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Police ID Woman's Body Found Dumped in Fairmount Park

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A 51-year-old woman was shot and her body was wrapped in a green tarp then dumped in Fairmount Park, Philadelphia police said.

The victim was identified over the weekend as Lea Morgan of the 6200 block of Bouvier Street in the city's Ogontz section, police said Monday.

A Parks and Recreation worker picking up litter and emptying trash cans found her decomposing body around 8:20 a.m. Friday in a fenced in area near a parking lot off Martin Luther King Drive near Black Road, police said.

The worker told NBC10 that he called police after smelling something foul coming from the large plastic tarp. The body was wrapped in a blanket and plastic then dumped in the area, investigators said.

"The body was definitely carefully wrapped," Southwest Detectives Lt. John Walker said. "It's a horrifying scene."

Police didn't reveal when they believe Morgan was killed. The area where the body was found is being cleaned up for the spring season so it's unclear exactly how long the body may have been there. The water department was doing work in the area until about two weeks ago so it's likely the body was dumped since then, Walker said.

Homicide detectives are investigating.



Photo Credit: SkyForce10

Woman Dies as Stolen Car Crashes in Philly

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A woman died after a man crashed a stolen vehicle into a parked car in Philadelphia’s Strawberry Mansion neighborhood Monday afternoon.

The man was driving along Ridge Avenue near N 31st Street just after noon when he crashed, Philadelphia police said.

The woman passenger and the driver were both taken to Hahnemann Hospital where the woman died a short time later, police said.

The man was held a prisoner while being treated, police said.

No word yet on what caused the wreck.



Photo Credit: Google Maps

Emerald Ash Borer Being Blamed for Deaths of Montco Trees

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Dresher Road in Horsham, Pennsylvania will be closed from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. through the end of the week so that crews can remove up to 200 dead ash trees. The invasive emerald ash borer is being blamed for the trees dying.

Starbucks ‘Contrite’ Over Arrest of Black Men in Cafe

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Starbucks’ leadership team embarked on an apology tour through Philadelphia Monday as they attempted to assuage outrage over the arrest of two black men at the chain’s Rittenhouse Square store last week.

Mayor Jim Kenney said Starbucks CEO Kevin Johnson and COO Rosalind Brewer were "contrite" during a 40-minute meeting with city officials in Kenney’s office.

"It’s a societal issue. People react different based on the color of someone’s skin and it’s wrong,” Kenney said.

"I’m satisfied that they came here and were contrite."

Johnson called the meeting, which also involved Philadelphia Police Commissioner Richard Ross and Councilman Kenyatta Johnson, "constructive." He previously pledged that employees will undergo “unconscious bias” training and that the coffee chain would review its policies on when police should be called to a store.

"This is just the beginning of a lot of work that we plan to do together and we look forward to a very positive outcome here," Brewer, the COO, said in brief remarks while leaving the meeting.

Ten blocks from where the two spoke with city officials, protesters gathered for a third day at the 18th and Spruce street store where the arrest took place.

Members of the interfaith group POWER sang “We Shall Not Be Moved” as they entered the store and sat on the floor in front of the coffee bar.

The group later left the store and marched to a second Starbucks location at 15th and Latimer streets chanting "no justice, no peace."

It was Thursday afternoon when the two men — who have yet to be publicly identified — visited the coffee shop to meet a friend. According to police, one of men asked to use the bathroom and was denied when he refused to make a purchase. The manager then asked the men to leave. When they refused, the manager called 911.

Responding officers asked the men to leave several times, Ross said. When they failed to comply, they were arrested for trespassing. Witnesses were bewildered by the exchange. Some recorded video of the arrest on their smartphones. The men’s friend, a white man, arrived as they were being taken into custody and could be heard asking what they had done wrong.

The men were eventually released from custody after Starbucks declined to press charges.

Johnson planned to meet with the men Monday afternoon to personally apologize, a Starbucks spokesperson and the men’s attorney said.

"We hope to have productive conversations with the hope that something productive for the community can come out of this,” Stewart Cohen, the men’s attorney, told NBC10.

The city’s Commission on Human Relations says 13 complaints have been filed against local Starbucks locations in the past 12 months. Roughly a quarter of those complaints centered around race and skin color while others were related to nationality and religion, according to the commission.

The men involved in last Thursday’s incident have not filed a complaint with the office.

Rue Landau, the commission’s executive director, said on its face, the situation seems “pretty outrageous.” She said the commission has been charged with leading an investigation into policies and practices at Starbucks.

