john coco, 7news. the dangerous drive knocking down a telephone pole and power lines. >> now, the driver is facing some pretty serious charges. nicole oliverio has the story. >> a police case that began in weymouth came to a crashing end in avington when the driver smashed into this utility poll. weymouth police say officers pursued the driver, who refused to stop. it's believed the car was stolen. the driver crashed on route 18 snapping the poll in half and knocking out power overnight to nearly 2000 customers. police shut down a section of route 18 as officers investigated and power crews repaired lines. rush-hour traffic was deteared for several hours before the road finally re-opened. the damaged car towed from the scene, the driver and passenger taken to a nearby hospital, both expected to face charges. >> unclear exactly what charges these suspects are going to

as for national grid customers, we're told most of them have their power back by early morning. in avington, nicole oliverio of course, 7news. police identified the victim or this morning's deadly crash in august gus... police say the woman was driving north on route 1 when she lost control of the car. she was thrown from the car as it rolled over several times. the woman was the only one in that car. state police are investigating the caution of the crash. they ended up stuck in traffic so forced to call an ambulance. several minutes later, emergency crews helped deliver, right here, baby austin. he and his mom were later taken to mass general hospital and doctors say both are doing just fine. we are following more news today. the city of ferguson missouri appears to be headed towards a legal battle with the federal government. the justice department saying last night it would take legal action against ferguson. the city negotiated an agreement with the federal government to

are acting legally. the city council is now trying to make changes to that agreement. the justice department is saying ferguson is just stalling. the agreement is intended to correct problems identified in the justice department investigation that followed the fatal shooting of 18-year-old michael brown by a ferguson police officer. the city's mayor says the council voted to revise the agreement because they can't afford all the changes outlined in it. >> in the spirit of this, it's very large and expansive, arguably one of the most expansive decrees they've ever issued, that we are going to be still complying with. the vast majority of that, which they've laid out. >> reporter: the justice department says the city's changes would save money but also seem to size up efforts to actually reform the police force there. lawyers of bill cosby asking a judge to stop a lawsuit filed against them massachusetts. they say they want the focus on the result of the criminal case first. several women filed a lawsuit

cushion him of drugging and sexual assaulting them. cosby denies all the allegations. major change could be on the way as the water crisis continues in flint, michigan. the town's mayor says she is calling for immediate change to the city's water system. she is looking to replace all water pipes that have been contaminated with lead. the mayor says the $55 million project could begin as soon as next be month, but she believes she needs more support from michigan's governor. >> we have to get new pipes, and i cannot imagine that he would not support this plan. if he doesn't, shame on him. michigan's governor is expected to request nearly $2 billion in tied bring safe water back to the city. the occupation at the florida wildlife center are holding out. the young occupiers are posting videos about their protests, their group's leader and 10 others have been arrested and at the militia spokesman was killed in a police standoff last month. the local sheriff is being

that deadly standoff. caught on camera, an elderly man brutally beaten in an unprovoked attack and he wasn't the only one. according to police one man was attacks. the suspect is now behind bars and its alleged victims are speaking out. >> reporter: 22-year-old devon walker's mug shot. police say he took a pipe to the face this man, 81-year-old douglas boucher during a sunday morning crime spree. his face now covered in bruises with two black eyes and 18 stitches closing a gash in his forehead. >> suddenly he came towards me and his hand was behind his back. i didn't know he had anything his hand, and he just struck me over the head. >> reporter: the surveillance video of the lauder hill gas station is chilling. a man starts beating him. people actually scurry away instead of helping the couple. finally fern boucher gets her

>> when you see your husband being attacked, that's the only thing you think about doing. >> you don't expect that kind of stuff. >> reporter: police say that's walker rushing up to a -- swinging a samurai sword slashing the stunned victim. walker reportedly told police he watched the movie pot guise and wanted to kill evil. liss alleged victim says he needs more than just jail time. >> i want to see him get better. >> do you forgive him for their? why not. >> yes, i do. >> he needs help, you know, i pray for him and his family. >> robin simmons, 7news. a teenaged girl is attacked in a parking lot. this happening in california. police say the victim suffered a number of injuries to her face. no charges have been filed. a close call in texas where a parking garage suddenly

you can see it fall down. somehow the worker escaped unharmed. hover board horror for a family in nashville. now they're turning a tragedy into a message. beware of the dangers of hover boards. fire officials say a hover board is to blame for burning down the family's million-dollar home. >> it was a hover board that destroyed our house. >> reporter: something meant to bring joy, now the source of so much sadness. >> every day it's hard. >> reporter: snow covers the charred remains of the nashville home taken by a fire, a fire that almost took two lives. >> i was kicking the doors, and i thought, you know, i'm gonna lose two of my four children today. >> reporter: the nashville fire department says it knows the source this devastation. >> it's called the fit turbo f1 hover board. >> what was intended as a toy for christmas gift has caused total destruction. this is a piece of the hover board pulled from the rubble. the blaze started on the first floor of the home trapping two teenagers upstairs. the teens smashed through the windows to escape. the daughter jumping from the

