news channel 5 begins now with breaking news. good afternoon, everyone. we're starting the broadcast there's at crocker are part. a gas explosion so powerful it was felt by people across the west side of cleveland. right now the area. we'll take another quick look at that right now but right now we're setting up one of our reporters is on the way to the scene.

at the scene. what can you tell us right now? >> reporter: it's still a very active scene here. there are police and fire crews still down there where the explosion happened. other crews blocking the road and the entryways into the park. now, according to witnesses this fire started around 11 o'clock and then blue up into an explosion right now now, witnesses here at gemini towers told me that flames were reaching the top of the building. now, down here where we are i just talked to people who were on the 5th floor and said they could feel the heat from this explosion. >> i had my hand on the window and i was watching everything happen and right like a few seconds after the window got hot. it was huge. i mean, it was -- >> imagine

big. >> reporter: witnesses telling me that based on what they saw they do expect injuries here. we do hope everyone was safe. i called westlake police and fire. we're not able to confirm any of those injuries yet but we'll be back with multiple reports and updates. . >> many thanks for your report. our team coverage of explosion continues right now. we've also got crews on the scene and she joins us live. >> reporter: i also spoke to a man that was in that parking garage he described this scene as absolutely insane. he said he didn't know he was going to make it out alive. he said it felt like a bomb had gone off. we are here on detroit road. there are dozens of construction

detroit here. plenty more of emergency vehicles, ambulances, we cannot when i spoke to that witness just moments ago he said that there was a fire for about 15 minutes when he was in the garage. he was wondering what it was. he said it looked like a blow torch coming out of the ground and then after 15 minutes all of a sudden there was that explosion. he felt the heat, said he was about 100 yards away. and he took off running. back to you. >> thank you for your report. and of course we'll be on this story all day long guaranteed. thank you. moving now to other news in cleveland a man who fatally shot another at a bar will spend the next at least 31 years in 20-year old lash is convicted of aggravated murder. he shot and killed 30-year old william bird junior at club fly high last year. it is set to

lash will be eligible for parole by the way in 31 years. there is new information at the noon hour about several shootings. in total 7 people were shot in a span of six hours. the shooting was around 8 o'clock last night the first one when police arrived they found a 22-year old with gunshot wounds to his stomach and neck, and he died later at the hospital. another victim was also taken to the hospital where he remains in stable condition right now we're told. an hour after that shooting police responded to a homicide on storer avenue, three men were shot in that incident, one of them died at the scene and the other two were taken to the hospital. the final shooting was at daily's bar. the two victims had already taken themselves to

both of the victims were described as having non-life threatening injuries. there's no word at this hour on any suspects. now, we get a check on the weather situation with power 5 tara blake. how we looking today? we've got an audio hook up problem right there. we're going to get her with the proper audio and we'll get back to her in a moment. right now we press on with other news. happening right now in downtown cleveland mayor frank jackson is delivering his state cleveland. just minutes ago. this is the mayor's 11th address. expected to highlight the city's successes over the past year or so and layout his vision for last year the mayor's speech focused on improving the police department

happening today there are no classes at an alliance school bugs. we're at the high school to explain why some kids were kept home today. >> reporter: the alliance city school superintendent says the safety of students and top priority. that's why alliance high is closed today so the entire building can be treated for bed bugs. since last week four of the bugs were found in classrooms. a pest control company was already called into inspect but couldn't find anything. that's why district officials think they're being brought into the school. >> we know these coming in from the outside. so we're going to continue to work with our health department and our families to educate them on steps they can take to lower the risk of them getting bed bugs in their homes and bringing them into the school. >> he suggests checking back packs and clothing before and after school. we're told there

bug sights in the district. school will be back in session tomorrow. new at the noon hour, a judge will begin hearing arguments today which could change ohio's presidential primary voting age. last week nine ohio teenagers with help from the better than see sanders campaign sued secretary of state here in ohio. the teenager contends ohio's law allow 17-year old who will be 18 by the general election to take part in the voting process. secretary houston disagreed. >> this is the way it's been. there's nothing new here. this is my 6th year of secretary of state every primary that i've been involved in has been run by the same rules. >> right now 17-year olds allowed to vote in local primaries just not the presidential nomination process

