as a housekeeper. puzder says he didn't know she was illegal. >> his withdrawal comes as the ink is not even dry on michael flynn's resignation. today the president attacked the media and leaks from inside his administration. >> documents and papers that were illegally, i stress that, illegally leaked. it's a criminal action. criminal act. >> meanwhile, democrats increasing their call for an independent investigation into president trump's ties with russia. today u.s. senators cory booker of new jersey and tom carper of delaware were among the group calling on attorney general jeff sessions to appointment an independent special council. >> we found mixed reviews about what people found about president trump's relationship with moscow.

>> reporter: at 106.5 in northeast philadelphia, the music and the conversation on this radio station is in russian. >> we talk politics all the time. >> reporter: dr. alexander is the president and a host. the stuff going on in washington, how much is that coming up on your show? >> really often. >> reporter: while washington is swirling over general michael flynn, phone calls and president trump's comments on president putin -- >> people think we talk too much about russia now in the united states. >> reporter: they're listening to the radio philadelphia station at yes to the address in southampton. this woman came to the u.s. at age 11 from then-ussr. >> i thank my parents every day for bringing me to this country, for giving me this opportunity to be in this country. >> reporter: she's focused on the u.s. now. >> we need to focus on trump and for him to be great and to make america great again. >> reporter: she thinks a

stronger relationship with russia would be a good thing. back at the radio station, the radio host feels callers with differing opinions. >> people from ukraine and russia, they have a lot of ukrainians and russians, they have different feelings about president putin. >> reporter: when it comes to the attention russia is getting, he says -- >> it is important to talk about. that's how many of our callers feel. >> reporter: in northeast philadelphia, nbc10 news. a russian spy ship sailing off the coast of delaware, is it a security concern or is russia just showing off? we ask an expert coming up in about ten minutes. the winds are picking up and temperatures are tumbling. this was the scene late today in atlantic city. you can see the wind whipping those flags around right there. the wind is kicking up in the city as well right now. a live look here at the flags blowing in center city. wind gusts could force the feels-like temperatures into the teens tonight.

>> meteorologist krystal klei is timing out the wind in our first alert neighborhood forecast. >> that's what we're looking at right now. the rain is moving out. the rain we did see was mostly light in nature. there's still a few flakes tracking along in northern bucks county. overall, this moisture is out. the winds are here to stay. that is the focus of this forecast. because with the winds ushers in the colder air. so, here's a look at the current wind gusts. philadelphia, 31-mile-per-hour gusts. take a look at wilmington, up to 38-mile-per-hour gusts. 25, atlantic city. this was closer to 40 just about a half hour ago. we've got those windy conditions. they aren't going anywhere. we go through 7:00 tonight. you see 25 to 30-mile-per-hour gusts. pretty much hang there through 11:00 p.m. as we go into your thursday morning, they strengthen a bit. in fact, we're looking at gusts up to 40 miles an hour possible by tomorrow. that does mean that we are feeling much colder than we truly are. coming up in a few minutes,

we'll track out your feels-like temperatures and then get to the better news. 60 for your weekend. the details are coming up. a norristown day care teacher is under arrest. police say michael barbee sexually assaulted a 3-year-old girl in a classroom while other children were sleeping. authorities say at first the 33-year-old lied about what happened, then confessed to the crime at the st. francis early learning center in norristown. investigators say he was upset after the child called him stupid. new video tonight of an armed robbery at a laundromat in east mt. airy. three guys walked into hong's laundromat and demanded money. they may also be connected to a bank robbery yesterday just one block away from this location. at the jersey shore, the people who answer the phone when you call 911. >> but tonight some atlantic city dispatchers are facing charges accused of buying and selling drugs on the job. >> nbc10's jersey shore reporter

ted greenberg probroke the storn social media. >> it's sad. >> reporter: after losing their son to heroin, bill and tammy are painfully familiar with the region's drug epidemic. they say the arrests of two atlantic city 911 operators don't come as a shock. >> people can realize that, you know, this is -- this doesn't just happen to the guy that everyone calls the junkie on the street corner. >> reporter: police say wade sold oxycodone pills to fellow public safety officer jennifer dalton while on duty at ac's communication bureau inside city hall. dalton working as a shift supervisor at the time. were they using this drug while on duty? >> we're not sure. that's all -- again, that's part of the investigation. >> reporter: the operators arrested and charged with drug offenses sunday. they've been suspended without pay. two other women who work in the communications bureau also suspended because of the investigation. but not charged with any crime.

