President Donald Trump has drawn criticism for saying he doesn't have time for books, even prompting a movement called "Bury the White House in Books on Valentine's Day."

So with Read Across America Day being celebrated on Thursday, do Trump's comments matter as adults use the day's many events to encourage children to read? Not that much, according to literacy experts.

"I don’t think it has much influence," said Dr. Timothy Shanahan, a renowned literacy expert and professor emeritus at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

He said children are more likely to be influenced by their parents or teachers—people in the immediate vicinity—when it comes to reading.

Dr. Doug Hesse, executive director of writing and professor of English at the University of Denver said parents and teachers are vital, but that it doesn’t help when somebody who has achieved great success is diminishing the importance of reading.

When Trump discusses his reading habits, Hesse said "it probably doesn’t [diminish the importance of reading] in the sense that people who are strong readers, who understand the importance of it, will continue to be. I think what it does potentially diminish is that in terms of making decisions, that there’s some license to make decisions without a kind of depth of knowledge and understanding that I think comes from reading."

Shanahan added that the president's remarks don't sit well with people who have devoted themselves to literacy.

"Obviously anyone who’s dedicated to literature believes literature has a positive impact on individuals in societies," Shanahan said.

Trump has written several books, most notably, "The Art of the Deal," which was a bestseller.

But in an interview last May with Megyn Kelly, who asked about the last book he read, he responded, "I read passages, I read … 'areas,' I'll read chapters. I just, I don't have the time."

And in a January interview with Axios, he said, "I like a lot of books. I like reading books. I don’t have time to read very much now in terms of the books, but I like reading them.”

He also said he isn’t a huge fan of reading long memos.

"I like bullets or I like as little as possible. I don't need, you know, 200-page reports on something that can be handled on a page. That I can tell you," he told Axios.

Hesse said, "It’s certainly disheartening that reading isn’t as highly valued."

He added that the past two administrations have been strongly supportive of reading, and demonstrated it often.

But Shanahan pointed out that the reading habits of past presidents have varied widely. Lyndon B. Johnson, for example, wasn’t keen on reading, he said, while Barack Obama said reading books was his secret to surviving the White House.

"We’ve had a lot of presidents, and some have been big readers and some haven’t been," Shanahan said.

He added that he doesn’t think it matters much in terms of education specifically, but he said there is information that people cut themselves off from by not reading more, and that when people cut themselves off from certain information, there is a potential to put people at risk, especially when the person in question is in a position of great power, like Trump. 

Past presidents, Shanahan said, have had varying tastes in literature. Dwight D. Eisenhower, he said, had a penchant for Western novels, while Harry Truman emphasized the importance of reading history as president.

He added that many times, the American public doesn’t learn much about the president's reading habits until the end of their term.

"It’s usually the historian who uncovers it later on," he said.

Hesse said a lack of reading can be a negative.

"We lose important perspectives and important kinds of knowledge that really are best handled through complex reading," he said. "And I think that the range is that we lose nuance and we lose an array of alternatives."

Shanahan echoed the sentiment, saying, "I think the president loses out on that, there are dangers to the country if the president cuts themselves off from certain sources of information."

Both Hesse and Shanahan said they don’t think that what the president says about reading will have a direct impact on children, but it does send a message.

Touted as the "largest celebration of reading this country has ever seen," "Read Across America Day" is sponsored by the National Education Association. March 2 was chosen to commemorate the birthday of children’s book author Theodor Geisel, known as Dr. Seuss.

Read Across America Day will celebrate its 20th anniversary this year, and in the past the George W. Bush and Obama’s administrations have celebrated it. Michelle Obama and former Secretary of Education Arne Duncan once did a guest reading for the NEA, and Laura Bush was also active in promoting it, a spokeswoman for the NEA said.

But even with involvement from both White Houses, the president has never actually been directly involved in "Read Across America Day," as it was created by the NEA, the organization’s spokeswoman said.

In the past, Sens. Susan Collins (R-ME) and Jack Reed (D-RI) have together sponsored resolutions to designate March 2 as Read Across America Day.

A spokesman for Reed confirmed that both Reed and Collins again plan to spearhead the effort in the Senate this year.

Reps. Rodney Davis (R-Ill.) and Susan Davis (D-Calif.) have also sponsored legislation to designate March 2 as Read Across America Day.

First Lady Melania Trump took part in the day's celebrations by reading to children at the Phyllis and David Komansky Center for Children’s Health at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center. 

The first lady read Dr. Seuss' book, "Oh! The Places You'll Go!" and told children, "Loving to read early in life has the power to make each one of you a lifelong learner."

She also emphasized that the United States must instill a love for reading in young readers.

"Education is a great equalizer and nothing can be more critical to achieving empowerment than reading and literacy," she said.

