NBC ‘Today’ show anchor Hoda Kotb, 52, announced that she has adopted a baby girl named Haley Joy. NBC10’s Erin Coleman spoke to a local adoption agency about the increasing wait time to adopt.

Local Jewish centers have increased their security after a series of threats nationwide. NBC10 South Jersey Bureau Reporter Cydney Long has the latest.

In an NBC10 exclusive, Mitch Blacher and the investigators are looking for answers after an inmate was allegedly assaulted by as many as six officers at the Montgomery County Corrections Center.

A New Jersey animal control officer was arrested Monday after he allegedly sexually assaulted a boy at a park in Bucks County, Pennsylvania.

Saul Nathan Barson, 29, of Lambertville, New Jersey, is accused of sexually assaulted a 13-year-old boy at the Pat Livezey Park in Solebury Township, Pennsylvania back on February 3.

Barson is charged with involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, statutory sexual assault, sexual assault, indecent assault, corruption of minors and criminal use of a communication facility.

Barson had worked as an Animal Control Officer in Princeton, New Jersey since 2015. Upon learning about the allegations against him, Princeton suspended Barson without pay pending further developments in the case.

Police arrested a man accused of shooting two security guards at the Willingboro VFW earlier this month.

Brandon Washington, 31, was arrested Tuesday at a home on the unit block of Pageant Lane in Willingboro, New Jersey by members of the US Marshals Fugitive Task Force and Burlington County Sheriff’s Department Fugitive Unit.

Police say Washington was being escorted from the Willingboro VFW on Creekview Road back on February 16 by two security guards when he took out a handgun and opened fire. Both guards were shot and suffered non-life threatening injuries.

Washington is charged with attempted murder.

Long Beach Island Police Officer Megan Keller already has a four year old daughter. But up until last month, she had never met her own biological mother. She had been adopted at birth after her mother had her at 18.

That all changed when New Jersey passed a new state law that unsealed adoption records. Keller was one of more than 1,000 adopted adults to receive a copy of their birth record after the state started taking applications, according to the New Jersey Department of Health. 

With the new tool at her disposal, Keller finally had her answer.

“I sometimes pinch myself, ‘Wow, did that really happen?’” Keller said. 

The new paperwork revealed her mother to be Alicia Combs, who currently lives in North Carolina. After years of being in the dark, Keller found Combs on Facebook, and within weeks she had booked travel for her first visit.

Keller described the experience of meeting her mother for the first time as liberating.

“It was just hugs and tears," she said. "It wasn’t like meeting strangers, though.”

Combs was overwhelmed by the sudden discovery after dealing with her decision to put her daughter up for adoption since she was 18. 

“A rollercoaster of all kinds of emotions," Combs said. "All the pain of when I put Megan up for adoption came out but then all the joy of her finding me.”

But that wasn't the only reunion for Keller. While Keller resides in Surf City, New Jersey, she also found her long-lost sister Jenna to be living in Surf City, North Carolina. The two also met on her visit.

“I don’t use the word coincidence anymore. Everyone’s connected," Keller said.

The goal to filling her family’s medical history sent Keller on this quest. She says her adopted parents, Kathie and Jim Cochrane, pushed her towards that aspiration and never discouraged her.

“I would never deny her the right to find out her roots,” Kathie Cochrane said. 

The reunion inspired Keller to intertwine the other branches of her family tree. The Cochranes are set to meet the Combs in May. She has also already booked a return trip to North Carolina next month, where she plans to meet a second sister and grandmother. 

“It’s really been quite a whirlwind,” Keller said. 

A carjacking victim is accused of lying to investigators about a missing boy in Philadelphia because he wanted to "watch the police work harder."

Marcus Fletcher, 22, was arrested and charged with false reports.

Late Monday night, Fletcher flagged down Philadelphia Police on the 1500 block of Wingohocking Street. He told the officers he was a pizza delivery driver and that he was robbed and carjacked by two men, one armed, while making a delivery on the 4600 block of N. Sydenham Street. 

Fletcher said the men stole his wallet, which included his ID and credit cards, $30 in cash, his phone and his 1995 Ford Escort. Fletcher said the men then drove his vehicle down the block. Fletcher also told police his 4-year-old nephew was inside his vehicle when it was carjacked, investigators said.

