When 17-year-old Holly Branagan was found murdered in her family’s kitchen in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, the town was understandably shocked and saddened.
Now, 45 years later, there’s been no closure for Holly’s family, friends or Bethlehem and her killer has not been caught.
From the day of the murder to another family tragedy to a grand jury investigation, NBC10’s true crime series “Somebody Knows Something: Murder on Pine Top Trail” takes a new look at the case that spans decades.
Watch “Somebody Knows Something: Murder on Pine Top Trail” in the video embedded on top of this article.
Problems with the new FAFSA have delayed financial aid award letters, making it harder for students to make informed decisions about next year ahead of enrollment deadlines.
In the meantime, applying for more private scholarships may help ease the burden of the cost of college.
How are colleges and university systems in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware dealing with the FAFSA issues?
“We are working hard to address these challenges and ensure schools have the information needed to package and make aid offers as quickly as possible,” Rich Cordray, chief operating officer for the Education Department’s Office of Federal Student Aid, said in a statement.
However, these latest setbacks may mean it will take colleges even longer to get financial aid award letters to students, shortening the time those college hopefuls have to make informed enrollment decisions about next year.
“Continually taking two steps forward and one giant step back is not a sustainable pathway toward getting financial aid offers out to students and families,” said Justin Draeger, president ofthe National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators.
In ordinary years, financial aid award letters are sent around the same time as admission letters, meaning students have several weeks to compare offers ahead of National College Decision Day on May 1, the deadline to decide on a college for most admitted students.
Higher education already costs more than most families can afford, and college costs are still rising. Tuition and fees, plus room and board, for a four-year private college averaged $56,190 in the 2023-2024 school year; at four-year, in-state public colleges, it was $24,030 per year, according to College Board.
For most students and their families, the college they choose hinges on the amount of financial aid offered and the breakdown between grants, scholarships, work-study opportunities and student loans.
“For many of our students, it’s less about comparing offers and more about, ‘Can I go at all?'” said Charles Welch, president and CEO of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities.
To that end, the AASCU is encouraging colleges and universities to extend their decision deadlines to give students and families more time to assess their financial aid picture.
Some schools have already postponed those enrollment deadlines to May 15 or later.
“Our number one concern is making sure we give students every opportunity they can to make determinations about financial eligibility,” Welch said.
Here’s how universities and colleges in the Philadelphia region are dealing with FAFSA delays and/or ensuring financial aid to students:
FAFSA, financial aid support in Pennsylvania
Muhlenberg College (Allentown)
“This year’s FAFSA application process has been confusing and frustrating,” Muhlenberg said April 10. “This week, the College notified admitted students from the Class of 2028 that the most recent merit and need-based financial aid offers they received this spring will never be reduced during their four years at Muhlenberg.”
“It has always been part of Muhlenberg’s mission to provide transparent and clear guidance to families as they complete the admissions and financial aid process and choose their future college home,” Muhlenberg Vice President for Enrollment Management Meg Ryan said. “In this year of great confusion and a lack of trust caused by many factors outside of our control, we want students and families to be certain of one thing — they can count on us.”
Penn State (various)
Penn State has a list of resources for students applying for financial aid.
“Submission of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the only action required to apply for most financial aid at Penn State, however, some private scholarships and Penn State scholarships require separate applications,” the Penn State website said.
Students can call the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1-800-433-3243 and check out the “7 Easy Steps to theFAFSA,” according to Penn State.
University of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia)
“Penn’s grant-based undergraduate financial aid program meets 100% of demonstrated financial need with grants and work-study funding, making it possible for students to graduate with a world-class undergraduate degree debt-free,” Penn says on its financial aid website.
Penn has a portal set up to make sure students get the proper documents submitted.
Temple University (Philadelphia)
“Students must apply for financial aid each year,” Temple reminds students.
Widener is holding several virtual FAFSA workshops on April 16, 17, 18.
“This event allows you to connect with our team and ask any questions you may have regarding FAFSA, allowing students and families to complete the form quickly and easily,” Widener wrote on its website.
“At Rutgers, we are committed to keeping quality education within reach of all admitted students,” the New Jersey-based university system says. “With a variety of financial aid packages, Rutgers will work with your family to make college affordable.”
Rutgers has an entire booklet online dedicated to undergraduate financial aid options.
“We will continue to look for ways to remove hurdles and provide direct support to help students interested in pursuing their education after high school find the resources and assistance they need to succeed,” Secretary of Education Mark Holodick said.
Jason Bradley DeFord started using the Jelly Roll nickname at gigs around the time of 2010, according to the lawsuit. In March DeFord applied for the “Jelly Roll” trademark for use on clothing, according to a pending trademark.
In the suit, the band contends the singer’s recent fame is confusing people and is also pushing them lower down in Google searches.
“Prior to the Defendant’s recent rise in notoriety, a search of the name of Jellyroll on most search engines, and particularly Google, returned references to the Plaintiff,” the suit states. “Now, any such search on Google returns multiple references to Defendant, perhaps as many as 18-20 references before any reference to Plaintiff’s entertainment dance band known as Jellyroll® can be found.”
The band, through an attorney, asked the country singer to stop using the name with a late February cease-and-desist letter.
The ruling comes as the family continues a years-long court fight with the City of Philadelphia over Ellen’s manner of death. In 2011, her death was ruled a suicide but, her parents believe she was murdered.
On Tuesday, attorneys for the Greenberg family asked to question Guy D’Andrea, a former assistant district attorney who worked on the case, as part of the ongoing court fight, in a move that representatives for the city had tried to quash.
However, the court ruled that D’Andrea could be deposed on or before May 6.
Greenberg’s parents, Josh and Sandee, celebrated the court’s decision in a statement to NBC10.
“We are pleased and so should every parent in America. Ellen’s death is so obviously a murder. This case is riddled with delay tactics!” Greenberg’s parents said.
But, what new light could D’Andrea shed on this 13 year old investigation?
Ellen Greenberg’s death
On January 26, 2011, Greenberg, who was a teacher at Juniata Park Academy for four years, was found dead by her fiancé inside a unit at the Venice Loft Condominiums along the 4600 block of Flat Rock Road in the city’s Manayunk neighborhood.
Her fiancé was returning from the gym and he told police that he found the apartment door locked and had to break in to get back inside where he found her seated on the kitchen floor, according to court documents.
An autopsy the next day revealed Greenberg had suffered 20 stab wounds to her chest, abdomen, head and neck.
A knife was also found embedded 10 centimeters into her chest.
Philadelphia’s then medical examiner, Dr. Marlon Osbourne, initially ruled Greenberg’s death a homicide.
However, on February 28, 2011, the Philadelphia Police Department declared that her death had been ruled a suicide.
Then, on April 4, 2011, Osbourne formally amended the manner of death on Greenberg’s death certificate from homicide to suicide.
A former prosecutor’s concerns with the case
In an interview with NBC10, D’Andrea said that there were a few elements of the case that made him believe her death should not have been categorized as a suicide.
“At a minimum, from an everyday standpoint, this is an undetermined manner of death,” D’Andrea told NBC10.
First, from his review of the case file, D’Andrea argued that forensic investigation of the crime showed that Greenberg’s spine was pierced during the incident, which, he said, would have “immediately incapacitated” her.
And, he continued, if she was incapacitated, she could have never been able to stab herself nearly two dozen times.
“She wouldn’t have been able to continue to stab herself,” he argued. “She would not have been able to stab herself in the chest.”
Also, D’Andrea said, Greenberg’s body may have been moved after her death.
According to D’Andrea, when Greenberg’s body was found — in a seated position on the floor — there were traces of blood on her face that seemed to flow from her nostril to her ear, hinting that she may have been laying in a horizontal position for some time.
“She must have been laying long enough on her side for the blood to run in that direction as well as long enough that it wouldn’t drag or drip when she was in a seated position,” D’Andrea argued.
Yet, D’Andrea noted that both the police investigating the scene and Greenberg’s fiancé, who found her after the incident, said Greenberg’s body was not moved until after crime scene investigators had reviewed the scene.
Asked why this blood pattern wasn’t an issue to investigators previously, D’Andrea said it should have been and argued that he had brought it up with others in the past.
“It came up as ‘We’ve seen stranger things,'” recalled D’Andrea. “Yes, I have too, but never stranger things that have defied physics.”
D’Andrea expects to discuss those issues — as well as pointing out a lack of blood found in the apartment despite Greenberg’s injuries — if he is brought into court.
According to attorneys for the Greenberg family, the city could still raise issues, including seeking immunity as the defendants are government officials.
Representatives for the city have not yet responded to requests for comment on this ongoing case.
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Iron Menace features a 160-foot-high, 95-degree drop and speeds up to 64 mph across a brand-new steel track. The ride includes four inversions including a tilted loop — the first of its kind for a dive roller coaster — and pays homage to the industrial history of the Lehigh Valley.
“Dorney Park is hosting an Iron Menace Ride for a Cause event benefiting the Eagles Autism Foundation, with one hundred percent of the ticket proceeds going to the organization,” the Allentown theme park said.
Admission to the Iron Menace Ride for a Cause range from $75 to $250.
Food, the Philadelphia Eagles cheerleaders, mascot Swoop and Q&A with one of the Birds are among the offerings — besides riding the roller coaster — Friday night.
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This year’s event is happening on Wednesday, April 24, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
More than 35 businesses in Old City will open their doors, and attendees can explore wedding attire, florists, jewelers, restaurants, venues, and wedding services.
“There are so many unique things about Old City, and as the only business improvement district in Philadelphia to host a neighborhood-wide wedding event, we’re excited to have the Wedding Stroll on that list,” Executive Director of Old City District Job Itzkowitz said in a news release. “With the growing variety of wedding related businesses and services offered in Old City, this event showcases how Old City businesses can support every aspect of your wedding day.
