Millions of Americans Face Lower Tax Refund Check

February 11, 2019, 5:56 am

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Millions of Americans could face a shocking tax season.

According to the Internal Revenue Service, a drop in federal reimbursement stems from President Donald Trump’s new tax bill. New figures from the IRS reveal the average tax refund dropped 8.4 percent from $2,035 in 2018 to $1,865 in 2019.

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According to the IRS, 30 million Americans will be writing checks, rather than cashing them, which is 3 million more than if Trump’s tax law had not passed.

Many people who had expected refunds and are having to pay instead have taken to social media to share their frustration, NBC News reported. Three groups that were particularly affected were tax filers who itemized, those with dependents, people with jobs on the side and retirees, according to CNBC.  

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"The people who are most likely to be surprised this year are the ones who lost some deductions they had last year and who didn't make changes to their withholding," Nathan Rigney, lead tax research analyst at the Tax Institute at H&R Block, told CNBC.

There is still time to make last-minute deductions. Contributions to an individual retirement account or a health savings account could help reduce your taxable income for this filing season if you qualify.

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The IRS offers a withholding calculator to help you decide whether to adjust your W-4 ahead of this time next year.

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Alternate Travel Options After Bus Company Suddenly Closes

February 11, 2019, 6:38 am

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Commuters who traveled to New York City from Pennsylvania on Bieber Transportation are scrambling to find alternative options after the company suddenly went out of business Friday. Klein Transportation, Our Bus and Trans-Bridge are all working to help those customers. It's unclear if Bieber Transportation customers will receive a refund for tickets already purchased.

Photo Credit: NBC10

How Much Snow Has Fallen in Your Neighborhood?

February 11, 2019, 8:30 am

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How much snow has fallen in your area? The first round of snow that fell Monday morning left a couple of inches in some neighborhoods.

A second round of snow, ice and heavy rain is expected to begin Monday night.

Check out these totals (in inches) from the National Weather Service. We will update this page as we receive new information from the National Weather Service.

Pennsylvania

Berks County

Huffs Church - 1

 

Bucks County

Furlong - 0.7

Langhorne - 1

 

Chester County

Brookfield - 2

Exton - 1.3

Landenberg - 2.8

West Caln Township - 1.6

 

Delaware County

Chadds Ford Township - 2.5

Drexel Hill - 1.9

Lansdowne - 2

Morton - 2.5

Wayne - 1.8

 

Lehigh County

Lehigh Valley International Airport - 0.5

North Whitehall Township - 0.9

 

Montgomery County

Gilbertsville - 1.6

Graterford - 1.7

Eagleville - 1.6

 

Northampton County

Nazareth - 0.5

 

Philadelphia

Philadelphia International Airport - 2

 

Poconos

Pocono Summit - 0.3

 

New Jersey

Atlantic County

Atlantic City International Airport - 3

Brigantine - 2.3

Estell Manor - 2.4

Galloway Township - 2.8

Hammonton - 2.3

Leeds Point - 2

Margate - 2

Pleasantville - 2.2

 

Burlington County

Mount Holly - 1.1

Mount Laurel - 2.1

Tabernacle - 2

 

Camden County

Cherry Hill - 2.4

Lindenwold - 2.9

Somerdale - 2.5

 

Cape May County

Belleplain - 1.3

Ocean City - 1.3

Villas - 0.3

 

Cumberland County

Vineland - 2.5

 

Gloucester County

Mullica Hill - 3

Washington Township - 3.1

West Deptford Township - 2

Williamstown - 3

 

Mercer County

Ewing - 0.1

 

Ocean County

Brick - 1

Manahawkin - 3

Point Pleasant - 1.3

Whiting - 1.5

 

Salem County

Pennsville - 2.7

 

Delaware

Kent County

Smyrna - 2.5

Dover - 0.4

 

New Castle County

Greenville - 2.4

Hockessin - 2.4

New Castle County Airport - 2.2

Newark - 2

Pike Creek - 3.5

Prices Corner 2.4

Talley - 2.4

Wilmington - 2.5

White Clay Creek - 2.4

Photo Credit: Mark Sestok

Feeling Stuck? Maybe You Could Use a Life Coach

February 11, 2019, 5:57 am

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Life Coach Philly helps people that encounter obstacles that stop them from moving forward in life. Life Coach Philly founder Paula Boyle suggest making small changes to help you start the process.

