severe thunderstorm watch. meteorologist cecily tynan has the latest information from accuweather. cecily, what's headed our way. >> jim, we have some severe thunderstorm warnings as well. double scan live showing this line of thunderstorms pushing to the east. they have a history of damaging winds, hail, vivid lightning and hail and flooding rains. we have severe thunderstorm warning in effect in parts of the lehigh bucks montgomery county chester and berks county until 6:30. any storm can contain hail and damaging winds. this is the line that i'm tracking. this view alone the past 15 minutes we've had 150 lightning strikes. the individual cells are moving northeast pretty quickly, about 30 to 40 miles per hour. we've seen some of this boeing out near pottstown. that's an indication of rushing wind and we can also flip this over and show you that this particular cell does have a history of hail. this is the hail swath as it continues to push to the east and we've had hail reported as large as quarters.

this system is continuing to move eastward so we do have a severe thunderstorm watch posted for philadelphia and areas all north and west until 9 o'clock. they should be weakening as they press into south jersey and delaware. strengthening hurricane irma it bombed out over the past 24 hours. you can see a very distinct eye and this is one of the strongest storms in the history of the atlantic ocean. it's moving west at about 15 miles per hour. so the northern leeward islands are going to get hit very hard. i'll have the latest on this storm and the path coming up in the full accuweather forecast. jim. >> all right, cecily, of course we're also tracking the path of hurricane irma on the 6abc app. we will alert you to any updates as the storm moves. you can also get the latest from our team of meteorologists on any possible impact here. the 6abc app a free download for your mobile device.

president donald trump has decided to phase out the deferred action for childhood arrivals or daca. the move creates uncertainty -- enormous uncertainty for children brought into the u.s. by their illegal immigrant parents but at the same time trump said the end of daca would be delayed for six months to give congress time to pass legislation that would allow the dreamers to stay. if congress fails to act, the hundreds of thousands of young immigrants will lose their reprieve from deportation. attorney general sessions explained that former president obama exceed his authority by creating daca by executive action there by breaking the law. >> the compassionate thing to do is end the lawlessness, enforce our laws and if congress chooses to make changes to those laws, to do so through the process set forth by our founders.

>> former president obama has issued a statement saying that president trump's decision to phase out daca is cruel and self defeating. obama said "ultimately this is about basic decency.ut whether a people who kick hopeful strivers out of america or whether we treat them the way we would want our own kids to be treated. it's about who we are as people and who we want to be ." "action news" reporter walter perez is live at the federal building in philadelphia. walterthe city saw a demonstration today to protest the president's decision to roll back daca. >> reporter: jim, we spoke with several protesters who say rolling back daca without proposing thoughtful, comprehensive immigration reform is simply punitive affecting many people simply who want to play by the rule and chase after the american dream. >> i am an american.

>> reporter: anel medina came to the u.s. from mexico when she was five. today she's a registered nurse working at a hospital in the delaware valley. she says defining her by her legal status as an undocumented immigrant is a mistake. >> i don't know anything else. this is my home. this is my country. i help take care of the sick here. i hurt when america hurts. when america is in threat i'm in pain, too. >> reporter: and so medina joined other beneficiaries of daca activists and local leaders for this rally and march through olde city today denouncing the trump administration's decision. we asked villanova law professor michelle gaston about the assertion that daca conflicts with immigration law. she says this issue did go before the highest court in the land but that occurred before the appointment of neil gorsuch. >> at the time that this issue got to the supreme court, the supreme court wasn't able to decide it. they didn't have nine judges. so, it's really unclear. >> reporter: but state

representative chris wrath who spoke at today's rally says this is another case of a legal issue crossing paths with moral issues. >> all 16 of my great great-grandparents were born into slavery. they all died free because of protests. protests push policy makers to change the law. >> reporter: and on the flip side, daca opponents say this is a good move because they say the federal government must enforce immigration laws without exception based on age or other factors. reporting live from center city, walter perez channel6 "action news." jim. >> walter thank you. as attorney general sessions was announcing the decision on daca, senator tom carper of delaware met with dreamers who attend delaware state university. they discussed the opportunities that daca program has afforded them. >> i want to give back to america because america is my home. that's all i have ever known. >> a lot of people don't know how to read or write in another language because we came here is the often is

