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Non-Profit Concert Honors Slain Temple University Student

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Ever since she was tragically murdered in August of 2017, friends, family, and loved ones of former Temple student Jenna Burleigh have been searching for ways to honor her memory.

Now, one local non-profit starter is trying to honor Burleigh and bring the community together by using music.

Mason Payonk, the founder of Benifest, a non-profit concert series, decided to dedicate the non-profit’s third concert, Benifest 3, to Burleigh after hearing about her through her childhood friends.

“I actually never knew Jenna personally,” Payonk explained. “Her childhood friend would always tell me that Jenna was upbeat, positive, and selfless, so to hear that something so unfortunate happened to someone who was all about giving back really motivated me to dedicate our third event to her cause.”

That cause is Jenna’s Blessing Bags. Throughout her life, Burleigh was a strong advocate of the homeless, often urging people through social media to pay more attention to those in need around her. After her death, Burleigh’s family started the foundation to honor her memory and her spirit of giving. Now, Payonk says he hopes the concert will not only raise money for Jenna’s Blessing Bags, but will also shine light on who Burleigh was.

“I wanted to be a part in helping Jenna be remembered for being the good person everyone said she was,” Payonk said. “So it only made sense to help spread her message.”

The concert will feature Alexander Charles, Kenif Muse, Scottie Kash, Wes Phoenix, and more up-and-coming artists that Payonk says he believes will bring people together.

“I chose artists based off what I thought would bring the best atmosphere to really show Jenna’s personality,” Payonk said.

Benifest 3 will be held on Thursday, April 5th. Tickets and more information can be found at Benifest.org.


NJ Author Raffles Off Book Series After Meeting Biggest Fan

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Interacting with the fans of his books is something South Jersey author Mike Myers has always loved to do. But it wasn’t until recently that Myers found perhaps his biggest fan, Billy, and knew he had to do something special for him.

Billy, a two-and-a-half-year-old boy from Massachusetts, used to look at a couple pages of a book and then get sick of it, his mom, Jayme Dearing, said. But his interest in books changed when Billy’s older brother got him The Sideway Sliders, Myers’ first book, for Christmas.

“He has autism spectrum disorder,” Dearing explained. “He won’t sit still except for the Sideways Sliders. It’s the only book he will sit and listen to.”

Since the Sideways Sliders was published, Myers has added two more books to the series, The Whiney Supercharger and The Noisy Snails. Those three books plus a coloring book, all make up “Motorhead Garage Productions.”

Billy’s mom, Jayme, connected with Myers through his Facebook page, telling him how big of a fan he had in her son.

“His mom mentioned he didn’t like books,” Myers said. “But my book he didn’t want to put down. That’s just kind of awesome.”

After talking more with Dearing, Myers set out to make something special for Billy. After deciding how to thank his biggest fan, Myers sent a toolbox filled with the series and the coloring book to surprise the two-and-a-half-year-old.

Since receiving it, Billy hasn’t left the toolbox.

“He has to bring the box with him everywhere we go,” Dearing said, laughing. “Doctor’s appointments, everywhere.”

Both Dearing and Myers posted about the toolbox on Facebook, where the toolbox became a big hit amongst followers. Now, in an effort to connect with more of his readers, Myers is raffling off those same toolboxes. The toolboxes include all three books in the series and the coloring book. Raffle tickets are $1 each, and information on how to purchase tickets can be found on the Motorhead Garage Productions Facebook page.


Grandmother, 11-Month-Old Grandson Die After Del. House Fire

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A grandmother and her infant grandson both died from their injuries following a house fire in Wilmington, Delaware.

The fire started around 7:15 p.m. Sunday on the 400 block of West 23rd Street. 

Firefighters pushed their way inside and rescued 59-year-old Fay Hyland, 11-month-old Maurice Williams and 3-week-old Isaac Williams from the second floor of the home. The Williams boys are brothers, according to family.