Starbucks has faced a tsunami of criticism for how the situation was handled from people in Philadelphia and around the world. Using the hashtag #StarbucksWhileBlack, some people took to Twitter to skewer the coffee chain.

Jack Drummond, the director of Philadelphia’s Office of Black Engagement, said “it’s frustrating to hear about yet another incident where Black men were judged for being Black and present – and as it relates to this incident, being Black, present, and sitting in a coffee shop."

One of the most pointed critiques came from Philadelphia’s Police Advisory Commission which is police department’s civilian oversight board. Its executive director, Hans Menos, accused the company of harming an already fragile relationship between police and citizens.

"They should consider how police have been used as tools by citizens to perpetuate many social ills - especially racism,” he said as part of a lengthy statement.

"They might also consider the current disconnect between the police and communities of color and fraught history surrounding the policing, prosecution and incarceration of black men before they concluded that they needed to involve police to solve this problem."



Photo Credit: Jacqueline Larma/AP
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7 Events to Give Back to the Planet this Earth Day

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Earth Day celebrations are fun, but miss the point if they don’t advocate taking care of the planet. Here are seven events that will help you give back this Earth Day.

1. 17th Annual Comcast Cares Day

The annual Comcast cares day will be serving local communities with thousands of volunteers as a part of one of the largest single-day cooperate volunteer efforts in the nation. The April 21 event is open to anyone who would like to help those in need.

Click here to register for Comcast Cares Day and find a location near you so you can give back.

2. Earth Day Festival at Lardner’s Park

The Riverfront North Partnership is hosting an Earth Day festival for all ages this Saturday at 10 a.m. at Lardner’s Point Park. This environmentally friendly festival includes naturalist guided tours, a free yoga class and an outdoor cleanup.

Click here to register with Eventbrite.

3. Sea Fairin’ Saturday at the Independence Seaport Museum

The Independence Seaport Museum is hosting a presentation on the disastrous ecological impact of oil spills. The event will teach participants about ways to clean up an oil spill. Guests can also check out the floating wet lands exhibit which act as a habitat for marine life on the Delaware river.

Check out a full list of events and times here.

4. Lillian Marrero Library Earth Day Clean Up

The Lillian Marrero Library is hosting a trash cleanup around the building for the soon to be garden space. The event will take place at 1:00 p.m.

Click here for more details.

5. Nature Palooza at the Philadelphia Science Festival

The Schuykill Center for Environmental Education will be celebrating Earth Day with a water themed educational day. Environmental activities such as hikes and crafts are planned for the event which runs from at 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. No registration required.

Click here to check out the website.

6. Clean Air Council’s Run for Clean Air

Philadelphia’s largest Earth Day Celebration is also the Clean Air Council’s largest annual fundraiser. The 36th annual Run for Clean Air will take place on April 21 at MLK Drive. Runners are encouraged to support an environmental initiative important to the event by either volunteering time or donating money. The event features 5 and 10K Runs, a 3K Walk, Kids’ Fun Run and an environmental fair, which take place on Martin Luther King Drive near the Art Museum.

A list of event times can be found below.

7:00am – Day-of onsite registration opens and pre-run Yoga Stretch Starts

7:30am – 10K Run starts

7:45am – 5K Run starts

7:50am – 3K Walk starts

8:45am – Top Finisher Announcements

9:30am – Kids’ Fun Run starts

All runners must register to run the morning of. Click here to get more information on their website.

7. Plant trees with the Philadelphia Horticultural Society

The Philadelphia Horticultural Society needs volunteers to help replant trees. Volunteers will be planting trees in 13 different locations around the region over Earth Day weekend.

For volunteer meeting times, and to find a location near you, click here.


NBC10 Investigators: Bad Bridges Across the Area

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The NBC10 Investigators are looking into bad bridges across the area. It has been a problem plaguing Pennsylvania for some time. Up until the last few years the state had the worst bridges in the country. An NBC10 investigation revealed engineers had no choice but to close some of those bridges. But the investigators found a new possible danger lurking below.

Moving Company Breaks Woman’s Family Heirloom

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Family heirloom destroyed! A viewer called NBC10 Responds when a moving company broke a table that was handed down from her great grandfather. 

Sixers Fall Short in Game 2 as Heat End 17-Game Win Streak

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It’s a series.

The Heat beat the Sixers, 113-103, to even it up in Game 2 Monday. They snapped the Sixers’ 17-game win streak and handed them their first loss at the Wells Fargo Center since March 13.

