Woman with a machete leaving a gash in her hand. In the last month, several people have begun the victims of these types of attacks. The Police Commissioner says its not the work of copycats. There is not a motive that unfortunately some of the victims dealing with. Theyre off their meds. Reporter the nypd says there have been 286 flashings or stabings since last year. The increase doesnt mean its trending. Some of the individuals, they take them at the crimes, theyre repeat offenders and need to be taken off the street. Reporter whatever the case, most victims say each time the attack was a complete surprise. He pretended fell. Slashed my face. Reporter personal security expert david boem says be aware of your surroundings. Put a scare into them, also. Thinking this person is looking me over now. Reporter one Victim Told Police the suspect bumped into her sister, there woman argument and then the attack happened. Back to you. The suspect in mondays attack will face a judge today on an unrelated charge and then will be rearrested ad charged in the slashing of a 71year old manhattan woman. And now for the next couple of days, john . Its the next couple of minutes. Im in the city today and theres ice. Its cold enough. Theres a little and its so hard to see. So watch your step as you head out. Particularly north and west. Thats where were seeing the colder air. In the city, its 33 degrees. Calm winds, too. Its a nice, quiet day today. We will see the sun and then system to bring in a chance of snow tomorrow. That coastal low is well to the south. Numbers for you today, a little cooler than we were yesterday. Struggling to hit the low 40s and with the breeze it will feel cooler than that and more gusty winds to deal as we wrap up the week tomorrow, but we will talk about that in a bit. Right now, lets watch the first few steps and get you on your way with alex. Good morning, john and everyone. There is a highway closed due to an accident, its at vets highway. A detour has been set up. It will be an okay ride for you. The bayonne bridge is closed for construction for another half an hour. Stick with the goethals bridge there. And saddle brook, there is a 50 mileperhour speed restriction in both direction fundraise exit 63 to exit 124 and again from 142 to the new york state line for salting operations alternate side parking remains in effect until monday. And the virus continues to spread across the globe. Five people in the new york area have now tested positive for the mosquitoborn virus. The cdc is asking pregnant women to reconsidering traveling to certain countries. The centers for Disease Control will have a press conference today. Experts will join to discuss the effects of the virus after a nassau counties resident contracted the virus. We will have live coverage hour. A city sanitation worker who claimed he was mugged while clearing snow in queens has been arrested. The 31yearold said he was pistolwhipped yesterday morning and morale claimed they stole his phone and 25. Hes charged with filing a false report. No comment from the Sanitation Department or the union two men face charges after a big drug bust in queens. Police say they found 48 kilos of heroin, worth up to 13 million, stashed in car parts. Dea agents say they spotted the men tuesday nights. Agents say one of the trucks was unregistered. The two men from guatemala, one is here on a travel visa. The citys Buildings Department issued a stop work order at a construction site in manhattan after a worker was seriously injured. Authorities say the worker fell from the fifth floor to the basement of the building on west 17th street in chelsea wednesday morning. He was rushed to the hospital in serious but stable condition. After a preliminary investigation, inspectors determined the injured worker was not using proper safety protection equipment. Bergen counties animal control assessing a raccoon for rabies after it attacked a little boy on his way to school yesterday morning. More serious injuries. Reporter monique wants people to see the bravery of her boy, aryan. A few hours after the surgery that put nine stitches in his face. This injury, after the raccoon seen in this photo, crossed a street in Bergen County and jumped on the 6yearolds back. I know it was something else. Reporter it happened just before 9 00 a. M. Thats walked to school. The animal was clawing and biting the one place where her son had exposed skin. He was covered with the jacket hes biding the kids face. Reporter this neighbor was inside his vehicle and saw the attack. He grabbed a pole used for painting and rescued the boy by hitting the raccoon like this. I killed the raccoon. The kid was screaming and there was blood all over the place. Reporter wildlife experts want everyone to look for these raccoon rabies warning signs. The animals shouldnt be active in daylight. Be aware if theyre disoriented with a mouth foaming. Resultesare due back on friday. This mothers knows without walls help, her boys injuries would be worse. Im very thankful to him. Reporter hes understandably tired after his ordeal and surgery. When he feels up to speaking, he will have a shocker of a tale to tell his classmates about why he didnt make it to school. You really feel for him and his mom. Rabies test results on the raccoon are expected tomorrow. To campaign 2016. It looks like tonights Republican Debate in depoint, iowa will go on without donald trump. He says hes unhappy with fox his Campaign Said fox crossed the line with a sarcastic statement, mocking trump for asking twitter followers whether he should take part in the debate. Fox came without with a ridiculous p. R. Statement, it was drawn up by a child. Trumps chief rival ted cruz says he wants to go against trump 1 one, but trump hasnt agreed to it. And Staten Island chuck will live be happy about this noshow. The mayor wont go to the groundhog ceremony this year. Hes skipping the tradition to campaign for Hillary Clinton. The mayor famously dropped chuck in his first groundhog day as mayor. The animal died a few weeks later. 