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NJ Schools Are the Best: Study

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Looking for the best schools in the country? Look no further than the Garden State.

A new study by online finance resource company Wallet Hub ranks New Jersey as the top state on the 2014 rankings of the Best & Worst School Systems.

New Jersey schools ranked No. 1 for School System Quality and No. 2 for Education Output and Safety. Wallet Hub used 12 key metrics including dropout rates, bullying rates, student-teacher ratio and test scores to determine the list.

New Jersey placed in the Top 5 in math and reading scores, lowest student-teacher ratios and safety.

Wallet Hub CEO Odysseas Papadimitriou explained that New Jersey topped the list thanks to work inside the home and school.

“Both from the household level -- from the family -- in terms of explaining the importance of education, in terms of letting kids know that dropping out should not be an option but also from the quality of education the state provides, it seems there is very good cooperation there,” said Papadimitriou.

Pennsylvania also landed in the Top 10 despite a No. 43 ranking for Education Output and Safety.

Delaware finished towards the bottom third as the First State came in at No. 34 thanks to a No. 37 ranking in the School System Quality index. The state did however crack the Top 5 in states with low bullying rates.

Washington, D.C. finished dead last in the study.


Driver Rushed to Hospital After Car Flips

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A woman is expected to be OK after losing control of her car on Passyunk Avenue in Southwest Philadelphia early Wednesday morning.

Photo Credit: NBC10.com

In Court: 2 Men Accused of Murdering Elderly Couple

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Scheduled for court Wednesday are Justen Smith and Terry Ballard, two men accused of robbing and strangling an older couple in Philadelphia.

In Case You Missed It: Yesterday's Top Stories

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Didn't have a chance to catch up on local news yesterday? Here's what you missed.

Mother of 2 Found Dead in Philly Park
A mother of two was found dead in a Northeast Philadelphia park Tuesday morning, not far from a local recreation center.

Trump Sues to Get Name off Atlantic City Casinos
Donald Trump has a message for the two Atlantic City casinos that still bear his name, five years after he gave up anything to do with running them: You're fired.

Woman Still Alive After Nearly Drowning at AC Beach
A woman who officials initially believed drowned at an Atlantic City beach on Monday is still alive, according to investigators.

1-on-1: Philly Fire Commissioner Derrick J.V. Sawyer
In an exclusive interview, Philadelphia Fire Commissioner Derrick J.V. Sawyer opens up about his past, the deadly tragedy on Gesner Street, where his department stands and the force's future.

Pet Owner Accused of Injecting Kitten with Heroin
A Chester County man has been arrested after police say he shot his kitten up with heroin, choked it with a rope and slammed it to the ground.



Photo Credit: Facebook.com

Mayor of Polluted Beach Wants Change

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After Windward Beach in Ocean County was named one of the most polluted beaches in the state, Brick Mayor John Ducey wants tougher restrictions on what he says is causing the dirty problem.

Photo Credit: NBC10.com

Residents Safe, Kitten Hurt in Fire

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The cause is not yet determined of an early Wednesday morning row home fire in North Philadelphia.

Friend: Tracy Morgan Rehabbing Daily

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Comedian Neal Brennan gave an update on Tracy Morgan’s health on Tuesday night’s episode of “Late Night With Seth Meyers.”

Morgan, 45, suffered a broken leg and cracked ribs when a Wal-Mart truck crashed into his Mercedes-Benz limousine on the New Jersey Turnpike on June 7. The accident killed Morgan's friend and fellow comedian, 62-year-old James McNair, and injured two other passengers.

Brennan told Meyers' audience that he had spoken with Morgan on Monday, a day prior to appearing on "Late Night."

“From what I can tell he is great,” Brennan said. “Physically I don’t know. He said he is going to rehab every day.

“We were talking, and he was like, ‘Neal. I mean, the outpouring of love was unbelievable. I mean, the people that reached out to me: Busta Rhymes, LL Cool J, the president,'” Brennan said. “The fact that Tracy put LL Cool J and Busta Rhymes above the president let's me know that Tracy is back.” 

In mid-July Morgan addressed the public for the first time since his car crash, telling reporters outside his Cresskill, New Jersey home that he was feeling "strong."

