Joey Torres is officially no longer the mayor of Paterson, New Jersey.

The embattled politician formally resigned his title at 9 a.m. Monday in a letter to Paterson's acting clerk, days after pleading guilty to conspiracy charges in a corruption case sparked by an I-Team investigation in 2016. 

"Thank you for the privilege of serving the people of Paterson," Torres' resgination letter said in closing. 

Torres had to resign as part of the plea deal and agree to never again seek a public office. He will also spend up to five years behind bars and pay restitution to the city of Paterson over the scheme to steal from taxpayers by ordering city workers to do construction on a relative's would-be beer business.

Torres accepted the deal Friday, hours after Paterson Department of Public Works employees caught on camera doing work for the now former mayor's family also accepted plea deals and agreed to cooperate with prosecutors.

After Friday's hearing, Torres, a Democrat, only said, "I'm sorry" to reporters outside the courtroom. 

His attorney Ricardo Solando later told reporters, "He served as a public servant for 30 years, as mayor for 11 years. He sees this as a very sad day. He certainly didn't see this as the end of his career."

Torres is being replaced by City Council President Ruby Cotton until the May 2018 election.

After meeting with department heads at City Hall Monday, she told reporters afterward she will make improving the quality of life in the city her top priority.

"One thing I can say, you will be able to speak with mayor," she said. "You will be able to visit the mayor, and I will be what an elected official is supposed to be -- a servant to the people."

"I became mayor of the city under a black cloud, but hopefully, God willing, a light is going to shine through this," she said. 

Cotton said she will not run for mayor in May 2018 but expects to serve out the current term until the end of June, when the new elected mayor is sworn in. 

New Jersey Attorney General Christopher S. Porrino, whose office prosecuted the case, said that hopefully the guilty plea will allow Paterson residents to move on.

"This mayor, Joey Torres, is blatantly corrupt and despite all of the righteous indignation, the denials and the promises of vindication, today he admitted that he’s corrupt," Porrino said. 

He added, "We have zero tolerance for corruption in the state of New Jersey."

Paterson residents were looking forward to closing the chapter on Torres and finding honest leadership. 

"Maybe things will start going forward instead of backward," said Tamara Grey.

"It's about working together as one -- not so much about politics but about leadership," said Andres Scott. 

Torres was arrested in March, accused of using city workers to do private construction work at a relative's planned beer business, all the while billing taxpayers.

Torres initially denied any wrongdoing and vowed to fight the charges. The mayor's arrest came after a series of I-Team stories that appeared to show city employees doing private jobs for him, from washing his scooter and building bookshelves to doing construction at his nephew's would-be beer business.

Three Department of Public Works supervisors -- Timothy Hanlon, Joseph Mania and Imad Mowases -- were also charged in the scheme. All three will lose their jobs after pleading guilty, but none will face prison time. 

A New Jersey family’s young Alaskan Shepherd was killed by a hunter who mistakenly thought it was a coyote, according to People Pets. 

Tonka and his owner, Elizabeth Mongo, were out for a walk in their backyard of Readington Township when the dog suddenly saw a group of deer and took off after them.

Mongo told People that she began running behind him and calling his name, but just a short time later she heard a loud bang and then a yelp. After a brief time searching for Tonka, Mongo and her husband found the dog’s body, dead from a crossbow.

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection told People that a 40-year-old licensed hunter had killed Tonka because he thought the dog was coyote chasing after deer. Bow season began Sept. 9 and it is legal for a hunter to take a coyote while hunting other animals, according to People.

Mongo told People she has a difficult time believing Tonka, who was about twice as a big as a coyote, could be mistaken for one.

Neighbors helped lead Philadelphia police already responding to a double shooting to a murder scene.

Gunfire rang out shortly before 1 a.m. Tuesday along the 600 block of N Perth Street, just north of the Edgar Allen Poe House on Spring Garden Street, Philadelphia police said.

Officers found a 56-year-old and 28-year-old suffering from gunshot wounds. Both men were treated at the hospital with the younger one in critical condition and the older one in stable condition, police said.

Less than an hour later, neighbors directed detectives already on the scene investigating the double shooting to an unconscious and unresponsive man lying in the bushes near the apartments off nearby Franklin Place. The 36-year-old unidentified man – suffering a gunshot wound to the back – died at the scene.

