local nonprofits. we call it 21st century solutions. the goal is to support organizations implementingç ne and innovative programs. the application is on nbc10.com.

the deadline to apply is august 26th. two new polls show the gap widening between hillary clinton and donald trump. ahead in our next half hour, we take a closer look at who is pulling ahead, plus a familiar philadelphian could end up in washington depending on which candidate wins. also, what's in the river? the schuylkill is a lovely shade of green. it's not algae. next, hear what it is. ♪ music

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it is 4:24. water quality tests are now being done at philadelphia public schools and it's all because of lead contamination concerns around the country. the district is retesting the

drinking water at more than three dozens schools throughout the city. an independent state lab will analyze samples to make sure they comply with federal, state and city guidelines. the project is expected to take about four months. philadelphia hopes a new app will help fight hunger and reduce food waste at the same time. the app called food connect gives restaurants, venue halls and catering companies an easy way to donate surplus food. the items are then delivered to emergency food providers throughout our area. the program collected more than 11,000 pounds of food during the dnc. it launched right prior to the dnc to help give the food to people in need. happening today, hatboro, montgomery county will hold its annual national night out from 6:00 to 9:00 at the municipal parking lot on westmoreland avenue. it features çexhibits, display and demonstrations. you may have seen the spots

of green on the schuylkill river lately. nbc 10 found out what it is. the philadelphia water department told us it's duckweed. it grows in slow-flowing areas of the river. the recent rain caused it to break up and flow towards the dam. the water department says it is not harmful. well, the rio olympics begin tonight. this year, fans get a chance to experience the games in a way they never have before, thanks to new technology. this is the first year the world's biggest sporting event can be experienced through virtual reality. access to vr is easier than before. samsung makes a headset that sells for around $100. to see the games in rio, you'll need a headset, a compatible samsung device and the free nbc 10 sports app. >> it's a transformative technology. it allows you to teleport yourself to these incredible moments. >> virtual reality content will be available starting tomorrow through august 22nd.

nbc plans to offer more than 100 hours of virtual reality olympic coverage. 4:27, the time. 70 degrees in philadelphia. gentle breeze is blowing. we have a sunny day ahead. there are changes ahead for your weekend. you will need your umbrella at some point during the weekend. this morning, jessica boyington is watching your first alert traffic on a friday morning. jessica? that's right, bill. we're watching, heading down the shore. here's route 73 around the atlantic city expressway. no big problems or delays there. if you want to get an early start on your weekend, we'll check in with the vine street expressway when i come back. too close to comfort. check out this picture from an nbc 10 viewer showing an arrow stuck in a window. next at 4:30, hear from neighbors about who could be responsible.ç

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right now on "nbc 10 news today," close call. someone shot an arrow and it pierced the window of a philadelphia home. arrested again. refuted philadelphia mob boss joey merlino is one of several snagged in a crime ring. the opening ceremonies are tonight in rio. we have a preview of the olympic pageantry. this is nbc 10 news. 4