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Brutal Winter Breakdown

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NBC10's Tedd Florendo breaks down the brutal winter.

Photo Credit: uofpenn/Instagram

New App Tracks Potholes in NJ

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Looking for a way to avoid potholes in New Jersey? It turns out there’s an app, and a map for that.

A new interactive website shows pothole-weary drivers which areas to avoid. Vertices, an NJ-based company, created a special mapping site in which people can report potholes they come across in the garden state.

“Everybody’s having a really hard time trying to figure out where these potholes are, as they happen,” said Keith Kim, operations manager of Vertices.

Through the website, which launched on February 20, and smartphone app, users provide locations and comments about the potholes as well as descriptions, alerting drivers and repair crews.

“In just over a week, we got more than 600 reports of potholes all over New Jersey,” Kim said. “Over 70 percent of those have been designated as dangerous.”

Click here for instructions on how to download the app for your Apple and Android devices.



Photo Credit: NBC 5 News

2 Men Hurt in Crash

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Two men are fighting for their lives after a car crash in West Philadelphia.

Officials say a vehicle drove into a medium at 48th and Market Streets Wednesday night.

Two men were taken to the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania where they are in critical condition.

Market Street is currently closed at 48th Street. Police are investigating the crash.

Stay with NBC10.com for more details on this developing story.
 



Photo Credit: NBC10.com

New Red Light Camera Fines

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Heads up Philly drivers. New red light camera fines are now in effect.

New $100 fines took effect Thursday at 12:01 a.m. at the intersection of Stenton and Ogontz avenues.

With the new location, Philly now has 26 red light camera intersections and a total of 115 cameras.

Officials with AAA Mid-Atlantic say Philadelphia cameras have caught 787,000 drivers running red lights in the last seven years, leading to $72 million in fines.

Get the full list of red light camera locations in Philly here.


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Man Stabbed in Home Invasion

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Police are investigating a home invasion and stabbing of a man in the Torresdale section of the city.

Police say the 54-year-old man was returning to his home on the 9300 block of Walker Street around 10:30 p.m. on Wednesday. Two men followed him into his home, forced themselves inside and stabbed him, according to investigators.

Police say the suspects then stole prescription drugs and the man's iPad before fleeing the scene.

The victim has a feeding tube, suffers from serious medical conditions and needs a voice box machine to talk, according to police. After the stabbing, investigators say the man pushed his medical alert button for help since he was unable to speak.

Medics arrived and took the man to the Aria-Torresdale Hospital. He is currently in stable condition.

Police say the suspects remain at large. They have not yet released descriptions.

Stay with NBC10.com for more details on this developing story.

Also on NBC10.com:



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Gift for Boy Fighting Leukemia

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Camden County Police joined dozens of departments across the country to give a young boy fighting leukemia a birthday to remember.

Mayor Nutter Budget Address Preview

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Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter is set to unveil his budget plan for the city on Thursday. NBC10 discovered key details of the plan through sources. NBC10's Keith Jones has a preview.

Photo Credit: NBC10 Philadelphia

Deadly Explosion Victim Remembered

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When Linda Cerritelli woke up in her Ewing, N.J. townhome on Tuesday morning feeling sick, she opted to work from home, having no idea the decision would lead to her death. 

A few hours after logging on, the 62-year-old Johnson & Johnson employee was killed when a gas explosion obliterated her home and turned a quiet suburban street into a disaster scene.

“We are just devastated, in shock and broken hearted,” said Tara Jones, who lived next door to the victim for 13 years. “I have an email from her right before the explosion, which were probably her last words. I just keep reading it over and over.”

Throughout Tuesday morning, the two neighbors exchanged emails with the last note from the victim, who Jones affectionately refers to as “Linny,” arriving about 40 minutes before the blast occurred.

“I’m holding Linda’s email…and now memory,” Jones said.

Search crews discovered Cerritelli’s body on the hood of a car outside of 28 Crockett Lane Tuesday evening, more than four hours after the blast destroyed her home.

