Philadelphia City Councilman Curtis Jones Jr., D-4th District, explains what the annual Block Captain Boot Camp is all about.

Don’t be alarmed if you see smoke rising from Valley Forge National Historical Park.

The National Park Service (NPS) planned to ignite about 150 acres at the Revolutionary War site from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday as part of a prescribed burn to manage vegetation at the site.

The fires are intended to burn a mixture of native and non-native plant species covering five fields located between Gulph Road and Route 23. The main targets are Oriental bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus), Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica), wineberry (Rubus phoenicolasius) and Callery pear (Pyrus calleryana), the NPS said. The fields will be torched one at a time.

At least 14 workers in fire-resistant clothing from the NPS, other federal land management agencies and the Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry will take part in the prescribe burn within the high-priority Grand Parade section of the park. Montgomery County 911 as well as local police and fire departments were made aware of the fire plan.

The NPS says the historic features of the 3,500-acre park will remain safe and that the prescribed fire isn’t close to any adjacent neighbors.

“We’ll be protecting and monitoring significant features during the prescribed fire,” the NPS said.

The NPS doesn’t expect the burn to be hot enough to harm smaller mammals, insects and reptiles hiding underground. In any case, each field is walked over to see if any wildlife needs relocated ahead of the fire, the NPS said. Officials don’t expect smoke to linger long after the fires.

The burn will cost around $22,500 at the NPS’ estimate of a $150 cost per acre.

More information including road and trail closures are available on the park service's website.

Neighbors in Nicetown are against a proposed natural gas plant that SEPTA is set to build in their area. Residents are worried about the negative impact it could have on air quality.

A Norristown woman allegedly left her dog, Champ, outside during a sub-zero degree stretch in early January, and Champ died, the Montgomery County District Attorney's office said Wednesday.

Now, Cecilia Ann Johnson, 64, of 1200 block of Swede Street, is charged with felony animal cruelty as well as two misdemeanor animal cruelty and neglect charges, the DA's office said.

An anonymous call alerted police Jan. 6 to a dead dog outside a house, the DA's office said. When officers arrived about noon, they found Champ dead on the ground between his doghouse and a neighboring fence.

The overnight temperature dipped to -2 the night before, with a wind chill of -20, officials said.

An necropsy performed on Champ dated April 4 listed the cause of death as hypothermia and the manner of death as "non-accidental (neglect)."

Johnson was arraigned April 6 and released on $10,000 bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for April 19.

Syrian refugees, who've settled in our area, are worried about loved ones back home after the latest chemical attack on civilians.

Pickpocket thefts are targeting women in two South Jersey counties and police believe both crimes are connected.

Meek Mill received yet another high-profile visitor to the state prison in Chester City, Pennsylvania, where the imprisoned rapper is serving 2 to 4 years on a probation violation.

Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney met with Mill, whose real name is Robert Rihmeek Williams, for about an hour Wednesday morning, a Kenney spokeswoman said in an email.

The mayor's visit came after the invitation of Mike Rubin, a Montgomery County native-turned-billionaire entrepreneur who is friends with Mill.

"The mayor, like Mike, believes that Robert would better serve the community outside of prison, and that his case makes clear and urgent the desperate need to continue working with our partners to reform our criminal justice system," Kenney spokeswoman Ajeenah Amir said in an email.

Mill is serving to 2 to 4 years in prison since being sentenced in November 2017 for violating his probation after failing a drug test, traveling out of the region and getting arrested for fighting and other related offenses.

His sentence, handed down by Philadelphia Common Pleas Judge Genece Brinkley, is at least four times longer than the six months he served for the original crime.

Attorneys representing Mill have filed several motions to release the rapper from prison, accusing the judge overseeing his case of harboring a grudge and even being infatuated with the 30-year-old.

A day before, on Tuesday, New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft joined Rubin in a visit to what is formerly known as State Correctional Institute-Chester.

"Amazing young man. I know how I’d feel if I was in the situation he is," Kraft said outside the prison. "Every time I see him, I just come away more impressed. He’s very intelligent. And makes it clear to me we have to do something with criminal justice reform."

Kraft described the entire situation as "just sad."

"This guy's a great guy. (He) shouldn't be here," he added.

Last week, the fight over rapper Meek Mill’s prison sentence for a probation violation reached Pennsylvania's highest court.

The Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office filed a motion last Thursday to the court reiterating that it does not oppose Mill being released on bail, a position the office first shared with NBC10 last month.

