A 66-year-old man with dementia who left the Philadelphia Veteran Affairs Hospital Saturday night has been located, unharmed.
Edward Sojourner was a patient who was not permitted to leave the hospital, police said.
His family thanked the public for sharing his story.
A Burlington County man has been charged in the stabbing deaths of two Collingswood, New Jersey women and the serious wounding of a third.
Police found the women Saturday evening after neighbors reported hearing screaming from the home in the 100 block of East Narberth Terrace. When police arrived, they found Colleen Brownell, 48, and Alysia McCloskey, 41, stabbed to death, police said.
Another woman, 45, had been seriously wounded, police said. She is still hospitalized.
Sunday, they charged Mark Lyczak, 44, with two counts of first-degree murder and one count of first degree attempted murder.
Lyczak knew the victims and was still on the scene when police arrived, police said.
He is now in the Camden County Correctional Facility, waiting for a pretrial hearing.
For the four Republicans who hope to challenge Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf's re-election bid next year, the first "playoff game" before the May 15 primary election will be the state party's endorsement.
That endorsement vote, scheduled for Feb. 10, could determine who stays in the primary race and who gets to brag that they won the endorsement while drawing upon the financial benefits of the party's backing.
Should the party be unable or unwilling to endorse, it would be the first time in 40 years.
A looming four-way contest puts the 347 state Republican Party committee members in the sticky position of choosing between two people -- York County state Sen. Scott Wagner and state House Speaker Mike Turzai, of suburban Pittsburgh-- who have played outsized roles in helping elect Republican lawmakers.
"It's a squeamish situation for some of them," said Alan Novak, the Republican Party's chairman from 1996 through 2004.
All four candidates, including lawyer Laura Ellsworth and former health care systems consultant Paul Mango, both of suburban Pittsburgh, have told party officials they will run in the primary, with or without the party's endorsement.
Wagner is widely viewed as the favorite after announcing his candidacy a year ago, far before the others. The day after Turzai announced his candidacy in November, Wagner's campaign released a list of 64 state committee members who, it said, had endorsed him.
No other candidate has released a list of state committee supporters, but the persuasion campaign is in full swing: letter writing, personal phone calls and meet-and-greets.
"It's very difficult in that all these people are getting in it, and they all think they are the most likely candidate to win it, and they all think they have enough votes at state committee to win," said Michael Meehan, Philadelphia's Republican Party chairman. "Unfortunately, all of them can't win."
No GOP-endorsed candidate has lost Pennsylvania's gubernatorial primary in 40 years.
Still, an endorsement of Wagner would represent a break with a tradition of backing establishment-style candidates.
Wagner was endorsed by Steve Bannon, President Donald Trump's former strategist who, as chairman of the right-wing Breitbart News, backed Roy Moore's failed candidacy in Alabama's U.S. Senate race that cost Republicans a seat in the chamber.
The founder of a prominent trash-hauling company in south-central Pennsylvania, Wagner touts his business credentials and is rated by the American Conservative Union as among the Senate's five most conservative senators. His penchant for speaking off-the-cuff makes him a magnet for controversy, and he has clashed openly with moderate members of his caucus.
He took office in 2014 by winning a write-in bid over the GOP's hand-picked candidate, a veteran state lawmaker, in an expensive and bruising primary in which top Republican senators spent heavily to try to defeat him. Before that, he donated heavily to conservative candidates and causes, even if it meant challenging sitting Republican public officials.
Starting Jan. 6, the state party's regional caucuses will begin meeting with the candidates and holding straw votes ahead of a formal state committee vote. Regional caucus meetings will wrap up Feb. 3, a week before committee members meet in Hershey to decide party endorsements.
"A lot of people in the counties really haven't made a decision yet," said Dick Stewart, co-chair of the Central Caucus. "I think they really want to hear the candidates make a presentation."
In election seasons since 1978, it has been obvious as to who would win the party's gubernatorial endorsement, said Blake Marles, who chairs the four-county northeast central caucus. The promise of an endorsement is typically used as a shield to avoid potentially divisive and expensive primary contests, and the GOP field is usually clear well before the party's endorsement meeting.
Not this year.
The prospect of losing the endorsement isn't scaring candidates away from running without it, and the Republican Party's cash may be stretched to help save congressional and legislative majorities in a difficult mid-term election.
"So the question is then," said Charles Gerow, a committee member from Cumberland County, "what's the endorsement's true value?"
Watch the SugarHouse New Year's Eve Fireworks on the Waterfront LIVE in the video embedded above starting at 11:50 p.m.