In a letter about Read Across America Day 2017, NEA President President Lily Eskelsen Garcia wrote, "NEA’s Read Across America is an incredible vehicle for focusing attention on the literacy needs and successes of our children, but we know it takes much more than a one-day celebration."

"It’s the relationships with books, kids, teachers, librarians, parents, volunteers, and other caring community members form on that day that can have a long-term impact on our nation of diverse readers," she wrote.

Hesse said statements by readers are important.

"The statements that came out of the Bush and Obama White Houses, talking about the importance of reading, celebrating reading, sharing books they’ve been reading, going to schools, reading with kids—these are all really symbolic," he said.

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Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney discussed the city’s pension program, housing concerns, school system plans and efforts being made to battle drug abuse during his annual budget address in front of City Council Thursday morning.

In Kenney’s $4.4 billion budget and five-year plan for Philadelphia released overnight he sets aside new funding for certain programs. [[415232033, C]]

The budget -- which calls for a three percent increase in spending year over year -- puts a focus on job creation and taxes. Kenney hopes to lower Philadelphia's hefty wage tax to under 3.7 percent by 2022 -- the lowest level since the 1970s. He will also ask council to commit to funding the Pension Fund by 80 percent in the next 13 years.

Kenney wants to put $1.9 million toward the opioid problem after thousands of hospital visits and 900 deaths reported in the city alone last year. The money would help improve the distribution of Narcan, an overdose reversal drug, it would also fund a campaign aimed at the highest prescribing health care providers. And, it would also develop a real time data base to track openings at treatment facilities.

A little more than a million dollars would go toward housing. It would support families exiting shelters as well as serve as an intervention to help families and people who are chronically homeless.

The budget proposes more than a $900,000 increase in lead poisoning prevention. That money would allow the city to tackle lead paint in nearly double the amount of homes it can address now.

Some of the ways to fund the new program include the controversial sugary beverage tax, a.k.a. "soda tax," which is expected to bring in $92.4 million dollars in 12 months. Soda tax opponents plan to protest Kenney’s speech Thursday.

The biggest cut in Kenney's budget plan is slashing the Community Development Fund by 11.45 percent. [[238427591, C]]

A 17-year-old boy who authorities say escaped from a behavioral health center was charged with a "brutal" home invasion and theft where a grandmother was left tied up for four days in a dark closet, Chester County prosecutors said.

"This juvenile engaged in a brutal attack on the victim, then showed callous disregard for her life," Chester County District Attorney Tom Hogan said. "The charged juvenile is lucky that the victim did not die. If the victim had not been found by her family, the defendant would be facing murder charges."

A 72-year-old woman is recovering after the Feb. 22 choking and beating inside her home on the 1000 block of Creek Road (Rt. 282) in East Brandywine Township.

The woman returned home that day to find that someone burglarized her house, having stolen credit cards. She then went to her regularly scheduled work day, the DA's office said.

As the woman -- who lives alone -- returned from work and got out of her vehicle later that night a male dressed in all black grabbed her from behind and hit her in the head, investigators said.

He choked the woman unconscious then covered her head with a shopping bag, prosecutors said. Duct tape was wrapped around her neck and the tape and zip-ties were used to bound her arms and legs.

During the attack he allegedly told the woman, "You'll be with Jesus soon," prosecutors said.

Before leaving, prosecutors said he put the woman in the unlit cramped space under the stairs and left her tied up without food or water. Four days passed before a family member found her. The relative stopped by the victim's home after several phone calls went unanswered.

The woman was then taken to Paoli Hospital where emergency doctors treated her for injuries.

Police said the teen left the home with a laptop as well as the woman's car, a 2013 silver Fiat 500.

It was that vehicle, along with use of the woman's credit cards, that helped lead investigators to the teen, prosecutors said.

Police used surveillance video from Maryland to zero in on the teen since the victim's credit cards were used on the same day of the attack, prosecutors said. The video showed the teen using the cards and getting into and out of the victim's car, according to prosecutors.

Investigators later learned the teen was being housed at behavioral health facility Devereux Brandywine, about three miles from the victim's home. 

Devereux staff reported the teen missing the day of the attack. He returned two days later and was transferred to another facility, the DA said.

Detectives searched the teen's room where they found the clothes the boy wore during the attack, prosecutors said. Police said Devereux staff told them the teen bleached his shoes after he returned to the facility, but investigators said a diamond pattern on the soles matched footprints left at the crime scene.

Investigators didn't identify the boy since he is a minor but said he was originally from Thailand and most recently lived in Media, Pennsylvania. He was charged in juvenile court Wednesday with attempted homicide, robbery, burglary, aggravated assault, strangulation and related offenses.