The event is free to attend, but you must register online ahead of time. Those who have registered will be automatically entered to win a prize on behalf of Old City District – valued at nearly $4,000.
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Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and his top human services official say the administration has a plan to end a waiting list of thousands of families who are considered to be in dire need of help for an adult relative with intellectual disabilities.
Shapiro and Human Services Secretary Val Arkoosh said Wednesday that it’s vitally important for lawmakers to approve a funding increase for state-subsidized services.
Shapiro’s administration considers the funding increase a first step to boost the salaries of employees who work with the intellectually disabled through nonprofit service agencies. Arkoosh says the administration can eliminate the waiting list over the next several years if the funding proposal passes.
Gov. Josh Shapiro and his top human services official said Wednesday that the administration has a plan to end a waiting list of thousands of families who are considered to be in dire need of help for an adult relative with intellectual disabilities.
Shapiro and Human Services Secretary Val Arkoosh said it is vitally important to the plan for lawmakers to approve a funding increase for state-subsidized services, such as in private homes or group homes.
Shapiro’s administration considers the funding increase a first step that is intended to boost the salaries of employees who, through nonprofit service agencies, work with the intellectually disabled.
“Over the next several years, if this budget passes, there will be a plan in place to finally end that waiting list,” Arkoosh told a discussion group at BARC Developmental Services in Warminster. “It’s a big deal.”
Pennsylvania has maintained a growing waiting list of people seeking such services for decades, as have the vast majority of states.
Roughly 500,000 people with developmental or intellectual disabilities are waiting for services in 38 states, according to a 2023 survey by KFF, a health policy research group. Most people on those lists live in states that don’t screen for eligibility before adding them to a list.
Federal law doesn’t require states to provide home and community-based services, and what states cover varies. In Pennsylvania, the state uses its own dollars, plus federal matching dollars, to cover home and community-based services for intellectually disabled adults.
However, the state’s money hasn’t met the demand, and in Pennsylvania, roughly 4,500 families with an intellectually disabled adult relative are on what’s called an emergency waiting list for help, the state Department of Human Services said.
“These are the critical of the critical,” said Sherri Landis, executive director of The Arc of Pennsylvania, which advocates for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
In many cases, parents on the emergency waiting list have grown old waiting for help for their adult child whom they are increasingly struggling to look after.
One major problem is the difficulty in finding and hiring people to take jobs as care workers. That problem has grown significantly as the COVID-19 pandemic increased stress across the spectrum of workers in health care and direct care disciplines.
Shapiro’s budget proposal includes an extra $216 million in state aid, or 12% more, to boost worker salaries and help agencies fill open positions. Federal matching dollars brings the total to about $480 million.
The funding request is part of a $48.3 billion budget that Shapiro is proposing to lawmakers for the 2024-25 fiscal year beginning July 1.
BARC’s executive director, Mary Sautter, told Shapiro that her agency has a worker vacancy rate of 48%, forcing current employees to work overtime or extra shifts.
“There is a way to fix that and we’ve known that there’s been a way to fix that for a long time, which is to pay people more and be able to hire more people and be able to fill more slots with people who need support and assistance,” Shapiro told the discussion group at BARC.
Shapiro’s administration envisions several years of increased funding that will eventually lead to expanding the number of people who can be served and eliminate the emergency waiting list.
Shapiro’s 2024-25 proposal is about half the amount that advocates say is needed to fix a system beset by staffing shortages and low pay. But they also say this year’s funding proposal, plus a multiyear commitment to eliminate the waiting list, would be an unprecedented injection of money into the system.
“This is the entire boat coming to rescue a system that is really struggling,” Landis said. “And people deserve services.”
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Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small says he remains committed to his family and to his city as he deals with charges that he and his wife abused their teenage daughter.
In his first public comments since prosecutors on Monday charged him and his wife, LaQuetta, the city’s superintendent of schools, with abusing their 16-year-old daughter and endangering her welfare, Small said he would not be distracted from his duties.
He told an audience at a gambling conference that his situation is personal.
Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small said Thursday he remains committed to his family and to his city as he deals with charges that he and his wife abused their teenage daughter.
In his first public comments since prosecutors on Monday charged him and his wife, LaQuetta, the city’s superintendent of schools, with physically and verbally abusing their 16-year-old daughter and endangering her welfare, Small said he would not be distracted from his duties.
“We’ve all seen news accounts of what’s going on with myself personally,” he said in a speech at the East Coast Gaming Congress at the Hard Rock casino. “It’s just that: personal.
“But I pledge to each and every one of you, it doesn’t change my commitment, number one, to my family, and it doesn’t change my commitment here to the great city of Atlantic City,” the mayor said.
An affidavit filed in the case by the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office says the girl at one point acknowledged making up the accusations against her parents because she was angry they wouldn’t let her go out with friends.
But in many other sections, the affidavit includes detailed claims by the girl that the abuse was real, and it said she photographed bruises she said were inflicted by her parents and sent them to her boyfriend, who shared them with detectives.
The office of Prosecutor William Reynolds cited evidence including recordings of interactions between the girl and her parents; her statements to police, school personnel, a therapist and state child welfare investigators, and messages she sent to friends asking for help, saying she did not feel safe at home.
The mayor is accused of repeatedly hitting his daughter in the head with a broom until she blacked out, and repeatedly punching her in the legs, court documents say. Her mother is accused of dragging her by her hair, punching her in the chest and face, and hitting her with a belt.
The root of the conflict, according to the court document, was the Smalls’ disapproval of their daughter’s boyfriend.
Their lawyer, Ed Jacobs, has said the mayor and his wife “are completely innocent of any wrongdoing and will ultimately be vindicated.”
Small’s appearance at the casino conference was scheduled months ago, and there was considerable anticipation as to whether he would begin his speech with his trademark phrase, “It’s a great day in the city of Atlantic City,” given his current legal troubles.
He did indeed use the phrase, noting challenges Atlantic City faces, including the impending opening of New York City casinos.
Small pledged to work with the casinos and all levels of government to prepare the city for that challenge and make Atlantic City “the very best it can be.”
Part of that should include cleaning up and redeveloping Pacific Avenue, the street nearest the ocean on which six of the nine casinos front, said Jim Allen, the global chairman of Hard Rock International who got his start in the casino industry as a cook in Atlantic City.
He called improving the appearance of that street as “the game-changer.”
“If we continue to leave Pacific Avenue the way it’s been since the ‘70s, then the perception of the town won’t change, just the vacant lots and boarded-up buildings.”
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A small earthquake rattled Berks County, Pennsylvania, Friday.
The magnitude 2.4 quake was measured about 8 kilometers below the ground near Lincoln Park at 4:36 p.m. ET on April 19, 2024, the U.S. Geological Survey reported.
Not many people reported feeling it — only 27 people reported feeling anything to the USGS hours after the tremor. And, Lincoln Park has a population of 1,615, the USGS said.
This quake was much weaker than the magnitude 4.8 quake that hit northern New Jersey two weeks earlier. That quake was felt up much of the Northeast Coast. There have been several aftershocks following that April 5, 2024, quake.
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Soon, there might be a new hang-out spot in the City of Brotherly Love.
The University City District has unveiled plans to build a waterfront park along the western bank of the Schuylkill River near Philadelphia’s 30th Street Station.
The proposed project, known as the West Philadelphia Waterfront, would feature a two-deck public space built above the Schuylkill River. It would include a public pool, natural beach and covered entertainment venue.
“The time is right for a bold vision to further enhance our connection to the Schuylkill River,” UCD President Matt Bergheiser said in a news release. “UCD made a down payment on public space in the area with The Porch at 30th Street in 2011, and our partners who have developed Schuylkill Yards and Schuylkill Banks have added their own special and highly impactful public spaces.”
The upper deck of the proposed structure will feature planted promenade, street access to food trucks and rideshares and amazing views of the city.
Then, on the lower deck, you will find the public pool, a natural beach, and a covered entertainment venue.
University City District said the project will “play a pivotal role in promoting equity and resiliency in public space. It will become a place where young and old Philadelphians can connect with water activities, including swim classes, lifeguard trainings and public swim competitions.”
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“Your fire department crews arrived to find heavy smoke and occupied tenants,” the Voorhees Fire Department said. “All were evacuated and no injuries are reported at this time.”
The full extent of the fire at 2120 Voorhees Town Center in Voorhees wasn’t immediately clear. However it was damaging enough to cause the mall to close.
“Due to a fire in the mall this evening, the Voorhees Town Center will be closed this weekend, April 20th and 21st,” the mall posted on its Facebook page Friday night. “Thank you for your patience.”
The fire marshal would investigate a cause for the blaze.
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City officials in one Jersey Shore town have proposed a temporary ban on tents at the beach.
The temporary restriction will be in effect starting on May 15, 2024, for beachgoers in North Wildwood and will ban cabanas, tents, canopies and other similar structures.
Officials say that single pole umbrellas that measure under 8 feet and baby tents that are only 36 inches in height, width and length will be allowed while on the beach.
According to city officials, the temporary ban comes as the beaches have become smaller from erosion. The city says it has not received enough assistance in order to replenish the sand and make the beaches bigger.
“Unfortunately, the City does not have enough dry beach space to handle the many tents, cabanas, pavilions, or other similar structures we have seen in the past,” city leaders said in a statement.
The proposed restriction is expected to give beachgoers more room while on the beach, officials explained.
City officials said that if there is a change in the size of the beaches because of replenishment efforts, they will review the proposed restriction.
New Jersey’s high-flying internet gambling market continues to smash records. But the amount of money won from in-person gamblers at seven of Atlantic City’s nine casinos is less than it was before the COVID19 pandemic.
Figures released Tuesday by state gambling regulators show the casinos or their online arms won over $197 million from online casino games in March, setting another monthly record.
And while not a record, sports betting, powered by the March Madness college basketball tournament, saw almost $1.33 billion worth of bets taken in March. That was the fourth-highest amount since sports betting became legal in 2018.
