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Zoo's Rocky the Tiger Is Cancer Free

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After undergoing three surgeries from a re-occurring tumor, The New Jersey Cape May Court House reports that ‘Rocky,’ the male Siberian Tiger from the Cape May County Zoo, is cancer-free.

The tiger's tumor was first found in August 2013. Zoo Veterinarians, Dr. Paluch and Dr. Ernst surgically removed the malignant tumor, calling it a Type 2 Soft Tissue Sarcoma.

Less than eight weeks after the first surgery, the same tumor returned. The Zoo doctors performed their second surgery to remove the tumor. After eight weeks the tumor grew back again, larger and more invasive.

In December 2013 the third surgery was performed by a different doctor, Dr. Laura Culbert, a Veterinary Surgeon from Northstar Veterinary Specialty Center in Robbinsville, New Jersey.

While Rocky was doing well after the third surgery, it was decided that he would undergo six months of chemotherapy, as the reoccurrence of the tumor remained a great concern.

Dr. Paluch, Zoo Director and Veterinarian reported, "We are thankful Rocky got through his treatments without exhibiting any side effects."

Rocky will continue to be monitored closely for the rest of his life, for signs of the tumor regrowth.

Associate Veterinarian Dr. Alex Ernst, reported that a healthy Rocky was out in his habitat on Saturday, September 20. People can come wish him well daily from 10 a.m. until 4:45 p.m.
 


Armed Robbers Target UDel Students in 2 Incidents

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Armed robbers targeted University of Delaware students in two separate incidents, according to investigators.

The first robbery took place Saturday around 7:30 p.m. at South College Avenue near Winslow Road in Newark, Delaware. Two University of Delaware students were walking on South College Avenue when they were approached by an unidentified gunman.

The suspect demanded the students give him their cell phones, according to investigators. The suspect then grabbed their phones and fled westbound on Winslow Road.

The suspect is described as a muscular man standing between 5-foot-8 and 5-foot-10 between the ages of 20 and 25 with short black hair and a goatee. He was last seen wearing a light-colored t-shirt and jeans.

The second robbery occurred Sunday around 2:30 p.m. on Tyre Avenue just south of Main Street in Newark, Delaware. An English Language Institute student at the University of Delaware was walking on Tyre Avenue while holding his cell phone when an armed robber approached.

The suspect alleged demanded the student’s cell phone then ordered him to walk down Tyre Avenue. The suspect then fled the scene with the phone.

The suspect is described as a large, 25 to 30-year-old man standing between 5-foot-8 and 5-foot-9 with a full beard. He was last seen wearing a black shirt and black basketball shorts.

If you have information on either incident, please call Newark Police at 302-366-7110.
 

Copyright Associated Press / NBC 10 Philadelphia

2 Women Die, 48 Hurt in Tour Bus Crash

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A tour bus overturned in Delaware late Sunday afternoon leaving two women dead and nearly 50 people hurt.

The first woman, 54-year-old Hua'y Chen of New York City, died at the scene of the crash. The second woman, 30-year-old Idil Bahsi of Istanbul, Turkey, died Sunday night at the hospital.

The 1996 Setra Touring Coach bus, which had a driver and 49 passengers on board, was traveling southbound on state Route 1 and exiting onto the off-ramp to US-13 northbound in New Castle around 4:20 p.m.

As the driver, identified as 56-year-old Jinli Zhao of Flushing, New York, tried to turn on the ramp, the vehicle went off the roadway and overturned onto its roof, according to investigators.

The bus slid on its roof and traveled down a grassy embankment and rotated on its left side until it came to a final rest, according to police.

Chen, who was a passenger on the bus, was ejected from the vehicle and then pinned underneath it. Medics pronounced her dead at the scene.

"I guess she was trapped underneath the bus," said Elvis D'cruz, a 19-year-old college student from New Castle, Delaware. "One man was saying, 'my wife, my wife, my life.' That keeps replaying in my mind."

D'cruz tells NBC10 he was driving home with a friend when he spotted the overturned bus. The two quickly got out of their vehicle to help the victims.

