garrett and shadeland avenue in drexel hill. if you are going out, avoid the area. it is completely shut down. again, what we know now five officers opened fire on a suspect who had been threatening police. they were serving a warrant when he tried to ram police when they were pulling him over. five officers opened fire and shot and killed this suspect. mitch blocker, nbc 10 news. now to more breaking news right now in delaware county 41!wr cars. one of those cars being taken away. skyforce 10 over the scene live on west baltimore avenue and owen avenue. one of the cars overturned. crews worked to get people out of that car. traffic, though still backed up in that area.ó > right now at 7?gs6:00, an arrest and a series of violent rapes in philadelphia. >> he beat her, then sexually assaulted her, leaving her barely clothed, bleed and left her there.

>> police say this is the man responsible and tonight, we're learning how detectives tracked him down all the way to wisconsin. >> the philadelphia victims all told the same story, their attacker drove a white work truck, a vehicle that was immaculately clean. officers say it was dna evidence that ultimateéyç cracked the case. nbc 10's rosemary connors live at philadelphia police svu. >> reporter: investigators here bring their suspect back to philadelphia. he had been out of state serving time in wisconsin for a rape he committed one year ago. >> i'm just glad he was caught. i guess he'll pay his dues. >> neighbors who live across the street from pennypack park are relieved to hear that philadelphia police have a 38-year-old robert palen, accused of beating and raping three women in separate assaults at the park in the summers of

2010 and 2011 palen is now in jail, his dna police say helped to put him there. >> evidence recovered from the one victim in august of 2011. that dna was uploaded into the national system. >> reporter: it wasn't until march of this year whenq2 investigators in philadelphia tracked down palen. police in the midwest entered palen's dna in the system after a woman in wisconsin reported that he raped and tried to strangle her. >> his dna was uploaded, matched ours we started this investigation all over again in march. >> reporter: police call this development significant and the beginning of the end, closure for the i$]u)sák detectives and the pennypack park neighborhood. >> definitely feel much safer. there's always concern because the park is open. so you know, we all take precautions. >> as for the rape in wisconsin, palen pled guilty to that crime earlier this year. police say he was in wisconsin

the first place because he moved there to meet a woman whom he he left behind his new ex-wife and children here in philadelphia. reporting live outside of special victims, rosemary connors, nbc 10 news. now to the latest on the flu outbreak. delaware health officials say the state has ten times the number of flu cases they had at this point last year. as of december 20th, delaware has seen 632 cases of the flu. more than 70 people had to be hospitalized. statewide 2]unó died. an infectious disease expert tells nbc 10 this year's vaccine didn't quite hit every flu strain that it needed to. >> we're still recommending people get the vaccine.tñndu do, as i mention, think it will provide a little bit of immunity. >> this pharmacy in wilmington say they've seen a huge demand for tamiflu this season and manyihs pharmacies have had trouble keeping it in stock. a total of 10,117 flu cases

were counted throughout the state of pennsylvania. more than 2800 of the cases were in our area. in a report from new jersey's department of today, it says flu cases in4shat state are high. in the last state report cases were rated at a moderate level.cm r >> now to atlantic city's casino crisis. the taj mahal is preparing to stay open now through january. the taj just released a list of events through the 24th of next month. the casino was slated to close earlier this month but a $20 million loan from investor carl icahn kept the casino running through the new year. turning now to the weather and a live look at boat house row. get ready for a night with some freezing temperatures out. let's check in with nbc 10 chief meteorologist glenn "hurricane" schwartz and glenn, what should we expect? >> well, it's going to be a colder night than what we saw last night by quite a bit. we've had just a little bit of

wind out there left over a bit of a wind chill, but not too much. clear skies across the area. that's allowing the temperature to fall pretty quickly. down to 28 in pottstown, 29 in reading and mt. holly and atlantic city international, 31 degrees even in dover. so the temperature will continue to drop steadily as we go through this clear, cool night. down into the upper 20s in philadelphia by 11:00 and closer to the 20 degree mark. even colder tomorrow. more on those numbers and the weekend storm with the seven-day in a few minutes. activists gathering outside the fda field office in ban. the group is opposed to a rule that prevents gay men from donating blood. the fda made new recommendations to allow donations from gay men who abstained from sex for a year.

protesters say this is still discriminatory. >> i think it's unfair. aidsy is not a gay disease. i think it's time they need to lift the ban and let everyone give blood. >> protesters say they hope today's event sheds light on an issue that many people are not aware of. police in delaware county have now identified the suspect killed during a police chase. officers say mark eric anderson sped off after they"rc tried to pull him over for a traffic violation yesterday. police say anderson crashed into another car. the driver of that car right now in critical condition. new information tonight about an accident involving a police cruiser that killed a 10-year-old boy in gloucester ql unty ñqñ nbc 10 has just learned that the officer behind the wheel of that car was responding to a call about an unruly juvenile but investigators haven't said who that child was. now, matthew mccloske, he was crossing route 47 with two friends when police were responding to that call. tonight, a candle light vigil

