"eyewitness news" reporter diana rocco joins us from independent mall with the a look at more of the exciting event. hi there diana. >> reporter: hi there, ukee. it is party mode down here. we are on independent mall, in just a few minutes from now the liberty block party is scheduled to start. we have got roads closed off. we've got thousands of people down here, is there food, fun and activities for the whole family but the the best part of the celebrating the fourth of july weekend in philadelphia, is that you are celebrating with people from all over the country and the world. celebrating the fourth of july in the city where independent was made after days offset up and weeks of preparation welcome america festivities are underway. >> we have been on tour for seven days now. we're doing a nine day historical tour. >> reporter: kerry alvarez came with a bus of 60 others all the way from miami. >> like always it is the place to be. >> reporter: liberty block party kicks off shortly with blocks closed around independence mall, festivities beginning at 1:00 culminating with a pops con

live outside 30th street i'm diana rocco cbs3 "eyewitness news". >> more to come on this thank you. >>> first time more than visit years, south carolina residents will wake up without a confederate flag flying over the state capital building. it was officially lowered and removeded in columbia. the push to remove the flag was amplified last month when a gunman killed nine black parishioners in church in charleston so it mayor haley. >> it was just wide range emotions. it was pride. it was pain thinking about the families. hoping they had peace, but overall i felt a huge weight was lifted off the state, >> reporter: we've learned a bureaucratic roar loud dpil lynn roof to purchase a gun. fbi director said today and a oversight enabled roof to buy the gun he allegedly used to kill nine people. the fbi agent who did roof's background check did not undercover his arrest for illegal drug possession that and that would have prevented roof from passing the background check and buying the gun. >>> von spence today, comes a week after the fbi searched allentown's offices, agents reportedly see

"eyewitness news" reporter diana rocco is there right now where firefighters are still on the scene. ana. >> reporter: ukee, it does appear that that fire is now completely out. but just up until a couple of minutes ago they were still going through these homes putting out hot spots. the fire marshal is still on the scene investigating tonight. we were able to speak with the woman who lives in the home where this fire started. she was downstairs just before 7:00 o'clock tonight waiting for a friend to pick her up and take her to church when she smelled smoke and her son-in-law went upstairs to investigate. her upstairs bedroom was filled with thick black smoke. that's when they got out and left 20 years of memories behind behind. chopper three overhead as flames pour from two attached homes on colonial square drive in all four houses leaving more than 12 people homeless. just before 7:00, neighbors saw smoke coming from the top noor of this home. >> when i smelled smoke, i new something was wrong. >> reporter: the fire started in mildred bird's top floor bedroom. she lived here for 20

"eyewitness news" reporter diana rocco is live on the parkway where crews get ready for concert and big fire works show diana? >> reporter: something everyone is looking forward to jessica. right new we can hear them testing audio on that stage which is just on the other side of the parkway by the art museum literally hundreds of thousands of people are expect here tomorrow for the concert and fire works tomorrow night but the welcome america party has already started. celebrating america's birthday where it all began 239 years ago. >> it is wonderful i love philadelphia, it is great. >> reporter: tourist attractions are pack, lots to do on independence mall as liberty block party kick off friday. start to welcome america with food fun for the whole family. >> life is working and kid are bored out of their mind. so they can ex-pull some energy. >> it is great just loving it, it is just such a great feeling of being here with freedom and wonderful. >> reporter: they came all the way from san diego. >> saw a phillies game last night. saw the fire works. just walking around here all day to

. >>> good evening i'm diana rocco. natasha has the night off.olice say the assault happened early this morning on the grounds of cobbs creek golf course. that's where "eyewitness news" reporter steve patterson is live tonight on the scene with the latest on the investigation. steve. >> reporter: well, diana there is a lot more to learn here. not much in the way of details although the details we do have are chilling. want to show you video from earlier this morning. this is where police have started their investigation. here's what we know at this point. right now the philadelphia police department special victims unit is investigating that sexual assault. now, here is the account that we have. the victim tells police she's walking towards south on carting street through the cobbs creek golf club about 3:30 saturday morning. on the way she tells police she passes by a hispanic male on the other side of the street walking in the other direction. all of a sudden she says the male changes direction, walks behind her and grabs the woman, dragging he