The Sixers climbed within two points in the fourth, but their 16-point deficit was too much to overcome. They will play Game 3 in Miami Thursday night (7 p.m./NBCSP). 

• The three-point shooting that propelled the Sixers in Game 1 fell flat. After going 18 for 28 on Saturday, they shot just 7 for 36. Marco Belinelli (2 of 8), Robert Covington (1 of 9), JJ Redick (1 of 7) and Dario Saric (3 of 10) all struggled from long range. 

• The Sixers started Ersan Ilyasova (14 points, 11 boards) at center to create the same matchup problems that helped them come back in the third quarter of Game 1. Unlike Saturday when the Heat played Hassan Whiteside (four points, five rebounds) for only four minutes in the entire second half, the center played over eight minutes in the first quarter alone. The Heat had two days to plan for adjustments in case the Sixers went with that lineup. 

• The second quarter was rough for the Sixers. They scored 13 points in the entire quarter. Only Ben Simmons, Redick and Saric netted baskets. Meanwhile, Dwyane Wade scored 15 points in that period himself (see more below). The Sixers made just four buckets, shot 19 percent from the field and 1 for 10 from three. The Heat out-rebounded the Sixers, 18-7, to take away second-chance point opportunities. 

• Wade always is capable of a vintage Wade game. It was unlikely the championship winner would have another quiet night. Wade scored a game-high 28 points (11 for 17 from the field). He's had a knack for turning it on against the Sixers. He previously dropped 15 in the fourth quarter in February. Starters Goran Dragic and James Johnson scored 20 points and 18 points, respectively.

• Saric amped up his game in the fourth. He scored 10 of his 23 points in the quarter to spark a Sixers’ comeback attempt. Simmons led the Sixers with 24 points, nine rebounds and eight assists. 

• Markelle Fultz played less than five minutes. He went scoreless (0 for 3 from the field) and without a rebound or assist. When Simmons picked up his fourth foul in the third quarter, T.J. McConnell subbed in and Fultz did not play in the second half. McConnell drew a foul on a put-back attempt with 0.4 seconds left in the third quarter and the crowd chanted “T-J” when he went to the line. 

• Keep an eye on Justise Winslow and Simmons in this series. Things got chippy between them in the first half. Any matchup against the Heat is going to be physical. 

• The Sixers held a moment of silence in remembrance of Hall of Famer Hal Greer, who died Saturday.


Man Accuses Frat Boys of Calling Him Slur, Breaking His Leg

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An investigation is underway after a Delaware man accused members of a University of Delaware fraternity of calling him a homophobic slur, attacking him and breaking his leg during an off-campus day party.

Rancel Valdez told NBC10 he was attending a party hosted by a University of Delaware frat Friday. Valdez said he was waiting for a friend to come out of the bathroom when a frat brother walked up to him and told him to leave.

When Valdez told him he was waiting for his friend, the frat member allegedly called him a homophobic slur and pushed him from behind as he walked away.

"They were just being rude, telling me to leave, calling me names," Valdez said.

Valdez said more members of the frat began to attack him and ultimately broke his leg.

“I didn’t even look their way or nothing,” Valdez said. “They all just came to me.”

Valdez was treated at the hospital and told NBC10 he’ll miss work for the next month due to his injuries.

“He didn’t even do anything wrong that day,” said Erica Bundsehuh, who attended the party with Valdez. “I ran over. I’m trying to pull these kids off. Literally felt like it wasn’t stopping because they were getting pulled off and then someone else would just come over.”

Newark Police and the University of Delaware Police are investigating the incident.

“This kind of reprehensible behavior is not tolerated at the University of Delaware,” University of Delaware President Dennis Assanis said in a released statement. “We will take all appropriate measures in the student conduct process to ensure any offenders are held accountable for their actions.”

Police are not investigating the incident as a hate crime at this time. If you have any information on the incident, please call Newark Police at 302-366-7111.



Photo Credit: NBC10

Sallie Mae Celebrates New Delaware Facility

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Sallie Mae celebrated the opening of a new office in Delaware by announcing a donation of $50,000 to the Food Bank of Delaware.



