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'El Jefe' Found in Waters Off NJ

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A sunken trawler boat found off the Jersey shore Wednesday is the missing fishing vessel authorities have been looking for since getting reports of a boat in distress near the Sandy Hook peninsula nearly 24 hours ago, the Coast Guard confirmed Wednesday.

Crews found the boat, "El Jefe," Wednesday morning in the Sandy Hook Channel. Officials have said they believe only one person was on the boat when it sank. Divers planned to search the wreck for survivors but dangerous water currents forced the search to be suspended.

It will resume Thursday morning.  

The Belford Seafood Co-Op said in a Facebook post Thursday night that the boat was captained by Tom Anderson of New York. The seafood market said that Anderson had been docking his boat there recently and was thought to be on the ship alone when it began to sink. 

"Our thoughts and prayers go out to Captain Tom Anderson tonight," the market said in the post.

Two young fishermen told NBC 4 New York they witnessed the boat sinking.  

"We saw a boat come in from the right side of us, coming to the left, and we saw it going down. Then it was gone," said Chris Festa.

"It was really scary but there was nothing we could really do," said Thomas Rodgers. 

The area is a shipping channel, and the depth average is about 50 feet. Because it's a channel, the water can go from four feet to 60 feet in a short distance, authorities said. 


Car Crash Injures At Least 2 in North Wales

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At least two people were hurt during a car crash in North Wales, Montgomery County Wednesday afternoon.

The accident occurred on Horsham Road. There are at least two confirmed injuries however five ambulances and one helicopter reported to the scene. Officials have not yet revealed the conditions of the victims or the cause of the crash.

Horsham Road is currently shut down between North Wales and the Route 202 Parkway as officials continue to investigate.

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

NJ Producer Saw Fiancé, Co-Worker Killed on Air

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The fiancée of a cameraman who was shot to death during a live television broadcast Wednesday morning released a statement on her Facebook page, expressing her heartbreak while thanking her supporters. 

Today, my entire world was flipped upside down. Starting new adventures with my fiance, new jobs, a new city. Getting married, having a family, buying a home. Thats now taken. Im not ok. And I wont be for a long time. But the enormous outpour of love and support from so many of you near and far is so much appreciated. Adam, I will never find a man so happy, selfless, protective, funny, or charming like you. You were the one. You understood me. My soulmate. I will always love you. Please watch over me and keep me strong. Enjoy the endless tech games in your heaven. I love you so much ♡

Melissa Ott was celebrating her last day on the job at WDBJ-TV in Roanoke, Virginia, when her fiancé, Adam Ward, was shot and killed during a live broadcast.

The former NBC10 intern from Gibbstown, New Jersey, was producing the morning news show when Ward and reporter Alison Parker were gunned down by a former station employee. Ott watched the incident unfold from the station’s control room. WDBJ’s General Manager Jeff Marks said she was “devastated.”

Ward, 27, was the cameraman with Parker. They were ambushed and killed while Parker was interviewing a woman on live TV at about 6:45 a.m. The station was on lockdown for hours during a manhunt for the shooter, identified as former WDBJ reporter Vester Flanagan.

The 41-year-old suspect, who went by the on-air name Bryce Williams, shot himself during a police pursuit along a Virginia interstate. He was airlifted to a hospital in Fairfax County where he died.

Ott had arrived to work Wednesday before the sun came up and was greeted with a beautiful bouquet of flowers and balloons. She and Ward were headed to Charlotte, North Carolina, for Ott's new job.

"We were celebrating that," said morning anchor Kimberly McBroom. "Alison had brought in balloons, I had brought in a cake, it was a day of celebration." McBroom tagged Ott in a celebratory Facebook post:

Big shout out and congrats to our awesome WDBJ7 producer, Melissa Ott. Congrats to her on her new job in Charlotte ... we will miss you!!!

Chris Hurst, an anchor for WDBJ-TV who attended Temple University, revealed to Twitter followers Wednesday he and Parker had been dating for 9 months and "were very much in love." The two had also recently moved in together, according to the tweet. "I am numb," he added. 

Hurst said he and Parker had just celebrated her 24th birthday and talked about getting married.


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Pinky Kravitz Hanging Up Microphone

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Pinky Kravitz, who hosted “Pinky’s Corner” on WOND-AM since 1958, is hanging up his microphone and leaving the radio business.