airy diana rocco cbs3 "eyewitness news". >> that they are, diana. thank you tonight philadelphia archbishop charles chaput says roman catholic school principal who dismissed a married gay teacher in merion last month was following church teachings. in a statement chaput thanked waldron emergency see academy leaders for taking the steps to ensure the catholic faith is presented in a way fully in cord with the teaching of the church. they've shown character and common sense at a moment when both seem to be uncommon. margie winters lost her job as religious instruction director even though she disclosed her same sex marriage in 2007. many parents are you be set by her dover dismissal and ask asking for her to be reinstated. letter to parents sisters of mercy says we reaffirm her decision as final although very painful when a school is called to make a discussion such at this, it challenges us as faith community at the deepest levels. >>> gay adults may soon serve as scout leaders across the country country. today unanimous vote boy scouts of america ex

"eyewitness news" reporter diana rocco has details. >> reporter: einstein medical center er doctor melissaahn got a 3:00 a.m. call. forty-six year-old man is stuck under a csx train near grant avenue and northeast philadelphia she was at home but with her emergency kit in her car she was prepared for anything. >> i am used to working on the ambulance and seeing different, unusual scenes. haven't necessarily had to crawl under the train to save somebody before. >> reporter: fire department was on the scene and assessed the situation. only way to free the man was to amputate his leg at the angle. >> fire department had tried to consider moving the train or lifting the train but there wasn't an option for that. >> reporter: doctor kahn and her collogue dr. gallagher have performed count list surgeries before but never in these conditions. the patient was heavily medicated and awake and this time their operating was underneath the engine of the freight train. >> we crawled underneath the train on our bellies. we used scalpel to cut through some of the tissues and then two different types of sa

i'm diana rocco for katie and everyone here, thanks for joining us.ohohours a day creating the most entertaining show for saturday late night. but they don't mind. cause' they love me. kicking late night butt. tonight on bianca, we're smack dab in the middle of the best season of the year summer. the most fun y have on a saturday night, right now. i go out with the shopping queen of la, morgan stewart from rich kids of beverly hills.ou canat's too driving miss daisy. erica ash reveals something shocking about kevin hart. i'm assuming you mean after sex me right. yes. i a th i talk to melissa rivers on life after joan. now, i go upstairs in my closet and shut the door and lay on the floor and sob.m. i did some a round on the house for the grammy-nominated and charming trey songz. ♪ bianca ♪ bianca starts right now. (applause) ♪

as "eyewitness news" reporter diana rocco tells you some hoping to cash in on out of town visitors areding they could be out of luck. >>> many throughout center city and beyond have already listed a condo or apartment expecting big bucks for the pope's visit. some asking more than $1,000 a night. >> we have raised the daily rate about 500% to see if it's something we can get. >> craig beer man manages a south philly building he legally posted a building on air b and b and so far it's been two months with no bites. everybody is saying they can get 500 or a thousand dollars for this and that, um, is mistaken because i'm out there and i can see that that's not really happening. >> i look at all sorts of web sites most notably air b and b it's very easy to find them because they have to put where the opportunity. >> chuck hole mr. is one of many building managersing tolling air b and b to find unit owners sub letting or renting ill heel. >> i tell them to take the listing down. >> condo bylaws prohibit short term rentals it violates insurance policies and the safety of other owners. >> tra

in northern liberties, diana rocco, cbs3 "eyewitness news". >>> new tonight a special event at howard high school technology in wilmington mayor dennis williams kicked off president obama my brother'ss keeper community challenge. they will address education and if you log safety for young men of color in the wilmington area. >>> the papal visit is officially less than two months away now. pope francis arrives in philadelphia in 59 days for the world meeting of families. ahead his viv the archdiocese of philadelphia unveiled had a a new banner welcoming the pope it hangs outside the cathedral basilica of saints peter panel in center city. pope francis will be sure to see it when he celebrates mass there on the 26th of september. >>> well a mystery for more than a year. what happened to malaysian airlines flight 370. could that mystery soon be solved. it all comes down to this par w it was found and what comes next for investigators. >> also ahead at 11:00 a young father ends up in a chem ma with permanent heart damage. his doctor blames a popular drink. hell reporter stephanie stahl ex