"It must've been within five minutes of the crash," D'cruz said. "There were about two to three other civilians there helping out. The bus had flipped over onto its side and some people were still underneath it. The bus was completely in a ditch. We tried to help them get out, as much as we could. We went to the car, got first aid equipment and passed out gauze and bandages, whatever we could to comfort people." 

D'cruz described the crash scene as total chaos.

"It just made me feel how fragile life is at times," D'cruz said while in tears. "It was hard seeing that little boy in the middle of the crash scene. What I really can't forget is all of the screaming and the smell of blood in the air. People didn't know what to do. There was no one else at the scene. Within 15 minutes, State Police arrived."

Zhao and the 48 other passengers -- some children -- were all injured in the crash. They were transported by a Delaware State Police helicopter to several local hospitals, including the Christiana Hospital Trauma Center, Wilmington Hospital, Saint Francis Hospital, Middletown Emergency Department and the Alfred I DuPont Hospital for Children.

Of the dozens of people who were hurt, at least three of them were critically injured, including Bahsi. She died from her injuries at Christiana Hospital around 10:45 p.m. Sunday. Investigators also say two of the injured victims are children though they have not yet revealed their conditions.

"The injuries vary widely," said Dr. Rob Rosenbaum, an Emergency Room physician at Christiana Care. "Some patients have head injuries. Some have injuries to their torso, ribs, abdomen and fractures."

Zhao, who was properly restrained, suffered minor injuries.

Officials say the bus is owned by Am USA Express Incorporated, a regional bus transportation company based in Chinatown, New York. The passengers were part of a sightseeing group sponsored by E World Travel and Tours based in New York City, according to police. Investigators say their three-day trip began Friday when they traveled from New York to Washington, DC. The group was traveling from DC back to New York at the time of the crash.

D'cruz says the passengers appeared to be foreigners.

"They were mixed in race," he said. "There were a few people speaking Mandarin and a few people speaking Hindi, Portuguese and Spanish."

According to D'cruz, the Route 13 off-ramp has a history of accidents.

"They're used to be a guard rail," he said. "People would go highway speeds on it even though you're supposed to slow down. People kept on slamming into the guard rail but it would stop them from flipping. They later on removed the guard rail and put flags up." 

The ramp from Route 1 southbound to US-13 northbound was closed for approximately six hours before it was finally reopened.

The Delaware State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit continue to investigate the accident.

Copyright Associated Press / NBC 10 Philadelphia



Photo Credit: Elvis D'cruz

Insect in School Lunch Investigated

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A New Jersey high school's food vendor says it's investigating after several students began circulating video purporting to show a live insect squirming inside a taco salad school lunch.

Video taken by North Bergen High School students show what appears to be a small worm on the lunch plate. One girl posted the video on Instagram, and another boy sent video to NBC 4 New York.

The authenticity of the videos could not be immediately confirmed Friday, but the lunch vendor for the school, Nu-Way Concessionaires, said it's investigating and that the health department was immediately called in. 

"This is an isolated incident. We've taken steps to discuss this with our food producers. We are very concerned about what we feed children," said Sal Valenze of Nu-Way Concessionaires.

One student, Luis Godreau, said "I would think they would make sure nothing like that would get inside it. It's crazy to see that inside it." 

Another junior student who wanted to remain anonymous said a freshman made the gross discovery and brought the video to the school's main office.

Nu-Way officials say they believe the insect was a small worm, and though rare, insects can get into produce during the agricultural process. 

As a precaution, the product batch has been pulled from distribution. The USDA is also expected back at the school Monday to continues its investigation, Nu-Way said.

Calls to the school district and the North Bergen Health Department were not returned Friday night. 

(WARNING: Instagram video below contains some explicit language) 

Follow Checkey Beckford on Twitter @Checkey4NY

Trash Can Fire Turns Into House Fire

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The blaze sent a Levittown, Pennsylvania home up in flames leaving one woman with burns.

Teacher Accused of 5 Sex Assaults

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A northern New Jersey high school teacher who was accused of sexually assaulting three 15-year-old students is now being accused of assaulting two more students, authorities say.