Photo Credit: NBC10

Catch Up Quickly: Woman Dies as Stolen Vehicle Crashes

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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 

Man Accuses Frat Boys of Calling Him Slur, Breaking His Leg: An investigation is underway after a Delaware man accused members of a University of Delaware fraternity of calling him a homophobic slur, attacking him and breaking his leg during an off-campus day party. Rancel Valdez told NBC10 he was attending a party hosted by a University of Delaware frat Friday. Valdez said he was waiting for a friend to come out of the bathroom when a frat brother walked up to him and told him to leave. When Valdez told him he was waiting for his friend, the frat member allegedly called him a homophobic slur and pushed him from behind as he walked away. Valdez said more members of the frat began to attack him and ultimately broke his leg. “I didn’t even look their way or nothing,” Valdez said. “They all just came to me.” Valdez was treated at the hospital and told NBC10 he’ll miss work for the next month due to his injuries. Newark Police and the University of Delaware Police are investigating the incident.

      WHAT YOU MISSED YESTERDAY

      Woman Dies as Stolen Vehicle Crashes in Philly: A woman died after a man crashed a stolen car into a parked SUV in Philadelphia’s Strawberry Mansion neighborhood Monday afternoon. The man was driving along Ridge Avenue near N 31st Street just after noon when he crashed, Philadelphia police said. The woman passenger and the driver were both taken to Hahnemann Hospital where the woman died a short time later, police said. The man was held a prisoner while being treated, police said. No word yet on what caused the wreck. A tow truck could be seen hauling an SUV with significant rear-end damage from the scene. The SUV belongs to the owner of a nearby eatery and wasn't occupied at the time of the crash.

      YOUR FIRST ALERT FORECAST  

      Tuesday morning is expected to see a chilly breeze and the afternoon could see scattered showers. Temperatures are expected to stay in the 40s. Wednesday is expected to be breezy but with temperatures increasing to the 60s. There's a chance of showers and temperatures are expected to be in the 50s for Thursday. Friday is expected to be partly sunny with temperatures in the 50s. Saturday and Sunday could see some sunshine and temperatures in the 60s.  Get your full NBC10 First Alert forecast here.

      [[479961703, C]]

          TODAY'S TALKER               

          Lowest Number of Pa. Traffic Deaths on Record: Pennsylvania traffic deaths are at their lowest number since such records began to be kept in 1928. The state Transportation Department said Monday that 1,137 people died on roadways last year, fueled by drops in impaired driver crashes, pedestrian deaths and fatalities involving victims who weren’t wearing seatbelts or other proper restraints. The total is a decline of 51 from 2016. Transportation Secretary Leslie Richards says her agency is working to inform people, adopt innovations, enforce laws and make low-cost safety upgrades. PennDOT is operating a new crash information tool that lets people see how many crashes have occurred in a given location.

          AROUND THE WORLD

          US, UK Say Russia Targets Internet Hardward for Espionage: Washington and London on Monday jointly accused the Russian government of maliciously targeting global internet equipment for political and economic espionage. The two governments said the Russian operations, which allegedly involve planting malware on internet routers and other equipment, could also lay the foundation for future offensive cyberattacks. A joint statement by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the FBI and the U.K.'s National Cyber Security Centre said the main targets include "government and private-sector organizations," as well as providers of "critical infrastructure" and internet service providers. "Victims were identified through a coordinated series of actions between U.S. and international partners," according to a companion technical alert issued by the U.S. Computer Emergency Response Team (US-CERT). Both nations have "high confidence" in the finding of Russian-sponsored cyber-meddling, which the alert said has been reported by multiple sources since 2015.


          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: NBC10 - Tim Furlong

          Tax Day 2018: Where to Find Deals, Specials Around Philly

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          Tax day is usually met with groans and dread, but there’s some good news for you.

          There are a number of deals in the Philadelphia area that might take the edge off the day. From free food to $10.40 specials, here are some of the specials you can take advantage of Tuesday: 

          • Applebees: Dollaritas ($1 margaritas) are back for all of April.
          • Boston Market: Their $10.40 special includes a half chicken individual meal with two sides and cornbread plus a regular fountain beverage.
          • Bruegger’s Bagels: Get a $10.40 Big Bagel Bundle (13 freshly-baked bagels and two tubs of cream cheese) with a coupon from their website. They are also offering 20 percent off catering orders until April 17.
          • California Tortilla: Get free chips and queso. Just come in and say “Chipping in” when you place your order. (Only one free small chips and queso per guest with any purchase).
          • Chili’s: $5 Cherry Blossom margaritas are available all through April.
          • Hydromassage and Planet Fitness: Get free massages at Planet Fitness locations from April 14 through April 21. Download and print the coupon to redeem the free massage.
          • P.F. Chang’s: Use promo code TAXDAY for 15 percent off your takeout order. Only valid April 16 and April 17.
          • World of Beer: Toast the end of tax season with a free beer.


