take on the north carolina tarheels tonight for the national championship. we have got our own team covering the big event. alicia vitarelli and jeff skversky are in houston. sarah bloomquist is in bryn mawr near the villanova campus. let's begin our coverage with alicia inside nrg center where villanova fans are rallying for their beloved wildcats. hi alicia. hey, jim. there's a pep rally going on at this very moment here at nrg center. we have about 3,000 very excited wildcats with us here tonight. we're waiting on the pep fans and the clear leaders. you can fee -- cheerleaders. you can feel the electricity. one more win. the v's are up tonight. the host is the president of villanova university, father peter done lieu. he's become a pretty popular guy around here. you finally know what it's like to be a member of one direction. [laughter]

>> the old one direction. >> reporter: it's exciting that everyone is so pumped up for villanova. >> very exciting. there are people flying in today. i mean, we expect the hotel told us that after the game tonight that they're cutting it off at 3,000 people. >> reporter: wow. >> that they're not let anything more in. >> reporter: you just flew in this morning. >> yes. from newark new jersey. i'm from philadelphia. >> i'm from new york. >> reporter: you just grabbed whatever flights you could get. >> left at 2 o'clock this morning, got up to the airport. >> right after they won on saturday we knew we were coming here. >> reporter: after the big win you said i am not missing this championship win. >> absolutely not. >> reporter: v's up. you played on the villanova men's basketball team. how does it feel to be here tonight clearing o cheering on r wildcats. >> great to be here. all the villanova people. this year everybody thinks they can do it. brought more people down. >> reporter: how are they looking. >> they look good. everybody's excited, a little nervous butter the way they've been playing, they play hard i think anything can happen. >> reporter: yes, certainly

a few butterflies in the belly around here. what's really special is that i talked to one woman who is also a villanova alum like myself and she said being in houston right now just kind of feels like one big old reunion. you're seeing people you went to school with, you're meeting new people. nova nation has descended upon this town. you can see them everywhere all around houston. tonight they will be inside that stadium playing extra hard, jim, for a big win one more win. we cannot wait to see you after the game with the good news. we are live here in houston, alicia vitarelli, channel6 "action news." >> we're counting on it, alicia. let's go live to the main line and "action news" reporter sarah bloomquist who is in one of the villanova's favorite watering holes or at least the student's favorite watering holes on lancaster avenue. sarah, three hours before game time it's raining but villanova students are getting

ready. >> reporter: jim, these students are having the time of their young lives. even in the pouring rain. they've been lined up here outside kelly's tap room since about 3:00 this afternoon. the line at one point wrapped well down the block. if you look across the street, they are under the watchful eye of lower merion police. law enforcement is prepared. they have been meeting daily. they have a plan in place. they are ready for whatever happens after the game. [cheers and applause] >> reporter: nova nation is ready, ready for the games, ready for a win. >> it is going to be so crazy. i can't imagine how awesome it's going to be because saturday night was awesome. >> reporter: saturday night students flooded the streets and several were arrested following villanova's commanding win over oklahoma. >> as soon as they won it was a big 44-point win everybody rushing in the streets. people hanging from the telephone poles. it was madness. >> what they have to remember if it's a crime when there's not a championship game it's still a crime. >> reporter: radnor township

police will operate a command center inside headquarters. they'll monitor the game and activity on the streets. >> we have federal agents delaware county district attorney's office, septa pd, amtrak pd, villanova public safety's main dispatch will come out of here. >> reporter: state police will deploy mounted units and a helicopter. we spotted crews greasing light poles to make them more difficult to climb. at kelly's tap room they ordered extra food drink and security. >> we hired extra bouncers. i outsourced them this time as well. we have a really good relationship with lower merion police so we have them on speed dial if we need anything. >> reporter: radnor police say they want to see a win, too. they also want every one to celebrate irresponsibly. >> it's been so exciting, you canny you know, my dad's team now it's my team. root for the cats, baby. [cheers and applause] >> reporter: a few more notes from the authorities. they're asking everybody to pick a designated driver and have a transportation plan in place. they do anticipate as the

game -- at the end of the game approaching and at the ends of the game they will have parts of lancaster avenue shut down as well as some of the a access roads. that includes the the on and off ramps to the blue route. they're also asking that if you're not in the area at the end of the game to please stay away. live in bryn mawr, i'm sarah bloomquist, channel6 "action news." jim. >> thank you, sarah. dare we say it nova nation is ready to party like it's 1985. the last time villanova won a championship. we want to see how you're celebrating the team's championship run. so just send us your pictures on social media using the #6abcaction. other news at this hour tonight, the state of new jersey is suing atlantic city. the lawsuit filed today aims to stop the city from making its payroll payment on friday. governor chris christie says atlantic city has been funding its operations using tax money meant for the schools and he

