A local teen girl is one of the first girls in the country to join the scouts.
Local Teen Girl Becomes One of the First in the Country to Join the Scouts
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Video Shows Gunman Firing Shots in Center City
Police are searching for a man who was caught on surveillance video firing shots in Center City.
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Making History: 2 Women Run for Philadelphia Sheriff
For the first time in Philadelphia's history, city residents could have a female sheriff thanks to two Democratic women vying for the job.
Retired police officer Rochelle Bilal and former deputy sheriff detective Malika Rahman are taking on embattled Philadelphia Sheriff Jewell Williams, who was accused by at least three women of sexual harassment.
Also running for sheriff is the Rev. Larry King Sr., who describes himself as a "preacher, pastor and public servant." The four Democrats face off May 21 in the Democratic primary for the office charged with protecting Philadelphia courts, ferrying incarcerated to courts and jail and overseeing property forclosures. There is no Republican challenger.
A former state representative, Williams’ tenure as sheriff has been mired with controversy almost from the beginning. Rumors of sexual misconduct began to surface in 2013, just one year after he took office.
In January 2019, the Philadelphia Sheriff’s Office settled with one of the victims for $127,500. Williams was not listed as a defendant in the complaint and has maintained his innocence. A lawyer for Williams said in a statement that the pay-out did "not mean the allegations are true."
But in 2017, Mayor Jim Kenney said Williams should resign from office. Instead, he’s running for a third term and the lawsuit could play a part in the upcoming May 21 election with two women running against Williams.
"That's what elections are for - to allow voters to judge not just the accomplishments and the track record and the vision of the candidate, but that person's character," David Thornburgh, CEO and president of Philadelphia's Committee of 70, said.
Bilal, 27-year veteran of the Philadelphia Police Department, was the first woman appointed Director of Public Safety in the Colwyn borough of Delaware County, where she managed the police department and the volunteer fire department.
She is also secretary of the Philadelphia NAACP chapter and president of the Guardian Civic League, a local offshoot of the National Black Police Association.
According to her campaign website, Bilal "believes that elected officials are responsible to each and every citizen and she is deliberate in making sure that everyone has a voice at the table."
Rahman, meanwhile, started her career in law enforcement 10 years ago as a correctional officer in the Philadelphia Prison system. During an interview with NBC10, Rahman said that one of her biggest priorities is creating transparency and accountability within the Philadelphia Sheriff’s Office.
"Before you can go outside and sweep the front porch, you have to make sure the inside is clean," she said.
Her inspiration to run for sheriff was not necessarily driven by the wave of women who ran for office last year, but "it did help," she said.
“It was more of a need and necessity for the people,” Rahman said. “As women, [Bilal and I] are both concerned for the need for change- providing adequate services the public can feel comfortable with and trust in.”
Bilal echoed a similar intention during her interview with NBC10.
"I want to be the change agent," she said. "I want to see [the sheriff’s office] represent the people of this city."
One way of doing that, Bilal said, would be to help keep residents in their homes rather than foreclosing on houses for sheriff’s sale. Last year in Philadelphia, more than 18,000 people lost their homes.
Like Bilal and Rahman, King is running on a platform of “restoring trust” and “rebuilding confidence.” He is a retired Army veteran and former Philadelphia prisons correctional officer turned internal affairs investigator.
Photo Credit: NBC10
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NBC10 Responds: Woman is Left With Ticket After Parking App Fails
A woman says she still got a ticket after her parking app failed. When she couldn't get help from anyone, she turned to NBC10 Responds and Harry Hairston.
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Ex-Priest ‘Credibly Accused’ of Sexual Abuse Found Dead
A former New Jersey priest and teacher who was “credibly accused” of sexual abuse was found shot to death in his Nevada home over the weekend, authorities said.
The Clark County Coroner’s Office confirmed that John M. Capparelli, 70, was found dead Saturday when the Henderson Police Department conducted a welfare check in a residence around 9:30 a.m.
A preliminary investigation indicates the victim died in suspicious circumstances, and the incident is being investigated as a homicide, police say. They added that a suspect has not been identified at this time and police are following up on developed leads.