Photo Credit: NBC10

Round 2 of Wintry Weather to Bring Snow, Possible Ice, Rain

February 11, 2019, 9:45 am

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The workweek began with school delays and closures and slow commutes thanks to a storm that brought several inches of snow to neighborhoods from the Jersey shore to the Philadelphia suburbs. 

The snow dips southward and may turn to rain in southern neighborhoods Monday afternoon, but now a second round of wintry weather threatens.

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A First Alert is in effect Monday night through Tuesday night.

Here's what to watch for:

• Is School Open Today?

The commute home could be a little slower again as snow starts to creep northward and pick up steam. It will fall steadily through the overnight hours.

Steady snow will continue into early Tuesday morning, when some sleet and freezing rain could be in play along the I-95 Corridor and make for dicey driving conditions during the morning commute. Temps won't get out of the 30s.

• How Much Snow Has Fallen in Your Neighborhood?

The icing threat is more considerable in the Lehigh Valley by the Tuesday morning rush through the early afternoon. For the suburbs north of Philadelphia, much of the morning rush could get sleet and freezing rain, but areas south of Philadelphia could likely see icing turning to rain between 6 and 9 a.m.

Less than a quarter inch of inch is expected in northern and western suburbs but that could be enough to cause problems. Icy conditions could lead to power outages.

Another 1 to 3 inches of snow could fall in Philadelphia, South Jersey, the Pennsylvania suburbs and the Lehigh Valley during the second round of wintry weather. 

The First Alert expires late Tuesday night. Winds then pick up Wednesday and conditions clear with highs in the low 40s.

A warm-up comes in time for Valentine's Day with highs into the upper 40s Thursday.

Stick with the NBC10 First Alert Weather Team (download our app) for updates throughout the wintry weather.

Photo Credit: Getty Images
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Wiping Away Snow in South Jersey

February 11, 2019, 9:38 am

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South Jersey saw snow Sunday night and Monday morning, but crews were prepared and treated the roads so people could get around safely. People still needed to take some extra time clearing off their cars.

Photo Credit: NBC10

Saint Joe's Prep Coach Wins National Coach of the Year

February 11, 2019, 9:11 am

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What a year it was for Gabe Infante, a former lawyer-turned-high school football coach. His team at Saint Joe's Prep in Philadelphia won a state championship, he was named the Don Shula NFL High School Coach of the Year, and then Temple University football offered him a job as the team's running backs coach. Infante sat down with NBC10's @Issue to talk about his magical year and his new job.

PHOTOS: Snow Day

February 11, 2019, 9:49 am

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Here is a collection of snow day pictures from NBC10 viewers.

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NBC10 Responds: Woman Says She Spent a Year Asking for Refrigerator Repair

February 11, 2019, 3:30 pm

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A woman says she was asking for more than a year for repairs for her refrigerator. So she reached out to NBC10 Responds for help. 

Ice Making Begins at Lincoln Financial Field for NHL Stadium Series

February 11, 2019, 2:49 pm

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Later this month, the Philadelphia Eagles midnight green will be replaced with Flyers orange. The Flyers and the Penguins will face off in the NHL's Stadium Series game on February 23. The NHL has officially taken over the stadium and began preparation to convert the field to a rink. NBC10 has the latest on this tranformation.

Elderly Woman, Son Murdered in Lehigh Valley Fire, DA Says

February 11, 2019, 2:08 pm

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A 97-year-old woman and her middle-aged son have been ruled homicide victims after a monthlong investigation following a fire that destroyed the woman's Northampton County house, the county district attorney said Monday.

