steve sweeney, says that the knowledge education associate threatened to withhold campaign donationshis cycle. they want lawmakers to put a constitutional amendment on the ballot concerning state pension payments and they say it's essentially bribery to use campaign donations. they are reaching out to the union for a response but they planned a protest outside of sweeney's office today. nora muchanic will have more on this story in a live report at 12:30. >>> republican officials are reportedly preparing for the worst when it comes to this year's race for the white house. top leaders in the gop are growing more and more frustrated with nominee, donald trump's behavior, so frustrated they are exploring how to replace him in the november ballot if he drops out. and trump tweeted this morning that unity is better than ever before. >>> hillary clinton, the democratic nominee for president will tour a denver based factory this afternoon and hold a rally in denver tonight. >>> we are hearing from a police officer that ran toward a burning car to save an unconscious driver. katherine scott

they've been working with senator steve sweeney with us to introduce this bill. read hopes that no other mother has to go through what she did. >> it's one day at a time. i want justice. until i get justice. >> i have an update to my story on monday afternoon the u.s. attorney paul fishman released a statement saying he was not going to pursue civil and criminal charges against the peace officers involved in jerome reed shooting. i reached out to the family and walter hudson, who i who i spoke with early this afternoon issued a statement saying, i am astounded by this decision. i ask if we cannot rely on the local state and federal government, then then who and what can people do in country when they have been done wrong in fighting justice. for more more follow me at chasing tamara. >> what kind of food do you like? >> to me it's important because basically our main mission -- >> what happens to a watchdog that has no to, no bar, and no by? right now the state of new jersey law-enforcement commission is just that. candidates and money spent on election campaign

steve sweeney had harsh words for the large of the teachers union. nora muchanic is live with more. >> reporter: the war of words is escalating after senator sweeney accused the largest teacher's union from lobbying to bribery and extortion. >> i am blown away that they would make these kind of threats, and you know like it was nothing. >> a fired up senate president, steve sweeney is calling for state and federal investigations into the new jersey investigation after njea leaders called top democrats threatening to withhold contributions unless the pens payments is voted on next week to be on the ballot in november. >> it's like going to the planning board, and saying if you approve my project i'll give you money. >> the union flatly denied doing anything illegal and while sweeney is talking about probable bribery and extortion in trenton. njea members were picketing his office in west depford. >> we want it engravered in the constitution that they cannot use our pension as a cash cow to plug holes in the budget. >> it calls for quarterly payments i

and a lot of places john that is a bribe. >> senate president, steve sweeney is calling on the u.s. attorney to investigate the knowledge teacher association, for trying to corrupt public officials. the njea and some police unions called democrats promising to withdraw contributions unless the bill for pension payments is posted by next week. njea members protested outside of sweeney's office today while they were telling them that leadership is crossing the line. >> i will call on state senate sweeney to do his job and post and pass that resolution by august 8th. >> njea says that the union has done nothing illegal but that the senate democrat has not done what he promised. he says he cannot do one without funding the transportation trust fund. >> we want it engraved in the constitution that they can't continue to use our pension fund as a cash cow to plug holes in the budget. >> i am blown away that they would make this kind of threats, like it was nothing. >> reporter: now sweeney is interesting in running for governor, this could be damaging politically but he is not willing to

a surprising move by a state senator steve sweeney, charging that the njea is trying to bribe democrats. >> nora thank you. >>> philadelphia police are on the hunt for several teenagers who assaulted an 11-year-old boy in broad daylight. he was playing at olney playground. he was chased by the teens to a nearby alley, gray hall joins us now from police headquarters with details on what happened next. >> reporter: well sara, police are not sure what promptd this incident. here is what they know. the 11-year-old boy was beaten and humiliated and then threatened with a gun and police are working hard to track down who is responsible. >> this park is suppose to be a place for kids to play and enjoy fun outside. but police say for an 11-year-old it turned into a place of terror. they say that the victim was playing basketball at 4:50 in the afternoon and approached by four other kids 14 to 18 years old and for some reason they chased him and attacked him. >> they chased him out of the playground to the 6th block of 8th street and cornered him in a driveway and one of them produced a handgun

