Reporter a spokesman for the American Beverage Association told me they are not keen on the idea claiming bans dont change peoples behavior. But the association is working with the city of new york on an initiative to go into communities like the south bronx, bedfordstuyvesant and crown heights. The goal is to get residents to reduce their daily beverage caloric intake by 20 . We have heard this before. Let us know what you think about kids being carded to buy soda on our website, cbsnewyork. Com. New at 6 00 tonight, the long island rail road getting an upgrade that will hopefully improve the service on the busy ronkokoma branch. Cbs 2s meg baker shows us why improvements are so needed. Reporter 48,000 commuters ride the long island rail roads ronkokoma line each weekday. And commuters say at times, it hasnt been a pleasant ride. It gets crowded at the end of the day and everyone is pushing. Reporter today the long island rail road announced an upgrade to improve service. This line was built 170 years ago. But it wasnt until 1988 that it was actually electrified. And the intervening time, the ridership on this branch has double. Reporter now 27 years later, rolling out a 388 million double track project to add an 18mile line of track to the busy ronkokoma branch. Its something thats long overdue. Reporter currently theres only one track between farmingdale and ronkokoma which means if a train is disabled or something goes wrong on the tracks there is no alternate route. All other trains both east and west have no way around the problem causing major delays. Joe experienced it. One time where we were thinking they had to take a bus maybe because it got stuck somewhere or there was an accident. That was a little scary because it was late at night of the my wife and i. An hour. With a new track they will come more frequently and riders said this Additional Service cant come soon enough. Its exciting an going to be making commuting easier. Definitely yeah. I can get to the city faster without having to wait every hour. Reporter once the second track is installed halfhour service will be provided during offpeak times and weekends. The lirr expects to finish the project by 2019. In ronkokoma, meg baker, cbs 2 news. The single track has not changed since 1883. New charges after a fiery crash killed three family members on long island and today video of an alleged coverup was released. [ choking ] oneil sharpe junior threw something in the woods after the july crash on the Southern State parkway. Prosecutors say sharpe was getting rid of a bottle of tequila just as strangers were trying to douse the flames. Sharpe has been indicted and three of his friends are also facing criminal charges. Did they not do anything at all to help these poor souls . They, the defendants, shamelessly sought to cover up their involvement. Mr. Sharpe was actually rendering aid to other individuals in the accident. The crash killed ancio ostane and his two children. Their mother survived. In brooklyn, police are searching for the suspect who followed a woman home from work and attacked her. Police looking for a long haired man who they say attempted to rape a woman right in front of her home in bensonhurst. The victims own surveillance camera captured the video of the attacker chasing her up to the front porch. Neighbors are unsettled. Im here 32 years. This block is nice im scared. All the time we have the door open. The victims husband at home at the time chased after the suspect and caught up with him. They fought the attacker vowed to go back to the familys home with friends and finish what he started. Fire investigators trying to determine what caused a huge fire in plainfield, new jersey that destroyed a home and seriously damaged two others. Firefighters arrived it a fully engulfed house in flames nobody inside at the time. The flames spread. The siding melted off one house and another had heavy smoke and water damage. The house across the street was engulfed in fire. My mother, father raised six kids in that house, five girls and one boy. When they moved into this hour, my mother was pregnant with me. Four people were inside the two other homes. But nobody was injured. An eagle eyed Police Officer stopped a major money heist on long island. Five suspects broke in a fortified Armored Car Company office in hicksville earlier this month. They broke through a wall and were getting way with over a Million Dollars inside a vault. But an alert Nassau County officer on patrol saw the suspects with the trunk of their car open and then chased down one of them. Followed and apprehended the individual and recovered 1. 8 million in the trunk of his car. Police caught and arrested this man, 53yearold edgar medina. They say is a career criminal. Four other suspects got away. New at 6 00 tonight, a warning for students and teachers at columbia university. Police releasing these photos of a man accused in the string of on campus thefts. A 2,500 reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest. The crimes happened this month. Thieves dressed as surgeons take a look at the video here, showing two people dressed in scrubs and surgical masks. Police say they targeted a bronx Cell Phone Store wednesday at a metro pcs store on castle hill avenue. The suspects approached an employee behind the Cash Register demanding money. They stole 200 from the register. 