Officials released her name Wednesday afternoon after family members were notified and an autopsy was completed.

The medical examiner used dental records to identify the victim, according to Ewing Township Police Lt. Ron Lunetta.

Jones says Cerritelli’s boyfriend and some of her family members live in the area, while her son resides in Colorado and a sister resides in Florida.

Other friends expressed their sadness over losing a kind-hearted member of their community.

“She was a good person,” said Ginny Roth, a friend of the victim, who recalled her frequent walks around the South Fork development.

Investigators continue to search for the cause of the blast, which occurred around 12:50 p.m. and injured seven people.

“Our hearts go out to the family and friends of the woman who lost her life and to the families who have been displaced from their homes,” said a PSE&G representative in a news release.

PSE&G officials say they hired private contractor Henkels & McCoy to replace underground electrical service at the unit at 28 Crockett Lane, were Cerritelli lived, earlier in the day because neighbors were having electrical problems. The area was surveyed and marked to make sure gas lines were not hit by workers in the field, according to authorities.

But, officials say, a gas line was struck and damaged during the work. PSE&G workers who came out to investigate and repair the damage were standing in front of the house when the explosion occurred.

Protocol requires workers to call 911 if they uncover or damage a gas line during any excavation work, but it is unclear if authorities were notified prior to the blast.

At least 20 homes were uninhabitable Wednesday and at least 55 units in the complex received some kind of damage.

As investigators piece together what happened, Cerritelli’s friends and family try to make sense of their loss.

“It’s awful,” Jones said. “How much can change in seconds.”



Photo Credit: Facebook

Man Shot in the Head

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A man is fighting for his life after a shooting in the Oxford Circle section of the city.

Police say the man was walking home along Magee and Castor Avenues after a trip to a corner store when an unidentified gunman opened fire.

The man was struck in the head and the suspect fled the scene.

Residents spotted the man on the street and called 911. The victim was taken to Aria-Torresdale Hospital where he is currently in extremely critical condition.

Police have not released information on any suspects.

Stay with NBC10.com for more details on this developing story.



Photo Credit: Scott Olson/Getty Images

District Sued for Beard Rule

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The Philadelphia School District is being sued for alleged religious discrimination over a rule that requires employees to keep their beards at a certain length.

The lawsuit, filed by the U.S. Department of Justice, claims that the school district discriminated against a school police officer by instituting a policy in October of 2010 that prevented school officers from having beards longer than one-quarter inch. Abu-Bakr, a school police officer since 1987, told district officials that the rule conflicted with his Islamic faith, which requires him to not cut his beard. Abu-Bakr says he has had an untrimmed beard longer than one-quarter inch for the 27 years he has worked with the district.

According to the lawsuit, Abu-Bakr notified his supervisor that he could not comply with the new rule due to his religious beliefs. Justice Department officials say he was then issued a written reprimand for violating the policy.

The complaint accuses the district of failing to consider Abu-Bakr’s request for “reasonable accommodation” to its grooming policy.

“Individuals should not have to choose between maintaining their jobs and practicing their faith when accommodations can be reasonably made,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division Jocelyn Samuels.  “Federal law requires all employers, even those with grooming and uniform policies, to reasonably accommodate the religious observances and practices of their employees.”

Officials say Abu-Bakr filed a charge of religious discrimination with the Equal Opportunity Commission (EEOC). The EEOC’s Philadelphia district office investigated the case and determined that there was reasonable cause to believe that discrimination occurred. They then notified the Department of Justice.

“No employee should be forced to violate his religious beliefs in order to earn a living,” said District Director Spencer H. Lewis Jr. of the EEOC’s Philadelphia District Office. “Modifying a dress or grooming code is a reasonable accommodation that enables employees to keep working without posing an undue hardship on the employer.  We are pleased that the EEOC's collaboration with the Department of Justice protects public employees from religious discrimination.”

The lawsuit requires the district to “develop and implement new grooming policies that would prevent its employees from being discriminated against based upon religion.” It’s also calling for monetary damages for Abu-Bakr and other individuals in similar situations.