young age. we are americans. >> i think regardless of what's happening i think each one of us will continue to fight. we're going to, you know -- we're fighting for our dreams to be successful. >> the fates of these students now in the hand of the congress. the students taking part today all attend dsu on scholarship provided by the dream do the the -- dream u.s. much more analysis and details on the daca decision. that is next at 6:30 right after "action news." a car struck two public works employees in montgomery county this afternoon. it happened just before 3 o'clock near west broad street elementary school in franconia township. the two victims were rushed to the hospital with serious injuries. students leaving for the day were escorted to their buses on the other side of school property. philadelphia police have arrested the owner and founder of the dollar boys dance troupe in west philadelphia and the charge is sexual assault against children.

"action news" reporter vernon odom has the full story. >> reporter: this is tyree dumas aged 28 of west philadelphia. he stands accused tonight of three counts of sexual assault on children and related charges. for years dumas has run a young boys' dance group known as the dollar boys. here he is on youtube. >> anywhere we want to. >> reporter: the dollar boys operated out of this store front on market and 54th. dumas is founder and ceo. frequently they did paid performances. now dumas has been arrested and charged with sexually assaulting an eight-year-old from his dance troupe this summer. but dumas has been under some suspicion for years. police investigated him in 2013 after accusations surfaced stemming from an alleged assault on an 11-year-old and a 13-year-old back in 08. >> i'm not sure if they felt they had enough back in 2013 but with the recent allegations we took a look at

them again and presented them then approved them. >> reporter: tyree dumas does have staunch defenders here in this community. >> i heard about it but i -- like until proven guilty, like he's a friend of mine so i don't think it's true. i think it's accusations. i think a lot of people do hate on him and -- just because he's a -- he's a you doe community and also for these boys around here. >> he seemed like he was such a good person, right. and with the community and helping out with the kids. >> reporter: but now shock is the most repeated word in the community of merchants in the 5400 block of market. >> shocked because you just never know a person. he's been genuine. we all thought he was helping the community but obviously he had other motives. tyree dumas is free on bail tonight. police say there m be other victims out here and they add give them a call if that is the case. i'm vernon odom, channel6 "action news" in west philadelphia.

>> an overturned tractor-trailer caused some traffic troubles in bucks county. officials say the truck was making a turn when its load of steel pipes shifted causing the truck to flip. the accident happened at 9:00 this morning at the intersection of newtown bypass and swamp road in newtown. fortunately nobody was hurt. there is word tonight a mushroom did you of distributor in kennett square was collecting donations for hurricane harvey victims. south mill is inviting people to drop off school supplies peanut butter breakfast bars diapers cleaning supplies and paper goods. the company is located at 740 cypress and they'll be accepted donations from noon until 6:00 wednesday and thursday and noon to 4:00 on friday. south mill will transport the supplies to the impacted areas. coming up on "action news" tonight, students across the region head back to school. "action news" tags along with a newly minted philadelphia second grader on this her first day. and five days until the

eagles season opener. ducis rodgers with the birds getting ready to take on the redskins. cecily. >> and a line of thunderstorms pushing across our north and west counties causing heavy rain, lightning, even damaging winds and hail. i'll have the latest on these storms, more rain tomorrow and details in the track of hurricane irma when in the accuweather 7-day forecast. >> these stories and much more when "action news" continues tonight.

fios is not cable. we're a 100% fiber optic network. and with the new fios gigabit connection... you get our fastest... internet ever. with download speeds up to 940 megs - 20 times faster than most people have. switch to fios gigabit connection with tv and phone for $79.99 a month online for the first year. plus hbo for one year and multi-room dvr service for two years, all with a two-year agreement. and switching has never been easier. get out of your contract with up to a $500 credit to help cover your early termination fee. go to fiosgigabit.com >> it was a rousing start this morning to the school year for students in southwest philadelphia. dozens of community members lined up to cheer and welcome the youngsters back to class

