Patrick Murphy was sworn in as under secretary of the Army on Wednesday.

Murphy is the 32nd under secretary of the Army and is the first Iraq War veteran to serve in Congress. He has been serving as acting secretary of the Army.

Murphy, who is from southeastern Pennsylvania, formerly served as the congressman for Pennsylvania's 8th District, which covers swaths of Bucks and Montgomery counties. He made headlines in May when he was aboard the doomed Amtrak 188 train when it derailed in Philadelphia during a trip from Washington D.C. to New York, killing eight people and injuring 200 others.

Murphy, who was not badly hurt in the crash, helped some of the injured escape the mangled train and took to Twitter that night, posting photos and asking for prayers for the victims.

A string of severe storms caused damage throughout the Philadelphia area and toppled a fast-food sign onto a Philadelphia eatery.

The Burger King sign fell on the fast-food joint along Rising Sun Avenue near Van Kirk Street in the city’s Lawncrest section sometime before 8:20 p.m. Wednesday.

Witness Ryan McKinney said the winds felt hurricane-like when the sign toppled onto the roof. Wind gust neared 50 mph at Philadelphia International Airport Wednesday night and could have been even stronger in Northeast Philadelphia, said NBC10 First Alert Weather meteorologist Bill Henley.

No injuries were reported.

No word yet on how much it will cost to make repairs.

Parents across the country are outraged after they say they discovered mold on their child's sippy cups despite following cleaning instructions. 

"They looked clean from the outside and I followed their cleaning directions, so it never occurred to me before," a Connecticut mother, who did not want to be identified, told NBC Connecticut of her child's Tommee Tippee cup. [[370052841, C]]

"The entire thing snaps out of the lid to wash. You can't snap them apart to clean inside the insert where the mold is. My husband had to cut it in half," she added.

The mom said she even tried boiling water and cleaning the pieces with a Q-tip but was appalled after her husband pried open the valve to discover mold inside. 

Parents nationwide aired their frustrations on Tommee Tippee's North American Facebook page. Tommee Tippee said the company is taking complaints seriously and investigating what may be going wrong in test labs.  [[370055271, C]]

According to parents writing on Tommee Tippee's Facebook page, the valve collecting mold can't be opened for cleaning and must be forced apart. Photos posted by parents show mold exposed after the valve is torn open.

One mother commented that her 19-month-old daughter has been sick continuously since October and only drank water out of her "favorite cup." She said she plans to file a formal complaint toward the company.

Tommee Tippee wrote to customers on Facebook apologizing for the experience some parents are having with the company's latest sippy cup valve:

"Recently our Head Office Team and Careline advisers have spoken with parents directly about their feedback. We understand that the well-being of your little ones is paramount and we can reassure you that we have extensively tested the valves using recommended liquids and our specific cleaning guidelines, and the results have supported our view that when used and cleaned in line with instructions, everything is in order."

In addition, the Rhode Island-based company said they have listened to its customers and will be launching a new sippy cup that will have a two piece see-through valve that will be easier to clean. In the meantime, the company will provide parents with a free see-through valve or different cup.[[370052571, C]]

Funeral arrangements have been announced for Cara McCollum, the South Jersey news anchor and former Miss New Jersey who died tragically after a car crash.

McCollum was 24 and a native of Arkansas. Her funeral services will be held in her hometown

Visitation will be held Friday and Saturday night from 5 to 7 p.m. at the McCollum family's home at 926 N. Forrest St. in Forrest City, Ark. Funeral services will be held Sunday at 2 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church at 101 S. Izard St., also in Forrest City, according to a post on the Prayers for Cara Facebook page.

McCollum's relatives said rooms for out-of-town friends who will be attending the services are available at the local Holiday Inn Express, which can be contacted at 870-633-3700. They recommended flying into Memphis' airport, which is about an hour drive from Forrest City.

McCollum died Monday of injuries she suffered in a one-car crash on a South Jersey highway the night of Feb. 15.

She was the girlfriend of NBC10 anchor Keith Jones for nearly two years.

He thanked everyone for "this tremendous outpouring of love and support for my sweet, beautiful everything, Cara," in a Facebook post Monday morning.

