Ninety-nine years ago Monday, the Philadelphia Police Department’s first African American detective died in the line of duty.

Det. George L. Williams was shot and killed inside a saloon at 16th and South streets while trying to make an arrest on Jan. 9, 1918.

Williams, a 12-year-veteran of the force, was 44 years old. He was survived by his wife and five children.

Samuel Cole, the prime suspect in the murder, was executed for the crime at 22 years old on Nov. 1, 1920.

Philly Police unveiled a plaque outside 16th and South streets in Williams' honor on June 29, 2011. The Police Hero Plaque serves as the 98th tribute to a fallen Philly Police Officer, said police.

When not fighting crime, Williams played as an infielder for the Cuban Giants, a Negro Baseball League.

A PATCO train was evacuated in Camden, New Jersey Monday due to smoke inside.

The train stopped at the Camden station on 5th and Market streets and was taken out of service. None of the passengers were injured. PATCO service is experiencing 15 to 20 minute delays both eastbound and westbound.

Officials say the smoke came from the train's traction motor. They also say it may have been caused by cold and moisture from the recent snowstorms.

One of the songwriters who just won a Golden Globe for the modern day musical “La La Land” hails from Montgomery County.

Benj Pasek, 31, who grew up in Ardmore, was one of the co-writers behind “City of Stars,” which won Best Original Song at the 2017 Golden Globes. Pasek’s mom Kathy Hirsh-Pasek watched it all unfold on NBC10 Sunday night.

“I don’t know if I was nervous as much as I was so excited that he even had the opportunity to be acknowledged by his peers for the work that he did,” she said. “How cool was that?”

During his acceptance speech, Pasek thanked “musical theater nerds everywhere,” which especially resonated with his drama teacher Terry Guerin at Friends Central School in Wynnewood.

“This is really, really awesome,” Guerin told NBC10.

Guerin said she knew Pasek was talented as she watched him hone his craft both on and off the stage while he was a high school student. Now she’s happy that the world knows it too.

“I was screaming and yelling and I got texts from friends who know that he was a student here,” she said.

Pasek currently has a musical on Broadway called “Dear Evan Hanson.” He also hosted a group of Friends Central drama students in New York. Despite the many high profile projects he’s involved in, Pasek hasn’t forgotten where he came from and who helped him along the way.

“He’s very much in touch and he’s supporting us now,” Guerin said. “Which is wonderful.”

A man is fighting for his life after he tried to stop a robbery inside a West Philadelphia home.

Police say an armed man was robbing a 36-year-old woman inside a home on the 5400 block of Conestoga Street Monday night. When a 33-year-old man who was also inside the house tried to intervene the gunman opened fire and shot him twice in the head. The suspect then fled the scene.

The man was taken to the hospital where he is in extremely critical condition.
Investigators say the woman knew the gunman who was trying to rob her though they’re unsure of the exact nature of their relationship.

Here are the 10 things you need to know to start your day from your friends at NBC10.

TODAY'S TOP STORY

50-Pound Dumbbell Goes Through Windshield, Close NJ Turnpike: An accident where a 50-pound dumbbell crashed through a windshield closed the New Jersey Turnpike in South Jersey Monday morning, according to New Jersey State Police. The wreck in the southbound lanes near mile-marker 6 in Oldmans Township in Salem County stopped traffic in both directions around 7:45 a.m. As SkyForce10 hovered overhead a short time later, an SUV with windshield damage could be seen off the roadway as a medical helicopter landed on the roadway. Investigators found the dumbbell in the passenger seat, police said. The driver, 75-year-old Jack Decarlo of Hamilton Township, was medivaced to the Crozer Chester Medical Center with serious injuries. He is currently in critical condition. His wife, who was in the vehicle with him, was not hurt. Police told NBC10 they would exhaust their resources trying to uncover where the weight came from -- if it was tossed off an overpass or fell from a vehicle. State Police reopened the northbound lanes around 8:30 a.m.

• MORE ON THE CRASH

YOUR FIRST ALERT FORECAST  

Tuesday and Wednesday could see some rain. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday could see temperatures in the 50s. High Temp: 36 Degrees. Get your full NBC10 First Alert forecast here.