at william c. bryant elementary. and they brought supplies for all who needed them. the heart warming show of support organized by the church of christian compassion and the muslims for humanity. throughout the tri-state area school bells were ringing for the first time today. that included the city of philadelphia. every year we follow a student a young student as he or she makes her way or his way through the first day of school. "action news" reporter katherine scott shows us how it went this year. >> reporter: tell me are you excited for the first day? a sleepy nod from shania meade a second grader who started off her first day of school with the "action news" alarm bell. in no time she was in the kitchen of her logan home stirring her oatmeal and talking about what she wants to learn this year. >> i want to learn cursive writing. >> reporter: have you done that before. >> i did cursive writing cursive a, cursive b, cursive c. >> reporhought "the

q"'s were kind of hard. school district superintendent dr. william hite arrived to nean elementary school. they had a good chat on the way and then joined mayor chennai and shania's classmates to officially ring in the new school year. [bell tolls] >> they will was reminded me of sister mary on the front steps of the school every morning and boy she was -- that bell,. >> reporter: this bell ringing ceremony took place in a newly remodeled classroom. it's all part of the district's emphasis on early literacy and their anchor goal of 100 percent of eight-year-olds reading at grade level. >> students who are reading on grade level are more likely to graduate on time, they're more likely to attend school every day. they're more likely to e college after high >> reporter: pennell is one of the eight schools where all pre-k through second grade classrooms were refurbished. new furniture, new technology, new instructional materials. >> we want them to learn to read to transition to reading

to learn so laying this foundation at a special early level is extremely important. >> reporter: the school district is in its second year plan that's designed to touch every school in the district. it's going to be a great year. happy first day, everybody. in logan, katherine scott, channel6 "action news. >> and a school in egg harbor township is celebrating its brand new campus. the international academy of atlantic city's charter school held a ribbon cutting ceremony late this afternoon. this is the first year students will be attending the location on the 6700 block of black horse pike. the school will serve more than 300 kids from kindergarten to fifth grade. the school plans to add a grade each year. classes begin thursday.

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>> you're hoping he is a star of the future went get to see him tonight. >> let's see what he has. fans have been clamoring to

see him in a phillies uniform. jp crawford called up by the phillies. crawford will make his mlb debut tonight against the mets. the short stop prospect will start at third tonight batting seventh in the lineup. crawford hit .280 for lehigh valley. manager pete mackanin says crawford could see time at short stop and second base. crawford will wear number two. he joins rhys hoskins and rick williams as prospects to make their debuts for the phillies this season. are the eagles ready? they better be. the season opener is five days away. sunday afternoon the birds will be in landover maryland to face the washington redskins. the birds are a slight favorite despite this game being on the road. last season the eagles defense wasn't always up to snuff. so during the off season the front office engineered some trades to upgrade that side of the football. that unit should be better. emphasis on should. >> on paper we're better. we have added not only depth

but we've added some key components to the defense. it's our job as coaches, our job as players to be productive, you know, i mean, this press conference doesn't matter. we can say all the right things, we can, you know, have the greatest plans. we have to execute it and the proof is in the pudding. >> got to do it on the field. the dallas cowboys remain in limbo. they were expecting to get a ruling today on ezekial elliott's appeal of his six game suspension. so far nothing yet. dallas opens the season sunday night against the giants. penn state moved from sixth to fourth in the latest ap college football poll. highest ranking since november 2008. the nittany lions cupping off a 62-nothing drubbing of akron. they'll host pitt this saturday on 6abc. temple and villanova saturday at the linc.

the mood at temple practice today rather loose. appears the players put that notre dame game behind them. the owls were manhandled. they fell behind early and lost through 33 points. today coach collins explained that he didn't need to remind his players about moving on. they were already doing that on their own. >> we've got to go one and o today. we got to go one and o tomorrow and i just think that when it's coming from the players that's when it's real. coaches are going to say the right thing but when it comes from the guys in the locker room i think that's awesome. >> hurt us too much with the confidence. i think it was little things we messed up on but this week we're more dialed in i think. watching more film paying more attention to details. >> we'll have much more on the owls on temple football playbook. coach collins will join us each and every weak. that's saturday during the 9:30 a.m. half hour.

