Americas birthplace for fourth of july events. This is where the u. S. Declaration of independence and u. S. Constitution were debated and signed. It is expected to be crowded here later on. At 10 00 this morning there will be a celebration of freedom ceremony which will be followed by an independent state parade. More than 6,000 participants will march through philadelphias most historic neighborhood. Now heres a live look over center city where more than half a Million People will be partying on the ben franklin parkway for the fourth. Jesse gary is live on the parkway this morning with a preview of the block party, free concert, and fireworks. Its going to be busy there today, jesse. Reporter it already is busy and look how things have changed. Look what im not wearing. Sleeves are up. Look whats out right there. I dont want to jinx anything so im not going to say anything more than that. Things have definitely changed. Ill move out of the way and you can see how busy it is behind me on the parkway. All these people milling about pulling products out and getting ready all for the celebration of freedom here in philadelphia. Lets go ahead and take a look at our video. Meanwhile vendors on the parkway somebody tried to call me. A crush of people on the parkway expected today. We shot this a short time ago. Some vendors putting up their tents, preparing. Its an exciting time for them were going to make sure this is a spectacular fourth of july celebration. Certainly a lot of excitement. Its going to be good for the city. Just love seeing different people out here having fun. Its a free event. Cant beat that kind of thing. Reporter yes. There you go. Big word. Free. A friend of mine always said if its free its for me. So we will show you more of whats happening out here coming up in the next 30 minutes. Well try to get over to the road to rio. We were talking about that exhibit earlier this morning. We showed you a little bit yesterday. Well try to give you another look this morning. Well try in the 9 30 half hour. Jesse gary nbc 10 news. Thank you. Philadelphia is beefing up security on this Independence Day following a warning from the fbi. While the fbi tells nbc 10 that there is no specific threat on this holiday to philadelphia the potential for an isisinspired attack in the u. S. Has Law Enforcement across the country on high alert. Just be mindful of what wur bringing with you and that everything is going to be subject to being checked. At the end of the day i feel you know you just trust i guess other people and if you see something say something. Thats exactly what the Philadelphia Police department is asking the public to do. If you see anything suspicious, report it immediately. There will be some action on the water today. Here is a live look at the Schuylkill River by boathouse row where more than 1100 boats will race in the Independence Day regatta. It dates back to 1880 and brings rowers from all over the world to the river. The competition started yesterday and continues today and tomorrow. This morning u. S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to administer the oath of allegiance to americas newest citizens during a special naturalization ceremony on board the historic battleship new jersey. The 46 citizenship candidates include five military members from 28 different countries. Meanwhile in philadelphia today 13 children from around the world will officially become citizens of the United States. This takes place at the betsy ross house at 1 30. The ceremony will be immediately followed by a symbolic bell ringing by americas newest editions as part of the let freedom ring program. It has been a little bit more than a week since the Supreme Courts landmark samesex marriage decision. And today the Lgbt Community is celebrating another milestone in philadelphia. It was 50 years ago today that gay and lesbian activists from new york washington and philly laid the foundation for the organized lbgt Civil Rights Movement by demonstrating in front of Independence Hall. A 50th Anniversary Ceremony will be held there this afternoon. Organizers will be handing out thousands of american and rainbow flags. And by the way, comedian wanda sikes who lives parttime in Delaware County will be the emcee of that event. At 9 22 this morning well talk to malcolm laison about the events. If you dont have the nbc 10 news app on your smartphone or tablet, you will definitely want to download it this week. Theres plenty of information on there about holiday activities happening all over our area including welcome America Events and fireworks displays. You can also get the updated first alert forecast. Again, its all on the nbc 10 app. A Free Download from the app store. New from overnight. A man is dead following an officerinvolved shooting in camden. Investigators say the man called 911 from his car threatening to kill himself and police. Two officers found the vehicle unoccupied near the intersection of bergen and harrison avenues. As the officers exited their patrol car, they say the suspect approached them with a loaded gun. The officers fired their weapons stopping the man and killing him. Both of the officers have been placed on administrative duty pending the outcome of an investigation by the prosecutors office. In north Philadelphia Police are investigating a double shooting that left two men injured. It happened at erie and germantown avenues this morning. Both victims went to temple hospital. One is stable the other is critical. No word yet on a suspect or a motive. A fight in University City ended in a shooting outside of a dormitory in the heart of penns campus. Police say two groups were arguing at a nearby bar just after 2 00 this morning. When the fight spilled outside, a group of men in