“We are encouraged by the Philadelphia District Attorney’s steadfast stance in not opposing Meek Mill’s release on bail at the Pennsylvania Supreme Court level while the current legal proceedings continue, even in light of Judge Brinkley’s vindictive and erroneous decision,” Joe Tacopina, Mill’s lawyer, said in a statement.

Two weeks ago, Brinkley issued a 48-page opinion in Pennsylvania Superior Court calling her sentence “reasonable” and “appropriate.”

"Instead of simply complying with the terms and conditions of his probation so he could finish out his sentence and continue to work, [Mill] continued to disregard this Court's directions and did whatever he wanted to do," she wrote.

Meek Mill was initially arrested in 2007 on drug and weapon violations. He went to jail and was released on parole in 2009 after serving six months. While on parole, he tested positive for drugs, left the city without permission, engaged in a fight in the St. Louis airport, and illegally operated an ATV on the streets of New York City.

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg spent a second day on Capitol Hill answering questions for the House about concerns of user privacy and data security.

Philadelphia is feeling the playoff fever as the Flyers and Sixers both head into post-season games. Local restaurants are gearing up for a big boost in business.

If the Delaware Bay looks slightly discolored over the next day or two, it is not an unwanted red tide or a Saint Patrick's Day-type spinoff.

It has to do with oysters, notably the study of how to improve their health in the once very futile ground, or beds, in the bay.

Once home to a thriving industry that relied on the shellfish — there are communities called Shellpile and Bivalve — the harvesting waters have now become ground zero in efforts of revitalization.

"The oysters in the Delaware Bay are a complicated and sad story in a sense," said Lawrence Hajna, a spokesman for the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. "They have been dealing with a couple of issues over the years. It's not the water quality, but with two particular types of diseases affecting the oysters. There has been a lot of research in developing resistant strains of oysters."

Another part of the recovery process is finding underwater beds for the oysters to live.

That's where the dye comes into play. 

"The goal of the dye study is to help determine if portions of the upper Delaware Bay, where oyster beds are located, can be upgraded," the DEP said in a press release. "The study will further help the DEP implement management strategies to enhance protection of oysters."

Passersby may notice the discoloration of the bay water, but the dye will disperse.

The DEP also said the dye "used in the study is not harmful to people or the environment and is used commonly in water-quality and dispersion tests."

For more information, here is a link to the DEP page on the oyster bed study.

The Philadelphia Flyers Stanley Cup playoff run got off to a rough start Wednesday when they were shut out by the Pittsburgh Penguins in a 6 to 0 loss in Game 1.

Refresh this page for a full recap.

Cellphone video captured the aftermath of a shooting in the Kensington section of Philadelphia as police and bystanders rushed to help a 31-year-old gunshot victim.

The regular season is over and the Sixers are heading into the playoffs as the third seed in the Eastern Conference.

They reached 16 straight wins with a 130-95 victory, which is the longest streak by a team heading into the postseason. The Sixers finished the regular season with a 52-30 record and will face the Miami Heat in the first round.

Markelle Fultz exploded off the bench for a 13-point, 10-rebound, 10-assist triple-double. He came full circle in a rookie year that was hampered by injuries, clearly earning his place in the postseason rotation.

• The Sixers were in control the whole time. They were up 46-18 at the end of the first quarter. Their massive 80-44 halftime lead was the most first-half points scored by the team since Feb. 11, 1992 against the Heat.

• The Sixers took care of business easily with a quiet night from Ben Simmons. He shot just 1 for 6 from the field and finished with four points, six boards and seven assists. Simmons fell into foul trouble early in the game.

• Fultz and T.J. McConnell paired up to fill in with the backcourt production. T.J. McConnell turned into “3.J.” McConnell with a pair of treys. He had not hit a three since Feb. 27. McConnell scored 16 points with six rebounds and seven assists. The Sixers leaned on the pairing as JJ Redick sat out the regular-season finale.

• Brett Brown said he was not concerned with strategically game planning in case the Sixers were matched up with the Bucks in the first round. His focus was on winning and securing the third seed.  

• Dario Saric returned to the lineup after leaving Tuesday’s game because of a chipped tooth and lacerated lip. He found the rhythm he had been looking for since suffering from cellulitis in his right below. Saric scored a team-high 24 points.

• Joel Embiid joined the Sixers on the bench, standing out in a bright orange jacket. The big man said it is “unlikely” he would be ready to play in Game 1 of the playoffs (see story).

• The usually-dominating Giannis Antetokounmpo posted just 10 points (5 for 15 from the field). He pulled down 10 rebounds.

