Two men were hospitalized after being shot while sleeping in a home along 77th Avenue in Philadelphia's West Oak Lane neighborhood early Thursday. Police searched for clues after finding a third man suffering from a gunshot wound nearby. NBC10's Matt DeLucia reports.

Social media, like Twitter or Facebook, can lead to problems; like personal and professional issues, and changes to your stress level, experts say.

A Samsung washer recall impacts millions of customers. NBC10 Responds and Harry Hairston show consumers what to do if you are impacted.

Al Roker wants to visit a college near you, and broadcast live weather at universities, so college students in the Philadelphia region can make a pitch to bring Al to our neck of the woods.

From seasoned chefs to beginners, there are plenty of ideas and tutorials produced online; so we ask the question, have cookbooks become obsolete?

It’s hard to believe but Thursday marks the 26th anniversary of the start of the Center City skyscraper fire that claimed the lives of three firefighters, changed how firefighters battle high-rise blazes and changed the Philly skyline forever.

Philadelphians remember seeing the thick smoke pour from One Meridian Plaza -- the 38-floor sky-rise that was catty-corner to Philadelphia’s City Hall.

On Feb. 23, 1991 around 8:30 p.m. fire broke out when oil-soaked rags left by a contractor on the vacant 22nd floor caught fire. Throughout the night, thick smoke could be seen for miles around as firefighters battled the office building throughout the night.

What followed was a series of missteps that led to a U.S. Fire Administration report that called for drastic changes in fire monitoring, firefighting and building to prevent fires.

The government report found that water supply issues, heavy smoke and other factors hampered the firefighting efforts. It wasn’t until 3 p.m. on Feb. 24 that the fire was finally brought under control.

In the end, the fire claimed the lives of fire Captain David Holcombe Sr., firefighter Phyllis McAllister and firefighter James Chappell; gutted eight stories of the building; and caused $100 million in direct property loss, according to Fire Administration report.

The fire could have been worse if it wasn't for firefighters' bravery.

"Analysis of the situation reveals, however, that the toll could have been much worse, had it not been for the courage, skills, and experience of this department," said the report. "Several extremely difficult decisions were made under the most severe conditions."

As the Meridian sat boarded up and vacant for years, battles raged over what to do with the destroyed building as litigation resulted in an estimated $4 billion in civil damage claims.

The building was finally torn down in 1999. Today the 48-story luxury condos, The Residences at The Ritz-Carlton, stand where the Meridian once did.

Fire commissioner Adam Thiel will mark the anniversary with Thursday afternoon remarks.

Citizens Bank is now accepting applications for the Champions in Action program in the Violence Prevention category.

Nonprofit organizations focused on violence prevention are eligible to receive $35,000 in funding and media exposure in 2017.

The application deadline is Feb. 24. Honorees will be announced in July.

For more information, visit citizensbank.com/community/champions.

A Seaside Heights man has been indicted in the killing of a dog in her owner's kitchen, officials from the Ocean County Prosecutor's office announced Thursday.

Nicholas Piccolino was indicted on one count of third-degree animal cruelty Thursday morning for causing serious bodily injury and death of a 10-year-old female Bichon Frise dog named Booshu, officials said. He faced charges of torment, torture and unnecessarily or cruelly beating a living animal resulting in their death.

Bail was set at $35,000 at the time of his arrest, officials said.

The Seaside Heights Police Department received a call about animal abuse at around 9:55 p.m. Aug. 19, 2016, officials said. Booshu's owner alleged that the 34-year-old, who was alone with the dog in the kitchen, caused the pooch's death.

Authorities said further investigation revealed that an upstairs neighbor heard several loud banging sounds and a dog yelping in the kitchen below during Piccolino's time alone with Booshu. That's when the neighbor alerted Booshu's owner that something was wrong with her dog.

Booshu's owner found her dead on the bathroom floor, officials said. Piccolino claimed that the dog "dirtied " herself in her crate and he had dropped her while he was cleaning her up.

