After years of complaints, a lawsuit, and an approaching deadline to renew their working permit, Waste Management held a public fact-finding hearing Wednesday to investigate the Tullytown landfill's impact on neighboring communities.

The Tullytown Resource Recovery Facility Landfill, owned and operated by Waste Management of Pennsylvania Inc., is located in two communities -- Falls Township and Tullytown, both part of Bucks County.

But residents living across the Delaware River in Florence, New Jersey say the landfill's noxious odor wafts towards their homes.

“Everybody deals with the same thing I do—the sinuses, the allergies, smells, dirt, pollution, we’re all keeping our windows shut and running our air conditioners as much as possible,” said Julie Eschker, of Florence.

For years, Florence residents have called company and government officials to complain about the sme that have wafted across the Delaware River, prompting the Department of Environmental Protection to open an investigation and issue the landfill a notice of violation in October.

"DEP has received numerous complaints from residents of Florence, New Jersey, since September 2014, alleging (the) Tullytown landfill as the source of odors. Complaints continue to be received at varying frequencies," said Amanda Witman, Department of Environmental Protection spokeswoman.

A group of residents filed a lawsuit in December even as Waste Management has taken steps to curtail the stench. If they don't get the renewal the landfill won't be able to accept or dispose of trash after that date.

A firefighter carried a cold and scared dog from a New Jersey creek Sunday morning, returning the shivering pup to its owner.

The Good Will Fire Co. of Pemberton, New Jersey responded to the Rancocas Creek, part of the Delaware River, around 10 a.m. to find the canine stuck in the water.

The pet's "ruff" day began when it dashed away from its owner and ended up at the creek, where its leash got caught on a fallen tree, according to the Good Will Fire Co.'s Facebook page.

The firefighters teamed up with members of the Joint Base MDL Emergency Services to remove the dog, who was captured on cell phone video being carried out of the water.

The dog is expected to make a full recovery, although rescuers took the pet and its owner to Mount Laurel Animal Hospital for evaluation.

Let's hope the pup learns to stick by his owner after such a "pawful" day.

Five people were hurt when four vehicles-- including an unmarked police car -- were involved in a crash in Bucks County late Sunday night.

Multiple injuries have been reported in the accident that occurred along Route 1 northbound near Route 13 around 10:45 p.m., according to officials.

A Falls Township Police officer was driving one of the cars involved in the collision, authorities said.

He was reportedly able to radio for help.

The officer's injuries do not appear to be life-threatening, according to officials. The officer and four others were transported to local hospitals for treatment.

The severity of the others' injuries is unknown.

This story is developing. Check back for more details.

Nearly two days after a fire raged through a North Philadelphia warehouse and spilled debris across the tracks of the Manayunk/Norristown rail line, SEPTA crews are still working to restore service.

A fire ripped through the 65,000 square-foot warehouse on the 2400 block of West Westmoreland Street early Saturday morning, causing a portion of a wall to collapse, officials said.

• FIND ALTERNATE SEPTA TRAVEL

Pieces of the collapsed structure landed across SEPTA tracks, forcing the transit agency to suspend service on the Manayunk/Norristown line over the weekend.

Crews continued to work overnight Sunday into Monday morning to remove the debris from the tracks and expect service to be restored to the heavily traveled commuter line by Monday morning rush hour, a SEPTA spokeswoman said.

The transit agency will provide an update on the train line's status Monday morning

One person was killed when a tractor trailer and a car collided in New Jersey late Sunday night.

The accident occurred in the northbound lanes on Interstate 295 near mile maker 43.6 in Westampton Township, Burlington County around 11:30 p.m., police said.

The victim has not been identified.

No word on what caused the accident.

Authorities closed two lanes following the crash and warned motorists of possible delays.

Stay with NBC10 for more on this developing story.

Police have responded to a child custody dispute at Louis H. Farrell Elementary School, the school district said.

There were no injuries in the incident at the school located at 8300 Castor Ave.

The school is now operating normally.