The driver of the Wal-Mart truck, Kevin Roper, has pleaded not guilty to charges of vehicular homicide and assault by auto.

Morgan filed a lawsuit against Wal-Mart, accusing the retailer of negligence in connection with the crash.



Photo Credit: Getty Images

Mummers Parade Route Takes U-Turn

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The Mummers are making a U-turn of sorts, flipping their parade route and cutting a neighborhood-- long-associated with the iconic "Two Streeters" -- from their path this January, officials confirm.

On Jan. 1, 2015, the colorful, parasol-toting Mummers will begin their parade route at Philadelphia's City Hall and head south along Broad Street to Washington Avenue, according to Tom Loomis of the Philadelphia String Band Association.

The change amounts to a complete route reversal as they started marching in South Philadelphia at Oregon Avenue and headed north along Broad Street to City Hall in past years.

Other changes to the celebration include a shift in performance locations, which took place at four different intersections along the city's main north-south thoroughfare last year.

The brigades and string bands will show off their moves on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway this January before they face the judges at City Hall, Loomis said.

Following the performances, the Mummers will march south in a typical parade format, meaning anyone who wants to take in the performances will have to watch at those two stages.

While Loomis acknowledged change can be scary for some, he said this will make the entire celebration more enjoyable for the audience since it gets the judging out of the way and allows the groups to get their props off the streets early.

"It is going to be a parade now, not a bunch of people waiting in line to be judged," he said.

The reimagined New Year's Day, however, could receive some pushback, particularly from South Philly residents accustomed to lining Broad Street between Oregon and Washington avenues.

"That is one of the main concerns we have," Loomis said. "We are hoping they make the walk up to Washington Avenue to enjoy the parade."

And the second round procession -- south along 2nd Street as many of the bands return to their clubhouses -- will go on, Loomis said.

"We'll still have Two Street, of course," he said. "The bands from 2nd Street are going to go south on Broad, hang a left on Washington and march east, then march south on 2nd Street."

"The Two Street part is not going to go away." 


Razor Blades Found in NJ Parking Meters: Police

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Authorities are warning drivers parking in one New Jersey town to watch out for razor blades when they put money in meters.

Rutherford police say eight utility knife-style razor blades have been found in borough parking meter coin slots over the last six months, most recently on Monday. 

The blades were found in meters along Park Avenue, Ridge Road, the Kip Garage and The Park and Ride, Rutherford Police Chief John Russo said.

"It may be a disgruntled resident who doesn't want to pay the parking, but it could be someone definitely trying to injure someone," Russo told NorthJersey.com. "Either way someone could really get hurt."

Russo says investigators are processing fingerprints pulled from the meters where the razors were found.

Police posted an alert on the borough's website urging residents and visitors to be "mindful and vigilant when depositing monies into parking meters."

Anyone who discovers a razor blade in a meter or witnesses someone placing one in a meter is asked to contact the Rutherford Police Department at 201-939-6000.



Photo Credit: NBC 4 New York

A Playground in a Palestinian Refugee Camp

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NBC10's Jim Rosenfield visited a Palestinian Refugee Camp in Bethlehem in the West Bank and spoke with people affected by a playground built by Yardley, Pa.-based non-profit Playgrounds for Palestine. Some residents say that because of Israeli actions, kids can't always play.

Photo Credit: NBC10.com

NJ Hospital Charges Man Nearly $9K to Bandage Cut Finger

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A New Jersey hospital charged a teacher nearly $9,000 to put a bandage on his middle finger, an NBC 4 New York I-Team investigation has found.

Last August, Baer Hanusz-Rajkowski, of Bayonne, accidentally cut his finger with the claw-end of a hammer. He says he waited a few days for it to heal but the cut didn’t seem to be closing, so he went to the Bayonne Medical Center emergency room to ask whether he should get stitches.

The nurse practitioner determined no stitches were necessary, he says. There was no X-ray either.

Instead, Hanusz-Rajkowsk got hit with an $8,200 bill for the emergency room visit. On top of that, Bayonne Medical Center charged $180 for a tetanus shot, $242 for sterile supplies, and $8 for some antibacterial ointment in addition to hundreds of dollars for the services of the nurse practitioner.

