A 7th grade student from Glen Mills, Pennsylvania, joined an elite group of 42 middle schoolers selected by the Chemical Educational Foundation to compete in the 2017 You Be The Chemist Challenge.
Garnet Valley Middle School student Aadarsh Balaji was selected from a pool of 55,000 middle school students across 40 states, the nation’s capital and Puerto Rico to compete Monday in Washington, D.C.
The champion of the interactive academic challenge wins a $12,000 scholarship.
Is your chemistry knowledge as light as helium or as heavy as plutonium? Take the chemistry quiz below and see if you have what it takes to compete against Balaji.
New schedules for SEPTA's City, Suburban, and Victory Transit divisions go into effect beginning Sunday, June 18, and Monday, June 19.
The route impacted include:
• Route 15: Due to a track renewal project, buses will replace all Route 15 trolleys through Saturday, September 2, 2017.
• Route 4 & 16: Weekday midday service level adjustments
• Route 66: Weekday, Saturday and Sunday OWL trip adjustments for service to Frankford Transportation Center
• Route 93: Adjustments to first four Weekday eastbound AM trips to improve connections to the Norristown High Speed Line
• Route 94: Adjustments to Weekday AM service to Montgomery County Community College
• Route 117: Service will resume to Plaza 352
• Route 124: Select Saturday trips extended to Valley Forge Rd., and additional Sunday trips added to accommodate higher passenger volume
New schedules are available at SEPTA customer locations and online.
Used car owners were left high and dry, after police say they were caught in the middle of a stolen car scheme. NBC10's Cydney Long has the details.
After a viewer bought a kitchen table, he discovered problems. After four months with no solution, he called Harry Hairston and NBC10 Responds.
An off-duty police officer died from his injuries following a crash in Hamilton Township, New Jersey.
Investigators say the off-duty officer was driving an SUV on Nottingham Way in Hamilton around 4 p.m. Monday when he struck the back of a van. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the van was not seriously injured.
Officials have not yet revealed the officer’s identity.
The deadly crash comes three days after another off-duty officer was killed in a highway crash that left his wife and three children injured in Woolwich Township.
This story is developing. Check back for updates.
Officials are investigating possible tornadoes in Pennsylvania and Delaware after severe storms hit the area Monday afternoon and evening.
During the storms, tornado warnings were issued for Sussex County, the lower edge of Kent County and west of Berks County. Several videos also surfaced showing what appeared to be a funnel cloud near Shartlesville, Berks County. It’s unclear from the videos however whether or not it touched down.
Officials with the National Weather Service are currently investigating whether it was actually a tornado but have not yet confirmed. They are also investigating a separate possible tornado that may have landed in Sussex County, Delaware Monday.
A woman is in critical condition after she was struck by a hit-and-run vehicle in Burlington Township. NBC10 obtained surveillance video of the incident.
Wildwood Police are investigating a video showing an officer punching a man in the face.
In the 19-second video, which was posted on Facebook Monday, an officer punches a man in the face and then handcuffs him after he falls to the ground. It does not show what led to the punch or what occurred in the moments after.
Wildwood Police Chief Robert Regalbuto told NBC10 he believes the incident occurred Sunday while the person who uploaded the video wrote that it happened on Roberts Avenue.
Chief Regalbuto told NBC10 the video doesn’t show the entire scene and he doesn’t know what happened beforehand. He also said that the man who was punched was involved in a disorderly persons complaint.
The officer in the video remains on duty but the incident is still under investigation.
Severe storms slammed the region Monday bringing heavy rain, lightning, power outages, downed trees, flooding and even possible tornadoes.
NBC10 issued a First Alert for the entire region ahead of the storm. Severe Thunderstorm Warnings, Flood Advisories, Flash Flood Advisories and Tornado Warnings were in effect for several parts of the area throughout the afternoon and night. They were later lifted.
During the storms, tornado warnings were issued for Sussex County, the lower edge of Kent County and west of Berks County. The National Weather Service is investigating whether tornadoes touched down near Shartlesville, Berks County and Sussex County, Delaware. Videos surfaced showing what appeared to be a funnel cloud in Berks County though it's unconfirmed whether or not it touched down.
