NBC 10 - Philadelphia Local News

‘We Like to Work': Pa. Republicans Grill State's Election Chief in 1st of 14 Hearings

Thu, 21 Jan 2021 22:46:00 GMT

Pennsylvania’s top election official and her deputy defended on Thursday the state’s elections in 2020 at the first of many scheduled hearings to be held by the Republican-controlled Pennsylvania legislature on the issue.

“I am incredibly proud with the free, fair and accurate elections we carried out,” Secretary of State Kathy Boockvar said in an opening statement. “Let’s acknowledge the truth and stop repeating the lies that have been proven false.”

For the next two hours, numerous Republicans on the House State Government Committee questioned Boockvar on the guidance and directives issued by Boockvar’s State Department to 67 counties about management of, and legal issues leading up to, the elections last year.

Committee Chairman Seth Grove, Republican of York County, said the goal of the first hearing and the next 13 weeks of hearings is to “review the entire election law.”

“This is not about 2020. This is not about 2019. This is about moving forward and that we have the best product available to our constituents moving forward,” Grove said.

He noted that the hearings were in his view not to be used to “relitigate the election,” but to “ascertain the necessity for changes” where confusion and ambiguity exists in the election code.

In late 2019, only a few months before the COVID-19 pandemic struck, the GOP-controlled legislature pushed through universal mail-in balloting in Pennsylvania. It was the biggest overhaul to the state’s election law in 70 years.

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Boockvar, who is a Democrat, and Democratic lawmakers on the committee used their time at the hearing to defend what they described as a “fair, free and accurate” election both in the primary last June and the general in November.

Pennsylvania for months was at the center of an effort led by former President Donald Trump, and prodded on through lawsuits by Republicans in the state, to subvert the outcome of the presidential election.

There was no evidence of voter fraud in Pennsylvania so far, experts say, even after a legion of Trump campaign lawyers scoured the state’s election offices for weeks.

Trump lost Pennsylvania by more than 78,000 votes, double the number by which Hillary Clinton lost in 2016. Yet Trump never conceded to President Joe Biden. Clinton conceded to Trump the day after the 2016 election.

Numerous lawsuits were filed by Trump and his supporters, including U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly, a Republican representing a district in western Pennsylvania, to try to overturn Pennsylvania’s results.

While all of the efforts failed, Republican state lawmakers have said the doubt cast on the election led to thousands of constituents calling to question the outcome.

The final failed attempt came the day of the Capitol riots on Jan. 6 when U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley tried to have Pennsylvania’s electoral votes thrown out during the certification of the election by Congress.

Grove, the committee chairman who will oversee the 14 weeks of hearings, said that has led to the in-depth inquiry into how Pennsylvania conducts elections and where state law can be improved to shore up confidence among voters.

Democratic state Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta, who sits on the committee, asked Boockvar’s deputy, Jonathan Marks if there had ever been so many hearings on election law following an election.

Marks, who said he has been at the State Department for the 18 years, said, “I don’t recall a series of 14 hearings in a single session regarding elections.”

Grove chuckled.

“We like to work here,” he said.

Father of Girl, 9, Who Accidentally Shot Herself to Face Charges

Thu, 21 Jan 2021 22:11:30 GMT

The father of a 9-year-old girl who died after accidentally shooting herself inside a North Philadelphia home will face charges, according to the District Attorney’s Office.

NBC10 confirmed with a spokesperson for Larry Krasner that his office approved charges against the man. His arraignment will likely take place at some point on Thursday. They have not yet revealed his identity or the specific charges against him.

The man’s daughter was inside a home on the 2300 block of N. Bouvier Street Wednesday morning with two other children. Investigators said the girl accidentally shot herself in the right temple. She was rushed to St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children around 11 a.m. and was pronounced dead around 1:50 p.m.

When police responded, it was another child who met them at the door and told officers the girl had been shot, Philadelphia Police Department Cpl. Jasmine Reilly said.

Krasner said several weapons were found inside the home and called the shooting “unacceptable.”

“It is part of a bigger situation,” he said. “We’ve got too many guns. They are not secured safely in many situations, even when they’re out there, and we’ve had enough.”

Roz Pichardo of Operation Save Our City told NBC10 the girl’s death could’ve been prevented if the weapons inside had been locked. She handed out more than 200 gun locks to neighborhood residents on Thursday.