As Philadelphia says goodbye to 2017 and ushers in 2018, the SugarHouse New Year's Eve Fireworks on the Waterfront will light up the sky.
And you can see it all on NBC10!
We'll be covering the 6 p.m. and midnight fireworks live, including from Winterfest at the BlueCross RiverRink.
You can watch live on NBC10, or stream live in this article and on our Facebook page.
Enjoy, and have a happy new year!
Headed out on New Year's? Here are your public transit options to get around safely. SEPTA is adding trains to the Broad Street line and the and Market-Frankford El. They will be running all night into New Year's morning. PATCO is offering free rides from 8 p.m.-4 a.m. NBC10's Jessica Boyington has what you need to know.
Frigid temperatures at the Linc on Sunday were in the teens. The wind chill dipped into single digits.
The Eagles' starting offense was colder.
Nick Foles didn't inspire much confidence as he and the starters put together a lackluster four drives in the first quarter as the Eagles eventually went on to lose the meaningless regular season finale by a score of 6-0 in an absolute snooze-fest (see Roob's observations).
Before Sunday, the last time the Eagles were shut out was the last game of the 2009 season. The last time they were shut out at home was in 2005 against the Seahawks.
The good news is that the Eagles' defense played well for most of the afternoon and the entire team escaped without any real injuries.
The bad news is that confidence in Foles might be at an all-time low with a playoff game just two weeks away.
With the loss, the Eagles finished the regular season with a 13-3 record and failed to win the meaningless game that would have given them their first 14-win season in franchise history.
The Cowboys won and finished their season with a 9-7 record, which doesn't look terrible, but they missed the playoffs and had an extremely disappointing season a year after they were the No. 1 seed in the NFC.
Sunday's game was the first scoreless game through three quarters in the NFL since December 2007.
The first half was brutal too. It was 0-0 after 30 minutes. The highlight of the first half was when punter Donnie Jones forgot to take off his warmup pants and had to do it in a hurry before booting a ball to the Dallas 4-yard line.
This was the first time an Eagles-Cowboys game had ever been scoreless at halftime, according to ESPN. It was the first scoreless half in Philadelphia since 1993.
It was the first scoreless game at halftime in the entire NFL since December 2011.
Turning point
The Cowboys put together a 99-yard touchdown drive after Jones pinned them at the centimeter mark. It put them up 6-0 after the missed extra point. That's all they needed.
Key stat
Foles was 4 for 11 for 39 yards and an interception. He had a passer rating of 9.3.
He became the first Eagles quarterback to have a passer rating under 10 with at least 10 passing attempts in a game since Donovan McNabb in 2007. He's the second player in the NFL to do it this season, joining Matt Cassel.
Offensive stud
No, he wasn't great, but Nate Sudfeld made a few good plays, including a 22-yard scramble. Sports talk radio will be fun in Philly for the next two weeks.
Offensive dud
Foles was pretty terrible in his four first-quarter drives. Maybe the offense could have put up points if Torrey Smith doesn't drop a pass on third down on the first drive, but it's hard to say. Foles didn't gain any confidence on Sunday afternoon.
Defensive stud
Vinny Curry was forced to play a lot on Sunday because Brandon Graham was out. He played really well. He was a force against the run, even after most of the other starters were out.
Defensive dud
Rasul Douglas didn't have a great game. He had a particularly bad series on the Cowboys' scoring drive early in the fourth quarter. He was beaten on a 20-yard slant for the touchdown.
Sidney Jones watch
Jones played some significant time in his NFL debut and had an up and down day. He showed he can play tight coverage at times. He did let Ezekiel Elliott get wide on him for a first-down run and later was beaten by Terrence Williams on a sluggo route, but the pass fell incomplete.
Jones left briefly in the third quarter after cramping and didn't return, although he was listed as probable to return.
Key plays
•Dak Prescott hit Brice Butler for a 20-yard touchdown pass to break the scoreless tie in the fourth quarter. Douglas was beaten on the play. That capped a 99-yard touchdown drive. It was the only score of the game.
•Sudfeld scrambled for 22 yards on third down in the third quarter, but the Eagles' offense stalled. Then Donnie Jones drilled a perfect punt that went out inside the Cowboys' 1-yard line.
•On Sudfeld's second drive, the Eagles started in Dallas territory, but Mack Hollins dropped a pass on first down. Then came a short run and a sack. That was the Eagles' best chance to score in the first half.