The pooch was taken to Red Bank Animal Hospital, where she was pronounced dead on arrival. A necropsy revealed that Booshu suffered multiple blunt force injuries to her head and body that contributed to her death, authorities said.

NJ Transit trains were rolling to and from the city again, albeit with nearly hour-long delays, Thursday after a 30-minute frenzy of suspensions stemming from an apparent fire near the Portal Bridge, the railway tweeted.

MidTown Direct trains were rerouted to Hoboken and service on the Northeast Corridor, North Jersey Coast and Raritan Valley lines was halted in both directions between New York and Newark Penn stations shortly before 10 a.m. as firefighters responded. By 10:15 a.m., NJ Transit tweeted service resumed. 

The nature of the issue wasn't clear, but NJ Transit tweeted that authorities were responding to some kind of fire near the span, which runs over the Hackensack River just west of Secaucus Junction. Amtrak, which owns the bridge, couldn't immediately be reached for comment. It wasn't clear if Amtrak was also affected.

Cross-honoring was in effect with NJ Transit buses, private carriers and PATH. 

Fire officials in Kearny said they expected to have details later Thursday.

NBC10’s Pamela Osborne talks with people taking advantage of unseasonably warm weather along Kelly Drive Thursday.

When it comes time to leave public life, some politicians disappear gently into that dark night.

Others burn out fantastically, whether through indictment or embarrassment.

And then there are those politicians who linger, like the garlic taste from last night’s marinara, unable to depart from the public eye.

For this last category, every place has one: If Pennsylvania has Ed Rendell, then Montgomery County has Bruce Castor Jr.

The former district attorney and county commissioner from Lower Salford Township has popped up everywhere in the last year: the Cosby case, Attorney General Josh Shapiro’s last meeting as commissioner, the Kathleen Kane fiasco, and as a Centre County special prosecutor of all places.

The man has been prodigious in his ability to remain in the limelight -- all despite the fact he retired from public service last January.

This week, he reappeared again on a midday television series called "Crime Watch Daily." The syndicated show hosted by Chris Hansen of NBC's "To Catch a Predator" notoriety featured a long segment on the case of Rafael Robb, the murderer released from prison in January for beating his wife to death in their Upper Merion home in 2006.

Robb’s case captivated Montgomery County and southeastern Pennsylvania for its brutality and for Robb's high-profile position as an economist at the University of Pennsylvania. He was a nationally-renowned expert in game theory.

Castor often alluded to Robb’s intelligence throughout the investigation and trial, with a catchphrase that he again utilized in the Crime Watch report: “They are still amateur killers, and we’re professional catchers of killers.”

At the heart of the Robb case, however, remains the suffering that Ellen Gregory Robb’s family has endured since her death. Their pain centers on the fact that Rafael Robb pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter instead of facing first-degree murder at trial. The manslaughter plea came with a sentence of three-and-a-half to 20 years, whereas the murder charge would have meant life in prison.

Castor says in the crime show that he believed Robb killed his wife in a crime of passion and that the act was not premediated. He also says he didn’t think the judge would sentence Robb to only five to 10 years.

“I argued that the facts and circumstances warranted the maximum sentence of 20 years,” Castor says on the show. “The judge didn’t agree and imposed a 10-year term. I didn’t expect him to do that.”

Attorneys who subsequently sued Rafael Robb on behalf of his daughter, Olivia, won the now 22-year-old woman a massive $124 million judgment, though they admitted on the show that Rafael Robb is believed to have assets of about $3-4 million.

Still, the attorneys, renowned Philadelphia litigants Robert Mongeluzzi and Andrew Duffy, continue to argue that the murder was premeditated.

Despite their arguments, Robb is free after 10 years. His future is up in the air, with court filings suggesting he wants to relocate to Pittsburgh -- or perhaps stay in Montgomery County.