"Thank you to the district attorney's office and their detectives, the Baltimore city Police Department, and to the many police agencies and medical and other support teams that assisted us at the scene and with the investigation, "East Brandywine Police Chief Mark Kosci said.

"A special thank you to the victim and her family for their strength and perseverance. Our praters are with them for a full recovery."

Trader Joe's has issued a recall for their Unsweetened Apple Sauce products due to the potential presence of glass pieces inside.

The affected products are:

Trader Joe's First Crush Unsweetened Gravenstein Apple Sauce, barcode number 00015905, best before Aug. 8, 2018; Trader Joe's Organic Unsweetened Apple Sauce with barcode number 00194877, best before Oct. 6, 2018; and Trader Joe's All Natural Unsweetened Apple Sauce with barcode number 00014359, best before Dec. 16, 2018.

All potentially affected products have been removed from store shelves and destroyed, according to the company.

Trader Joe's advised consumers to not eat the products with the affected codes. Consumers are to discard the product or return it to any Trader Joe’s for a full refund.

For more information, call Trader Joe’s Customer Relations at (626) 599-3817 (Monday-Friday, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. PST) or send an email.

It was so windy in Philadelphia Thursday morning that people, and even a dog, had trouble walking steadily down the street.

A YMCA in Scranton, Pennsylvania, has banned 24-hour news networks in the gym because of an increase in heated political arguments and near fights.

Struggling appliance and electronic retailer HHGregg announced Thursday it is planning to close 88 “underperforming” stores nationwide.

The Indianapolis-based company also said it is closing three distribution and delivery centers located in Brandywine, Maryland, Miami, Florida, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The stores will start liquidation sales of current inventory and are expected to be closed by mid-April. The closings will result in the loss of about 1,500 jobs, the company said.

“We are strategically exiting markets and stores that are not financially profitable for us,” HHGregg CEO Robert Riesbeck said in a statement. “This is a proactive decision to streamline our store footprint in the markets where we have been, and will continue to be, important to our customers, vendor partners and communities."

"I want to thank each and every manager and associate in our stores and distribution centers, and their families, for their continued efforts, contributions and support," he continued. "I understand this is not an easy process to go through; our history has shown that our team members will meet this challenge head-on and continue to support our customers and each other through the closing process."

HHGregg, founded in 1955, operates about 220 stores in 19 states. The company sells mobile phones, tablets and PCs, along with an exclusive deal with Verizon Wireless. Other products include TVs, mattresses, furniture and appliances.

The company's stock was removed from the New York Stock Exchange earlier this week company’s “average global market capitalization over a consecutive 30 trading-day period” fell below the $15 million threshold needed to keep it on the exchange, according to Reuters. HHGregg said it did not plan to appeal the NYSE’s decision.

hhgregg Store Locations Closing:

 Newark, Heath, OH
 Newport News, VA
 Fairfax, VA
 Fairlawn, Akron, OH
 Virginia Beach, VA
 Bailey's Crossroads, Falls Church, VA
 Trussville, AL
 Chesapeake, VA
 Woodbridge, VA
 Stonecrest, Lithonia, GA
 Fredericksburg, VA
 Manassas, VA
 Gwinnett, Duluth, GA
 Colonial Heights, VA
 Largo, MD
 Southlake, Morrow, GA
 Roanoke, VA
 Waldorf, MD
 Pembroke Pines, FL
 Lower Paxon, Harrisburg, PA
 Rockville, MD
 Hialeah, FL
 York, PA
 Frederick, MD
 Sawgrass, Plantation, FL
 Mechanicsburg, PA
 Catonsville, MD
 Ft. Lauderdale, FL
 Lancaster, PA
 Hanover, MD
 Kendall, Miami, FL
 Hagerstown, MD
 Bel Air, MD
 Wellington, FL
 Wilkes-Barre, PA
 Towson, MD
 West Palm Beach, FL
 Dickson City, PA
 Annapolis, MD
 Boca Raton, FL
 Winchester, VA
 Glen Burnie, MD
 Mt. Juliet, TN
 Wyomissing, PA
 Chesterfield, MO
 Mansfield, OH
 Downingtown, PA
 North Hills, Pittsburgh, PA
 Mooresville, NC
 King of Prussia, Berwyn, PA
 Erie, PA
 Durham, NC
 Montgomeryville, North Wales, PA
 Parkersburg, Vienna, WV
 Cary, NC
 Whitman Square, Philadelphia, PA
 Schaumburg, IL
 Buckhead, Atlanta, GA
 Langhorne, PA
 Bloomingdale, IL
 Asheville, NC
 Whitehall, PA
 Arlington Heights, IL
 Gainesville, FL
 Moorestown, NJ
 Niles, IL
 Homestead, FL
 Deptford, Woodbury, NJ
 Springfield, IL
 Florida Mall, Orlando, FL
 Mays Landing, NJ
 Champaign, IL
 Pensacola, FL
 Newark, DE
 Kenner Westgate, Metairie, LA
 Mobile, AL
 Dover, DE
 Westbank, Harvey, LA
 Aventura, FL
 Wilmington, DE
 Mall of Louisiana, Baton Rouge, LA
 Pinecrest, FL
 Springfield, VA
 Tri-County, Springdale, OH
 Short Pump, Henrico, VA
 Sterling, VA
 Treasure Coast Mall, Jensen Beach, FL
 Chesterfield, Midlothian, VA