Check back for updates in this breaking news story.

Defense Secretary Ash Carter is considering easing some military enlistment standards as part of a broader set of initiatives to better attract and keep quality service members and civilians across the Defense Department.

Carter is expected to begin discussing his plans to build a better 21st century force during several stops Monday and Tuesday in Pennsylvania and New York.

His first visit was at his high school — Abington Senior High — outside of Philadelphia, where he talked to students about military and public service.

Carter will now travel to Fort Drum, New York, home of the Army's storied 10th Mountain Division, where he will meet with troops.

An auto body shop owner and 10 other people are facing felony charges after a four-year probe unveiled their elaborate insurance fraud scheme, police said.

Frank Wilson, 45, of Middletown, Delaware along with the 10 other suspects are accused of defrauding insurance companies out of $85,000.

Wilson is the owner of Transformers Collision Specialist on Summit Street in Darby Borough.

The investigation began in June, 2011 when an informant reported to police that Wilson was committing insurance fraud by intentionally damaging vehicles and then profiting from the insurance claims.

The informant told police Wilson would meet with customers and give them an estimate for their damaged vehicles. He then allegedly took the vehicles to an empty garage on the 800 block of Summit Street, across the street from the Darby Borough Police Department, and drive the vehicles into a pole or beam to cause further damage before an insurance adjuster could examine the vehicles.

Wilson also allegedly used a fork lift to damage the vehicles.

After the insurance claim was approved and paid, Wilson would fix the damage at a lower cost and keep the remaining balance of the insurance money, investigators said. Wilson also allegedly paid a third party a percentage of the profits if they had recommended the customer to him.

During one case, Vernon White, the driver of a Mercedes Benz that was owned by his girlfriend Shakeya Miles, reported he was the victim of a hit-and-run accident on June 8, 2011, police said.

White and three passengers inside the Mercedes all reported a pickup truck had struck the vehicle and fled the scene to Progressive Insurance and Philadelphia Police, according to officials. However, a surveyor hired by Progressive Insurance determined the damage to the Mercedes was not consistent with what a pickup truck would have caused, officials said.

Police say surveillance video showed the same Mercedes park in front of the garage owned by Wilson on Summit Street on June 7, 2011, the day before the reported accident. The next morning, detectives say Wilson drove the Mercedes out of the garage at 9:39 a.m. and then back in at 10:05 a.m. At that time there was no damage to the driver's side of the vehicle, officials said.

Less than an hour later however, when White arrived to pick up the Mercedes from the garage, detectives noticed extensive damage to the entire driver's side of the vehicle, police said. In All, Progressive Insurance paid out $13,757 for the repairs to the Mercedes.

Wilson is charged with insurance fraud, attempted theft by deception, criminal mischief, receiving stolen property and other related offenses. The following people are also charged in connection to the insurance fraud scheme:

Vernon White, 34, of Philadelphia

Shakeya Miles, 32, of Cherry Hill, NJ

Nicole Walton, 41, of Philadelphia

Pamela Fields, 51, of Philadelphia

Letisha Johnson, 44, of Philadelphia

Tywana Neal, 36, of King of Prussia

Adiaha Bell, 32, of Philadelphia

Conchetta Edwards, 58, of Philadelphia

Jamar Grant, 27, of Philadelphia

Ashely Wilson, 26, of Darby Township

#ItTakesAVillage!

New Jersey State Police hope that rallying cry helps them capture a thief caught on camera using an elderly woman’s stolen ATM card at stores in South Jersey and Delaware.

An elderly employee of the Cowtown Flea Market in Pilesgrove, New Jersey had her purse stolen from a storage cabinet inside a women’s restroom on Feb. 7, said police.

On Monday, police released surveillance images of a woman using the victim’s ATM card at a Carney’s Point, New Jersey Lukoil gas station, a New Castle Delaware Shell station and a Wilmington, Delaware Super Fresh grocery store.

Despite grainy surveillance images, police hope someone recognizes the alleged thief.

