Earlier this year, experts warned that Joro spiders could start showing up in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware this summer, spreading up from the southeastern U.S., where they have been proliferating.

critter corner Jun 5

Giant, parachuting Joro spiders could arrive in Pa., NJ and Del. this summer

Nature Nov 9, 2023

These giant, parachuting spiders are spreading rapidly in the US, study shows

Joro spiders spotted in suburbs of Philadelphia

Now, there is a report of six of the creepy invasive crawlers in southeastern Pennsylvania on JoroWatch.com. (Yes, that’s a real website powered by the University of Georgia and other academic and environmental entities.)

Someone spotted the group of a half dozen or so colorful arachnids in the yard of a home in Warminster, Bucks County, on Sept. 5, 2024, JoroWatch said.

What is a Joro spider?

The yellow and black arachnids are native to East Asia, but the invasive arachnids have been around in Georgia for about a decade. A fall of 2023 peer-reviewed study conducted by David Coyle, a scientist and assistant professor in the Department of Forestry and Environmental Conservation at Clemson University, found that the species is “here to stay” in the U.S. as it spreads rapidly around the country.

As of October 2022, the species’ range spanned at least 120,000 square kilometers across Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina and Tennessee, according to the study. There were also reports of Joro spiders in Alabama, Maryland, Oklahoma and West Virginia. And the spiders are expected to make more East Coast states their home in the future.

“(The data from the study shows) that this spider is going to be able to inhabit most of the eastern U.S.,” Coyle said. “It shows that their comfort area in their native range matches up very well with much of North America.

“Barring some unforeseen circumstance, we expect the range of these things to continue expanding, likely to the north, and we’ve already seen that with some populations in Maryland.”

Nature Mar 17, 2022

This College Student Has Held Hundreds of Joro Spiders. Here's What He Wants You To Know

Nature Nov 9, 2023

These giant, parachuting spiders are spreading rapidly in the US, study shows

Adding to nightmares, the spiders are light enough to travel through the air by a process called “ballooning,” making it even easier for them to spread. The “spiders move through the air by releasing gossamer threads to catch the wind and go airborne, at the mercy of air currents and electric fields, although human-mediated transport cannot be discounted,” Coyle wrote.

What does a Joro spider look like, how big is it?

Female Joro spiders, a.k.a. Trichonephila clavata, can have a body about 1 inch long and legs that span up to 4 inches, according to a 2022 Penn State Extension article. The females are brightly colored, whereas the males are brown.

But there is good news: Even though its palm of your hand size tends to freak people out, the species is relatively harmless to humans and pets.

Are Joro spiders dangerous?

While Joro spiders may appear frightening to some, they are relatively harmless to people and pets, a University of Georgia study from last year said. In fact, that study found that Joro spiders “may be the shyest spider ever documented.”

The spiders will only bite if they’re cornered and even then their fangs likely wouldn’t be large enough to pierce human skin, according to the University of Georgia study.

“Our paper shows that these spiders are really more afraid of you than the reverse,” said Andy Davis, lead author of the study and a research scientist in UGA’s Odum School of Ecology.

Another positive about the spiders: they don’t want to go inside homes, according to Coyle. They will instead spin webs on the outside of houses or other structures. If a Joro spider needs to be moved, Coyle suggests using a broom or stick to place it elsewhere.

Might Joro spiders spread further in the Delaware Valley soon?

The simple answer is maybe, but not to worry too much.

“In their native range, Jorō spiders can be found in relatively cold areas – the average January temperature of northern Honshu, Japan is 25–32 °F, similar to most of Pennsylvania,” the Penn State article said. “So it is likely that they will be able to spread throughout eastern North America at least as far north as Pennsylvania and possibly further in warmer, coastal areas.”

“Between 2014–22, Jorō spiders spread outward in all directions from the location they were initially found by 50–80 miles, or about 10 miles per year. At that rate, they may reach southeastern Pennsylvania in 35 years and northwestern Pennsylvania in 60 years. However, spiderlings are capable of moving tens to hundreds of miles via ballooning,” Penn State said. “Additionally, as they increase in numbers, the risk of human-mediated transport to new areas also increases. This means that the immediate risk of Jorō spiders appearing in Pennsylvania is relatively small but will increase year over year as they spread naturally, via high wind events, and through accidental human transport.”

University of Delaware’s Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology entomologist Dr. Doug Tallamy has been downplaying a potential Joro invasion.

“It’s possible but very low on the list of things we should be worried about,” he wrote earlier this year. Reached on Wednesday by NBC10, he wrote: “I think it’s a non issue that should not be blown out of proportion.”

How did Joro spiders get to the U.S. to begin with?

Joro spiders are native to East Asia. It’s believed the species likely made its way to the U.S. via a shipping container.

Are Joro spiders orb-weavers?

Joro spiders are in the family of orb-weavers, which spin large, orb-shaped webs. They look similar to garden spiders and banana spiders.

Do Joro spiders fly?

The pattern in which Joro spiders have spread “suggests it is primarily driven by natural dispersal mechanisms, such as ballooning,” according to Coyle’s study. Ballooning is when spiders move through the air like a parachute by releasing “sail-like trails of silk that lift them up and off into the wind,” per National Geographic. (Want to get a bit freaked out? Read the full Nat Geo story.)

The study said human-mediated transport can’t be discounted, either, in regard to the spread of the species.

What do Joro spiders eat?

Joro spiders aren’t exactly picky eaters. Coyle said they “don’t seem to care what gets in their web.” The spiders eat mosquitoes, yellowjackets, stink bugs and even spotted lanternflies — another invasive pest.

“They’re just as likely to eat brown marmorated stink bugs as they are to eat a Monarch butterfly,” he added. “To say they’re more beneficial than another spider is just simply wrong — they’re a spider — and if something gets caught in their web, it’s going to get eaten. And they don’t care if it’s a rare native pollinator and there are only a few of them left in the world or if it’s a brown marmorated stink bug.”

An interesting find from Coyle’s study is that Joro spiders are displacing native species, along with having other negative impacts. But it’s unclear exactly why other species are being negatively impacted by Joro spiders.

“These are not just benign spiders coming to catch and kill bad things; these are pushing out native species and catching and killing whatever happens to get in their webs,” Coyle said. “Are they bad or good? It’s very nuanced depending on your perspective.”

The Brandywine Valley SPCA (BVSPCA) is expanding to South Jersey to become the first Animal Welfare Organization in the country to operate in three states: New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware.

The shelter has partnered with the Animal Adoption Center (ACC) in Lindenwold “to expand life-saving initiatives in a unified effort and create positive change for animals in need across the tri-state area.”

Currently, BVSPCA operates and cares for more than 17,000 lost, stray, owner-surrendered, abused, and neglected animals in Chester, Delaware, Montgomery counties in Pennsylvania, and the entire state of Delaware, all while maintaining a 93% live release rate.