Philadelphia Region Celebrates National Dog Day

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Wednesday was National Dog Day and dog lovers around the region celebrated by taking to social media.

Some posted memorials of beloved lost pets, others took their pup out for a special treat or just captured their best friend in a happy state of being.

One thing was clear, people lov their pooches!

 



Photo Credit: Shawn

Lil' B to Try Out for 76ers D-League Affiliate

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In the midst of the Philadelphia 76ers rebuilding process, one celebrity will be trying out for a Sixers' affiliate next month.

The Delaware 87ers, the 76ers' D-League Affiliate based in Wilmington, offer an open tryout every year to scout potential talent for their team, and tweeted a personalized invitation to Lil' B, a popular rapper with over a million Twitter followers.

Lil' B responded, "tryout invite accepted see you there!! Philly here I come thanks to your front office for keeping your word."

Andrew Dzurita, PR manager for the 87ers, noted that the team has not had any further contact with Lil' B, and could not confirm his appearance.

Lil' B, also known as "The BasedGod," became a household name in the sports world after "cursing" NBA stars LeBron James, Kevin Durant, James Harden and J.R. Smith.


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Specialized Training for Philadelphia Police

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Trainers with a group called Fair and Impartial Policing explained that some officers may treat women differently based on a number of subconscious biases, which departments want to get rid of. Philadelphia is the first department to have the specialized training.

Neighbors Upset Over Bright Lights at Margate 'Blue House'

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One Margate, New Jersey man's idea of art has some of his neighbors feeling blue.

Jack Zoltak bathes his North Haverford Ave. house in blue every night, thanks to an extensive light display. Some say the lights are making it hard to sleep, in addition to attracting some unwanted attention and traffic.

"Some people could say it looks like a bordello," said neighbor Larry Frankel.

When the sun goes down, the lights come on at the elaborately decorated home, known locally as "The Blue House," but not everyone's a fan.

"I just think it's over the top and a little bit outrageous," Frankel added.

Zoltak has been adding to the display over the past few years, but the home was only recently thrown into the spotlight when some neighbors voiced their displeasure, including at least one who said he's been unable to sell his house because of the spectacle.

Another resident, Robin Levine, added, "Some of the other neighbors can see the lights shining into their homes. It’s been attracting a lot of people.”

The uptick in traffic creates "an intrusion into the neighborhood," according to neighbor Ralph Meshon. But Zoltak sees it a bit differently.

“I don’t know what they’re complaining about," Zoltak added. “The lights don’t even go anywhere. They’re just on my house. And they’re on timers. They go off at 1:30.”

Because Margate has no current laws regulating residential lighting, the city can't offer any solution right now. Margate City Commissioner John Amodeo said, "We’re studying other ordinances in other communities that might have been faced with this same scenario to see what the proper thing to do is to help the neighborhood."

Zoltak added that many people tell him they appreciate what he's done, but it's clear that not everyone in town is glowing about his surging creativity.


Residents Must Pay to Fix Sidewalks

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Homeowners in Montgomery County are receiving bills saying they need to pay thousands of dollars to fix their own sidewalks. NBC10’s Randy Gyllenhaal reports from Jenkintown where residents are getting the notices.

Amtrak Train Strikes Person

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A person was struck by an Amtrak train Wednesday.

The person was struck by a train near the Norwood Station in Norwood, Pennsylvania. Police have not yet revealed the victim’s condition. They continue to investigate.

Regional rail service was suspended on the Wilmington/Newark line. It was later restored shortly before 8:30 p.m.

Family Buries Body Found in Garage

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Grieving family members confronted a funeral home director Wednesday after they buried a man whose body was found in a Philadelphia garage.

Leon Nelson, 89, was laid to rest in Bala Cynwyd Wednesday afternoon. The bodies of Nelson and two other people were found decomposing inside a garage along the 2600 block of W. Hagert Street Tuesday morning. Nelson’s family told NBC10 they thought he had been buried two weeks ago.

“My mother is watching the news and we get contacted that my grandfather was the one in the garage,” said Ed Nelson, Leon Nelson's grandson.

Police say Leon Nelson’s body was in a casket while the two other bodies were in cardboard boxes. The garage was owned by Janet Powell and the Powell Funeral Home, located nearby on the 2400 block of N. 27th Street. The family claims the nursing home where Leon Nelson had stayed chose Powell to handle the burial.