• Justin Anderson turned up the heat on his former college teammate Malcolm Brogdon. Anderson scored 25 points off the bench, topping Brogdon’s 13. Brogdon, who beat both Embiid and Saric last season for Rookie of the Year, was booed by Sixers fans when he touched the ball. Anderson has a way of stepping up in the regular season finale. Last season, he scored a career-high 26 points against the Knicks.

• Eagles head coach Doug Pederson rang the ceremonial pregame bell:

[[479468373, C]]

City leaders are tackling Philadelphia's eviction crisis and trying to reach a compromise with the building industry. The goal is to make sure that growth continues in Philly without people having to leave their homes.

An arrest has been made in the murder of a local college student whose body was found in a Philadelphia creek in November.

Police say a suspect is in custody in connection to the murder of 21-year-old Kierra Johnson. They have not yet released the suspect's identity however.

Johnson's body was found in the water of Cobbs Creek near Cobbs Creek Parkway and Spruce Street on Nov. 3, 2017. Johnson's mother reported her missing the previous day.

A medical examiner ruled Johnson died by strangulation.

It was unclear if Johnson was killed and then her body dumped in the water or if she was killed in the creek.

She was a "young lady just living her life, doing the right things," Philadelphia Police Capt. John Ryan said.

Johnson studied visual communications at Hussian School of Art in Center City where she was a second-year student.

"It is a small community and students are very upset," said Sylvia McCray, the Dean of Academic Affairs.

McCray said Johnson was always available and helpful to other students. She was passionate about the arts, believed in land conservation and always smiled.

"She was funny," McCray said. "She had her own sense of style."

Police have not yet revealed what led to Johnson's murder or the suspect's motive.

Police are searching for a teen accused of shooting and killing a Philly high school student on Easter Sunday on South Street.

Zahmir White, 18, is considered armed and dangerous.

Police say White got into an argument with 16-year-old William Bethel back on April 1 shortly before 6 p.m. on the 800 block of South Street. White allegedly took out a gun and opened fire, striking Bethel in the buttocks and pelvis. Bethel was taken to Thomas Jefferson Hospital where he died from his injuries on April 3.

“Disputes and fights used to get settled with fists,” Philadelphia Police Capt. John Ryan said. “It gets settled with guns now. That’s not what to teach your children and it’s going to ruin lives.”

Bethel was a student at Boys' Latin of Philadelphia Charter School where he played football. He also boxed and loved to ride his bike.

“Whether it was football, basketball or school, everybody that’s around Will just flat out loved the kid,” said Bethel’s former youth football coach Shawn Oliver.

Investigators say White’s last known address is along South 5th Street where police searched Wednesday night.

White also goes by the nickname “Pikachu” like the character from Pokemon. He is known to hang around South Philadelphia and Southwest Philadelphia. Police said White has been in trouble with the law before but nothing as serious as this. They also say his family is not cooperating with the investigation.

If you have any information on White’s whereabouts, please call Philadelphia Police.

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

TODAY'S TOP STORY 

Mom Searching for Son Punches School Bus Driver: Authorities say a Pennsylvania woman searching for her young son punched a school bus driver because she mistakenly believed the child was on the empty bus. Lisa Conte was taken into custody following the attack Monday at a Lower Nazareth store. But authorities say she slipped out of handcuffs and tried to run away before she was caught. The 34-year-old Easton woman is charged with aggravated assault, escape and other counts. It wasn't known Wednesday if she's retained an attorney. Authorities say Conte forced her way onto the bus and hit the driver in the eye after she was told to get out. Authorities were later able to contact the child's father, who told them he had the boy. They say the father told them Conte was supposed to pick the boy up earlier but didn't show up.

• MORE ON THE INCIDENT
  

WHAT YOU MISSED YESTERDAY

Arrest Made in Murder of College Student Found Dead in Cobbs Creek: An arrest has been made in the murder of a local college student whose body was found in a Philadelphia creek in November. Police say a suspect is in custody in connection to the murder of 21-year-old Kierra Johnson. They have not yet released the suspect's identity however. Johnson's body was found in the water of Cobbs Creek near Cobbs Creek Parkway and Spruce Street on Nov. 3, 2017. Johnson's mother reported her missing the previous day. A medical examiner ruled Johnson died by strangulation. It was unclear if Johnson was killed and then her body dumped in the water or if she was killed in the creek.

• MORE ON THE ARREST
  

YOUR FIRST ALERT FORECAST  

Thursday is expected to see sunshine and temperatures in the 60s. Friday is expected to be sunny with temperatures nearing 80 degrees. Sunshine and temperatures in the 80s are expected for Saturday. But rain is expected for Sunday and could bring the temperatures back to the 60s. Monday could also see rain and cooler temps.  Get your full NBC10 First Alert forecast here.

