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GOP to Sue Tomorrow Over New Pa. Congressional Map

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Less than 24 hours after Pennsylvania’s high court issued a new congressional map, state Republicans countered with a statement of their own.

Party leaders will sue in federal court as early as Wednesday to prevent the new map from taking effect.

“The suit will highlight the state supreme court’s rushed decision that created chaos, confusion and unnecessary expense in the 2018 election cycle,” National Republican Congressional Committee Communications Director Matt Gorman said in a statement.

The partisan move was expected by those monitoring the political horse-trading that has come to define Pennsylvania’s districts.

President Donald Trump also wasted no time weighing in on the new map, calling on Pennsylvania Republicans to "challenge the new 'pushed' Congressional map, all the way to the Supreme Court, if necessary. Your Original was correct!"

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See the new and old maps below:

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Mark Harris, a Pittsburgh-based GOP campaign consultant, was one of many Republicans bashing the new map.

"It's a straight Democratic gerrymander by a Democratic Supreme Court to help Democrats," Harris said.

Independent analysts said the map should improve Democratic prospects while still favoring Republicans as a whole. An analysis conducted through PlanScore.org concluded the court's redrawn map eliminates "much of the partisan skew" favoring Republicans on the old Republican-drawn map, although not all of it.



Photo Credit: AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File
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Florida School Shooting Sparks Gun Debate Around U.S.

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NBC10's Dray Clark breaks down the gun control debate following the Florida school massacre.

5 to Watch: Vonn's Last Shot, Pa. Bobsledder Goes for Medal

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Lindsey Vonn gets another crack at winning her first Olympic medal since 2010, when she became the face of Team USA at the Vancouver Olympics. A Bucks County bobsledder tries for her second medal, and the United States hopes to inch closer to its first-ever medal in women’s curling.

These are the stories you need to follow in Pyeongchang over the next 24 hours:

Vonn Is Favorite for Alpine Downhill

Lindsey Vonn will try again for her first medal in the Pyeongchang Games in the Alpine downhill race.

Vonn became a household name when she won gold in the downhill in the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver. But she missed the 2014 Olympics due to injury, and she opened the Pyeongchang games with a a disappointing run in the women’s Super-G, when she skied wide on a late turn and tied for sixth place. Ester Ledecka, of the Czech Republic, shocked everyone, including herself, by taking the gold.


At 33, Vonn is trying to become the oldest woman to win an Olympic Alpine medal. Italy’s Sofia Goggia, who finished first or second in all four of her downhill races in 2018, is a top competitor to watch.

American Mikaela Shiffrin pulled out of the downhill to prepare for Thursday’s Alpine combined. That’s where Vonn and Shiffrin, who already won gold in the giant slalom, could compete head-to-head.

Watch live during NBC10’s primetime coverage on Tuesday, which begins at 8 p.m. ET, or watch on digital platforms at 9 p.m. ET Tuesday.

Meyers Taylor, Greubel Poser Look to Medal on Bobsled Track

Elana Meyers Taylor has waited four years for redemption.

In Sochi in 2014, Meyers Taylor, bobsled driver for Team USA, was in first place after three of four runs. But she skidded on the final turn of that last run, and ended up 0.1 seconds behind Kaillie Humphries of Canada — who happens to be her training partner.

Humphries got gold. Meyers Taylor got silver. They’re back for another shot in Pyeongchang, and started that quest on Tuesday, with the first of two runs. The final two runs will be held on Wednesday.

Meyers Taylor, who has won two world titles since Sochi, was paired with Lauren Gibbs, and battled for first place again — this time with a pair of Germans, who are atop the standings after the first day’s action, just ahead of Meyers Taylor and Gibbs. Humphries, who has won gold at each of the last two Olympics, was paired with Phylicia George; they are in fifth place.

Americans Jamie Greubel Poser, who was born in New Jersey and grew up in Bucks County, and Aja Evans are also competing for a medal. The pair won bronze in Sochi and sit in fourth in Pyeongchang after a strong first run and slower second run.