“There are kids right now who are not in school who are extremely curious,” she said. “I’m really urging parents, if you have a firearm, to secure it and make sure that this doesn’t have to happen to another parent and a parent doesn’t have to mourn the loss of their child.”

There are additional resources for people or communities that have endured gun violence in Philadelphia. Further information can be found here.

Waves of Intense Cold to Hit Our Region This Weekend, Possible Snow and Ice Next Week

Thu, 21 Jan 2021 20:33:27 GMT

We’re in for an extended stretch of numbing cold that will have you wanting to break out all of the winter layers.

The intense cold will come in several waves and stick around for at least the next 10 days.

The first wave arrives Saturday.

High temperatures will barely get above freezing in many areas.

But what will make the cold even more stinging and painful is the wind. Gusts 30-40 MPH will allow “feels like” temperatures to plunge into the 10s and 20s.

By Sunday morning, “feels like” temperatures will plunge to their lowest levels of this first cold wave: single-digits.

Sunday afternoon won’t be as harsh, but it’s still numbing with a high in the middle-30s and “feels like” temperatures in the mid-20s.

The Sudden Stratospheric Warming Event that occurred on the week of January 4 has weakened the Polar Vortex just as predicted.

When the polar vortex weakens, as is what’s happened in our current situation, pieces of it break off, and head south.

The result is several waves of intense cold lasting over the next 10+ days.

In addition to the cold, we will have our first chance of accumulating snow and ice in over a month Monday into Tuesday.

While details are still murky, there are signs a storm system will bring a period of some snow and ice Monday evening into the day Tuesday. So far we’ve only measured 6.6” of snow in Philadelphia. In an average winter season, Philadelphia picks up 19.3” of snow. We’re not even half way through winter, so there’s plenty of time for more snowy winter weather.

Following the potential late Monday and Tuesday storm, an even more potent wave of cold weather will barrel into the area late next week. This will sink temperatures down into the lower 30s for highs, but with a good deal of wind, feels like temperatures will dip to near zero Thursday morning.

Average high in Philadelphia for this time of year is 40 degrees. We will be well below that through the end of the month and into the start of February.

Eagles Hiring Colts OC Nick Sirianni to Be Head Coach, Source Tells NBCS Philly

Thu, 21 Jan 2021 19:04:14 GMT

This story originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Three years after the Eagles lost Super Bowl offensive coordinator Frank Reich to the Colts, they hired one of his top assistants to be their new head coach.

The Eagles are hiring 39-year-old Colts offensive coordinator Nick Sirianni to replace Doug Pederson, a league source confirmed to NBC Sports Philadelphia. ESPN first reported the news.

Sirianni has spent the last three years coaching with Reich, who was Pederson’s offensive coordinator in 2016 and 2017.

In 2017, the year before Reich and Sirianni arrived in Indianapolis, the Colts went 4-12 and ranked 30th in the NFL in points and 31st in yards under Chuck Pagano and offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski, the one-time Browns head coach.

The last three years, the Colts have ranked 5th, 16th and 9th in scoring and reached the playoffs twice. During that three-year period, the Colts rank 8th in the NFL in scoring.

At 39, Sirianni becomes the Eagles’ second-youngest head coach ever. Dick Vermeil was also 39 but four months younger than Sirianni when the Eagles hired him in 1976. Andy Reid was 40 when he was hired in 1999.

Sirianni is the fourth straight offensive head coach Jeff Lurie has hired, following Reid in 1999, Chip Kelly in 2013 and Pederson in 2016, and the seventh straight with no head coaching experience.

The Eagles fired Pederson on Jan. 11 just three years after the Eagles won the Super Bowl.

Sirianni’s biggest challenge will be trying to help Carson Wentz regain his form of 2017, when he was on track for NFL MVP honors working with Reich before his late-season knee injury suffered against the Rams in Los Angeles.

Although Wentz played well without Reich in 2018 and 2019, he’s 17-21-1 since Reich left for Indianapolis and this past season ranked worst or second-to-worst in the NFL in virtually every major passing category.

Sirianni, who interviewed with the Eagles on Tuesday (Jan. 19), began his coaching career working with defensive backs in 2004 at his alma mater, NCAA Division 3 powerhouse Mount Union of Alliance, Ohio, and then spent three years as wide receivers coach at Indiana (Pa.) University before jumping to the NFL in 2009 when Chiefs head coach Todd Haley hired him as an offensive quality control coach.