As for Castor, his future would seem to be more set in stone. He practices law with an Ardmore firm that now includes his name in its title, Rogers Castor, and he still works as a special prosecutor for the Centre County District Attorney's Office.

But the future can be a hard thing to predict. Several months after his Montgomery County "retirement" last January, Castor popped up rather spectacularly in Kane’s controversy-riddled Attorney General’s Office. And he then surprisingly slid into the top job for a few months when Kane resigned.

Reached by phone Thursday, the talkative lawyer said he is done with elected office. But...

"There's always the chance somebody, sometime will ask if I can serve on a commission here or an appointment there. I’ll do it if i think it’s helpful," he said. "But those are temporary gigs, designed to produce one product or one result. I don’t want to get stuck in any elected office."

Unprompted, he even suggested an intriguing short-term gig -- which doesn't actually exist...yet.

"For example, if the (state) Supreme Court said go down to the Philadelphia DA’s office and clean it up pending the election" later this year, he said.

So it is for some longtime politicians like Castor: Burning out or fading away aren’t the only options.

Sticking around, always looming just off center stage, is an ambition unto itself, whether or not the audience wants to hear any more lines from your character.

A former police officer in Montgomery County allegedly shot a 15-year-old during what police are calling a road rage encounter.

Owen Farmer III allegedly shot the girl Saturday outside his home after the car she was a passenger in ran over his foot, police in Upper Gwynedd Township said Thursday. Farmer is charged with two counts of aggravated assault and other charges.

The incident allegedly began during an encounter between Farmer’s 20-year-old stepdaughter, driving a 2014 Ford Escape, on North Wales Road in Montgomeryville and the driver of a BMW X5, Upper Gwynedd police said in a criminal complaint obtained by NBC10.

On the night of the encounter, the stepdaughter told investigators she passed the BMW after its driver appeared to be turning off the roadway. The BMW driver allegedly then honked the horn and flashed the headlights, to which Farmer's stepdaughter responded giving the BMW driver the middle finger, the stepdaughter told police.

The BMW driver then allegedly chased Farmer's stepdaughter through North Wales Borough. While driving toward her home on Second Street in the West Point section of Upper Gwynedd, the woman called Farmer, told him she was being followed and said he needed to come outside with his gun, she told police.

As the 20-year-old pulled into the driveway, Farmer ran out toward the BMW in the street, asking the driver “what the f*@k?” the stepdaughter told police.

Farmer moved toward the back of the BMW, as the driver began to drive away, the stepdaughter told police. Farmer said “she ran over my foot,” according to the criminal complaint.

As the BMW driver fled the scene, Farmer fired three shots, striking the back of the car, police said.

When officers arrived just before 10 p.m., they found Farmer – hold his Glock model 23, .40 caliber pistol – seated outside the home, police said. Medics transported Farmer, 45, to Lansdale Hospital where doctors treated him for a broken foot.

The next day, detectives interviewed a woman who claimed to be the driver of the BMW. She told investigators that she was driving her husband and 15-year-old daughter toward their Lansdale home when a driver began tailgating her and then flipped her off. She told police she followed the car into a neighborhood, investigators said.

The driver said that as she began to drive away from the area, she saw a man holding a gun then heard the rear glass of her car shatter. She then drove her daughter to Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia since the girl complained of pain.

Doctors at Einstein treated the girl for a gunshot wound to her back, police said. The bullet went through the car window and through a headrest and a seat before striking the girl, police said.

Police interviewed Farmer Sunday and he told them he received a call from his stepdaughter that she was being followed so he grabbed his gun and went outside, the police complaint said. Farmer admitted to confronting the driver and firing three times at her vehicle.

NBC10's Randy Gyllenhaal reached Farmer's family and attorney for comment. Farmer's family confirmed that Farmer is a retired member of the Upper Gwynedd Township Police Department. According to his Linkedin profile, Farmer is also a former Pennsylvania Army National Guard sergeant. He served nine years (2001-2010) as a patrolman/traffic safety officer for the Upper Gwynedd Police Department.