The organization’s no-kill initiatives will continue with the new affiliation with AAC.

“We’re excited for the future, as we enter into this partnership to join the efforts of our dedicated staff and volunteers with the expertise of the Brandywine Valley SPCA to elevate our level of care for the animals we serve,” Kathryn Lambert, AAC Board Chair said.

“We see a real opportunity for growth and a need in this area of South Jersey, and we are committed to taking the steps necessary to bring our proven track record as a leader in animal welfare, and progressive programs and services into this community where there is still work to be done,” BVSPCA and AAC Chief Executive Officer Adam Lamb added.

Clear the Shelters Sep 7

The positive impact NBC10's Clear the Shelters campaign has on pets, families

Clear the Shelters Jun 21

Want to hang out with a dog for a day? Brandywine Valley SPCA launches new program where you can

Earlier this year, BVSPCA extended its life-saving initiative into Central Pennsylvania with a new partnership with the Humane Society of Harrisburg Area (HSHA), which serves Dauphin, Cumberland, and Perry counties.

Since the affiliation, officials from BVSPCA said HSHA has met the no-kill benchmark of more than 90% save rate for eight months in a row. BVSPCA’s work in Delaware also helped create the first no-skill state in the country.

Find the nearest location to support all the adoptable animals at theaacnj.org and bvspca.org.

The embattled president of Rutgers University announced Tuesday that he will step down next year after a tenure that has included contending with the COVID-19 pandemic, overseeing the university’s first-ever strike and surviving a no-confidence vote by the faculty senate.

Jonathan Holloway, 57, who became the first Black president of New Jersey’s flagship institution of higher learning when he took office in the summer of 2020, said he will leave office when the current academic year ends June 30. He then plans to take a yearlong sabbatical before returning to the university as a fulltime professor.

“This decision is my own and reflects my own rumination about how best to be of service,” Holloway wrote in a statement posted on the university’s website on Sept. 17, 2024. Holloway said that he notified the chairwoman of the Rutgers Board of Governors about his plans last month.

Rutgers President Jonathan Holloway announced today that he will conclude his service as the university’s 21st president after completing his fifth year on June 30, 2025.

Read Holloway's letter to the Rutgers community: https://t.co/3VsJfTVkGl pic.twitter.com/SmwBSZ8zEy

— Rutgers University (@RutgersU) September 17, 2024

“Serving as the university president has been an enormous privilege and responsibility,” he wrote. “Throughout my tenure, I have been appreciative of the former and respectful of the latter. I welcomed the opportunity to join the Rutgers community in July 2020 because I found inspiration in the possibilities that this institution represented: a belief that cutting-edge research could thrive in a university that was committed to making education as accessible as possible to a profoundly diverse student population. The reality behind this inspiration has been reaffirmed time and again during my tenure.”

Holloway currently receives a base salary of $888,540 and bonus pay of $214,106 for a total of more than $1.1 million a year. He will receive his full salary during his sabbatical, school officials said.

Holloway began his tenure in the throes of the COVID-19 pandemic, as students were returning to campus from lockdown, and also dealt with the first faculty strike in school history last year, when thousands of professors, part-time lecturers and graduate student workers hit the picket lines. He also faced a largely symbolic no-confidence vote by the faculty senate in September 2023 and received national scrutiny earlier this year from Republican lawmakers for his decision to end a pro-Palestinian encampment through negotiations rather than police force.

Founded in 1766, Rutgers has nearly 68,000 students in its system.

School officials said Tuesday that they plan to conduct a national search to find the university’s next president. They noted that during Holloway’s presidency, Rutgers broke records in undergraduate admissions, climbed significantly in national rankings and exceeded its fundraising goals.

If you’re not into being scared but still want to enjoy some fun fall festivities, continue reading for our guide to what’s on tap this autumn.

Philadelphia

Free Philadelphia Fall Arts Fest

Ensemble Arts is launching its 2024/2025 season with live performances and various showcases. A small ensemble from the Philadelphia Orchestra will perform and there will be a chance to design your own jewelry with the Carribean Community of Philadelphia.

Events begin at the Commonwealth Plaza on Sept. 21 at 11 a.m. with more happening at the Perelman Theater starting at 11:50 a.m.

Click here for more information.

Mid-Autumn Festival

Thousands of residents and families will head over to Philadelphia’s Chinatown neighborhood for the 29th annual Mid-Autumn Festival as the community gives thanks under the Harvest Moon on Sept. 21.

The event runs from Noon to 8 p.m. on 10th Street from Arch to Winter streets.

There will be lion dances, Chinese opera performances, carnival games and much more.

Click here for more information.

Midtown Village Fall Festival

Midtown Village will be taken over by the community’s 17th annual Fall Festival from Noon to 8 p.m. on Sept. 28 with food, crafts and live music.

Organizers say the footprint for the one-day festival is:

• 13th Street – from Locust to Market streets
  · Sansom Street – from Broad to 12th streets
  · Drury Street – from Juniper to 13th streets
  · Chancellor Street – from Juniper to 13th streets
  · Chestnut Street – from Broad to 12th streets

Click here for more information.

Fringe Arts Festival

The Philadelphia Fringe Festival is running until Sept. 29 and features theater, film screenings and immersive experiences.

Click here for more information.

Fishtown Festivale

For the third year in a row, Frankford Avenue in Fishtown will be closed on Sept. 28 from Noon to 8 p.m. for the Fishtown Festivale.

There will be a dunk tank and carnival games as well as over 50 local art and retail vendors.

Click here for more information.

Pennsylvania

Fall Foliage Festival in Jim Thorpe

Every weekend from Oct. 5 through Oct. 20, visitors to Jim Thorpe can check out the Fall Foliage Festival with train rides, crafts, food and live music.

Click here for more information.

Downington Fall Fest

Great food, crafts and the Victory Beer Garden all come together to form the Downingtown Fall Fest on Sunday, Oct. 6 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The event shuts down Green Street and East Pennsylvania Avenue in Chester County allowing vendors and visitors to enjoy the event.

Click here for more information.

Harvest Fest in Bethlehem

On Saturday, Oct. 12 from Noon to 5 p.m. adults 21 and up can explore shops, restaurants and the festival grounds on Bethlehem’s Historic Main Street.

Participants can try the food and “brews that make Bethlehem special.”

Click here for more information.

Octoberfest at Peddler’s Village

For the eighth year in a row Peddler’s Village is hosting their Octoberfest bringing visitors a weekend stuffed with food trucks, entertainment and family-friendly activities.

The event happens in Bucks County on Saturday, Oct. 12 and Sunday, Oct. 13 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

While you’re there don’t forget to check out their free Scarecrows in the Village tradition.

Click here for more information.

Fall Fest in Upper Gwynedd Township

Fun, rides and games including a petting zoo and hayrides will take over at Parkside Place on Saturday, Oct. 19. The event runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and is free.