When Romeo Crennel replaced Haley in 2012, he promoted Sirianni to wide receivers coach and when Crennel was fired after the 2012 season, Sirianni spent five years in various roles with the Chargers under Mike McCoy and Anthony Lynn. From 2013 through 2015, Sirianni worked alongside Frank Reich, who left to join Pederson’s staff in 2016.

Sirianni coached Chargers quarterbacks – notably Philip Rivers – in 2014 and 2015 before moving to wide receivers in 2016.

When Reich got the Colts’ head coaching job in 2018 after Josh McDaniels changed his mind, he hired Sirianni as his offensive coordinator.

Sirianni was among 10 candidates the Eagles interviewed, along with Panthers offensive coordinator Joe Brady, 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh, Titans offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, Patriots inside linebackers coach Jerod Mayo, Eagles running backs coach Duce Staley, Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, Buccaneers defensive coordinator Todd Bowles, Saints defensive coordinator Dennis Allen and Cowboys offensive coordinator Kellen Moore.

Of that group, Saleh was named head coach of the Jets and Smith head coach of the Falcons.

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Raise a Glass: Hennessy, Tito's Vodka Top Philly, Pa. Suburbs Liquor Sales in 2020

Thu, 21 Jan 2021 18:43:40 GMT

What to Know

Which alcohol brands did Pennsylvanians buy most last year — once pandemic restrictions let us back into the liquor stores?
The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board lists 1.75 L bottles of Tito’s Handmade Vodka and Hennessy Cognac VS 80 Proof 750 mL as its top sellers.
Use the map below to see the top three sellers in your county.

What booze helped get people in the Philadelphia region through 2020?

Vodka and cognac. Among others.

The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board tracks total sales by type of alcohol, brand and size. NBC10 asked them for the list of top sellers by county.

In the map below, you can see which brands of booze sold best in each county last year. Just click on a county to see the top three items.

In Philadelphia, Hennessy Cognac VS 80 Proof tops the sales list, with more than $5.6 million worth of its 750 mL bottles sold in 2020. That’s more than double any other liquor bottle.

The second-most popular alcohol in Philadelphia — Tito’s Handmade Vodka — topped the sales numbers in surrounding Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery counties, particularly the 1.75 L unflavored bottles.

Each county reported more than $1.3 million in sales of the large Tito’s bottles.

Tito’s 1.75 L bottles topped sales in Berks and Northampton counties, while Lehigh County joined Philly in making Henny No. 1, according to the PLCB.

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How popular is Tito’s vodka? Smaller sizes of the bottles are among the top three in sales in many counties.

What does a look at the Top 10 sellers (in units) say about how the Keystone State consumed alcohol in a year when Fine Wine and Good Spirits stores were closed at one point in the spring and then only offered curbside pickup for some time?

Other Top 10 sellers include Captain Morgan Original Spiced Rum, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey, Jameson Irish Whiskey and the lesser known Crown Russe Vodka.

Captain Morgan’s and Tito’s topped sales in most counties. But, Crown Russe 1.75 L bottles topped sales in Juniata and Mifflin counties.

Large 1.75 L bottles of Jägermeister schnapps topped the list in Cameron County, Crown Royal Canadian Whiskey 750 mL bottles topped the list in Greene County and Jack Daniel’s 1.75 L bottles topped sales in Forest County.

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Bullets Fired Into Montco Dem Committee Office After ‘Stolen Election' Threats

Thu, 21 Jan 2021 18:35:13 GMT

Inauguration Day, which should have been a triumphant day for the Montgomery County Democratic Committee, ended up being one of worry after the group’s office was shot up following emailed threats referencing “a stolen election.”

Three bullet holes riddled the front windows of the Norristown building on E. Airy Street. Officers were alerted around 4:45 p.m. Wednesday after Brian Levy, the committee’s executive director, called in the shooting, Norristown Police Department Chief Mark Talbot said.

“While [Wednesday] was a good day for the nation and the rule of law, I regret to inform you that also [Wednesday] someone shot three bullets into the office of MCDC through the front window,” committee Chairman Joe Foster said in a statement.

Levy told police he believed the shots were fired sometime between 6:30 p.m. Tuesday and 7:30 a.m. Wednesday, when the building was unoccupied, Talbot said. Levy discovered the bullet holes as he was picking up the mail Wednesday morning, Foster noted.

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Levy had also alerted police on Jan. 8 that someone sent a threatening email that “alluded to a stolen election,” the chief said. Talbot added that the exact details of the email won’t be released at this time and that it was unclear if the same person who sent it was responsible for the shooting.