Free Coffee for Wawa's Birthday: Looking for a caffeine fix? Wawa is giving coffee away to celebrate the convenience store chain's anniversary while spotlighting its future. Customers can stop by any of the hundreds of area Wawa locations Thursday and get a free any-size coffee for "Wawa Day.” Wawa expects to hand out about 2 million cups o' Joe. The company says "Wawa Day" is a way to "toast the community." The big celebration in the region will be at 22nd and South streets in Philadelphia where Mayor Jim Kenney will join Wawa CEO Chris Gheysens and others (including mascot Wally Goose) to cut the ribbon on Wawa's newest store.

• MORE ON WAWA
  

AROUND THE WORLD

Speaker Ryan Will Leave Behind New Tax Code, Busted Budget: House Speaker Paul Ryan will leave Congress having achieved one of his career goals: rewriting the tax code. On his other defining aim — balancing the budget and cutting back benefit programs like Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid — Ryan has utterly failed. Ryan, a budget geek with a passion for details who announced Wednesday that he would retire next year, proved adroit in drawing up budget plans that balanced on paper but didn't get beyond the hypothetical. Under his leadership, Republicans never tried to implement the deep cuts his budget called for, particularly his vision of turning Medicare into a voucher-like program for future retirees. Instead, the House passed steep tax cuts while increasing spending, setting the government on a path to rising deficits. The gap between Ryan's reach and his grasp was especially stark this week. The Congressional Budget Office said Monday that the tax bill and last month's $1.3 trillion spending bill would add more than $2.6 trillion to the national debt over the coming decade — and the looming return of the first trillion-dollar deficits since President Barack Obama's first term.

• MORE ON THE BUDGET
  

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. 

Eric Brown was shot and killed Tuesday night along Market Street in West Chester, Pennsylvania.

Two police officers are being praised for using restraint after allegedly being fired upon in Southwest Philadelphia overnight.

The officers were on patrol in the area of 69th Street and Buist Avenue in the Elmwood section of the city around 11 p.m. Wednesday night when they heard gunfire, police said.

The officers went to investigate and saw two men. When they asked the men to stop, they started running, and investigators said one of the men pulled a gun and fired at the officers.

Instead of firing their weapons, the officers put out a detailed description of the men, and within minutes, back-up officers had arrested the alleged shooter on nearby Elmwood Avenue. The officers who were shot at even positively identified the 23-year-old suspect once he was taken into custody.

The officers were praised for not firing back.

"There was no police discharge,” Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Scott Small said. “They actually did a great job. They showed a lot of restraint and they did not return fire, the circumstances just weren't right at the time. I guess they didn't have a clear shot and they didn't use any deadly force at all."

Not only did the officers get out the information that led to the arrest of the suspected shooter but they also helped a gunshot victim, police said.

Soon after the shooting, a citizen flagged down the officers who were shot at and directed them to a nearby home on 69th Street where they found a 29-year-old man suffering from gunshot wounds to his face and arm.

The officers drove him to the hospital where he was being treated.

The search for the second suspect seen running away from the scene continued Thursday.

Investigators also found two guns in the area, police said.

Police worked overnight to find out if the shooting victim and the two weapons are related to the shooting case involving the officers.

An 8-year-old Montgomery County boy has come down with mumps despite being vaccinated for Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR).

The child was diagnosed with the highly contagious mumps virus after being treated for swelling of the salivary gland at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, county health officials said.

The health department worked with the unidentified child's family and school to warn other parents about the disease.

The county didn’t reveal how the child contracted mumps. Getting the MMR vaccine doesn't prevent mumps entirely but makes a person nine times less likely to get the virus, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The vaccinated person also typically has less severe symptoms, which can include fever, headache, muscle aches, tiredness and loss of appetite.

This case comes as mumps cases around the United States are on the rise – 6,366 cases in 2016 compared to just 228 cases in 2012. In Montco, there were zero cases of mumps in 2013 compared to 12 cases from 2014 to 2017.

This case of mumps isn't the only recent one in the Philadelphia region. A February mumps outbreak at a dance in Wilmington left at least three people sickened.

Anyone suspecting having mumps should contact Montco health officials at 610-278-5117.

The CDC explains how mumps can be spread and when symptoms could begin:

“It spreads through saliva or mucus from the mouth, nose, or throat. An infected person can spread the virus by:

• coughing, sneezing, or talking,
• sharing items, such as cups or eating utensils, with others
• touching objects or surfaces with unwashed hands that are then touched by others.

Mumps likely spreads before the salivary glands begin to swell and up to five days after the swelling begins.”