Vice President Mike Pence swore in Betsy DeVos as the Secretary of Education on Tuesday. NBC10’s Tim Furlong shows us how her confirmation is raising new questions about the future of public education.
This year’s mild winter has created challenges for local ski resorts. NBC10’s Randy Gyllenhaal shows us how the ski resorts are coming up with new ways to push people to the slopes.
A complete stranger pushed a 5-year-old girl in front of an oncoming New Jersey Transit train in Burlington, New Jersey on Friday, January 27th. The officers who saved the little girl shared their story only with NBC10.
Police are searching for at least two men who they say are responsible for five robberies in Philadelphia, including one in which an accomplice was shot in the back by an armed owner.
One of the suspects first targeted the GM Mini Market at 401 North 64th Street back on November 28, 2016. The suspect entered the store, pointed a gun at a 36-year-old employee and demanded money, according to investigators. He then stole an unknown amount of cash and fled east on Callowhill Street.
The employee, who has a license to carry, chased the suspect with his own firearm. When the suspect reached the 300 block of North Gross Street he turned and fired once at the employee and then continued to flee. The employee was not injured during the incident.
On January 27 at 9:28 p.m. a gunman entered the Haverford Grill on the 6500 block of Haverford Avenue. Police say he pointed his gun at a 20-year-old female employee and demanded money from the cash register. He then took an undetermined amount of cash and fled in an unknown direction. He was last seen in what appeared to be a dark-colored 2000 through 2005 Chevy Monte Carlo with another man, according to investigators.
On January 29 at 9:40 p.m. two suspects entered the Eagle’s Corner Chinese Restaurant on 6200 Spruce Street. Police say the suspects went in through the backdoor, pointed a gun at the owner, 49-year-old John Zhang, and demanded money.
"They pushed the gun on my back," Zhang told NBC10. "I knew this was a robbery."
The suspects then fled after taking an unknown amount of cash.
As the suspects ran away and climbed over a fence, Zhang grabbed a gun and ran after them. He fired three shots and struck one of the suspects, later identified as 26-year-old Markquise Vanlue, in the back, according to investigators.
"The other maybe a little bit slow," Zhang said. "He probably did get shot. I fired at them."
Police say Vanlue later walked into Mercy Hospital for treatment. He was then arrested and charged with robbery.
On January 31 at 4:35 p.m. two suspects walked into the Vine Street Deli on the 200 block of North Simpson Street. Once inside, the first suspect pointed his gun towards two female employees, age 33 and 39, and demanded money and cigarettes, police said. He also aimed his gun at a third witness and demanded that he give up his wallet, police said.
The second suspect went behind the counter and removed money from the cash register. Both suspects then fled the store and were last seen heading north on Simpson Street.
Finally, last Thursday at 8 p.m., the suspect and an accomplice entered Palano Food Market on 6900 Woodland Avenue. The first suspect approached a 41-year-old employee who was working behind the counter and pointed a gun at him while the second suspect stole an unknown amount of cash from the register. The first suspect then ordered a 21-year-old employee who was walking to the front of the store to lay on the floor. The suspect then stole the second victim’s wallet. Both suspects then fled and were last seen heading south on 69th Street.
The first suspect is described as a thin black male standing between 5-foot-4 and 5-foot-8. During several robberies he wore a ski mask, dark-colored hooded sweatshirt, black leather jacket and blue jeans, police said.
The second suspect is described as a muscular, light skinned black male standing 6-feet with his face covered.
If you have any information on the identities of either suspect, please call Philadelphia Police.
WON’T TAKE MUCH TO BE THE BIGGEST
It’s no secret that this winter has been a little short on the snow side. Okay, maybe a LOT short. This is especially true for areas north of Philadelphia. Here are some seasonal snow totals so far in comparison to “normal”:
Allentown 2.9” -13.0”
Atlantic City 7.2” -1.2”
Philadelphia 6.0” -4.2”
Wilmington 4.5” -5.2”
It’s obvious that Allentown has the most catching up to do. And it looks like they’re going to at least come close to normal. Philadelphia is likely to be very close to normal after this storm.