A fourth resident, 17-year-old Nashon Hyland, jumped from the second floor, firefighters said.

Maurice Williams later died at Nemours Alfred I. DuPont Hospital for Children, investigators said. Fay Hyland was transferred to Crozer-Chester Medical Center’s Burn Unit in Delaware County in critical condition with burns to 70 percent of her body. On Wednesday officials announced she died from her injuries.

Isaac Williams was transferred to St. Christopher's Hospital for Children in Philadelphia where he was listed in critical but stable condition, firefighters said.

Nashon Hyland was listed in stable condition at A.I. DuPont.


Firefighters were able to place the flames under control around 8:25 p.m.

The blaze left the house gutted. Neighbors say the fire spread quickly.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.



Photo Credit: Family Photo
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Closing Concerns for Strawberry Mansion High School

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Neighbors are upset about plans to phase out Strawberry Mansion High School. Families are speaking out about the loss of their local school.

Mumps on the Rise in Parts of Our Area

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Mumps are on the rise in our area and health officials are trying to stop it from spreading.

Abington High School to Be Renamed for Donor Who Gave $25M

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The Abington Township school board in Montgomery County has approved a plan to rename its high school after Blackstone Group CEO Stephen Schwarzman, an alumnus who is donating $25 million to the school.

Abington Senior High School would be renamed Abington Schwarzman High School under the plan approved Tuesday. The agenda for the school board meeting says Schwarzman agreed to make the donation in exchange for naming rights, among other things.

A news release announcing the gift last month made no mention of a name change. It said the move was part of a larger effort by Schwarzman to make public schools more open to private donations and to encourage other wealthy donors to support public education.



Photo Credit: Mark Lennihan/AP

DA: Dealers Used Dark Web to Buy Powerful Drugs From China

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Two Montgomery County men are accused of using the dark web to purchase and sell dangerous drugs from China strong enough to tranquilize elephants.

Jamil Chapman, 26, and Nasai Chapman, 23, of Collingdale were arrested for allegedly trafficking fentanyl and the even deadlier carfentanil. Investigators say the men ordered, purchased and shipped the drugs from China to homes in Lower Merion and Upper Merion townships.

“Fentanyl is cheap and deadly, since it’s 50 times stronger than heroin,” Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele said. “But as dangerous as fentanyl is, carfentanil is substantially more dangerous since it’s a drug developed to tranquilize a three-ton elephant. It’s 100 times more potent than fentanyl and 10,000 times more potent than morphine.”

The arrests were the result of a nine-month investigation that involved several law enforcement agencies including Lower Merion Township Police, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Office of Homeland Security Investigations.

During the investigation, officials seized approximately 300 grams of fentanyl while an additional 400 to 500 grams of carfentanil were documented as having been ordered and shipped from China, according to the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office. 

The investigation began in June of 2017 after Jamil Chapman overdosed on heroin at a Lower Merion apartment and was later treated at the hospital, according to a criminal complaint. Police returned to the same apartment in September and found fentanyl and carfentanil inside, investigators said. It was the first time investigators found evidence of carfentanil trafficking in Montgomery County, according to Steele.

Detectives later learned the Chapmans were expecting an incoming shipment from China, according to officials. Homeland Security investigators intercepted a package at JFK International Airport on Oct. 25 that was destined for an Upper Merion Township apartment linked to the Chapmans, police said.

Investigators later determined the package contained 99 grams of fentanyl. A second package intercepted on Nov. 14 at JFK International contained 200 grams of fentanyl, according to officials.

Officials also say the Chapmans made seven other purchases from China between May and September of 2017 totaling 400 to 500 grams of carfentanil. Most of the packages were delivered to the apartments in Lower Merion and Upper Merion while two were delivered to Philadelphia addresses.