A judge arraigned Farmer Tuesday on two counts of aggravated assault, two counts of simple assault and three counts of reckless endangerment and set bail at $50,000, court records said.

A search of online court records didn't list any charges for either driver involved in the alleged road rage incident. [[238427591, C]]

For the second time in less than a month, a Main Line school is dealing with a sexual investigation on campus.

This time, Radnor Township Police allege Presbyterian Children's Village direct care staff member Maya Johnson showed sexually provocative content to minors and showed her bare buttocks to students at the school on Roberts Road in Rosemont, Pennsylvania.

Radnor investigators began looking into the allegations on Feb. 9 after being alerted by The Village’s human resources department the school had fired Johnson.

Police interviewed two minors and one 18-year-old victim, according to a criminal complaint obtained by NBC10.

One juvenile told investigators that Johnson, 35, showed her a photo on Johnson’s cellphone in January that showed the employee dressed in lingerie – her breasts partially exposed. The child didn’t feel comfortable having an adult show her the photo so she told a counselor who notified Child Line, police said.

The 18-year-old told investigators Johnson showed her the same photo last month. The 18-year-old also claimed Johnson flashed her buttocks to a group of students, police said.

Further investigation revealed Johnson also showed a cellphone video of herself masturbating to the two minors, police said. Johnson told the girls she had sent the video to her boyfriend, police said.

The girls and the 18-year-old all said they felt uncomfortable being shown the sexual images and the flashing. [[238427591, C]]

Police charged Johnson with corruption of minors and disorderly conduct. As of Wednesday afternoon, the case wasn't listed on online court records.

This incident came just weeks after The Village teacher Nina Scott was charged with repeatedly sexually assaulting a former student on and off campus.

The Village released a statement Thursday stating gratitude for residents coming forward in the Johnson case.

"For 140 years, The Village has provided care for children and families in our community," the school said. "We are grateful that our residents immediately alerted us to the behavior of this former employee. Their actions enabled us to act swiftly in terminating her and immediately reporting their allegations to the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services’ ChildLine. The Radnor Police then began an investigation with the assistance of the involved residents and our staff. We have fully cooperated with the investigation and have reaffirmed to the Radnor Police that they have our full support as they proceed with this case."

A Philadelphia pizzeria is celebrating its 10-year anniversary in a rather cheesy way.

Marlo and Jason Dilks, owners of SliCE Pizza, announced Thursday they will be throwing a "weekend-long pizza party" at all four of their locations to mark SliCE's 10 years in business.

To kick off the weekend celebration, SliCE will be giving away one free slice of pizza from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 24. Each location -- Rittenhouse, Italian Market, Fishtown and Washington Township -- will have a rotating selection of signature pizzas during the two hours.

"We have been so very fortunate to do what we love and serve thousands of pies to all corners of the region for the last ten years," Marlo said. "We couldn't think of a better way to celebrate than to host a pizza party and give away slices as a way to show our appreciation. We look forward to sharing our love of pizza for another ten years."

In addition, all large pizzas will be $10 this weekend only. The special includes every signature variety on the menu, and February's pizza of the month: the Gluten Free Green Goddess.

To top things off, SliCE will feature the "10th Anniversary Pizza"-- available only this weekend. This variety is made of mozzarella and taleggio cheese topped with 1732 meats guanciale, sautéed brussels sprouts and kalamata olives. 

"Jason and I worked together on the 10th Anniversary Pizza," Marlo said. "We wanted to offer a high-end, flavorful and unique that incorporated our current favorite ingredients. It was the perfect excuse to get extra creative in the kitchen, plus we were able to partner again with 1732 Meats -- who is one of the many local partners we are so fortunate to work with at all of our restaurants."

For addresses to one of four "pizza parties," visit SliCE's website.