In total, the bill was nearly $9,000.

“I got a Band-Aid and a tetanus shot. How could it be $9,000? This is crazy,” Hanusz-Rajkowski said. “If I severed a limb, I’d carry it to the next emergency room in the next city before I go back to this place."

Dr. Mark Spektor, president and CEO of Bayonne Medical Center, blamed the high ER bill on Hanusz-Rajkowski’s insurance company -- United Healthcare.

Almost six years ago, a company called Carepoint Health bought Bayonne Medical Center and turned it into a for-profit business. After that, Carepoint did not renew its in-network pricing contract with United Healthcare, Spektor says. He says Hanusz-Rajkowski's bill was so high because United fails to offer fair reimbursement rates.

“These sticker price charges only apply to ... a minority of patients whose insurance companies have refused to negotiate fair contracted prices with us,” Spektor said.

But Mary McElrath-Jones, a spokeswoman for United Healthcare, suggested Carepoint is pursuing a predatory business model that avoids cutting price deals with insurers.

“United Healthcare is deeply concerned about hospitals establishing an out-of-network strategy to hike the rate they charge for emergency room services, often surprising patients. Our members are very frustrated at receiving these egregious hospital bills, so we are working to curtail outrageous billing and to help provide affordable healthcare options for our members.”

New Jersey law requires insurers to pay for ER treatments, whether or not there is an in-network price deal.

The New Jersey Association of Health Plans, a trade association representing insurance companies, has argued Carepoint is effectively using a consumer protection law to price gouge emergency room patients. Ward Sanders, the association’s president is now calling for a price ceiling on emergency room procedures.

“There’s a statute in New Jersey that deals with emergency conditions like Superstorm Sandy. But something along those lines that would prevent price gouging in the context of emergency rooms,” Sanders said.

But Spektor said capping the price his emergency room can charge insurance companies would put the financial viability of the hospital in peril. When Carepoint bought the medical center, it was on the verge of bankruptcy. A 2007 economic report estimated keeping the institution open saved 1,000 jobs.

“Insurance companies in the state of New Jersey particularly have had record profits last year. Billions of dollars in profits while hospitals are struggling and closing. That is the real story,” Spektor said.

It’s not just ER visits that can be expensive for out-of-network patients at Bayonne Medical Center. Medicare data shows the hospital charges some of the highest prices in the nation for dozens of the most common in-patient procedures. Carepoint has also purchased hospitals in Hoboken and Jersey City -- turning them into for-profit ventures too.

Since turning Bayonne Medical Center into a for-profit venture, Spektor says the hospital has become profitable. He would not reveal the facility’s profit margin on the $8,200 emergency room visit.

Linda Schwimmer, vice president of the New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute, estimated the charge is more than ten times the true cost of treating a cut finger.

“I can tell you the right price is somewhere between the neighborhood of $400 and $1,000," Schwimmer said. "And I know that because I’ve called around and asked, but why doesn’t everybody know that?”

Schwimmer wants New Jersey to create a public database where average prices for medical procedures are available for reference.

“If there was a list when he walked in the door saying this is going to cost you $8,200, he would have been running down the street,” Schwimmer said, referring to the bill charged to Hanusz-Rajkowski.

United Healthcare has settled its portion of the bill, about $6,640. Hanusz-Rajkowski was responsible for the balance, but after questions from the I-Team, Spektor said the hospital has written off his portion of the debt.

“I understand there is no balance due on this bill,” Spektor said.

Consumer Watch: Appliances for Back to College

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From coffeemakers to toaster ovens, News4 Consumer Reporter Erika Gonzalez has the best appliances to fit the college lifestyle.

Judge to Review Bail for Narcotics Officers

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A federal judge will reconsider the bail granted to four Philadelphia police officers charged in a violent robbery scheme.

Prosecutors are appealing lower-court rulings this week to grant house arrest to four of the six narcotics squad officers charged. Linwood Norman, 46; Perry Betts, 46; Brian Reynolds, 43; and John Speiser, 42: were granted bail while accused ringleader Thomas Liciardello, 38; and Michael Spicer, 46; remained in custody.

The indictment accuses them of kidnapping and beating drug suspects as they stole more than $500,000 in cash and three kilograms of cocaine over several years.