Jan. 8 was just two days after a mob of supporters of former President Donald Trump stormed the Capitol in what ended up being a deadly riot that claimed the lives of both rioters and police.

The mob had been motivated in part by repeated but false claims from Trump that the election had been stolen by Democrats. Montgomery County, meanwhile, voted overwhelmingly for Democrat Joe Biden in the 2020 election.

The Norristown Police Department, Montgomery County Detectives and FBI were jointly investigating the shooting at the party’s committee office.

Pa. Passes 20,000 Coronavirus-Related Deaths

Thu, 21 Jan 2021 18:14:45 GMT

What to Know

Pennsylvania has surpassed 20,000 deaths from the coronavirus. The state Department of Health reported Thursday that another 260 people died from the virus, pushing the total during the pandemic past 20,120.
Pennsylvania’s seven-day average of deaths reported hit its highest point in the pandemic earlier this month, according to the COVID Tracking Project.
However, the numbers of new infections reported and coronavirus patients in hospitals and intensive care units have continued to drop throughout January.

Pennsylvania has surpassed the grim milestone of 20,000 deaths from the coronavirus, the state Department of Health reported Thursday.

The department said another 260 people died from the virus, pushing the total past 20,120.

Pennsylvania’s seven-day average of deaths reported hit its highest point in the pandemic earlier this month, according to the COVID Tracking Project.

However, the numbers of new infections reported and coronavirus patients in hospitals and intensive care units have continued to drop throughout January, according to state figures.

Another approximately 5,660 people tested positive, bring the state’s total to almost 790,000 during the pandemic, the department said.

The number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 has dropped below 4,900, while the number of patients in the intensive care unit with Covid-19 has dropped below 900.

Most of the patients hospitalized are ages 65 or older, and most of the deaths have occurred in patients 65 or older, according to the department.

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A Radio Host Was Shocked to Get a Pardon, Because He Never Asked for One

Thu, 21 Jan 2021 17:20:34 GMT

A Pennsylvania radio host said he was shocked to see his name among the final batch of people granted pardons and commutations by President Donald Trump in the waning hours of his time in office, NBC News reports.

And with good reason: Gary Hendler, 67, never actually requested one from the 45th president.

Hendler did, however, send a nearly 90-page pardon application to the Obama Justice Department in 2016 for a drug conspiracy charge in 1984 related to his brief involvement in opening a quaaludes clinic in Philadelphia. And while Obama granted some form of clemency to 1,927 people by the end of his second term, Gary was not among them.

Before his conviction, Hendler had already entered rehab and was turning his life around. He went on help others recover and launched a radio show, “Clean and Sober Radio,” which features musicians, athletes and political figures who discuss their battles with substance abuse.

Gary said he broke down in tears when he saw his name on the pardon list Wednesday morning. “I couldn’t believe it,” he said.

Read the full story on NBCNews.com

Ex-Trump Casino in Atlantic City Now to Be Imploded Next Month

Thu, 21 Jan 2021 17:17:13 GMT

What to Know

A former Atlantic City casino built by former President Trump will be imploded on Feb. 17, and city officials announced a new auction connected to it to raise money for a youth charity.
The city originally planned to auction off the right to press the button that would have imploded the former Trump Plaza on Jan. 29.
But billionaire investor Carl Icahn, who owns the building, objected to that plan on safety grounds, saying people could be injured by flying debris.

A former Atlantic City casino built by former President Trump will be imploded on Feb. 17, and city officials announced a new auction connected to it to raise money for a youth charity.

Mayor Marty Small on Thursday announced the new date for the destruction of the former Trump Plaza casino, which had been pushed back due to the discovery of an unexpected concrete fixture and a dispute with the building owner, billionaire investor Carl Icahn.

The city originally planned to auction off the right to press the button that would have imploded Trump Plaza on Jan. 29.

But Icahn objected to that plan on safety grounds, saying a member of the public chosen to trigger the detonation could be injured by flying debris, as could any spectators nearby.

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He sent a cease-and-desist order to the auction house that was soliciting the bids, which canceled the auction.

But Icahn said he will replace the $175,000 in bids that had already been made that would have gone to the Boys & Girls Club of Atlantic City.