“This wasn’t us that chose this funeral home,” Ed Nelson said. “We offered the lady money. She said no. We asked how much would the funeral cost. She said the funeral was already paid for by the nursing home.”

Detectives say the three bodies had been taken from the Price Funeral home in West Philadelphia Monday and stored in the garage. An official with the Price Funeral home said they had stepped in to help the Powell Funeral Home.

“He should have been in a refrigerator or something,” said Leon Nelson’s granddaughter Crystal Nelson. “We could’ve gotten the money up ourselves if that’s what she needed.”

Ed Nelson confronted Powell when she attended his grandfather's burial Wednesday.

“I’m just trying to get some understanding,” he told her. “You’re saying to me that my mother knew that her father was in a garage. There’s no way that I would’ve allowed that to happen!”

“I will not discuss it any further because you’re skipping a point,” Powell replied. “I’m not lying!”

As Ed Nelson called for his mother, Powell told him she had to go and left the cemetery as cameras rolled.

Powell spoke to NBC10 by phone Wednesday night and answered more questions about the controversy. Powell claimed the bodies were stored in the garage for six hours at the most and that two of those bodies were cremated while Leon Nelson's was ready for burial. Powell said the bodies were left in the garage temporarily out of convenience so that they could be picked up at one spot.

Powell said the decomposition of one of the bodies was related to the health condition of the person prior to death and that it was not the result of neglect.

Residents told NBC10 the Powell Funeral Home has been closed for about a year. A sign at the funeral home says it's under reconstruction, but instructed people to call for services or information. Windows at the funeral home are missing and headstones are buried under weeds, according to police.

Powell told police Tuesday she was aware bodies were inside the garage. State records show Powell’s license to be a funeral director is valid through next year. However, the license her business needs to operate expired in 2012.

NBC10 dug up records Wednesday showing civil actions against the funeral home which date back to the 1980’s. The Powell Funeral Home also owes more than $17,000 in back taxes, according to Philadelphia’s revenue department website. The IRS and Pennsylvania Department of Revenue both placed liens on the property for unpaid taxes.

Powell refused to speak about the documents but said there is “a lot of misinformation out there.”

After the bodies were discovered, Darian Austin, whose mother died last Spring, came forward, claiming Powell never repaid a promised $8,000 deposit.

"How she explained it to me as to why she didn't give me my money back was because she had several property damages to her funeral home last year during the winter and she used our money to fix our damages," Austin said.

Powell responded to Austin's allegations calling it a "business dispute" that would be handled by her attorney.

Family members of another person found in the garage said their loved one died at the Cliveden Nursing & Rehab Facility in Philadelphia. NBC10 visited the facility Wednesday where we spoke with John Fredericks of Mid-Atlantic Health Care.

“Without knowing the details you’re hitting me cold with this,” he said. “This is brand new information to us. We need to do our investigation and obviously will do so. It’s extremely disappointing and concerning to us. But once again until we gather the facts we really don’t have much more to say at this point.”

No one has been charged in the case but police continue to investigate. Nelson’s family told NBC10 they have contacted an attorney.
 


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1 Dead, 2 Hurt During Violent Night in Philly

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At least one person was killed, two men are in the hospital and a suspect is in custody after a violent night in Philadelphia.

A 21-year-old man was shot and killed in the Nicetown section of the city. The man was on the 1600 block of Rowan Street when an unidentified gunman opened fire. The man was struck at least twice in the face and several times in the body. He was pronounced dead at 9:31 p.m.

Police at the scene told NBC10 they found 11 shell casings on the ground following the shooting. They are currently searching through surveillance video.

Another shooting occurred around 8 p.m. at a rec center on 21st and Berks streets in North Philadelphia. Police say a 35-year-old man was shot once in the upper left arm. He was taken to Temple University Hospital where he is in stable condition.

Police say the gunman was also injured during the incident though they have not yet revealed what caused his injury. The 25-year-old suspect was taken to Hahnemann Hospital where he is currently in stable condition. He will be transported to police custody after he recovers.

Finally, at least one man was taken into custody after a police-involved shooting on the 100 block of East Pastorius Street shortly before 9 p.m. Police responded to the scene after gunshots were reported. When they arrived an armed suspect shot at the officers who returned fire, according to investigators.

Police initially told NBC10 the suspect was struck by police. They later said no one was struck or injured however. The man was taken into custody. He has not yet been identified.