planned for thursday night at the franklint)4[v township sports complex. that's for thursday. meanwhile, a team of investigators working to determine the speed of the cruiser involved and if lights and sirens were engaged. >> we don't want to put out guesses and speculation that may turn out to be inaccurate. and then may give people the appearance that we're trying to cover something up or hiding something. that will be a very transparent investigation. >> chief rock says his officer and the department are devastated by the tragedy. now to disturbing video released to us from philadelphia police showing a pregnant woman being punched and robbed in south philly. it happened last week. you can see the man walk up behind the woman and hit her, knocking her to the ground. he then took her purse as well as a bag of food. suspect really hard to see here but police are hoping you may recognize the car he was

driving. it's being described as possibly a 2004 to 21 9 dodge durango. pennsylvania drivó#u will take a little hit in the wallet come new year's day, starting thursday gas taxes are going up-ya almost a dime per gallon. diesel taxes are going up by 13 cents a gallon. this is the second of three increases to boost construction funding throughout the state. the third increase happens in 2017. a local police department now has electronic eyes watching their every move. all 14 full-time members of the paulsboro police department are now wearing police body cameras. the department hopes the technology will help increase the accountability of officers as well as the credibility offc÷ the department. >> there's a problem with an officer, we can address it. by the same turn if they did nothing wrong, have documentation to show they were acting within the color of their badge. >> program comes with a pretty

hefty price tag. the cameras will cost the department $71,000 for the first five years. another candidate is jumping into the crowded race for philadelphia's seven at-large city council seats. many voters will be familiar with her father. nbc 10 has learned that jenay ayers has announced that she's running. ayers is studying to get her law degree at yale.pfw she's 26 years old. if elected she would make philadelphia history as the youngest council person to serve. she's the daughter of lloyd ayers. the deadline for filing is march 10th. it's sort of a new year's eve swiss army knife you can put in your survival kit for tomorrow night. i'm doug shimell, that story, next. i'll have your new year's forecast.>ñk i'm also tracking a storm that could be headed our way.

details ahead on my exclusive nbc 10 first alert forecast.

this is nbc 10 news. >> the more than two-week long search for a missing philadelphia man has police in hunting park today.

investigators sifted through the wreckage of a burned out suv belonging to 69-year-old veto maglio. officers found the charred car on december 17th. he suffers from several medical conditions requiring medication. it's a busy night out there for skyforce 10 live over more breaking news this time as you see here, a car has gone into a school, slammed into the building here in northeast philadelphia. it happened at the benjamin rush arts acadmy. this is t. we don't know the extent of his or her injuries. count on updates on nbc 10 news at 11:00 as well as nbc10.com. >> no reason why he should have been killed. >> the family of a man killed by philadelphia police calling for justice. the mother of brandon tate brown

led this rally at the site of her son's death in frankfurt today. police say they stopped tate brown for driving without headlights some two weeks ago. officers say he reached for a loaded gun when they shot him. >> don't everybody care that someone's son is dead. until it is you. >> that's right. it's got to stop. >> the officers involved in the shooting are on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation. in berks county, new billboards urge everyone to quote, thank a cop today. take a look. dozens of billboards like these popped up across berks county. they have messages like who runs towards danger when you run away? thank a cop today. the owner of a reading based billboard company put up the signs. he tells nbc 10 he's doing it to stand up to recent backlash against police across the country. from our jersey shore bureau, watch the tram car, please.

it's official. the popular>4 trains are coming to atlantic city offering visitors new ways to travel up and down the boardwalk. service is set to start on february 1st but it's not good news for everyone. the trams may cause the iconic rolling cars on the boardwalks to lose some business. 2014 is coming to a close of course and tonight the final preps for new year's eve are under way. take a look at our countdown clock. we're just one day away from the ball dropping in times square. or if you're in kennett square it's the giant mushroom that drops. doug shimelle is live at the valley forge casino in king of prussia. doug you've been checking up on new year's plans in our area. >> we went in search of, i guess you'd call them alternative new year's eves and we found them. they are very proud of the join the mushroom on new year's eve. >> the mushroom is a symbol of our area. it was beautiful, hanging like a

chandelier in the sky. it was gorgeous. >> reporter: when the 500 pounds of steel and l.e.d.s brought in 2014 there were a ]+ few minor issues to work out. >> we were 15 sections off. >> reporter: early or late? >> we were early, i think. yes. 15 seconds early last year because the clock we had, the one clock wpn had bought one, was 15 seconds off. we didn't know how to fix it. >> reporter: it's one of the alternative new year's eves that's in prepping overdrive. it is a lobster new year at the valley forge casino resort where tony clark knows the demands of the biggest party of the year. >> it's the number one show of the year. we have to be the best you know. all eyes are on us. we have to make sure every guest is happy. >> going in our third year i think we have everything perfected. we have so many different parties going on whether it's this convention party, the biggest we've ever done.