Heavy wind toppled trees and power lines during the storm. In Kutztown, Pennsylvania, the wind knocked down several utility poles and caused low-hanging power lines. A farmer told NBC10 the downed power lines caused some sparks near a farm on Bowers Road.
in Wyomissing, Pennsylvania the storm knocked three trees down, each in a different yard, including Nick Fischetti's.
"It only took about 30 seconds for all these trees to go over," Fischetti said. "Luckily our neighbors weren't home. We went over to see if they were okay."
Fischetti told NBC10 he was on his parents' patio when he saw a tree fall only a few feet away.
"We heard a crack and it fell right over," he said. "When I woke up this morning I didn't expect to see a tree in our backyard and a tree across the street."
Trees also fell in South Whitehall Township and Croydon.
In Chester County, several houses were struck by lightning, including one in Kennett Square where a fire occurred. Officials say lightning hit the chimney and started a fire in the basement that spread throughout the walls. A house sitter and cat were inside at the time but were able to get out safely. Officials say the fire caused about $1 million worth of damage to the home.
The storms also led to flooding at the Jersey Shore. Roads and sidewalks were submerged in water on Ventnor Avenue in Margate as cars and buses moved through several inches of water.
Thousands of homes and businesses also lost power, including a Planet Fitness in South Philadelphia.
Officials with Philadelphia International Airport also say more than 150 flights were canceled Monday due to the weather.
Power Outages
PECO
Bucks 184
Chester 165
Delaware County 48
Montgomery 117
Philadelphia 1845
Delmarva
New Castle County 254
Sussex County 498
PPL
Lehigh 101
PSE&G
Mercer 441
AC Electric
Gloucester County 128
The storms are expected to clear Tuesday morning giving way to a mixture of sun and clouds. Stay with the NBC10 First Alert Weather team for the latest updates on the storm.
Here are the 10 things you need to know to start your day from your friends at NBC10.
TODAY'S TOP STORY
NWS Investigates Possible Tornadoes in Pa, Del.: Officials are investigating possible tornadoes in Pennsylvania and Delaware after severe storms hit the area Monday afternoon and evening. During the storms, tornado warnings were issued for Sussex County, the lower edge of Kent County and west of Berks County. Several videos also surfaced showing what appeared to be a funnel cloud near Shartlesville, Berks County. It’s unclear from the videos however whether or not it touched down. Officials with the National Weather Service are currently investigating whether it was actually a tornado but have not yet confirmed. They are also investigating a separate possible tornado that may have landed in Sussex County, Delaware Monday.
YOUR FIRST ALERT FORECAST
The humidity is expected to come down on Tuesday with partly sunny skies. Wednesday and Thursday are also expected to be partly sunny with less humidity. Friday could see some showers. Get your full NBC10 First Alert forecast here.
WHAT YOU MISSED YESTERDAY
Off-Duty Officer Dies in Crash: An off-duty police officer died from his injuries following a crash in Hamilton Township, New Jersey. Investigators say the off-duty officer was driving an SUV on Nottingham Way in Hamilton around 4 p.m. Monday when he struck the back of a van. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the van was not seriously injured. Officials have not yet revealed the officer’s identity. The deadly crash comes three days after another off-duty officer was killed in a highway crash that left his wife and three children injured in Woolwich Township.
AROUND THE WORLD
Spicer Expected to Take Less Public Role: White House press secretary Sean Spicer is seeking to take on a more strategic role that would give him a limited presence in the daily press briefings that have made him a prominent face of the Trump administration. A senior administration official and three people familiar with the potential changes said Monday that Spicer has discussed taking a more senior communications role at the White House. The three people said he has reached out to possible successors at the podium and as communications director. The people spoke on condition of anonymity in order to discuss internal deliberations before a final decision is made. The people warned that no decision has been made and, as with all things involving President Donald Trump, the situation could change. Major staffing shake-ups have been a constant subject of conversation at the White House, but have failed to materialize in recent weeks, aside from the departure of communications director Mike Dubke in early June.