WHAT YOU MISSED YESTERDAY

Gunman Shoots Man After He Tries to Stop Robbery: A man is fighting for his life after he tried to stop a robbery inside a West Philadelphia home. Police say an armed man was robbing a 36-year-old woman inside a home on the 5400 block of Conestoga Street Monday night. When a 33-year-old man who was also inside the house tried to intervene the gunman opened fire and shot him twice in the head. The suspect then fled the scene.The man was taken to the hospital where he is in extremely critical condition. Investigators say the woman knew the gunman who was trying to rob her though they’re unsure of the exact nature of their relationship.

• MORE ON THE SHOOTING

AROUND THE WORLD

Search for Girl's Stuffed Animal Lost in Airport Rampage: A little girl who is searching for her beloved stuff animal that was lost during Friday's Ft. Lauderdale airport mass shooting is getting some help from Broward Sheriff's Office. BSO's Twitter page sent out a tweet Monday with a picture of the missing teddy bear named Rufus, asking the public to be on the lookout for the stuffed animal. Deputies received a request from a page presumably created by the girl's family asking the police department to help them find the lost toy. The Twitter page @klariviere3 tweeted out "Looking for Rufus from Terminal 2 D8. Crying daughter cannot sleep. #FLLshooting help!"

• MORE ON THE STUFFED ANIMAL

First Black Philly Police Detective's Death, 99 Years Later: Ninety-nine years ago Monday, the Philadelphia Police Department’s first African American detective died in the line of duty. Det. George L. Williams was shot and killed inside a saloon at 16th and South streets while trying to make an arrest on Jan. 9, 1918. Williams, a 12-year-veteran of the force, was 44 years old. He was survived by his wife and five children. Samuel Cole, the prime suspect in the murder, was executed for the crime at 22 years old on Nov. 1, 1920. Philly Police unveiled a plaque outside 16th and South streets in Williams' honor on June 29, 2011. The Police Hero Plaque serves as the 98th tribute to a fallen Philly Police Officer, said police.

• MORE ON THE OFFICER

SPORTS SPOT

Eagles Roster: Nine Eagles players are set to become free agents in March. Get your full sports news at CSNPhilly.

PHOTO OF THE DAY

See more Top News Photos here.

THROUGH IGER'S EYES

@jlisacek captured this cool photo of two man chatting on a Philly street.

Have an awesome Instagram photo you'd like to share? Tag it with #NBC10Buzz.

TODAY'S VIRAL VIDEO

Here are some gadgets you can make with a potato. Watch more here.

Main Line Songwriter Wins Golden Globe for 'La La Land': One of the songwriters who just won a Golden Globe for the modern day musical “La La Land” hails from Montgomery County. Benj Pasek, 31, who grew up in Ardmore, was one of the co-writers behind “City of Stars,” which won Best Original Song at the 2017 Golden Globes. Pasek’s mom Kathy Hirsh-Pasek watched it all unfold on NBC10 Sunday night. “I don’t know if I was nervous as much as I was so excited that he even had the opportunity to be acknowledged by his peers for the work that he did,” she said. “How cool was that?” Read more.

That's what you need to know. We've got more stories worthy of your time in the Breakfast Buzz section. Click here to check them out. 

The thin blue line that was painted on a New Jersey street last fall in support of local police is actually illegal, according to federal officials, but the town's mayor is vowing to keep the blue line, even if it means defying federal regulation. 

The town of Mahwah had the blue line painted in front of the local police station in October at the request of a resident who wanted to show gratitude for keeping the community consistently ranked among the safest in the state.

But in a letter dated Dec. 8, federal highway official Mark Keherli told Mahwah officials that blue paint is only to be used for specific reasons, like handicapped parking spots. 

He writes that there are other ways to honor law enforcement officers "that do not involve the modification of a traffic control device, which can put the road user at risk due to misinterpretation of its meaning." 

A spokesman for the Federal Highway Administration spokesman added in a statement to NBC 4, “We appreciate and understand the efforts by local governments and others that convey support for law enforcement officers. However, the yellow lines down the center of a road are meant to control traffic and modification of that marking could cause confusion, accidents and fatalities. Our number one priority is the safety of all drivers."

But residents don't see the problem.

"In the middle of the street in front of the police station, I wouldn't think for a second it's a handicapped spot," said Stephen Soria.

"If they're showing support for the police, it should be no big deal," he said. 

Mahwah's mayor says he will defy the federal standard, and keep the blue line on Franklin Turnpike outside police headquarters. 

"Mayors don't usually do things that are also illegal, but if you want to call this line illegal, that's all right with me," said Mayor William LaForet. 

Mahwah has its own line-painting machines and leftover blue paint, so the cost was small, elected officials said. Though the line outside the police station is fading, it will be repainted in the spring. 