The Jamaican team has gotten the most attention at the Pyeongchang Games, in the spotlight for drama over their bobsled, rather than their performance. Their former driving coach left the team, and perhaps was to take the sled with her, dashing their Olympic hopes. But the Red Stripe beer company gave the sled to the team, saving its dream. They are in 18th place out of 20 after two heats.

Watch live on digital platforms beginning on Wednesday at 6:40 a.m. ET or on NBCSN at 9:30 a.m. ET.

Team USA Begins Quest for Medals in Women’s Figure Skating Short Program

Figure skating’s marquee discipline, the women’s event, will close out the figure skating competition in Pyeongchang.

Reigning U.S. champion Bradie Tennell looks to woo the crowd in the short program, performing to music from the South Korean blockbuster “Taegukgi.” Her exceptional jumps make her a strong medal contender. Mirai Nagasu has already made history in Pyeongchang by becoming the first U.S. woman – and just the third woman ever – to land a triple axel on Olympic ice during the team event free skate. Tennell and Nagasu helped Team USA win bronze in the team event.

Team USA’s Karen Chen, the 2017 national champion, choreographed both her short and long programs herself. She counts 1992 Olympic champion Kristi Yamaguchi among her friends and mentors.


Tennell, Nagasu and Chen will look to keep up with gold medal favorite Evgenia Medvedeva, the 18-year-old Olympic Athlete from Russia who owns two world titles.

Watch live during NBC10’s primetime coverage Tuesday, which begins at 8 p.m. ET, or watch digital platforms at 8 p.m. ET Tuesday.

Led by Pa. Goalie, US Men's Hockey Takes on Czech Republic in Quarterfinals

The United States’ men’s hockey team continues its quest for gold in the quarterfinals against the Czech Republic Wednesday (Tuesday night in the U.S.).

Team USA put up a dominating performance against Slovakia, winning 5-1, Tuesday. The young group looked strong all around: Ryan Donato scored twice, Troy Terry picked up three assists and Erie, Pennsylvania goalie Ryan Zapolski made 22 saves.

With National Hockey League players absent in the Olympics, Team USA is comprised of mostly college kids who failed to make it into the professional league. They look to win the U.S.’ first gold medal since the “Miracle on Ice” against the Soviet Union in 1980.

Beside Zapolski, the team features four other players with Pennsylvania and New Jersey ties: Bensalem's Ryan Gunderson, Abington's Chad Kolarik, Yardley's Brian O'Neill and Trenton's Bobby Sanguinetti.

Watch Team USA take on the Czech Republic as part of CNBC's coverage starting at 10 p.m. ET Tuesday or on digital platforms at 10:10 p.m. ET.

Backs Against the Wall, U.S. Women’s Curlers Face Sweden

The United States women’s curling team has never won an Olympic medal and it finished last in the previous two Olympics. But with a win over Sweden, the Americans could complete a stunning turnaround and advance to the medal round.


The Top 4 teams move out of round-robin play to the semifinal round, with tie-breaker games determining the semi-finalists, if necessary. With one game left to play, the U.S had a 4-4 record, tied for fifth place with China.

Sweden has been one of the better teams in the tournament, with a 5-2 record, but Swedes lost its last two matches.

Watch on digital platforms at 6:05 a.m. ET Wednesday or as part of CNBC’s coverage at 5 p.m. ET Wednesday.



Photo Credit: AP
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Grocery Retailer Albertsons to Buy Drugstore Chain Rite Aid

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The privately held owner of Safeway, Vons, Acme and other grocery brands is plunging deeper into the pharmacy business with a deal to buy Rite Aid, the nation's third-largest drugstore chain.

Albertsons Companies is offering either a share of its stock and $1.83 in cash or slightly more than a share for every 10 shares of Rite Aid. A deal value was not disclosed in a statement released Tuesday by the companies.

Shares of Rite Aid, which have shed more than half their value over the past year, surged 26 cents, or 12.2 percent, in premarket trading after the deal was announced.

Shareholders of Boise, Idaho-based Albertsons will own more than 70 percent of the combined company, which is expected to trade on the New York Stock Exchange. The companies say the deal should close in the second half of this year, but regulators and Rite Aid shareholders still have to approve it.