New Jersey’s high-flying internet gambling market continues to smash records. But the amount of money won from in-person gamblers at most of Atlantic City’s casinos is less than it was before the COVID19 pandemic.
Figures released Tuesday by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement show that the casinos and their online arms won over $197 million from online casino games in March, setting another monthly record.
And although it was not a record, sports betting, powered by the March Madness college basketball tournament, saw almost $1.33 billion worth of bets taken in March. That was the fourth-highest amount since sports betting became legal in 2018 following a U.S. Supreme Court decision in a case brought by New Jersey.
Including in-person casino winnings, internet gambling and sports betting revenue, the casinos, their online partners and horse tracks that accept sports bets won over $526 million in March, up 8.1% from March 2023.
But the casinos’ key metric, the amount of money won from in-person gamblers, continued to struggle. While the $239 million the nine casinos collectively won from in-person gamblers was up nearly 5% from a year earlier, and narrowly exceeded the total that all nine won in March 2019, before the pandemic hit, only two of the nine casinos individually won more in person last month than they did pre-COVID.
Jane Bokunewicz, director of the Lloyd Levenson Institute at Stockton University, which studies the Atlantic City gambling market, said total gambling revenue for 2024 is “off to a solid start” over the first three months of this year, up 11% compared to the same three months last year.
The casinos care most about in-person winnings because they can keep all that money. By contrast, money won from internet gambling or sports betting must be shared with outside parties.
The Borgata won $56.5 million in person in March, down 8.1% from a year earlier. Hard Rock won $44.3 million, up 11%; Ocean won $40.6 million, up 17.6%; Harrah’s won $21 million, up 2%, and Tropicana won $19.8 million, up 2.5%.
Caesars won $18.5 million in person, up nearly 8%; Golden Nugget won $13.6 million, up 11.4%; Resorts won $13.4 million, up nearly 6%, and Bally’s won $11.7 million, up 11.2%.
When internet and sports betting revenue are added, Borgata won $106.6 million, down 6.1% from a year earlier; Golden Nugget won $70.6 million, up 28.2%; Hard Rock won $58.3 million, up 17.2%; Ocean won nearly $48 million, up over 21%, and Tropicana won $36 million, up 11.5%.
Harrah’s won $22.2 million, up 8%; Bally’s won $20.9 million, up 20.6%; Caesars won $18.7 million, up 10.2%, and Resorts won $13.6 million, up 8.4%.
Resorts Digital, the casino’s online arm, won $66.4 million, down 11%, and Caesars Interactive NJ won $6.4 million, down 23%.
The casinos and tracks kept just under $90 million in sports betting revenue after wining bets and other expenses were paid.
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An on-duty police officer was involved in a crash near the Jersey Shore that left a scooter operator dead, New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin said.
The crash took place around 9:08 p.m. on Monday, April 15, 2024, on Route 35 South, near Sunset Avenue, in Ocean Township, Monmouth County, the AG’s office said in a news release.
“An on-duty Ocean Township police officer and multiple civilian vehicles were involved in an accident resulting in the death of a male operating a motorized scooter,” the AG’s office wrote.
The scooter operator died at the scene, officials said. No one else, including the officer, was injured.
No other information regarding the crash was released.
A 2019 law “requires the Attorney General’s Office to conduct investigations of a person’s death that occurs during an encounter with a law enforcement officer acting in the officer’s official capacity or while the decedent is in custody,” Platkin’s office said.
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Police in Philadelphia are on the lookout for a woman who, is alleged to have, attacked workers at two separate shops in South Philadelphia’s Italian Market on Sunday.
According to police officials, the first incident is alleged to have happened at about 1:54 p.m. on Sunday afternoon at a shop along the 1000 block of S. 9th Street when a cashier at KD Discount store told police she initially got into an argument with a woman who didn’t want to pay full price for items.
After that confrontation, the employee told police she saw the same woman place items from the shop in her pants and confronted her about the missing merchandise. At that time, police said, the woman attacked the employee, punching and choking her until the owner of the shop intervened.
When the owner stepped in, police said, the woman attacked him too, punching him before she fled.
On the same block, shortly afterward, officials said, the same woman was confronted after she, allegedly, stole from Marco’s Fish Market. When an employee here confronted the woman about the stolen items, police said, she attacked this worker as well, punching them before she fled on foot.
Officials said, in the end, the woman stole two packages of synthetic hair and two bags of fish during Sunday afternoon.
After these incidents, two of the victims complained of head and neck pain, though officials said, they were considered to be in stable condition.
The woman sought by police was described by officials as being in her 30s, standing about five-feet, five-inches tall with a heavy set build.
She was last seen wearing a black jacket, white pants and black shoes, officials said.
No arrests have yet been made, but police said, an investigation is ongoing.
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The Pennsylvania State Police are investigating after an early morning crash along I-83 in York County left three construction workers dead.
According to police, the incident happened at about 3:25 a.m., early Wednesday, near the 35.5 mile marker on I-83 in Fairview Township when a 24-year-old man behind the wheel of a big box truck was headed south on the roadway.
At that point, the box truck collided with a construction vehicle in an active work zone, police said, which caused the truck to continue onto the shoulder.
When the box truck went onto the shoulder, it collided with three construction workers, according to police.
Law enforcement officials said all three workers were pronounced at the scene.
Officials have said, in 2023, there were 309 work zone crashes across Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia — three of which were fatal.
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Get ready to be blown away! “Avatar: The Last Airbender in Concert” is coming to Philadelphia this fall.
Fans of the Nickelodeon animated series can immerse themselves in a two-hour experience with a live orchestra that will bring the show’s iconic musical score to life.
Event organizers said Taiko and Erhu will share the spotlight with violins and clarinets, while the series’ most beloved scenes play out on screen.
The tour kicks off in September and will visit 100 cities worldwide, including a stop at The Met Philadelphia on Oct. 9.
Emmy Award-winning composer and musician Jeremy Zuckerman created the concert series with the show’s co-creators, Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko, and Jeff Adams, the show’s original editor.
“It’s been incredibly satisfying and moving to see the audiences’ emotional response to these concerts, and to be a part of that atmosphere is a uniquely beautiful experience,” Zuckerman said in a statement. “I’m overjoyed that many more people – Avatar fans both new and old – will get to experience the show during this wider tour.”
Tickets for the show go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, April 19 at avatarinconcert.com.
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The officers rushed the woman to a nearby hospital where she was being treated in critical condition, police said.
The shooter ran off before officers arrived, police said.
Investigators believe that the woman knows the person who shot her. However, police said that “despite intensive efforts, no arrests have been made, and the weapon used in the incident has not been recovered.”
The investigation continued and police asked anyone with information to contact police.
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Pop artists Charli XCX and Troye Sivan joined forces to co-headline an arena tour across North America this fall.
Dubbed “Charli XCX & Troye Sivan present: Sweat,” the 21-city tour includes a stop at the Wells Fago Center in Philadelphia on Wednesday, Sept. 25
Event organizers said this tour celebrates the artist’s individual success and showcases their commitment to inclusivity and diversity within the music industry.
XCX is fresh off the announcement of her sold-out “BRAT 2024- AREA TOUR” shows in the UK and is gearing up for the release of her highly anticipated sixth solo album, “BRAT.”
Sivan, known for his chart-topping hits will be coming off of his European area tour in support of his critically acclaimed third album, “Something to Give Each Other.”
The two pop stars are no strangers to collaboration, having previously worked together on smash hits such as “1999” and “2099.” Their tour will also feature special guest Shygirl.
Advance presale registration is available now through April 25 at sweat-tour.com. The artist presale is Thursday, April 15, at 10 a.m.
Tickets will then go on sale to the general public on Friday, April 26 at 10 a.m. at LiveNation.com.
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In Lewes, Delaware, a new ordinance is allowing restaurants and breweries to apply for a permit to play soft, ambient music on their outdoor patios and decks.
City Council had just approved a 3-year trial run, but officials could vote to expand it afterward.
Officials hope it boosts businesses in the area, but the idea is getting mixed reviews.
“I don’t really understand really why we need outside music,” Lewes resident Pamela Weller said. “Frankly, I’m kind of annoyed by inside music sometimes if it gets too loud.”
“Depending on what type of music that they choose, you know,” business owner Michelle Buckler added. “But I think, elevator music kind of stuff, absolutely, I think it would be an asset.”
This new ordinance has a couple of rules. Officials said music can only be played between 11:30 a.m. and 9:30 p.m. and can’t be louder than 65 decibels, which is about as loud as a normal conversation.
So what does 65 decibels sound like? We have an example below.
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Officials in Delaware County reported that a coyote was caught in Marple Township, but warn residents that another one might still be in the area.
“Thanks to the skill and determination of Animal Control and the cooperation of nearby residents, one of the wild beasts was caught early this morning. Based on previously reported sightings and descriptions, there is good reason to believe that there may be at least one still in the wilds of Marple. Remember, coyotes are just that….wild, and they should be treated as such,” Marple Township Police Department said in a statement”
Police said they believe the most “elusive” coyote is still wandering around. If you see it, you should call 9-1-1 so Animal Control can locate it.
“Coyotes are becoming more common, not only in the suburbs but in the city. They’re just getting pushed out of different areas,” Marple Township Police Chief Brandon Graeff told NBC10.
Police advise the following to residents:
Small pets and children should never be left unattended, and dogs should always be walked on a leash.
Never feed or attempt to tame coyotes.
If followed by a coyote, make loud noises, if this fails, throw rocks in the animal’s direction.
Put Garbage in tightly closed containers that cannot be tipped over.
Install motion-sensitive lighting around the house.
Do not leave pet food outside.
Put away bird feeders at night to avoid attracting rodents and other coyote prey.
Bring pets in at night.
Ask your neighbors to follow these tips.