Police located Fletcher's vehicle within minutes about a half-mile away on the 4300 block of N. 16th Street where it was parked, locked and unoccupied.

Detectives interviewed Fletcher as police launched an extensive search in the area that included helicopters, officers on the ground and K9 units. Police say Fletcher gave several accounts on how the robbery occurred and was unable to provide a detailed description of the boy or the child's parents.

After several hours, Fletcher allegedly admitted to police that he lied about a missing child. Police say Fletcher told investigators he had been robbed before but didn't believe officers provided him adequate service at the time. He allegedly told police he made up the story about the missing boy in order to "watch the police work harder."

While Fletcher has been charged and accused of lying about the missing boy, police say they believe he was telling the truth about being robbed and carjacked. They continue to investigate.

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

TODAY'S TOP STORY

Twin Girls, Mom, Boyfriend Injured After Car Crashes into Disabled Van: A family of four, including 2-year-old twin girls, were injured after a car struck their disabled minivan in Northeast Philadelphia Tuesday afternoon. A 28-year-old woman told NBC10 she was driving with her 28-year-old fiancé as well as her two-year-old twin daughters when their minivan caught a flat tire. They then pulled to the side on Woodhaven Road (Route 63) westbound near Thornton Road around 1 p.m. As her fiancé went outside to change the flat, a Honda sedan slammed into the minivan, police said. The woman, her fiancé, and her daughters were all injured in the crash and taken to the hospital. One of the twin girls as well as the woman's fiancé are in critical condition. The other twin girl is also being treated for serious injuries while the woman suffered minor injuries. The crash shut down Woodhaven Road. As SkyForce10 hovered overhead a short time later you could see the van and sedan smashed up against the center barricade and a third car stopped in the roadway as emergency vehicles blocked the road. Woodhaven Road was later reopened.

• MORE ON THE CRASH

YOUR FIRST ALERT FORECAST  

Temperatures are expected to hit 60 degrees on Wednesday. Wednesday night could see some light showers. Thursday and Friday could see 70 degree temperatures and cloudy skies. Thunderstorms are possible for Saturday and the cold air is expected to return on Sunday. Windy conditions are expected for Sunday. Temperatures should start to climb again on Monday. High Temp: 63 degrees. Get your full NBC10 First Alert forecast here.

[[414458033, C]]

WHAT YOU MISSED YESTERDAY

SEPTA Market Frankford Line Trains Collide at 69th Street Terminal: An out-of-service SEPTA Market Frankford Line subway train crashed into two other trains at the 69th Street Terminal just outside Philadelphia Tuesday morning, injuring four people and knocking seven cars off the track during the busy rush-hour commute. Tuesday night officials announced trains would be in service at the terminal Wednesday morning. "It's still undecided whether or not they will use the loop first thing in the morning," said Scott Sauer, SEPTA's Assistant General Manager of System Safety. The collision left the operator of the No. 57 train critically injured, the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority said. Another operator and two passengers were also injured in the crash but the injuries did not appear life-threatening.

• MORE ON THE CRASH

AROUND THE WORLD

Mexicans Consider Future Under Trump Immigration Enforcement Rule: Mexicans fear deportee and refugee camps could be popping up along their northern border under the Trump administration's plan to start deporting to Mexico all Latin Americans and others who entered the U.S. illegally through this country. Previous U.S. policy called for only Mexican citizens to be sent to Mexico. Migrants known as "OTMs" — Other Than Mexicans — got flown back to their homelands. Now, under a sweeping rewrite of enforcement policies announced Tuesday by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, migrants might be dumped over the border into a violence-plagued land where they have no ties while their asylum claims or deportation proceedings are heard in the United States. U.S. officials didn't say what Mexico would be expected to do with them. The only consensus so far in Mexico about the new policies of President Donald Trump is that the country isn't remotely prepared.