On Thursday, Small announced a new fundraising campaign related to the implosion. The Hard Rock and Ocean casinos will donate 10 hotel rooms for winners, as will One Atlantic, an events space with a prime view of Trump Plaza, where 10 winners will be able to view the 9 a.m. implosion from behind glass a safe distance away.

Fire Chief Scott Evans said several blocks will be cordoned off before the implosion, and some areas will need to be evacuated or designated as places where residents need to remain indoors during the demolition.

Trump Plaza opened in 1984, and was the site of numerous high-profile boxing matches that Trump, then a real estate developer, attended.

It shut down in 2014 and has fallen into disrepair, necessitating its demolition.

Embassy Suites on the Parkway Undergoing $20M Conversion Into Apartments

Thu, 21 Jan 2021 14:32:01 GMT

Pearl Properties has launched a $20 million project to convert the former Embassy Suites at 1776 Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia into apartments, the Philadelphia Business Journal reports.

The Philadelphia real estate company bought the hotel in late 2018 for $60 million and continued to operate it as a hotel that catered to business travelers, tourists and conventioneers. When the pandemic caused business and leisure travel to all but cease, Pearl decided to close the hotel last July 4.

“The hotel was doing fantastically well before the pandemic,” said Jim Pearlstein, president at Pearl Properties. “We always knew we could convert it to apartments.”

Keep up with all things business at the Philadelphia Business Journal.

Nearly 70K Chickens Perish in Fire at Pennsylvania Farm

Thu, 21 Jan 2021 14:23:39 GMT

What to Know

Nearly 70,000 chickens died as fire swept through several buildings at A&L Farms in Berks County, Pennsylvania, early Thursday.
A fire official said two buildings were burned to the ground and an egg house sustained partial damage.
This was the third fire at the farm in recent years. A fire in 2019 claimed the lives of more than 37,000 chickens and a fire in 2015 destroyed an empty barn.

Nearly 70,000 chickens perished early Thursday as fire swept through several buildings at a Pennsylvania farm.

Firefighters were faced with flames and thick smoke when they arrived at A&L Farms in Berks County.

A fire official told WFMZ-TV two buildings were burned to the ground and an egg house sustained partial damage.

Firefighters needed to bring in tankers to fight the blaze because a small pond on the property was clogged with slushy ice and could not be used to pump water on the flames.

This was the third fire at the farm in recent years. A fire in 2019 claimed the lives of more than 37,000 chickens and a fire in 2015 destroyed an empty barn.

A fire marshal was expected to investigate the cause of the latest blaze.

With Amazon Locked in, Sale Price of Philly Warehouse Tops $70M

Thu, 21 Jan 2021 14:16:17 GMT

An entity affiliated with GLP Capital Partners of Santa Monica, California, paid $71.5 million for 2400 Weccacoe Ave., a warehouse in Philadelphia leased to Amazon, the Philadelphia Business Journal reports.

GLP US Management II LLC bought the 283,000-square-foot building in November, according to Philadelphia property records. When the sale was announced by CBRE Inc., which arranged the transaction, neither the sale price nor the buyer were disclosed and weren’t immediately available through public records.

The transaction involving 2400 Weccacoe comes up on property records under 2414 Weccacoe Ave. and included the sale of 10 Wolf St. and 2410 Weccacoe Ave., which are two smaller, adjacent parcels.

Read more about the deal at PBJ.com.

Keep up with all your business news at the Philadelphia Business Journal.

Pa. Woman Accused of Helping Steal Pelosi Laptop Due in US Court

Thu, 21 Jan 2021 13:41:44 GMT

A federal judge may decide Thursday whether a Pennsylvania woman accused of helping steal a laptop from the office of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi during the attack on the U.S. Capitol should be released on bail.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Martin Carlson is also expected to preside over a preliminary hearing for Harrisburg resident Riley June Williams, 22, who is accused of theft, obstruction and trespassing, as well as violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds.

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The FBI says an unidentified former romantic partner of Williams tipped them off that she appeared in video from the Jan. 6 rioting and the tipster claimed she had hoped to sell the computer to Russian intelligence.

Video from the riot shows a woman matching Williams’ description exhorting invaders to go “upstairs, upstairs, upstairs” during the attack, which briefly disrupted certification of President Joe Biden’s electoral victory.

Williams’ attorney, federal public defender Lori Ulrich, declined comment on the case. Williams surrendered to face charges on Monday and has been locked up in the county jail in Harrisburg.

In adding the theft-related charges on Tuesday, a Virginia-based FBI agent said Williams was recorded on closed-circuit cameras in the Capitol going into and coming out of Pelosi’s office.