Rite Aid Chairman and CEO John Standley will lead the combined company as CEO, while Albertsons leader Bob Miller will serve as chairman. The companies say they will keep headquarters in both Boise and Camp Hill, Pennsylvania, which is where Rite Aid is based.

Albertsons said it will continue to run Rite Aid stand-alone stores, and most of the grocery operator's pharmacies will be rebranded as Rite Aid. Albertsons also runs Jewel-Osco, Shaw's and Acme stores.

Rite Aid Corp. said earlier this year that it runs around 4,400 stores. Larger rival Walgreens had tried unsuccessfully to buy the chain, but the company scuttled that push last year after encountering regulatory resistance. Last September, Walgreens agreed to buy nearly 2,000 Rite Aid locations and some distribution centers for about $4.38 billion. Rite Aid said late last month that it had transferred about 625 stores to Walgreens.



Photo Credit: Getty Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Philly Landmark Celebrates 125 Years

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Anuj Gupta, general manager of the Reading Terminal Market in Philadelphia, joined NBC10’s Dray Clark to discuss how one of America’s oldest, largest public markets is celebrating 125 years. Gupta discussed what keeps the market relevant after all these years. 

Warming and Melting Trends Continue

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No doubt about it: winters are getting warmer, and it’s not just in our area. Here’s the evidence from Climate Central.

The biggest warming is in the northern tier of states. In our area, we’re talking about nearly five decades. At .7 to 1.0 degrees per decade, that means about a FOUR degree rise in average winter temps. That means that EVERY day of winter averages FOUR degrees warmer than it did in 1970. If you say, "winters aren’t as severe as they were when I was young," you’re right!

Of course, the warming has covered more than just the U.S. The map below shows temperatures compared to “normal” in January. This one is in degrees Celsius, where 2 degrees C is close to 3 ½ degrees Fahrenheit. Those reddish areas show impressive warmth. That frigid blast we saw in early January looks pretty pitiful compared to the overall trend.

Credit: Tropical Tidbits

ARCTIC ICE:  LOWER THAN THE LOWEST OF THE LOW
The story of arctic ice melt has not only continued, it’s getting worse. It’s not just a steady drop over the years. Individual weather patterns cause changes from year to year. So a rise in a year or two means nothing compared to the overall trend.

Here’s the trend of Arctic Ice Extent in January:

Here is another way of looking at Arctic Ice changes this century


 
The maximum ice extent each year is plotted clearly. It’s easy to see that the drop has continued during the past few years. And, so far, 2018 is at record low levels, by a lot!

It amazes me whenever I hear or read about someone who claims the Arctic Ice Melt has stopped or reversed. Even a second grader can look at these graphics and see what is happening. Any other interpretation is just false.

SEA LEVEL RISE IS STILL ON THE RISE
Along with ocean warming, the simple expansion of water due to increased heat should raise sea levels.  And it has.
 

Just like any weather trend, it doesn’t go up steadily every year. But the overall trend is clear. The above graph is based on a study that takes away the impacts of volcanoes (like Mt. Pinatubo in 1991) and years with strong El Nino and La Nina. The resulting green line is an even more clear-cut, steady rise. It even appears that rise has accelerated in recent years. Here’s the link to that study: Sea Level Rise Is Accelerating

ARCTIC ICE MELT & LINK TO WINTER COLD OUTBREAKS
Yes, it doesn’t seem to make sense. Warming of the earth leading to severe arctic outbreaks. That’s just one of the sometimes surprising impacts of the rapid melting of arctic ice. This is known as “Arctic Amplification.”

The link is related to the Polar Vortex, a common term among meteorologists but new for many other people. The stronger the Polar Vortex, the more likely Arctic air will stay in the Arctic. A weaker Polar Vortex allows “blocking patterns” to develop, leading to weather extremes. If you’re located in a certain part of the block, you’ll see an extended period of cold and/or snow. Stuck in another part of the block: an extended period of unseasonably mild weather.

The weak Polar Vortex/extreme weather connection got a lot of attention beginning more than 10 years ago when Professor Jennifer Francis of Rutgers University published articles on the subject. Here are links to some of her articles and interviews that are mostly non-technical.

Here are some links to other studies showing the connection.

This one gets pretty technical. You can just read the abstract.