The parent company of Dunkin’ Donuts and Baskin-Robbins says it plans to remove artificial colors from its products in the United states by the end of 2018

The Montgomery County District Attorney’s teamed up with a suburban Philadelphia police department for a new program for low-level drug offenders in hopes of preventing at-risk young people from becoming full-blown drug addicts.

The partnership between Montco DA Kevin Steele’s office and Lower Providence Township police offers an opt-in, voluntary program for non-violent drug offenders between 18 and 26 years of age with hopes of preventing escalated drug addiction.

"The drug epidemic we are facing is widespread across Montgomery County and overdose deaths are growing. We cannot simply arrest our way out of this epidemic," Steele said. "Fighting it requires innovative approaches on multiple fronts to try to stem the progression from low-level drug use to heroin use and a potential overdose down the road. Our hope is that this program will save young people from going down that path and protect their futures."

The program would be available to people caught with a small amount of illegal drugs without previous arrests or who were convicted of underage drinking, minor drug cases or minor theft charges, Steele’s office said. During the program, the young person’s criminal case will be put on the hold and he or she won’t face arrest and processing, Steele said.

The Drug Education and Abuse Program (DEAP) will feature four elements:

An introductory meeting with police representative Lt. Mike Jackson, Deputy District Attorney Samantha Cauffman and Magisterial District Judge Cathleen Rebar; a drug and alcohol assessment and a presentation on drug use and addiction from professionals in the addiction field and former addicts; a presentation on the medical consequences of drug use by the Montgomery County Coroner’s Office; and several hours of observation at the Montgomery County Drug Court.

While in the DEAP program, participants must remain drug and arrest free for 6 months and face random drug testing, authorities said.

Authorities estimate that about 10 criminal cases a month in Lower Providence – which includes Audubon, Trooper, Eagleville and parts of Collegeville – will qualify for DEAP.

"Our hope is to provide at-risk young adults with the knowledge and desire to avoid future drug use or drug addiction," said Police Chief Stanley Turtle.

U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions recused himself from any further investigations of the Trump presidential campaign at a press conference Thursday at the Justice Department. Sessions says he made the decision to recuse himself following advice from his staff. Here is his full statement and some questions he took from the press.

Beau Biden's widow Hallie and his younger brother Hunter are now dating. Former Vice President Joe Biden says he and his wife Jill give Hallie and Hunter their full support.

This weekend will be the coldest one our region has seen in awhile, but will the cold temperatures last? NBC10 Chief meteorologist Glenn "Hurricane" Schwartz has the details.

An emotional ceremony on Thursday marked the grand opening for Victory Bay Recovery Center in Camden. A.J. Solomon, a recovering heroin addict, spoke along with Governor Chris Christie.

A $225 million plan to build a park near Penns Landing and on top of Interstate 95 that Mayor Jim Kenney announced at his 2018 budget address is already near its necessary funding.

PennDOT will contribute $100 million to the park, a spokesman for the state transportation agency confirmed to NBC10 shortly after Kenney's speech Thursday morning.

That funding pushes the park's secured funding to $205 million after the William Penn Foundation also announced Thursday that it would give $15 million to the project. Kenney told PlanPhilly earlier in the week that the city would pay $90 million.

No timeline for the 11-acre park's completion was given. It would "cap" I-95 between Chestnut and Walnut streets.

"For decades, I-95 has been a barrier to economic development and recreational activity at Penn’s Landing and the surrounding neighborhoods," Kenney said in his address at Council chambers inside City Hall. "By finally funding a cap to link Philadelphia’s valuable waterfront with the city’s core, this project is expected to have a return of $1.6 billion in economic benefit over the next 25 years."

Shawn McCaney, William Penn's executive director, said the new park will be "the centerpiece of a longterm effort to bring people and new economic activity to the river's edge."

"This project will not only transform the waterfront but it will transform our entire city by allowing residents and visitors to reclaim the Delaware riverfront as a new public space destination," McCaney said.

After an Upper Dublin detective's suicide, officials are revealing information after missing evidence from the evidence room and how the officer struggled with a drug problem. Now, police are announcing changes to prevent evidence tampering in the future.