Capparelli is among the clergy listed by the Archdiocese of Newark who were “credibly accused of sexual abuse of minors in the Archdiocese of Newark.” Last month, the five dioceses in New Jersey released names of priests who were credibly accused of sexually abusing minors in incidents that dated back to 1940.
The Archdiocese of Newark’s list reports Capparelli as having had “multiple” victims. He was ordained in 1980 and was assigned to churches around New Jersey, including: Our Lady of Fatima, North Bergen; Oratory Prep, Summit; Holy Trinity, Westfield; and St. Theresa, Kenilworth. He was also a temporary chaplain at Valley Hospital in Ridgewood, according to the archdiocese.
Capparelli was permanently removed from ministry and laicized, according to the archdiocese.
According to NJ.com, Capparelli was accused of groping teenage boys in the 1970s and 1980s when he was active in ministry as a Roman Catholic priest.
After he stopped working as a priest, Capparelli began working as a math teacher in Newark public schools in 1993 until allegations surfaced against him in 2011, NJ.com reported. The state ultimately revoked his teaching certificates.
In a statement Tuesday, the Archdiocese of Newark said: “The Archdiocese of Newark has no information concerning Mr. Capparelli’s death or any investigation related to his death.”
Photo Credit: Getty Images
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College Admissions Scheme Snarls Hollywood Actresses
One of the largest college admissions schemes in history was revealed to the public on Tuesday. Dozens of parents paid thousands to get their children into prominent universities. After a yearlong investigation agents started making arrests. Among the suspects are actresses Lori Loughlin and Felicity Huffman.
Photo Credit: GETTY IMAGES
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Pa. Students, AG Launch Opioid Prevention Campaign
Students helped launch the Pa. Opioid Prevention Project in Center City Philadelphia on Tuesday. The campaign educates young people and their parents about the dangers of opioids.
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Car Flips Over Embankment Along Philly's Kelly Drive
A car crashed over an embankment running along Philadelphia’s Kelly Drive and nearly into the Schuylkill River during the Wednesday morning commute.
The crash occurred on the river drive near Reservoir Drive around 8:30 a.m.
No word yet on injuries.
Police blocked a lane of traffic as they waited for a tow truck to remove the crashed car.
Expect traffic troubles in the area despite traffic getting by in both directions. Drivers can use the Schuylkill Expressway (interstate 76) and Martin Luther King Drive on the other side of the river as alternate routes.
This story is developing and will be updated.
Photo Credit: NBC10 - Jon Rodriguez
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'Run, Joe, Run': Biden Teases 2020 Presidential Bid
Amid cheers of "Run, Joe, Run" from the crowd at the International Association of Firefighters, former Vice President Joe Biden teased a presidential bid, telling the crowd to "save" their energy. "I may need it in a few weeks," he said.
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'Flying Saucer' Eatery Coming to Philly's LOVE Park
"LOVE" to eat?
Philadelphia's LOVE Park has already gotten a makeover but the revitalization of the park in the heart of Center City isn't over as a restaurant is added to the menu of options at the iconic park.
Mayor Jim Kenney and other city officials unveiled the latest and last phase of renovations — a full-service restaurant in the UFO-looking former Welcome Center in the park — Wednesday morning.
"The flying saucer comes back to life," Philadelphia City Council President Darrell Clark said.
Philadelphia has teamed with Safran Turney Hospitality to renovate the circular Welcome Center at the corner of 16th Street and JFK Boulevard, the City's Department of Parks and Recreation says. On Wednesday, officials gave a first-look at the eatery called Loveluck.
Loveluck is being run by Safran Turney Hospitality, the restaurant group of chef Marcie Turney and Valerie Safran along 13th Street that is behind Philly favorites like Barbuzzo, Little Nonna's Verde, Bud & Marilyn's and more.
Loveluck will feature 60 seats inside with 360-degree views through donated Saint-Gobain glass, officials said. There will be 40 more seats on the circular balcony and another 80 seats outside, the City said. The restaurant is expected to open later this year.
The eatery is being called final piece of a multi-million dollar redesign of the park.