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Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker was joined by Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel and other city leaders on Wednesday afternoon to discuss details of a recent settlement with two companies that officials said were “among the largest suppliers of ghost guns confiscated in Philadelphia.”
On Wednesday, Parker said that the settlement was “something to be excited about.”
“Ghost guns fuel and cause harm to Philadelphians,” said Parker in a statement on the settlement. “This settlement agreement reached by our city Law Department under Solicitor Renee Garcia, her team, and our external legal partners means that the two largest manufacturers and distributors of ghost gun parts can no longer distribute or market them in Philadelphia. That’s a huge win for our public safety efforts.”
Officials said that the city’s Law Department filed the lawsuit — with co-counsel at the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence to Prevent Gun Violence and the Hausfeld law firm — in May of 2023, alleging that Polymer80 Inc. and JSD Supply perpetuated the gun violence crisis and threatened the public’s right to health and safety by illegally distributing unserialized ghost gun kits in Philadelphia.
These guns come in a kit, Solicitor Renee Garcia said on Wednesday, noting that the manufacturers had been side-stepping legal issues claiming they were only selling weapon parts, not guns.
“The gun parts and kits sold by these companies can be assembled, at home, into fully-functional unserialized firearms, called ghost guns, in as little as 15-minutes with simple household tools,” said Garcia. “So, it comes in a kit, but in 15-minutes you’ve got a gun.”
The settlement agreement prohibits Polymer80 from ever advertising or selling ghost gun kits in Philadelphia.
Additionally, the agreement prevents the company from marketing or selling kits in the surrounding counties for four years.
Philadelphia will also receive $1.3 million in compensation in this settlement. Officials said these funds “will be used for efforts to prevent and remediate the harms caused by the gun violence crisis.”
The city will receive the payments from Polymer80 over the course of four years, officials said.
The settlement also requires JSD Supply — which officials called the biggest distributor of ghost guns in Pennsylvania — to stop selling ghost guns kits to consumers in Pennsylvania for four years.
Eagle Shows, a gun show operated by JSD Supply, will prevent vendors from selling ghost guns at their events for two years, city officials also said.
David Pucino, the deputy chief counsel and legal director at the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence to Prevent Gun Violence, called the settlement the “broadest in terms of the parts that are covered, of any settlement that has been reached in this county.”
“It’s going to keep this community safer and it is going to save lives,” he said.
Commissioner Bethel also celebrated the settlement, saying the ease with which criminals can possess firearms is a “serious issue for all of us.”
“Ghost guns have been a nightmare for the City of Philadelphia,” said Bethel.
Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner also commented on the settlement, saying that the weapons this will ban were made “for nothing but crime.”
“They should not exist. These guns should not exist,” said Krasner, pointing to a table full of ghost guns. “The way they made these guns is they looked at laws to find the loopholes. Every aspect of how these guns are in separate bags and parts, every aspect was to make sure you could put something that kills people on the street in the most unaccountable way possible.”
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Low Sensory Show at 12:15 p.m. that will offer a showing of “Welcome to the Party!” at Abby’s Paradise Theater
Both of these great events will have quiet sounds with limited audio and visual effects.
Guests will also have the chance to meet their favorite characters during the showtimes if they want to.
The character Julia will be around for meet-and-greets throughout the month of June if guests can’t make it to one of the showtimes.
As Sesame Place celebrates Autism Acceptance Month in June, they will be giving away free copies of “Sesame Street” storybooks. Guests can pick up their copy at the Welcome Center when they visit during the month.
Sesame Place will also be giving away free “Sesame Street” storybooks. Guests can retrieve these books at the Welcome Center, and character Julia will be available for Meet & Greets all month long.
There are accommodations always available for guests at Sesame Place including a Low Sensory Room, the Ride Accessibility Program and Special Access Pass as well as noise-canceling headphones.
HBO’s “Mare of Easttown” was without question, a hit. While it’s still unknown if it will return for a second season, one of its stars continues to shine bright.
That star is Delaware County, Pennsylvania, and the community is excited about a new show in production.
“Task” is the upcoming spinoff from “Mare of Easttown” creator and Chester County native Brad Ingelsby. Mark Ruffalo serves as the Pennsylvania-based series’ star and executive producer.
“Task” is about a troubled agent and head of a task force, fighting for good.
In addition to Ingelsby being a Chester County native, the director is Jeremiah Zagar from Philadelphia and casting is handled by Philly-based Heery Loftus Casting.
The limited series will film through August and crews have been spotted throughout Delaware County, including Aston, Upper Chichester, Chadds Ford Township, Ridley Township and Marcus Hook.
The success of “Mare of Easttown” put a spotlight on the energy and character of Delaware County and its people, even spawning a Saturday Night Live skit called “Murder Durder,” a humorous take on the regional dialect and now-famous accent.
Even Kate Winslet, actor and star of “Mare of Easttown,” sang the praises of the “Murder Durder” skit and said, “I have never felt so validated as an actor in my entire life as I now do because of Murder Durder.”
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A teenager was killed after an SUV driven by a 16-year-old lost control and crashed on Roosevelt Boulevard on Sunday afternoon, according to police in Philadelphia.
The crash happened on the 400 block of West Roosevelt Boulevard around 12:30 p.m. when a red Nissan Pathfinder hit a tree on the left median, police said.
Police say there were three 16-year-old males in the vehicle at the time of the crash. One was driving and two others were riding as passengers.
The driver and one passenger were taken to a nearby hospital by medics, police said. Their conditions are unknown at this time.
The third 16-year-old male was riding in the backseat and he was pronounced dead at the scene by medics just before 1 p.m., according to officials.
The teenaged driver of the vehicle is currently being held in custody as part of the investigation, police said.
This is a developing story. Check back here for updates.
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On March 25, 2024, Stephen Young, 33, and a 20-year-old man were both shot at the Arrott Transportation Center on 1500 Arrott Street. Young, who was shot in the chest, was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead that day. The second victim was shot once in the back and twice in the leg. He was taken to the hospital in stable condition. At the time, police recovered a weapon.
On Monday, April 22, police released surveillance video of three suspects in the shooting. Two of the suspects are described as thin men who are both approximately six-feet-tall. One of the suspects was wearing a dark jacket and a hood while the second suspect was wearing a black jacket over a red hooded sweatshirt and blue jeans with distinct color markings.
The third suspect is described as a heavy-set woman who was wearing a tan jacket.
A $20,000 reward is being offered for information leading to an arrest. If you have any information on the suspects’ whereabouts, please call Philadelphia Police at 215-686-3344 or leave a tip by calling 215-686-TIPS (8477).
Warning: This story contains graphic details of alleged sexual abuse and could be disturbing for some readers.
A Delaware County man is accused of sexually abusing two women with intellectual disabilities, impregnating one of the victims, and cutting them off from their family members while stealing their benefits. The suspect’s ex-wife is also accused of sexually abusing and beating one of the victims.
Michael Swanson, 41, and Nicole Swanson, 37, of Chester, Pennsylvania, were arrested and charged with rape, involuntary deviate sexual assault, aggravated indecent sexual assault of a person with a mental disability, kidnapping to facilitate a theft and conspiracy.
The investigation began on Jan. 3, 2024, after the family member of a 30-year-old woman who is intellectually disabled reached out to law enforcement.
Investigators learned the 30-year-old woman was introduced to Michael Swanson through a friend, a 27-year-old woman who is also intellectually disabled. At the time, the 27-year-old was pregnant with Swanson’s child, according to investigators. Both women knew each other from their special education program at Chichester High School.
Swanson and the two women entered a sexual relationship, investigators said. Based on their mental capacity, both women were incapable of consenting to a sex, according to officials.
Swanson persuaded the 30-year-old woman to move out of her father’s home in Linwood, Pennsylvania, after claiming her father was stealing her Social Security benefits, investigators said.
The 30-year-old woman then moved into Swanson’s home in Chester where his ex-wife, Nicole Swanson, and their seven children also lived along with the 27-year-old woman and the homeowner.
In February 2023, the 27-year-old woman gave birth to Michael Swanson’s child, officials said. A report was made to social services due to the woman’s disability as well as Swanson’s previous cases, according to investigators.
In July 2023, Michael Swanson moved the two victims, Nicole Swanson, his seven children and a fourth woman to a double-wide trailer in Tallahassee, Florida, investigators said. A witness told officials that Swanson moved to Florida because he was concerned about social services investigating his involvement with the 27-year-old woman and their child.
While in Florida, the 30-year-old woman was beaten by Nicole Swanson, the fourth woman, and the children, investigators said. A video of the attack was recorded and sent to the victim’s family, according to officials. After receiving the video, the victim’s sister was able to locate her and remove her from the situation, investigators said.
The 30-year-old victim was interviewed on Jan. 10, 2024, and on Feb. 7, 2024, at the Child Advocacy Center of Delaware County. The 30-year-old told investigators she was sexually assaulted by Michael Swanson approximately twice per day and was told not to tell anyone about what was happening. Swanson allegedly took away the victim’s cell phone as well as her food card, checks, money and insurance card.
Investigators also said the payee was changed on the victim’s Social Security card to Michael Swanson in June 2023, using the address for his home in Chester. Nicole Swanson also repeatedly sexually assaulted the 30-year-old woman, according to officials. The homeowner told the victim that he was able to view the sexual abuse from the camera feed from inside and outside the home, officials said.
Michael Swanson was then arrested and extradited to Pennsylvania.
Officials then began to investigate the alleged abuse against the 27-year-old woman and interviewed her on March 11, 2024, at the Child Advocacy Center in Lancaster County, South Carolina.