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A Taste of Spring in February Brings Record-Breaking Heat

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The NBC10 First Alert Weather Team is tracking record warmth Tuesday and Wednesday.

Conditions will warm 25 to 35 degrees above the normal temperatures for this time of year. Average highs are usually around 45 degrees in Philadelphia this time of year.

As of 1 p.m. Tuesday, 71 degrees in Georgetown, Delaware and 63 degrees in Mount Pocono set records. By 2 p.m., Atlantic City International Airport (72) and Wilmington (72) also set records.

"Patchy to dense morning fog limited daytime heating for Tuesday afternoon-which means Wednesday will be another 8 to 10 degrees warmer than Tuesday," NBC10 First Alert meteorologist Brittney Shipp said.

Expect areas like Philadelphia, southern Delaware and South Jersey to hit the low 70s Tuesday. This is a forecast where neighborhood weather comes into play as Allentown is expected to just reach the upper 50s for the high. 

Wednesday is Warmest Day of the Week.

Look for record-breaking heat on Wednesday. The forecast high is 78 degrees for Philadelphia, giving us an excellent chance to break the standing record high of 72 for the date set back in 1930.

The warmest temperature ever recorded in the month of February in Philadelphia is 79 degrees, also set in 1930. Looks like we will have a decent chance to tie that record as well.

Those at the Jersey shore will feel the warm-up Wednesday, but it will stay in the low 60s there.

40-Degree Drop in Temperatures by Thursday

"Do not get too comfortable! Just as quickly as the warmer air moves in, it’s going to high tail out of here," Shipp said.

You will need your winter coats again on Thursday.

Temperatures will drop from 78 degrees at 4 p.m. Wednesday, down to 38 degrees Thursday at 4 p.m. -- that’s 40 degrees in 24 hours!

The falling temperatures will start just after midnight Thursday morning and continue to plummet during the day.

Stay with NBC10 for the latest on this up-and-down forecast.

Former Olympians Training Olympians of Tomorrow in Our Area

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University of Delaware figure skating coach Scott Gregory skated in the 1984 and 1988 Winter Olympics and is now focused on training future Olympians. NBC10's Matt DeLucia reports.
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Photo Credit: NBC10

Local School Supt. Calls for Rapid-Fire Assault Weapons Ban

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Like many districts across the country, the Wissahickon School District sent letters to parents following the deadly Florida school shooting. Yet while the first three paragraphs talked about security measures and counseling services, the fourth paragraph of Wissahickon School Superintendent James Crisfield’s letter took a different direction.

“One last thought lands me in unusual political waters for a school superintendent,” Crisfield wrote. “I believe it is time for all of us, public school leaders included, to have the courage to call for a ban on rapid-fire assault weapons. Enough is enough. We need to stop framing this as a rollback of constitutional rights, and we need to stop framing it as some sort of partisan political issue. Instead, we need to start framing this as protecting kids.”

Crisfield’s message struck a chord with parents not only in the Wissahickon School District but also other districts across the area.

“We all feel very frustrated and vulnerable I think,” Crisfield said. “And every time one of these incidents hits, via Florida or Colorado or Connecticut or Texas you name it, it just reminds us that we want to do more. We feel like we can do more.”

Crisfield says his letter has gotten strong reactions from several parents, most of them positive. He also says school leaders are asked to weigh in on school funding and testing and believes the issue addressed in his letter is related to school safety and is not politically related.

“I don’t have any patience when it comes to partisan politics, especially in the realm of education, and how this can fall prey to Democrat vs. Republican posturing is beyond me,” Crisfield wrote. “We need to act now to protect students now.”

Man Sells Illegal Guns Outside Gun Show, DA Says

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A Delaware County man is accused of selling illegal guns outside of a gun show.

Kevin L. Stillman, 48, of Aston, Pennsylvania, is charged with firearm sale to an unqualified or ineligible person and recklessly endangering another person.

Investigators say Stillman was in the parking lot outside the Greater Expo Center of Philadelphia in Oaks, Pennsylvania during the Eagle Arms Gun Show on February 10 and selling firearms from his car. Detectives set up surveillance in the area and initiated an undercover operation. Officials say a detective, posing as an interested buyer who couldn’t legally possess a firearm, bought two firearms from Stillman who allegedly said he would report the guns to authorities as stolen.