•Foles threw a terrible interception about 2/3s through the first quarter. He just underthrew the pass terribly.
•The Eagles stuffed Elliott on fourth down on the Cowboys' first drive.
•On a key third down in the first quarter, Torrey Smith dropped a pass on third down when he was wide open. The fourth-down pass fell incomplete.
Injuries
Graham (ankle) sat out Sunday's game. He should be good to go for the playoffs. Same with Jalen Mills (ankle).
Up next
It's playoff time at the Linc in two weeks.
Four family members are dead after a shooting with an assault rifle in Long Branch, New Jersey, law enforcement sources familiar with the investigation tell NBC 4 New York.
The sources tell News 4 that a 16-year-old boy is in custody. The teenager is expected to be charged with killing four family members, including mother and grandmother, according to sources.
The identity of the other two people killed are a juvenile female and an adult male, but their relationship to the 16-year-old suspect was not clear.
It also wasn't clear what time the shots rang out, but the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office tweeted just after 2 Monday morning that there is no threat to the public as they believe it was a domestic incident.
A motive to the shooting is not known. The names of the victims have not been released.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
Two people were injured in a multi-car accident on Roosevelt Boulevard with one car ending up on its roof. One lane of traffic is now getting by after the northbound lanes were closed. First Alert Traffic Reporter Pamela Osborne is watching the scene live. Stay with NBC10 for updates.
The season of kindness is a time to encourage to be kind to one another. David Gerbstadt, an artist in Chester County is trying to spread that message through pins. NBC10's Matt DeLucia shows us how he is making a difference.
Despite the forecast for dangerously cold temperatures, the 2018 Mummers Parade is still on for New Year's Day.
Parade organizers voted Saturday that the annual parade will take place as scheduled on Monday.
The city will provide warming tents at the parade staging areas where Mummers can stay warmw hile they wait to march.
“The Mummers Parade is a New Year’s tradition that dates back almost 100 years,” said Assistant City Managing Director Leo Dignam. “Cold temperatures are nothing new. Over the years, we’ve experienced sub-freezing temperatures and worse. Where we can, we will take appropriate steps to help protect marchers against the elements, but I believe the overwhelming sentiment among the Mummers will be to move ahead, let them march, and keep this incredible folkloric Philadelphia institution alive.”
As another precaution, the Mummers will be able to keep their busses with them in the staging areas and along the parade route for performers to stay warm.
City officials recommend spectators braving the cold to find warmth at the cafe on Dilworth Park or in the nearby SEPTA concourse. Along the parade route, the Kimmel Center at Broad and Spruce will be open for those looking to warm up.
The Creative and Performing Arts High School (CAPA), located at Broad and Carpenter streets, will also be opened. Students will sell hot chocolate and snacks in the grand hall during the parade for spectators looking to warm up. All proceeds from their sales will go to the school's musical budget.
The NBC10 First Alert Weather Team says the high temperature in Philadelphia on New Year's Day will come in around 20 degrees. Frigid winds will make it feel close to zero. During the parade, temperatures may only reach 15 degrees.
If the 117-year-old parade was postponed, it would have moved to Saturday, Jan. 6, 2018. But that weekend is expected to be bitterly cold as well.
The parade has been canceled or postponed in the past due to rain or snow, most recently in 2003. But the Mummers have marched in the cold in the past.
The very first babies of 2018 have arrived in South Jersey.
Two lucky familes welcomed new family members just after the strike of midnight.
Baby E'laya Love Lewis was born at midnight New Year's Day at Cooper Hospital in Camden. Congratulations to mom Jasmine Walker on her new Year bundle of joy.
Also in Camden County, baby Declan was born at Virtua Voorhees at 12:54 a.m. Declan weighed in at 8 pounds, 4 ounces with a height of 19.6 inches.
Did you welcome a new baby this New Year's? Send us your story here.
What new laws may save you money in the new year? NBC10's Keith Jones has the list.
Despite the freezing cold temperatures, dozens dashed into the ocean on Monday morning for the Atlantic City Polar Plunge. NBC10's Miguel Martinez-Valle caught up with some of them.
As 2018 kicks off, plenty of people will be hitting the gym to crush those New Year's resolutions. But before you sign up, Harry Hairston has some tips for you.
The year 2018 begins with more than one show in the sky: two Supermoons, a Blue Moon, a lunar eclipse and a meteor shower all in one month.
The ball drops and the Supermoon rises. Those in our area saw the first Supermoon of 2018 early Monday morning then again Monday night into Tuesday morning. This moon is also called the Wolf Moon.