>> reporter: whether mushroom or lobster you have one upped your neighbor on new year's eve. of the most unusual drops in the usa. there you go. >> five four -- >> rich nichols told us because of the slight timing glitch a year ago that kennett square was 15 seconds ahead of everybody else for all of 2014. live in king of prussia, doug shimell, nbc 10 news. >> thanks, doug. septa's accommodating partygoers. there will be all-night subway service on new year's eve. it's one of the number of scheduled changes septa is making for the festivities. if you haven't made your new year's plans, not too late. we have a gallery of events going on around our area. find it right now in our new nbc

10 app.8bv!w the charlesworth9ñ hotel and restaurant will host 100 guests to ring in 2015. the 90-year-old landmark is known for its panoramic views of the delaware bay. thisiírpo though is a one-time event at least for now. the owner hopes to fully re-open the restaurant this spring. now your nbc 10 first alert weather with chief meteorologist glenn "hurricane" schwartz. >> after all that warm weather we saw last week and over the weekend, things are really changing here. we're back to the cold and it's going to be even colder tonight than last night. temperatures are going below average for new year's eve and new year's day. setting us up for the weekend storm this may start as a wintry mix. at least in parts of the $$rea. clear skies right now, great visibility and it's gown to 36 in philadelphia. 6 mile-an-hour wind, 6 degrees colder than it was at this time yesterday.

over the weekend, we were well in the 50s, 48 degrees for the official high yesterday. 38 today. 33 degrees for my predicted high for tomorrow. and those temperatures, well in the upper 20s, pottstown and reading, millville is now at 27. atlantic city mt. holly at ukmf÷29. there's colder air back to the west. we're getting a piece of this arctic outbreak. it's 1 in minneapolis right now. the wind chill is 20 below zero and denver 3 below zero. that's a ÷o record cold december day in denver. and some of that air going all the way as far west as california and causing snow in las vegas. so we're just on the eastern edge of that. the western edge of that is at that's a lot of the country getting cold. the dry week continues and that

includes new year's eve which will be pretty cold. 26 degrees at midnight. the wind chill will feel like it's about 20. and for new year's day, of course it's going to start off very cold with 23 degrees in philadelphia. teens in the suburbs at 7:00 a.m. only warming into the 30s with some wind making it feel like it's in the 20s. that arctic air that's going to stay well to our west for the rest of this week some of that's coming in next week after a break over the weekend. tonight mostly clear, colder 26 for the low in philadelphia. 19 north and west. tomorrow sunny, breezy cold. highs only in the low 30s, plus that wind making it feel like it's in the 20s. and then on thursday breezier. the temperature up to 39. the clouds increase on friday saturday, there's that storm. could start as a wintry mix north and west. it changes to rain and just

about everybody gets rain saturday night and into.ym sunday morning. then the arctic air comes in. >> thanks hurricane. i'm john clark. how much did the eagles players trust in chip kelly's ways? that's next. webuyanycar.com has helped thousands of people let go of all the hassle that comes with selling or trading in. we make selling your car truck or suv fast, safe and fair with three simple steps:

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this is the xfinity sportsdesk brought to you by xfinity, your home for the most live sports. i'm john clark. pat shurmur will interview for the oakland raiders head coaching job rather than getting ready for a playoff game the eagles are still figuring out what went wrong and where to go from here. the players are still on the chip ship. >> just changing the culture and

the atmosphere around here has really been good. for him to do that within two years, you know really speaks volumes. >> i thinksip it's player friendly from a úf health standpoint they invest into your body and your longevity which is always great for a player, especially players who may be on their second or third contract. you're not losing years when you play here. >> one thing that cannot be questioned is chip'sability to coach the offense, the fast-paced unit the most prolific in team history when it comes to yardage and points this season. but the birds left the nfl turnovers. >> we had the highest completion percentage but we also in my opinion threw too many #.,9x turnovers. i've never been on a team or coached a team that's had this many turnovers. that's obviously something we have to clean up. >> michigan introduced jim

harbaugh as their new head coach today. they gave him the red carpet treatment orç the a-&nx khaki treatment. the student section had a khaki out at today's game. jim didn't follow suit. he had a suit on. >> they got within one in the third period but a flat second period did them in. >> i don't understand it. you know? talk about things we have to do and how to play and we don't -- we haven't risen to the occasion a number of times in the second period. >> for the sixers kneenoel will play.

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we had temperatures well into the 50s over the weekend. what a change. by tomorrow barely above freezing with a little wind. it will feel like in the 20s and tomorrow new year's eve, pretty

cold, too. for all of us here at nbc 10, i'm renee chenault-fattah. the news continues with "nbc nightly news." see you at 11:00. on the broadcast tonight -- wreckage recovered. the worst fears now confirmed about that passenger plane that disappeared three days ago. now investigators try to close in on what caused it to drop out of the sky. line of duty. a dramatic increase in the number of cops killed on the job this year. and police advocates worry it's part of growing animosity towards the government. the big plunge. just before the ball drops so are temperatures. drastically throughout the nation. but would you believe this is the warmest year on record? and peace and quiet. grades are up suspensions are down and this school district credits a technique that goes back thousands of years. "nightly news" begins now.