Nicole Dufault,  35,of Caldwell, was arrested Wednesday night for the alleged assaults inside Columbia High School in Maplewood and in her car since last year, the Essex County prosecutor's office said. The students were allegedly assaulted during the summer months and the school year, authorities said.

Dufault pleaded not guilty to charges involving the initial three students Friday morning. It wasn't clear when she would be arraigned on the additional charges.

Authorities said the additional two students did not just come forward; rather, "we just reached the stage in the investigation where the charges involved these students could be added," according to the prosecutor's office. 

Dufault was being held on $500,000 bail at the Essex County Correctional Facility and police say they removed two children from her custody.

Information on Dufault's attorney wasn't immediately available.

The investigation began with school officials, who then flagged law enforcement, according to the prosecutor's office. 

Board of Education president Elizabeth Daugherty said in a statement Friday that the allegations "deeply disturbing," but declined to discuss how the investigation began, citing confidentiality rules. 

Daugherty said the board and the administration will cooperate with authorities in their investigation. 

Some parents were stunned by the news of the teacher's arrest Thursday and went to the school in search of information.

"We need to know what happened, when it happened and why it happened," said one mother who did not want to give her name. She said when she called the high school for answers, the person who picked up hung up on her. 

"That's not acceptable," she said. 

No one answered Dufault's home door Thursday, but neighbors said Friday they were shocked by the accusation. 

"I thought she was a responsible adult, taking care of the kids, raising the family, and then all of a sudden it's like, bam," said Donna Lee. "That's what's so shocking, and it's the kids who are suffering in all this." 

Nancy Ursitti said Dufault is a "sweet" woman and the "gentlest mother to her children."

"I'm shocked," she said. 

Prosecutors say Dufault is a language arts teacher and has worked at the school for nine years.

The school was offering counseling and other assistance.

Follow Ida Siegal on Twitter @idasiegal4NY

Follow Danielle Elias on Twitter @danielle4ny

More Local News Stories:



Photo Credit: NBC 4 New York

In Case You Missed It: Yesterday's Top Stories

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Didn't have a chance to catch the news? Here are yesterday's top stories.

Limbo and Steel Drum Party Breaks Out in I-76 Traffic Jam
A group of motorists stranded on I-76 in Pennsylvania turned the headache of the standstill traffic into a communal steel drum and limbo party on the highway. A car flipped over in the I-76 eastbound lanes about a mile from the King of Prussia exit Saturday afternoon.

2 Women Die in Tour Bus Crash
A tour bus overturned in Delaware late Sunday afternoon leaving two women dead and nearly 50 people hurt.

5 People Killed in Multi-Vehicle Crash in Pa.
Authorities say five people, including children, have died in a multi-vehicle crash in northeastern Pennsylvania.

High School Seniors Pose in T-Shirts Spelling 'Rape'
A Long Island school district says six students could face disciplinary or legal action after posting Twitter photos in which they wear t-shirts spelling out the word "rape."

Missing U.S. Airways Employee Dies
Yolanda Cleary, the U.S. Airways employee thought to be missing, has died.

2 Dead, 2 Injured in Night Club Shooting Overnight
Four people were shot and two of them killed during a shooting at an after-hours night club in the Fern Rock section of Philadelphia just after midnight. Numerous vehicles parked on the street were struck by bullets near the intersection Chew and Park Avenues.

10 at 7: What You Need to Know Today

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Here are the 10 things you need to know to start your day from your friends at NBC10.

TODAY'S TOP STORY

Gubernatorial Debate in Pennsylania: The state's first debate is just hours away -- and Republican Gov. Tom Corbett and Democratic challenger Tom Wolf will go head to head in Hersey later tonight.

For months, independent polls have consistently shown Wolf with a wide lead over Corbett.

Today's forum is the first of three debates. The second will be held on October 1 in Philly and on October 8 in Pittsburgh.