Law enforcement officers then attempted to arrest Stillman, investigators said. Stillman allegedly pointed a Glock 40-caliber handgun to his chin and threatened to kill himself. The detectives say they were able to talk to Stillman and get him to surrender peacefully.

“Know this: If you come to Montgomery County to buy and sell guns illegally, beware,” Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin R. Steele wrote in a press release. “We are vigilant about keeping guns out of the hands of criminals, and we are partnering with the state’s Attorney General’s Office and federal ATF agents to stop those sales, arrest the individuals involved and seek long, mandatory sentences.”

Stillman was placed in a secure facility until he was formally charged. He was arraigned Tuesday with bail set at $500,000 cash. He was remanded to the Montgomery County Correctional Facility.



Photo Credit: Montgomery County District Attorney's Office

2 Hurt After Pickup Truck Crashes Into NJ AutoZone Store

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Two men are recovering after a pickup truck crashed into an AutoZone store in Ventnor, New Jersey Monday night.

Police say a 38-year-old Ventnor, New Jersey man was driving a 2014 Chevrolet Silverado around 6 p.m. when he lost control of the vehicle and crashed into the AutoZone store at the Ventnor Plaza Shopping Center on 5044 Wellington Avenue. Witnesses told police they saw the pickup truck pulled over on the side of Wellington Avenue prior to the crash. It then accelerated, came across the road, jumped the curb, drove over rocks and careened across the parking lot before hitting the store.

Surveillance video of the crash shows glass flying and shelves full of merchandise collapsing.

“It was unbelievable,” said Kimmon Watson, a manager at the shopping center. “Pictures don’t really tell the story. You have to see it for yourself."

Both the driver as well as a 33-year-old customer inside the store were injured during the crash. The customer was trapped inside and then pulled out and helped to safety by another shopper and store employee.

“That was spectacular,” Watson said. “They came to his rescue as soon as they heard the crash.”

The customer and the driver were taken to the Atlanticare Regional Medical Center and treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

The vehicle was removed from the store and turned over to AutoZone and Lamar Properties. The store will remain boarded up as the repairs continue. Ventnor City Police are investigating the crash but don’t believe it was intentional.



Photo Credit: NBC10

Foster Parents Desperately Needed; Learn More at Our Phone Bank

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Almost 6,000 young people in Philadelphia live in foster care, and there is a constant need for loving foster families for these children.

Meanwhile, being a foster family is easier than you might think – as well as one of the most rewarding ways that you can make a difference in a young person’s life.

On March 1, NBC10 and Telemundo62 will host an informational phone bank so that Philadelphia families who are interested in learning more about providing foster care can have all their questions answered.

Starting at 4 p.m., we’ll have recruiting experts in our studio to talk with anyone who would like more information.

We’ll provide information in English and Spanish; there’s a deep need for Spanish-speaking families involved in the foster care system.

Our phone bank is sponsored by our partners at the Philadelphia Department of Human Services and its 25 provider agencies.

Join us March 1! And help us spread the word of our phone bank by sharing this story on Facebook and Twitter.

How Did Pa.'s Districts Get So Confusing?

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On Monday, Pennsylvania's Supreme Court issued a new congressional map. The decision has generated a lot of questions from voters who wonder how we got into this mess and what it means for the ballot. We tried to answer some of those questions below.

What is a congressional district?

To understand a congressional district, first we have to understand the House of Representatives. It currently comprises 435 members who each serve two-year terms. The current number of representatives was set by Congress in 1911 and has been in effect since 1913.

The number of representatives in each state is based on the population of that state, determined every 10 years by the U.S. Census. Pennsylvania has 18 districts and, therefore, 18 representatives.

The constitution did not offer guidance on how representatives should be elected. That came later. An apportionment act of 1842 stated that representatives "should be elected by districts composed of contiguous territory equal in number to the number of representatives to which said state may be entitled, no one district electing more than one representative."

What is gerrymandering?