"Sadly, Cara passed away this morning," wrote Keith. "We were with her in the operating room, and she died peacefully at 4:31am. Before she died, Cara made the selfless decision to donate her organs. At this very moment, she is saving lives."

McCollum, who was an anchor for SNJ Today after attending Princeton University, was traveling north on Route 55 in Pittsgrove Township, Salem County just before 7 p.m. on Feb. 15 when police say her car spun off the road and struck a tree head-on near milemarker 38.4.

Her car spun and struck two more trees before stopping at the bottom of an embankment, according to police. McCollum was the only person in the car at the time. Authorities said that it appeared that wet roads may have played a role.

McCollum, who was crowned Miss New Jersey in 2013, was taken to a South Jersey hospital in critical condition.

The Miss America Organization was "deeply saddened to learn of Cara's passing," said organization COO Josh Randle. "She was an extraordinary young woman, and we extend our deepest condolences and continued prayers to her family and friends."

McCollum was known for her volunteer work, and started her own organization, the Birthday Book Project, as a high-school student in Arkansas in 2008. The project gives books to children and has donated more than 25,000 in Arkansas and New Jersey since its creation, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Sally Johnston, executive director of the Miss New Jersey Pageant, told the Inquirer last week that McCollum was "an angel."

"She's just quite an extraordinary young girl," Johnston told the newspaper.

"She looks for the bright side in everything ... and that giving, loving spirit is what makes her such a joy to be around," Johnston said.

McCollum joined Millville-based SNJ Today to anchor its first-ever news broadcasts in July. She earned her bachelor’s degree in English with a certificate in journalism from Princeton University in 2015, and was valedictorian of the class of 2010 at Forrest City High School in Arkansas.

UPDATE: Camden County Police arrested Tajmir Wyles, 21, of Middletown, Delaware and charged him in the shooting death of 22-year-old Nicholas Rowser.

A man died from his injuries following a shooting in Camden, New Jersey Sunday.

Nicholas Rowser was on the 1600 block of Mt. Ephraim Avenue when a gunman opened fire. The man was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.

No arrests have been made. Police continue to investigate.
 

Philadelphia's district attorney on Thursday said the delay in developments related to NFL star LeSean McCoy's alleged brawl with off-duty police officers more than two weeks ago is a result of his office wanting to conduct a thorough investigation.

"Philadelphians elected me to charge the right people with the right crimes. Nothing more, nothing less. The only timetable we have is justice, getting it right," Seth Williams told news crews after he spoke to schoolkids about bullying at an event. "That would be a miscarriage of justice for me to charge, to arrest the wrong people, or to not charge people that should be charged. The only way we can do that is by asking lots of questions."

Williams stressed that he wants to make the right decision when his office obtains enough evidence in the case. He declined to talk about what evidence investigators have so far, or to say what McCoy said to prosecutors when he met with them earlier this week.

McCoy earlier this week denied any fault in the brawl, which left two off-duty Philadelphia officers injured, according to NBC10 sources.

McCoy met with prosecutors from the District Attorney's Office Tuesday to tell his side of the story about what happened that night. The meeting was initially supposed to take place at the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office but the location was changed to the office of McCoy's defense attorney Dennis Cogan on 20th and Market streets, according to sources. After meeting for two and a half hours, Cogan escorted McCoy out of the building and spoke briefly to reporters.

"He did nothing wrong," Cogan said. "But I'm not going to say anything more about it and thank you." 

The former Philadelphia Eagle and three friends allegedly got into an early-morning brawl with two off-duty Philadelphia police officers inside Recess nightclub along S. 2nd Street on February 7. The incident apparently stemmed from a dispute over Champagne and was caught on video.

Former NFL running back Curtis Brinkley was also involved in the fight, sources said.

Both officers suffered serious injuries including broken bones and bruises. NBC10 obtained photos Tuesday of the officers, Darnell Jessie and Roland Butler. The pictures show Jessie with blood on his shirt and stitches above his eye. Another photo shows Butler with a swollen left eye.