• MORE ON THE ENFORCEMENT RULE

Carjacking Victim Lies About Missing Boy: A carjacking victim is accused of lying to investigators about a missing boy in Philadelphia because he wanted to "watch the police work harder.” Marcus Fletcher, 22, was arrested and charged with false reports. Late Monday night, Fletcher flagged down Philadelphia Police on the 1500 block of Wingohocking Street. He told the officers he was a pizza delivery driver and that he was robbed and carjacked by two men, one armed, while making a delivery on the 4600 block of N. Sydenham Street. Fletcher said the men stole his wallet, which included his ID and credit cards, $30 in cash, his phone and his 1995 Ford Escort. Fletcher said the men then drove his vehicle down the block. Fletcher also told police his 4-year-old nephew was inside his vehicle when it was carjacked, investigators said. Police located Fletcher's vehicle within minutes about a half-mile away on the 4300 block of N. 16th Street where it was parked, locked and unoccupied. After several hours, Fletcher allegedly admitted to police that he lied about a missing child. Police say Fletcher told investigators he had been robbed before but didn't believe officers provided him adequate service at the time. He allegedly told police he made up the story about the missing boy in order to "watch the police work harder.” While Fletcher has been charged and accused of lying about the missing boy, police say they believe he was telling the truth about being robbed and carjacked. They continue to investigate.

• MORE ON THE CARJACKING

SPORTS SPOT

Okafor’s Season: The Sixers' Jahlil Okafor has had a second NBA season full of ups and downs.  Get your full sports news at CSNPhilly.

[[272720951, C]]

PHOTO OF THE DAY

[[272042651, C]]

See more Top News Photos here.

THROUGH IGER'S EYES

[[272042161, C]]

@elipasqui captured this cool photo of a Philadelphia building.

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

TODAY'S VIRAL VIDEO

[[272722101, C]]

Liquid nitrogen vs. makeup, which is the winner? Watch more here.

NJ Police Officer Meets Birth Mom: Long Beach Township Police Officer Megan Keller has a four year old son, but up until last month, she had never met her own biological mother. She was adopted at birth after her mother had her at 18. That all changed when New Jersey passed a new state law that unsealed adoption records. Keller was one of more than 1,000 adopted adults are now in possession of their birth records after submitting applications of the request, according to the New Jersey Department of Health. With the new tools at her disposal, Megan took advantage. Now, something that she was unable to attain for decades- her original birth certificate- arrived by mail. The new paperwork revealed her mother to be Alicia Combs, who currently lives in North Carolina. After years of being in the dark, Keller took advantage right away and booked her travel to visit her biological mother last month. Despite never meeting, Keller says the experience did not make her feel alone.  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. 

A ground stop halted American Airlines flights at the airline’s Philadelphia International Airport hub Wednesday morning.

American spokeswoman Victoria Lupica said the airport’s Division of Aviation had a planned maintenance power outage from 1 to 4 a.m.

When the power came back on, American’s Internet access remained down, Lupica said. The outage, which impacted the earliest departures Wednesday morning, prevented the airline and passengers from printing boarding passes.

The airline had to manually check bags during the outage. Lines at baggage counters backed up.

Around 6 a.m., the Federal Aviation Administration issued a ground stop for all American flights destined for the airport.

Lupica suggested passengers print their boarding passes prior to arriving at the airport or virtually check-in since that system continued to work on mobile devices.

NBC10 has crews at the scene.

Travelers were urged to check their flight status prior to arriving at the airport and to give themselves extra time to deal with potential delays.

National park police officers are investigating how a banner reading "Refugees Welcome" got on to the Statue of Liberty Tuesday afternoon.

The banner, measuring about 3 feet by 20 feet, was unfurled atop the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty just before 1 p.m., according to the National Park Service. 

It was affixed by nylon rope to the wall of the public observation deck at the base of the statue, according to the NPS. Rangers took it down more than an hour later.

Attaching banners to national monuments is prohibited. The United States Park Police is working to identify the suspects.

Someone running a social media account named Alt Statue of Liberty has claimed responsibility for the stunt. A person using the same email told NBC 4 New York, "We have no formal group -- just private citizens who felt like we needed to say something about the America we believe in." 

The stunt happened the same day the Homeland Security Department announced expanded immigration enforcement policies. 

Alt Statue of Liberty said in the email to NBC 4, "Speaking personally -- my grandparents met in a refugee camp after WWII, and my mother immigrated. So this touches close to home. But almost every American knows an immigrant or a refugee. We wanted to send a reminder about America when we're at our best -- the country that's a beacon of freedom to the world,  built by immigrants. Walling off countries or entire religions is against our values." 