YOUR FIRST ALERT FORECAST

Happy Monday! We're moving from summer to fall today -- and in true fall form, it'll be cool and breezy with a high around 70. Watch your full NBC10 First Alert Forecast:

WHAT YOU MISSED YESTERDAY

Tour Bus Crash: Two women are dead and 48 other people injured in a tour bus crash in Delaware Sunday afternoon.

The touring coach bus had a driver and 49 passengers on board when it crashed while exiting Route 1 onto US-13 north in New Castle.

As the bus was turning onto the ramp, it went off the roadway and overturned onto its roof, investigators said.

The passengers were part of a sightseeing group sponsored by E World Travel and Tours. Their trip began Friday when they traveled from New York to Washington, DC. They were on their way back to New York at the time of the crash.

AROUND THE WORLD

Missing UVa. Student: Police named a person of interest in the disappearance of Hannah Graham, a 19-year-old student at the University of Virginia.

Graham was last seen in the early hours of September 13. She was seen on surveillance video with a man, who police say is 31-year-old Jesse Matthew.

In the video, Matthew can be seen wrapping his arm around Graham.

Police say the duo left in a burnt-orange car.

They've issued an arrest warrant on reckless driving charges for Matthew, who is being called "a person of interest" in Graham's disappearance.

 TODAY'S TALKER

Eagles Go 3-0: Take that, DeSean. The Eagles pulled out their third win of the season, beating the Washington Redskins 37-34 at home.

Jeremy Maclin had one of the biggest games of his career Sunday, outshining longtime teammate DeSean Jackson with eight receptions for 154 yards, the third-best game of his career and biggest since 2011.

Jackson had an 81-yard touchdown catch and finished with 5 for 117, but Maclin had an 80-yard touchdown that turned into a 50-yard reception because of a questionable illegal block called on Jason Kelce, a 27-yard touchdown that broke a 27-all tie and gave the Eagles the lead for good, and a remarkable 26-yard reception on the right sideline that was initially ruled no catch but overturned after an Eagles challenge.

The Birds are one of three teams undefeated this season.

SPORTS SPOT

Eagles' Nick Foles talks Sunday's slugfest against the Redskins. CSNPhilly has the story.

PHOTO OF THE DAY

See more Top News Photos here.

THROUGH IGER'S EYES

Philadelphia celebrated Mexican Independence Day Sunday and @axlbott caught this photo of the fiesta in the Italian Market. 

Have an awesome Instagram photo you'd like to share. Tag it with #NBC10Buzz.

TODAY'S VIRAL VIDEO

Star Wars fans are excited about this 30-second tease of the Millenium Falcon from the new films.

A LITTLE SWEETENER

Cancer-Free Tiger: Great news for a beloved tiger from the Cape May Zoo -- after undergoing three surgeries for a recurring tumor, Rocky the Tiger is now Cancer-free!

Rocky's tumor was first found last summer and removed. Less than eight weeks after the surgery, the tumor returned. Doctors at the zoo performed a second surgery, but again, the tumor returned.

In December 2013, Rocky underwent a third surgery, followed up by six months of chemo just to be safe.

Rocky will continue to be monitored closely, but as of now, he has a clean bill of health, doctors said.


That's what you need to know. We've got more stories worthy of your time in the Breakfast Buzz section. Click here to check them out


Gathering in Center City to Fight Ebola

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African ambassadors will be at Thomas Jefferson University Monday as the hospital is working towards fighting the deadly disease.

TODAY: Cigarette Tax Vote

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The Pennsylvania House of Representatives will vote on the much-anticipated cigarette tax that could help the Philadelphia School District Monday afternoon.

PennDOT Closes Schuylkill Expressway On-Ramp

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Drivers beware, an on-ramp to one of the Philadelphia region's busiest roads is closed and won't reopen for two months.

PennDOT closed the on-ramp from Spring Garden Street onto the Schuylkill Expressway (Interstate 76) Monday.

The closure is part of a $6.6 million makeover on Philadelphia's Spring Garden Street Bridges.

PennDOT closed the ramp so that the roadway to the westbound lanes of the Schuylkill Expressway could be improved and widened by 6 feet. The extra room would make it easier for large trucks and buses to turn onto the ramp, according to PennDOT.