The police union has been vocal about prosecutors making a decision on charges in the case. John McNesby, Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 5 president, said Friday the video showed a clear aggravated assault and demanded justice.

Seth Williams, the Philadelphia DA, responded later in the day saying he doesn't "succumb to pressure" while investigating cases.

During Tuesday's meeting, McCoy had a chance to share his side of the story. It was his first face to face meeting with authorities involved in investigating and prosecuting the case. Sources told NBC10 Williams was not at the meeting. Sources also said McCoy denied having any fault in the incident and instead shifted blame on the officers.

Jessie's attorney Fortunato Perri Jr. told NBC10 the meeting between McCoy and prosecutors was not unusual and he wasn't surprised by McCoy's comments regarding what happened.

"It certainly doesn't surprise me that someone would distance themselves from criminal conduct when they're the target of a criminal investigation," he said.

While Perri told NBC10 he's confident someone will be charged, the District Attorney's Office hasn't given any indication if or when that will happen.

McCoy, a running back, played six seasons in Philadelphia before being traded to the Buffalo Bills.

After fighting for our country, some local veterans may have encountered medical professionals who didn’t complete required trainings, once those vets returned home. That’s according to an investigation by the NBC10 Investigators, which reviewed the Department of Veterans Affairs own documents.

Jose Martinez, born and raised in Northeast Philadelphia, was in the served active duty in the Navy and Reserves from the late 1980’s through the mid 1990’s. In the years after, he has struggled with homelessness, substance abuse, psychiatric problems, and thoughts of suicide.

“I’m not dying – but for a lot of years, I wasn’t living,” Martinez said.

Thoughts of suicide haunt many who have served our country. Yet the NBC10 Investigators discovered gaps in training for suicide prevention at the Crescenz VA Medical Center.

According to the VA’s latest internal review, 14 of 15 applicable training records contained no evidence of new employees being trained on suicide prevention within 12 months of being hired.

The report also states that eight of the ten records indicated that clinicians did not complete suicide risk management training within 90 days of being hired.

Reviewers also found not all required reports were completed, nor did clinicians consistently document that they gave out suicide prevention plans.

Brigid Gallagher, Director of the Philadelphia Veterans House, told the NBC10 Investigators she was not surprised by these findings. She sees firsthand what veterans face every day, and said many vets already lack a support network.

“The need is so high for the veterans. And to be going to the place where they are expecting to get the care, where they are pretty much guarantee that ‘we’re going to be the ones that are supporting you’ – and those people aren’t even trained in it?”, Gallagher said.

The NBC10 Investigators found the VA's own records from 2012 show as many as 22 veterans are lost to suicide each day nationwide, which is about 8,030 veterans a year.

Records also show suicide rates for vets in their 60's are twice as high as non-veterans. For vets in their 70's, those rates are four-times as high.

Doctor David Oslin, chief of Behavioral Health at the Crescenz VA Medical Center, insists the missed trainings are more basic than the skill-level of anyone hired for such roles at the VA.

"To me it’s one tiny piece of what we do for suicide prevention," Oslin told the NBC10 Investigators. “We were at fault for not getting our providers to do it. We’ve corrected that since."

Oslin also said that the other findings, like incomplete reports, were caused by lapses in record-keeping, not lapses in actual patient care. He told the NBC10 Investigators that each gap will be fully corrected by April. He promised suicidal veterans can get the care they need.

Martinez said treatment and support at the VA have worked. He believes a recovery like his is accessible to other vets.

“That’s where I’m at today. I’m participating,” Martinez said.

The VA encourages any veteran who’s struggling with thoughts of suicide to call the Veteran Crisis Line immediately. The number is 800-273-8255.
 

Humane law enforcement officers found six dead puppies in a trash can at a Philadelphia home this week after serving a second search warrant at a house suspected to be involved in dogfighting.

Also found at the house, located on the 400 block of East Rittenhouse Street in the city’s Germantown neighborhood, were another dead dog inside the house and two living dogs — one in the backyard and one inside. The Pennsylvania SPCA is now seeking the public’s help to figure out how the dogs wound up at the house, which was unoccupied when officers served the warrant.