THE TRACK AND SPEED WILL LIMIT THE STORM
This is not going to be another “big one," like the one we had last January 22-23. Philadelphia had 22.4 inches over a two day period. That was dwarfed by the Allentown total of 31.9 inches! We’ve had a few monster snowstorms in the past decade, and the one last winter ended up as #4 on Philadelphia’s all-time list. Numbers 2 and 3 occurred during the record winter of 2009-10.
Those storms had a combination of factors that helped make them big:
*Lots of moisture from Gulf of Mexico and/or Atlantic
*A track from the Gulf or up the East Coast
*”Blocking patterns” that cause the storm to move slowly
This week’s storm won’t have any of those three factors.
The track of this one is straight from west to east. Gulf of Mexico moisture won’t have much chance to help enhance the snowfall. And the track will be too fast, limiting the number of hours of significant snow.
So, there is a limit on the snowfall, even in places where nearly all of the precipitation will be in the form of snow. In Philadelphia and points south, it should start as rain with temperatures well above freezing. That means southern parts of our area will see less total snow than northern parts.
THE LATEST COMPUTER GUIDANCE
It’s called “computer guidance," not the “computer bible." The data and maps that come from the various computer models are designed to help guide us. Just using data and maps makes someone a “modelologist," not a meteorologist. Snowfall is still one of the hardest and most complex things to forecast, especially when some of the precipitation will fall as rain.
For example, what will be falling when the precipitation is the heaviest? It’s pretty obvious that if the answer is snow, it could be falling at 2 inches per hour for a while. If it happens to be rain, that will really cut down the snow totals. Especially when we’re going from record warmth to snow, how fast cold air moves in will be crucial.
Here is what the “average” model is showing for the storm. First, as it approaches at 11 p.m. Wednesday (still dry and warm here):
Then a mere SEVEN hours later:
The blue is the heaviest snow. Yellow is heavy rain. And the LOW track has gone from near Washington, D.C. to Cape May. This should be the peak of the storm, with the heaviest snowfall and lowest visibilities.
Now, only SEVEN hours later:
The LOW itself has raced offshore to just south of Cape Cod, and this model shows the snow completely gone from our area. Clouds should be thinning and any snow on roads should be melting by this time. As a result, I expect travel conditions to improve a lot during the afternoon.
But try to shovel the snow while it’s daylight. Strong winds will be bringing in very cold air overnight, causing any slush to freeze.
THE AMOUNTS?
I expect snow amounts to range dramatically across our area. At the Jersey Shore and Southern Delaware, where most of the precipitation will be rain, just about all snow would melt as it fell.
Farther north, with some rain, and some snow with temperatures above freezing, amounts should range from about 2 inches south to 6 inches just north of the PA turnpike. And the area north of the turnpike should range from 6-10 inches. The highest amounts are likely in higher elevation areas that usually get more than the surrounding areas.
Flu season is hitting children in our area especially hard this year. NBC10's Keith Jones tells you what you can do to stop the flu from spreading.
Here are the 10 things you need to know to start your day from your friends at NBC10.
TODAY'S TOP STORY
Armed Robbers Target 5 Stores in Philly: Police are searching for at least two men who they say are responsible for five robberies in Philadelphia, including one in which an accomplice was shot in the back by an armed owner. One of the suspects first targeted the GM Mini Market at 401 North 64th Street back on November 28, 2016. The suspect entered the store, pointed a gun at a 36-year-old employee and demanded money, according to investigators. He then stole an unknown amount of cash and fled east on Callowhill Street. The employee, who has a license to carry, chased the suspect with his own firearm. When the suspect reached the 300 block of North Gross Street he turned and fired once at the employee and then continued to flee. The employee was not injured during the incident.
YOUR FIRST ALERT FORECAST
Wednesday will see temperatures in the 60s before snow arrives on Thursday. Wednesday is expected to be dry but the snow should arrive early Thursday morning. The heaviest snow is expected Thursday morning and it is expected to move out by late afternoon or early evening. Friday is expected to be cold but Saturday could see temperatures in the 50s. High Temp: 63 degrees. Get your full NBC10 First Alert forecast here.