As we wait for Loveluck to open, parkgoers can eat grab a bite at food trucks that are expected to ramp up as the weather warms.
Back in May, the ribbon was cut on the redesigned park. LOVE Park, officially named John F. Kennedy Plaza, was upgraded over a couple of years. Robert Indiana’s iconic LOVE statue even was moved out of the park for a time. But the statue, with a fresh coat of paint, is back and so is the fountain with colored water.
Talk about love: the City is also now permitting a handful of weddings in the park as part of the Wedding Wednesdays initiative.
Critics say the new LOVE Park lacks the grunge and grittiness that helped make it an international skateboarding destination over the years while others say they appreciate the new, greener, park.
Photo Credit: NBC10
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Philly's Homicide Count Outpacing Chicago's
Gun violence is the priority for newly-elected State Representative-Elect Movita Johnson-Harrell. In the first three months of 2019, the numbers of homicides, most by gun, have soared to 63, which surpasses even that of Chicago.
Photo Credit: NBC10
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Wednesday’s Child: Dante
This week’s Wednesday’s Child is Dante, he loves fashion and is very silly. He is looking for a forever family to love him and be there for him.
Photo Credit: NBC10
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‘Coffee With a Cop’ Honors the Men in Blue
In Trenton, New Jersey, police are being honored and awarded in a very special way. The purpose of the "Coffee With A Cop" award is to honor them for all of their service throughout the community.
Photo Credit: Cydney Long
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West Philly Grocery Store Owner Says Beverage Tax Forced Him to Close
A grocery store on Haverford Avenue in West Philadelphia is currently at the center of the tax soda debate. The owner says that the tax is forcing him to close the business. But now there's an effort to bring a new grocery store into the spot.
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'Bach in the Subways' to Delight Local Commuters
Your morning commute might soon be the hottest ticket in town.
Bach in the Subways will bring its live musical performances to public spaces in Philadelphia starting next week. The New York-based organization is known for assembling groups of musicans to transit stations play the music of classical composer Johann Sebastian Bach in celebration of his birthday.
SEPTA is welcoming Bach in the Subways as part of its "Music and Moves" initiative, which aims to connect riders with artists in the community. The transit authority has approved several loacations as potential venues, including its Jefferson, Suburban, and City Hall stations.
PATCO will also allow the musicians to perform in its Philadelphia and South Jersey stations. Additionally, Amtrak is welcoming the all-volunteer group to play in its food court in 30th Street Station.
Bach in the Subways originated in 2011 as a way to renew interest in classical music. It began with two musicians performing in a New York City subway station on March 21, 2011, the 326th anniversary of Bach's birth. By 2015, thousands of people in more than 40 countries were participating in the celebration.
Bach in the Subways' Philadelphia performances, celebrating Bach's 334th birthday, are expected to take place from from March 21 to March 24.
Photo Credit: Adam Berry/Getty Images
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NBC10 Responds: Airline Doesn’t Compensate Army Vet After Losing Luggage
A soldier says that an airline lost his luggage and he has been trying to get compensation for months. When he wasn’t getting any answers, he called Harry Hairston and NBC10 Responds for help.
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3-Year-Old Girl Battling Cancer Becomes an Honorary State Trooper
A 3-year-old girl named Rose became an honorary state trooper. She has stage 4 neuroblastoma cancer and she traveled from Florida to Philadelphia to get treated at CHOP. NBC10 photojournalist Jim Friedman was there as troopers welcomed her.
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Mobile Home Collapses in Maxatawny Township
A young man and two teenagers were inside of their own home in Maxatawny Townsip, when the roof suddenly collapsed. One of the victims explains how he escaped.
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Low-Interest Program Helps Philly Residents Fix Old Homes
NBC10 is one of 20 news organizations producing Broke in Philly, a collaborative reporting project on solutions to poverty and the city’s push towards economic justice. Follow us at @BrokeInPhilly.
Middle-and low-income Philadelphia residents whose houses need new windows, doors and even roofs are now eligible for low-interest home improvement loans through the city’s Restore, Repair, Renew program, unveiled Wednesday afternoon.