The agent’s affidavit said a cellphone video that was likely shot by Williams shows a man’s gloved hand lifting an HP laptop from a table, and the caption read, “they got the laptop.”

Pelosi’s deputy chief of staff, Drew Hammill, has said a laptop used only for presentations was taken from a conference room.

A federal prosecutor earlier this week argued that Williams should not be released on bail pending trial, claiming she might flee or try to obstruct justice.

Tens of Thousands of Child Care Workers Eligible for $600 Grants in Pa.

Thu, 21 Jan 2021 13:31:21 GMT

What to Know

Employees of licensed child care facilities in Pennsylvania will be eligible for a one-time, $600 grant to reward them for providing a valuable service through the pandemic. Gov. Tom Wolf’s administration said Wednesday that the money is from federal programs.
About $20 million is available, and could provide grants to as many as 33,000 child care workers, the administration said.
It will replace this year’s grants from a program designed to boost the pay of highly qualified early childhood education teachers.

Employees of licensed child care facilities in Pennsylvania will be eligible for a one-time, $600 grant to reward them for providing a valuable service through the pandemic, Gov. Tom Wolf’s administration said Wednesday.

Wolf’s administration said the money is coming from a federal government program that subsidizes child care costs and leftover money initially targeted for child care providers in coronavirus relief aid legislation approved last spring by Congress.

About $20 million is available, and could provide grants to as many as 33,000 child care workers, the administration said.

Eligible employees must have been employed by a licensed child care provider on Jan. 1, earn a gross salary of no more than $70,000 and work a minimum of 20 hours per week at the child care facility.

It will replace this year’s grants from a program designed to boost the pay of highly qualified early childhood education teachers. That program previously provided payments of about $1,000 to $3,000 to approximately 9,000 child care employees, the administration said.

The grants will be made available through the child care facilities, the administration said. Applications must be submitted to local early learning resource centers and issued on a first-come, first-served basis.

Pennsylvania last year distributed $220 million in federal coronavirus aid to child care facilities hit hard by the pandemic, and expects to receive a share of an additional $10 billion in emergency pandemic aid approved by Congress last month to support child care.

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NJ's Division of Consumer Affairs Director Will Join Biden-Harris Administration

Wed, 20 Jan 2021 21:57:32 GMT

What to Know

Gov. Phil Murphy announced Wednesday that Paul Rodriguez, the director for the state’s Division of Consumer Affairs, will depart from his role to join the Biden-Harris Administration.
Rodriguez will immediately begin serving as Deputy General Counsel to the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
This agency plays a critical role in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic — something that has been a focus of Rodriguez’ work in the state throughout the past year, according to Murphy’s office.

Gov. Phil Murphy announced Wednesday that Paul Rodriguez, the director for the state’s Division of Consumer Affairs, will depart from his role to join the Biden-Harris Administration.

Rodriguez will immediately begin serving as Deputy General Counsel to the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) — the governmental agency that promotes the health and well-being of all in the country, while fostering advances in the sciences, particularly medicine, public health and social services. He has led the state’s consumer protection agency since June 2018.

This agency plays a critical role in responding to the ongoing pandemic — something that has been a priority in Rodriguez’ work in the state throughout the past year, according to Murphy’s office.

“Since his appointment in 2018, Paul Rodriguez has been a tireless advocate for New Jersey’s most vulnerable and provided the Division of Consumer Affairs with the requisite expertise and vision to navigate the unprecedented challenges posed by the pandemic,” Murphy said in a statement. “Paul’s counsel and professionalism will be a strong addition to the Biden-Harris Administration, and I thank him for his dedication to the betterment of our state.”

Grewal shared similar sentiments saying Rodriguez possessed “remarkable skill, agility, and determination” when it comes to protecting consumers from those who would prey on them.

“Throughout the COVID-19 public health emergency, Paul has demonstrated true leadership during a time of crisis, bringing out the best in his staff, expanding the capabilities and scope of the Division, and fighting to promote equity and protect the most vulnerable,” state’s attorney general, Gurbir Grewal, said in a statement. “We will miss him and his commitment to his home state, but I know he will be a great asset to the Biden-Harris Administration and to all Americans.”

Prior to 2018, Rodríguez served as acting counsel to the Mayor of New York City, as a projects specialist for U.S. Sen. Frank R. Lautenberg, and as an associate at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP in New York City.