The bodies of Virginia Houck, of Palmer Township, and her son, Roger Houck, who was visiting from his home in Washington state, were found badly burned in the basement after the fire Jan. 4, officials said.

• Round 2 of Wintry Weather to Bring Snow, Possible Ice, Rain

Roger Houck's body was bound and the cause of his death was ruled "homicidal violence" prior to the fire, Northampton County District Attorney John Morganelli said.

The house fire, which destroyed the home, spread quickly because of an accelerant, officials said.

• How Much Snow Has Fallen in Your Neighborhood?

A person of interest is being sought by law enforcement authorities, Morganelli said, but the person was not identified.

Morganelli and other officials said the homicide determination was not released prior to Monday because the autopsies took awhile to complete, and police long believed one or both of the victims were specifically targeted. Officials said they did not think Palmer Township residents or the greater Lehigh Valley community was at risk during the investigation.

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"We are confident that this particular household and the occupant or occupants were targeted for this event," Morganelli said. "We have not been able to determine what that motive may have been in that matter but we are working on that angle as well."

Virginia Houck's car was found a few blocks away from her home, officials said, and evidence has been gleaned from it.

Authorities did not release a motive in the killings.

Photo Credit: Jim Friedman/NBC10

NJ Featured Teacher Gifted 150 Packages of School Supplies

February 11, 2019, 1:27 pm

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In just one weekend, a New Jersey teacher has received enough packages of school supplies to fill her living room — thanks to a Hollywood star's Instagram shoutout.

Actress Kristen Bell’s Instagram on Friday called out Vineland, New Jersey, teacher Jacquelyn Campbell, as her weekly "featured teacher." That's when the packages started rolling in.

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She has received over 150 deliveries containing school supplies since Friday, and they keep coming.

“I completely did not expect the response,” said Campbell, a special education teacher for students in grades six through eight at Thomas W. Wallace Junior Middle School in Vineland.

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Campbell says that some of her students struggle to get the school supplies they need. 

“There are people out there who have everything and are willing to help, and this is one way our students are getting what they need,” said Campbell.

Each Friday, Bell shares the stories of different teachers in the United States. Then, she adds their Amazon wish lists of school supplies into her Instagram bio so that her followers can send the teachers items on their lists.

On Friday, Kristen Bell linked Campbell’s Amazon wish list in her Instagram bio.

"I just said to my students, if you wanted anything that you could possibly have in our classroom what would it be?" Campbell asked.

Decorations, books, crayons, markers, Chromebooks and iPads are among some the supplies that she expects to find in the packages that she will open Tuesday with her students.

Campbell found out that she was nominated after school on Friday. Since her school closed due to weather conditions Monday, her students are in for an exciting surprise when they get to school.

“My students have no clue. They have no idea what’s coming,” Campbell said.

Along with the school supplies, Campbell’s school will also be receiving a donation from NBC for being nominated for the campaign.

“It shows how much people really do care, and some students really do struggle financially and don’t have what they need,” the teacher said.

Photo Credit: Provided
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NJ Woman Searches for Irreplaceable Family Heirloom

February 11, 2019, 3:43 pm

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A woman in New Jersey is asking for help locating one of her most valuable possessions.

Tiffiny McKinney says a teardrop-shaped necklace containing her mother’s ashes went missing after a recent shopping trip at Deptford Mall in Deptford Township, New Jersey.

• NJ Featured Teacher Gifted 150 Packages of School Supplies

“My mother passed away suddenly from ovarian cancer. This necklace has her ashes,” she said in a Facebook post.

Since posting her message on Facebook, it has been shared nearly 8,000 times and received hundreds of comments in support of her hunt for the priceless heirloom.

McKinney says she has reached out to the mall and returned to the site to search inside individual stores and restrooms, but has not been able to locate the locket.

According to McKinney’s Facebook post, she is offering a $50 gift certificate to anyone who helps her find the necklace.