>> i was just begging at her, please jump. and she jumped out the window without hesitation, and i can't tell you how brave that was. >> reporter: with cuts and some broken bones, the family is determined to keep this from happening to anyone else. >> the fact that a toy caused this kind of, you know, destruction to our lives, it's just wrong. >> reporter: the fire department believes the hover board's lithium batteries sparked this blaze. for the family... >> we tried to buy our child a christmas gift. >> reporter: no question they take this christmas present back if they could. >> and the fire department says another family's hover board, the same model that destroyed the mansion, caught fire a few weeks before. also on 7, officials in florida keeping an eye on two whales struggling against the tide. the mom and calf's travels are also catching the eye of local residents who are watching their every move. >> i just think it's fantastic. >> reporter: so did everyone

detriment. mother and baby had been swimming in circles for about two days and big crowds were gathering. >> this is amazing. truly once in a lifetime. what do you think, little one? me, too. >> reporter: the whales had to find their way back out in order survive to migrate north to their feeding grounds. they ventured under the inlet bridge despite being spooked by other people. but they were on their way. >> the whales are in excellent condition. the momma and the calves doing really good. >> reporter: cameras snapped some of the best wright whale pictures ever seen. with only 500 known to exist these are among mother nature's rarest, most endangered creatures. >> this is exciting. this was one of the most exciting adventures of my wildlife photography and my life. >> reporter: the giant whales can grow to 50 feet in length. they were almost once hunted out of existence by whaling fleets.

their numbers have held steady. with so few in existence, every whale calf is a treasure, so is the chance to see one this close. >> it is a once in a lifetime event. >> oh, wow. i could watch that video over and over. wildlife boats surrounded the whales as they made their way out to protect them from other boaters. it is against federal law to approach a whale in the wild. here on 7news, dress drama for a girl in california. why school officials booted her from a big event. and if you thought there would never be another harry potter book, well, you can think again. the news that i had has some fans very excited. >> and ahead on 7news at 5:00, a race to the rescue as a hope goes up in flames in fitchburg. the fire chief helping those trapped and in trouble. and problems on a plane. an unruly passenger on a flight from boston forced the plane to make an unscheduled stop.

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a girl booted from the school dance at center of a dress code trauma at a california high school. >> the girl says the rules unfairly target females and they should lighten up. >> reporter: this is the dress that almost got naba a due kicked out of last year's prom. >> you could barely see through the black and yet i still had to cover up. >> reporter: this is what the dress looks like on her. she says california high schools make students sign a contract outlining the dress code. >> a lot of the dresses conflict with the code. i don't know what to do, especially because i'm plus size. i have an even narrower amount of dresses that i can choose from.

print the dress rules seem more reasonable but the rules are more strictly enforced by the activities director. >> there's kind of an opening in the back and i couldn't wear that because she said the opening was too big. >> reporter: a due says she brought in her new prom dress to get approved but it was denied and says the dress code for female students is much more strict than it is for male students. >> my parents are arab-american, and they're already very strict. i feel like if my parents will let me wear a dress, they shouldn't have any problem with it. >> the school says individual schools set their own dress codes and the district says a due can appeal school policies with the district's child welfare coordinator. in the newsroom, i'm sarah french, 7news. coming up here on 7news, the kids will be late to school. how a daddized bruce springsteen as an excuse. we've got closed and a few flurries out there at this time. more showers tomorrow. forecast up next. also coming ahead at 5:00, zika concerns.

officials are now doing to help stop the spread of the dangerous virus. and think spring. even though the snow is on the ground, the red sox are thinking

dear fellow citizen, i know how it feels to save for retirement and college - times two. i get that it can be overwhelming, because i' m living it. but i always tell people - saving' s not that complicated. you just have to work with what you have. if you have a question about saving, ask me. sincerely, alex payne.

suspect to. a note for the teacher yesterday. no the dog didn't seat her homework and instead the note says bruce springsteen made them wait. >> we live life by three rules, be kind, help as many people as you can, and when the boss brings the band to town, be there. >> their excuse worked because

at the concert. day. the city right now at 34. plymouth at 33. worcester at 31. for tonight, evening flurries, otherwise, partly cloudy.