NBC10 reached out to the school district for comment. We have not yet heard back from them.
 

Wrong-Way Van Smashes Into Cop Car

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A wrong-way driver faces DUI charges after slamming into Philadelphia Police vehicles overnight landing one officer in the hospital with aches and pains.

The incident began around 2:30 a.m. as an officer investigated an unrelated vehicle along the 1100 block of Cumberland Street in North Philadelphia.

“A (minivan) comes the wrong way down Cumberland Street at a high rate of speed, strikes a parked car, bounces off that parked car, hits the officer’s car setting off a chain reaction of other vehicles,” Capt. Patrick Kelly.

The van then plowed into an unoccupied police cruiser before finally coming to a stop. One car wound up being pushed up onto a 4-foot embankment while the van and police vehicle both were heavily damaged.

The van driver and the 22nd District officer were rushed to the hospital for treatment. Both are expected to recover.

The unidentified driver appeared to be intoxicated and what police believed are narcotics were found in his vehicle, said Kelly.

“He’s under investigation for possible DUI and other narcotics charges,” said Kelly.

Kelly was thankful no one else was seriously injured especially the yet-to be identified officer.

“The officer seems to be in good shape for how violent an accident this was,” said Kelly.

“Thank god for that,” said Kelly.

It’s unclear why the driver was going the wrong way.

“What was going through this person’s mind? They come down at least a half block the wrong way – if not further – at such a high-rate of speed. They must have seen the officer’s car, it’s a Jeep, his lights were activated at the time.”



Photo Credit: NBC10.com

Cops Rescue 3 From Burning Home

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A New Jersey homeowner who barely escaped his burning home Wednesday says he has two police officers to thank for rescuing him. 

Christian Harris was in his Elizabeth home when a fire broke out in his attic, according to officials. Thick, heavy smoke began billowing from the windows and roof, and the fire quickly overtook the house. 

Elizabeth police officer Derrick Cheatham and his partner arrived on the scene and rushed into the house, bringing Harris out along with two plumbers working inside.

"He had no idea," Cheatham said. "He came up from the basement and he had no idea." 

They escaped just as the smoke became suffocating. 

"The smoke overtook us," Harris said. "I tried to get to my office to get something. Wasn't the flames but the fumes that really overtook me." 

Soon after, the fire quickly consumed the interior of the 1930s home. The burned remains brought Harris' wife, Janet, to tears Wednesday night. 

"I'm just really glad the house could be put back together, but you know, the memories are gone, the pictures are gone," she said. 

"But we're alive," she continued. "I can't be too sad." 

A preliminary investigation shows the flames started in the attic but grew in between the frame and the exterior of the house, pushing the fire to three alarms and challenging first responders. It's a fire that easily could have turned deadly if the police officers hadn't arrived and entered the home. 

"I'm just really grateful they did that," Harris said. "Really grateful."  

Cheatham said that for his part, he "just had to do what I had to do." 

Two firefighters went to the hospital with minor injuries from the fire. 

The house was boarded up Wednesday night, and the family plans to begin rebuilding Thursday. 

Firefighters Delayed in Deadly Fire

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Four people were killed early Thursday when a fire ripped through a rowhouse in Jersey City where the mayor says firefighters may have been delayed by confusion over the address.

Mayor Steven Fulop said the response time for the fire was approximately double the usual three to four minutes, and that confusion about the street name may have contributed to the delay. 

The victims were believed to be a couple in their 80s and their two sons, in their 50s. Four bodies were found several hours after the fire at the four-family home on Grant Avenue was extinguished; the identities have not been confirmed.

The blaze broke out at about 1 a.m., firefighters said, and quickly spread. Flames and heavy smoke could be seen jutting out of windows of four homes. 

"The flames were bouncing from house to house, almost like hopscotch," said one resident.

The Red Cross said it is assisting 37 people displaced by the fire; three families are from the four fire-damaged homes and the others live in nearby buildings that were also evacuated.