What to Know About the I-76 Repaving Project: One of the Philadelphia region’s busiest roads is getting a new surface and that could mean months of congestion, traffic and more delays than usual for commuters. Here's what to expect as crews begin to repair and resurface a 12.5-mile stretch of the Schuylkill Expressway through Montgomery County. PennDOT plans to repair and resurface 12.5 miles of Interstate 76 (Schuylkill Expressway) from U.S. Route 1 (City Avenue) to the U.S. 202 Interchange in Montgomery County. The actual work on the federally-funded $21,150,734 project began June 19. PennDOT’s contractors will begin rolling lane closures as they visually inspect road conditions, the agency said in a news release.
SPORTS SPOT
Sixers Draft: The Sixers may not be done making first-round trades. Get your full sports news at CSNPhilly.
PHOTO OF THE DAY
See more Top News Photos here.
THROUGH IGER'S EYES
@f_valvox81 captured this image of a Philadelphia street scene.
Have an awesome Instagram photo you'd like to share? Tag it with #NBC10Buzz.
TODAY'S VIRAL VIDEO
Reese Witherspoon honors Goldie Hawn: Click here to watch.
Organization Helps Drop Montco Homeless Rate: Thanks in part to a new organization, Montgomery County is doing its part to get people off the streets. The Montgomery County Board of Commissioners announced that in partnership with Your Way Home, the county has reduced its homeless count by 33 percent, based upon Point-in-Time counts. Your Way Home Montgomery County was established in 2014 as a response system for families and individuals on the brink of homelessness, or who were already on the streets. Their mission statement revolves around a “housing first” approach —quickly securing permanent housing for at risk populations, and making supportive and financial services accessible to prevent future risk of homelessness. Since 2013, the organization has helped nearly 3,000 people. 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.
Less humidity is in the air. The temperatures will be in the 80's this week. NBC10 First Alert Weather meteorologist Bill Henley has your forecast.
Students of Copeland Middle School were wearing light blue clothing on Monday — a message to stop bullying, and a tribute to a 12-year-old student who died last week.
Friends say Rockaway Township, New Jersey, cheerleader Mallory Grossman took her own life last week after being bullied.
“Heartbroken – I have my twins here in the seventh grade,” one parent told News 4. “I think about what a tragedy hit home.”
The Morris County Prosecutor's Office says Grossman’s death is under investigation.
Family and friends told News 4 the young girl’s mother complained to her school about the alleged bullying the very day she died, and posts on Facebook suggest she may have been bullied on Snapchat.
Grossman’s former gymnastics coach remembered her as a good student and athlete who was popular among her peers.
“Wonderful child – sweet, smart, kind, quiet,” coach Paula Gehman said.
According to her obituary, Grossman loved the outdoors and would often donate her own money and handmade jewelry for sick children.
The school’s superintendent would not comment Monday, but the school district’s website says last year's anti-bullying assessment of Rockaway Township indicates strengths in the areas of curriculum and instruction, investigation procedures, and incident reporting.
“Teachers have to be vigilant, always,” Gehman said. “At any age, something is going to happen. Somebody’s going to push somebody around. Just stop it.”
A GoFundMe page set up for Grossman’s family has raised more than $65,000 to help with funeral expenses. Grossman will be laid to rest Tuesday.
If you are in crisis, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255 or reach out to the Crisis Text Line by texting ‘Home’ to 741741.
The Pennsylvania Department of Health unveiled the names of 12 groups that have won grower-processor permits for the state’s medical marijuana program, which is slated to debut early next year. They were selected from a pool of more than 500 applicants.
They include Prime Wellness of Pennsylvania, LLC and Franklin Labs, LLC, both of which are located in Berks County. A growing and processing facility was not approved for Philadelphia County.
“It’s hard to believe this day has finally arrived,” said State Sen. Daylin Leach, a Democrat who represents Montgomery County and co-sponsored the bill that put medical marijuana on the map in Pennsylvania. “This is a great day for many patients.”