Investigators determined Michael Swanson engaged in numerous sex acts with the 27-year-old woman while they lived in the Chester home. Paternity testing also confirmed Swanson is the father of the 27-year-old woman’s child and the payee on the victim’s ID benefits was changed to Michael Swanson, officials said. The victim also said both Michael Swanson and Nicole Swanson recorded the sexual abuse, according to investigators. The victim told investigators Michael Swanson would take away her phone as punishment and that she was afraid of Nicole Swanson because “she beat people with her fists.”
Officials used funds from a federal grant that supports the fight against human trafficking to relocate the 27-year-old victim and her child to South Carolina where she currently resides with family members.
Michael Swanson was arraigned with bail set at $900,000 in the case involving the 30-year-old victim. His bail has not yet been set in the case involving the 27-year-old. Nicole Swanson was arraigned with bail set at $1 million in the case involving the 30-year-old victim. Both suspects were remanded to the George W. Hill Correctional Facility.
Officials also said additional charges may be brought by authorities in Florida against both suspects. They also said federal authorities may pursue charges against Michael Swanson for allegedly stealing the victims’ social security benefits.
“It is difficult to comprehend the truly heinous actions of these defendants. The defendants knowingly exploited two intellectually disabled young women. They used them for their sexual gratification, and stole their benefits,” Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer said. “They attempted to hide their conduct by cutting off contact with the victims’ families, and went so far as to remove the women to Florida to evade detection. Defendant Michael Swanson impregnated one of the victims and brought a child into this vile situation – joining seven other children fathered by Swanson. The members of law enforcement, the medical professionals, and the social workers who have worked on this case stand united in calling out the depravity of these defendants’ actions. They will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
NBC10 reached out to Nicole Swanson’s attorney who provided a statement on her client’s behalf.
“The affidavit in this case recites a convoluted series of allegations, speculation as well as hearsay from a 2016 unrelated case,” the attorney wrote. “The defense will investigate the substantial number of factual and legal issues including that the complaining witnesses seem to be legally incompetent. While the charges are serious, Ms. Swanson’s innocence is presumed until proven otherwise in a court of law.”
Online court records don’t list attorney information for Michael Swanson.
Resources for victims of sexual assault are available through the National Sexual Violence Resources Center and the National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline at 800-656-4673.
Two men are facing murder and robbery charges in connection to a 2008 cold case in New Jersey, according to officials.
36-year-old Breyon Goodman and 41-year-old Jason Howard have been named as the suspects involved in the robbery and deadly beating of Ewing Township man Leroy Julious, prosecutors said.
“For 16 years the senseless, cruel death of Leroy Julious has gone unsolved,” said Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin. “But law enforcement did not forget, and did not give up. We hope the charges bring a measure of relief to the victim’s grieving loved ones.”
Goodman and Howard have each been charged with murder, felony murder and robbery, officials said. Goodman was arrested on April 15 and Howard was served his charges in the state of Rhode Island where he is currently in prison for an unrelated incident.
Robbery turns deadly
On May 9, 2008, Police in Ewing, New Jersey, were called to a scene where a victim, later identified as Leroy Julious, was hurt and bleeding on the ground, prosecutors said.
When officers got to the scene, they found a car that was parked diagonally in front of a home with multiple people standing outside, officials said.
One of those people was Jason Howard who was standing by the open driver’s door of the car, police said.
The witnesses were able to show the officers where the victim, Julious, was lying in a gravel lot on the ground, according to police.
Police said that Julious had severe head trauma with blood on his face, head and neck. They noticed that his pockets were turned inside out.
Officials pronounced Julious as dead at the scene.
The investigation
As officials worked to investigate the case, they concluded that robbery was the motive behind the deadly incident.
Investigators say they learned that Leroy Julious was known to always have money in his wallet. It was noted that his wallet was not on him when he was found on the ground.
The attack on Julious is believed to have happened in the garage carport of a house nearby before he was dragged to the gravel lot, officials said.
The case went cold for about fifteen years before new information was brought to the Mercer County Homicide Task Force and investigators reopened the case.
In the fall of 2023, all of the physical evidence was resubmitted to an investigative laboratory which led to new information thanks to technological advancements, officials said.
A detective with the Philadelphia Police Department had previous information that made the warrant possible, but it was missing a detail which is what was discovered on Monday.
“Nobody lied, there was simply a gap in information,” Krasner said.
Krasner wouldn’t go into specifics but did say that the protection from abuse order against Boyle was not in effect, so the warrant had to be withdrawn.
“Kevin is our dear friend and his deteriorating mental health over the past few months has been heartbreaking to witness,” Pennsylvania House Leader Matt Bradford said in a statement. “Today’s developments and the spectacle of the past few months should not obscure what is at stake—a sick man’s life. This isn’t political theater.”
In a statement on April 17, Rockledge Police Chief John Gallagher told NBC10 the investigation into that incident continues. However, none of the customers, staff members, managers or owners of the bar wanted to pursue charges against Boyle, according to Chief Gallagher. Chief Gallagher also said Boyle complied with responding police officers by leaving the bar on foot.
When asked if Tuesday’s primary election day had any influence on the DA’s office withdrawing the warrant, Krasner said, “We try to operate in a way that is truly even-handed.”
A man was killed and a woman was injured following a double shooting in Philadelphia’s Olney neighborhood.
Police responded to numerous 911 calls reporting a shooting at the intersection of 5th Street and Tabor Avenue shortly before 11:30 p.m. Monday. When they arrived they found a 33-year-old man on the sidewalk suffering from multiple gunshot wounds to his torso. The victim was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead at 11:51 p.m.
Around the same time, a 30-year-old woman suffering from a gunshot wound to the leg arrived at the hospital. Police said she was injured in the same shooting that killed the 33-year-old man. She’s currently listed in stable condition.
Police found 15 spent shell casings from one or two semiautomatic weapons at the scene of the shooting, Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Scott Small said. Small also told NBC10 the 33-year-old man may have been involved in a shootout moments before his death.
“There’s a possibility that this 33-year-old victim also was firing shots because we did find a handgun in very close proximity,” Small said.
The shooting occurred right outside of a bar in the area. Police also said the 30-year-old woman may have been in the bar before the shooting occurred.
Small told NBC10 most of the businesses near the scene of the shooting have exterior surveillance cameras. They have not released a description of any suspects.
A man was arrested at the Delaware Park Casino in Wilmington after starting a fight during a poker game, according to police.
Delaware State Police said that on Friday, around 2:30 a.m., troopers responded to Delaware Park Casino, after receiving a report of a fight.
Upon arrival, police said troopers found the victim – an adult man whose identity will not be disclosed – and the suspect – Tavon White, 28, of Newark, Delaware – inside the casino no longer fighting.
According to police, during the investigation, troopers learned that White got into an argument with the victim after losing a poker game. The argument escalated into a physical fight when White began punching the victim in the face.
Police said White and the victim continued to fight, knocked over a poker table and then were eventually separated.
The victim was transported to the hospital with serious injuries, police said.
Police said White was booked into the Howard R. Young Correctional Institution on charges of assault second-degree (felony) and criminal mischief. His bond was set at $10,500.
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Veterans are the second most vulnerable population when it comes to fraud, only out-scammed by seniors.
Jeanne Sorg, the Montgomery County Recorder of Deeds, did something about it.
The Recorder of Deeds office, in partnership with the Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities, held it’s first Veteran $cam Jam.
Over 30 veterans and community leaders attended the free event in Norristown on Friday, April 19.
“We work heavily with our veterans groups here in Montgomery County because the Recorder of Deeds offices in the state of Pennsylvania are responsible for recording veterans discharge paperwork, which is that very important paperwork that gives them all their rights, so, we take it very seriously,” said Sorg.
Veterans heard from experts on consumer fraud, investment fraud, scam prevention and how to take steps to protect themselves.
Onsite registration for Fraud Sleuth, the Montgomery County Recorder of Deeds’ free property alert service, was offered to property owners.
“We’re just so grateful for our veterans here in Montgomery County and we’re grateful that part of our job is actually serving veterans. We also feel it is a good way to give back to those who have given to us and just by helping protect them means a lot to us,” said Sorg.
Attendees of the Veteran $camJam enjoyed Fraud BINGO with prizes, snacks and a consumer information fair.
Sorg was joined by Robert Lithgow from the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs for the state of Pennsylvania, Connor Ferrara from the Attorney General’s office, Katrina Boyer and Tina Kotsalos from the Department of Banking and Securities and Joshua Samuels from the Norristown Police Department.
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Editors Note: This article has been updated to reflect the correct location of this incident.
An arrest has been made in a deadly shooting in Camden County last Tuesday evening, police said.
Police have charged 21-year-old Hasan Battie with murder in the death of a man in Gloucester Township, New Jersey, officials said.
According to the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office, at around 5:27 p.m., officers were dispatched to a home at the La Cascata development for a report of a person shot.
Officials said upon arrival, officers found a man – later identified as Nasir Tart, 24, of Gloucester Township – suffering from an apparent gunshot wound.
Police said Tart was pronounced dead at the scene at 5:50 p.m.
This investigation is active and ongoing at this time, police said.
If anyone has information, they are asked to contact Detective Michael Dons of the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office Homicide Unit at 856-916-9292 and Detective Daniel Ritz of the Gloucester Township Police Department at 856- 916-9292.
Voters went to the polls across Pennsylvania on Tuesday to vote in the Republican and Democratic primaries for a number of nationwide, statewide, and local elections.
Pennsylvania has a closed primary system, which means that only voters registered with a political party may participate in that party’s primary. Democrats may not vote in the Republican primary or vice versa. Independent or unaffiliated voters may not participate in either primary.
NBC10 has you covered with live updating election results from all of the races that matter to you. You can find all of our live updating Pa. primary election results here, including results in many races for State House and State Senate.
Below are a list of some of the key contested races across the commonwealth. Polls closed at 8 p.m. and results are starting to filter in.
Key storylines in U.S. House contests
In the 1st Congressional District, which contains all of Bucks County and a small portion of Montgomery County, Republican U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick won as he faced a primary challenge from Mark Houck, an anti-abortion activist.