During the fest, former Philadelphia Eagle Hollis Thomas will make an appearance!

Click here for more information.

New Jersey

Oktoberfest at Morey’s Piers in Wildwood

The Mariner’s Pier will be open every Friday through Sunday from now until mid-October for its annual Oktoberfest. Live music as well as German-styled foods and beer will be on tap.

• Fridays from 6 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
• Saturdays from Noon to 10:30 p.m.
• Sundays from Noon to 5 p.m.

Click here for more information.

Mullica Hill Fall Festival and Living History Weekend

For the 52nd year, Mullica Hill is hosting its annual Fall Festival with lots of family fun. Everything from live music to glass-blowing demonstrations and food trucks on Oct. 12 and 13.

The living history part of the festivities will feature authentic Civil War camps and battle reenactments.

Click here for more information.

Tri-State Sunflower Festival and Pumpkin Fest at Dalton Farms

You can pick you own sunflowers and pumpkins as well as enjoy live music, a corn maze and tractor rides at Dalton Farms in Swedesboro this fall season.

• Tri-State Sunflower Festival runs until Oct. 27
• Pumpkin Fest runs Sept. 21 through Oct. 27

Click here for more information.

Fintastic Pumpkin Glow at Adventure Aquarium

A new sort of fin-friendly animal is taking over at the Adventure Aquarium in Camden this spooky season until Nov. 3. The aquarium said that super-sized aquatic animals made of pumpkins are all over for some fun.

There will be underwater pumpkin carvers and other illuminating surprises for visitors of all ages.

Click here for more information.

Kids Boo Fest at Six Flags

Family-friendly rides, a trick or treat trail and various boo fest-themed activities make up the Kids Boo Fest at Six Flags Great Adventure from now until Nov. 3

Click here for more information.

For the big kids, Six Flags is also hosting their annual Fright Fest.

Delaware

Fall Fest in Wyoming

The pumpkins and apples are waiting to be picked at Fifers Orchards in Wyoming, Del. The farm will have family-friendly attractions along with homemade apple cider and kettle corn.

Fall Fest runs from Sept. 21 through Nov. 9 from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Click here for more information.

Bridgeville Apple-Scrapple Festival

Hundreds of vendors and local crafters will descend upon Delaware for the Apple-Scrapple Festival in October. There will also be carnival rides, a food court and a Little Miss Pageant.

• Friday, Oct. 11 starting at 4 p.m.
• Saturday, Oct. 12 starting at 9 a.m.

Click here for more information.

Punkin Ale Fest

Food trucks and local vendors will be at the annual Punkin Ale Fest hosted by Dogfish Head at the Milton Brewery on Saturday, Oct. 12.

Click here for more information.

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According to a Sept. 17, 2024, statement from the office of Acting Mercer County Prosecutor Theresa Hilton, Don-Diego Parkman, 19, of Hamilton, has been arrested and charged with aggravated sexual assault, manufacturing and possession of child sexual abuse material, endangering the welfare of a child and other charges after an investigation that began earlier this month.

In the statement, Hilton’s office claims they were contacted by law enforcement officials in Missouri after a preteen girl there was, allegedly, found to have been chatting and exchanging child sexual abuse materials at the direction of Parkman.

“An investigation was initiated and detectives discovered that, in addition to exchanging sexually-explicit messages and photos with the preteen girl, Parkman was directing her to take photos and videos of herself engaging in sexual conduct to send to him,” claims a statement from Hilton’s office.

A search was conducted at Parkman’s Mercer County home last week, where, officials said, Parkman was taken into custody and “detectives seized multiple items of evidentiary value.”

Officials said that during the course of this investigation law enforcement officials learned that Parkman has been employed as a costumed character and mascot by several companies including Six Flags Great Adventure, Somerset Baseball Partners, Devils Arena Entertainment, and most recently, Sesame Place in Bucks County.

Hilton’s office has filed a motion in order to detain Parkman as he awaits trial.

NBC10 is attempting to get comments from the venues where Parkman worked.

A representative with Six Flags Great Adventure told NBC10 that they would not comment on an ongoing investigation, but they said Parkman had been hired by the company.

“We can confirm this person was hired after passing a criminal background check but never actually worked,” the representative said in a statement to NBC10.

Meanwhile, a spokesperson with the Devils Center told NBC10 that Parkman will not be returning as an employee.

“Don Diego Parkman worked for the team for approximately six months last season in a part time role, and hasn’t worked here since April. He will not be returning this season,” Pete Albietz, senior Vice President of Communications and Team Ops with the Devils & Prudential Center, said in a statement.

Also, on Wednesday, representative from Sesame Place told NBC10 that Parkman’s arrest was not related to his work there and that he had been fired.

“Parkman is no longer employed by Sesame Place. His arrest is not related to Sesame Place, and any questions should be directed to the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office,” a park representative said in a statement.

Hilton is asking anyone with information about suspected improper contact by unknown persons communicating with children via the internet or possible exploitation or sexual abuse of children to contact the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Unit at (609) 989-6568 or the New Jersey Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force tip line at (888) 648-6007.

Shaun Coleman, 23, Salahudin Reddy, 37, Hanif Tucker, 31, and Rashan Clark-Reddy, 26, all of Philadelphia, are charged with numerous offenses in connection to at least nine burglaries, the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General announced on Monday, Sept. 16.

During the two-month “Operation Beef Bandit,” New Jersey State Police investigated break-ins at parked and often occupied trailers at NJ Turnpike service areas in which high-valued goods — including meat, alcohol and seafood — were stolen.

The suspects were also connected to similar thefts over the past three years across the tri-state area in which merchandise worth millions of dollars was stolen, according to officials.

On Sept. 13, 2024, around 1:25 a.m., New Jersey State Police spotted two vehicles enter the Molly Pitcher Service Area on the NJ Turnpike. They then spotted four suspects stealing boxes of meat from a parked and occupied truck, investigators said.

The responding troopers arrested one of the men, later identified as Hanif Tucker, officials said. A second suspect, Shaun Coleman, tried to run away on foot but was captured shortly after, according to investigators.

The other two suspects, Salahudin Reddy and Rashan Clark-Reddy, tried to flee in a stolen vehicle and intentionally crashed into an occupied and unmarked police car, officials said. They were then captured after damaging two marked state police vehicles during a brief chase, officials said.

Three state troopers suffered minor injuries during the arrests. Only one of the troopers was hospitalized and later released.

Coleman is charged with receiving stolen property, possession of burglary tools, criminal mischief and conspiracy to commit cargo theft.

Reddy is charged with receiving stolen property, possession of a stolen vehicle, conspiracy to commit cargo theft, possession of burglary tools, burglary, conspiracy to commit burglary, resisting by flight and criminal mischief.