          Photo Credit: Joe Raedle/Getty Images, File

          Woman Hurt as Fire Spreads From Grocery Store to Apartments

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          A fire appears to have started in a grocery store along Dupont Highway in Wilmington Manor, Delaware then spread to the stairwell leading to apartments above. One woman was rescued and transported to the hospital.



          Photo Credit: NBC10 - Derrick Cheston

          Teen Mom Charged After Newborn Is Found Dead in NJ Alley

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          A 14-year-old girl has been accused of leaving her newborn to die in a New Jersey alley.

          The girl, whose identity has not been released, was charged as a minor with murder in the death of her infant son, according to the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office. The boy's body was found between a house and a garage on Lincoln Avenue in Highland Park, with its umbilical cord nearby. 

          Diamond Mejia told News 4 on Monday afternoon she spotted the baby's body from the second floor of her home and initially thought it looked a little like a doll. 

          "The umbilical cord was still there, and he was ice cold by the time I got to him," Mejia said. 

          Mejia said she tried to revive the child, fruitlessly. 

          "There was no pulse but I still gave it CPR," she said. "I tried until the ambulance was on site."

          The boy was pronounced dead after arriving at a hospital. The teenage mother was arrested a short time later.

          "I have a whole different view on life right now," Mejia said. "It's kind of depressing."

          The teen is expected to appear in family court on Tuesday, prosecutors said.

          3 Hurt as SEPTA Bus Takes Out Poles, Crashes Into Fence

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          A SEPTA bus jumped a curb and smashed into a fence in North Philadelphia Tuesday morning, winding up perpendicular to the roadway.

          Three people, including the bus driver, were hurt, SEPTA said, when the Route 48 bus took out at least two utility poles along N 29th Street near Cambria Street before crashing into the fence around 9:25 a.m.

          No word yet on the extent of injuries.

          The bus appeared to strike at least three poles on one side off the street before going across the street, dragging part of one pole with it, before coming to a rest against a fence surrounding a parking lot.

          It was unclear if any other vehicles were involved.

          Police blocked 29th Street due to the downed wires and investigation into the cause of the wreck.



          Photo Credit: SkyForce10

          Philly Water Department Needs to Raise Rates for Repairs

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          The Philadelphia Water Department is proposing rate increases to help with the cost of repairing old pipes and water mains.

          'Someone Went Out': Woman Partially Pulled from Plane

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          A Southwest Airlines flight landed safely in Philadelphia Tuesday after the jet violently depressurized when a piece of an engine flew into and broke a window, according to passenger accounts and the pilot's conversations with air traffic control.

          One passenger's father-in-law, relaying information from his daughter, said the impact was so severe that a female passenger was partially sucked out of the plane when the window imploded.

          Todd Baur told NBC10 the woman was partially "drawn out" of the plane before being "pulled back in by other passengers."

          The pilot, speaking to air traffic control via radio, asked for paramedics to meet the airplane to help injured passengers.

          "We have a part of the aircraft missing," the yet-to-be-identified pilot said.

          Asked whether the plane was on fire, she responded: "No, it's not on fire but part of it's missing. They said there is a hole and someone went out."

          The Dallas-bound Boeing 737-700 — numbered flight 1380 — made an emergency landing at Philadelphia International Airport around 11:20 a.m. Tuesday after taking off from LaGuardia Airport in New York City. There were 149 people onboard. A ground stop was put into effect at the airport as crews responded.

          The jet's left engine blew shortly after takeoff, passengers said. Pieces of shrapnel flew into the plane's fuselage and at least one window, the passengers and the FAA said.

          "There is a hole in the side of the aircraft, also," an aircraft controller relayed to firefighters at the airport.

          Passengers shared photos of the plane's left engine with major damage. The engine inlet was shredded with metal bent outward. The pane of a window just behind the left wing was missing.

          The plane was flying around 32,500 feet when the incident happened, according to an altitude-tracking tool on Flight Aware. The plane descended by more than 3,000 feet per minute until the pilots leveled out around 10,000 feet.

          Arthur Wolk, an aviation expert, said that is a modest rate of descent and indicated that the pilot had control of the aircraft.

          Baur described the crew as "incredible," saying that the pilots and flight attendants acted quickly and calmly.

          Still, a window bursting mid-flight left some passengers unnerved.

          One terrified passenger posted a live video to his Facebook page during the ordeal. The grainy footage shows a man attempting to secure his yellow oxygen mask while updating loved ones following his feed.