>> the epidemic is -- it doesn't -- there's no biases. the name, the face, the color, anybody can get addicted to it. >> reporter: men who answered the door at the homes of wade and dalton told us the women weren't there. police say they launched the investigation after a concerned citizen provided information about drug use within the communications bureau. they tell me the probe is ongoing and there could be additional charges. i asked police about the impact of having four people in the communications bureau suspended at the same time. they say, it's still fully staffed and fully operational. in atlantic city, ted greenberg, nbc10 news. a step forward today for the governor's plan to stop the opioid addiction epidemic in new jersey. governor chris christie signed a bill that limits initial opioid prescriptions to a five-day supply. it also requires health insurance cover treatment for drug addiction. christie is devoting his final

year in office to the crisis. a fallen new jersey state trooper may soon have a road named in his honor. frankie williams was killed by an outof control car in december. today a legislative committee signed off on renaming part of route 33 the frankie williams memorial highway. it now must get approval from the full legislature. new at 6:00, a man allegedly beaten by philadelphia police was stopped illegally. this video is from two years ago. they suspected tyreke was selling drugs. now police can't use the drugs they found on him as evidence. proof tonight that no one is safe from a parking ticket in philadelphia. not even the police commissioner. commissioner richard ross was speaking at an event in center city yesterday when he was ticketed for parking in a zone that's off-limits during rush hour. police say the commissioner paid that fine. . embattled new jersey senator bob mendez is going to the u.s.

supreme court to get his corruption indictment thrown out. this week government attorneys responded to menendez saying his case should go to trial. he was indicted for taking gifts and donations in exchange for political favors. if the supreme court declines to hear the case, the trial is set for this fall. you may find your favorite restaurants closed tomorrow during a day without immigrants. >> that's right. mexican hot spot el azteca in center city is prepared to shut down if workers walk off the job. this is to highlight the economic contribution of of grants. >> we want to make a statement. this is the way to do it. again, we're fully supportive. >> organizers are skst asking patrons to not eat out anywhere tomorrow. tom wolf and jim kenney spoke out against a new abortion bill, called sb-3 which would ban abortions after 20 weeks

xoept in rare circumstances. governor wolf says if passed, it would be a disaster for women's health. >> pennsylvania is not and cannot afford to be a place where women cannot make their own health care decision. >> sb-3 seeks to circumvent the supreme court's ruling by enacting some of the most extreme legislation against women's health in the country. and that's not hyperbole. >> governor wolf has previously said he will veto the bill if it reaches his desk. an effort by new jersey's counties to throw out the state's new bail reform efforts has been struck down. the reform makes it easier for some people to bail out while waiting for trial based on their security risks. a group representing the state's 21 counties argued the change cost more money and the only way to get it back is to raise taxes. the new jersey department of education is asking the public to weigh in on a proposal to replace the no child left behind act. it's called the every student succeeds act. it describes how the state will comply with the new federal law,

which requires states to ensure that all students have equitable access to high quality educational resources and opportunities. the department of education will accept public comments until march 20th. philadelphia is looking to help more african-american high school students go off to college so they can earn degrees. councilwoman blackwell was at boys of latin charter school this morning. they talked about ways to improve college graduation rates among african-americans in the city and she launched a call of action and will bring the issue up during hearings at city hall. the team that will repair the damaged delaware turnpike bridge has come from across the country to make sure there are no future problems. pennsylvania and new jersey turnpike officials say they hired more than a dozen engineering and construction companies from as far away as texas. engineers spotted a crack in one of the beams and closed the bridge last month. the work is expected to take until at least april. up next, all new at 6:00 -- getting a second chance. we'll take you to a special

graduation for moms who were once prisoners. now turning their lives around. and we're expecting a windy, cooler day for your thursday. but take a look. we are warming up just in time for the weekend. we'll talk temperatures for your saturday and sunday coming up.