democrat steve sweeney claims the state's largest teachers union threatened unless the senate pass adproposed amendment to increase pension payments by the state. new jersey education association claims it did nothing illegal. >>> also in new jersey, a judge set bail at $100,000 for governor chris christis transportation commissioner jamie fox. fox is accused of conspiring to commit bribery, a charge that stems from his time as a lobbyist for united airlines. he did not enter a plea in federal court in newark today. his exchanges with former port authority chairman david sampson were uncovered during the so-called bridge gate investigation. >>> a washington, d.c. metro transit police officer is accused of trying to help isis, magistrate appointed 36-year-old nicholas young, a public defender. investigators say young tried to help isis operatives communicate in secret. they say he purchased gift cards and intended to give them to isis operatives to support mobile messaging accounts. but young actually gave the gift cards to an undercover fbi source. >>> turning now to the presidential race and

this time senate president steve sweeney is caught between a rock and a hard place. >> senate president sweeney is a federal prosecutor in state prosecutor and investigation into the nj ea threat to start making to the democrats. >> but they haven't a way to fix it. >> they can fix the problem now, he doesn't have to pond it off on a federal prosecutor. >> i will stay out of for all my updates, follow me on twitter. >> if cheerleading wasn't hard enough, debbie stark from australia shows us that you can even do it with cerebral palsy. of an all ability cheerleading team who competed in sydney in july. so her team got her first place in the special abilities category and the australia all-star cheerleading federation posted this routine to the facebook page and since then the video has over 70 million views. >> isn't it amazing how beautiful catastrophes can be? take a look at this video yourself, you will see a winded turbine in india bursting into flames. it's a massive blue smoke into the air. >> the magazine has made their bartenders of the month and are joined by the today. we have

the senate president steve sweeney tried to get the tax bill pushed through the senate and also a pension bill. >> is the gas tax plan really a monograph for a big fat pension payment? >> with that being said, no no it's not a money grab. >> the gas tax was to fund her pension, this bombshell action by president sweeney actually wrote this letter. and i seen it he has the u.s. attorney to investigate the unions, quote dear mr. fishman, a u.s. attorney, we have specifically threatened to withhold political contributions unless by next week the state senate posts and a proposed constitutional amendment to ramp up tension payments. this letter, this call for investigation was a shocker from president sweeney because he has been a union man his whole career. monday was the deadline to get this constitutional moment passed by the senate. now now it is dead. we are joined now to talk about this. >> i don't know what got into senator sweeney to make this allegation. >> maybe got up on the round side of the bed, had bad pork roll, who knows. who knows. you certainly angry when it came to the gas

senate president steve sweeney says lawmakers have to fix a transportation funding problem before they can address funding that pension. >> ♪ >> and still ahead here on "action news" at 6:00 tonight potential historic treasure could be left undiscovered as development continues on a property in olde city. >> just a few days away from seeing carson wentz in action for the first time. i'm jaime apody eagles training camp. hear from the rookie about that first game coming up. >> with just a few days away from the start of our next heat wave future tracker showing lunchtime on wednesday dewpoints in the 70's. that's tropical humidity and then we'll add the heat. i'll have details in the accuweather 7-day forecast. >> all right, cecily. those stories and much more when "action news" continues tonight. >> ♪ >> newly purchased boat went up in flames in delaware today. two sailors managed 20 escape when their 32-foot long sailboat caught fire near the route one bridge in delaware city. two marine units fought the flames from the water. police have not yet said what caused this fire. firefighte