Photo Credit: Randy Gyllenhaal

Friends Find Murder Victim Inside Philly Apartment

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Police are investigating the shooting death of a man who was found inside a North Philadelphia apartment by two friends.

The friends made the gruesome discovery shortly before 1 a.m. Thursday inside an apartment in the 1400 block of Poplar Street.

Investigators say two friends of the victim entered the third-floor apartment and found the victim on the floor with a gunshot wound to his head.

The friends called 911. Medics arrived and pronounced the 24-year-old man dead.

“We also did find one spent shell casing from a semi-automatic weapon just inches from the victim’s body. So it appears that the weapon used was a semi-automatic handgun,” Chief Inspector Scott Small said.

No weapon was found at the scene.

Small said there were no signs of forced entry and the property was not ransacked.

Small did say one thing stood about the apartment where the victim was found.

“There’s a very strong odor of marijuana coming from the apartment,” Small said.

The friends who found the victim are being questioned as part of the investigation.

Small said the incident is being treated as a homicide.

The victim’s name has not been released.



Photo Credit: Katy Zachry

Employee Assaulted During 7-Eleven Robbery in Montco

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An employee was attacked during the armed robbery of a convenience store in Montgomery County Thursday morning.

The incident happened about 3:30 a.m. at the 7-Eleven in the 1400 block of City Avenue in Wynnewood.

Investigators say three masked men armed with weapons entered the store and announced a robbery.

During the robbery, investigators say the suspects attacked an employee inside the store.

The suspects made off with an undisclosed amount of cash before leaving.

The employee was treated for non-life threatening injuries.

The search for the suspects is ongoing.



Photo Credit: NBC10

Driver Flees After Setting Off Chain-Reaction Crash in Logan

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Police are searching for the driver who fled the scene after starting a five-car chain-reaction crash in Philadelphia Thursday morning.

The incident happened at Wyoming Avenue and Old York Road in the city’s Logan section.

According to investigators, the driver of a pick-up truck was backing out of a driveway and started a chain-reaction crash that involved five cars.

Some of the cars ended up on the sidewalk and were heavily damaged.

One person was taken to a nearby hospital.

Police say the driver of the pick-up truck that set off the chain-reaction crash walked away from the scene.

The incident remains under investigation.



Photo Credit: NBC10

Puppies Available For ‘Playdates’ at Philly Offices

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How would you like to play with puppies and help pets available for adoption at the same time?

Well, if you’re in Philadelphia Thursday, you can do just that!

Uber and the Pennsylvania SPCA are teaming up to bring puppies to offices in the city of Brotherly Love.

The best part is that all the proceeds will go to the PSPCA.

From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Thursday, Uber customers in Philadelphia can open the Uber app, slide over to “PUPPIES” and request 15 minutes of playtime for $20 from one of eight cars in the area that will have one to two adoptable puppies.

“UberPUPPIES is a fun and interactive way to raise money and awareness for a worthy cause,” said General Manager Lindsey Kling, Uber Philadelphia. “We are excited to use the power of our platform to connect pet lovers to puppies in need of a forever home.”

Every dollar is directly donated to the Pennsylvania SPCA.

“We are happy to add Uber to our network of organizations that are supporting our work to find permanent homes for the 5,000 animals we rescue every year,” said Jerry Buckley, CEO of the Pennsylvania SPCA. “The best part is that every puppy is immediately available for adoption and there are many more animals to choose from – puppies, adult dogs, kittens and cats – at each of our three locations.”

Here are the specifics:

Open the app from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Thursday. Request the PUPPIES option. NOTE: Puppies can only be delivered to offices. Once the puppies arrive, requesters will get to enjoy 15 minutes of puppy cuteness. TIP: Make sure to have an enclosed space ready for puppy playtime and make sure no other animals are in the area.

All puppies are eligible for adoption at the Pennsylvania SPCA Philadelphia headquarters on Erie Avenue after 3 p.m.



Photo Credit: Pennsylvania SPCA

Briggs Family Cheers on the Eagles by the Boatload!

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The Philadelphia Eagles gave Paul Briggs and his 37 children a special gift.

Gas Leak Prompts Evacuation in NE Philly

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Emergency crews temporarily evacuated people from the Rothman Institute building at Nazareth Hospital after reports of a gas leak Thursday afternoon.

The hospital is located in the Rhawnhurst section of Philadelphia at Holme Avenue and Fairfield Street.