wants that practice to stop. christie says the school district is ode more than $30 million. atlantic city mayor don guardian said the lawsuit is equivalent to the state suing itself. >> if he wants to take legal action i guess he'd have to ask the attorney general take legal action against himself and the staff that he's put in charge that's told us when to make payments to the school. >> guardian said today that there will not be layoff os area shut down of government services this friday. nine of the city workers unions have agreed to be paid on a 28 day cycle. guardian admits that agreement is just a temporary fix. amtrak has resumed service in the wake of yesterday's deadly accident in the city of chester. 2:00 a.m. tractwo amtrak employe killed. "action news" reporter chad pradelli lab at a news conference by the national transportation safety board. clad what'chad what's the latest

information on this deadly derailment. >> reporter: yeah, jim, this press conference wrapped up a couple minutes ago but not many questions were answered and there are many regard to this amtrak accident. chief among them, why was maintenance work being done on the tracks while this train was operating. it was 8:00 a.m. yesterday morning. this train was traveling from new york to georgia when the train slammed into a backhoe injuring more than three dozen passengers inkilling two other people. the backhoe operator and an amtrak supervisor. officials say all the other injuries appear to be nonlife-threatening. i did confirm that two remain hospitalized. the names of the deceased have not been released. investigators have retrieved the data recorder and surveillance video and done a preliminary review. >> the video shows that there was construction equipment on the track. and work train equipment on the track immediately adjacent to the amtrak train track. >> train authorized to be on

that track, can you talk about that, and was the construction equipment also authorized to be on the track. >> i cannot speculate at this time. we're still gathering facts on that information as to who had the authority to be on that track. we have secured all the communication down loads and equipment and we will be reviewing them but again, i have to stress that there is a -- a lot of data and a lot of information that investigators in our laboratory in that washington, d.c. will be sifting through. >> reporter: and investigators were at the scene all day yesterday as well as today. i'm told no interviews have taken place just yet. that will begin tomorrow. but this investigation will take months. the ntsb lead investigator tells me it should be wrapped up in eight to 12 months. i'm live in southwest philadelphia, chad pradelli channel6 "action news. jim. >> thank you, chad. our coverage of the deadly crash continues at 6abc.com with the latest on the investigation, photos from the crash site and videos from

passengers describing the chaotic moments at the scene. an oil spill shut down the inner lanes of the roosevelt boulevard at levick street for much of the day. a car an tractor-trailer collided in the northbound lanes in mayfair at 8:30 this morning. the crash caused an oil spill. the inner and our lanes were closed as crews cleaned up the spill. all lanes have been reopened. one person suffered nonlife-threatening injuries in the crash. coming up on "action news" tonight, lesean mccoy, he is cleared: why the d.a. decided not to file charges in the olde city bar brawl. jeff skversky is live in houston for tonight's ncaa championship basketball game. jeff. >> reporter: jim, villanova can win their first national championship in 31 years. they're taking on north carolina tonight in just a few hours. we'll have a live preview.

we'll hear from the cats coming up in sports. cecily. >> well, a can cold front that's bringing rain right now will usher in wintry changes for the next two days. i'm talking freeze warnings and wind chills. i'll have all the details in the accuweather 7-day forecast. >> those stories and much more when "action news" continues tonight.

i'm backing josh shapiro for attorney general because things have to change. we need criminal justice reform

because our prisons are far too overcrowded. we have to deal with drug addiction through treatment, not incarceration. and use our prison for those who are truly violent. and we need to get illegal guns off our streets. i'm joining with president obama and leaders across our area in supporting josh. josh shapiro will be an attorney general committed to fairness and equal justice. >> the word is in. no charges will be levied against former eagle lesean mccoy for a fight with two off duty philadelphia police officers on february 7. "action news" reporter vernon odom has the full story. >> reporter: the d.a. says he has spent weeks reviewing the cell phone video of the

brawl and tracking down witnesses who were inside the club recess around 2:45 that february morning. and still they cannot conclude who started the brawl between two off duty cops and football star shady mccoy and three of his friends. >> while it's clear that a physical altercation took place and that several people were injured, there's insufficient credible evidence to determine which of the participants was the initial aggressor. >> reporter: investigators do know the violence erupted when a $350 bottle of slam pain purchased by mccoy was grabbed by one of the officers who was treated for injuries but did not go to emergency hospital rooms near club recess. >> it's very clear mccoy didn't start any fight. he didn't want to continue any fight. the most he did in this matter after this fight broke out, he went over to try to break it up. >> reporter: witness this tweet sent out late today by the police union. the fop leadership is blasting