No motive was given for the shooting.

Investigators hoped that police cameras in the area captured the shooters. Only scant descriptions were available.

Members of the military use a workout that is not for the faint of heart, and you can too if you are up for the challenge. NBC10's Jessica Boyington tries her luck mility-style at CrossFit Rittenhouse.

Investigators in "America’s Greatest Family Resort" along the Jersey shore hope surveillance images lead them to a violent road rage suspect.

Video captured the driver of the white Dodge Sprinter van turning onto Haven Avenue from E 9th Street around 7:20 p.m. Saturday, Ocean City police said.

The driver left a person injured, police said. Investigators didn't reveal the type of assault.

NBC10 reached out to Ocean City police to find out more about the incident.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Robert Koob at 609-525-9132.

Fall has arrived and it is the season to get colorful family photos with all the changing leaves. The best time of day to shoot is an hour after sunrise or an hour before sunset. NBC10's Katy Zachry tells us where to get the best snapshots and how to make your pictures standout.

Steve Harvey is back, but this time in Los Angeles. NBC10's Jacqueline London flew out to talk to Steve about his move and how he balances his busy schedule.

From whole islands losing power to entire neighborhoods flooded, millions of people have been affected by a string of natural disasters, and they are in need of help. It's hard to watch as loved ones or even strangers in Mexico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Florida, and Texas continue to suffer in the aftermath of hurricanes and earthquakes.

That's led many people to want to help. But there are better -- and worse -- ways to give, and even some scams out there.

Here's what you need to know:

Q: What if I need to reach family and friends in Puerto Rico to see if they need help?

A: The Puerto Rican government suggests anyone looking for family or friends call the Federal Affairs Administration at 202-800-3133. You can also visit the American Red Cross' online Safe and Well Registry to search its list of people who have registered as safe. Use the Red Cross app to register and check for loved ones, as well.

The City of Philadelphia also has published a new page on its website of resources to help people find help and share information.

Q: Where can I donate?

A: First, a few steps you should take in order to find the right organization for you to donate to:

1. Who have you heard about? Donate to organizations you know are reliable and trustworthy.
2. Double check the charity is real. You can go to websites such as CharityCheck, Charity Navigator, and GuideStar to make sure your donation goes to the right place.
3. Designate where you want the money to go. Some organizations allow you to pick where you want the donation to go, such as the Earthquake Efforts in Mexico or Hurricane Relief in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
4. Be aware of the scams. GoFundMe pages and other individually-run funds are less trustworthy, so only give to who you trust. If you are texting to donate, confirm the number with organization on their website or by calling.

Q: What organization could I give to?

A: The following are examples of organizations that are known for their relief services and are currently working on site in Texas, Florida, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Mexico:

United for Puerto Rico

UNICEF

Global Giving

Catholic Charities

American Red Cross

American Kidney Fund

Save the Children

Mercy Corps

Hispanic Federation "Unidos" Hurricane Relief Fund

One America Appeal

Q: What do they need?

A: Each situation is different, but the overarching necessity is money. By sending money, the organizations can use those fund in any way they see necessary: food, water, shelters, restoring comunication and infrastructure, etc.

Q: Can I still send items such as clothes, water bottles, or blankets?

A: If you would like to send a non-monetary donation, please check with the organization. Many times, these items go to waste because they are not needed at the time of arrival. If items are needed, they will be on the organization's website. You can also call to find out what to send and where to send it. 

A Philadelphia police van wreck near an airport left an officer hospitalized and a person hurt.

A green SUV appeared to rear end the police van around 10:30 a.m. along Decatur Road near Drummond Road – a short distance from Northeast Philadelphia Airport.

The officer was expected to be treated and released from the hospital while a person in the other vehicle complained of pain that also required hospitalization, police said.

The wreck left the back of the van damaged and the front of the SUV crushed in.

Dozens of bicyclists wearing orange and yellow security vests could be seen stopped by the crash scene. Police had no information on why those bikers were at the scene.

Expect traffic delays in the area.

"Don't let this guy burn your property too!"