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WHAT YOU MISSED YESTERDAY
Coyote Spotted in Backyard in Lower Merion: Officials are warning Lower Merion residents after a coyote was spotted in a backyard. The animal was spotted last Friday running through the backyard of a home towards N. Wynnewood Avenue in the Narberth Borough near the border of Lower Merion Township. A coyote is a medium-sized predator that thrives in suburban, urban and rural areas. They typically eat whatever food is naturally available including small animals, birds, insects, fruits, garbage, pet food, birdseed and compost. Pet owners are advised to keep their cats indoors and their dogs under control during the day and in secured kennels or indoors at night.
AROUND THE WORLD
Federal Judges Express Skepticism About Trump's Travel Ban: President Donald Trump's travel ban faced its toughest test yet Tuesday as a panel of appeals court judges hammered away at the administration's claim that the ban was motivated by terrorism fears while also directing pointed questions to an attorney challenging the executive order on grounds that it unconstitutionally targeted Muslims. The contentious hearing before three judges on the San Francisco-based 9th Circuit Court of Appeals focused narrowly on whether a restraining order issued by a lower court should remain in effect while a challenge to the ban proceeds. But the judges also jumped into the larger constitutional questions surrounding Trump's order, which temporarily suspended the nation's refugee program and immigration from seven mostly Muslim countries that have raised terrorism concerns.
Cheeto That Looks Like Harambre Nets $100K on eBay: Someone bid nearly $100,000 on eBay for a Cheeto that bears a resemblance to slain gorilla Harambe. The seller said he found the cheese snack in a bag of Flamin' Hot Cheetos. Bidding began at $11.99 on Jan. 28. The auction ended early Tuesday with a winning bid of $99,900. The listing showed a picture of the Cheeto side-by-side with a gorilla climbing a tree. Harambe has become fodder for internet jokes since his death last May. He was shot by handlers at the Cincinnati Zoo after dragging a small boy who had gotten into his enclosure.
SPORTS SPOT
Flyer's Konecny Injured: Travis Konecny injured his knee and ankle and is expected to be out for four to six weeks. Get your full sports news at CSNPhilly.
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PHOTO OF THE DAY
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See more Top News Photos here.
THROUGH IGER'S EYES
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@verozani captured this pink sunset photo at Penn's Landing.
Have an awesome Instagram photo you'd like to share? Tag it with #NBC10Buzz.
TODAY'S VIRAL VIDEO
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These animals at the Oregon Zoo love a good snow day. Watch more here.
Mother Reunites with NJ State Troopers Who Helped Deliver Baby: A mother reunited with the state troopers who helped her deliver her newborn baby. NBC10 was at the Port Norris State Police Barracks Tuesday as the troopers held Ka'Niah Williams. "If it wasn't for them, I don't even know if she would be here," Ka'Niah's mother Deshyamma Dalton said. "I'm thankful. I'm really thankful.” On January 19, Deshyamma Dalton needed help. In labor with her baby girl, Dalton desperately pulled into the parking lot of the Port Norris State Police Barracks, a decision that may have saved her child. Four state troopers rushed to her aid and helped deliver her daughter in the back of her van. The baby arrived just seconds after Dalton pulled into the parking lot. 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.
Mornings for Jersey City residents just got a whole lot sweeter.
Krispy Kreme opened its long-anticipated Jersey City store Tuesday. Lines started building around the Christopher Columbus Drive shop as commuters kicked off their work days.
The store is the first of six planned Krispy Kreme locations in Bergen and Hudson counties. The doughnut company announced in April it had signed a development agreement with Entrepreneurs, LLC, to open the shops over the next several years.
According to NJ.com, the Jersey City spot is Krispy Kreme's only factory store in New Jersey. It can make up to 65,000 doughnuts a day and seat 45 people. The store opens at 5 a.m. Monday through Friday and at 6 a.m. on the weekends.
Twitter was abuzz over the opening, with some users bragging they had already had two doughnuts before 9 a.m.
The high school prom date who's now a suspected accomplice in the murder of 19-year-old Sarah Stern allegedly confessed to helping his roommate dispose of her body, prosecutors said in court Tuesday.