welcome back. a russian spy ship off the coast of delaware yesterday appears to be making its way north. >> it's now just 30 miles offshore from the u.s. submarine base at grotton, connecticut. the pentagon is aware of the ship but it's legally allowed to remain there in international waters. a international affairs professor says the russians might be testing the limits of the trump administration. >> they're snooping for information about what our submarines are up to, just the way we do exactly the same thing outside their naval bases. >> dr. kaufman says the u.s. and russia often play these kind of games and it probably isn't anything to worry about. today president trump welcomed israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu to the white house. the president promised to help broker a peace deal define

palestinians and israels but backed off the u.s. policy of two-state solution. >> i thought for a while the two-state looked like the easier of the two, but, honestly, if bibiand if the palestinians -- if israel and the palestinians are happy, i'm happy with the one they like the best. >> the president also reiterated his opposition to iran's nuclear program and said he will prevent the country from developing a nuclear weapon. new at 6:00 -- women who have been incarcerated are turning their lives around. help is coming from nonprofit mothers in charge. aundrea tells us about the program giving them a second chance. ♪ >> you have to get through your hurt in order to get the healing. ♪ to try to hide >> you have to get through the healing door in order to get to the blessed door. >> reporter: lauren cooper has

attended high school graduations but this one is different. >> it represents being -- becoming a woman because they really helped me, you know, through my maturity and professionalism and my self-esteem. >> reporter: lauren is one of nearly one dozen graduates of the program women working for a change. >> i ended up, you know, just being in the wrong place at the wrong time with the wrong people. that's how i got incarcerated. >> reporter: each graduate is among the hundreds and thousands of philadelphians with a criminal record. through nonprofit mothers in charge, they learn life skills and better decision-making. >> the curriculum is spirituality, it teaches thech to think differently. it's all those pieces and components that make this a very unique program. >> reporter: the nonprofit hires some graduates and helps others get jobs. >> today in front of you stands a woman that has changed. >> reporter: over ten weeks lauren says she's made a complete change, healing her past and looking forward to her future. >> they were able to give me the

tools to believe in myself. you know, to push myself. to dot impossible. nothing's impossible. i'm possible. >> reporter: nbc10 news. >> love that sentiment. turning to our weather now, a cold and breezy day in delaware today, nbc10 at battery park and old new castle were people were bundled up walking along the delaware river. winds are picking up tonight and they'll get stronger tomorrow. this is a live look at the flag blowing in cape may. wind gusts could have temperatures feeling like the teens in some spots tonight? >> yeah, that's exactly right. we are talking a cold overnight into tomorrow morning. really, a cold day as well tomorrow because those winds hold on. here's a live look outside in philadelphia. looking at center city skyline. what a difference an hour or so makes. we are now tracking completely clear conditions in philadelphia, even though we had some very light, spotty rain move through. can you see on our radar from 4:00 to 6:00, big change from rain in philly to clear conditions. the rain is off the shore. a few flakes trying to make it

to the ground in parts of bucks county but that's did about it. we are drying out for tonight. the winds don't go anywhere. a cold front is passing. look at the wind it's bringing with it. these are the sustained winds. a moment ago we looked at the gusts and some were above 30 miles an hour. even the sustained winds are quite strong. 22, philadelphia. 25, wilmington. millville at 22 miles an hour as well. that's what we're going to feel consistently as you step out the door. enough to start knocking things around in the backyard. unfortunately, they get stronger into tomorrow. enough so that while they won't be as strong as they were monday, gusts 30 to 40 miles an hour for your thursday could mean that if a tree was weakened on monday, this is enough to send it over. if you see something that's looking a little wobbly, you might want to try to get rid of it before you go to work tomorrow. 20-mile-an-hour sustained winds expected through tomorrow in philly. those gusts up to, i believe, around 30 to 40 in the philadelphia area, higher along the shore. these winds are coming from