a car with maryland plates opened fire. Two men ages 29 and 32 were shot. One was critically injured. Both went to the hospital. Authorities tell us the victims returned fire with guns they were legally carrying. The Pennsylvania Police were notified about the shooting first. Then philly police. So far no arrest. In Camden County a man is being held on 1 million bail for allegedly shooting a police officer. Authorities took suspect Victor Bennett into custody last night. He shot officer prince reed that was working undercover in camden. Officer reed was hit with a bullet fragment in the arm. Despite the injury he searched for the suspect before heading to the hospital. Next voters in greece are about to weigh in on how to handle the countrys financial crisis. Well tell you what the Prime Minister is urging them to do during tomorrows bailout referendum. Lets look at our radar shot. Showers moving through the poconos. This has been a steady rainfall for at least the past four hours. So not a great way to kick off the holiday if youre in the poconos or lehigh valley. In philadelphia, wilmington down the shore, were seeing pretty nice conditions. Its still going to be cloudy and a cooler than average day. And were going to maintain the chance of showers for most locations. But most of the rainfall is mainly confined to the poconos and lehigh valley. By 11 00 a. M. 75. 77 the high today in the city. Our average for this time of year is 87. The sun sets at 8 30. Get ready for the fireworks at 10 00 p. M. 70s. New this morning overseas iran and six world powers have reached a tentative agreement on tehran as part of the nuclear deal. In syria islamic militants and rebels have launched the joint offensive on the Northern City of aleppo. This video allegedly showed heavy fighting between the forces and the rebels. Its the most intense offensive in months. Today long lines at bank atms in athens. Banks have been closed all week. Voters in a dead heat going into tomorrows bailout referendum. Greeces Prime Minister is urging them to vote no to not accept the tough terms of a funding deal by International Creditors to keep the country afloat. Its 11 minutes past 9 00. 73 degrees outside. Coming up well introduce you to this weeks wednesdays child. And before the big competition, the weigh in. Why these challengers better bring their appetite for a dog fight on coney island. Well explain just ahead. From our Delaware Bureau if youre planning on spending time outside this Holiday Weekend, dont be surprised if you come away with a few extra mosquito bites. The bugs are back because of the heavy rain we had about a week ago. We spoke to some campers at Lums Pond State Park who assured us they are prepared. When we first got here right after the rain it was pretty bad. After using the bug spray, it wasnt that bad. We have campfire that kind of stuff too. Remove standing water from your property so they dont have the place to breed. Lets check on this weeks wednesdays child. Shes a loving teenager who enjoys helping others. Her dream is to find a forever family to who and guide her. Vai sic hemkahema introduces us to yolanda. Reporter she has such a warm and bright personality. And when you first meet her, it really shines through. She has a passion for helping others, so we went to the cathedral kitchen to lend a helping hand. This is fun. Reporter she was right in her element helping the staff get ready for tonights dinner. She has a level of compassion at 16 most will never have. I like to help people. Everybody needs a chance to you know express themselves. They need to help them and have something back. Reporter she is headed to the tenth grade and does well in her special needs school. She also lends her guidance to her classmates. Yolanda is one of the most popular children. The reason shes popular is shes so accepting of all the other children. Some of the children in her school have autism. She reaches out to them. Reporter the ideal family should share her passion of giving back. I want to help not only be supportive like help people. Reporter yolanda has an enormous heart she is ready to share. Youve got a good heart. Yeah. I get that all the time. Reporter yolanda is this weeks wednesdays child. If youd like to help make yolandas dream come true or the dream of any wednesdays child sponsored by the dave thomas foundation, go to nbc10. Com and search wednesdays child. You could also call the National Adoption center to adopt. Good morning. A few showers are moving through parts of the area as we head into the fourth of july holiday. We will see more sun as we head into sunday. Then a warming trend is on the way. Today temperatures are going to be cooler than average in the high 70s. Right now in philadelphia we are at 74 degrees. Winds out of the east northeast. 61 in the poconos. 72 degrees in mt. Holley. And 73 in stone harbor. Not a bad way to kick off the morning. 73 currently in wilmington. But we are dealing with rainfall in the poconos. And this has been going on for at least the past four to five hours or so. So light rain moving through. Lehigh valley is affected. Northern parts of lancaster county. Closer to the shore, nice and dry. A few showers starting to go a little closer to radnor. And parts of philadelphia. Our future weather shows that we have a chance of a few spotty showers moving through, but it looks like the shore is going to stay pretty dry as we head into the rest of tonight. Most of the area will also be dry by the time the sun sets around 8 30 and the fireworks go off a little bit later. As we head into tomorrow we expect to see more sunshine as well. As far as right along the shore here, this shows how much clouds were going to see today. It mainly keeps us dry. Im going to keep the chance of showers in the forecast for you as we head into the afternoon so you wont be caught off guard. 