Clark-Reddy is charged with eluding, receiving stolen property, possession of a stolen vehicle, criminal mischief, possession of burglary tools, burglary, conspiracy to commit burglary, conspiracy to commit cargo theft and aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer.

Tucker is charged with receiving stolen property, burglary, conspiracy to commit burglary, criminal mischief, conspiracy to commit cargo theft and possession of burglary tools.

All four men are lodged in Middlesex County Jail pending a bail detention hearing. While they are all in custody, police continue to investigate.

Anyone with information on the cargo thefts or similar thefts should call the New Jersey State Police Troop “D” Moorestown Station Detective Bureau at (732) 522-4295, extension 3226. Tips can be anonymous.

Elaine DePrince of Cherry Hill, New Jersey, died on Sept. 11, 2024, during a routine procedure in preparation for a surgery, according to family spokesperson Jessica Volinski. Her death occurred the day after her adopted daughter Michaela died at the age of 29.

“Michaela died before Elaine and Elaine did not know of Michaela’s passing at the time of her procedure. As unbelievable as it may seem, the two deaths were completely unrelated,” Volinski wrote. “The only way we can make sense of the senseless is that Elaine, who had already lost three children many years ago, was by the grace of God spared the pain of experiencing the loss of a fourth child.”

While Michaela’s death was publicly announced on Friday, Sept. 13, 2024, Volinski stated that she passed away on Sept. 10, 2024. The family has not released a cause of death.

“What the family is going through right now is truly unimaginably painful,” Volinski wrote. “Grieving two family members who died within a 24 hour period is tragic and devastating. We continue to ask for privacy and appreciate you directing anyone sharing incorrect information and speculation to this post.”

The life of Michaela DePrince

Michaela DePrince was born Mabinty Bangura in Sierra Leone, Africa. After her father was killed by rebels and her mother died from disease and starvation, she was dropped off at an orphanage in Sierra Leone at the age of 3. While at the orphanage, DePrince spotted an image from a magazine that showed an American ballet dancer.

“All I remember is she looked really, really happy,” Michaela told The Associated Press back in 2012. DePrince said she wished “to become this exact person.”

Michaela also dealt with malnourishment, mistreatment and the skin disorder vitiligo.

“I lost both my parents, so I was there (the orphanage) for about a year and I wasn’t treated very well because I had vitiligo,” she told The Associated Press back in 2012. “We were ranked as numbers and number 27 was the least favorite and that was my number, so I got the least amount of food, the least amount of clothes and what not.”

Michaela told The Associated Press that she then walked shoeless for miles to reach a refugee camp after receiving word that her orphanage would be bombed. She, along with two other girls, were then adopted by Elaine DePrince and her husband, both of Cherry Hill, New Jersey, at the age of 4.

“They came to me sick and traumatized by the war,” Elaine DePrince told The Associated Press in 2012. “Michaela arrived with the worst case of tonsillitis, fever, mononucleosis and joints that were swollen.”

Michaela said her time in the orphanage impacted her for years. However, remembering how inspired she was by the ballerina image from the magazine, she soon found comfort and inspiration through dance.

Michaela began training in various competitions before attending the Rock School for Dance Education, a prestigious ballet school located in Philadelphia.

“I’m a little bit in disbelief. I have not really processed the enormity of the loss, not even to myself, but the entire field of classical ballet and certainly to the Rock School,” Director of the Rock School Peter Stark told NBC10. “Michaela’s story is really a remarkable tale of human perseverance and you almost have to wonder if there wasn’t divine intervention.”

During her dance journey, Michaela said she experienced racial discrimination.

“When I was 8 years old this teacher said, ‘You know, we don’t put a lot of effort into the Black ballerinas because they all end up getting fat and having big boobs,’” Michaela told NBC News back in 2017.

Michaela was undeterred however and continued to rise in the world of ballet. At the age of 17 she was featured in a documentary film and performed on the TV series “Dancing With the Stars.” She graduated from high school and the American Ballet Theatre’s Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School and worked at Dance Theatre of Harlem where she was the youngest principal dancer in the theatre’s history.

She also performed in her first professional full ballet back in July 2012 in South Africa.

In 2013, she joined the junior company of the Dutch National Ballet in Amsterdam and joined the Dutch National Ballet as a student in 2014. She continued to rise through the ranks and break new ground while inspiring a generation of Black and brown girls.

Her celebrity continued to grow when she performed in Beyoncé’s 2016 musical film “Lemonade.” Pop superstar Madonna was also in talks to direct a biopic based on DePrince’s memoir back in 2018.

Michaela later joined the Boston Ballet in 2021 as a second soloist and danced the leading role in the 2021 ballet film “Coppelia.”

In addition to dance, DePrince was also a humanitarian who advocated for children impacted by conflict and violence. She also served as the ambassador for War Child Holland, an independent non-governmental organization that works to ensure children have access to protection, education and psychosocial support.

“The survival of classical ballet is dependent on diversification. It’s dancers like Michaela DePrince that are literally paving the path forward for the continuation of this artform,” Stark said. “We cannot survive without trailblazers and courageous women like Michaela and her loss is a devastating blow.”

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According to fire officials, firefighters pulled a 73-year-old man from a home along the 400 block of Walnut Street in Haddonfield, NJ, at about 7 a.m. on Monday.

Here, officials said, a kitchen fire filled the home with smoke and fire crews pulled an individual from the home. First responders attempted life-saving efforts, however, officials said the man was pronounced at the scene.

On Monday afternoon, officials identified the victim as 73-year-old William J. Garthaus Jr.

A cat that lived at the home, officials said, was found deceased, as well.

Also, according to officials, two Haddonfield Police officers and Haddonfield EMS personnel were treated at the scene for minor smoke inhalation.

Officials said an investigation into this fire is ongoing.

This is a breaking news story. It will be updated as new information becomes available.

In his resignation letter, Muhammed wrote:

“It is with a heavy heart that I write to say that I will be stepping down from the Camden School District as the President of the School Advisory Board. I will no longer serve in my capacity on the board or as its leader. I think it bears repeating that after my long journey through the legal system I was found innocent of the egregious allegations made against me and exonerated by a jury of my peers.

Nevertheless, even with that exoneration in a court of law, I believe I have become a distraction through the blatant misinformation that has been spread by a small group of critics. I believe that my presence is shifting the spotlight away from the incredibly important objectives of educating our students and improving the outcomes for the children in the school district. Moving forward, I will continue to serve our city as a resident and continue to do the hard work of enhancing our neighborhoods as a member of the clergy and as a civic leader. In the future, my title may change, but that will never put out the fire I have for lifting up members of my community and working to make the city a better place to live.”

This comes weeks after a chaotic school board meeting, where dozens of parents asked Muhammad to resign or be fired.

In response to the upset community, Camden School District Superintendent Katrina McCombs called on Muhammed to step down.