A Supermoon occurs when the full moon coincides with the moon's closest approach to the Earth.
January 1 through the 10th, skywatchers can catch the Quadrantids meteor shower, with peak times the early morning hours of January 2nd and 3rd.
The lunar show is just beginning. On January 31, a Blue Moon will rise in the sky. A Blue Moon occurs when there are two full moons in one month. But, this Blue Moon, which is also a Supermoon, will bring another treat.
The real star of the show, according to Space.com, is the lunar eclipse on January 31. The East Coast will catch a glimpse of the beginning of the eclipse, as the moon starts to pass through the Earth's shadow. The eclipse will start at 5:51 a.m. and will not be a full eclipse when the moon sets just after 7 a.m.
The January eclipse is the only lunar eclipse that will be seen in the U.S. in 2018, don't miss it!
A family with ties to Montgomery County and a freshman at the University of Pennsylvania were among the 12 people killed during a plane crash in Costa Rica over the weekend.
Rabbi Jacob Luski of Congregation B'nai Israel in St. Petersburg, Florida identified four of the victims as Dr. Mitchell Weiss, Dr. Leslie Weiss and their two children Hannah and Ari. They were all members of his congregation.
"It is a tragedy that the Drs. Mitchell Weiss and Leslie Weiss and their two children, Hannah and Ari, died in that terrible crash," Rabbi Luski said. "They were a wonderful family who will be missed."
Dr. Mitchell Weiss and Dr. Leslie Weiss both have roots in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, a relative told NBC10. Their daughter Hannah Weiss was a sophomore in List College's Joint Program with Columbia University, according to a statement from the school.
A family member told NBC10 over the phone they are still trying to register the loss.
Eight other people were killed in the crash, including 18-year-old William Steinberg, his two brothers Matthew and Zachary, and their parents Bruce and Irene Steinberg. William Steinberg had just started at the University of Pennsylvania in the fall. It's believed the five were on a sightseeing tour at the time.
"We are very shocked and saddened to hear about the death of William Steinberg and his family. We still cannot believe that they died so unexpectedly. Many of us knew Will very closely, he was such a wonderful person who blessed Penn with his amazing smile everyday," read a posting on the UPenn student body government Facebook page.
Rabbi Jonathan Blake of the Westchester Reform Temple in Scarsdale said in a statement that the Steinbergs were involved in philanthropy and local Jewish groups.
"This tragedy hits our community very hard," Blake wrote.
The plane was carrying the two families and local crewmembers when it crashed in a wooded area, killing everyone on board, authorities said.
At a news conference, Enio Cubillo, director of Costa Rica Civil Aviation, said the Nature Air charter flight took off just after noon Sunday from Punta Islita and was headed for the capital of San Jose when it crashed.
Cubillo said the cause was under investigation.
He identified the pilot as Juan Manuel Retana and described him as very experienced. Former Costa Rican President Laura Chinchilla said via Twitter that Retana was her cousin.
The same plane had arrived in Punta Islita on Sunday morning from San Jose and was delayed in landing by strong winds, Cubillo said.
Nature Air did not respond to phone and email messages.
The Public Safety Ministry posted photographs and video of the crash site showing burning wreckage of the plane in Guanacaste, in northwest Costa Rica.
The Costa Rican government will launch an investigation into the cause of the crash starting Monday.
Along with the lavish costumes, marching and music, the creative signs are one of the staples of the annual Mummers Parade in Philly. One of the most memorable signs from Monday’s event came from Joe Weissinger, a member of the Riverfront Mummers N.Y.B. It read, “My Dad Needs A Kidney, #Kidney4Joe.” Weissinger’s 4-year-old son Joey held it up high.
“My son held that sign loud and proud,” Weissinger said. “We told him, 'You’re going to help daddy with that sign.'”
The message sparked a strong reaction from people who saw it.
“People in the crowd were high-fiving me and saying, ‘Good luck Joe,’” Weissinger said.
Weissinger, 42, was diagnosed with Nephrotic Syndrome in 2010. It’s a rare kidney disease that can cause heart disease and high blood pressure. After undergoing treatment for several years, Weissinger’s kidneys stopped functioning properly and he was hospitalized with pneumonia in 2014, according to the Philly Voice. That same year, Weissinger stopped working due to the physical demand. He currently undergoes at-home dialysis five days a week.
“I have a four-year-old son and one day he said to me, ‘Dad, when are you off dialysis?’” Weissinger said.