72 in the poconos. Rain moving through. Temperatures tomorrow at 78 with a lot more sunshine. We also have the moderate risk of rip currents along the shore. Temperatures today at 75 with a chance of showers. On sunday 80 degrees, more sunshine. So thats nice. Sundays really going to be the better day of both days. Showers moving through the poconos still until at least noon 1 00 in the afternoon. 64 could be the high today. But im calling for a high of 70 degrees. 71 in allentown. 74 the high today in trenton. Right along the shore here 76 in cape may. With a chance of a few isolated showers heading into the afternoon. Mostly cloudy for philadelphia with a high of 77. 78 in drexel hill. And throughout the rest of the region here poconos again with those showers. The shore, aslight chance of showers. Same thing for the city. As we head into tonight, your fireworks forecast shows that temperatures will drop down into the low 70s. By 11 00, 70 degrees. Then well drop quickly into the high 60s. So bring a jacket with you if you plan on being out late. Sevenday forecast shows a warming trend for us. More sunshine sunday. Chance of thunderstorms and warmer temperatures next week. 230 pounds, ladies and gentlemen. Yep. 230 pounds. Thats what Joey Chestnut weighed in at yesterday. Chestnut is reigning champ of the fourth of july National Hot Dog contest in coney island. He captured his eighth crown last year. He says hes ready to top that today. If i find my rhythm, i should be able to be unstoppable. I should be a machine and plow through enough to number nine. Plow through. Today by the way is the 99th year of this competition. On this fourth of july many will also be celebrating the 50th anniversary of the lgbt movement which got its start right here in the city of brotherly love. Well talk about todays events with malcolm laison next. This weekend marks the 50th anniversary of the first reminder demonstration at Independence Hall. There are a number of events happening to mark this golden year for the lgbt Civil Rights Movement. For more details im joined by malcolm laison who is the founder and director of equality forum. Good morning. Good morning. The celebration started on thursday but theres still plenty to do this weekend. Tell us about some of the events happening today and tomorrow. Certainly the highlight today at 2 15 directly in front of Independence Hall on a large stage will be the national lbgt 50th Anniversary Ceremony. Wanda sykes is the master of ceremonies. The plaintiff in the Supreme CourtMarriage Equality case will be on stage and be a speaker. The mother of Matthew Shepherd will be there. Just a whole cast of celebrities and iconic figures and entertainers as well. Malcolm, you touched on it eni would be remissed if i didnt mention what happened last week. Talk about the significance of the 50th anniversary celebration coinciding with the Supreme Courts landmark equality decision last week. Its amazing when you think when the gay pioneers stepped forward, it was a tsunami of homophobia. It could not have been worse. It fell roughly four months after the selma march and in its own way, it was a march across the Edmund Pettus bridge. To think 50 years later were celebrating samesex marriage i think really affirms the the wonder of american democracy and promise of equality for all americans. You mentioned that wanda sykes will be serving as master of ceremonies today. She has a local connection to the philadelphia area. How did she become involved . Literally we asked her and she waived her fee and wanted to be here. Shes obviously a fierce advocate and shes a wonderful human being. Were obviously thrilled shes going to be the emcee. And of course i should mention to our viewers out there, i dont think she keeps this a secret. She lives in Delaware County so she spends quite a bit of time in philadelphia. So should be an incredible day and of course plenty to do. Thank you so much malcolm of equality forum. Thank you rosemary. The national lbgt 50th anniversary celebration runs through tomorrow in philadelphia. For a full list of all of the events head to our website nbc10. Com. Or check out the info on the nbc 10 app. Philadelphia is ready to celebrate Independence Day. Jesse gary is live along the ben franklin parkway with a preview with the Biggest Block Party of the summer. Hey. Reporter hey, rosemary. A preview of something really neat. Im going to give you a little hint. What does this look like . All right. Ill show you coming up after the break. Hes having some fun out there. All right. We are going to see a chance of showers as we head into the rest of today. But rain is moving into the poconos. Ill let you know what to expect on the fourth of july holiday. Thats coming up in my full forecast. Im Whoopi Goldberg and new york is my home. Theres no place like it in the world and no better place to lean about the people who shaped who we are today. Hear about the lives of slaves in colonial new york and about the fight to abolish slavery. Pick a stop on the underground railroad and visit the home and grave of one of new yorks most controversial citizens. A journey in new york is a journey through history. Plan you next trip at iloveny. Com summer. Theres something for everyone. Today philadelphia leads the nation in the fourth of july celebration. Independence hall, americas birthplace, will be packed later on for the activities. The festivities then shift to the ben franklin parkway. Hundreds of thousands are expected for the annual party on the parkway, the free concert, and the fireworks. Its all part of phillys welcome america celebration. We are tracking some scattered popup showers, th