PSPCA officials said the warrant served on Tuesday was the second served at the same house. In September 2014, PSPCA officers also removed four dogs and two puppies from the house, some of whom had untreated bite wounds and other injuries. That seizure led to animal cruelty charges for Wayne Charleston, who was living at the house at the time. Officials said the case against Charleston is pending.

When officers entered the house this week, in addition to the dogs, they found blood on the walls, leading them to again suspect a connection to dogfighting. They said they’re unsure whether anyone is living at the house currently and are asking that the public come forward with any information on the property.

Humane officers returned to the street Thursday and found three additional dead dogs in a yard across the street from the home. Officials suspect one of those dogs is the mother of the puppies found in the trash can.

Anyone with information should contact the PSPCA’s cruelty hotline at 866-601-SPCA (7722). Tipsters may remain anonymous.
 

A man was shocked with a Taser after threatening to shoot a Philadelphia officer in the head in South Philadelphia Wednesday night, police said.

Shareef Haynes, 20, walked up to 3rd District officer Michael Edwards as he sat parked along the 600 block of Ritner Street just after 6 p.m. and knocked on the window, Philadelphia police said.

When the Edwards rolled down the window to ask how he could help, Haynes threatened to shoot him.

"He just stared at me; a blank stare with no response. I asked him again how I could help him and his response was 'I should blow you're f---ing head off," Edwards said recounting the encounter.

Edwards tried to get out of the cruiser, but Haynes held the door shut, pushing with both hands which were buried inside his pants.

"I didn't know if he had a weapon, a knife or a gun, so I tried again to get out of the vehicle, force it open with a little more force," Edwards said.

The officer was able to push Haynes away, but as he jumped out of the car, the suspect pulled his hand from his waistband.

Haynes made a shooting gesture with his fingers at the officer and threatened to shoot Edwards again, police said. The officer then radioed for help as he drew his weapon.

Edwards warned Haynes to show his hands and stand still, but he refused, the officer said. In that time backup began to arrive. Officer Eric Tyler said Haynes then charged at him so he pulled out his Taser and fired.

"He could've had a gun. And I wouldn't have known anything. I would've been a victim and he would've been a murderer," Tyler said.

Haynes was taken to Methodist Hospital for treatment.

Philadelphia Police Commissioner Richard Ross said the officers would likely had been justified in using his service weapon based on Haynes' threats and failure to follow orders. He commended his officers for avoiding lethal force.

"The officers exercised tremendous restraint. They were brave. They made us proud because everybody survived including the suspect," Philadelphia Police Commissioner Richard Ross said.

The threat to Edwards comes less than two months after Officer Jesse Hartnett was nearly killed when he was ambushed inside his police cruiser in West Philadelphia.

Hartnett was driving through the intersection at 60th and Spruce streets when Edward Archer ran at the car firing a handgun. Archer reached into the cruiser as he fired, hitting Hartnett at point-blank range.

Harnett was badly wounded, but was able to chase Archer and fire back before collapsing. Archer survived and confessed to the crime.

"You just get this eerie reminder when you get a case like this," Ross said.

Haynes' been charged with aggravated assault, false imprisonment, making terroristic threats and recklessly endangering another person. His bail was set at $25,000.

It wasn't immediately clear if he had an attorney.

A masked, wig-wearing man launched a large rock through with drive-thru window of a Southwest Philadelphia Checkers before climbing inside to rob the fast food joint this weekend.

The robbery happened just after 4 a.m. Sunday at the Checkers at 2448 Island Avenue in the city's Eastwick section, police said.

Several employees were cleaning the restaurant when the large rock came smashing inside.

Surveillance video shows the man, who donned a mask, fake nose and black and white wig, struggling to climb through the broken window. He eventually made it inside and told the staff he was robbing them.

The employees ran to the back of the restaurant where other staff were and the robber ran out of the store, police said. He didn't make off with any money.

The suspect is described as light complected, standing 5-foot-7-inches tall with a medium build. He was last seen running toward the 7300 block of Wheeler Street.

Anyone with information is asked to call Philadelphia Police at 215.686.TIPS.