On the Democratic side, Ashley Ehasz, who lost to Fitzpatrick in the 2022 general election for the same seat, ran unopposed and faced the Republican winner in the fall.
In the Lehigh Valley’s 7th District, three Republicans — Kevin Dellicker, Ryan Mackenzie, and Maria Montero — ran to take on Democratic U.S. Rep. Susan Wild in the fall. Wild ran unopposed in the Democratic primary.
Wild won the general election over Republican Lisa Scheller by a tight 51-49 margin in 2022. She has been the Congresswoman from the region since 2018.
Ryan Mackenzie won during Tuesday night’s primary and will face Wild in November.
In the 3rd District, which contains a wide swath of Philadelphia from the northwest, to the west, to the south, three-term Congressman Dwight Evans won after facing a primary challenge from Tracey Gordon.
Democrats and Republicans, including several incumbents, ran unopposed in their primaries in the 2nd District, 4th District, 5th District, and 6th District. All four of those seats are currently held by Democrats.
7 candidates running for Attorney General
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro vacated the Attorney General’s office in 2023 as he ramped up his election campaign for his new job. The current AG, Michelle Henry, was appointed by Shapiro to finish his term and is not running to keep the position.
Two Republicans and five Democrats ran in the primaries for the right to battle for the seat in November.
The Democrats are:
Keir Bradford-Gray, of Philadelphia, the former chief public defender in the city
Joe Khan, of Bucks Co., a former assistant district attorney in Philadelphia and Bucks Co. Solicitor
Eugene DePasquale, of Pittsburgh, the former auditor general of Pennsylvania
Jared Solomon, a member of the Pa. House of Representatives from Philadelphia
Jack Stollsteimer, the district attorney in Delaware County
Former auditor general of Pennsylvania Eugene DePasquale won on Tuesday night’s primary.
On the Republican side, York County DA Dave Sunday ran against Craig Williams, a member of the Pa. House from the 160th District in Delco and Chester Counties. Sunday won and will face DePasquale in November.
Dems running competitive races for other statewide positions
Democrats ran against each other in the primary elections for two other key statewide offices: Auditor General, the state’s chief fiscal officer, and Treasurer.
Pa. state representative Malcolm Kenyatta won in the race for Auditor General against Mark Pinsley who is the current controller in Lehigh County.
For treasurer, Pa. state rep Ryan Bizzarro from Erie County ran against Erin McClelland, an addiction counselor and businesswoman who unsuccessfully ran for Congress in 2012 and 2016.
Republicans hold both seats currently and the incumbents ran unopposed. Tim Defoor of Dauphin County ran for re-election as Auditor General and Stacy Garrity of Bradford County ran for her second four-year term as treasurer.
Noncompetitive primaries for President, U.S. Senate
President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump both won after going before voters Tuesday in Pennsylvania’s presidential primaries, a prelude to the November general election, when the commonwealth is expected to once again play a critical role in the race for the White House. Further down the ballot, voters also selected nominees in competitive primaries for Congress, the state legislature and three statewide offices.
Biden clinched the Democratic nomination and Trump clinched the Republican nomination on March 12, and neither faces serious opposition on the primary ballot. Nonetheless, both presumptive nominees have campaigned in Pennsylvania in recent days with their focus more on the November election and each other than on Tuesday’s vote.
Biden just completed a three-day campaign swing that began last Tuesday in his hometown of Scranton and concluded Thursday in Philadelphia in an event with members of the Kennedy family. Days earlier, Trump held a rally in Lehigh County, his third visit to the state this year.
Pennsylvania is also home to a competitive U.S. Senate contest, but Democratic U.S. Sen. Bob Casey and Republican David McCormick both ran unopposed in Tuesday’s primary.
The Casey vs. McCormick showdown in November’s general election will be one of the most hotly-contested races of the fall cycle.
The city of Philadelphia is working on getting abandoned cars removed from neighborhood streets with a new initiative.
Residents in the Northeast section of the city say that they’re looking forward to the clean up event in their neighborhood on Wednesday.
Police with the Neighborhood Service Unit began the sweep on Monday after the department got over 800 calls from residents reporting cars that were abandoned in their neighborhoods.
Officials say that abandoned cars create quality of life challenges as they lower property values and attract crime as well as pose environmental hazards by possible leaking harmful substances.
One NJ man takes the saying “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure” seriously and for a good cause.
Eduardo Jimenez starts his days off with a three-and-a-half to four-mile walk down the Brigantine beach every morning just 40 minutes before the sun fully rises.
This all began during the pandemic when he and his wife moved to Brigantine from Monmouth County.
During COVID, the gym was not an option for Eduardo, so he opted for the long, therapeutic walks on the beach and the habit stuck with him.
In the early days of starting his daily walks, the NJ resident noticed litter along the beach. This prompted him to do something to make a difference.
Eduardo now makes it his mission to pick up trash along his morning “trail” in an effort to promote and create cleaner beaches.
“I have a wish to never find trash,” the environmental cleanup advocate says.
While seeing litter at the beach is not an aesthetic look, it also has the potential to harm wildlife, both on the beach and if swept into the ocean.
In addition, sea turtles, whales and other species can get entangled in plastic litter on beaches and in oceans which can be deadly for the animals.
“I started using Instagram to promote the awareness of trash on the beach every single day,” Eduardo said.
Once Eduardo gets home from his walk, he disposes of a good amount of the garbage, but not all of it. Some trash, he keeps to repurpose into art.
The artist says he has made around 100 art pieces with the trash he found along the Brigantine beach since 2020.
“Trash is free. So it’s amazing. I don’t have to have paints,” Eduardo said.
Due to his several years of dedication to make the Jersey Shore beach a cleaner place, he was honored with an award from the New Jersey Clean Communities Council.
This organization aims to work towards cleaner litter-free New Jersey beaches through clean-up crews, “skip the straw” initiatives and more.
In addition to his recognition from the NJ Clean Communities Council, Eduardo also received recognition specifically for his art in local exhibitions.
Eduardo’s collection “Seaside Salvage” is currently being showcased at the Brigantine Community School to show students how something like litter can be transformed into something bigger and more impactful.
Brigantine Superintendent of Schools says, “Seeing the work that he’s done with the pollution on the beaches, I think it’s very important for our scholars to see that. To see what can be transformed into something better.”
“Seaside Salvage” is curated of several pieces of trash Eduardo made into many three-dimensional art fixtures.
Each piece is meant to inspire awareness and start discussions around coastal conservation all while encouraging the viewer to think twice before dropping a cigarette butt or releasing balloons into the sky.
Dispose of trash properly in waste and recycling receptacles.
Bring an extra bag with you so that you can bring your trash home if receptacles are not available.
If your children use diapers, be sure to dispose of them properly in a receptacle.
If you are fishing at the beach, be sure to collect and dispose of any broken or used fishing line.
In addition to the litter the art is made from, each frame that holds Eduardo’s work in his collection is made from discarded wooden pallets that the artist finds at local construction sites.
“I’m not gonna clean the whole planet’s trash, but at least I’m doing my little part, try to help and maybe others will also do their little part to help,” Eduardo says.
Footage from body cameras worn by first responders show the moments officers ran into a smoky building in New Jersey to save dozens of dogs from a fire, and the heroic actions of strangers who helped as well.
The first responders sprinted into the Fairfield Luxury Pet Hotel trapped inside by the heavy smoke that came from a raging fire at a nearby business.
Police said a total of 46 dogs were found inside. All were later accounted for and uninjured, saved by police and firefighters who did whatever they could to get the pups out.
“It was a little bit of everything. Carrying them, the smaller dogs, but we also found a bunch of leashes inside, and we were able to leash dogs to get them around to the back,” said Fairfield Police Officer Stacy Chiarolanza. “There was a brief moment where one dog was missing, and like a storybook finale, one of the cops walked out with the dog in his arms.”
Graham Clarke had just closed up his workshop around the corner on Saturday night when he saw the fire on his way home with his wife. He knew he had to stop and help.
“We called 911, I looked to see if anyone was in obvious danger,” said Clarke. “As soon as we knew there were dogs in the building, we were like, ‘Well, people are going to be going in and bringing the dogs out, need someone outside to hold the dogs.’ So me and my wife and some friends who were working late here, we were corralling the dogs.”
Once outside, the dogs were brought to a backyard pen before they were taken to another pet facility and eventually reunited with their families.
In a statement, the pet hotel’s co-founder said “I want to express my deepest thanks to the police officers, firefighters, and Humane Society team members. Emergency protocols we have in place all came together and led to quick and decisive action that kept our furry guests safe during a stressful situation.”
A cause of the fire has not yet been determined. An investigation by the fire marshal is ongoing.
“It’s a great feeling. We know this could’ve turned out worse. I had four of my officers go in without their breathing apparatuses, and risked their lives to save these dogs. They won’t call themselves heroes, but we all know they’re heroes, absolutely,” said Chiarolanza.
Students and parents gathered outside the North Penn School District Services Center at 401 East Hancock Street in Lansdale, Pennsylvania, around 9 a.m. on Tuesday. The demonstration was in response to an incident that occurred back on April 17 shortly before 1:30 p.m. in the cafeteria at Pennbrook Middle School in North Wales, Pennsylvania.
Those who attended the protest demanded more answers about the incident and questioned whether or not school officials received a warning prior to the attack.
“This was handled wrong from start to finish,” one of the protesters said. “Calling it a fight. This wasn’t a fight. This was an attack that could have been prevented.”
What we know about the attack
Officials said a 7th grade student was attacked by another student who was armed with a Stanley cup in the cafeteria of Pennbrook Middle School back on April 17.
Security footage of the attack obtained by NBC10 shows the victim walking down what appears to be the main aisle of the cafeteria when the attacker appears from behind and begins striking her with the metal cup. After the first strike, school security officers try to stop the attacker and another employee jumps in. The attacker appears to hit the victim four more times before the two are separated. The attack lasts about ten seconds.