Grewal has named Kaitlin Caruso as Acting Director of the Division effective immediately.

According to Murphy’s office, Caruso joined the Division in 2018 as Deputy Director for Policy and Strategic Planning. While serving in that capacity, Caruso also served for a period as Acting Deputy Director for the Office of Consumer Protection. Immediately prior to joining the Division, Caruso chaired the Strategic Advocacy Committee at the New York City Law Department.

Philly Kids Will Get a Taste of Esports in Tournaments, After-School Programs

Wed, 20 Jan 2021 21:42:59 GMT

Philly kids will get an inside look into a big and growing industry – and a chance to show off their skills – after the city’s Parks and Recreation department teamed up with a local esports company.

Nerd Street Gamers is adding esports programming to the Parks department’s summer camps and eventually after-school sessions, the company said in a news statement Wednesday.

Before those programs kick off, Nerd Street will open a six-week NBA 2K21 tournament for 256 Philly kids ages 13 and up. Kids who join will get three free months of a Nerd Street + Digital subscription, where they can sign up for other esports tournaments or find others to game with.

For the first planned game tournament, kids will be in teams of 2. The matches will take place from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Xbox One on Tuesdays and PlayStation 4 on Thursdays. Registration for the tournament is on Nerd Street’s site and closes Feb. 15.

Most contestants will be competing at home, but there are options for kids without consoles or without internet access to play at the city’s access centers, a Parks and Recreation spokesperson said.

Future tournaments are planned for Rocket League, Madden 21 and FIFA 21.

Contestants can sign up to be affiliated with their neighborhood rec center or independently. The department is inviting some young people who already participate in programs, but other young residents are also welcome.

“As esports continues to become more popular amongst different demographics, it is more important than ever to provide access to gamers of all skill levels who might not be able to afford the quality equipment necessary to succeed in the industry,” John Fazio, Nerd Street Gamers’ CEO, said in a statement.

Parks and Recreation Commissioner Kathryn Ott Lovell said in a statement the arrangement will “level the playing field for kids and families who deserve access to positive recreational opportunities, new technology, and booming industries.”

What’s next

Later this year, there will be a summer camp at a Localhost, a Nerd Street esports training center. Localhosts have consoles and high-tier gaming PCs available for guests, streaming equipment, and can host events. The Localhost at 9th and Poplar streets in Philly is currently closed in the coronavirus pandemic.

Teens working as esports coaches will coach 6-12 year olds about the tech behind gaming and could prime them for a future in esports or in STEM. After that, the company could move into the after-school programming, where kids 6-12 can learn from professional coaches and meet other gamers.

Nerd Street Gamers has facilities in Philly and four other cities. And it’s building a 40,000 square foot headquarters on North Broad Street that will hold the company’s headquarters, broadcast and content creation studios, 20,000 square feet of esports training space, and practice centers for local and school-affiliated teams.

Beyond Nerd Street, there’s a good deal of movement toward Philly becoming an esports hub in the region. The Philadelphia Fusion, which competes in the 20-team Overwatch League, is building a 3,500-seat arena near Xfinity Live! that can host esports matches and live entertainment when completed. Overwatch is a competitive shooter released in 2016 by Blizzard Entertainment, where teams composed of players’ choice of 32 characters vie for dominance in different game modes.

Other popular games played in esports include DOTA 2, Counter Strike: Global Offensive, League of Legends and Fortnite.

Nerd Street Gamers has received funds from Comcast, NBC10’s parent company.

Girl, 9, Dies After Accidentally Shooting Self in Head

Wed, 20 Jan 2021 17:57:54 GMT

A 9-year-old girl died after accidentally shooting herself in the head shortly before noon Wednesday in North Philadelphia, authorities said.

The girl suffered a gunshot to the right temple and was rushed to St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children around 11 a.m., where she was pronounced dead around 1:50 p.m., police said. She and another child had ben left alone in the home on the 2300 block of N. Bouvier Street, Philadelphia Police Department Cpl. Jasmine Reilly said.

When police responded, it was the second child who met them at the door and told officers the girl had been shot, Reilly said.

District Attorney Larry Krasner said several weapons were found inside and called the shooting “unacceptable.”

“It is part of a bigger situation. We’ve got too many guns. They are not secured safely in many situations, even when they’re out there, and we’ve had enough,” Krasner said.

No arrests were immediately reported.