senate president steve sweeney said he thinks christie is stalling on the state's transportation crisiso help his chances of winning a spot in the trump administration. sweeney's comments came yesterday after the senate failed to move legislation forward that would raise the gas tax by 23 cents while getting rid of the estate tax. the governor supports a bill in the state assembly that also raises the gas tax but lowers the sales tax. christie's office put out a statement saying the governor is committed to reaching an amicable solution with legislative leaders that puts people to work, funds infrastructure investments and represents tax fairness for all the people of new jersey. >>> 5:37 and the city of philadelphia is trying to decrease accidental shootings involving children by giving away gun locks. you can pick up one today or tomorrow, no questions asked. officials will be at rhodes play ground at 75th and lansdowne avenue tonight from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m. the giveaway continues tomorrow at 32nd and cumberland street. last night, philadelphia city council passed a law requiring the s

senate president steve sweeney introduced a bill in the state legislature that calls for a new program to distribute millions of dollars in state disaster funding to new jersey's 21 counties. sweeney introduced the measure nearly four years after superstorm sandy hammered the region. >>> the girlfriend of philadelphia district attorney seth williams is charged with slashing tires on the security vehicles that were parked outside his home. tonight we're learning the crime wasn't initially reported. "action news" reporter chad pradelli is live in center city in front of the d.a.'s office with all the details. chad. >> reporter: yeah, her name is stacy cummings and yesterday she turned herself in to face the vandalism charges. what we want to know is there there are a lot of questions regarding this case chief among them when did seth williams know about his girlfriend's involvement and two, why did it take zonk so long for her to be charged. sources say initially the district attorney's office handled the investigation into the vandalized vehicles. seth williams sea security detail neede

senate president steve sweeney said today he believes christie is sfaulg on the state's transportation crisis to help his chances at winning a possible spot in trum's administration. sweeney's comments came after the senate today failed to post legislation to raise the state's gas tax by 23 cents while getting rid of the estate tax. christie supports a bill in the assembly that also raises the tax by 23 cents but lowers the sales tax. >>> governor christie's office put out a statement tonight saying, "the governor is committed to reaching an amicable solution with legislative leaders that puts people to work, funds infrastructure investments, and represents tax fairness for all the people of new jersey." >>> striking workers from the trump taj mahal casino in atlantic city took a bus trip to trenton today. they successfully convinced the senate to pass a measure on unemployment benefits. it would allow people on strike to collect unemployment after 30 days. the bill still needs approval from the assembly and final approval from governor christie. >>> cars parked right in the median on

steve sweeney said he thinks christie is stalling to help his chances of winning a spot in the administration sweeney's comments yesterday came after the senate failed to move legislation forward that would raise the gas tax by 23 cents while getting rid of the estate tax. the governor supports a bill in the state assembly that also raises the gas tax butç lowers the sales tax. christie's office put 0 out a statement saying the governor is committed to reaching an amicable solution with legislative leaders that puts people to work, funds infrastructure investments and represents tax fairness for all the people of new jersey. >>> an engineering firm and its project manager are denying they ripped off hurricane sandy victims in new jersey and new york. yesterday, authorities released the manager on bail after he and the firm pleaded not guilty to charges of felony fraud and operating without a license. insurance companies hired the firm to evaluate damage from the 2012 superstorm. they claim engineering reports illegally altered by the firm cheated them out of insurance money they deserved. >>

. >> members of the new jersey education association rally outside of senate president, steve sweeney's office in west depford today. they want sweeney and his colleagues to pass a resolution for increased pens payments and today sweeney called back asking for an investigation into the union accusing them of bribery. >> vice president joe biden will be in philadelphia tonight to get a big local honor. biden will be presented with this year's at las award for the philadelphia region, he is honored by the world afires council for his workloading president obama's cancer research initiative. >>> right now a driver is recovering after he was involved in a fiery crash and he may have a philadelphia police officer to thank for his life. because the officer was in the right place at the right time. the crash happened at midnight near the corner of broad street and belfield avenue. katherine scott spoke to the officer that jumped in action just in time. >> the police commissioner says that this is the type of work that officers do every day. the driver survived with a concussion, facial injurie