“In order to allow our community to heal and refocus on what truly matters—the education and future of our students— it would be in the best interest of the state-operated district of Camden City for Advisory Board President Wasim Muhammad to voluntarily relinquish his seat,” McCombs had written in a letter.

Muhammad, formerly known as Donnie Walker, was accused of sexually assaulting a middle school student when he was a teacher 30 years ago.

In June, a jury in a civil case found that he “recklessly and intentionally committed extreme and outrageous conduct” though they did not believe he sexually abused the student. The Camden City School District reached a $2 million settlement with the former student.

The former student, Salema Robinson, had spoken with NBC10 a few weeks ago and shared that she was confused about why Muhammad hadn’t resigned yet.

Robinson moved away to the South decades ago but watched the live stream of the school board meeting centered around her case involving Muhammad.

“I have a physical, visceral reaction when I think about it. It hurts my stomach,” Robinson said. “I struggle with trusting myself, trusting my judgement. I struggle with sleeping a lot,” she also shared.

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.

If you’re not into being scared but still want to enjoy some fun fall festivities, continue reading for our guide to what’s on tap this autumn.

Philadelphia

Free Philadelphia Fall Arts Fest

Ensemble Arts is launching its 2024/2025 season with live performances and various showcases. A small ensemble from the Philadelphia Orchestra will perform and there will be a chance to design your own jewelry with the Carribean Community of Philadelphia.

Events begin at the Commonwealth Plaza on Sept. 21 at 11 a.m. with more happening at the Perelman Theater starting at 11:50 a.m.

Click here for more information.

Mid-Autumn Festival

Thousands of residents and families will head over to Philadelphia’s Chinatown neighborhood for the 29th annual Mid-Autumn Festival as the community gives thanks under the Harvest Moon on Sept. 21.

The event runs from Noon to 8 p.m. on 10th Street from Arch to Winter streets.

There will be lion dances, Chinese opera performances, carnival games and much more.

Click here for more information.

Midtown Village Fall Festival

Midtown Village will be taken over by the community’s 17th annual Fall Festival from Noon to 8 p.m. on Sept. 28 with food, crafts and live music.

Organizers say the footprint for the one-day festival is:

• 13th Street – from Locust to Market streets
  · Sansom Street – from Broad to 12th streets
  · Drury Street – from Juniper to 13th streets
  · Chancellor Street – from Juniper to 13th streets
  · Chestnut Street – from Broad to 12th streets

Click here for more information.

Fringe Arts Festival

The Philadelphia Fringe Festival is running until Sept. 29 and features theater, film screenings and immersive experiences.

Click here for more information.

Fishtown Festivale

For the third year in a row, Frankford Avenue in Fishtown will be closed on Sept. 28 from Noon to 8 p.m. for the Fishtown Festivale.

There will be a dunk tank and carnival games as well as over 50 local art and retail vendors.

Click here for more information.

Pennsylvania

Fall Foliage Festival in Jim Thorpe

Every weekend from Oct. 5 through Oct. 20, visitors to Jim Thorpe can check out the Fall Foliage Festival with train rides, crafts, food and live music.

Click here for more information.

Downington Fall Fest

Great food, crafts and the Victory Beer Garden all come together to form the Downingtown Fall Fest on Sunday, Oct. 6 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The event shuts down Green Street and East Pennsylvania Avenue in Chester County allowing vendors and visitors to enjoy the event.

Click here for more information.

Harvest Fest in Bethlehem

On Saturday, Oct. 12 from Noon to 5 p.m. adults 21 and up can explore shops, restaurants and the festival grounds on Bethlehem’s Historic Main Street.

Participants can try the food and “brews that make Bethlehem special.”

Click here for more information.

Octoberfest at Peddler’s Village

For the eighth year in a row Peddler’s Village is hosting their Octoberfest bringing visitors a weekend stuffed with food trucks, entertainment and family-friendly activities.

The event happens in Bucks County on Saturday, Oct. 12 and Sunday, Oct. 13 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

While you’re there don’t forget to check out their free Scarecrows in the Village tradition.

Click here for more information.

Fall Fest in Upper Gwynedd Township

Fun, rides and games including a petting zoo and hayrides will take over at Parkside Place on Saturday, Oct. 19. The event runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and is free.

During the fest, former Philadelphia Eagle Hollis Thomas will make an appearance!

Click here for more information.

New Jersey

Oktoberfest at Morey’s Piers in Wildwood

The Mariner’s Pier will be open every Friday through Sunday from now until mid-October for its annual Oktoberfest. Live music as well as German-styled foods and beer will be on tap.

• Fridays from 6 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
• Saturdays from Noon to 10:30 p.m.
• Sundays from Noon to 5 p.m.

Click here for more information.

Mullica Hill Fall Festival and Living History Weekend

For the 52nd year, Mullica Hill is hosting its annual Fall Festival with lots of family fun. Everything from live music to glass-blowing demonstrations and food trucks on Oct. 12 and 13.

The living history part of the festivities will feature authentic Civil War camps and battle reenactments.

Click here for more information.

Tri-State Sunflower Festival and Pumpkin Fest at Dalton Farms

You can pick you own sunflowers and pumpkins as well as enjoy live music, a corn maze and tractor rides at Dalton Farms in Swedesboro this fall season.

• Tri-State Sunflower Festival runs until Oct. 27
• Pumpkin Fest runs Sept. 21 through Oct. 27

Click here for more information.

Fintastic Pumpkin Glow at Adventure Aquarium

A new sort of fin-friendly animal is taking over at the Adventure Aquarium in Camden this spooky season until Nov. 3. The aquarium said that super-sized aquatic animals made of pumpkins are all over for some fun.

There will be underwater pumpkin carvers and other illuminating surprises for visitors of all ages.

Click here for more information.

Kids Boo Fest at Six Flags

Family-friendly rides, a trick or treat trail and various boo fest-themed activities make up the Kids Boo Fest at Six Flags Great Adventure from now until Nov. 3

Click here for more information.

For the big kids, Six Flags is also hosting their annual Fright Fest.

Delaware

Fall Fest in Wyoming

The pumpkins and apples are waiting to be picked at Fifers Orchards in Wyoming, Del. The farm will have family-friendly attractions along with homemade apple cider and kettle corn.

Fall Fest runs from Sept. 21 through Nov. 9 from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Click here for more information.

Bridgeville Apple-Scrapple Festival

Hundreds of vendors and local crafters will descend upon Delaware for the Apple-Scrapple Festival in October. There will also be carnival rides, a food court and a Little Miss Pageant.

• Friday, Oct. 11 starting at 4 p.m.
• Saturday, Oct. 12 starting at 9 a.m.

Click here for more information.

Punkin Ale Fest

Food trucks and local vendors will be at the annual Punkin Ale Fest hosted by Dogfish Head at the Milton Brewery on Saturday, Oct. 12.

Click here for more information.