During the closure, motorists will be detoured over Spring Garden Street to 34th Street to access the Girard Avenue ramp to I-76.

The current part of the long-term bridge reconstruction project is expected to be completed by Summer 2015.

PennDOT began construction on the bridges, one 56-years-old and another 46-years-old, last month. 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 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.

Copyright Associated Press / NBC 10 Philadelphia



Photo Credit: NBC10.com

Fire in Train Tunnel

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PATH train service between New Jersey and midtown remains suspended Monday after a pair of fires broke out in a tunnel in Manhattan Sunday.

The FDNY said the fires sparked just after 3:30 p.m. Sunday at 19th Street and Sixth Avenue in Chelsea. According to the Port Authority, the fire started in an electrical room.

No injuries were reported but the 23rd Street station was evacuated. The blazes also sent smoke billowing into the air above ground. 

Service on the lines terminating at 33rd Street will be suspended through Monday's morning rush, but the Port Authority says it hopes to restore service in time for the evening commute. Crews worked overnight to repair the damage and had to cut power to the lines.

World Trade Center-bound lines from both Hoboken and Newark will be running Monday morning.

The Port Authority is urging other riders to take New Jersey Transit trains to Penn Station or use ferry service to get into the city. 

New Jersey Transit is honoring PATH passes.

--Tracie Strahan contributed to this report.



Photo Credit: Ariel Kahn

Teen Boy Shot by Philly Police

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A teenager was shot by police in the Carroll Park section of the city, according to investigators.

Police say they received a 911 call Sunday night reporting a man walking on the 5600 block of Media Avenue with a gun in his hand.

Two police officers arrived at the scene around 9 p.m. and spotted the suspect, who investigators say was a 17-year-old boy armed with a gun.

The teen allegedly fled the scene on foot when officers approached him. Police claim the teen then turned around and pointed a gun at one of the officers.

Both officers opened fire, striking the teen in the upper torso at least once. The boy was taken to the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. Police have not yet revealed the teen's condition but say he is currently undergoing surgery.

The two officers were not hurt during the incident. Police also say they recovered the teen's alleged weapon from the scene.
 

Men, Woman Shot While Grilling in Front of Home

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Two gunmen walked up to a group of people grilling in front of a Philadelphia home and opened fire, leaving two men and one woman hurt.

The gunfire rang out late Sunday night outside a home along the 1300 block of S. Paxon Streets in the Kingsessing section of the city, according to Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Scott Small.

Police arrived to find three victims: a 21-year-old man shot in the abdomen; a 48-year-old man shot four times in the abdomen and legs; and a 28-year-old female suffering from a graze wound to her leg.

Police rushed the men to the Hospital at the University of Pennsylvania in critical condition while medics took the woman in stable condition, according to Small.

“We know that when the shots rang out at least two of the victims were on a front porch, barbecuing at the time,” said Small.

Small said that the older man was about a half block away when the shooting began.

Small said both men appeared to be intended targets.

“We know that a total of 21 shots were fired,” said Small.

Witnesses said that two men -- believed to be the shooters -- fled the scene on foot down S 51st Street.

The search for the shooters continued early Monday and investigators said they would look at surveillance video as they search for clues.



Photo Credit: NBC10.com

Raising Awareness of Sickle Cell Disease

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NBC10's Vai Sikahema talks to Zimoria Brandon from the Sickle Cell Association of America and Dr. Marjorie Dejoi about the event taking place Saturday, September 27 to raise awareness about the disease.

Arrest Warrant for Suspect in Bodies Dumped in River

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Philadelphia Police issued an arrest warrant Monday for a man who they say helped torture and kill two men who owed him money before dumping the bodies into the Schuylkill River.

Investigators accused Tam Le of being behind the killing of two brothers that began at a Southwest Philadelphia home and ended at the banks of the Schuylkill River with a bloody man calling out for help in the early hours of Aug. 27.

Police hope to locate Le, 42, who hails from E Lycoming Street in the Juniata Park neighborhood.