democrat steve sweeney says leaders of the new jersey education association called democratic countyman and threatened to withhold political contributions, unless the senate passes a proposed amendment ramping up pension payments by the state. sweeney has called on the u.s. attorney and new jersey attorney general to investigate the union's actions. >>> bringing it back home, the obama foundation officially names chicago jackson parkas the location for the future barack obama presidential center. >> for the first time in this country's history, a presidential center will be in the heart of an urban community. president and first lady are proud that the obama foundation is developing the obama presidential center, on the south side, a community that they called home. >> new museum and library is expect to revitalize a struggling area of the chicago south side no word when construction will officially begin. >>> a prestige as you ward for vice-president joe biden, vice-president will accept the world affairs council of philadelphia's at last award in center city tonight, at ward recogn

so he's like if they're not going to agree to cut the sales tax, meaning the senate president, steve sweeney, that i have to do this. and so we have the good news about the gas price staying below two bucks a gallon, but the bad news on the ends that you're going hit a lot of bad potholes, and maybe hopefully no bridges collapse while driving over them. >> i love reading the he editorials, some comments from some members of the legislature who say that the cutting of the sales tax is unaffordable. yet whenever they raise taxes, we don't hear issues of affordability. they're advocating for the largest tax increase in state history. you don't hear them say that's not affordable to people. see, because when they are taking your money, it is affordable. but when they are giving your money back, that's unaffordable. so, you know, i don't understand. we're at loggerheads on the general concept. >> and so, dark clouds looming over new jersey politically, once again, but the silver lining is that gas price. now, mike, alex, you will agree with me on this, i think the way to get christie and swine to

senate president steve sweeney introduced a bill in the state legislature today.ys for a new program to distribute state disaster funding to new jersey's 21 counties. sweeney introduced the measure nearly four years after superstorm sandy hammered that region back in 2012. >> four years ago but still such a big talker. >> hard to believe it was four years ago, right. >> and we're at peek of tropical storm hurricane season right now and it's very active in the atlantic as well as the gulf of mexico which could, you know, bring us some rip current issues this week into the holiday weekends. so as we take a look right now it is hot. philadelphia international airport a few cumulus clouds and humid. dewpoints coming down a little bit from this morning, 63 right now but that air temperature of 93 heat index of 94 but the one thing you want to look at is that wind out of the north, 7 miles an hour. that's going to bring in drier air overnight tonight. so it stays quiet here locally but again the tropics are heating up. they're now tropical storm watches for the outer ba

now new jersey senate president steve sweeney is calling for a senate hearing. >> here you have more than enough money generated in this agency to have a first-class, top-shelf operation. >> the motor vehicle commission says it will add employees at the busiest locations. the agency did not have a time line for computer system upgrades. >>> time now 4:49. unwanted robo cal getting worse, even for people on the national do not call registry. the new technology that can weed out spam calls. >>> plus an update on a good deed at a local supermarket. a stranger offerd to a cash to a woman in need, now the supermarket is also looking to help her out. >>> we'll get you another check of your traffic and weather on the 2s coming up i did everything i could to make her party perfect. almost everything. you know, 1 i n 10 houses could get hit by an expensive septic disaster. but for only $7 a month, rid-x helps break down waste. fios is not cable. we're wired differently. so we wired the wagner's house with 100 meg internet. which means that in the time it takes mr. wagner to pour a 20 oz. cup

senate president steve 15 sweeney wants the bill passed by next un. >>> zika virus is spreading in florida. the governor nouns dag officials have detected 10 new cases and that brings the total number of people with the virus in florida to 14 in the miami dade area. governor rick scott is now asking for federal emergency response team to help control the spread of zika. the cdc has issued an advisory that says pregnant women should not travel to the so-called zika transmission area and pregnant women who live there should take steps to prevent mosquito bites and sexual spread of the virus. >>> the newly completed philadelphia temple the church of jesus christ of ladder day saints opened its doors to the media today. gave us a sneak peek inside the new temple located at 17th and 59. this was the first mormon temple in pennsylvania and will serve tens of thousands from the entire area. >> they will will be able to come here instead of having to travel to washington, d.c. or new york city today two temples that are closest to them. this will greatly increase access for them. >> the temple wil