U.S. District Judge Eduardo Robreno will hear the government's appeal of the bail rulings on Thursday.

Defense lawyers say the case is built on the tainted testimony of drug dealers and a convicted ex-colleague from the drug squad.



Photo Credit: NBC10.com

Police Pursuit Spreads Over Few Blocks

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Police descended on a North Philadelphia neighborhood this afternoon as they searched for two people over a few city blocks.

A large amount of police cars could be seen along Silver Street and the police presence spread a few blocks away up to 29th Street and Lehigh Avenue around 12:30 p.m.

At least one person was taken into custody.

As SkyForce10 hovered overhead, officers could be seen looking in yards and alleyways as they tried to locate a second person.
 



Photo Credit: SkyForce10

Heavily-Traveled Bridges to Be Replaced

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Philadelphia's Spring Garden Street Bridges are set to get a multimillion dollar makeover that is sure to affect commuters -- whether they use a car, bike or their own two feet.

PennDOT says it will begin construction on the spans, one 56-years-old and another 46-years-old, on Monday, August 11. The bridges stretch from Eakins Oval, along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, over the Schuylkill River and trail, Interstate 76 and Martin Luther King Drive to N. 31st Street. They carry 15,400 vehicles a day as well as bicycle and pedestrian traffic.

One of the spans is structurally deficient and both are in need of joint replacement, new bearings and pier caps, officials said. The entire 665 feet worth of bridge roadway will be resurfaced and drainage will be improved.

The $6.6 million project also calls for the rehab and widening of a ramp leading to the westbound lanes of the Schuylkill Expressway.

Traffic patterns will be shifted starting on Aug. 11 with some turning lane restrictions on weekdays between 6 a.m. and 5 p.m., PennDot said. In late August, trucks 30 feet or longer will be restricted from using the bridges.

The bridges will then be replaced in two phases: the north side replaced in 2014 and the south side in 2015. Officials say one lane will be open in each direction and pedestrian access will remain.

The replacement project will also result in the closure of the I-76 westbound ramp from Spring Garden Street for 70 days starting in mid-September.

Officials say the shoulders on I-76 at the bridge will be closed during the project. Single-lane closures on the highway will also come from time to time during the project.

PennDOT expects the project to be done in the summer of 2015.



Photo Credit: NBC10.com

Mom of 2 Found Dead in Park Was Strangled

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A Philadelphia mother who was found dead in Pennypack Park Tuesday morning was strangled, according to officials.

The death of 46-year-old Connie Murray was ruled a homicide by strangulation. The medical examiner completed the autopsy on Murray Wednesday afternoon.

"He did not see much sign of a struggle," said Philadelphia Police Captain James Clark. "There was some minor bruising on her. Right now there is no motive. We have no idea."

Murray's body was discovered Tuesday shortly after 6 a.m. by a woman who was walking her dog at Pennypack Park near the Crispin Rec Center. The woman, who did not have a cellphone on her, flagged down an off-duty SEPTA bus driver. The driver then called 911.

Murray, a mother of two, left her home on the 2800 block of Tolbut Street in the city's Holme Circle neighborhood to go for a walk around 9 p.m. Monday, but never returned home, according to investigators.

Her family searched for her and then contacted police when they were unable to locate her.

Police say Murray was carrying headphones and a cellphone with her shortly before her death. Those items have not been recovered.

Police are currently searching for surveillance video from nearby businesses. They continue to investigate. So far they have not revealed information on any suspects.

If you have any information on Murray's death, please call Philadelphia police.



Photo Credit: Facebook.com

Pet Owner Accused of Injecting Kitten With Heroin

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A Chester County man has been arrested after police say he shot his kitten up with heroin, choked it with a rope and slammed it to the ground.

James Paul Myers, 24, has been charged with cruelty to animals, drug possession and other related offenses.

A police officer patrolling Dunwoody Drive in West Whiteland Township spotted Myers parked in the middle of the street with his car door open around 4:40 a.m. on Sunday, according to investigators.

A small black kitten was underneath the door, investigators said. Its neck was bound tightly with rope, its face was bleeding and several of its teeth had been knocked out, according to police.