Authorities learned of the barbaric crime when the surviving victim, 23-year-old Thanh Voong, climbed from the banks of the Schuylkill River and began screaming for help

Hours earlier, the abductors were holding the three men -- who have ties to gangs and are well-known to authorities -- at a home on the 2400 block of 72nd Street, according to investigators.

The incident appeared to be drug related, according to police.

The suspects were holding the brothers -- later identified at 28-year-old Viet Huynh and 31-year-old Vu Huynh of Paoli, Pennsylvania -- captive after they gambled away $100,000, which they were given to buy drugs, according to reports.

Voong showed up at the house with $40,000 to pay off the Huynh's debt, but it was not enough to satisfy the suspects, sources said.

Investigators later found the bodies of the two brothers submerged in the water. Their throats were slit and both were bound with tape and tied to buckets.

Detectives removed similar buckets filled with roofing materials from the home along 72nd Street, police said.

Neighbors told NBC10 a woman and five children lived in the home. But they fled in an apparent rush since food was still on the stove when police arrived, according to reports.

Authorities also towed away an Audi A8 sedan as part of the investigation. They did not disclose how the vehicle,which was found on the 22nd Street overpass above the Vine Street Expressway, was related to the crime.

Anyone who knows about Le's whereabouts should contact Philadelphia Police.

Police could still issue more arrest warrants in the case.

"They have obviously means, they have a lot of money, " Clark said. "They have a lot of different locations they've lived at through the years so right now we don't know where they're at or where they're headed."

As the investigation continued, Voong was treated for several stab wounds at Hahnemann University Hospital.

Copyright Associated Press / NBC 10 Philadelphia



Photo Credit: Philadelphia Police

"Real Warriors" Helping Vets Cope and Heal

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NBC10's Vai Sikahema talks to Alison Cernich, Deputy Director of DCOE about the "Real Warriors" Campaign that helps veterans cope with the stresses they once faced during active deployment in light of National Suicide Prevention Month.

Several Cars Collide on I-95 in Northeast Philly

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At least one person was hurt in a multi-vehicle crash in Northeast Philadelphia.

Officials say several cars collided on I-95 southbound at Cottman Avenue Monday afternoon. Only one southbound lane was getting by due to the accident. All lanes were later reopened.

Officials say at least one person was hurt in the crash. They have not yet revealed his or her condition.
 



Photo Credit: NBC10.com

SEPTA Awarded $86.6M Federal Aid

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SEPTA has been awarded $86.8 million in a federal grant to help improve its transit system’s resilience to severe weather conditions.

The funding comes in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Emergency Relief Program. The federal aid is a result of the Disaster Relief Appropriations Act of 2013, where the authority’s needs were documented by the SEPTA Infrastructure Resilience Program.

SEPTA’s General Manager, Joseph M. Casey said, "SEPTA would like to thank the Southeastern Pennsylvania Congressional Delegation for their work to highlight the critical needs that will be addressed with this funding," said Casey. "This advocacy from our local elected officials was key in gaining the FTA’s support."

Officials announced today, that the money will go towards supporting seven projects to protect SEPTA’S infrastructure against weather-related impacts. The aid will stretch across preventing flooding and restoring power in SEPTA’S railroads, bus routes, and subways.

Casey says, "Through the Emergency Relief Program, the FTA is helping SEPTA take proactive measures to limit damage from severe weather events. This will help keep SEPTA – and the Philadelphia region – moving amid the challenging conditions major storms leave in their wake."

For more information about the FTA’s Emergency Relief Program please visit here.
 

Copyright Associated Press / NBC 10 Philadelphia

Car Slams Into Same Home That Was Struck by Big Rig

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A car slammed into the same Mayfair home that was struck by a tractor trailer last month.

Investigators say a vehicle crashed through a fence and into a house at Levick and Farnsworth Streets shortly after 5 p.m. Monday.

Officials have not yet revealed whether anyone was injured.

Last month two people were hurt after a tractor trailer crashed into the same house. The homeowner told NBC10 a car also ended up in her front lawn following an accident earlier in August.

This story is developing. Stay with NBC10.com for updates.
 



Photo Credit: NBC10.com
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