next stop san francisco. >>> outside the wells fargo center in south philadelphia, i'm diana rocco cbs3 news". >>> if you will be taking a septa regional train into philadelphia during the pope's visit or any reason at all monday morning is the first day to buy those special one-day train passes online. normal regional rail passes will not work on september 26th and 27th. only 175,000 of the special rail passes will be available for each day so septa says buy them early. for more information go to cbs.com/papal visit. >>> big fight break out at a softball tournament before the game even started. >> it wasn't the players who were throwing the punches. it was actually two dads. still ahead at 11:00 we'll tell you what reportedly led to this violent encounter that was all caught on camera. >> also, a circus elephant gets very angry and takes it out on a nearby car. what caused the animal to go off. kate? >>> and we've got a heat wave starting tomorrow and it's only going to get worse before it gets better. sunday could be one of the hottest days of the year so far and we've also got a trac

tonight, our diana rocco looked into the flag's roots its place in hit recent its removal. >> reporterweeks after nine people were gowned down inside a charleston, south carolina church, by a gun wielding man carrying the couldn't fet rat flag, south carolina's lawmakers will remove the emblem of the confederate army. >> just became part of the culture. part of what people who grew up, and there was a lot of denial that confederacy had anything to do with slavery. >> gregory irwin professor of american military history at temple you've says the flag carried by the southern army during the civil war means different things to different people but one thing cannot be denied. >> confederacy was founded to protect slave you have row. there's no denying that. only slaves states left the union. >> you can't ignore heritage. you can't do it. it's not fair to the other side. >> reporter: george hoffman is the president of the bucks county civil war museum. it hangs original flags of the civil war and the nation's early years. >> that's original. the stains on it are bloodstains. >> reporter: ho

"eyewitness news" reporter diana rocco caught up with the d.a. as he met with residents in northern liberties last night to help neighbors feel safe to help them train talk to them about ways to prevent a crime. >> reporter: improving community relation relations and making neighbors feel safe was focus of the district attorney's community walk through northern liberties on wednesday. he was shaking hands and talking to neighbors. >> what happened in ferguson, what happened in staten island and in baltimore we don't want to it happen in philadelphia and it doesn't happen by just reacting when there is a a crisis. we are trying to be a presence in fail in all of our communities every day. >> reporter: d.a. seth williams led a team of assistant district attorneys they were joined by the philadelphia police department and community leaders as they walk through the piazza and restaurants throughout the area, asking people about their concerns and letting them know that they are at work. >> it is good. >> the crime rate there northern liberties has be

"eyewitness news" reporter diana rocco reports tonight. >> reporter: einstein medical center er dr. melissa couldn't got a 3:00 a.m. call wednesday a 46-year-old man is stuck under a csx train on tracks near grant avenue in northeast philadelphia philadelphia. dr. cahn was at home but with her emergency kit in her car she was prepared for anything. >> working on the ambulance and seeing a lot of different unusual scenes. haven't necessarily to had to crawl u19 a train to safe somebody before. >> fire department was on the scene and had assess the situation. the only way to free the man was to amputate his leg at the ankle ankle. >> the fire department had already tried to consider moving the train or lifting the train. but there wasn't an option for that. >> reporter: the doctor and her colleague dr. meghan gallagher had performed countless surgeries before. but never in these conditions. the patient was heavily medicate and awake and this time they're operating room was underneath the engine of a freight train. >> we crawled under 19 the train on our bellies. we used example to cut

in kennett square, chester county i'm diana rocco cbs3 "eyewitness news". >> what a great experience. >>> new tonight honoring heroes who saved a man from a sinking car. >>> collingswood police officers christina bowen and james cavenaugh recognized tonight for their bravery. last month they jumped into the cooper river and pulled adam nicely from his car. he'd suffered a medical emergency and had gone into the river. many words of thanks tonight an lot of smiles at the ceremony. >>> a wild scene on a crowded beach and it is all caught on camera. a plane crash lands on beach and then hits a 12-year-old boy. tonight we're hearing from the child's parents about how their son is doing. >>> also ahead tonight long days at the office. wouldn't it be nice to just kickback, take little nap at your desk? new research that may have your boss wanting to you sleep at work. kate? >> that sounds good to me. we're track something storms outside this evening. take look at storm scan3. you can see showers and storms lifting in from south to north. it's a warm steamy night and we are stuck in some mug