Move over peanut butter and jelly, a new flavor fusion is sweetening up store shelves.

Oreo and Peeps have joined forces for a limited edition Peeps Oreo sandwich cookie.

The Oreo features two golden cookies with a marshmallow Peeps-flavored filling.

The new sweet tweet will be sold at Wal-Mart's nation-wide starting Feb. 22.

As Pennsylvania’s medical marijuana program begins to take shape, local lawmakers worry Philadelphia could be left out of the burgeoning economy.

A state rule prohibiting dispensaries from being within 1,000 feet of schools or daycare centers poses a potential roadblock for a city bursting with both amenities. If enforced in the city, Philadelphia could lose out on having any dispensaries within city limits.

Councilman Derek Green is leading the charge to change that rule before the state breathes life into its inaugural cannabis program next year.

“The goal is to say to the state ‘Allow us to use the regulatory zoning framework … to have an industry flourish in Philadelphia and provide constituents with access to dispensaries within their communities,” Green said.

He and 16 members of city council sent a letter last week to John J. Collins, the director of the office of medical marijuana, asking the Pennsylvania Department of Health to reconsider the existing zoning restriction. In its place, Green proposed a 500-feet rule that would apply to both child-serving entities - such as schools, libraries, parks, playgrounds and daycare centers - and adult attractions, such as bars and tattoo shops.

“This rule strikes a balance between access for patients and concern about proximity to children in the spirit of the Medical Marijuana Act that makes sense for Philadelphia,” the letter said.

In addition for providing access to patients, encouraging dispensaries inside the city could also bring a big revenue boost.

“It could have a very significant economic impact,” Green said, adding that the industry generated more than $5 billion in 2016.

“The commonwealth has the reputation as having educational and research opportunities for medical institutions. None of the other states that allow medical marijuana allow research - we can grow on that existing edge.”

Recently, Thomas Jefferson University received $3 million from Australian philanthropists to support its ongoing medicinal cannabis research. And pharmaceutical companies such as KannaLife, located in Doylestown, have already started looking into marijuana-based treatment for head injuries common in football and other sports.

This kind of research first sparked Green’s interest in cannabis. As a father whose 16-year-old son has autism, the councilmember is interested in how alternative treatments can help families who have exhausted other options.
For example, a 2013 study found that certain cannabinoid brain receptors offer a “potential therapeutic target for the pharmacological management of the autism care." A second study published that same year reached a similar conclusion in mice.

Green wants to encourage this kind of research to continue in both Philadelphia and the commonwealth. Gov. Tom Wolf told NBC10: “I am reviewing [the request] and certainly want to be as cooperative as I can.”

The state is expecting to receive $8.4 million in application fees alone. This revenue will be put into a medical marijuana fund and distributed to the Department of Health, Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs and law enforcement agencies.

Applications for dispensaries and cultivation are open now through March 20.

How did you spend your Thursday in the 70s? People across our region spent their day outside and driving convertibles with the top down.

After months of growing anticipation, Wawa fans in South Florida can now mark their calendars with a grand opening date: March 23.

The family-owned chain of convenience stores announced opening dates for three of its South Florida locations, in a "Save the Date" distributed on Thursday.

The company has not yet released any details on which stores will participate in the triple grand opening, but more details will be released ahead of the opening celebration.

Wawa celebrated the opening of its 100^th Florida store last November, and says it has plans to open 25-30 stores every year throughout the state over the next several years. 

Fire raged through a building under construction in Gloucester County Thursday evening.

Fire broke out at the LogistiCenter at Logan located along the 2600 block of Oldmans Creek Road in Logan Township just before 6 p.m.

Heavy flames could be seen on a corner of the roof of a large warehouse from SkyForce10 overhead.

Fire crews could be seen on the roof spraying water on materials that were burning on the roof.

The fire was brought under control around 8:30.

There was no report of injuries. Officials continued to investigate how the fire started.