the d.a.'s decision. they still want the book thrown at mccoy and his friends. >> it's absolute nonsense that there's not enough evidence there. detectives did the investigation, forwarded it over to the d.a.'s office and he decide probably week ago not to prosecute. >> i respect john mcnesby. he's a phenomenal advocate toward his members. but i don't make decisions based on politics. we're not making this decision based on who's going to be happy or who's going to be upset or who a potential victim or potential defendant was. that would be wrong for us. >> reporter: tonight the fop president says he'll now call pennsylvania's attorney general to prosecute shady mccoy. i'm vernon odom, channel6 "action news in center city. >> well, today marks 25 years since pennsylvania senator john hines and six other people were killed when a helicopter collided with his plane. it happened over merion

elementary school's playground in lower merion. two children outside were there for recess and they were among those killed. the collision came after the senator's plane reported a problem with its landing gear. the helicopter offered to fly nearby to see whether the gear was down for a landing and that's when the collision happened.

>> extraordinary watching villanova beat oklahoma by 44 points but tonight one point will be just enough. >> that's all they need. they haven't been tested. only the kansas game during this tournament. cats margin of victory thus far 24 points. tonight they enter as a slight underdog to north carolina. jeff skversky joins us lie in houston with a championship game preview. jeff. >> reporter: tuesday, legendary villanova coach roll lee massimino was not expected to be here tonight because he has been at home in florida taking care of his sick wife but when a villanova trustee

got wind of it he says he has to be here rooting on his team. they sent him a private plane and roll is here. >> reporter: this could be a game for the ages and villanova could be a team for the ages. just like the 1985 champs. if they beat north carolina tonight in the national championship game. >> i don't want anything to take away from that team. that team is so magical at villanova and the way -- the way they did it was magical. so i hope -- what my real dream would be if we could win and we could keep that magical feeling. this team just have a separate feeling. >> to be remembered with that team would just be an honor. we know the run they went on and the games that they played in the ncaa tournament and the perfect game. they played against george town it would be an honor to be in the same class as them. >> reporter: whether they believe it or not this villanova team is in a class of their own. they have won more games than

any other nova team in school history breaking records here at the final four and their dream of winning it all is a reality tonight against north carolina. >> it would mean a lot to our whole program and to everyone, something i'm sure everyone has dreamed our their whole life and to be able to vat opportunity to win this game is just big. >> are you the best team in the country. >> i do believe we're the best team in the country. i think i have the best teammates and the best coaches in the country. >> one more. >> one more. >> reporter: villanova has been playing like the best team in the country. they have the best shooting percentage entering a national championship game since 1985 and they're win buying an average margin of 24.2 points per game the best by any team in the tournament. go wildcats. we're live at the final four, jeff skversky channel6 "action news." ducis. >> all right, jeff, thank you so much. allen iverson he is one of the greatest sixers ever. he can now be called one of the best basketball players ever. a.i. is headed to the hall of fame. he was elected to the hall

this morning iverson was a nine time all start he averaged better than 26 points per game for his career. he led the sixers to the 2001 nba finals but he feels this is his greatest achievement. >> i feel like there in my heart but you never know. stranger things have happened. this is it. this is like, you know, like when my friends have arguments in the barbershop and stuff like that with people, you know what i mean, i'm solidified now. >> phillies baseball is open for business. the season got under way this afternoon in is cincinnati. these were the two worst teams in baseball last season. victim of his team's did he first in the first inning. ryan howard can't handle the throw from freddie galvez. a run scores. an error on howard. one-nothing reds. little freddie galvez with a two run homer. right now we are in the eighth inning. the phils hanging on to a

two-one lead. that's sports. >> ducis, cecily tynan with the accuweather forecast from when we continue in just a moment. for years, i was a laboratory chemist, developing drugs to fight deadly diseases. as a scientist, i know there's more that washington can do to help families. i'm running for congress to protect planned parenthood funding so more women get cancer screenings and treatment... to pass a ban on fracking in the delaware river basin to preserve our clean water, and to always protect medicare and social security. i'm shaughnessy naughton and i approve this message.