in kennett square, chester county diana rocco cbs-3 "eyewitness news". >> great for them, big thrillse girl, we know her! >> i know her that's great. >> wonderful moment. they'll never forget it. >> kate, i know your eyes were glued to the television jean that cents with a happening. >> of course, absolutely, how could they not be? such amazing game to watch. now, as far as shifting gears here and turning to the weather it feels like summer outside. world cup always think of summer, and certainly when you walk out the door this reminds you. >> we're in it. >> it sure feels like it, absolutely, very steamy beginning to our day and whole day is going to ends up being just hot sticky, and feeling like july, which we're in of course, so this is what is very much normal. taking you on out to storm scan3, a check there basically just sitting between front today. so sort of biting our time until the next more potent cold front comes along. for now couple of flex of moisture obviously on area radar, for the most part either removed to the west or off to the north. so unless you are traveling

"eyewitness news" reporter diana rocco is live on the ben franklin parkway where crews are ready for concert and fire works to come, diana. >> reporter: jessica, tomorrow hundreds of thousands of people are expect here on the benjamin franklin parkway set up is still underway tonight but today the welcome america party has already started. let freedom ring from the liberty bell to the parkway. >> happy fourth of july. >> reporter: birthplace of american indies celebrating its 239th year with the bash like no other. >> oh, it is great just such a great feeling being here with freedom and it is wonderful. >> right where it all started right, the independent. >> yeah. >> reporter: many of comb from near and far and after months of preparation days offset up festivity are underway. >> we have been on tour for seven days now. we are doing a nine day historical tour. >> reporter: kerry alvarez came with 60 others all the way from miami. >> like always it is the place to be. >> reporter: welcome america event kick off with the liberty block party on independent mall, there was lots of music

in kennett square, chester county diana rocco cbs-3 "eyewitness news". >> i bet that you was huge foris inspiring those young women you. >> she continues to make the effort to come back to volunteer with the team to talk to young women. >> that's what it is all about. giving back. and the world cup was raving bonanza. >> listen to there is numbers from neilson showed more than 26 million americans tuned in to watch team usa victory most watched soccer game in us history, crushing the ratings for the 2014 men's world cup. it also attracted more viewers in this year's nba finals, and any major league baseball game since 2004. so oh, women's soccer, who watches it? that's who watches it, 20 million people. >> start to finish, no doubt. >> and a game like that, for the first minute with all of those goals. wow. >> usa. >> every couple seems to have a set of rules to follow. and celebrities are no different. coming up next, the actress hugh jackman's wife will not let him work with. >> also the four cast, all about the heat and humidity, right, katy? >> absolutely, sitting between systems

"eyewitness news" reporter diana rocco is live there with details on what happened. diana?reporter: jessica that robbery suspect is in critical condition tonight after police say he walk into that grocery store announce add robbery and pulled a gun on the clerk. police say around 7:00 o'clock tonight at the corner of 64th and mark streets in millbourne the suspect walked into this corner grocery store and showed a gun and announceing a robbery. he emptied the cash register and left. that's when the owner called police. police say moments later suspect was walking towards the 63rd street station police stopped him and he pulled a gun. two millbourne police officers fired on the suspect and he shot back. evidence markers show where the bullet casings fell. police say the suspect fled toward the 63rd street station throwing a gun in the woods. police apprehended him on the corner. he had a gunshot wound to the chest and abdomen area. money and clothing are still on the ground. police took the man to penn presbyterian hospital. county police are now taking over the investigatio