As Preston Taylor appeared in court for a bail hearing, prosecutors said he told police last week that his roommate Liam McAtansey planned Stern's murder for six months.
All three were hometown acquaintances in Neptune City, and McAtasney himself was a childhood friend of Stern, according to prosecutors. After Stern went missing last December, some had hoped she simply ran away after withdrawing thousands of dollars from her bank account.
But prosecutors allege McAtansey has been plotting to rob Stern before killing her.
Taylor told police that McAtansey said to him, "I'm at the bank, I'm going to do it now, I'm going to take her out," according to Assistant Montmouth County Prosecutor Meghan Doyle.
The roommates then allegedly dumped Stern's body off the Route 35 bridge in Belmar after hiding it in the bushes behind her home for eight hours.
Stern's clothing was found in one small safe buried on Sandy Hook, and thouands of dollars in cash in another safe buried at a Neptune park.
When Taylor confessed to police, he showed no remorse, according to prosecutors. He had taken Stern to junior prom just a few years ago.
"He is not concerned about what he did but about what's going to happen to him," said Doyle.
Taylor's father, Jeremy Taylor, took the stand to plead for his son's release while awaiting trial, promising the court, "Your Honor, I will stay with him all the time."
Ultimately, judge David Bauman ruled to keep Taylor locked up after hearing testimony about a witness fearful for his own safety. Taylor will be kept in jail unless he appeals the detention.
McAtansey, accused of the actual killing, has his detention hearing next week.
Meanwhile, the search for Stern's body continues. Divers and helicopter units first scoured the Shark River in early December after finding Stern's fully operational car parked on the shoulder of the southbound lanes of the bridge, the keys still in the ignition, Dec. 3.
Investigators returned there last Friday to continue looking, acknowledging that it's possible currents and tides may have swept her body out to the Atlantic, but Monmouth Prosecutor Chris Gramiccioni said at the time, "We are hoping for a miracle."
Stern, an aspiring artist, is a graduate of Neptune High School, where she played softball and was a member of the swim team. She went to Brookdale Community College for a year, where she studied art and TV production.
A Crime Stoppers tip led police to McAtasney as their suspect, alleging he somehow knew about the cash withdrawal and came to Stern's home to rob her. McAtasney is charged with felony murder and other crimes in Stern's death; Taylor is accused of hindering apprehension and concealment of human remains, among other offenses. Both men appeared in court Thursday; it wasn't clear if either entered a plea.
Authorities have identified a body found in a New Jersey park last week as a missing 18-year-old man.
Prosecutors said Tuesday a woman walking her dog in Lakewood's Shenandoah Park found Eliabit Mena dead on the ground the afternoon of Feb. 1.
He had been reported missing by his mother Sunday. Police say she told detectives Mena had been going to meet friends at the park the day he died.
His car was found unoccupied in the parking lot.
Authorities have ruled Mena's death a homicide. He graduated from Lakewood High School last year.
No arrests have been made in the case.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office at 732-929-2027, or the Lakewood Police Department at 732-363-0200.
President Donald Trump’s controversial pick for attorney general, Sen. Jeff Sessions, is expected to be voted on after congressional Democrats spent the night speaking out.
NBC10 Responds and reporter Harry Hairston help a family who could not break away from a bill, even after moving.
A flashing first for southeastern Pennsylvania Wednesday as PennDOT activated the area’s first flashing yellow arrow (FYA) traffic signal at a Chester County intersection.
The FYA at the fork for Route 52 (Lenape Road) at Pocopson Road/W. Creek Road in Pocopson Township will help alleviate potential heavier volume expected as PennDOT spends $8.6 million to “replace the structurally-deficient Route 926 (Street Road) bridge over the Brandywine Creek in Birmingham and Pocopson townships,” PennDOT said.
The FYA means driver must yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians before turning, PennDOT said.
The Route 52 intersection is close to railroad tracks and the FYA will help “move additional traffic through the crossroads by allowing a greater number of drivers to make left turns onto Pocopson Road or W. Creek Road,” PennDOT said.