“We know the pictures aren't the best, but please like and share,” said police in a Facebook post. “We're having great success assisting our detectives by using social media!”

The suspect could live or frequent in either South Jersey or Delaware, said police.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Trooper Jason Streater at 856-769-0775.

We're tracking wet -- and white -- weather on Tuesday morning, which also happens to be the last day of March.

So where's spring?!

Temperatures will drop into the low 40s overnight Monday dipping into the 30s by Tuesday morning's rush. We'll be dry for your commute, but rain will move into the Philadelphia-area around 11 a.m. There will be snow in Lehigh County.

"The farther north you go, the best chance of snow you have," said NBC10 First Alert Weather Chief Meteorologist Glenn "Hurricane" Schwartz.

Throughout the day, residents in that area will see the precipitation turn from snow to rain and back a few times depending on how hard the precip is coming down, Glenn said.

Rain's the name of the game in Philly and the surrounding suburbs. We'll see a lot of it Tuesday and if it doesn't move out by the time the sun sets, there's a possibility we could see snow as well.

Don't worry, we'll be above freezing all day with temperatures hovering in the mid 50s, so if there is any snow along the I-95 corridor, it'll melt, especially on paved surfaces.

The sun returns Wednesday and Thursday and temperatures will be near 70 by the end of the week.

Authorities are looking for a 46-year-old prisoner who escaped from a New Jersey hospital Monday, three days after being taken there with a police guard after complaining of chest pains.

Elijan Shabazz, imprisoned on robbery, burglary and resisting arrest charges, had been at University Hospital in Newark since Friday, with two police officers guarding his room, authorities said. Around 11 a.m. Monday, the guards noticed he was not in the room and the hospital went into lockdown mode.

The lockdown was lifted after authorities searched the hospital and nearby area for Shabazz for about two and a half hours and found no sign of him.

No hospital staff or patients were injured in the escape, the hospital said.
 

Lehigh University Police are investigating a reported sexual assault that occurred early Thursday morning in a college residence hall.

A woman, who is not a student at Lehigh, told police she was sexually assaulted by an acquaintance in the Richards residence hall between 12:30 a.m. and 2:30 a.m. Thursday, according to officials.

Police received the report early Friday morning.

Authorities did not disclose details about what exactly occurred in the alleged sexual assault.

An investigation is underway.

The girlfriend of an off-duty Darby Borough police officer who was shot and killed over the weekend is in custody after she was charged with threatening him with a knife last summer. She is also expected to be charged in his murder.

Tyaina Finch is charged with possession of an instrument of crime with intent, simple assault and terroristic threats in connection to an incident that occurred last year.

Darby Borough Police Officer Mark Hudson, 26, called police to his home on Aug. 8, 2014, after he and Finch, who was his girlfriend at the time, were having an argument, investigators said.

The two were in the middle of a break-up and Hudson had told her to leave his home, according to officials. During the argument, Finch allegedly grabbed an 8-inch kitchen knife while screaming at Hudson. Hudson hid in an upstairs bedroom, locked the door and called police, investigators said.

Sources also tell NBC10 Finch is expected to be charged in Hudson's death.

Hudson was at his Magnolia Street home in Darby Township Saturday around 4:30 p.m. when he was shot in the chest in a second floor bedroom. Sources told NBC10 Hudson was shot by his own service revolver several feet away.

Finch, who police say was inside the home when officers arrived, was taken away in handcuffs. Neighbors told NBC10 police were called to the home for domestic disputes several times over recent months.

Finch, who was suffering from an unrelated medical issue, according to sources, was taken to a local hospital. She was then arraigned on the charges in connection to the August, 2014 incident. Hudson’s handcuffs were placed on her wrists when the bedside arraignment took place, according to multiple sources.

Hudson worked part-time for the Darby Borough Police Department for four years. Darby Borough Police Chief Robert Smythe told NBC10 he planned to recommend him for full-time duty due to the quality of his work.