22 cell phones and 6 Tablet Computers were also stolen. This man late for work 100 times but will keep his job. Thats the decision from a new jersey state arbitrator in the case of a tardy teacher in New Brunswick. Tonight in a cbs 2 exclusive, the teacher defends himself. Cbs 2s Andrea Grymes spoke to him and students, too. Reporter at roosevelt elementary school, student Anna Dominguez said she liked her third grade math teacher. He was a nice teacher. He gave you prizes. Reporter his record of getting to work on time, according to the New Brunswick worthy. I was late. I will admit. Reporter but anderson says it was only by a few minutes. He spoke with us exclusively after a state arbitrator issued harsh words but ultimately ruled the tenured teacher can keep his job despite about 100 instances of tardiness over two years. In 2013, 2014 the principal reported him late 49 times with 16 late punchins of 5 minutes or more. Last year it was 40 times. Plus 6 additional late punch ins. You were never late to teach students. No. Reporter he claims nearly all of these tardies happened during an unwritten grace period for teacher arrivals. In the future minutes before classes begin. In the two years, i was late no more than i was late more than 10 minutes only once. And i mean, you know, my car broke down. Reporter but the arbitrator said the Roosevelt School principal meticulously tracked respondents cascading of tardiness of none of which is plausibly planed by respondents. He is suspended without pay until january. The arbitrator ruled the district cannot fire him because anderson did not receive a formal notice of inefficiency. And he didnt have the mandatory 90day period to correct those inefficiencies. The Superintendents Office told me it could not comment on this case because it is ongoing. Anderson says he will return to teaching here in january and has no plans to resign. In New Brunswick, new jersey, Andrea Grymes, cbs 2 news. He has worked in the district for 15 years. He says he has been an educator for 30 years. A kayaker makes a dangerous discovery. Easily could have taken his toes or part of his foot off, its that dangerous. How did an alligator snapping turtle end up on long island . Also, the worlds best golfer right in our backyard. Otis has highlights from the barclays tournament. And did you log on to social media today . If so, you might be part of a world record. Well explain and hears lonnie. Its a Beautiful Day today. Well talk about when the heat will come back. When i say big time im talking 90s and warmer. Plus we check in on the tropics. Also tonight, coming up on the cbs evening news, new details about the gunman and yesterdays virginia news crew murders. Maurice dubois filling in for scott pelley tonight. We are going to lead the broadcast with the latest on the virginia shooting. Was the gunman planning more . Well tell you what authorities found in his car after the takedown just ahead at 6 30 on tonights cbs evening news. A Exotic Animals are turning up in unusual places an in some cases its putting unsuspecting people in danger like this alligator snapping turtle. Vanessa murdoch reports. Reporter a tarantula and the latest Exotic Animal to end up in the hands of the Suffolk County spca an alligator snapping turtle. Its no joke. It could have taken toes or foot off. Its that dangerous. Reporter he says they captured the 25pound turtle in the smithtown stream. A popular spot for kayaks and canoes. People dont expect to see it here. Reporter thats because its a nonnative species belongs in the deep south. How long it lived here no one knows but they are confident someone had it for a pet and abandoned it. Stick to your furry animals dogs and cats. Reporter and abandoning a pet is illegal but it seems to be happening a lot lately. An alligator recommended the streets of inwood in july. Over the last four or five years its probably jumped up 6075 of what we have seen in the past. Reporter the new York State Department of Environmental Conservation says theres reasons why. There are more people who think these things are neat to have because no one else has them. Reporter and people let this go like someone did with this alligator snapping turtle. Thankfully he now has a permanent home. Its neighbors other exotics like emily here is a asian bearcat. She doesnt make a good pet. And she cant be released into the wild because frankly she doesnt belong here. From long island, vanessa murdoch, cbs 2 news. On october 10 the Suffolk County spca will host amnesty day. If you have an illegal pet you can leave it at the holtsville ecology site no questions asked Consultant Group or con . Thats the question around a group that says its henning victims of Superstorm Sandy take a look at the logo for new york rising consultants. Its models on new york rising, the official state program for people who suffered during hurricane sandy. The companies sent homeowners email since the Organization Claims to employ former state workers, theres concern somebody took the addresses from a government database. Where did they get the names, addresses and emails to make sure they didnt take them with them when they were working there which is illegal. The state sent the company a cease and desist order. The lookalike logo could also represent a deceptive trade practice. Getting your money to go further isnt easy especially in the tristate area. A new survey finding some of the most expensive spots for families to live are in our area. First of all, washington, dc the number one spot. Then the list hits home as you can see. Lonnie quinn is here. He has an Award Winning forecast. Man. Four of the top five. Right here. Light right here. Maybe you live here for the weather. You know we have our share of complaints. Its pretty today. Heres a shot from north fort village. All the skies looking beautiful. Daniel with a beautiful looking shot. Clouds out there but a little bit of clouds covered here or there makes the sky look prettier. Right now in new york city, a few clouds out there but its a pretty one. The clouds are not precipitationbearing. They are high cirrus clouds and accentuate the cobalt blue 82 your high. So you were above 80 again row. You will find the 50th day of 80 or above again tomorrow but not by much and 90s brewing possible in a few days. Degrees. Lots of sunshine. It feels great out there. More sunshine tomorrow than you had today. And the humidity again equally as low. Heading to the beaches this weekend, well, saturday 83 to 86 with a nice sky. Sunday a nice sky at the shore. 