The Street Road bridge will close Monday and is expected to be replaced by September, PennDOT said. During the closure, drivers will be detoured onto U.S. 202, U.S. 1 and Route 52.
The FYA is the first in the Philadelphia region and follows a May 2016 installation in Lower Allen Township, Cumberland County, PennDOT said.
Team USA are hard at work training for the 2018 Winter Olympics, but they still made time to mentor some athletes of the future.
Perched high above Old City in Philadelphia, one dozen smartly dressed professionals sat in a conference room Tuesday morning learning about medical marijuana.
The cohort represented a diverse gathering of interests - from technology to pharmaceuticals - all with the same goal: to cash in on what experts predict will soon be a multibillion dollar industry.
“What do Dutch sailing vessels and BMW have in common?” asked Jahan Marcu, senior scientist at Americans for Safe Access (ASA) and Temple University graduate.
“Cannabis,” someone answered.
“Right!” Marcu replied, going on to explain that cannabis has been used for centuries to make fabrics, treat pain and boost appetites.
Indeed, BMW used pressed hemp as a wood alternative for its electric car, the i83, that debuted in 2014. And the Vikings preferred hemp sails because the tough fabric withstood salt water better than cotton or other materials.
“Hemp is still used to this day to make textiles … but other parts of the plant have different uses,” Marcu concluded.
Those other uses are what attracted this group to Tuesday’s gathering hosted by ASA, a D.C.-based advocacy group that advances medical marijuana research and therapeutics through government policy, quality control and consumer safety.
For the rest of the week, people interested in entering Pennsylvania's nascent cannabis program will participate in intensive training sessions geared towards growers, manufacturers, retailers and regulators.
Led by Marcu, Tuesday's workshop looked more like a corporate training session than a gathering of cannabis enthusiasts.
The professional tone, complete with workbooks and PowerPoint presentations, spoke to the future of weed in coming years. Once dismissed as the province of hippies and stoners, cannabis is quickly becoming big business that will generate billions as more states adopt medical marijuana programs or legalize recreational pot.
A recent report by Arcview Market Research found that regulated pot sales in North America totaled $6.9 billion in 2016. Sales are projected to increase to about $21.6 billion by 2021.
“Cannabis is set to overcome any regulation that is passed,” Marcu said. “It is a versatile plant that is basically non-toxic.”
Despite the apparent green rush, the Drug Enforcement Administration refused to reclassify marijuana last year. It is still considered a Schedule I drug with no medical properties, akin to heroin or cocaine in the eyes of the federal government. This battle between the federal government and weed-friendly states has not prevented business-savvy individuals from dipping their toes into the blossoming industry, which is slated to take off in Pennsylvania in 2018 under a recently adopted medical marijuana program.
The program will accept applications from February 20 until March 20 for cultivators, shop owners and everything in between. Those attending ASA’s training program said they want to enter into the industry efficiently and intelligently.
This includes Daniel Kearns, 32-year-old engineer whose partners are applying for a license in the south central zone of the state, which includes York and Harrisburg.
“We saw the legislation being written and it seems like a lot of people in this industry are not doing it the right way,” he said. “When you say ‘medicine’ there are a lot of quotation marks.”
Kearns said his partners are committed to entering medical marijuana in the “right way.” That includes learning the intricacies of state regulation, biological compounds of cannabis and best practices for dispensing medication.
“We’re doing the research and making sure all the products we make really are in line with what the science is saying,” he said.
Born in South Korea and raised in central Pennsylvania, Kearns said he was prescribed opioids for pain following surgery and Ambien for sleeplessness. Both came with unwanted side effects that felt too harsh compared to the symptoms they were supposed to be treating.
Regular visits to Colorado, which legalized recreational pot in 2012, convinced Kearns that cannabis was more effective and less dangerous than prescription pills.
Attendee Scott Shank arrived at a similar conclusion through his own experiences with heavy medication.
Like other converts, Shank has witnessed the dangers of opioid use and addiction. When he was just 14 years old, he spent several weeks in the hospital on a morphine drip following a motorcycle accident. Almost immediately, addiction kicked in.
“I can remember my blood itching,” Shank said.