It refers to the practice of drawing districts with the intention of giving one political party an advantage over another. The word “gerrymander” originated in 1812 when former Massachusetts Gov. Elbridge Gerry did just that. The result was a district that looked like a salamander.

Pennsylvania’s infamously gerrymandered districts are not much better. Check out the area dubbed “Goofy Kicking Donald Duck.” Formerly the 7th district, it includes portions of Delaware, Chester, Montgomery, Berks and Lancaster counties and is represented by Republican Rep. Pat Meehan. His seat is now up for grabs.

FYI, Gerrymandering is not illegal. Both major political parties have used it for their own gains.

How did we get here?

In Pennsylvania, districts are drawn by a committee comprising two Democrats, two Republicans and a fifth person selected by the other four members. If the two parties cannot agree, the state supreme court will appoint the fifth chair. Once a map is drawn, the state legislator votes on it and then the governor signs off.

This means that whichever party holds more seats and the governor’s office controls the fate of congressional districts.

The current brouhaha in Pennsylvania can be traced to the 2010 elections when Republicans gained a five-seat majority and the governor’s seat. They redrew congressional districts, unveiled them in 2011 and the map was approved along party lines. Only Republican Rep. Mike Folmer voted against it, saying at the time it was a “clear-cut case of politicians picking their voters in order to prevent voters from having a meaningful opportunity to pick their elected officials."

Fast toward to present day. With the midterm elections just one year away, Democrats mounted an attack against the 2011 map, which they claimed gave Republicans an unfair advantage. The League of Women Voters sued in June 2017 and won.

Last month, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled that district boundaries unconstitutionally put partisan interests above neutral line-drawing criteria, such as keeping districts compact and eliminating municipal and county divisions.

It's the first time a state court threw out congressional boundaries in a partisan gerrymandering case.

"It remedies the outrageous gerrymander of 2011, and that's the important thing, that the gerrymander be over," said David Landau, the Democratic Party chairman of Delaware County. "All that zigging and zagging is all gone, and it makes Delaware County a competitive seat now."

How were the new districts drawn?

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court used independent map experts from around the country to create the new version. They followed county lines more closely and kept urban and rural communities together rather than separating them, like the previous map did. 

How does this affect me?

If you live in the Philadelphia suburbs, you likely live in a new district and will be voting on new representatives later this year. Residents of the former Goofy Kicking Donald Duck district should pay special attention to the new boundaries (see above).

The Pennsylvania Department of State is already making the necessary steps to implement the new map in time for the upcoming elections.

Over the next few days, additional information will be provided with updated election information.

“Voters will not see any changes in individual polling places and these changes do not in any way affect voters’ polling places,” Secretary of State Robert Torres said. “Nor will there be any change in the rules in effect at polling places.”

The department will release spreadsheets for voters to check the updated congressional districts and better see new boundaries.

What’s at stake?

The map of Pennsylvania's 18 congressional districts is to be in effect for the May 15 primary.

Most significantly, the new map gives Democrats a better shot at winning a couple more seats, particularly in Philadelphia's heavily populated and moderate suburbs. 

The new map repackages districts that had been stretched nearly halfway across Pennsylvania and reunifies Democratic-heavy cities that had been split by Republican map drawers.

Meanwhile, sitting congressmen, dozens of would-be candidates and millions of voters must sort out which district they live in barely a month before the candidates' deadline to submit paperwork to run.

Some races are wide open: There are six incumbents elected in 2016 not running again, the most in four decades. The new map also has immediate implications for some incumbents.

Republican Rep. Ryan Costello, whose suburban Philadelphia district was narrowly won by Hillary Clinton in 2016, is in even more dire straits now that his district adds the heavily Democratic city of Reading.

The map also removes the heart of one district from Philadelphia, where a crowd of candidates had assembled to replace the retiring Democratic Rep. Bob Brady, and moves it to suburban Montgomery County.

The new map does not apply to the March 13 special congressional election in the 18th District to fill the remaining 10 months in the term of former Republican Rep. Tim Murphy, who resigned amid an abortion scandal. But the winner will have a short stay in the seat unless they move: the court's map puts both candidates' homes in districts with a Pittsburgh-area incumbent.

Now what?