LaForet said, "We will repaint that, and it will remain until I have to go out there and physically have to remove it myself.' 

The thin blue line was a morale booster for Mahwah police, according to Chief James Batelli. He said Monday that bureaucrats in Washington should use common sense and focus on "real" problems.

"If you look at the bridges and infrastructure around the country, I think they should have more important things to worry about," he said. 

So far, 15 towns in Bergen County have added blue lines in between the double yellow lines outside their police stations.

In a letter to Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx dated Jan. 9, Rep. Josh Gottheimer said he "understands the desire for uniformity in roadway planning," but thinks the case of the blue line should be re-evaluated. 

The blue lines, he wrote, don't stretch the full length of the street, and "these simple actions have been an important symbol," he said. 

"The federal government should not force communities to choose between supporting law enforcement and federal roadway standards," wrote Gottheimer. "This should be a town by town decision." 

A baby blue penguin has been born at an aquarium in New Jersey.

Officials with Adventure Aquarium in Camden announced Monday that the first chick to be spawned from its little blue penguin colony hatched last month.

The aquarium says the chick was born inside a nesting box on Dec. 3 under the watchful eye of staff members.

Early gender tests have shown that the chick is female. A blood test will confirm the penguin's sex.

The progeny of Sheila and Goose has grown from 1.23 ounces to more than 2 pounds. That's about the same size as many of the adult penguins in the colony, which now consists of nine birds — three females and six males.

Native to Australia and New Zealand, little blue penguins are the world's smallest penguin species.

Hostess Brands and Palmer Candy Company have recalled holiday-themed sweets over concern the desserts may be contaminated with the harmful Salmonella bacteria.

Hostess Brands recalled its Holiday White Peppermint Hostess Twinkies in response to Blommer Chocolate Company’s recall of its confectionery coating, which contains milk powder ingredients recalled by Valley Milk Products. 

The milk powder ingredients recalled by Valley Milk Products were also in sweets distributed by Palmer Candy Company, which, like Hostess, issued a voluntary recall as a precaution.

Testing has shown no Salmonella in the milk confectionery coating supplied to Hostess and Palmer Candy. No illnesses have been reported.

All affected products were sold to grocery and convenience stores and other distributors nationwide.

A number of candy packages are in the Palmer Candy recall, including chocolate almond bark, Christmas tree pretzels, peanut brittle and holiday gift bowls. For more details about the recall, head to this FDA recall page.

The only Hostess product affected by the recall is the Holiday White Peppermint Hostess Twinkies. For further details about the recall, go to this FDA recall page.

Palmer Candy Company customer service can be reached at 712-258-5543.

Hostess Brands customer service can be reached at 1-800-483-7253.

Hundreds of children in one New Jersey County may need to be re-vaccinated due to vaccine storage issues.

The New Jersey Department of Health said vaccines used in a low-cost program at Dr. Michael Bleiman’s Southern Ocean Pediatrics and Family Medicine in Manahawkin were possible poorly refrigerated.

As a result, the shots to around 900 children may not be as effective for a range of preventable childhood diseases. "The vaccines the children received include measles, mumps, rubella, chickenpox, hepatitis A & B, rotavirus, DTaP/Tdap, Hib, pneumococcal, polio, meningococcal and HPV," said health officials in a news release.

The children are in no danger, said health officials. But, they urged any children vaccinated between November 2014 and July 28, 2016 be check out for possible re-vaccination as the vaccines the children received may not be as effective as first thought.

Health officials filed a complaint with the state medical board for allegations of gross negligence, professional misconduct and other violations against Dr. Bleiman.

No one answered the phone at Bleiman’s office Tuesday morning.

Sara Packer, the woman charged this weekend in her adoptive daughter's dismemberment, was fired by Northampton County in April 2010 from a supervisory role in the county's Children, Youth and Families divison, where she worked for more than seven years.

The county administrator cited "the seriousness of these allegations of misconduct" in a 2010 termination letter provided to NBC10.com, though the allegations themselves remain unclear.

Packer was arrested over the weekend and charged with criminal homicide, conspiracy-forcible rape, kidnapping and numerous other charges for her alleged role in the killing of her adopted daughter, Grace Packer. Jacob Sullivan, Sara Packer's live-in boyfriend, was also charged with criminal homicide, rape and other related charges for allegedly carrying out what authorities described as a gruesome rape and murder.

Both suspects are being held without bail in Bucks County.