Police in Bensalem, Bucks County released video of a partially masked man torching a convertible as they try to catch the arsonist before he strikes again.

Surveillance video captured the suspect making several attempts to burn the car before it went up in flames around 2:15 a.m. on Sept. 20.

Video shows the man — wearing an Adidas cap, protective goggles, sneakers with a distinctive stripe and a bandanna partially covering his face — trying to break the window of the convertible parked in a lot at State Road and Wicker Avenue to pour gas inside, police said.

After the attempt failed, the suspect tried to put a gasoline-soaked rag in the car's gas tank in hopes of making the vehicle explode, police said.

Unsuccessful, the man then poured gasoline over the top of the car, lit a flare, and ignited the blaze. The man fled the scene while a fireball quickly engulfed the vehicle.

Police hope surveillance video, which shows the man’s style of walking, mannerisms and clothing could help them track down the arsonist.

"We need to get this guy off of the street before his pyromania gets someone hurt," police said in a news release.

Anyone with information is asked to submit a tip online or call Bensalem police at 215-633-3719.

A woman watching after a South Jersey home was found dead in a case of homicide.

Someone found 26-year-old Shawneeq Carter dead inside a home along Hopkins Street in Woodbury Saturday night, the Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office said Tuesday.

The county coroner determined Carter, who hailed from Camden, was beaten to death.

Carter was house-sitting the home with a front porch and trees out front for a resident who wasn’t in the Woodbury area at the time of the discovery, prosecutors said.

Investigators asked anyone with information to call prosecutor’s office Detective Warren Rivell at 856-384-5625 or Woodbury police Det. Carl Villone at 856-845-0065.

Philadelphia-area union workers are joining a wave of litigation against opioid manufacturers after losing eight members to addiction in 11 months.

The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local Union 98 (IBEW) said it is preparing to file a lawsuit against pharmaceutical companies that have contributed to the growing opioid crisis. They plan to file in civil court later this week after consulting with other local and national unions interested in joining a class action suit.

"IBEW Local 98 will no longer allow the manufacturers and marketers of these deadly drugs to peddle their poison to our members without facing severe consequences," Local 98 business manager John Dougherty said.

"I have seen far too many of our members lose their lives to opioids," Dougherty said. "It's a national epidemic and I believe the only way to get the attention of Big Pharma is to hit them in the wallet."

The fight against opioid manufacturers is also extending to local municipalities, who are waging their own wars against the deadly epidemic. Bensalem Township is bringing claims against several drug companies and their subsidiaries, including Purdue Pharma, Teva Pharmaceuticals, Cephalon, Johnson & Johnson and Endo Pharmaceuticals.

Similar litigation is already underway in Oklahoma, Ohio and Mississippi.

But in Philadelphia, construction workers are especially susceptible to injury and, as a result, often turn to opioids for rehabilitation, Dougherty said. But addiction is never far behind.

“They don't want to miss any work time, so they work through injuries, which compounds the pain and leads to the use and abuse of opioids. I'm sick of seeing our members working themselves into an early grave,” he said.

Earlier this year, Local 98 changed its opioid prescription policy in an effort to prevent addiction. Members using the union’s health care provider are now limited to five days on any opioid prescription for injury or pain management. Previously, their plan allowed for unlimited prescriptions.

"We researched it and found that for those Local 98 members who received opioid prescriptions of five days or less, the addiction rate was 10 percent. For those members who received opioid prescriptions of 10 days' duration or more, the addiction rate jumped to 25 percent,” Dougherty said. “We had to change the policy for the health and safety of our members."

But it took the union nearly two years of fighting with insurance providers before a change was made, Local 98 spokesman Frank Keel said. 

In 2016, 907 people died from overdoses in Philadelphia, more than three times the number of homicides in the city.

But officials project as many as 1,200 people could die from opioid-related overdoses this year, with thousands more suffering from non-deadly overdoses, according to Mayor Jim Kenney’s Task Force to Combat the Opioid Epidemic.

Often users will quickly move from powerful painkillers to heroin when they can no longer afford the legal drugs. NBC10 explored this transition and how the crisis is claiming an increasing number of lives in a special, six-month long investigation, Generation Addicted.

Family members are searching for a missing Burlington County man.