northwest to help pull in that cold air behind the cold front. temperatures are quickly been dropping. here's your philadelphia neighborhood. earlier today, we were in the low 50s in spots. now 39 in chestnut hill. 43 in pence force. that's when you can tell a cold front has moved in. here are your forecast highs for tomorrow. 42 in fairmount. upper 30s in the suburbs and mid-30s in areas like allentown at 35. we stay dry for your thursday. these temperatures won't actually feel this warm, so to speak. we'll be at 43 to be har bone township. feels-like temperatures is what it will actually be for tomorrow. we start tonight around the mid-20s for what it will feel like outside. as we go into tomorrow morning, there are those teens we were talking about a second ago. about 18 for philly, burlington. 17, trenton. just 14 in allentown. as we go through the rest of

your thursday, it doesn't pick up much. you saw highs mostly around the low to mid-40s. in 3:30 the afternoon, feeling like close to 30 degrees for your temperatures. now, here's the good news as we go into your weekend, things pick up. we are tracking 60 to 675 saturday and sunday. mostly sunny for your weekend as well. yeah, hey, i'm john clark live in clearwater at phillies' spring training. hear from howie kendrick and what he learned from his former dodger teammates chase utley and jimmy rollins.

i'm amy foodal. trade rumors swirling, the center okafor did not travel but now back with the sixers. he rejoined the team in boston last night and will come off the bench against the celtics this evening fors his part okafor is taking everything in stride. >> i just needed to grow up. this is part of professional sports and second year in the nba, it's what i'm dealing with. i'll be better as a person and i'll make sure i handle it the right way. >> as for the flyers, they're in calgary tonight. the start of a four-game road trip. a 9:30 start you can see on tcn. full spring training in full swing in clearwater, florida. for more, we check in live with john clark in sunny florida. hey, john.

>> reporter: yeah, amy, as you know, the phillies have a young team, especially a young lineup. manager pete mackanin wanted some experienced bats. the phillies went out and got two of them for him. they spoke for the first time today. >> reporter: the phillies added veteran bats in the off-season. michael sanders from the blue jays and howie kendrick from the dodgers. manager peter mackanin says they will lead the younger phils. >> through osmosis they're going to help the other guy. i think just the presence of veteran players who have had some success makes -- gives everybody confidence. >> reporter: sanders and kendrick both come from winning teams. both reached the league championship series last year. they will help show these young phillies how to win. >> you know, i really think you got to learn how to win. >> play the game the right way and i think that rubs off on guys. when you get a bunch of guys playing the game the right way, things start happening, you start winning more ball games.

>> reporter: sanders was an all-star last season. hit 24 homers, a great first half, but a poor second half. i asked him what happened? >> quite honestly, i think i got tired. you know, i -- with my knee injury in 2015, i was out basically all year. and i really wasn't allowed to pick up activity. so about mid-december, honestly, i think i got tired. >> reporter: how he got some good advice on the phillies from his former dodger teammate jimmy rollins. >> they always talk about the media. for me it's not that -- >> what did they say about us? >> they had good things to say about you guys. he mentioned a few people. he's like, hey, man, they're not as bad as they seem. >> reporter: we're really not that bad. by the way, freddy galvis is tired and has a mild groin strain but phillies say he'll be okay. john clark, back to you. >> right back after

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. thanks for watching. "nbc nightly news" with lester holt is next. we'll see you tonight at 11:00. breaking news tonight, a critical trump nominee knocked out. a multimillionaire behind a burger empire withdraws under fire. was he finally brought down by a bombshell tape from the oprah show? the blame game. president trump lashes out. what he says is the real story behind the sacking of his national security adviser. also, a high-stas meeting. the president's controversial comments about peace in the middle east. kids in the cross-fire. two children shot and killed. one clinging to life. new heartbreak tonight in chicago. when will it end? early autism alert a promising new development tonight. doctors say it could be detected as early as six months old. and "inspiring america."