“Thanks to strong law enforcement collaboration led by District Attorney Kevin Steele, two drug dealers selling fentanyl and carfentanil – fatal poison – that was purchased on the Dark Web and shipped from China are behind bars,” Attorney General Josh Shapiro said. “We’ll continue to be relentless in taking these criminals off our streets and battling the heroin and opioid epidemic across Pennsylvania."

Both men are charged with operating a corrupt organization, possession with intent to deliver, criminal attempt at possession with intent to deliver and other related offenses. They were arraigned and remanded to the Montgomery County Correctional Facility after they both failed to post $250,000 cash bail.


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Dad Who Left Son to Die After Theft Convicted of Murder

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A verdict was reached Wednesday in the trial of a New Jersey father who left his son to die on the road following a petty theft and then a crash as he fled the scene.

Christopher Kuhn, 28, of Hamilton Township, New Jersey, was convicted of third degree murder.

On October 3, 2017, Kuhn was inside the Walmart store at the Levittown Town Center in Tullytown, Pennsylvania when he placed a $228 sound bar into his cart and then left the store without paying.

Security personnel tried to stop Kuhn -- who had his son, Qadan Trievel, in the cart -- but he told them, "you can't hold me here" as he grabbed his son in his arms. Security called Tullytown police as Kuhn walked out.

Kuhn, driving on a suspended New Jersey license, drove away in his Jeep with his 2-year-old son inside before officers arrived. A witness told police Kuhn had let the boy climb into the SUV while he covered its license plate with a sweatshirt. The witness also said the boy climbed into the rear driver's side of the Jeep but Kuhn never secured Qadan into a child safety seat.

Despite not being chased, Kuhn ran a red light on Route 13 and crashed into two vehicles, including an SUV that had the right of way. The impact caused the SUV to roll over several times and the boy was thrown from the vehicle onto the roadway. Police said Kuhn stepped over his son's body and ran away on foot after the crash. At one point he paused to look at his son on the roadway before fleeing.

Police later apprehended Kuhn a short distance away from the crash in a wooded area. Other responding officers performed CPR on Qadan. The boy was taken to Lower Bucks Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

During his preliminary hearing, officers testified that Kuhn refused to give them Qadan's name as they worked to save the boy's life. The father cried quietly, with his head in his chest, as testimony carried on.

Toxicology results later showed Kuhn was high on oxycodone and marijuana when the theft and crash happened. The test results led prosecutors to add driving under the influence charges to the case.

Qadan's mother described Kuhn as a "disgusting human being," who abused her for years when they were in a relationship.

Kuhn remains behind bars on $5 million bail.



Photo Credit: NBC10
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Police Investigate Reported Abduction in Fox Chase

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Police are investigating a reported abduction in Philadelphia's Fox Chase neighborhood Wednesday night.

A witness told police he spotted an unidentified man grab a girl between the ages of 12 and 13 on the 7700 block of Rising Sun Avenue at 6:37 p.m. The witness claimed the man placed the girl in a white utility van with tinted front and back windows and the vehicle was last seen southbound on Rising Sun Avenue.

The witness said the girl was wearing a pink top with a peace sign on top and is about 4-foot-5. The witness also described the man who grabbed her as a thin man standing 5-foot-9 with a brown complexion wearing a black mask and black cargo pants.

Police are currently interviewing the person who made the report and investigating his claims. So far they have not received a report from any family members of a missing child.

This story is developing. Check back for updates.

Allentown Walmart Evacuated After Report of Shots Fired

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An Allentown Walmart was evacuated Wednesday night after shots were fired.

Police were called to the store on Mill Creek Road around 9:30 p.m. for a report of shots fired and the store was evacuated. Officials have not yet revealed if anyone was injured or what led to the shooting.

We'll have more information on this developing story on NBC10 News starting at 4 a.m.

Catch Up Quickly: Student Threatens to Shoot Up Delco School

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Here are the top news stories you need to know to start your day from your friends at NBC10.