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Surveillance video shows the alleged thief drive off with the seafood cargo from the lot on Smalley Avenue in Middlesex during the late morning of Sept. 5. It was not immediately known if the thieves knew what they were stealing, or if it was a random choice.

“It’s only me and my truck, now I don’t have a job for a week. I’ve tried to make applications, I need to keep waiting,” said the owner of the truck, who did not wish to be identified with the alleged thieves still at large.

The shrimp were supposed to be delivered to a Costco store in Monroe Township, but never made it there. Police are still trying to figure out how the thieves could even profit from the heist, or how they could convince someone to buy $300,000 worth of shrimp on short notice.

In total, the shrimp is believed to weigh close to 25,000 pounds — tough cargo to hide, and very much at risk of spoiling and becoming worthless fairly quick.

“We see everything. It’s not like anything surprises us,” said Middlesex Police Det. Sgt. Sean Flanagan. “It’s part of it, we see weird crimes reported.”

Police said the truck thieves also opened four other trailers at the industrial lot in the first week of September, but didn’t steal any of their contents, instead opting to steal the shrimp truck.

Anyone with information regarding the heist is asked to contact Middlesex police.

DePrince – born Mabinty Bangura — grew up as an orphan in Sierra Leone, Africa. While at the orphanage, DePrince spotted an image from a magazine that showed an American ballet dancer.

“All I remember is she looked really, really happy,” DePrince told The Associated Press back in 2012. DePrince said she wished “to become this exact person.”

While at the orphanage, DePrince said she struggled through mistreatment, malnourishment and the skin disorder vitiligo.

“I lost both my parents, so I was there (the orphanage) for about a year and I wasn’t treated very well because I had vitiligo,” she told the Associated Press back in 2012. “We were ranked as numbers and number 27 was the least favorite and that was my number, so I got the least amount of food, the least amount of clothes and what not.”

DePrince told the Associated Press that she then walked shoeless for miles to reach a refugee camp after receiving word that her orphanage would be bombed. She, along with two other girls, were then adopted by a couple from Cherry Hill, New Jersey. She then moved to the United States at the age of 4.

“They came to me sick and traumatized by the war,” her adoptive mother told the Associated Press in 2012. “Michaela arrived with the worst case of tonsillitis, fever, mononucleosis and joints that were swollen.”

DePrince said her time in the orphanage impacted her for years. However, remembering how inspired she was by the ballerina image from the magazine, she soon found comfort and inspiration through dance.

DePrince began training in various competitions before attending the Rock School for Dance Education, a prestigious ballet school located in Philadelphia.

“I’m a little bit in disbelief. I have not really processed the enormity of the loss, not even to myself, but the entire field of classical ballet and certainly to the Rock School,” Director of the Rock School Peter Stark told NBC10. “Michaela’s story is really a remarkable tale of human perseverance and you almost have to wonder if there wasn’t divine intervention.”

During her dance journey, DePrince said she experienced racial discrimination. When she was rehearsing for “The Nutcracker” at the age of 8, she was told, “I’m sorry, you can’t do it. America’s not ready for a black girl ballerina,” according to the Associated Press.

She also said that when she was 9 a teacher told her mother, “I don’t like to put money into black dancers because they grow up and end up having big boobs and big hips.”

DePrince was undeterred however and continued to rise in the world of ballet. At the age of 17 she was featured in a documentary film and performed on the TV series “Dancing With the Stars.” She graduated from high school and the American Ballet Theatre’s Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School and worked at Dance Theatre of Harlem where she was the youngest principal dancer in the theatre’s history.

She also performed in her first professional full ballet back in July 2012 in South Africa.

In 2013, she joined the junior company of the Dutch National Ballet in Amsterdam and joined the Dutch National Ballet as a student in 2014. She continued to rise through the ranks and break new ground while inspiring a generation of Black and brown girls.

Her celebrity continued to grow when she performed in Beyoncé’s 2016 musical film “Lemonade.” Pop superstar Madonna was also in talks to direct a biopic based on DePrince’s memoir back in 2018.

DePrince later joined the Boston Ballet in 2021 as a second soloist and danced the leading role in the 2021 ballet film “Coppelia.”

“The survival of classical ballet is dependent on diversification. It’s dancers like Michaela DePrince that are literally paving the path forward for the continuation of this artform. We cannot survive without trailblazers and courageous women like Michaela and her loss is a devastating blow,” Stark explained.

In addition to dance, DePrince was also a humanitarian who advocated for children impacted by conflict and violence. She also served as the ambassador for War Child Holland, an independent non-governmental organization that works to ensure children have access to protection, education and psychosocial support.

DePrince’s family and friends have not yet revealed a cause of death or information on memorial services.

“Her life was one defined by grace, purpose, and strength. Her unwavering commitment to her art, her humanitarian efforts, and her courage in overcoming unimaginable challenges will forever inspire us,” a spokesperson wrote on her Instagram page. “She stood as a beacon of hope for many, showing that no matter the obstacles, beauty and greatness can rise from the darkest of places.”

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The man accused of being drunk when his car struck and killed NHL star Johnny Gaudreau and brother Matthew as they biked near their South Jersey hometown the night before their sister’s wedding will remain jailed awaiting trial as it was revealed he had a blood alcohol level above the legal limit and a history of road rage.

The decision to continue Sean Higgins’ detention in Salem County Jail was made during a Friday, Sept. 13, Zoom detention hearing in front of Superior Court judge Michael Silvanio.

“I believe the state has convinced this court by clear and convincing evidence that there is no amount of monetary bail, or non monetary conditions, or combination thereof, that I could put in place that would ensure the statutory goals,” Silvanio said. “For those reasons I am going to grant the state’s motion to detain Mr. Higgins pending the further outcome of this case.”

The case is being closely followed far beyond South Jersey. Johnny Gaudreau, known as “Johnny Hockey,” played 10 full seasons in the league and was set to enter his third with the Columbus Blue Jackets after signing a seven-year, $68 million deal in 2022. He played his first eight seasons with the Calgary Flames, a tenure that included becoming one of the sport’s top players and a fan favorite across North America.

“This is a highly-publicized case, it’s an emotionally-charged case and one in which everybody has lost and is losing,” Higgins’ attorney Matthew Portella said Friday.

Higgins could be seen on screen Friday morning with facial hair and wearing a green shirt. At the start of the hearing, Silvanio made the South Jersey resident aware of his rights and made sure that Higgins was aware of his rights. “Yes your honor,” Higgins replied to the judge’s instructions.

Prosecutor, defense team lay out what happened on night of deadly crash, argue over detainment

The Gaudreau brothers grew up in the Philadelphia suburb of Carneys Point, New Jersey, where they spent their childhoods on the ice. They played at Gloucester Catholic High School, with Team Comcast and with the Philadelphia Little Flyers. Johnny went on to an All-Star career in the NHL.