‘Fentanyl Is in Everything': Philadelphia Says Overdose Deaths Skyrocketing

Wed, 20 Jan 2021 17:31:44 GMT

Philadelphia health officials are warning that, as overdose deaths again increased in 2020, that one of the deadliest components of the overdose epidemic, fentanyl, is being infused with illicit drugs more than ever.

“In 2020, testing of persons who died of drug overdose increasingly found fentanyl mixed with other drug types, including stimulants, hallucinogens, and synthetic cannabinoids,” the city said in a statement released Wednesday.

Overdose deaths among methamphetamine users involving fentanyl increased 350% during the first nine months of 2020, the city said. As of Sept. 30, the latest available data, 950 people died from accidental overdoses, and 8 out of every 10 of those deaths involved fentanyl, officials said.

“Fentanyl is also being pressed into pills that resemble prescription opioids or benzodiazepines,” health officials said. “While fentanyl has been in Philadelphia’s heroin supply for several years, its presence in non-opioid drugs and counterfeit pills is especially concerning as individuals who prefer these drugs may have had little exposure to such a potent opioid and may be at an even greater risk for overdose.”

2020 was the deadliest year ever for overdoses in Philadelphia. The surge is being fueled by deaths among methamphetamine and PCP users.

The city’s top substance abuse official said fentanyl is now prevalent in illegal drug sales in many neighborhoods.

“Until recently…most drug sales involving fentanyl were occurring in Kensington and South Philadelphia. We focused most of our outreach efforts on a subpopulation of drug users in two specific geographic regions,” Dr. Kendra Viner, director of the Health Department’s Substance Use Prevention and Harm Reduction division said. “Now fentanyl is in everything and everyone who obtains drugs from an illicit source is potentially at risk.”

The Philadelphia Health Department will begin a public awareness campaign in early 2021 that utilizes mass media outlets to get the word out about the high risk of fentanyl in illegal drugs, and the city will continue to distribute naloxone.

The Key Moments in Joe Biden's Rise to the Presidency

Wed, 20 Jan 2021 15:54:19 GMT

The trajectory of any person’s life is made up of key moments that lead down a path. These are some of the key moments in Joe Biden’s life that led him to the White House.

First Election Win

In 1970 Biden won his first election to the New Castle City Council.

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Joins the Senate

In 1972 Biden defeated incumbent J. Caleb Boggs in a race for the U.S. Senate.

Family Tragedy

During his first term in office Biden’s wife Neilia and daughter Amy were killed in a car crash leaving him alone to care for his two sons Hunter and Beau.

Marriage to Jill Biden

In 1977 Biden finds new love and marries Jill Biden

First White House Bid

In 1987 Biden announces his plans to run for the White House in 1988, but later withdraws from the race.

A Man of Service

Biden goes on to serve in the Senate for 36 years. He attempts another White House run in 2008 that comes up short, but is tapped by Barack Obama as a running mate.

The Death of Beau Biden

In 2015 Biden loses his son Beau to brain cancer.

A Final White House Bid

In 2019 Biden announces he’ll run for president for a third time. Later that year he announces Kamala Harris as his running mate and after a hotly contested election the pair take the White House.

2 Women, Man Critically Hurt as Suspect Fires Into Their Car With a Shotgun

Wed, 20 Jan 2021 13:21:05 GMT

Two women and a man were in critical condition after getting shot multiple times throughout the body, including with a shotgun, as they sat in a car in West Philadelphia Tuesday night.

The victims sustained gunshot wounds to their chest, torso, arms and legs after another car pulled up beside them and someone opened fire around 11:30 p.m. near the intersection of 38th and Wallace streets in the Mantua neighborhood, Philadelphia Police Department Chief Inspector Scott Small said.

The victims include a 32-year-old woman who was shot in the torso and leg; a woman in her 30s who was shot in the chest, torso, arms and legs; and a 30-year-old man shot in the chest and torso, Small said.

All three were rushed to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, with police transporting two people and paramedics transporting the third, Small said.

Police counted at least 10 bullet holes on the driver’s side of the sedan they were in when the gunfire broke out. Detectives found seven spent shell casings, including five rifle rounds and two from a semiautomatic handgun, the chief inspector said.

Police did not immediately have a suspect description or a motive, but witnesses told officers the shots were fired from a silver or light-colored vehicle, possibly a Jeep, last seen driving east down the 3700 block of Wallace Street.

Detectives were working to get their hands on surveillance video from nearby businesses and homes.