TODAY'S TOP STORY 

Exchange Student Threatens to Shoot Up Delco Catholic School: An 18-year-old exchange student is accused of threatening to shoot up his Delaware County Catholic high school and investigators allege they found ammunition, a crossbow and military-style equipment in the student's bedroom. The teen, An Tso Sun, was arrested Wednesday by Upper Darby police. The student from Taiwan threatened to "shoot up" Bonner & Prendergast Catholic High School, Police Superintendent Michael Chitwood said. Sun allegedly told another student to not come to school on May 1 because something would happen, Chitwood said. He then allegedly said he was joking but the fellow student reported it anyway to the school, which alerted police. Investigators went to the home of the host family where Sun is living after the alleged threats were brought to the attention of police Tuesday. They allegedly found a military-style ballistic vest, military-style web gear with pouches to hold ammo clips, a crossbow with scope and seven arrows, a loading dock for rifle clips, 9-mm ammunition and a strangling device in his bedroom, police said. Investigators have evidence on a school-issued iPad that allegedly shows Sun researched AR-15 and AK-47 firearms. He was possibly trying to purchase a weapon, Chitwood said.

      WHAT YOU MISSED YESTERDAY

      Dad Who Left Son to Die After Theft Convicted of Murder: A verdict was reached Wednesday in the trial of a New Jersey father who left his son to die on the road following a petty theft and then a crash as he fled the scene. Christopher Kuhn, 28, of Hamilton Township, New Jersey, was convicted of third degree murder. On October 3, 2017, Kuhn was inside the Walmart store at the Levittown Town Center in Tullytown, Pennsylvania when he placed a $228 sound bar into his cart and then left the store without paying. Security personnel tried to stop Kuhn -- who had his son, Qadan Trievel, in the cart -- but he told them, "you can't hold me here" as he grabbed his son in his arms. Security called Tullytown police as Kuhn walked out. Kuhn, driving on a suspended New Jersey license, drove away in his Jeep with his 2-year-old son inside before officers arrived. A witness told police Kuhn had let the boy climb into the SUV while he covered its license plate with a sweatshirt. The witness also said the boy climbed into the rear driver's side of the Jeep but Kuhn never secured Qadan into a child safety seat. Despite not being chased, Kuhn ran a red light on Route 13 and crashed into two vehicles, including an SUV that had the right of way. The impact caused the SUV to roll over several times and the boy was thrown from the vehicle onto the roadway. Police said Kuhn stepped over his son's body and ran away on foot after the crash. At one point he paused to look at his son on the roadway before fleeing.

      YOUR FIRST ALERT FORECAST  

      Thursday morning could also see some rain with temperatures hitting 70 degrees. Rain is also expected for Friday with temperatures in the 60s. Saturday and Sunday are expected to be sunny with temperatures in the 50s. Monday and Tuesday are also expected to be sunny with temperatures in the 50s. Get your full NBC10 First Alert forecast here.

          TODAY'S TALKER               

          Embiid Suffers Facial Injury After Collison with Fultz: Joel Embiid suffered a facial contusion early in the second quarter of the Sixers’ 118-101 win over the Knicks when he collided with Markelle Fultz on a handoff attempt. Embiid spun around after contact and hit the court grabbing his face. “I was trying to get the ball,” Fultz said. “At the same time, I was watching him. My heart dropped really because I know he hit me. But he’s a tough guy and I know he’s going to be OK. All I can do is pray for him.” After Embiid left the floor, he went through the concussion protocol, which ruled out a concussion. He went to a local hospital following the game to undergo precautionary concussion testing. Once those results are in, the team will be able to begin to determine a timeframe.

