Cutting class at a South Philadelphia high school has ended up benefitting U.S. troops serving in Afghanistan.
Nearly half of the juniors and seniors at South Philadelphia High School had their prom privileges revoked because they had cut class 20 times or more over the school year. But the students had the chance to earn back a spot at the prom by putting together a USO care package and writing a letter to a troop for every 20 times they’ve cut.
With the big event quickly approaching and deadline over, school officials tell NBC10.com that 54 students are back on the prom list after making 130 care packages. Each contains beef jerky, nuts, sunflower seeds, granola bars, Crystal Light single water flavoring packs and lip balm.
Service members assigned to the Liberty USO stopped by the school at 13th Street and Snyder Avenue on Friday to pick up the packages.
The school’s prom will take place on June 6 at the Doubletree by Hilton at Broad and Locust Streets with dozens more attendees.
A high school student in northeastern Pennsylvania is charged with threatening his principal and other school officials in a rap song called "Columbine" that he wrote and posted online.
Eighteen-year-old Zyiar Clark of East Stroudsburg was charged Tuesday with aggravated assault and other offenses.
State police say Clark wrote lyrics in which he threatened to kill or maim officials at East Stroudsburg High School North, including the principal, two teachers, a counselor and two other administrators. Police say the song was posted on his Facebook page and another website.
A teacher heard students talking about the song and called security.
Clark is free on bail and faces a preliminary hearing on Tuesday.
His public defender, Michael Weinstein, declined to comment Friday, saying he had just been assigned to the case.
A suburban Philadelphia man accused of killing a baby and her grandmother in a botched ransom kidnapping has fired his trial lawyer and plans to represent himself.
A Montgomery County judge approved the request made by 27-year-old defendant Raghunandan Yandamuri of Upper Merion.
Prosecutors say he kidnapped 10-month-old Saanvi Venna from her family's King of Prussia apartment in October 2012 and killed the baby's grandmother who tried to protect the child. The girl's body was found several days later.
Yandamuri is facing the death penalty if he's convicted of first-degree murder.
Prosecutors say they are ready to proceed with the trial, scheduled to begin in early September.
After canceling semi-finals and postponing the second day of competition in the annual Stotesbury Cup Regatta over dangerous river conditions, officials say racing will resume on Saturday afternoon.
Race directors said finals races will kick off starting at 2 p.m. in the major high school rowing competition on the Schuylkill River. The races were supposed to begin at 8 a.m.
Heavy rain on Friday caused river levels to rise and the current to pick up speed. Debris also fell into the river causing potentially dangerous obstacles for rowers and the more than 900 boats on the water. Competitors raced in the downpours on Friday without issue.
Race organizers say there has only been one time in the past 20 years when the 88-year-old regatta had to be canceled.
Established in 1927 more than 5,000 rowers come from across the United States and Canada to compete in the regatta.
Authorities in Gloucester County are investigating a double shooting at an apartment complex.
The shooting took place around 12:30 a.m. on Saturday at The Birches apartments along the 100 block of Fries Mill Road in Washington Township, N.J., police told NBC10.com.
Officials said two people were shot and taken to Cooper University Hospital's Trauma Center in Camden, where they are undergoing surgery.
Investigators have not released ages, names or genders of the victims and won't say what may have led to the shooting or whether a suspect is on the loose.
The investigation is ongoing.
A Northern Liberties father and husband, who is blind, is recovering after being attacked from behind with a cement block before being robbed.
Matt McAvoy was putting the key into the lock on his front door along the 1000 block of North Lithgow Street just before midnight on Thursday when he was smacked in the head.
“The first hit was with the corner of the brick on the back of my head. That drew a lot of blood,” he told NBC10.com.
McAvoy was hit several times with a large concrete block opening up a large gash in his head.
"i started off with 9 staples. the staples wouldn't hold because the blood was still coming out so they switched to stitches,” he said.
Once he was hit, McAvoy says his attacker then robbed him.
“I felt his hand in my pocket to get my wallet and iPhone. i realized it wasn't an accident or something falling on my head,” he said.
Surveillance video from a neighbor’s home captured McAvoy and the man police believe is responsible for the attack walking down the street shortly before the robbery. The images however are not very clear.
A neighbor who came to the man’s aid did not catch a glimpse at the suspect either.
Police are asking anyone with information to contact them at 215.686.TIPS.
Two men have died after being hit by a freight train traveling through King of Prussia on Saturday morning.
The men were walking along the tracks near the defunct Port Kennedy Station along the 1000 block of Station Lane in King of Prussia, Pa. when they were hit, Upper Merion Police tell NBC10.com. The train line is owned by Norfolk Southern.
The 36 car train carrying 4,544 tons of freight was heading westbound on the track for Chicago, Ill. from Morrisville, Pa., Norfolk Southern Police told NBC10.com. The three crew members onboard the train were not hurt.
Officials say they're not sure how fast the train was traveling, but that the speed limit for that stretch of track is 50 mph.