A construction worker struck a gas main with his backhoe shortly before 1 p.m., according to a fire department battalion chief.

No injuries were reported.



Photo Credit: SkyForce10

SEPTA Plea: We're Your Best Pope Option

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SEPTA jumped on the Francis Festival train Thursday, joining the city's new effort to get people to embrace Pope Week in Philly with a sense of excitement rather than frustration or fear.

Somewhere between 100,000 and 240,000 Papal Visit passes are available and now easier to get. Buses/trolleys/subway routes and times are being adjusted to get you closer to the events. More parking spaces are opening up and SEPTA will now stay open as long as it takes to get you back home after Saturday and Sunday papal events.

General Manager Joe Casey pinned an "I'll Be There" button on his suit jacket to kick off the outright appeal, inviting commuters to use SEPTA during the World Meeting of Families and Papal Visit.

"We want you to be there and we want you to ride SEPTA to get you there because nothing gets you closer to the Francis Festival and nothing gets you closer to the pope than SEPTA,” said Casey, adding all SEPTA drop points are within a 2-mile walk of Logan Circle. (see map below)

Papal Passes: SEPTA said more than 100K passes are still available and you can get them at SEPTA ticket offices. By our count, the number may be much higher -- about 240K. The transit company started with 350-thousand passes offered through a lottery system (175,000 for each day). Casey said 50,000 Saturday passes were bought and paid for and 60,000 for Sunday. Apparently, about 100,000 passes won in the lottery have not been paid for, according to a SEPTA spokeswoman's explanation when pressed on why the math doesn't work. Bottom line: expect SEPTA to free up more of those "unpaid" passes on hold.

Parking: More than 23,000 parking spaces are available now at different stops, Casey said. The number and location details for spots will be posted on SEPTA's website next week.

Buses/High-Speed Lines: Dozens of bus routes and subway/elevated lines are being adjusted to get riders closer to events. The Market-Frankford and Broad Street Lines will run an express-like service and many buses will operate on a weekday schedule. Details are posted on a dedicated SEPTA pope page.

Airport Line: The only Regional Rail operating inbound/outbound on Saturday and Sunday and lines will run every 30 minutes, stopping in Center City at Jefferson Station and University City Station. Priority boarding between 5:30 a.m. and 8 a.m. for people with Papal Visit passes. Airline passengers can buy passes at airport terminals. AFTER 8 a.m., you can use prepaid tickets or your regular weekly/monthly SEPTA pass.

Perhaps the best news for people coming to see Pope Francis — SEPTA will now stay open as long as it takes Saturday and Sunday to get people back to their destinations. Initially, the plan was to shut the lines down at midnight.

Casey admitted ticket sales were likely down due to apprehension that grew in recent weeks after city leaders warned people to prepare for walks up to five miles.

"This is an historic event. Historic for the city of Philadelphia. Historic for SEPTA. There’s no reason to have any apprehension about coming to this event," said Casey, who retires two days after Pope Francis leaves Philly.

The World Meeting of Families conference opens on September 22, which will attract up to 15,000 attendees. Congestion in and out of the city is expected to increase as more people arrive to see Pope Francis on Saturday and Sunday.



Photo Credit: septaphilly/Instagram

'El Jefe' Found in Waters Off NJ

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Divers suspended their search of the wreckage of a sunken fishing vessel for signs of its missing captain Thursday afternoon but planned to return to the location Friday, authorities said.

Crews are waiting until slack tide -- a time when the water is coolest -- to raise the boat "El Jefe" from the waters of Sandy Hook Channel. They say it may be several days before the boat can be brought to the surface.

Authorities have been looking for the ship's captain, Tom Anderson, since getting reports two days ago that his boat was sinking near the Sandy Hook peninsula.

The boat was located Wednesday morning, but efforts to search it were called off because of dangerous currents.

Searchers began combing the water for the boat after getting a report of a distressed boat taking on water on Monday afternoon. Two young fishermen told NBC 4 New York that they saw the boat sinking, but there was nothing they could do.

The Belford Seafood Co-Op said in a Facebook post Tuesday night that Anderson had been docking his boat there recently and was thought to be on the ship alone when it began to sink.

"Our thoughts and prayers go out to Captain Tom Anderson tonight," the market said in the post.

The area is a shipping channel, and the depth average is about 50 feet. Because it's a channel, the water can go from four feet to 60 feet in a short distance, authorities said.

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