The victim was taken to a hallway where she received aid while the attacker was taken into custody by responding police officers.
Staff members closed the cafeteria doors to keep the rest of the students inside and the school was temporarily placed on lockdown.
The victim was taken to the hospital and released later that night, officials said.
The suspect in the attack attended a detention hearing on April 22. NBC10 was in the juvenile court building when a commotion could be heard from the courtroom. Police told NBC10 the suspect was detained to a juvenile facility after attempting to toss a water jug towards deputies.
North Penn Now reported the attacker was charged with aggravated assault and other related offenses.
A judge also issued an order preventing any identifying information about the suspect from being published. North Penn School District Superintendent Dr. Todd Bauer also said that the families of both the attacker and the victim are asking for privacy.
Parents, students react to the attack
During the monthly school board meeting on April 18, a day after the attack, students described what they saw.
“The girl who got attacked didn’t see it because she was faced backwards and all of a sudden you just hear these terrible, loud bangs of the Stanley bouncing off her head,” one student said. “There was blood going everywhere. I was the table right behind. And all you see is blood everywhere.”
Parents who attended the meeting talked about how traumatized their children were by what they witnessed.
“As a parent, your worst fear comes to light when you get that call from your kid crying in school, ‘Mom, help me. I’m scared. There’s blood everywhere,’” Stephanie Palovack, a parent of a Pennbrook student, said.
Another parent said the attack caused her child to have nightmares as well as stomachaches.
Some parents who attended the meeting weren’t satisfied with how the situation was handled and demanded answers on whether or not school officials were warned prior to the attack.
“My questions are, my daughter went to counselors at 9 in the morning, twice, and told them this attack was coming today at lunch,” the father of a student said. “It was known.”
Another student claimed they had warned school officials about the attack.
“Wednesday, I went with two others and each of us filled out a whole paper full of what’s going to happen and why it’s going to happen,” the student said.
Alyssa Santiago also claimed her child was threatened by the same attacker prior to the incident on April 17.
“I called the school on two separate occasions,” Santiago said. “Tuesday and Wednesday to inform them of this child who was going to ‘curb stomp’ my daughter or make my daughter bite the curb. And I was assured that my daughter was safe.”
Dr. Bauer said the district is working with police as the investigation continues.
“As an educator, as your superintendent and as a father, I am appalled by what happened,” Dr. Bauer said. “We are currently pursuing the details leading up to this incident and why it occurred.”
On April 20, Bauer sent a letter to the North Penn community in response to both the attack and the school board meeting.
“At last Thursday’s School Board meeting, many community members expressed their disappointment and anger regarding the incident and demanded answers and action steps to ensure that this type of event does not happen again in our schools,” he wrote. “Of course, this will take time, and the work necessary for comprehensive school safety is never finished.”
In the letter, Bauer reiterated that there were many details about the incident he was unable to share while acknowledging how frustrating that could be for parents and students demanding answers.
“What I can tell you is that we will be tireless in our demonstration to you that we, too, share your concern and are committed to substantial improvement today and in the long-term future,” Bauer wrote.
Bauer said the district will contract with a “third-party, unbiased investigator,” to examine the incident and offer both an analysis and recommendations. He also said the district is working to establish a date for a school safety forum that will include a “comprehensive look at the programs and measures that we currently have in place and to field questions and answers from the community and local experts.”
Bauer also said the district will develop student school safety committees at each building.
“These committees will meet monthly with building leaders to share concerns, questions, and recommendations to improve school safety and climate,” Bauer wrote. “The student’s voice is essential in a comprehensive plan.”
Bauer also said the district will work with the School Safety Coordinator for the Montgomery County Department of Public Safety, request more visits from local police departments and implement more training and “trauma-informed professional development” for administrators, staff members and community members. Finally, listening sessions on school safety will be held throughout the school district over the next month to hear from staff and students, according to Bauer.
Police need your help identifying “Birthday Bag Bandits” accused of stealing thousands of dollars worth of items from CVS stores in Montgomery and Bucks County.
Police said the first incident happened on April 3 around 8:30 p.m. at the CVS located on the 200 block of E. Butler Ave in Ambler.
Police said the two suspects used birthday bags from the store and loaded them up with approximately $1,200 worth of merchandise.
The suspects then exited the store and fled in a dark-colored four-door sedan, according to police.
Excitement is sky-high at Newark Liberty International Airport after a much-needed, $2.7 billion facelift completed recently has landed it with a prestigious award.
Many travelers over the past few months are getting to experience the airports new and improved Terminal A for the first time, and many have been left impressed.
“It’s a beautiful airport, I’m kind of surprised. It’s a new addition and it looks great,” said Brian Degasperis, visiting from Cleveland.
Travelers aren’t the only ones who have noticed the upgrades. Complete with all the new bells and whistles, Terminal A at the New Jersey transit hub received the World’s Best New Airport Terminal Award by Skytrax, the preeminent industry ratings firm.
Considered the centerpiece of an airport-wide renaissance, Terminal A opened in phases throughout 2023 as airport operations migrated from the 50-year-old former Terminal A. The pricey terminal overhaul represented both the Port Authority’s largest-ever single investment in New Jersey and the state’s largest design-build project.
“We believe strongly that our region deserves nothing but the best, and Newark Liberty has delivered the best new facility in the world for the state of New Jersey,” said Port Authority Chairman Kevin O’Toole. “As a native New Jerseyan, I am incredibly proud that passengers selected Terminal A for this global recognition, and I was honored to join the distinguished Port Authority team who accepted Newark Liberty’s award for the world’s best new airport terminal from Skytrax last week in Germany.”
The new terminal features a sensory room for people with autism, giving them a place and time to relax and even go through a quieter screening process. There’s also a children’s lending library curated by a local fifth grader and an indoor playground — a thrill for children flying with their parents.
The terminal served 15 million passengers in its first year, greatly outperforming yearly passenger totals from the previous Terminal A, the Port Authority said.
Travelers told NBC New York that part of what makes Terminal A such a good experience is the transparency. For example, everything is well-marked at the security lines, and passengers can even see how long the wait time is.
And whether it’s the design, the flowers or the food, one flight attendant said the passengers are calmer at Terminal A, which makes her job in the sky easier.
“I think they’re happy and in a good mood, they found their way to me more easily,” said flight attendant Alexandria Turner.
It comes just a month after the same terminal was awarded a prestigious five-star rating by Skytrax, following a detailed audit of its facilities, operations and provision of customer service.
“This is a tremendously well-deserved honor for the flagship of the Port Authority’s ongoing renaissance at Newark Liberty International Airport,” said New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy. “It’s no surprise that the industry’s leader has bestowed one of its highest honors on this facility. From the distinctly Jersey aesthetic to the first-rate amenities and home-grown attractions, Terminal A is a point of pride for the Garden State that the whole world now gets to enjoy.”
Completed in 2023, the 1 million-square-foot Terminal A now joins LaGuardia’s Terminal B as the only two airport terminals in North America awarded the highest Skytrax rating, according to Port Authority.
The Port Authority now operates the two highest-class airport terminals in North America, according to a widely used industry ranking. Yes, really.
An eastbound Buick Enclave struck the man as he crossed Spruce Street at a crosswalk near 36th Street — that’s right by the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and the Penn campus — around 5:30 a.m., police investigators said.
As police investigated the deadly crash, a 41-year-old woman went to a police station to report the crash, police said. Investigators then recovered the Enclave believed to have struck the man on the 4900 block of Larchwood Avenue in West Philadelphia.
No charges were immediately filed and no arrest was made, police said.
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Police in Philadelphia have announced the arrest of a woman sought after five people were struck by a Nissan Sentra in a grocery store parking lot in the Oxford Circle section of Northeast Philadelphia on Monday.
According to police, Omobolanle Paige, 45-year-old, from Northeast Philly, was arrested after she, allegedly, driver her 2015 Nissan Sentra into five people in the parking lot of a grocery store along the 6300 block of Oxford Avenue at about 1:48 p.m. on Monday afternoon.
Officials said that four women who were struck — aged 57, 45, 76 and 29 — all suffered bruises and scratches in the incident.
A 76-year-old man who was struck, police said, was unharmed.
Three of those who were struck were taken to the hospital after the incident, officials said.
Paige was apprehended on Monday after the incident. However, police said on Wednesday that Paige has been charged with six counts of attempted homicide in the incident, along with additional aggravated assault charges and related offenses.
An investigation into the incident is ongoing, officials said.
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Police in Philadelphia are investigating after a dog attacked another dog and killed it last week in the West Oak Lane section of the city, officials said.
Last Wednesday, an officer responded to a call about the dog attack just after 8 a.m. on the 2100 block of Eastburn Avenue, police said.
Once on the scene, the officer saw that a pit bull was attacking a Pomeranian on the sidewalk, according to officials. The owner of the pit bull had tried to stop the attack, but was not successful.
The officer used her taser twice to try and stop the attack, but it didn’t work, officials said. She then fired three rounds from her weapon which did stop the attack.
This is when the pit bull turned toward the police officer causing the officer to fire three more times and hitting the pit bull in the leg, police said.
The owner was able to take the injured pit bull to a nearby veterinary hospital to be treated for the single gunshot wound, according to officials.
The Pomeranian that was attacked was taken to Animal Care and Control Team Philadelphia but did not survive, police said.
The officer is a 31-year-old eight year veteran of the Philadelphia Police Department and has been placed on administrative duty as the investigation continues.
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A group of people on dirt bikes hunted down a teenager believed to be using his scooter to make deliveries in Philadelphia early Wednesday morning.
Police arrived to South 10th and Federal streets just before 12:30 a.m. to find a 17-year-old suffering from a gunshot wound to his leg next to his crashed scooter, Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Scott Small said. Officers rushed the boy to a hospital where he was being treated in stable condition.