delegates and not popular vote. coming up a fracking waste water spill. also governor john kasich is meeting with jeb bush today. we'll share what they're talking

crocker park where police and fire officials investigating the scene of a fire and explosion. we're on the scene right now. let's go back for an update. >> reporter: we can still see the lights from the multiple crews that are working this fire, working this scene. you can take a look at the american greetings building it has the red top behind me. that's where this happened. police confirmed that it was a propane tank outside the building that blew up. now, according to witnesses there was a fire burning for minutes before it exploded. flames reached before the top of this was a huge fire, and people across the west side saying they could feel people working in buildings just down the road say that they could feel the heat from this fire. we just talked to witnesses who were watching all of this unfold, now, out here we're outside of gemini towers this is still an active scene.

blocking the roads and police asking you to stay away from this area right now. now, as far as injuries go we checked in with fire and police we still can't get any injuries confirmed but you can count on channel 5 to keep you updated and pressing for answers. we'll have more on this investigation. . >> thank you. and as she said we will continue following this story of course throughout the day. i'm going to take a break right now. we'll be right back after these words. rin the middle of a time when senior povertyt is increasing. republicans and some democratsp came up with a brilliant idea for cutting cost-of-living adjustments for social security. we said, "it will be over our dead bodies if you cut social security." as president, i will do everything i can to extend the solvency of social security and expand benefits for people

i'm bernie sanders,

this is what i came home for -- to work in the community, turning schools after hours into centers for healthcare and safe spaces for our kids. after princeton i turned down a job at google to work improving education. elected to city council, i've helped create 5,000 new jobs, took on big banks to clean up foreclosed properties. now i'm running for the senate and approve this message to offer bold new leadership

back now to the breaking news we've been covering for you. right now we're live at crocker park where firefighters explosion. you spoke with some of the witnesses. what do they say? >> reporter: i did. i spoke to a man who was in the parking garage right next to where this explosion happened. he said he didn't know if he was going to make it out ahe live. he said what it sounded like, what it felt like was just an absolutely bomb going off. all he could say was that this whole thing was insane. he started by

coming out of the ground that lasted for about 15 minutes and then there was that big explosion, the american greetings building. he was just about 100 yards away from it. he took off running. thankfully he is okay. we are here on crocker road, the stretch of crocker is closed at crocker park and all around us here construction workers. they are just watching, waiting, trying to probably find out what's happening next and all along this road here there are emergency vehicles, police, fire, ambulance we're going to try to talk to one of them right now to find out exactly what they saw, what they heard and as injuries but will keep you back to you. >> thank you. we'll stay on the story all day long. well, new another day of clean up in bellmont county ohio.

and spilled waste water as a result of fracking. the fire chief said state environmental experts in the community to test the water. new today from the vatican the pope is imposing new financial accountability regular laces. the new rules were issued today after audits found abuses. the re forms comes after two books revealed the saint making process brought in hundreds of thousands of dollars with no financial oversight. governor kasich is in the lead and donald trump is confident he'll win with the primary next week. during a speech trump criticized the ohio governor's job performance. >> as you know we have ohio where you have an absentee. and

>> well, the pair will face off tonight in a debate. ahead that have debate governor kasich will meet with former candidate jeb bush. the 70s gone. we have quite a bit of cooler air. >> i notice this had morning. >> yeah, it still feels above normal but it is noticeably cooler. wet weather kind of taking a break for the east side but notice all that dark greenback towards mansfield, that is headed our way. we'll see rounds continue as we await a cold front that's current just back west and approaching. some of the heaviest rainfall in richland and ashland county. the darker green is going to indicate some of the heavier rain but this is light and widespread. driving with the wipers moving for you.