A firefighter was taken to the hospital for minor electrical shocks, fire officials said. 

Jersey City Fire Chief Darren Rivers said the fire was brought under control shortly before 7 a.m., but utility crews were working to secure a leaking gas line under one of the homes. Once that's fixed, he said the buildings most damaged by the fire will likely be demolished. 



Photo Credit: NBC 4 New York

Officer Hurt in House Fire

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NBC10's Christine Maddela reports from Camden, N.J. on a fire that landed a police officer in the hospital.

Smoking House Fire

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NBC10's SkyForce10 hovers over a billowing house fire in Paulsboro, N.J.

Photo Credit: SkyForce10

Protesters Rally Outside City Hall

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Hundreds gather outside City Hall to protest Mayor Michael Nutter's 2015 budget proposal Thursday morning.

Last year, protesters descended inside City Council chambers blowing whistles and yelling making it nearly impossible for Nutter to be heard. Due to the noise, last year's budget proposal address was postponed until later in the day.

This year, only guests with tickets are allowed inside council chambers. Protesters began gathering outside hours before the address, which was delayed from its 10 a.m. scheduled time. 



Photo Credit: NBC10.com

Man Leaves Car, Jumps Off Bridge

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A man abandoned his car and jumped off the Walt Whitman Bridge this morning causing a large search effort and closed lanes.

Police blocked eastbound and westbound lanes along the span over the Delaware River between Philadelphia and South Jersey shortly before 10 a.m. as they investigated.

Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector of Homeland Security and Counter-Terrorism tweeted that the Philadelphia Police’s Marine Unit responded to the river below the bridge to search “for a male jumper.”

Motorists turned to Twitter as they wondered what happened.

Delaware River Port Authority spokesman Tim Ireland said that the man jumped from the south side of the bridge (eastern-direction lanes) and that it caused some traffic troubles but nothing major.

Traffic got by the mid-span of the bridge as police cars stopped to respond to the abandoned vehicle and look at the river below.

This river search came a day after a man fleeing police plunged into the Schuylkill River near 30th Street Station. 



Photo Credit: mooncrab713/Instagram

Residents Picking Up Pieces After Deadly Explosion

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Jesse Gary talks to displaced residents one day after a deadly explosion ripped through their neighborhood in Ewing Township

New Real Estate Tool

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Like many first-time homebuyers, Alex Roscoe and his wife began their search by bargain-hunting.

"We're priced out of stuff already so we were trying to see if we can find a deal somewhere," 29-year-old Roscoe said. "And initially the Philadelphia sheriff's sale seemed like an interesting avenue to pursue."

The Drexel University alum started combing through the properties listed for sheriff's sale online, but he found searching for a low-priced home on the website arduous.

"Philadelphia is a very big city, so it is hard to tell where everything is located from their list," he said.

Instead of allowing the interface to deter him, Roscoe scraped the sheriff sale data and built his own website, SheriffRoscoe.com.
 
"I had to develop a script that went through each page [of the Philadelphia Sheriff's Office website]," he said.

The site displays the more than 3,000 properties set for the auction block across a searchable map. Parcels are color-coded to indicate whether the owner fell behind on taxes or mortgage payments. Click on a specific marker and essential information, like the scheduled auction date, opening bid, previous purchase price and market value, appear.

A research tab links out to other government sites so prospective buyers can find out if the real estate is involved in litigation or what potential property taxes they would pay as the new owner.

"When you are looking for homes, taxes could play a big part in it," Roscoe said. "Someone could eliminate a property based off that."

Roscoe spent nearly 40 hours developing the site, which earned him a prize at Philly Codefest.

"It is a cool and useful visualization on top of the relatively poor interface that was available," said Chris Alfano, a Code for Philly co-captain and one of the Philly Codefest judges who evaluated Roscoe's project.

Alfano says SheriffRoscoe.com could also help the city unload tax-delinquent properties.