Republicans were quick to make their own declaration Tuesday and announced they will be suing in federal court later this week.

But Republicans appear to face an uphill battle in federal court.

Michael Morley, a constitutional law professor at Barry University in Florida, said federal courts are normally reluctant to undo a state court decision.

"I think it will be a major obstacle and a major challenge to get around it," Morley said.

Are there any alternatives to this legal mess?

Fair District PA has two measures - House Bill 722 and Senate Bill 22- in committee that would replace the current system. Instead of party leaders drawing congressional maps, a bipartisan, independent citizen committee would determine districts. California, Arizona and several other states have  similar systems in place.



Photo Credit: NBC1O
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Wife, Husband Die in Murder-Suicide in NJ Rehab Center: Cops

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Officials say a man shot and killed his wife and then fatally shot himself inside a New Jersey rehab center.

Arlene McKenna, 74, of Mullica Hill, New Jersey was being treated at the Jefferson Health Care Center’s Sub-Acute Rehabilitation Unit on Egg Harbor Road in Sewell, New Jersey.

Police say the woman’s husband, Raymond McKenna, 76, arrived at the rehab center shortly before 8 a.m. Tuesday and shot his wife before turning the gun on himself. Raymond McKenna was pronounced dead at the scene. His wife was taken to the Cooper Medical Center where she was pronounced dead.

No other patients or staff members were injured during the incident. The Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office and the Washington Township Police Department are both investigating.

Dreamers March to Washington, DC

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Dreamers are marching to Washington, DC to demand immediate action to extend the DACA program. NBC10's Miguel Martinez-Valle spoke to them here in Philadelphia about what this march means for them.


Winners and Losers of the Warm Winter

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Record warmth set in across our region Tuesday and we'll be even warmer Wednesday. NBC10 First Alert Weather meteorologist Brittney Shipp is in Rittenhouse Square and shows us how businesses are impacted by this unseasonable weather.

Delaware a Popular Training Ground for Olympic Skaters

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An ice rink in Wilmington, Delaware has been shaping Olympic figure skaters for decades. NBC10's Tim Furlong takes us inside the famous facility.

Warmer Weather and the Flu

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The flu season is upon us and so is warmer weather. NBC10's Steven Fisher shows us why it might take longer to get rid of the virus due to the change in temperature.

Streets Department Fills 500 Potholes on Lincoln Drive

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Motorists of Lincoln Drive, if you've been thinking that your trips down the roadway this season have been a nightmare, it’s been no dream. The hundreds of bumps and jostles your car has been taking are real. In fact, the city's Streets Department confirms to NBC10 that they've filled 500 potholes on Lincoln Drive between Ridge Avenue and Wayne Avenue since January 1.

But the city warns that conditions along the roadway are likely to get worse before they get better.

"Motorists should note that as the weather and temperatures improve, there will likely be additional potholes along the Drive," said Streets Department Spokeswoman Crystal Jacobs. "While our goal is to keep the road in a state of good repair, the thawing of the roads and high volume of traffic will continue to prompt repairs and additional potholes."

Jacobs credits a combination of drastic freeze and thaw cycles, traffic volume, and the pre-existing condition of the roadway for the increased number of potholes on Lincoln Drive this year. Despite driver and neighbor complaints that repairs are slow, Jacobs says the Philadelphia Streets Department has been "aggressively" repairing potholes as they appear on this section of road, with workers last dispatched for repairs on Friday, February 16.

While drivers and their tires will have to continue their struggle along the roadway during this pothole season, permanent relief is on the horizon. Jacobs says a $7.6 million resurfacing and repair project is currently in the final stages of being awarded to a contractor.

Once finalized, 2.2 miles of roadway between Wayne and Ridge Avenues will be resurfaced along with improvements to drainage, guiderails and lighting. Work is expected to begin on the project in the summer of 2018.



Photo Credit: NBC 7

Local Politicians Announce Efforts to Prevent Mass Shootings

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Politicians in New Jersey and Pennsylvania are announcing new efforts to prevent future mass shootings in the aftermath of the massacre at a Florida high school. NBC10's Brandon Hudson takes a look at the "Red Flag Laws" and a proposal from Pennsylvania Senator Daylin Leach.

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