83 to 87, warmer away from the shore. In the mountains a cooling influence from elevation but still 84 to 88 on saturday, up to 89 on sunday. Youre close to 90. Vortex satellite and radar, just a few clouds. No problems. Bigger picture shows you wet weather to the north and west and south. We always all these low pressures all around us but we have a High Pressure system keeping everything buffered out of our area and we continue to have nice looking days again and again and again. Right through the weekend looks very nice out there. Do want to spend some time checking in on the tropics. This is Tropical Storm erika. Its ragged looking. Its a low grade Tropical Storm right now. The current stats 175 miles guadalupe there to the west of guadalupe winds 45 Miles Per Hour. Moving to the westnorthwest around 15. 15 Miles Per Hour through this area thats a good clip for a storm like this. I have seen them move at 2 Miles Per Hour. I have seen them stationary around churn up with the warm water. Well, this is how we see things working out according to National Hurricane center. It moves over puerto rico to the north maybe of hispaniola possibly onshore there. But all of that as a Tropical Storm. Now, once it gets to the area around the bahamas to the florida coast, somewhere in there, we anticipate a category 1 hurricane. On the east coast of florida or the west into the gulf . If this cone is in the area of concern, you it could go anywhere. We keep an eye on it for you. Extended forecast showers and thunderstorms on tuesday, but it looks better. Thank you. Enjoy. Thank you. Great summer tradition. Coming up Otis Livingston with that and more. Two days away from the annual battle of the hatfields and the mccoys. Jets giants preseason 2015. And the passing of a legend. Love tron. He was a personality this planet had never seen before or since. Two moment teams going at it. Otis livingston has more. Odell beckham junior says he is looking forward to saturdays preseason game against the jets. It will be his first because he was sidelined most of preseason. We need to see more from both teams first teams. The jets offense has only mustered 10 points in 7 series while the first time defense gave up touchdowns or not first two drives to atlanta. So look for improved play by both teams in whats essentially their final tune up. Well have to be on our game from my standpoint from offensive line runningback receivers everybody understanding their responsibilities. We know they are a tough team. They play very physical football. So we are trying to get better from last week and cut done on our penalties and working on ourselves. Now to baseball. The mets will look to continue their dominance over the phillies as they go for the fourgame sweep tonight. They are 111 against their rivals down the turnpike. If you are a betting man or a woman this smart money is on history when the u. S. Open gets under way at the Billie Jean KingTennis Center on monday. Serena williams going for the calendar slam trying to become the fourth woman to pull it off. She got the top seed at todays u. S. Open draw. She could possibly face her sister venus in the quarter firearms and Maria Sharapova in the semifinals for the second straight great slam in the quarterfinals and semifinals. Could she have ever imagined these milestones . I always dreamt of winning the u. S. Open and i have always dreamt of winning the grand slam but it was just a dream. I never thought i would be closer to doing Something Like that. My dream originally was owls to win here in new york. All right. Fedex cup playoff getting under way today in our own backyard. Plainfield country club in edison, new jersey. The barclays media day a couple of weeks ago i tore up the course. They wont let me back [ laughter ] but i may have putted better than jordan spieth. The worlds number one had his worst nine hole stretch of the year with a sixover par 40 on the front nine at plus 4. Bubba watson has part of the lead at fiveunder. John peterson on the par five 16th. In the hole right in the cup he finished even par today. Finally tonight some sad news to pass along from the world of sports. Former net and nba legend Darryl Dawkins died this morning at the age of 58. He spent 14 years in the n. A. N. Nba and was one of the most colorful personalities in the league. Chocolate thunder made the jump from high school to the nba in 1975. He was the original backboard breaker and named his dunk. [ long unintelligible name ] one of my heroes growing up. Every Auto Insurance policy has a number. But not every Insurance Company understands the life behind it. Those who have served our nation. Have earned the very best service in return. Usaa. We know what it means to serve. Get an Auto Insurance quote and see why 92 of our members plan to stay for life. Im kristine johnson. Coming up tonight an elderly woman out walking her dog caught up in the middle of a police chase. Seriously hurt. The driver just kept going. Also, a photo posted on instagram by Jerry Seinfelds wife. Theres jerry. And theres a cop. That shut down their lemonade stand. Details tonight at 11. If you logged on to facebook today, you helped break a world record. One billion people use the social network in a single day. The Company Founder and Ceo Mark Zuckerberg posted a video, um, on his own Facebook Page to celebrate. He pointed out that one in every 7 people on the planet used facebook and something you might not know, most people on Facebook Live outside north america. Coming up tonight on the cbs evening news, with Maurice Dubois in for scott pelley tonight, Tropical Storm erika batters the caribbean killing four. Will it make landfall in the United States . Thank you for joining us at 6 00. Im dana tyler. Good night. Captions by caption colorado