4 38 now. Drink up. The price of your morning cup of coffee is the lowest its been in years. Also this morning, lucky we see the dramatic moments. A helicopter made a crash landing in the middle a long island street. Its video here only on cbs 2 news. And the jets flight crew is about to see more green and not just in their uniforms. Why you should wear a full uniform today. It will be cooler out the door. That said, with the cooler temperatures, black ice, slippery spots out there. Its a nice day today. A still chill. Watching, though, the possibility a few flakes tomorrow. We will talk about the rather dynamic weekend coming up. Right around the bend. Welcome to thursday. Looks like pretty decent morning out there. 33 degrees. Feels nice when you walk out the door at 4 41 this morning. Today marks the 30th shuttle challenger disaster. In 1986, the shuttle exploded 73 seconds after liftoff. All seven crew members were killed. The super heated gas escaped an oring joint causing the explosion. Nasa will have a wreath laying ceremony today. It doesnt feel like it was that long ago. I remember specifically where i was. I was a sophomore in high school. Youre watching going, i cant believe. So many School Students were around the television. The First Teacher in space. It was incredible. Incredible. Such a tragedy lets get over to john. I was just out of college. We had all the students mine, breathtaking. And, you know, heartbreaking. Multiple weather watchers, tony and jean, both commenting on and sad date, as well. This is 22 in yonkers. I think this is interesting. Gina commenting, she knows this other weather watcher because she sees claire pop up a lot. Must live on the other side of yonkers because they have variations on the temperatures. Notice, though, these temperatures well below freezing. Were watching some of that ice. And ice through the poconos. Its getting harder to keep the snowmen as tall as they once were. Hes keeping an eye out for ice melt. Get it, an eye out for ice melt. There is moisture on sidewalks, driveways, some of the secondary roads and its slippery. Main roads driving in were fine because it was bonedry yesterday and still dry now. No precipitation, just the melting. Then off a hill or a mound or around the house, watch out for 33 degrees now in the city. And once again, sparta, monticello in the teens. 23 in white plains. 16 in the hamptons. So, yeah, hang onto your mittens. Thats 26 degrees colder than it was this time yesterday. Even 12 degrees colder in the city. There is a big drop in the numbers as promised. Bright disease bright skies to start. Numbers will be quite a bit cooler than they were by about 5, 6 degrees. So just the low 40s. Feeling cooler than that with the breeze. Few clouds to the north, but for the most part, its clear. And that again, the heat is escaping and its a cold way to start the day. This is a system were watching. The coastal low is not a player in our weather. Its this low that comes on board. You will get into that. That slides out to sea, but heres the low, off to the east, but the system is coming in from the west. Then a line of snow showers were not talking about a lot of snow, but that, once again, will hit the cold pavement and slicken the roadways. Then we see that wrap up and shape up and warm up into the weekend. This weekend, we dial it down today, even more tomorrow, then sunday into monday, were close to 50 with more major melting heading your way. Lets look at the highways now with alex. Some changes this morning, john. In sayville, eastbound sunrise highway closed due to an accident at vets highway. A detour has been set up. The bayonne bridge closed in both directions for construction for another 15 minutes, 5 00 or so. Stick with the goethals for now. And a tractortrailer blocks a lane at kennedy boulevard. Its a busy area, though, as the morning progresses we will keep you posted. Queens midtown tunnel has construction. Other tube is taking twoway still delayfree. And mass transit so far all green, everything is on or close to schedule for your morning commute. Finally back on track. Alternate side parking is suspended until monday, meter rules remain in effect and be safe, dont text and drive. Back to you. Thank you, alex. Heres a look at the stories making news this morning. The standoff at a wildlife refuge in oregon appears to be winding down. Eight more militia members left this morning. Three were arrested yesterday. The jailed militia ruler urged followers to leave. And an indictment here. Melody is accused of being an accomplice, charged with Money Laundering and misuse of charitable funds. The new york jets reached a settlement in a lawsuit brought by cheerleaders. 52 women say they were cheated out of payment. The cheerleaders will receive 2,500 each for each season they worked in the period on our moneywatch this morning, stock futures are higher this morning after a steep drop for the dow on wednesday. More concerns for a global slowdown. Concern about a slowing u. S. Economy led the Federal Reserve to keep the key Interest Rate unchanged. The economy lost momentum at the end of last year. The decision to leave rates alone this time was widely expected. Something to cheer with your morning coffee. Prices for coffee beans are at the lowest point in nearly two years. Officials in brazil forecast a huge harvest this season, creating an oversupply in the price drop. Experts say higher employee wage may balance out the savings on the beans. And a helicopter crashes in a residential neighborhood, now a Flight Instructor is Tracee Carrasco reports on the long island crashlanding. Reporter how did you manage to land in the most Perfect Place . . How did you not hit the wires . Because i saw them. Dude, gee, how long have you been flying . Three years. Reporter confident words from the pilot, joseph lombardo, as cell phone video shows the inside of his downed helicopter moments after a crashlanding in the middle of a lindenhurst neighborhood around noon. I looked to the left and seen a helicopter next to me. I thought i was seeing things. I saw