His mother, a nurse, saw what was happening to her son and helped wean him off the medication. Since then, Shank continued to experience chronic back and joint pain from football injuries and a car accident later in the life. He swore to never go back to opioids, and even convinced his mom to soften her stance on medical marijuana.
"She came around once I showed her the research," he said.
The company he represents, AgriMed Industries, already operates in Puerto Rico and has seen rapid growth as part of their medicinal model.
And that is what convinced Shank to enter the cannabis industry, he said.
“I wanted to serve humanity, help people who are suffering,” said the former military security systems specialist.
Shank admits that jumping from the military to cannabis was ironic at best. He joked that several former colleagues “don’t approve of the transition, but there are others who think it’s cool and want to make the jump, as well.” [[238427591, C]]
NBC10’s Katy Zachry tells what you should start doing now to have the body you want for summertime.
One day after asking lawmakers to help fill a $3 billion projected deficit, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf will unveil key job creation and economic development initiatives in his budget.
He will be joined by Department of Community and Economic Development Secretary Dennis Davin at the Carpenters Joint Apprenticeship Committee of Allentown. The news conference will stream live on NBC10.com at 2:30 p.m.
During Wednesday’s address, Wolf will highlight a new manufacturing program, small business development and an apprenticeship program, a spokesperson said. The latter will be funded by so-called clawbacks, a type of financial penalty levied against economic development programs that don’t fulfill their stated purpose.
Wolf will also continue to outline how this budget provides a different path forward for Pennsylvania.
On Tuesday, the Democratic governor proposed taxing Marcellus Shale natural gas production and charging local governments that rely solely on state police for law enforcement. Also, he proposed leasing the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg in hopes of a $200 million payment.
"Our commonwealth has been operating with a structural deficit for a long time," Wolf said during a 22-minute address Tuesday. "That means Harrisburg has been living beyond its means. Households can't do that, and neither can we."
We continue to track a snowstorm headed our way. NBC10’s Pamela Osborne is in King of Prussia checking out what PennDOT is doing to prepare for the storm.
A $227 million settlement has been reached following a nearly five-month civil trial in the 2013 Market Street collapse disaster that left seven dead and 12 injured, according to plaintiffs' attorneys in a statement Wednesday.
The settlement, the attorneys said, is believed to be the largest personal injury settlement in Pennsylvania history.
Nineteen plaintiffs, including the families of seven killed in the June 5, 2013, collapse, sued six defendants, including the owner of a construction project undergoing demolition and the Salvation Army, whose store was flattened by a fourth-story wall of brick and mortar.
Details of the settlement, including how much each of the defendants would pay, were not immediately available.
One of the lead plaintiffs' attorneys, Robert Mongeluzzi, said in a statement that the settlement is "epic in dimension, fair, just, and, most importantly, a powerful deterrant to all those in any business or organization, at any level, whether they wear a suit or a uniform, who try to cut corners, save a buck, shove safety aside and put human life at risk."
The Salvation Army, in a statement, said: "Our deepest sympathy remains with the victims and their families through this extremely difficult time. We pray for the healing of our community. The Salvation Army continues to serve those in need, with compassion, as we have for more than 137 years in Philadelphia."
An 18-year-old hockey player from Springfield who was known both on and off the ice for his generous spirit died Monday following surgery for an apparent head injury, his club team said.
Nick Bond, who played many years for the Wissahickon Hockey Club in Philadelphia, collapsed Sunday after leaving the ice following a game in the morning, the club said in a statement on their website.
"He was a fiery and skilled competitor who believed that success on and off the ice was built on teamwork and friendship," Kevin Hamel, president of the club, said. "He was, without question, the epitome of what we want most in our children."
Bond was taken to Einstein Hospital by EMS after collapsing. He underwent surgery to relieve pressure on his brain, Hamel said. He died Monday afternoon.
His death is the second hockey-related fatality in less than a year in the Philadelphia region.
Last April, a Haverford Township police officer died after suffering an injury during a game. Officer William Albertus, 39, died at a nearby hospital after the April 10 game between local police and firefighters.
Hamel said funeral arrangements for Bond and ways to lend his family support will be forthcoming.