Cody MacPherson, 20, of Browns Mills, New Jersey, went missing over the weekend. MacPherson’s sister-in-law told NBC10 he was last seen in Browns Mills around 4 a.m. Sunday. 

MacPherson is described as a white male with brown hair. He was last seen wearing black shorts, a black shirt, green Nike shoes and a hat. He also wears glasses and has a tattoo on his hand that has been partially scratched off as well as a tattoo on his chest.

If you have any information on his whereabouts, please call Pemberton Township Police at 609-723-8300.

As millions continue to cope with widespread power outages in Puerto Rico in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria, three sisters from the Philadelphia area received a much-needed lifeline thanks to a phone call that happened by chance.

Robert Martinez and his wife, who currently live in Abington, Pennsylvania, visited their home in Puerto Rico only days before Category 4 Hurricane Maria made landfall on September 20. While the couple rode out the storm, their daughters Ana Nihart of Phoenixville, Katherine Martinez of Philadelphia and Isabelle Martinez of Abington were unable to reach them.

“It was just getting too hard not hearing from them to have to go through that by ourselves,” Katherine Martinez said.

Yet the fears the sisters had were eased over the weekend with one phone call. Their father happened to run into NBC News reporter Gabe Gutierrez, who was covering the devastation in Isabella, Puerto Rico for a special report.

“It’s frustrating to communicate with our families back home,” Robert Martinez told Gutierrez. “They can’t hear from us. They don’t know what’s going on.”

The NBC News crew allowed Robert Martinez to use a satellite phone and his daughters heard from him for the first time since Maria made landfall. While the call lasted less than two minutes, it was enough for the daughters to know that their parents survived the hurricane.

“Your mom and I are okay,” Robert Martinez told his daughters while fighting back tears.

Communication has been severely limited in Puerto Rico with many people standing on the sides of roads with their cellphones trying to get a signal. Most of the island is still without electricity or running water. The three sisters are grateful however that their parents are alive.

“It was such a relief,” Isabelle Martinez said. “Everything lifted off my body. I just felt like I could breathe again.”

After the phone call, the sisters repeatedly watched the NBC News report featuring their father so that they could see him and hear his voice, unsure of when they’ll get their next chance.

“Feels like the constant reminder,” Isabelle Martinez said. “We still don’t know what’s next and can only hope for the best.”

Officials say Puerto Rico, home to about 3.3 million people, could face months without electricity. Maria also hit two other Caribbean islands hard, killing at least seven people on Dominica and one on Guadeloupe. Click here for information on how to help victims of Maria.

Hurricane Maria is relentlessly churning up the Jersey Shore. Since Saturday, more than 100 water rescues have been carried out, and three people have died. NBC10's Ted Greenburg has the story.

Police are searching for a missing Philadelphia boy.

Semaj Leake, 8, was last seen on the 400 block of Nedro Avenue Tuesday at 12:40 p.m.

Semaj is 4-feet tall and weighs 70 pounds with a medium-brown complexion. He was last seen wearing a blue polo, blue khaki-style pants and black Nike Air Force One sneakers.

If you have any information on his whereabouts, please call Northeast Detectives at 215-686-3353/54 or dial 911.

Even at age 60, Steve Harvey is still making major life changes. NBC10's Jacqueline London sits down with Harvey to discuss his career.

NBC late night host and comedian Jimmy Fallon lent a huge helping hand to students at the University of Pennsylvania who are raising money for victims of Hurricane Maria.

The Daily Pennsylvania first reported the Tonight Show host donated $20,000 to the “Students with Puerto Rico” campaign, organized by three Penn students. A spokesperson with NBC later confirmed Fallon’s contribution.

[[448076573, C]]

The student organizers of the campaign are working with representatives from 85 other universities across the country to raise money for Unidos por Puerto Rico, a public-private initiative helping victims of Maria. So far "Students With Puerto Rico" has raised more than $100,000.

The Category 4 storm made landfall in Puerto Rico on September 20 and caused widespread devastation and power outages for the approximately 3.3 million people living on the island. Puerto Rico could face months without electricity. Maria also hit two other Caribbean islands hard, killing at least seven people on Dominica and one on Guadeloupe. Click here for information on how to help victims of Maria.