it go behind the trees and under the power lines and tip over. Reporter exclusive Surveillance Video shows that the pilot and his student falls out of the sky. Residents heard the failing engine overhead. The putering got worse and i watched the propelors stop. I saw the mans face in fear. And i started going like just reporter air Traffic Controllers new they were in trouble from this transmission. May day, may day, may day. Helicopter 4, are you able to make it to the field . Negative, negative. Reporter lombardo managed to land in the intersection of buena vista boulevard and east ala hambra avenue. He and the student walked away uninjured. Remarkably, only this street sign was clipped during the accident. Right now, the faa and ntsb are investigating what happened here. Reporting live on long island, Tracee Carrasco, cbs 2 news. I dont like helicopters to begin with, but i want that guy flying mine if i have to be up there . Incredible. 4 49. Tony tantillo has this weeks diamond deal. And a long island woman wasnt going to let a blizzard traffic coming up next. A Suffolk County woman in need of a kidney transplant will remember the blizzard of 2016 as the day she got a Second Chance at life. 64yearold melanie of bohemia had been waiting a year and a half for a new kidney. During the storm, she got a call from a nurse saying they had a Perfect Match, but emergency crews doubted an ambulance could get her to Stony Brook University hospital. So a determined paramedic stepped in and picked her up. It was like a miracle. It really was. She calls and says we have a kidney for you. I almost fell off the bed. She hopes more people will sign the back of their drivers license to become organ donors. How about that paramedic, going through the blizzard. Thats a great picture there. 4 52. Traffic and weather on the 2s. John . I love that story. All the best to her. My concern for you if you head out today, icy spots out there. Going to be a decent day, though. Maybe half an inch for the biggest totals. The second half of the weekend looks mild. Right now . Nice and quiet. Heres a clipper that will usher in the snow. Looks like this low will miss us to the south. Maybe youre heading south now and need to know, can i save time, alex denis . Okay, john. In newark, you will need extra time. There is a jackknifed tractor trailer with a lane blocked in the local lanes on route 78 eastbound at route 56. If you stick with the express lanes,you should have a smooth ride. And a disabled tractortrailer blocking a lane on the 495 approach to the lincoln tunnel at kennedy boulevard. No major delays yet. We will tell you if that changes. Alternate side parking is suspended until monday. Meter rules remain in effect and be safe, dont text and drive. Back to you. Thank you, alex. In the next half hour, debate drama. Donald trump refuses to attend the last Republican Debate before the iowa caucuses. In the super market and at the boutique. A look at what could come to a store near you. And next, you only have to go eas far south as the east village to find a real taste of mexico. Tonys dining deals coming up morning. A taste of mexico in the east village. This morning, we look at fresh and authentic dishes all at affordable prices. Tony tantillo has this weeks dining deal. Reporter villa samita in east village is ready to welcome you home to mexico. This food is from pueblo and youre from there, also. Yeah. Obviously. Yes. And you brought the recipes back with you to the restaurant. Reporter the food is authentic and everything is super fresh, including the housemade tortillas. There is also traditional pueblo cuisine. Its a culture. The food comes out in the dishes. Lets start with the quesidilla here. This is caso wahika, its a cheese. This is mushroom coming out of the corn. Reporter i never had anything taste like that before. Its fantastic. Reporter in pueblo, which is a region of state in mexico, this is how we do it. Tell me about this here . This is famous in mexico. They have it in the fond yous and the streets street carts. The meat is cooked from a pig. Reporter this is a 2 for 10 deal and is one heavenly bite. Next is this monster. How do you bite into that . You just smash it in and tell me what this is . You have breaded steak. You have herb and queso wahaka, string cheese. Reporter ham, avocado and a chipotle top this sandwich. And this steak with rice and beans makes it hard to believe that its all for only 12. Thank you so much for having us. It is located on avenue a between 3rd and 4th street. Check out our web site for more on tonys dining dealings and his recipes and best buys. Looking good. 4 57. Still ahead, todays top stories, including the growing health alert by the zeka virus. And dramatic efforts by a local fire chief to save life. And call it Spring Cleaning for your social media close yet. Ways to declutter your facebook and email accounts. Well be back in 90 seconds. Nt. But for years, i didnt do anything about it. I thought i didnt have the money, until i learned about bath fitter. Bath fitter puts a new bathtub right over your old one. Isnt that amazing . Bath fitter will measure and make you a new custom bathtub that they install right over your existing one, with beautiful matching walls. That means you dont have to rip out your old tub. So theres no demolition or ridiculous costs. Thats my favourite part. Plus, you get to choose everything heres a before and after photo. This is a gorgeous acrylic tub that fit right over the old one. And only bath fitter has seamless walls, which guarantee a watertight fit. When you change your tub, you change your bathroom. Ika zika zika. It is 5 00 and we have 33 degrees out there for this thursday, january 28th. It will be cooler today, but it still should get above the freezing mark. We will have traffic and weather on the 2s in a moment. Good morning, im chris wragge. Im mary calvi. A Bergen County boy is expected to be released from the hospital today after a frightening attack. He was mauled by a raccoon yesterday on his walk to school. Janelle burrell is live at