"Through increased visibility and accessibility, more people become aware of these sales, which could lead to increased revenue for the city," Alfano said.

While one real estate expert admits the site takes some of the mystery out of buying properties at sheriff's sales, he cautions that acquiring a property through this channel can be complicated.

"A sheriff's sale auction is a process that the average investor, let alone the first-time investor, doesn't usually know," said Joe Herzog, a realtor with Coldwell Banker Preferred. "This is an even more valuable tool for an experienced investor.  ...You don't have to read through 100 properties and find the zip codes that you like. It would streamline the research process."

Regardless of the steps required to purchase at auction, Herzog sees the site as a win.

"It is one less barrier to entry," he said.

And the Philadelphia Sheriff's Department sees the potential in showcasing properties listed for sale on a map.

"Something like this is in our future," said Joseph Blake, spokesman for Philadelphia Sheriff's Office. "We will make it uniquely our own."

But, Blake admits, there is no timeline in place for the creation and launch of its own version.

Until it is unveiled, SheriffRoscoe.Com is available to provide some clarity to a murky part of the real estate world.


Contact Alison Burdo at 610.668.5635, alison.burdo@nbcuni.com or follow @NewsBurd on Twitter.



Photo Credit: Alex Roscoe

K9 Officer’s Death Results In Drug Case Dismissal

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Hours after losing a member of the Folcroft Police force, the department lost an alleged drug dealer. However, the man didn’t evade police in a way you might think.

He was set free by a Delaware County judge who believed the sudden death of one of the department’s K9 officers was not cause for delaying a hearing.

"It is mind-boggling," said Folcroft Police Chief Robert Ruskowski.

It was late Tuesday night when K9 Officer Umberto, an 8 year veteran of the police force, took ill and had to be put down by a local vet.

His partner and keeper, Cpl. Christopher Eiserman, was scheduled to testify on Wednesday at a preliminary hearing for Dennis McKenzie, Jr. The 36-year-old from Sharon Hill, Pa. was arrested in January for possessing 150 grams of marijuana and later charged with intent to deliver, Ruskowski said.

Devastated by the loss of Umberto, Eiserman submitted paperwork asking for a continuance for the hearing, citing the death as extenuating circumstances. But the request was denied by Magisterial District Judge Horace Davis and the case dismissed because Eiserman, the arresting officer, was not present to testify.

"Continuances and waivers are a common thing in court. It’s just part of the system," Ruskowski said. "What about common courtesy and respect? Obviously he’s part of our force. He’s not just a dog."

Umberto, 12, came to the department in 2006 thanks to fundraising efforts by the residents and local businesses, Ruskowski said. "This community stepped up to the plate big time and it’s there loss too," he said.

Rukowski said the prosecutor on the case asked the judge for a continuance because of a death in Eiserman’s family, but the judge said that wasn’t a reason.

However, a short time later, Davis granted a continuance in another case where Eiserman was scheduled to testify. Like before, the prosecutor asked for the continuance, but this time another officer also spoke up saying the family member who died was the corporal's partner. After a pause, the judge issued a two-week continuance in that case, Ruskowski said.

"It’s crazy…The hypocrisy of it all," he said.

Frustrating the department most was that McKenzie, Jr. was set free, not on the merits of a case, but on a technicality.

"We weren't asking for preferential treatment," Ruskowski said.

NBC10 contacted Judge Davis to inquire why the continuance was not granted. He said he "had no comment on the case."

Ruskowski said the department asked the Delaware County District Attorney’s Office to issue a rearrest warrant in the case. Emily Harris, spokeswoman for the DA’s office, said the paperwork is in the process of being filed.

NBC10 reached out to McKenzie’s attorney for comment, but did not hear back by the time of publication.

Umberto was one of two K9 officers with the department. Ruskowski said it’s too early to say whether they will train and swear in another K9.


Contact Vince Lattanzio at 610.668.5532, vince.lattanzio@nbcuni.com or follow @VinceLattanzio on Twitter.



Photo Credit: Cpl. Christopher Eiserman
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