here's the east side, notice the pockets of drier air, but don't think that you're going to step outside without that raincoat. you're still going to need it for hours to come with the official front crossing this afternoon and look at all this, that dark green moving to the north and to the east. as we head into the afternoon those rain chances get bigger and better, and then we could have some heavier pockets too with the official moment of the front. temperatures at this downtown. we should be at a high of 44. so still noticeably better than normal. heading south a little cooler in jackson township, and akron 61 your current temperature and i think most likely our high as clouds overcast and filled with rain drops. 60 degrees in downtown, southwest winds at 9 miles per

something we typically see in the month of march. rain chances continue until about 10, finally going to dry out which does mean the possibility of fog for your friday, but that should be your only issue other than the cold is back. timing out your rainfall let's take a look at the maps. a little bit heavier for us with those yellows indicated at 3:00. kids off the bus will need the rain gear. pockets of heavier through around 6 to your evening commute. now, this is not heavy downpours or severe weather for that matter but it looks like the rain picks up a little bit for us with that front and clears out. if we clear out the clouds enough that's where the fog has a chance to form. some of those outlying counties especially closer to the lake could see. but numbers a little bit less than what was first indicated. half an inch to an

so when it comes to the rainfall, yes, it's headed our way and increasing again but it's also really going to drop the temperatures. we have 40s for highs tomorrow and then back to 60s making a return in your weekend forecast. let's talk about some changes. so likely to be wet and continue to be wet at 61 your high for your thursday. now, bump up monday to 68 as we lose an hour of sleep. remember daylight saving time will be happening for us as we go to bed saturday night but next week looking good too. find us on the radio for more updates that's cleveland star 102. we'll be back with more updates.

if you're doing everything right but find it harder and harder to get by, you're not alone. while our people work longer hours for lower wages, almost all new income goes to the top 1%. my plan -- make wall street banks and the ultrarich pay their fair share of taxes, provide living wages for working people, ensure equal pay for women. i'm bernie sanders.

because together, we can make a political revolution and create an economy and democracy that works for all and not just the powerful few. here's another look at that explosion. this is what the scene looks like just a you few minutes ago. we're going to take you to live pictures in just a moment where it looks like it was a gas explosion. this is the scene right now live in westlake and the fire chief is is speaking right now. of course we continue to follow the story: this is news channel 5 at the noon hour.

going to check in, and we're standing by in the retirement solution studio. >> what can help your overall return? first of all do you even know what you're paying currently, what kind of an advisor are you working with? so depending on that advise they're you're working with and the way that they're investing your money for you it may are or may not be possible. so here's several things to consider before you can determine number one if you can deduct your fees to help your overall tax picture.

to meet the two % of agi, and that deduction is taken under what is called miscellaneous itemized deductions. we see this being missed a lot why? because this is not an open line of communication between the advisor and the accountant, or you as a taxpayer simply aren't aware of how to accomplish this or how to do it. so what type of advisor are you working with? and how they they charging you? so it's a tough thing to be able to deduct. you can deduct advisory fees. the other thing that's important to understand is you can only do this through the use of after tax money, non-qualified money. so what is your communication with your cpa. are you working with your cpa? do they understand the rules?

fees? and most importantly does your cpa have an open line of communication with your advisor? >> thanks so much. tune into retirement solutions with bill smith sundays at noon and you can call the office at the number on your screen. this is what i came home for -- to work in the community, turning schools after hours into centers for healthcare and safe spaces for our kids. i'm p.g. sittenfeld. after princeton and a marshall scholarship, i turned down a job at google to work improving education.

to offer new ideas -- cut college loan rates in half, pass common sense gun safety laws. i approve this message to offer bold new leadership

aure he can pull a death-defying stunt. >> pay close attention. >> see what has him not so sure anymore. ao reach a terrified pup is suddenly swept off course. >> wait. how a kid with an inner tube is about to become a hero. "people" magazine reporter strips down for a tv show. >> you just want to know, can you do it. >> see if a soft journalist can survive naked and>> i just want to go home. >> and. >> have you heard about the new iphone 12? >> let me just tell you, it's big.