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Sara Packer's termination letter, dated April 15, 2010, indicated that Packer worked as a caseworker supervisor in the county Children, Youth and Family agency. It was provided to NBC10.com through a right-to-know request.

The exact reason for her termination was redacted by the county solicitor's office, which cited the reason for the redaction as "references to state agency investigations which are not subject to public disclosure."

County administrator Kevin Dolan wrote in the letter that Packer initially told him of what were eventually deemed fireable offenses on Jan. 20, 2010.

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"Based on the seriousness of these allegations of misconduct, you were suspended without pay effective January 20, 2010, pending the completion of the investigation," Dolan wrote.

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The letter goes on to note that the termination was based in part on documents Packer provided and that her "undisputed actions" violated the county's ethics and disciplinary employee codes.

Northampton County Controller Stephen Barron Jr. told NBC10 Philadelphia he is demanding those who work for the county take a good look into the case files Sara Packer worked on and supervised.

"She represents the worst of a children and youth worker," he said.

Another record provided to NBC10.com showed Packer's employment record with Northampton County.

• She was hired Jan. 13, 2003 as a caseworker in Children, Youth and Family. Her starting salary was $26,621. Six months later, her probationary period ended.
• In September 2005, she was given a raise and promotion.
• In July 2007, she again received a promotion, this year to casework supervisor.
• By December 2009, after 10 raises, Packer received a pay increase to $44,662 a year.
• A month later, she was suspended without pay.
• The record indicated "termination (involuntary)" on April 15, 2010.

Her firing occurred two months before a Lehigh County detective received a report of possible child sexual abuse by Sara Packer's then-husband, David Packer, according to a criminal affidavit filed in Lehigh County later that year.

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David Packer eventually pleaded guilty to statutory sexual assault after authorities charged him with allegedly assaulting two underage children. The criminal affidavits in the cases indicated one victim was an adopted child of David Packer and another was his foster child. 

Authorities have since said that Sara and David Packer fostered numerous children over a period stretching more than a decade.

Grace Packer, 14 years old when she disappeared in July of last year, was adopted along with her brother by the Packers in 2004. It remains unclear exactly how many children the Packers adopted. Grace and her brother were adopted in Berks County.

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Grace's dismembered body was found Oct. 31 last year in a wooded area of Luzerne County by two hunters. Montgomery County authorities charged Sara Packer in November with obstruction of justice for allegedly hindering the investigation of her disappearance.

She was living in Abington when Grace reportedly disappeared, but moved to Quakertown in Bucks County with the boyfriend, Sullivan. Authorities allege that Sullivan beat, raped and murdered Grace Packer in the attic of the house in Quakertown while Sara Packer watched.

They allegedly stored the girl's body in cat litter for months before allegedly dumping her body in the woods.

Sullivan allegedly confessed last week in a Bucks County hospital after he and Sara Packer failed in a joint suicide attempt.

Packer and Sullivan didn't enter pleas when in court on Sunday and were denied bail; no attorney information was available for them.

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Temple University has landed atop the list of colleges where more young women, or "sugar babies," are letting older men, or "sugar daddies," pay off their higher education bills.

The North Philadelphia public university increased its total number of "sugar babies" by 296 in 2016, the greatest total of new subscribers to SeekingArrangement.com’s Sugar Baby University site, said the site.

The new sign-ups bring Temple's total student body seeking money for tuition to 1,068, said Seeking Arrangement.

The site claims that the sugar daddies -- either men or women -- are benefactors who help young women not only pay tuition but also offer job and mentorship opportunities. Each sugar daddy can have up the 4 "babies" each with "no strings attached," says the site.

"Babies" can "find a mentor," "be pampered" and/or "date experienced men."

Seeking Arrangement CEO and founder Brandon Wade claims his site helps students leave college with less debt. Students earn on average $2,440 a month toward tuition, said the site.

"Students are tired of hearing politician’s hyperbole about what they might do to resolve the student debt crisis," said Wade.

New York University, Arizona State University, Georgia State University and Texas State University rounded out eh site's Top 5 schools for new "babies."

"Every successful relationship is an arrangement between two parties," says Wade on the site. "In business, partners sign business agreements that outline their objectives and expectations. Likewise, romantic relationships can only work if two people agree on what they expect, and what they can give and receive from each other."

Temple University declined comment saying that Seeking Arrangement didn’t deserve any more publicity.

"We have no comment other than to marvel at how media outlets continue to give this company free advertising," said the university. [[238427591, C]]