Police say the phrase “SLAM IT YOU [expletive]" was spray painted on the roadway near the vehicle, and the kitten appeared to have been dragged and slammed to the ground.

Police executed a search warrant of Myers’ vehicle, where investigators say they found bundles of heroin, hundreds of used bags of heroin, 46 hypodermic needles, a rope that matched the one used on the kitten and a small box containing cat feces.

The 8-week-old kitten, which was lethargic, unresponsive and suffering from head trauma, was taken to the HOPE Veterinary Clinic in Malvern, Pennsylvania.

The kitten was examined by Dr. Jennifer Magilton and determined to have been given heroin. Dr. Magilton gave the kitten Narcan, a heroin antidote commonly given to humans.

The kitten, renamed Hope, is recovering at the veterinary clinic and eventually will be transferred to the Chester Count SPCA into a designated foster home. The animal will not be available for adoption until it has made a full recovery.

"I would think in the next few days or a week or so he'll be back to nearly a normal kitten, up and ready for a permanent home," said Dr. Gary Puglia of HOPE Veterinary.

Myers was taken into custody and charged with cruelty to animals, drug possession and other related offenses.

“There is no excuse for cruelty to a defenseless animal,” said District Attorney Tom Hogan. “The West Whiteland Police Department should be commended for intervening to stop this abuse. Dr. Magilton should be praised for her quick thinking to save the kitten’s life.” 

The Chester County SPCA are asking for donations to help with medical expenses for Hope. You can send your donations by visiting the Chester County SPCA website.



Photo Credit: Chester County District Attorney's Office

Crossbow Shooter at Large: Police

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A suspect accused of attempted to kill a man with a crossbow is on the loose, according to authorities.

Police are searching for 31-year-old Jonathan Moya, who they say shot 35-year-old Angel Adorno Serrano with a crossbow in the Gilmore Hotel in Wildwood Tuesday morning, according to officials.

The arrow impaled Serrano in his left thigh, according to reports.

Moya, who was charged with attempted murder and other related offenses, was last scene fleeing the scene of the crime in a small white pickup truck bearing a temporary New Jersey plate, according to authorities.

A second suspect, 29-year-old Carlos Casanova-Rosario, of Wildwood, was taken into custody for his role in the crime, police said.

Casanova-Rosario was charged with hindering apprehension and obstruction. He is being held in the Cape May County Correction Center on $12,500 bail.

Anyone with information on the incident or Moya's whereabouts is urged to contact authorities in Cape May County. Tips can be submitted online at CMCSheriff.net or by calling 609-465-2800.

 

 

 

Man Found in Home Died of Natural Causes

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A Montgomery County man who was found dead inside his home died of natural causes, according to investigators.

On Tuesday at 7:35 p.m., a call was made from a home on the 100 block of Stewart Street in Upper Merion Township. Officials say the call was disconnected before the caller said anything to the operator.

Upper Merion Police officers responded to the home but could not make contact with anyone inside the house. A neighbor told police he saw a woman leaving the house right before they arrived.

Officers entered the house and found the homeowner, 67-year-old Adam Puchalski Jr., lying on the kitchen floor. EMS tried to revive him but were unsuccessful. He was pronounced dead at 8:12 p.m.

An autopsy performed on Puchalski Jr. on Wednesday determined that he died of natural causes. Despite this, investigators still want to speak with the woman who was last seen leaving the house before police arrived. Investigators believe the woman's name is "Sarah." She is described as a heavy-set woman, approximately 40 years of age with long brown hair. She was last seen wearing a light-colored shirt and carrying a white purse as well as a black purse.

Neighbors told NBC10 they spotted Puchalski Jr. walking with the woman, who they claim was his girlfriend, about two hours before he was found dead. According to neighbors, the two began dating only a few days ago.

"I'm just shocked," said Ray Stingel, one of the neighbors. "To know that you see somebody and then two hours later, they're gone."

If you have any information on the whereabouts of the woman or Puchalski's death, please call Upper Merion Township Police at 610-266-3232.



Photo Credit: George Spencer

How to Spot Poison Ivy

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With the weather causing bigger and stronger poison ivy to grow in our area, experts say its more important than ever for locals to be able to spot the nasty weed. Check out our video for more.
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