If you have any information on it's whereabouts, please call 856-230-8485 or email tips@nbcphiladelphia.com.

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Passengers Feel Duped After Bieber Bus Company Goes Out of Business

February 11, 2019, 4:55 pm

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It's the end of the road for a bus company that ferried people from the Lehigh Valley to New York City. Bieber Bus went out of business over the weekend and passengers feel duped after they never received refunds. NBC10 is speaking to a passenger who was left stranded with dozens of children because Bieber allegedly refused to take them home.

21-Year-Old New Jersey Songwriter Wins 2 Grammys

February 11, 2019, 6:35 pm

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When Cardi B won a Grammy Sunday night for best rap album, a family in New Jersey was celebrating, too. 

That's because Nija Charles, 21, is now a two-time Grammy Award-winning songwriter. The 2015 Union Township High School graduate wrote the hooks for several Cardi B hits, including "Ring" with Kehlani, and wrote two songs for Jay Z and Beyonce's Grammy-winning album "Everything is Love." 

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"It couldn't happen to a better person," Charles' mother Tracy said. "She deserves everything she's given." 

From her aunt's beauty salon on Morris Avenue, mom Tracy and sister Zoey FaceTimed her Monday in Los Angeles to see how she was doing the morning after her big wins. 

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"You did it, kid! You did it," said Tracy Charles. 

Nija Charles said it's all still sinking in. 

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"When I went, I didn't expect to win. I was just there to watch the show," she said over FaceTime. 

Charles discovered her gift for songwriting at her grandparents' house, where she would write lyrics to beats she created with her aunt and uncle. Even before she was accepted at the Clive Davis School of Music at NYU, producers were sending her music to write to. 

"A lot of them didn't realize she was only 16 or 17 years old. That was funny," Tracy Charles said, laughing.

While a student at Union Township High School, Charles ran track, was a cheerleader and was always an honors student. Her teachers knew she was destined to succeed. 

"It's very exciting. We are all happy and proud of her," said Akua Boakye at Union Township High School. 

Adminstrators say Charles' Grammy wins made everyone very proud Monday. 

Charles herself has advice for young people chasing their dreams.

"Be consistent. As long as you like the song, that's what matters," she said. "And never give up. A good song will always be heard." 

Nija Charles has also written songs for Meek Mill and 21 Savage, whose albums have also gone to no. 1. 

Photo Credit: Handout

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Bill Cosby: Life Behind Bars Part 1

February 12, 2019, 5:33 am

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NBC10 is giving you the first detailed look of what life is like in prison for Bill Cosby. The 81-year-old is in a maximum security prison in Montgomery County. Cosby was convicted of drugging and sexually assaulting Andrea Constand. Dozens of women have accused the comedian of similar unwanted encounters, which Cosby denies.

Crews Try to Get Ahead of Wintry Weather

February 12, 2019, 6:02 am

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Downtown Doylestown in Bucks County saw cold and windy conditions with light snow Tuesday morning. Businesses are treating sidewalks and private crews are salting and removing light snow from the roads.

Photo Credit: NBC10

Masked Robbers Assault Family in Home

February 12, 2019, 6:33 am

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A family in Philadelphia’s Rhanwhurst neighborhood were robbed, tied up and assaulted on Monday night. Police believe the family was targeted.

Photo Credit: NBC10

Bipartisan Agreement on Border Security Funding

February 12, 2019, 6:42 am

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A bipartisan group working on the disagreement over President Donald Trump's demand for a border wall announced Monday night that they have an agreement. Both chambers of Congress have to pass the agreement, then the president will have to sign it into law before midnight on Friday to avoid another partial government shutdown.

Photo Credit: Mark Wilson/Getty Images (File)

A Mom Creates a Special Space for Kids With Autism

February 12, 2019, 5:03 am

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We Rock the Spectrum Kids Gym in Audubon, New Jersey, is crafted for children on the autism spectrum. The space is fun, safe and accessible for all children, founder Pip Carty says.

Photo Credit: NBC10