Johnny, 31, and brother, Matt, 29, were set to serve as groomsmen at their sister Katie’s wedding that was scheduled for Friday, Aug. 30, in nearby Philadelphia, according to family.

The Gaudreaus were cycling on a road in Oldmans Township on Thursday, Aug. 29, when a man driving an SUV in the same direction attempted to pass two other vehicles and struck them from behind at about 8 p.m., according to New Jersey State Police. They were pronounced dead at the scene.

Police said the striking driver, 43-year-old Higgins, was suspected of being under the influence of alcohol and charged with two counts of death by auto, along with reckless driving, possession of an open container and consuming alcohol in a motor vehicle.

Another driver had slowed down and pulled into the opposing lane of traffic to safely pass the Gaudreau brothers, First Assistant Prosecutor Jonathan Flynn of Salem County said Friday. The driver behind that driver followed suit — bother moving slightly above the 50 mph posted speed limit.

It is alleged that Higgins came speeding up behind the two other drivers and decides to overtake both cars. Higgins said he saw the driver moving to left lane as that driver trying to block him, Flynn said. Higgins then reacted by accelerating past one of the other driver on the right hand side, striking the Gaudreau brothers.

Higgins later claimed to have not seen the bikes.

Higgins told a responding officer he had five or six beers prior to the crash and admitted to consuming alcohol while driving, according to the criminal complaint obtained by The Associated Press.

Higgins told state police that he was also drinking in the car while driving, Flynn said Friday.

Higgins’ attorneys pointed out that a Sept. 5 report on Higgins’ blood alcohol at the time of the Aug. 29, 2024, wreck was .087% — just above the legal limit.

Higgins’ attorney said the BAC showed that Higgins was right around the intoxicated driving legal limit and that shouldn’t be a mitigating circumstance in keeping him jailed.

However, the state argued that Higgins had made statements about ending his life and was known to drink and drive angrily.

“The whodunit and what happened is pretty well documented in the record,” the prosecuting attorney said.

The judge noted the facts of the case while making his ruling after the prosecuting attorney and lawyers representing Higgins argued over if Higgins should remain jailed ahead of trial.

To be detained, the state had to display probable cause and prove that any bail offered wouldn’t be sufficient enough for Higgins to appear in court for his trial.

“This is a serious crime,” argued the prosecuting attorney, saying that Higgins’ “impatience, anger and recklessness” led to the Gaudreau brothers’ deaths.

Higgins is a married father to two daughters, ages 8 and 10, and a law-abiding citizen before the crash, his defense argued.

“He’s an empathetic individual and he’s a loving father of two daughters,” Portella said. “He’s a good person and he made a horrible decision that night.”

Higgins’ attorney noted he has no previous record and shared letters on his behalf. Portella added that Higgins was low risk to not show up for court. His team also offered a breath monitoring machine on Higgins’ car should he be released.

The prosecution painted another picture of Higgins.

Driving drunk and upset is not out of character for Higgins, prosecutors alleged.

Flynn argued that the locking device would not stop what he called “the fundamental issue” of Higgins’s “angry and aggressive driving,” exacerbated that day by alcohol.

Higgins wife told investigators that he had been working from home and that had a negative effect on him that led drinking at his house. The prosecutor on Friday said he had been drinking at home after finishing a work call at about 3 p.m., and having an upsetting conversation with a family member.

He then had a two-hour phone call with a friend while he drove around in his Jeep with an open container, Flynn said.

“’You were probably driving like a nut like I always tell you you do. And you don’t listen to me, instead you just yell at me,’” his wife told Higgins when he called her from jail after his arrest, according to Flynn.

“There simply is no condition that the court can place on Mr. Higgins that is going to control — not only the aggressive driving, but unfortunately the drinking during the driving — getting on the road and having this happen again,” Flynn said while arguing Higgins should remain jailed.

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In arguing for Higgins to remain behind bars, the state also argued that he could hurt himself if he is freed from behind bars as he could face up to 20 years behind bars.

“Clear intent to self-harm over the regret of what happened,” the prosecuting attorney said.

“They’re concerned that Mr. Higgins is going to put himself beyond the reach of the court… committing suicide,” Portella said.

Higgins’ attorney acknowledged that at the scene Higgins was upset and that he did say his life was over. However, he was no longer on suicide watch as of Friday’s hearing.

He was “freaking out” and a recent knee surgery that caused a limp contributed to Higgins “not to be able to do the field sobriety test properly,” Portella said.

Higgins will remain jailed ahead of his next court date on Oct. 15, for an in-person hearing.

Higgins has seven days to appeal the decision.

Higgins had previous driving violations

NBC10 obtained the New Jersey driver history for Higgins. Our investigators found that Higgins had previously been stopped by police for unsafe driving and other violations.

Through an open records request to New Jersey’s Motor Vehicle Commission, we were able to see that Higgins was involved in two car crashes: One in 2016 and the other in 2021.

He was also cited between 2003 and 2014 for improper operation in a highway with marked lines, improper display of plates, speeding and unsafe operation of a motor vehicle.

The state of New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission had Higgins listed “in good standing” at the time of last week’s fatal crash.

We also found two violations in North Carolina that included driving while intoxicated in 2005 and a speeding ticket in 2021. Both were dismissed.

According to court records, the DWI was dismissed because the officer did not show up for the court date.

Higgins was an Army veteran who worked at an alcohol treatment center

He is a graduate of Drexel and Rutgers universities and a U.S. Army veteran who served in Iraq, his attorneys said. Higgins worked in finance for an addiction treatment company.

Higgins was an employee at Gaudenzia, a nonprofit drug and alcohol treatment center, at the time of the crash. He was at first placed on leave by the organization before being fired last week.

“Our thoughts and condolences remain with all those impacted by the tragedy that resulted in the loss of Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau,” a statement from the Norristown-based company said. “Sean Higgins is no longer an employee of Gaudenzia.”

Higgins’ service time in Iraq — which left him honored with a Bronze Star — left his mentally scared, his attorney said.

Gaudreau family, hockey community, remember brothers, share message

The funeral for the Gaudreau brothers took place Monday at St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church in Media, Pennsylvania.

Widows Meredith and Madeline Gaudreau described their husbands as attached at the hip throughout their lives. John was 31 and Matthew 29.

“Everything was always John and Matty,” said Meredith, John’s wife, who revealed she was pregnant with the couple’s third child. “I know John would not have been able to live a day without his brother.”

“I urge everyone to not drink and drive,” said Madeline Gaudreau, Matthew’s pregnant wife. “Find a ride. Please don’t put another family through this torture.”

If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline or chat live at 988lifeline.org. You can also visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for additional support.

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“The rendering shows the potential transformation of Camden’s waterfront at the former state prison site north of the Ben Franklin Bridge,” CEO of NJEDA Tim Sullivan said. “The proposed project is more than just a state-of-the-art arena; it’s open space, new housing, restaurants, and office space, which will help bring new, good-paying jobs to the city.”