28. a lot of clouds, and if you get under one of these little buggers, a coating to maybe an inch. i think the main roads stay wet once again. tomorrow boston around 31. what the weather systems will do is they kind of chip away at temps just a couple of degrees today and tomorrow and again on friday. probably tomorrow morning versus tomorrow afternoon, if you were to say, you know, pick one side of the day, i'd say probably first part of the day. big era at fenway. a few flurries tomorrow evening. i think friday evening just a binch of clouds, and not too bad in the temperature department. numbers running into the 20s. it will be chilly on friday, with the afternoon highs in the middle 20s. and then prepare yourself because the arctic hammer is coming. this is an arctic front, right

cold blast of air will come into new england during the day on saturday. these numbers will crash down into the single numbers and the wind will help to drag the arctic air into new england. look at the windchill temperature saturday evening and of overnight saturday night and into sunday morning. again, it will be close 0 on sunday morning. i know saturday night is date night, get the better half, a snuggy. >> see you at 5:00. >> thanks, good advice there. joe stapleton is talking about a crash in lexington, correct? that's right. route 128, the right travel lanes blocked off here. three cars involved and two tractor/trailer involved, as well. it's a minor crash, no injuries but the traffic is backed up extensively, right back towards

out past route 93, that was the scene of an earlier accident we had a little while back. southbound good news, i know it's still red down there in braintree but the earlier crash on derby street is safely off the road there for us. up toward the lynnfield tunnel about, a 28 minute ride from the boston area up into lynn field, and the ride here, a bit slow going too on the pike westbound heading out towards exit 17. tight towards 128, as well. joe stapleton, 7news. frozen is headed to broadway. >> just let it go, would ya? >> exactly. the oscar winning animated film is set to take the stage in the spring of 2018. it will feature song from the movie of course and about a dozen new members. the cast will be announced at a later date. harry potter is making a comeback. an eighth installment will come out this summer. not a traditional book but a hardback version of the script book for the two-part play harry

the play opens on july 30th in london. and kelly clarkson is expecting her second child and first children's book. the grammy winner turned author says river rose and the magical lullaby began as a story she jotted down about the places she traveled with her 19-month-old daughter river rose. so look for the book complete with an original lullaby written and performed by kelly clarkson in october. ryan reynolds, this year's sexiest dad alive, six years after the publication declared him the sexiest man alive. he became a dad in december as and his wife blake lively welcomed their daughter. he says it was dream come true for him. youtube is taking a page from netflix and hulu when it comes to original content. it's a part of their new red subscription service.

service to spotfy and will be ad-free. ahead here on 7news, a very

>> reporter: few days before he popped the question, students spent time before school to make this 60 foot long banner with the words "marry me" on it. >> i cut the strips. >> reporter: brach is a pilot. he took this video as he and his girlfriend flew over their home where the students laid out the banner 1,000 feet below. >> i couldn't believe it. >> reporter: dee saw the banner, became temporarily stunned but said yes after brach got on his

now it's back to teaching geometry, one no one in this classroom will ever forget. >> put more thought into it and made in more personal. >> she wanted to see the kids and the sign upclose. >> it's special. i felt special. >> don't crash the plane, right. tricky there. much more to come here in the next 90 minutes. >> i'm ryan schulteis, 7 news at 5:00 starts right now. >> reporter: breaking news, a man convicted of rape decades ago walking free tonight released to await a new trial. >> also, a deadly discovery inside a wareham home. a man in his 70s shot to death. >> plus tonight a man hurt but okay after he's run down by a driver in woburn. >> we say goodbye to these snowshowers, and then hello to those snowshowers for tomorrow. >> reporter: in the race for the white house, there isn't much time to celebrate. candidates shifting their attention to south carolina as some decide it's time to walk away. >> reporter: and in for the long

the bats, and a lot of other equipment down at fenway. we start at five welcome breaking news. a man jailed for they decades on a rape conviction is free tonight. george parot was released as he awaits a new trial. he was arrested at 17. he's also denied raping the woman. >> and the judge saying today that the in evidence this case doesn't add up. 7's john cocoa live in new bedford where the man was released today after all these years. >> kim, at 48 years old, george parot walked down these steps with his mother and father vindicated this evening. when he was 19 years old, parot was convicted of a 1985 break-in and rape of a 78-year-old woman in springfield and has been serving two consecutive life sentences ever since but always maintained his innocence. back in 2011 the sluicier stool at the university began looking

in january his kicks was