>> torrey smith spent this afternoon with local football players. smith visited the chester high school football team. he talked to the team about his own high school experiences and afterwards smith ran some drills with the young men. today's visit all part of the eagles care community tuesday initiative. before they can stand tall... they must first learn to stand out. get everything they need to shine, for less. this week at staples, shop our fifty cent deals. staples. it's pro time.

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>> parts of our area already getting hit pretty hard. >> parts of chester county, berks county, some flooding and that line continues to push to the east. storm tracker6 live double scan showing philadelphia, it's not here yet but there line is across the north and west suburbs and they have been producing a lot of lane

in a short period of time. also gusty winds. flash flood warnings have been posted for central berks county. this is where up to 3-inches of rain has already fallen, so turn around, don't drown. if you live in berks county you really do want to be careful. the flooding is happening. do not drive through flooded roads. a severe thunderstorm warning has been extended until 6:30 for parts of northampton county, lehigh county, bucks county and montgomery county and this is a strongest part of this line of storms. and this has not only some very heavy rain frequent lightning also the potential for the gusty winds and hail. it's moving towards the east-northeast at about 35 miles per hour. it's crossing the northeast extension right now, 309, hagerstown, dublin, bedminster riegelsville and harrow all in the path of this storm its a squall line ahead of a cold front. we've had plenty of fuel for the storms. the heat index philadelphia feels like 87. we hit a high of 88.

felt like summer today. once the storms roll through you can see it really cools down the air. temperatures dropping down into the 60's. so satellite and radar showing again that severe thunderstorm watch for philadelphia, northwest until 9 o'clock tonight. this whole line sliding to east and as it does, it will be weakening so that's good news. as we head through the night the severe threat will diminish. still any storm will have some heavy downpours and tomorrow that front just stalls right over us. tomorrow is going to be a gray, cool and damp day. the high only 72 degrees. a big change from yesterday's -- or today's 88, allentown 68, cape may 76, wilmington 71. lots of clouds with periods of rain. then the big weather story is this. hurricane irma, if you look at this infrared satellite you can see it's a monster storm. that eye very well defined. 185 miles an hour winds. this is the strongest storm in

the atlantic in 12 years, since wilma. it's moving west pretty quickly at about 15 miles per hour so it will be heading through the northern leeward islands antigua beer buddha as a category five hurricane. this is going to be a devastating storm for that region. as it moves towards puerto rico the latest track has it north of puerto rico. the problem though this storm is huge. it's about the size of ohio so even if the island does not get a direct hit it's going to have hurricane force winds and flooding. now, the track also keeps it mainly over waters. north of the dominican republic and perhaps just kind of brushing cuba as a category four hurricane. then starts to make a turn to the north. big question is when does it turn north? the latest track has it possibly hitting key west sunday afternoon as a category four hurricane with maximum sustained winds 140 miles per hour. harvey has winds at 130 so this is going to be a

devastating storm wherever it hits. so, the exclusive accuweather 7-day forecast periods of rain cool 72 degrees. thursday we dry out, 74 degrees and then a broad area of high pressure builds in. that means sunny, drynd somewhat cool weather. temperatures about 10 degrees below normal right through the weekend. by tuesday you have to watch thickening clouds with the chance of remnant rain by tuesday night on irma. i'll have the latest on that storm and a update on "action news" at 11:00. >> cecily thank you. abc's "world news tonight" with david muir next on channel6. "action news" continues at 10:00 on phl17 with brian taff sharrie williams adam joseph and ducis rodgers and please join us for "action news" at 11:00 here on channel6. for the entire "action news" team, i'm jim gardner. we hope you'll join us at 11:00. >> ♪

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tonight, breaking news as we come on the air. authorities now warning hurricane irma could be catastrophic. the category 5 hurricane now barrelling toward the u.s., kbr growing in strength. winds now 185 miles per hour. florida and puerto rico declaring states of emergency, mandatory evacuations already in the keys. several states could be in the path, and ginger zee is standing by with the new track just out. also tonight, president trump ending daca. the program protecting 800,000 young, undocumented immigrants, brought here by their parents. the president saying today he has a great love for them. north korea showdown. kim jong-un's response tonight after the u.s. said north korea is begging for war. from houston tonight, the staggering number.