"eyewitness news" reporter diana rocco dropped in to see what makes olsteen and his wife so in demand 14,000 people packed the wells fargo center friday for joel olsteen's night of hope. >> he is such a great inspirational speaker. and really enjoy listening to him. >> the positivity, and universal just sort of love and i think that they are lessons very easily applicable. >> olsteen took to stage usually occupied by entertainers with wife victoria, to share fate and bible based inspirational message. >> get connected ... >> olsteen is the pastor of lakewood church in houston with 40,000 members. he's written eight new york times best sellers on living a full and happy life. his radio and tv programs reach more than 7 million people country wide each week. >> it is part of my message that, you know, god takes you places you have never dreamed of. and i believe we're blessed to be a blessing. >> it is something he has seen play out in his own life. >> you wouldn't be alive ... >> and that's why olsteen says his message is for everyone, not just church goers or people who are raised in

as "eyewitness news" reporter diana rocco tells south hope to cash in on out of town visitors and they are finding that they could be out of luck. >> reporter: many throughout center city and beyond have already listed a condo or a apartment, expecting big bucks for the pope's visits. some asking for more than $1,000 a night. >> we have raised the daily rate about 500 percent just to see if it is something we could get. >> reporter: craig beerman manages a south philadelphia building, he legally posted a unit on air b and b and so far two months with no by the. >> everybody saying they can get 500 or a you this dollars for this and that is mistaken because i'm out there and i can see that is in the really happening. >> i look all through web sites most noteably air b and b and very easy to find them because they have to put where the unit is. >> reporter: thinks one of the many building manages trolling air b and b to find unit owners subletting renting illegally. >> i tell them that they cannot rent but if they continue to try to list the unit there will be financial sanctions. >> rep

outside 30th street station diana rocco cbs-3 "eyewitness news". >>> it is 5:08 right now. historic day as the confederate flag is lowered and removed from the grounds of the state capitol in south carolina. cbs news correspondent don champion has reaction from columbia. >> crowds cheered, and chanted, as the confederate battle flag was lowered at the south carolina state capitol. >> it is a relief. >> fifty-seven year old columbia native francis parker, a descendent of slaves, was among the thousands who watched the powerful moment in person. >> the flag is just a symbol that others used, and it perpetuates the hate. >> friday's historic move ends years of controversy in the state over the devisive flag. >> one thing to read about you know, history and current events that happened. but it is another thing to live in the moment. >> debates over the flag kicked into high gear last month when a gunman seen posting with the con federal flag killed nine black parishioners at a church in charleston. south carolina governor used nine pins when signing the bill ordering the flag's

as "eyewitness news" reporter diana rocco tells us some hoping to cash in on out of town visitors are finding they could be out of luck. >> reporter: many throughout center city and beyond have already listed a condo or an apartment, expecting big bucks, for the pope's visit. some asking for more than $1,000 a night. >> we have raised the daily rate about 500 percent just to see if it is something that we could get. >> reporter: craig beerman manages a south philadelphia building, he legally posted a unit on air b and b and so far it has been two months with no by the. >> everybody saying that they can get 500 or a you this dollars for this and that, it is a mistake because i'm out there and i can see that is really not happening. >> i look at all web sites most note reply air b and b and very easy to find them because they have to put where the unit is. >> reporter: chuck homer of city view condos is one of many building managers trolling air b and b to find unit owners subletting. >> when i find a listing i tell them that they cannot rent. if they continue to try to list the unit th

i'm diana rocco for katie and everyone here, thanks for joining us. bianca is up next.great >>> the weekend insider from hollywood, your 24/7 celebrity cotion. >>> a made a mistake and i'm judged by it. >> i hate america. i hate americans. >> it is onnversa myself. ♪ ♪ >> ariana apologizes for behaving badly but is she just trying to save her career. >> shut up, ke just shut up. >> that's part of the good week -- >> bad week. >> no more secrets. >> caitlyn has nothing leftli to hide, how her transformation changed the family dynamic. >> i never had the great relationship with bruce. >> i want them to be proud of their dy. >> killer sharks in sharknado 3. >> i know you're timid around sharks. >> no, scared. >>dad scared. >> skiercared. >> we see the ultimate predator. >> if you hear, huh, huh, huh. >> i don't like this at all. >> it's coming. >>> now hollywood from the inside out, it's the insider together with yahoo!. >> hanging out with the people who love you inspirational advice from caitlyn. >> her new mission in a bit, but to the top trending headlines kicking kick