          AROUND THE WORLD

          Trump Replacing VA Head with White House Doctor: President Donald Trump fired Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin on Wednesday and nominated White House doctor Ronny Jackson to replace him in the wake of a bruising ethics scandal and a mounting rebellion within the agency. A Navy rear admiral, Jackson is a surprise choice to succeed Shulkin, a former Obama administration official and the first non-veteran ever to head the VA. Trump had been considering replacements for Shulkin for weeks, but had not been known to be considering Jackson for the role. In a statement, Trump praised Jackson as "highly trained and qualified." It was a decision that signaled Trump chose to go with someone he knows and trusts, rather than the candidate with the longest resume, to run a massive agency facing huge bureaucratic challenges. Jackson has served since 2013 as the physician to the president, one of the people in closest proximity to Trump day in and day out.


          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



          Photo Credit: Upper Darby Police / Google Street View

          Family Haunted by NJ Hit-Run That Left Mother Unable to Walk

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          Friends and family of a New Jersey mother who was seriously injured in a hit-and-run are haunted by the heinous crime and wants the driver off the streets.

          On March 18, 25-year-old Jessie Tugonon was crossing Boyd Avenue in Jersey City when an SUV plowed into her, dragged her for half a block and kept on going.

          “Whoever did this has no compassion and no heart,” neighbor Sylvia Rosario said. “How are you going to leave an injured person on the floor?”

          Rosario said Tugonon was left gasping for air with her lips turning purple.

          Tugonon’s aunt says her niece is still in the hospital fighting for her life. She says she has a collapsed lung, a fractured rib and is unable to walk.

          “She has tire marks all over her body from being rolled over,” Katherine Foxworth said. “She takes care of everyone in her household. She has a 10-year-old daughter I’m currently taking care of.”

          Foxworth says she is praying the damage to her niece is temporary.

          Detectives are going through surveillance footage and they say they are hopeful an arrest will be made soon.

          NJ Police Officers Storm Domino's Over Undelivered Pizza

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          A pair of New Jersey police officers were suspended after one of them was caught on camera pushing a Domino’s restaurant chain manager against a wall because their pizza didn’t get delivered on time.

          Video obtained exclusively by News 4 shows the two Jersey City police officers storming a Domino's on Communipaw Avenue in Jersey City and pushing the branch’s manager up against a wall in an incident the manager, Mena Kirolos, said was spurred because of a missed pizza delivery Tuesday evening.

          Kirolos said the confrontation was sparked by a missed pizza delivery. He said when the driver arrived at the delivery location, his calls were not answered. A short time later, Kirolos said he got a call from an officer upset over his missing pizza delivery. 

          “He said he was coming to my store, so I waited 10, 15 minutes, no one showed up,” he said.

          Two officers eventually did show up. Surveillance footage shows the pair in uniform as they barged in and broke up the hum of the pizza-delivery operation.

          Kirolos then walks out of a back room, video shows, and one of the officers grabs him and pushes him against a wall.

          Several other Domino employees crowd around them, with some pulling out their phones to film the wrangle.

          “(I was thinking) What can I do?,” Kirolos said. “He’s a police officer. I can’t do anything back.”

          In a cellphone video recorded by an employee, Kirolos can be heard saying “remove your hands” and “don’t touch me.” One officer can be seen trying to diffuse the situation between the two.

          Kirolos said at that point, the more irate of the two officers told him “I’ll lock you up,” and the cellphone footage then shows the manager holding his hands out as if they were cuffed as he says “please do it!”

          The officer trying to break up the two men can then be heard saying “I am trying to have a conversation with you” to Kirolos, and then he suggests that the three of them go outside to “have a friendly conversation.” Kirolos initially refuses, but the three men eventually go outside and talk, their voices now inaudible.

          After the exchange, the two officers were suspended and charged with harassment and disorderly conduct. Both are due in court on April 11. 

          The Jersey City Police Department did not respond to a request for comment on the case.

          Kirolos, meanwhile, said he just wants an apology.

          “I don’t like being cursed at, being touched,” he said. “I only demanded an apology. That’s it.”


          Drivers Think It's OK for Them, Not Others to Use Phone: AAA

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          AAA says more drivers are taking a "Do-as-I-say, not-as-I-do" approach to driving while using handheld devices.