The Statue of Liberty has regularly been invoked in the national discussion about immigration, particularly after President Trump instituted a federal travel ban barring nationals from seven Muslim-majority countries. An appeals court has refused to reinstate the executive order. 

Police continue to investigate a fake bomb planted in Linden, New Jersey, Tuesday night that forced hundreds of residents to leave their homes as local and federal agencies ensured there was no threat to public safety.

The bomb squad and Linden police dismantled the hoax device hours after it was found between two residential buildings around 6 p.m., law enforcement sources said.

Homes in the area were evacuated as police and the FBI responded to the suspicious device discovered near W. St. Georges Avenue and N. Stiles Street. 

"Cops banged on our door, said our lives were in danger," said Anthony Smith. 

Mayor Derek Armstead told NBC 4 New York photos of the device showed a bunch of dynamite-like objects tied together with tape and a device attached to them.

Armstead said that the object "appeared to have a detonation device on it."

The Union County bomb squad and Linden police used a robot to "disrupt" the device as a protective measure. A neighbor said he heard the boom as the robot moved in. 

About 200 residents were allowed back into their homes by late Tuesday, but the area was closed off for hours as investigators combed the area. 

A man wanted in the shooting death of a Rutgers student was arrested in the Caribbean my U.S. federal agents after months on the run, prosecutors said Tuesday. 

The U.S. Marshals arrested Fraynned Ramirez, 26, of Hartford, in the Dominican Republic on Tuesday, the Essex County prosecutor’s office said.

Ramirez was the second man wanted in the death of Shani Patel, a 21-year-old Rutgers student who was shot and killed on April 10 at an off-campus apartment in Newark during a robbery. Patel’s roommate, a 23-year-old graduate student, was also shot, but survived.

Marcus Felix, 25, of Newark, was arrested just days after Patel was shot and killed. Authorities had been searching for Ramirez for months. He will be extradited to the U.S. as early as Wednesday, prosecutors said. 

Felix and Ramirez have been charged with murder, felony murder and robbery. They also face weapons charges. It wasn’t immediately clear if they had attorneys who could comment on the charges.

SEPTA shuttled passengers along its Broad Street Line in South Philadelphia during the busy Wednesday morning commute as police investigated a suspected suicide.

A large emergency responder presence could be seen at the Tasker-Morris Station around 7:10 a.m.

A person being struck at the Tasker-Morris Station caused SEPTA to suspend service in both directions from Walnut-Locust to AT&T Stations, SEPTA spokeswoman Heather Redfern said.

SEPTA planned to shuttle passengers between the stations as police investigated and told passengers to expect delays and overcrowding.

The death appeared to be a suicide, Philadelphia Police said.

No word on how long the investigation could last.

SUICIDE PREVENTION HELP: The National Suicide Prevention Hotline (1-800-273-8255) is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

NBC10 Responds and Harry Hairston help a mother who bought her son minutes that never showed up on his cell phone.

A lottery player looking to get lucky at a Philadelphia Wawa wound up a theft suspect.

Philadelphia Police put out surveillance video Wednesday in hopes of catching the man seen grabbing a key to the Pennsylvania Lottery machine inside the convenience store at Erie Avenue and L Street in Philadelphia’s neighborhood Juniata Park neighborhood.

The man can be seen entering Wawa around 10 a.m. Monday and purchasing some lottery tickets after lacing two cups of coffee on top of the adjacent ATM. He then took the key, which was left in the lock on the side of the machine, and paid for some merchandise at the county before leaving the store with his bag and coffee in hand, police said.

Investigators described the man as being in his 30s, having a beard and wearing a gray long-sleeve shirt, black pants and a black cap with a lanyard around his neck.

Anyone with information can contact Philadelphia Police.

Bill Cosby took to social media Wednesday to slam NBC for what he believes was an attempt to snub his connection to the network during a recent 90th anniversary special celebrating the NBC programming.

[[414486723, C]]

With the hashtags #legacycan'tbeabolished and #theworldseesthetruth Cosby retweeted an article headlined that he was "snubbed" during the special.