Police say the men, whose names and ages they have yet to release, did not survive. The Montgomery County Medical Examiner is at the scene investigating alongside police.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
A man shot in a North Philadelphia Dunkin' Donuts parking lot drove himself to a local hospital, according to Philadelphia Police.
Initally, the victim, a 44-man, told police that he was shot in the left thigh during a robbery attempt at a Citizens Bank drive-up ATM in Torresdale just before 4 p.m. Saturday.
The man, police say, has recanted his original statement and now says he was shot in the parking lot of the Dunkin' Donuts on the 900 block of W. Girard Avenue in North Philadelphia.
Police say the victim then drove himself to Aria-Torresdale Hospital where he is in stable condition.
The suspect is described as a male in his 20s. He was last seen wearing a grey shirt, according to authorities.
Multiple people have been injured in a crash on a major road in Pennsauken Twp., N.J.
The accident happened at Route 130 and Westfield Avenue just before 7 p.m.
Police say that one person was ejected from one of the vehicles involved, while another was trapped in their car. Five people were injured in total.
Three of those five were taken to Cooper Hospital. The extent of their injuries is unknown.
This story is developing. Check back for updates.
It was a scary night for passengers on SEPTA's Route 60 in North Philadelphia when a man was shot outside of the bus, then begged to be let inside.
According to one witness, the victim was shot at the Broad and Glenwood Sts. stop and he began banging on the door, asking the driver to let him ride.
"This guy started hitting on the door," said Isabella Garcia, who was on the bus at the time. "We told the driver, 'just let him in, let him in. Close the door and step on it...'"
The bus driver did just that and continued on to the next stop at Broad and Allegheny where they were met by Philadelphia and SEPTA police.
The man, who was shot in the groin, was rushed to Temple University Hospital.
"I'm just in shock, in shock," Garcia said. "I've never been that close to danger."
An investigation is underway.
This story is developing. Check back for more information.
The last weekend before the Pennsylvania primary has the Democratic candidates for governor on the move. Here's a listing of their appearances for Sunday, May 18.
ROB MCCORD
12:30 p.m.
Countdown to Election Day Event with Laborers Union
Simmons Park
Corner of East Oak & Arch
Norristown, PA
Laborers Union leaders from around the state will join State Treasurer McCord for an event to formally kick off the field effort to turn out the vote for McCord for Governor.
4:30 p.m.
GOTV Kickoff and Solidarity Event with AFSCME 1199c
St Christopher's Children Hospital
3601 A Street
Philadelphia, PA 19134
1199c President Henry Nicholas will join State Treasurer McCord at the event to energize supporters for the final GOTV push to Primary Day.
KATIE MCGINTY
1:00 – 2:30 p.m.
Israel Independence Day Celebration
Penn’s Landing
Philadelphia, PA
3:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Italian Market Festival
Italian Market
Philadelphia, PA
5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Lower Merion Democratic Committee Spring Dinner
Bala Golf Club
2200 Belmont Avenue
Philadelphia, PA
ALLYSON SCHWARTZ
10 a.m.
African Episcopal Church
6361 Lancaster Avenue in Philadelphia, PA
12:15 p.m.
Schwartz will attend IBEW Politics and Peppers
Doc's Union Pub, 1843 S 2nd St Philadelphia, PA
1:45 p.m.
Tour downtown Germantown
Germantown Ave & Chelten Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19144
2:30 p.m.
Tour downtown Mt. Airy
Germantown Ave & Mt. Airy Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19119
3:15 p.m.
Tour downtown Chestnut Hill
Germantown Ave & Evergreen Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19118
TOM WOLF
12:00 p.m.
Fresh Start Meet and Greet with Senator Vincent Hughes and Councilman Curtis Jones - Roxborough ShopRite, 6901 Ridge Avenue.
12:40 p.m.
Fresh Start Meet and Greet
Fox Street ShopRite, 3450 Fox Street.
1:20 p.m.
Fresh Start Meet and Greet
Parktown Center ShopRite,1575 N 52nd Street.
4:00 p.m.
Fresh Start Rally in Mt. Wolf
Mt Wolf Borough Park, Mount Wolf, PA
A man was shot in the chest and in the shoulder while sitting in a car early Sunday morning.
The shooting took place at about 1 a.m. at 1100 17th St. in South Philadelphia. A vehicle pulled up next to a car with a man and woman sitting inside when shots rang out. The male passenger was struck twice.
The female driver was not shot but injured by shattered glass. She managed to flee the scene and drive to 26th and Washington Avenue. Police met up with them there.
Both were taken to the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. The male is in critical condition. Police have not made an arrest and a motive is unknown.
Rescuers are searching for a kayaker reported missing in central Pennsylvania.
Officials say the kayaker was in a group of 14 people floating down the Susquehanna River in Clearfield County on Saturday afternoon. The Centre Daily Times reports the group hit high water and their boats tipped over.
One person was reported missing.
Clearfield County emergency management director Joe Bigar says the water is about 41 degrees.