>> get that late word from accuweather and cecily tynan. >> jim the rain moves out tonight but the really cold air will be moving n you'll need the winter coat tomorrow. storm tracker6 double scan showing the cold front pressing through is bringing us a line of rain and the steadiest right now is really right along the i-95 corridor. if you look at that batch moving through newark, delaware, that will be heading towards the new jersey turnpike. so certainly a wet evening commute. we've got a batch of heavy

rain right over philadelphia and this line extends up to the north so trenton currently not quite as heavy but we do have some heavy rain that's moving into burlington county and this will open the door for some very cold air. so, a freeze warning has been posted for the next two nights. we're looking at temperatures dropping down into the 20's. we had such a warm march that a lot of fruit trees have already blossomed so you want to protect them especially the strawberries or peach trees, strawberries also at risk, tulips though good idea to maybe cover up some plants with plastic tonight and really tomorrow the night. not only tonight will temperatures be dropping down below 30, we're looking at some gusty winds. so, tomorrow morning wind chills feeling like winter. we're looking at wind chills across-the-board only in the teens tomorrow so bundle up as you head to work or the kids head to the bus stop and today temperatures really all about location. allentown was north of low pressure so that means they

never got out of the cold air. the high there only 48 degrees. trenton 56. near philadelphia made it up to 65 degrees. a big rebound from yesterday's high of 47. millville 68 and wildwood up to 72 degrees. still holding at 61 in cape may. 60 in dover. philadelphia has dropped down to 55. allentown 43. and the poconos already down to 31 degrees. so, this cold air is going to be moving in very quick. satellite6 along with action radar showing we're getting the rain but folks near boston 48-inches of snow with this so that shows that cold air and as we head to the evening hours, the rain really mainly across south jersey by 9 o'clock. this is a pretty quick hit of rain. it's off the coast by midnight tomorrow. we're back to bright sunshine in the mourning but look at the temperatures, temperature in the 20's. wind chills in the teens. and really through the day tomorrow despite all the sunshine it's going to be even colder than yesterday. 43 degrees in philadelphia.

allentown 41. cape may 44. wilmington 44. and trenton only 42 degrees and wind chills in the afternoon will be no better than the 30's. association the exclusive accuweather 7-day forecast, it is a rollercoaster. tomorrow plenty of sunshine, the high only 43 degrees but feeling much cooler. on wednesday, we start the day with temperatures below freezing. manage to make it up to a more seasonable 55 degrees, increasing clouds. thursday we bump it up to 63 but that comes with rain and some thunderstorms and then behind that system on friday, kind of a transition day. it will be breezy and cooler, possibility of some showers, 51 degrees and behind that system, temperatures take another big dip on saturday. the high only 46 degrees, partly cloudy, perhaps a shower. doesn't look quite as harsh on sunday. some sun, mixing with clouds with a high of 50 degrees and monday for the phillies home opener finally turning milder with a high of 60 but also the

possibility of an evening shower. this month it seems like it's either colds and windy or it's warmer and wet. it's a tough start to the month. >> which would you prefer? >> nor'easter i wanneither. i want it warm and sunny. >> actiony thank you cecily. "action news" continues with brian taff sharrie williams adam joseph and ducis rodgers on phl17. for cecily tynan, ducis rodgers and the entire "action news" team, i'm jim gardner. we hope you'll join us as 11:011:00.

what's the most awarded car company of the year? ranking from top to bottom. luxury cars just seem like they would be top awarded. better be some awards behind what you are paying for, right. the final answer. chevy. the most awarded car company two years in a row. wow, it's like a luxury car. i was shocked. i mean it's like, this is chevy? for a limited time, get cash back for 15% of the msrp on most remaining 2015 chevy vehicles while they last. find new roads at your local chevy dealer.

a little child with big dreams. dwight evans. first a community activist. a legislator at 25. always looking out for us. he worked to create a thriving commercial district. and he's brought new grocery stores to underserved areas. dwight evans is committed to revitalizing neighborhoods in all of philadelphia. he'll be a block by block congressman for us. i'm dwight evans and i'm proud to approve this message.

tonight, the commuter nightmare. the deadly spring storm, snow, ice across several states. the pictures coming in now. cars and trucks off the highway. a bus carrying three dozen students, flipping. investigators coming before the cameras moments ago. the deadly amtrak collision. what caused it? while inside the train, a doctor jumping into action. the runway collision. a passenger jet taking off, crashing into another plane. flames shooting into the air, seconds from disaster. tonight, what a loss in wisconsin would mean for donald trump, as his ex-wife, ivana trump, causes a controversy. and megyn kelly asking ted cruz, "have you committed adultery?" gli and your money tonight. home prices on the rise. and three simple things you can do right now to substantially