He later tweeted #NoBillCosby (NBC).

Cosby helmed both "The Cosby Show" on NBC from 1984-1992 and co-starred on "I Spy," which also aired on the network from 1965 to 1968.

Cosby, 79, was charged with aggravated sexual assault on Dec. 30, 2015, just days before the 12-year statute of limitations would have run out over a 2004 encounter at his estate near Philadelphia.  He is scheduled to go on trial in June. Cosby has denied all allegations of sexual assault.

NBC had no response to Cosby's tweet when asked for comment.

This will be the final school year for students at a Montgomery County elementary school.

The Methacton School District Board announced Tuesday night that it planned to close Audubon Elementary School on Egypt Road in Eagleville, Pennsylvania in July.

The closure is due to declining enrollment and budget issues, the school board said. The district currently sends students to five separate elementary schools.

Opponents and supporters of the closure made public comment in front of a crowd of more than 100 people Tuesday night.

Some of the public comment focused on the building of Skyview Upper Elementary School based on population projections that turned out to not come to fruition.

"They are going to close elementary schools after building a brand new school, it's shocking," Ryan Beil, who was in the first sixth grade class to go to Skyview, said.

The district doesn’t plan to make any grade reconfiguration this year.

About two million Calphalon knives are being recalled after 27 reports of finger or hand lacerations, including four that require stitches.

Lacerations have been caused by the blade breaking during use. Calphalon has also received about 3,150 reports of broken knives.

The recalled knives were sold individually and in sets at J.C. Penney, Kohl’s, Macy’s and other stores nationwide, and online at Amazon, between September 2008 and December 2016. The knives retailed in the range of $25 for a single knife to $300 for a knife block set.

Consumers can see the full list of recalled knives on the Consumer Product Safety Commission website. In the meantime, owners of the defective knives should not use them and can contact Calphalon for replacement products.

Customers can contact Calphalon at 800-809-7267 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday, or online at Calphalon’s website.

A worker was crushed from the waist down when 4,000 pounds of steel fell on him at a bed frame company in New Jersey Wednesday, a source familiar with the investigation tells NBC 4 New York. 

Authorities got a call about the accident at Knickerbocker Bed Frame Company on Commercial Avenue in Carlstadt shortly before 9:30 a.m. 

A preliminary investigation indicates a machine moving the equipment somehow lost its load and it fell on the worker, trapping him. Police said he was miraculously alert and conscious as emergency crews worked to extricate him. 

The steel was pulled off the injured man shortly after 10 a.m. The source said the man will likely lose both of his legs. 

Chopper 4 showed a heavy emergency presence at the scene, with firefighters and other personnel moving in and out of the warehouse as an ambulance waited outside.

Representatives from Occupational Safety and Health Administration responded. Knickerbocker had no immediate comment on the accident. 

Two tractor-trailers were involved in a dramatic crash on Route 17 in Paramus Wednesday morning, spurring extensive delays on the high-trafficked span ahead of the morning commute. 

The 63-year-old driver of one of the tractor-trailers told police his brakes locked as he slowed for traffic in the center northbound lane of the highway near Farview Avenue, authorities said. The truck became disabled and he turned on his hazard lights and called for assistance.

Another tractor-trailer, this one carrying a steel beam load weighing thousands of pounds, moved to the center lane of the highway around the same time. The 50-year-old driver tried to avoid the stalled truck with a quick shift to the left lane but hit the rear of the cargo bed and then the center concrete median.

The impact caused the steel beams to dislodge and they spilled all over the northbound lanes of the road, police said. One of the beams, weighing about 2,500 pounds, came across the concrete divider and hit a 2014 Toyota traveling on the opposite lane of the highway. Footage from Chopper 4 showed the Toyota completely demolished. The driver of the Toyota, a 56-year-old man from Thiells, New York, was seriously hurt but is expected to live.

A steel beam also hit a 2005 Ford moving on the southbound side of the highway. The 48-year-old driver complained of chest and back pain.

The busy span was closed in both directions at the accident site for hours Wednesday morning as crews worked to remove the steel, which was completely blocking the northbound side of the highway. The southbound lanes reopened shortly before 8 a.m. and the northbound lanes around 9:40 a.m.

The investigation is ongoing.