"eyewitness news" reporter diana rocco is in burlington county with the very latest on the investigation. diana in a. >> reporter: ukee we spoke with the father of one of the victims who says his 19-year-old daughter was opening the cvs store yesterday morning when the man walked in, put a gun to her head and made her kneel on the ground. to night she's recovering at home but still shaken. and police say this span not caught, he will most certainly strike again. this is the man police say held up the burlington township cvs sunday morning on neck road at about 7:00 a.m. just as the store was opening police say he walked in and held two employees at gun point. seen in a surveillance video one had just unlock the front door and was bringing in the morning papers. when the suspect follows her. >> brandished a handgun. and took the two employees upstairs into the office where he instructed the manager on shift at the time to open the safe and he took all the money out of the safe. >> reporter: the suspect made off on foot. one of the employees is a 19-year-old woman. her father tells "eyewit

good evening i'm diana rocco. let's get right to meteorologist kate bilo.he's tracking these storms. >> here's the latest on storm scan3 the earlier storms that moved through this afternoon and evening have moved on out but now we have another round of it that has fired up off the west is that headed towards our area. this is the area that remains under a flash flood watch into the overnight hours tonight so you can see we're tracking one storm moving towards the harrisburg area moving to the north and to the east so it would impact portions of lancaster berks county up into the lehigh valley. still tracking showers and thunderstorms around the city of philadelphia. we just had some heavy rain move through the city once again. that has shift said to the northeast and towards abington and portions of lower bucks and montgomery county seeing another round of locally heavy showers. the cell that i'm most concerned about though is the one moving toward dauphin county just south of harrisburg and this could impact our north and west suburbs again with another ro

in mullica hill, new jersey, diana rocco cbs3 "eyewitness news". >> go get them. >> so many lifelessons indeed. >> that's awesome. >> what a day. i know we said this but after all that humidity last week, it's just bears repeating like we love it. >> it was double beautiful today. >> it was. >> we've been suffering for so long to step outside this morning and feel a cool breeze and no humidity. >> so good. >> get outside and not sweat for once felt great. i'll tell was we've got great weather for the rest of the week too. did you like today you'll love tomorrow and friday and you'll probably love saturday, too. a little warmer this weekend but great pool weather great beach weather. great cook out weather this weekend. plan activity if you don't have any on the docket already. let's take look outside show i was couple spots. start off in the city. this is our rooftop camera here on skycam3 from the cbs3 studios studios. looking out towards center city where the city is all lit up on a beautiful evening. feeling great out there. temperature in the 70s right not not a lot of humidity a

"eyewitness news" reporter diana rocco talked with one of the attorneys, who filed these suits. >> amtrakng responsibility for the for the may train derailment that killed eight, injured more than 200 other. >> today was an important day in the amtrak litigation, because those victims who filed lawsuits first got the first answer. and the first answer by amtrak was, yes we are responsible yes, the train was speeding, yes, ma'am we owe damages. >> this comes in the first two filed cases against amtrak. they legally admitted they were speeding, and o train 188 passengers compensation for the derailment, in the port richmond section of philadelphia. the acela from washington d.c. to new york turn a turn, more than 100 miles per hour, twice the post dollars speed limitment attorney tom kline decline representing five victims including the family of bob the eighth victim found in the wreckage more than a day later says it is the first of many hurds recalls. >> we not only want compensation, we want answers. we want the victims families to have at the end of the day the real answer, as to why t

always have to be a diana rocco, right. here on the eastbound side of 76 there was a crash.. police penndot still on the scene it is attracting some attention as you come off 202 onto eastbound 76 it's extra slow this afternoon. headed the other way southbound on 202 through malvern looking at speeds like 12, 16 miles per hour headed through frazier down toward exton. we had an earlier accident southbound approaching the 30 bypass. long gone now but got us off to a bad start this afternoon. just in case you were wondering, yes, it's going to be another week and several more weeks and several more months of construction on the westbound ben franklin bridge. two westbound right lanes out of commission for the ongoing patco work. some slight slowing this afternoon as you head towards center city. not quite as bad as some of the afternoons last week. have an overturned tractor-trailer partially blocking the ramp from exit 7206 to the northbound new jersey turnpike in burlington county. a crash on 295 southbound side in burlington county near 38 just 21 miles per hour there and i