          "Something is wrong with our plane! It appears we are going down! Emergency landing!! Southwest flight from NYC to Dallas!!" Facebook user Marty Martinez wrote. He then added, "We are bracing for landing!!"

          The woman who apparently was pulled out of the plane is said to have been rushed to a Philadelphia hospital, Baur said. It's not clear how many any other passengers were injured and how serious those injuries may be.

          In a brief statement, Southwest Airlines said it was working to gather more information.

          "Safety is always our top priority at Southwest Airlines, and we are working diligently to support our customers and crews at this time," the statement said.

          The NTSB is expected to hold a briefing at its headquarters at Regan National Airport in Arlington, Virginia, Tuesday afternoon. The agency is also sending a so-called go team to Philadelphia to investigate the incident.

          A wave of malfunctions has plagued Southwest in recent years. In February, a cabin fire forced Southwest passengers to deplane before their flight took off from John Wayne Airport in Orange County, California, and San Jose. The fire — believed to be in the Boeing 737's auxiliary power unit — caused the plane's emergency chutes to deploy to evacuate 139 passengers and five crew members. A few minor injuries were reported, but no one was transported to hospitals.

          In 2016, a Southwest Airlines flight traveling from New Orleans to Orlando diverted to Pensacola when an engine blew out mid-flight. No injuries were reported, but the plane sustained extensive damage similar to what happened Tuesday: the engine’s inlet was torn away revealing additional damage to the fuselage, wing, winglet and tail stabilizer.

          This is a developing story. Check back for updates.



          Photo Credit: abourman

          Southwest Flight Makes Lands at PHL After Engine Blows

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          Photo Credit: Timothy Bourman

          Attorney for 2 Men Arrested at Starbucks to Speak

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          As Rosalind Brewer, Starbucks chief operating officer, described learning about two black men arrested at one of her companies' Center City cafes, her words could have been mistaken for broader disbelief in contemporary American life.

          "This is disturbing that we get to this day and this happens," Brewer, an African-American woman, said in an interview with the Philadelphia Tribune on Monday. "After everything we talk about with our leaders, in our company and our stores that something like this could happen."

          Starbucks is in the midst of a debacle that could have long-term implications for the coffee titan's image.

          Brewer and company CEO Kevin Johnson arrived in the city to meet with the two men, who remain unidentified. They also met with Mayor Jim Kenney and Police Commissioner Richard Ross.

          The two men's attorney, Stewart Cohen, is holding a press conference at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday at his Center City office. (Check back to watch the press conference live on this page.)

          They promised to re-evaluate the policies and guidelines that involve patrons' use of Starbucks facilities, including in-store bathrooms and seating areas.


          The men were arrested by as many as seven Philadelphia police officers Thursday afternoon while waiting for another person to arrive at the Starbucks at 1801 Spruce Street.

          That other person, Andrew Yaffe, who works in real estate in Philadelphia, arrived as the two men were being hauled off in handcuffs. They were reportedly released hours later without being charged. Starbucks declined to press trespassing charges that were allegedly the initial reason for the call to police by a store manager.

          Starbucks spokesman Reggie Borges confirmed to NBC News that the two men agreed to meet with Johnson on Monday. Stewart Cohen, the attorney representing the men, said he hoped the conversation will be "productive."

          Protests followed in the days since the arrests, which were caught on video.

          Calls to boycott the chain of 28,000 stores across the world included messages like "Starbucks coffee is anti-black."

          Johnson called the incident "reprehensible" more than once in his interview with the Tribune.

          "They should have let those two gentlemen stay in the store and wait for the person they were meeting," he said. "There was no reason for [police to be called] if someone has a legitimate purpose for being in the store even if they don’t buy something the guidelines state you should let them stay."

          He said the entire company would revisit its in-store policies, which can vary from region-to-region.

          A Starbucks spokesman told NBC10 last week that in many American cities, including Philadelphia, only paying customers are allowed to use the cafe for its bathrooms and seating areas.

          Johnson and Brewer said that policy and others would "need to be evaluated."

          "Guidelines sometimes get sideways on the culture of the company," Brewer said.

          Johnson said company employees would go through new training as well.

          I think we’re going to uncover a lot when we go through this unconscious bias training," he said.



          Photo Credit: Jacqueline Larma/AP
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          Carson Wentz Speaks

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          Injured Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz spoke to the media Tuesday afternoon as his recovery from a knee injury continues.



          Photo Credit: Getty Images
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