Hudson was also one of 50 volunteer firefighters in Yeadon Borough. He joined the fire company at the age of 16 and volunteered for the past 10 years.

"At first he was a little shy and then he opened up and he's everybody's friend," said Yeadon Fire Co. Chief Michael Dilenno. "He's got this infectious smile. He's just goofy and he's fun to be around. Everybody at the firehouse here loved him."

Friends and family are mourning a man who was killed in a house fire in Darby Township Monday night.

The fire started early Monday evening at a home on the 1000 block of West Jackson Street. Neighbors told NBC10 they heard the sound of an explosion.

"It was an explosion," said Amie Soya-Bongay. "I heard a big explosion. And then we just came outside and saw a blazing fire."

During the blaze, surrounding homes were evacuated as fire crews worried that a blue flame, still burning in the rubble, meant gas was leaking, creating the possibility of a second explosion.

"He just came and said, 'There's a gas leak and they're gonna evacuate us to the township house,'" said Vance Gordon, another neighbor.

Firefighters say the burning home and yard was crowded with the owner's possessions, making it difficult to fight the flames. By the time the fire was placed under control, a man inside the home had died.

"Right now we're in the mode of recovery of one body of an individual who we've determined has succumbed to the fire itself," said Darby Township Fire Chief Tyrone Fitzgerald.

Officials have not yet revealed the victim's identity. Neighbors believe however the victim was an elderly man who was beloved on the block and known as a junk collector and a "tinkerer." A relative of the man told NBC10 she had just dropped him off at the home shortly before the fire broke out. As he walked inside, he told her he was going to "work on the heat."

"It's heartbreaking," said Soya-Bongay. "We don't know if he's in there or not. So that's the saddest part."

Officials have not yet determined the cause of the fire. They continue to investigate.

A jury awarded over $46 million in damages to the families of two women who were shot and killed by a disgruntled employee at the Kraft Foods plant in Northeast Philadelphia in 2010.

A jury last month found U.S. Security Associates, Inc. (USSA) of Georgia negligent in the deaths of Tanya Wilson, 47, and LaTonya Brown, 36, and awarded their families $8.02 million in compensatory damages. On Wednesday, a jury then awarded the families $38.5 million in punitive damages, bringing the total to more than $46.5 million.

Wilson and Brown were killed in 2010 after Yvonne Hiller, a third employee at Kraft, was suspended from her job and returned shortly after armed with a .357 magnum. Hiller also shot and injured a third co-worker.

Hiller was convicted of two counts of first-degree murder and is serving life in prison.

A lawsuit was filed against USSA stating two security guards failed to protect the people at the Kraft plant during the shooting. A supervisor was instead caught on surveillance video running and hiding in a boiler room, according to the lawsuit.

The lawsuit also accuses the guards, who were unarmed at the time, of failing to warn employees in the plant in the several minutes it took Hiller to walk to a third floor mixing room where Wilson and Brown worked. The guards called 911 but didn't take any additional actions such as contacting Kraft management, using a radio to communicate with the employees or sounding a warning through the plant's public address system, according to the lawsuit.

“The verdict is an important message to U.S. Security that their guards can’t simply run away in the middle of a crisis," said Shanin Specter, of Kline & Specter, P.C., who represented the Wilson and Brown families along with Dominic Guerrini and Patrick Fitzgerald. "They actually have to act like security guards." 

A spokeswoman from USSA released the following statement on the verdict:

U.S. Security Associates believes that its personnel on duty on the night of the North Philadelphia shooting made reasonable decisions and acted with courage in the face of a direct threat to their own lives. In no sense did they or USSA display an intentional disregard for the safety of others. We are disappointed in today’s verdict and intend to appeal on the grounds that  the evidence presented was not sufficient for a punitive damages award to be granted under well-established Pennsylvania law.

At the same time, the people of USSA sympathize deeply with the families of Tanya Renee Wilson and LaTonya Sharon Brown, the two women who died in the shooting, and with Bryant Dalton, who was severely wounded.