More than 270 safe harbor applications have already been approved, the state said during a news conference Tuesday afternoon. This applies to the parents and guardians of minors who require medical marijuana to treat certain conditions, such as cancer and epilepsy.
A physician registry will go online in July with regulations for patients and caregivers published in September.
A complete list of dispensaries will be unveiled later this month. Twenty-seven permits will be issued.
“We were agnostic about the licenses,” Leach said speaking from the steps of state capitol in Harrisburg. “I had no say in who got the licenses.”
Groups who were not awarded a permit are elligible to apply for an appeal.
The 12 permits were issued to:
Southeast Region
Prime Wellness of Pennsylvania, LLC
Franklin Labs, LLC
Northeast Region
Pennsylvania Medical Solutions, LLC
Standard Farms, LLC
Southcentral Region
Ilera Healthcare, LLC
AES Compassionate Care, LLC
Northcentral Region
Terrapin Investment Fund 1, LLC
GTI Pennsylvania, LLC
Southwest Region
AGRiMED Industries of PA, LLC
PurePenn, LLC
Northwest Region
Holistic Farms, LLC
Cresco Yeltrah, LLC
“With today’s announcement, we remain on track to fulfill the Wolf Administration’s commitment to deliver medical marijuana to patients in 2018,” said John Collins, Director of the Office of Medical Marijuana.
“The applications from the entities receiving permits were objectively reviewed by an evaluation team made up of members from across commonwealth agencies. Any letters of recommendation or support for an applicant were not considered during the evaluation.”
A freight train carrying propane derailed in Bucks County.
The accident occurred on a bridge off Jessica Lane in Sellersville around 2:30 p.m. Tuesday.
Officials say 17 train cars operated by East Penn Railroad were carrying propane when they derailed. No injuries have been reported but fuel is currently leaking into a nearby creek due to the derailment. Hazmat crews are responding to the scene.
This story is developing. Check back for updates.
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) announced Tuesday it has updated the design and security features of its driver licenses and identification cards, but the enhanced features still fall short of meeting federal guidelines.
PennDOT began issuing the newly designed driver’s licenses on Monday at the Riverfront Office Center in Harrisburg as part of a pilot program, agency said in a news release. All PennDOT locations will transition to the new cards by the end of October.
The new cards have a larger primary photo, a 2D barcode and the letters “PA” laser-perforated on the card stock. They are laminated with the state motto of "Virtue, Liberty, Independence," the keystone outline, and “1787,” the year the U.S. Constitution was ratified by Pennsylvania. In addition to the changes, the magnetic strip on the back has been eliminated, PennDOT said.
But the new cards are not Real ID-compliant. In 2005, the Department of Homeland Security passed the Real ID Act, which set minimum security standards for issuing driver’s licenses and photo identification cards.
Pennsylvania lawmakers challenged the "constitutionality and legality" of the federal government's REAL ID Act and responded by enacting the REAL ID Nonparticipation Act in 2012. The law says the state would not comply with the federal guidelines.
The deadline to have a qualifying ID accepted by the Transportation Security Administration to board commercial airliners is Jan. 22. After that, people with IDs from a non-compliant state would need a passport, military ID, or some other compliant ID card to board domestic flights.
PennDOT said it expects to have Real ID-compliant licenses and identification cards available as an option in 2019.
Homeland Security is expected to issue an extension that would allow Pennsylvanians to continue using their current driver’s licenses at airports until 2020.
When the new ID cards are available, residents will have the choice of a compliant or standard identification. A Real ID license will likely cost more than the standard license.
An investigation is underway after police found weapons and chemicals at a Bucks County home Tuesday afternoon.
Pennsylvania State Police and the Bomb Squad were first called to a home on the 8700 block of Easton Road in Ottsville for a report of possible explosives. When they arrived they found several guns and rifles inside the home as well as possibly hazardous chemicals.
No injuries have been reported. Police have not yet revealed whether anyone was inside the home when they arrived.
Across Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware our region is thriving! From the city to the suburbs, the workshop of the world is back! Meet the people and hear the stories that are Growing Greater Philadelphia. Watch our special in the video embedded above.