          'Believe in Yourself': Helping Girls Feel Good

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          The event is about more than just a dress giveaway, Believe in Yourself founder and director Sam Sisakhti says.


          Philly Phlash Returns to City Streets

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          The Philly Phlash is making it's season debut with free rides and new additions for passengers.

          What's the Forecast for Easter, Passover Weekend?

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          What is in store for Good Friday, the Passover Seders and Easter Sunday? NBC10 First Alert Weather meteorologist Steve Sosna has a look at the holiday weekend.

          Church Fire Prompts 70 People to Flee Building Near Temple

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          A North Philadelphia church was evacuated Thursday after a fire tore through the building, causing about 70 people - many of them Temple University students - to flee a nearby housing structure.

          The fire broke out Thursday afternoon at the Original Apostolic Faith Church of the Lord Jesus Christ near Broad Street between Jefferson and Oxford streets. 

          No one was inside at the time and no injuries have been reported. It is now under control, fire officials said. 

          However, SEPTA suspended service to the Broad Street Line south of Erie Station. 

          The church is located near an area where many Temple students live. Several posted videos on social media showing young people helping to move heavy fire hoses.

          About 100 firefighters battled the blaze. A fire official told NBC10 firefighters could not enter the building for some time due to "deplorable" conditions inside.

          The church has been a community fixture since 1970, according to Frederick Tookes, who said he was one of the owners. 

          "We were here Tuesday night. We had service," Tookes said. "The building was secure. Everything was cut off. We don't know what happened."

          Motorists are being warned to avoid the area. Parts of Broad Street and several nearby streets are closed.


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          Hall & Oates Shout Out Philly in New Song

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          Philadelphia's own Hall & Oats is showing some hometown pride in the band's new single "Philly Forget Me Not."

          The pop duo met at the former Adelphi Ballroom in 1967 while each musician was fronting his own band. Both Daryl Hall and John Oats were students at Temple at the time - Hall is actually from Pottstown, while Oats is from NYC - and both were interested in similar music. A friendship was born and a legacy started. 

          More than 50 years after meeting, the band returned to their roots with a new single dedicated to the City of Brotherly Love. Click here to listen.


          US Overdose Deaths Up 21% in 2016; Pa., NJ Outpaced That

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          Overdose fatalities jumped 21.5 percent in the United States from 2015 to 2016, fueled by the continuing rise in opioid-related deaths, according to statistics released yesterday by the Centers for Disease Control.

          Still, increases in Pennsylvania and New Jersey in recent years have greatly outpaced the CDC's grim findings, according to data from health officials in both states.

          In Pennsylvania, fatal drug overdoses jumped from 3,505 in 2015 to 4,884 in 2016, according to the president of the Pennsylvania Coroner's Association. That's a 39 percent increase year over year.

          In New Jersey, 2,284 people died of an overdose from July 2016 to June 2017, a nearly 35 percent increase over the previous 12 months.

          "Much of the increase is attributed to the proliferation of the powerful synthetic opioid fentanyl," a spokeswoman for the New Jersey Department of Health Ellen Lovejoy said Thursday.

          The deadly scourge in Pennsylvania, which is one of the five worst states for percent increases in overdose deaths, shows no signs of abating, Lycoming County Coroner Charles Kiessling Jr. told NBC10.

          He said fatal overdoses will top 5,000 in 2017 in Pennsylvania once final figures are tallied.

          "I don't know of any counties that have seen a decrease," Kiessling said.

          While the epidemic is worse in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, the CDC report found its effects nationally permeated most of society.

          "We've learned that drug overdose and opioid-involved deaths continue to worsen and these data underscore the persistent and multi-faceted nature of overdoses," CDC spokeswoman Julie Eschelbach said. "We are seeing increases across age groups, racial/ethnic groups, urbanization level, and numerous states."

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