Qualifying applicants would receive a 10-year, 3-percent fixed interest loan that ranges from $2,500 to $24,999. Unlike most private loans, homeowners only need a 580 minimum credit score and an income of $104,880 for a family four. Additionally, residents must have homeowners’ insurance, be up-to-date on their utility bills and property taxes and have no Department of Licensing and Inspection violations.
“This is something that is needed,” Philadelphia City Council President Darrell Clarke, a Democrat who represents the 5th District, said. “This will give people the opportunity to participate in, what I call, the most affordable housing program in the city - the house that you live in.”
Restore, Repair, Renew was launched nearly three years after Philadelphia City Council approved a .1 percent increase in the realty transfer tax to create a $100 million bond. More than half of that money went to clearing massive backlogs in Philadelphia’s home-repair programs and $40 million went towards Restore, Repair, Renew.
The idea was to create a sustainable system in which qualifying homeowners would repay monthly minimums at a fixed interest rate in order to keep the program going. Participating homeowners would be connected with financial advisors to help them set up a payment plan that works with their existing budget.
Restore, Repair, Renew will be overseen by the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority, which will collect data from the program in an effort to better understand Philadelphia’s housing needs, according to PRA executive director Gregory Heller.
Over time, people with low credit scores would have the opportunity to rebuild their credit, Heller said.
The loans will come from two lenders - Finata, a non-profit, and Pennsylvania-based bank Univest Bank and Trust Co. Before loans are dispersed, homeowners will meet with representatives from one of three intermediaries - Philadelphia Council for Council for Community Advancement, Clarifi and Public Health Management Corp.
“Between that low rate and having these financial agencies at your side, we wanted to put in safeguards to make sure that people are taking on debt they can afford,” Heller said.
Part of the impetus for creating Restore, Repair, Renew is to bolster Philadelphia’s middle class and maintain its aging house stock, half of which was built before 1945, according to Councilwoman Cherelle Parker, who represents the 9th District.
But not everybody is convinced Restore, Repair, Renew will be a cure-all. North Philadelphia resident Jennifer Bennetch brought her husband and two children to Wednesday’s announcement. She worries that Restore, Repair, Renew will be just another form of debt for vulnerable Philadelphia residents.
“If we’re talking about addressing poverty in the community, why push us further into debt by giving them loans while the wealthy are given tax abatements and free passes?” she asked.
Despite being a homeowner herself, Bennetch said she would not participate in the program.
“The city has a lot of tricks up its sleeve,” she added.
But Councilwoman Parker said Restore, Repair, Renew is one instance where Philadelphia is “getting it right.” The program was created for “consistent contributors to the taxbase” who traditionally have been shut out of loan programs because of low credit scores.
According to data from the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, nearly 75 percent of middle- and low-income earners were denied home improvement loans between 2015 and 2017.
“I invite you to walk down the block, look at the houses and you will notice the crumbling steps, the busted curbs … go inside and you might see the water damage from the leaky roof,” Parker said.
“This program provides an affordable tool for residents to preserve their most valuable asset - their home.”
Residents interested in Restore, Repair, Renew should visit the program's website for more details.
Photo Credit: NBC10
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Mom, Baby Boy Found Dead Inside Delaware Apartment
An investigation is underway after a mother and her baby boy were found dead inside a Delaware apartment.
The bodies of the 45-year-old woman and 18-month-old boy were discovered shortly before 9 a.m. Wednesday inside a unit of the Stonehurst Garden Apartments on the 100 block of Richards Avenue in Newport, Delaware.
Police have not yet released the names of the mother and son or a cause of death. They continue to investigate. Two women who were spotted crying outside the crime scene told NBC10 the victims had lived at the apartment for the past three months.
“This is a relatively quiet community and the first time something like this has happened since we’ve been here,” Dan Lee, a resident, told NBC10.
Police have been gathering evidence from the area. If you have any information, please call Detective Holubinka at (302) 395-8110 or email him at Adam.Holubinka@newcastlede.gov.
You can also call New Castle County Police at (302) 573-2800.
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