The victim doesn’t speak English, but witnesses helped investigators sort out what happened, Small said.
The incident began minutes earlier at 10th and South streets when a group of about six to eight men wearing masks on at least four ATVs tried to rob the teen of his motorized scooter, police said. The boy was possibly just wrapping up his shift, Small said.
The teen tried to stop the theft and fled south on 10th Street, police said.
The guys on the dirt bikes “chased the 17-year-old who was on the motorized scooter” about 10 blocks, where they shot the teenage delivery driver, Small said.
The boy continued driving for about 100 feet before he crashed his scooter into a parked car, Small said. That’s where police officers found him.
Investigators hoped that surveillance video help them track down the suspects, Small said.
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Celebrate 20 years of Center City District SIPS this summer.
Philadelphia’s favorite happy hour will run every Wednesday from June 5 through August 28, from 5 to 7 p.m.
Dozens of bars and restaurants will serve $7 cocktails, including specials made with Hornitos Tequila, $6 wine, $5 beer and half-price appetizers. After 7 p.m., select locations will provide 15% off dinner.
“For the last twenty years, SIPS has been a must-do event for many young professionals working and living in Center City” President and CEO of the Center City District Prema Katari Gupta said in a statement. “We now recognize that in-person events and socialization are more important than ever and we are thrilled to continue this iconic event.”
In celebration of the 20th anniversary, on June 5, Dilworth Park will host the official CCD SIPS preview party in partnership with Wooder Ice. The event will feature exclusive SIPS pricing, live DJ entertainment, giveaways and more.
To see a full list of participating locations visit ccdsips.com.
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Days after a fire closed a South Jersey mall entering the weekend, some stores have reopened while others remained closed during cleanup.
Voorhees Town Center mall businesses with outside access able to reopen
Officials with the Vorhees Town Centertook to Facebook on Tuesday to announce that Boscov’s, Modax, Town Hall, CNNH and Growing Smiles were given the go-ahead by the fire marshal to reopen since they have outside entrances and access.
“All were evacuated and no injuries are reported at this time,” the fire department wrote Friday night.
Camden County IAFF Local 3249 — the local fire union — said the blaze began in the food court. The mall later confirmed that the food court took most of the damage.
“We are grateful to the Voorhees Fire Department for their quick response in helping to successfully evacuate the mall and contain the damage to the food court,” the mall wrote.
Interior mall shops remain closed as cleanup continues
“Although cleaning has begun, soot still remains throughout the mall, therefore we are unable to reopen at this time,” the mall wrote on social media Sunday.
The total damage to the mall at 2120 Voorhees Town Center was still being determined midweek.
“While we work to determine the source of the fire and assess the full extent of its impact, Voorhees Town Center’s interior spaces will remain closed to the public,” the mall wrote on social media Tuesday, April 23, 2024. “A security escort is required for any tenants who must access their space during this time to ensure their health and safety.”
The fire marshal continued to investigate the blaze, Camden County officials said.
The mall promised to keep updates coming for tenants and shoppers about the reopening timeline.
“We plan to reopen the mall’s interior spaces when repairs are complete, services have been restored, and a thorough cleaning has taken place,” the mall wrote on Facebook.
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Doctors have transplanted a pig kidney into a New Jersey woman who was near death, part of a dramatic pair of surgeries that also stabilized her failing heart.
Lisa Pisano’s combination of heart and kidney failure left her too sick to qualify for a traditional transplant, and out of options. Then doctors at NYU Langone Health devised a novel one-two punch: Implant a mechanical pump to keep her heart beating and days later transplant a kidney from a genetically modified pig.
Pisano is recovering well, the NYU team announced Wednesday. She’s only the second patient ever to receive a pig kidney — following a landmark transplant last month at Massachusetts General Hospital – and the latest in a string of attempts to make animal-to-human transplantation a reality.
This week, the 54-year-old grasped a walker and took her first few steps.
“I was at the end of my rope,” Pisano told The Associated Press. “I just took a chance. And you know, worst case scenario, if it didn’t work for me, it might have worked for someone else and it could have helped the next person.”
Dr. Robert Montgomery, director of NYU Langone Transplant Institute, recounted cheers in the operating room as the organ immediately started making urine.
“It’s been transformative,” Montgomery said of the experiment’s early results.
But “we’re not off the hook yet,” cautioned Dr. Nader Moazami, the NYU cardiac surgeon who implanted the heart pump.
“With this surgery I get to see my wife smile again,” Pisano’s husband Todd said Wednesday.
Other transplant experts are closely watching how the patient fares.
“I have to congratulate them,” said Dr. Tatsuo Kawai of Mass General, who noted that his own pig kidney patient was healthier overall going into his operation than NYU’s patient. “When the heart function is bad, it’s really difficult to do a kidney transplant.”
More than 100,000 people are on the U.S. transplant waiting list, most who need a kidney, and thousands die waiting. In hopes of filling the shortage of donated organs, several biotech companies are genetically modifying pigs so their organs are more humanlike, less likely to be destroyed by people’s immune system.
NYU and other research teams have temporarily transplanted pig kidneys and hearts into brain-dead bodies, with promising results. Then the University of Maryland transplanted pig hearts into two men who were out of other options, and both died within months.
Mass General’s pig kidney transplant last month raised new hopes. Kawai said Richard “Rick” Slayman experienced an early rejection scare but bounced back enough to go home earlier this month and still is faring well five weeks post-transplant. A recent biopsy showed no further problems.
A COMPLEX CASE AT NYU
Pisano is the first woman to receive a pig organ — and unlike with prior xenotransplant experiments, both her heart and kidneys had failed. She went into cardiac arrest and had to be resuscitated before the experimental surgeries. She’d gotten too weak to even play with her grandchildren. “I was miserable,” the Cookstown, New Jersey, woman said.
A failed heart made her ineligible for a traditional kidney transplant. But while on dialysis, she didn’t qualify for a heart pump, called a left ventricular assist device or LVAD, either.
“It’s like being in a maze and you can’t find a way out,” Montgomery explained — until the surgeons decided to pair a heart pump with a pig kidney.
TWO SURGERIES IN EIGHT DAYS
With emergency permission from the Food and Drug Administration, Montgomery chose an organ from a pig genetically engineered by United Therapeutics Corp. so its cells don’t produce a particular sugar that’s foreign to the human body and triggers immediate organ rejection.
Plus a tweak: The donor pig’s thymus gland, which trains the immune system, was attached to the donated kidney in hopes that it would help Pisano’s body tolerate the new organ.
Surgeons implanted the LVAD to power Pisano’s heart on April 4, and transplanted the pig kidney on April 12. There’s no way to predict her long-term outcome but she’s shown no sign of organ rejection so far, Montgomery said. And in adjusting the LVAD to work with her new kidney, Moazami said doctors already have learned lessons that could help future care of heart-and-kidney patients.
Special “compassionate use” experiments teach doctors a lot but it will take rigorous studies to prove if xenotransplants really work. What happens with Pisano and Mass General’s kidney recipient will undoubtedly influence FDA’s decision to allow such trials. United Therapeutics said it hopes to begin one next year.
Officials with the board of the Atlantic City Public Schools were tight lipped on Tuesday night as La’Quetta Small, the schools superintendent — joined by her husband, Mayor Marty Small — attended her first school board meeting since the pair were charged with abusing their teenaged daughter.
On Monday night, NBC10’s Aaron Baskerville attended the meeting — though school board president Shay Steele repeatedly refused to comment on the situation.
“We have no comment on personnel matters. We can’t comment on it,” Shay told NBC10.
Both Smalls were charged after, officials claimed, they physically and emotionally harmed their 16-year-old daughter.
The couple maintains their innocence and they have denied any wrongdoing.
Mayor Small, again, gave no comment when approached by NBC10 on Tuesday. However, he appeared to be in good spirits when talking to members of the audience during the event.
“Everything is great,” the mayor could be heard in reply to someone who asked how he was doing.
According to court documents, Small hit his daughter several times in the head with a broom, punching her in the legs and knocking her unconscious.
The incident happened, police said, as the mayor and his wife were said the be angry over their daughter’s relationship with a boy who she refused to stop seeing.
The criminal affidavit for the school superintendent accuses La’Quetta Small of dragging her daughter by the hair and beating her with a belt on her shoulders.
On Tuesday, the school superintendent did not address the crowd about her charges.
Also, during public comment, no one in attendance said anything about the matter.
Asked if Small should still be holding public office amid these accusations, Shay again offered no comment.
Also, in connection to the charges against the Smalls, former Atlantic City High School principal Constance Days Chapman waived her right to a hearing on Tuesday.
The fire was burning before 10 a.m. in the Jackson Road area of Wharton State Forest in Waterford Township, Camden County, and Shamong Township, Burlington County, the New Jersey Forest Fire Service said on social media.
By 11 a.m., the fire covered at least 100 acres and was 0% contained the state forest fire service said.
Roads, trails, campground closed as fire crews battle the blaze
“Crews are utilizing a backfire operation to burn fuel ahead of the main body of fire which will help aid containment efforts,” the forest fire service said.
Jackson Road was closed from Tremont Avenue to Atsion Road due to the fire, the forest fire service said. The Goshen Campground was evacuated and the Burnt Mill Goshen Pond and Sleeper Creek trails were closed.
Forest fire officials said that no structures were immediately threatened.
What exactly is a wildfire?
What makes this particular fire a wildfire and not another type of fire?
The New Jersey Forest Fire Service defines a wildfire as: “An uncontrolled fire burning the different types of vegetation that cover the land. A wildfire is considered a ‘major wildfire’ after it exceeds 100 acres in size.”
The state forest fire service also defines “backfire,” “containment,” “fireline” and “threatened” on its social media posts.
This story is developing and will be updated.
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