Weissinger is hoping to find a live donor.
“I’m type O-positive,” he said. “So I can give to almost anybody but I can’t receive anybody.”
Weissinger said he used to be afraid to ask for help but decided to make a public plea because he wants to be around for his son Joey and his newborn daughter Aubrie.
“My kids are everything to me,” he said. “And my family is everything to me.”
Click here if you'd like to help Weissinger or anyone looking for a kidney donation. You can also visit the Jefferson University Hospital Transplant Institute website.
Here are the top news stories you need to know to start your day from your friends at NBC10.
TODAY'S TOP STORY
3 Family Members Killed in Shooting: Three family members and a family friend are dead after a shooting with a semi-automatic rifle in Long Branch, New Jersey, according to the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office. Officials say a 16-year-old boy related to three of the four victims is in custody after the shooting on Wall Street. The teenager is expected to be charged with four counts of murder. He will also be charged with the posession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, according to the county's prosecutor, Chris Gramiccioni. The victims have been identified by officials as the 16-year-old's parents, Steven and Linda Kologi, 44 and 42 respectively, his sister, 18-year-old Brittany Kologi and a 70-year-old family friend, Mary Schultz, who lived in the home. A motive for the shooting is not known.
WHAT YOU MISSED YESTERDAY
Mummer in Need of Kidney Raises Awareness at Parade: Along with the lavish costumes, marching and music, the creative signs are one of the staples of the annual Mummers Parade in Philly. One of the most memorable signs from Monday’s event came from Joe Weissinger, a member of the Riverfront Mummers N.Y.B. It read, “My Dad Needs A Kidney, #Kidney4Joe.” Weissinger’s 4-year-old son Joey held it up high. “My son held that sign loud and proud,” Weissinger said. The message sparked a strong reaction from people who saw it. “People in the crowd were high-fiving me and saying, ‘Good luck Joe,’” Weissinger said. Weissinger, 42, was diagnosed with Nephrotic Syndrome in 2010. It’s a rare kidney disease that can cause heart disease and high blood pressure. After undergoing treatment for several years, Weissinger’s kidneys stopped functioning properly and he was hospitalized with pneumonia in 2014, according to the Philly Voice. That same year, Weissinger stopped working due to the physical demand. He currently undergoes at-home dialysis five days a week. Weissinger is hoping to find a live donor.
YOUR FIRST ALERT FORECAST
Tuesday is expected to be sunny with 20 degree temperatures and even colder wind chills. Wednesday could see temperatures increase to the freezing point. Wednesday night into Thursday morning could see some light snow. Snow is possible for much of Thursday. Dangerous cold may return for Friday and Saturday with high temperatures in the teens. Get your full NBC10 First Alert forecast here.
2018 Begins with Supermoon: The year 2018 begins with more than one show in the sky: two Supermoons, a Blue Moon, a lunar eclipse and a meteor shower all in one month. The ball drops and the Supermoon rises. Those in our area saw the first Supermoon of 2018 early Monday morning then again Monday night into Tuesday morning. This moon is also called the Wolf Moon. A Supermoon occurs when the full moon coincides with the moon's closest approach to the Earth. January 1 through the 10th, skywatchers can catch the Quadrantids meteor shower, with peak times the early morning hours of January 2nd and 3rd. The lunar show is just beginning. On January 31, a Blue Moon will rise in the sky. A Blue Moon occurs when there are two full moons in one month. But, this Blue Moon, which is also a Supermoon, will bring another treat.
AROUND THE WORLD
Customs System 'Disruption' Halts Major Airports: The United States Customs and Border Protection system temporarily experienced an outage after a “technology disruption” Monday at major airports across the country, according to the agency. On the first day of the new year, long lines of passengers entering the United States halted at international airports in New York, Florida, Texas and California. The outage lasted an estimated two hours, according to CBP statement released Monday: "U.S. Customs and Border Protection experienced a temporary outage with its processing systems at various airports today beginning at 7:30 pm and ending approximately 9:30 pm. All airports are currently back online. CBP took immediate action to address the technology disruption. CBP officers continued to process international travelers using alternative procedures at affected airports. Travelers at some ports of entry experienced longer than usual wait times as CBP officers processed travelers as quickly as possible while maintaining the highest levels of security. During the technology disruption, CBP had access to national security-related databases and all travelers were screened according to security standards. At this time, there is no indication the service disruption was malicious in nature.”
That's what you need to know to Catch Up Quickly, but we've got more stories worthy of your time. Click here to check them out.