Just a little over a week ago, Sullivan wrote a letter to the Sixers expressing “strong interest” in having the arena built in New Jersey and highlighting the possibility of up to $400 million in tax incentives should the move take place.

“Governor Murphy and our entire team know how important this decision is to the future of the franchise and Harris Blitzer Sports and Entertainment, and we are committed to bringing the 76ers to Camden,” Sullivan stated in the letter.

Léelo en español aquí.

Gov. Phil Murphy confirmed in July that New Jersey officials were speaking with Sixers leadership about possibly relocating the team to Camden before their lease agreement expires with the Wells Fargo Center in South Philadelphia in 2031.

“This transformational project will spur greater economic activity and a bustling, revitalized neighborhood, resulting in a major economic opportunity for Camden and its residents for years to come,” Sullivan said in a statement on Thursday, Sept. 12.

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The Sixers currently have a practice facility in Camden which opened in 2016. Sullivan touted New Jersey’s current relationship with the team’s ownership and the state’s multiple development projects as part of his pitch.

The Sixers called New Jersey’s offer “thoughtful and compelling,” though the team is still talking to Philadelphia leaders about a new arena in the city

“The reality is we are running out of time to reach an agreement that will allow the 76ers to open our new home in time for the 2031-32 NBA season,” team spokesperson Molly Mita McEndy wrote in an email. “As a result, we must take all potential options seriously, including this one.”

This comes just one day after hundreds packed into the Convention Center in Philadelphia during a town hall meeting Mayor Cherelle Parker attended. Many were there from and in support of the Save Chinatown Coalition that has opposed the plan for the arena to be built on the border of the Chinatown neighborhood.

The project has the support of many union members in Philly who spoke about the positive impacts the arena could have on the city while preserving Chinatown.

David Walker, 49, of Delran, New Jersey, and Philip Walker, 52, of Upper Chichester, Pennsylvania, also are charged with stealing a camera from the photographer during the Jan. 6, 2021, attack.

Philip Walker told investigators that he tossed a camera into a body of water on his way home from Washington, D.C., according to an FBI agent’s affidavit.

Court records don’t name the photographer or identify her employer, but New York Times spokesperson Danielle Rhoades Ha confirmed that the affidavit refers to staff photographer Erin Schaff, who wrote about her experience at the Capitol.

“We are grateful to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the FBI for their persistence in pursuing justice in this case,” Rhodes Ha said in a statement. “Independent, fact-based journalism is a cornerstone of democracy and attacks against reporters should be a grave concern to anyone who cares about an informed citizenry.”

Philip Walker told the FBI that he believed the photographer was a member of “antifa,” a term for anti-fascist activists who often clash with far-right extremists at political protests.

A livestream video posted on social media showed the photographer standing at the top of the East Rotunda Stairs just before the Walkers assaulted her and then ran down the staircase.

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Schaff recalled that two or three men in black surrounded her, demanded to know her employer and became angry when they grabbed her press pass and saw that she worked for The New York Times.

“They threw me to the floor, trying to take my cameras,” she wrote. “I started screaming for help as loudly as I could. No one came. People just watched. At this point, I thought I could be killed and no one would stop them.”

Schaff said police found her but didn’t believe that she was a journalist because her press pass was stolen.

“They drew their guns, pointed them and yelled at me to get down on my hands and knees,” she wrote. “As I lay on the ground, two other photojournalists came into the hall and started shouting ‘She’s a journalist!’”

Philip Walker was carrying what appeared to be Schaff’s photographic equipment as he fled, the FBI said. David Walker pushed the photographer again when she tried to pursue his brother and retrieve her equipment, according to the affidavit.

A magistrate judge ordered David Walker to be released on $50,000 bail after his initial court appearance in New Jersey on Thursday, court records show. An attorney who represented Walker at the hearing didn’t immediately respond to an email seeking comment.

The Walkers were arrested on complaints charging them with robbery, assault and other charges.

Other rioters were charged with assaulting an Associated Press photographer outside the Capitol during the riot. One of them, Alan Byerly, was sentenced in October 2022 to nearly three years in prison.

Nearly 1,500 people have been charged with Capitol riot-related federal crimes. Approximately 140 police officers were injured in the attack.

The principal of Atlantic City High School has been indicted by a grand jury following accusations that she did not disclose a student’s reports of abuse at the hands of their parents and instead gave the parents a “heads up.”

According to court documents, those parents were identified as Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small and his wife, Atlantic City Public School Superintendent La-Quetta Small.

According to a recently released statement from the Atlantic County Prosecutors Office, Constance Days-Chapman, 39, principal of Atlantic City High School — who also served as Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small’s campaign manager and is the municipal chair of the Atlantic City Democratic Committee — has been indicted by a grand jury on charges including endangering the welfare of a child, official misconduct, hindering the apprehension of another person and related offenses.

The charges, prosecutors said, stem from allegations that began in December of 2023, when a 15-year-old student at the school claimed she met Days-Chapman in her office and told her that that she was suffering from headaches due to being hit by her parents at home.

While the indictment doesn’t name the student, court documents claim the teen involved in this incident is the daughter of Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small.

Following that incident in December, prosecutors said in a statement that “Days-Chapman did not notify either the Department of Child Protection and Permanency (DCP&P formerly known as DYFS) nor law enforcement authorities as is required by statute and school policy when a student discloses alleged child abuse to an employee at the school.”

Instead, according to court documents, other school officials didn’t learn of the ongoing abuse claims made by this student until the week of Jan. 22, 2024, when mental health training for students was held at Atlantic City High School.

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During a training session that week, students were provided with “exit tickets” with three faces representing “happy,” “neutral,” and “sad,” and, court documents claim, Small’s daughter circled the neutral face and then wrote on the back of the ticket, “abuse” and that she would “like a counselor.”

Prosecutors allege the teen then told a school staff member that she had previously reported the same abuse to Days-Chapman.

However, prosecutors said that when the student’s claims were brought to her, Days-Chapman “denied that the student ever disclosed the abuse to her previously,” but told the school staff member she would report the issue to the DCP&P.

Prosecutors claim that another employee even offered to make the report, but Days-Chapman “insisted that she would make the notification.”

Days-Chapman is also alleged to have told a school employee that she planned to give the student’s parents a “heads up” that the DCP&P would be involved.

But, prosecutors claim that never happened.

Instead, law enforcement officials claim that, on the same evening she told school employees she would make that report, Days-Chapman instead met with the student’s parents — Marty Small and his wife — outside their home.

The three met for a chat inside Days-Chapman’s idling car, prosecutors allege.

Following that meeting, prosecutors claim the DCP&P didn’t get any abuse report from Days-Chapman — or anyone from the school — about the student’s abuse allegations in December of 2023 nor January of 2024.

Law enforcement officials also said they were never informed about the student’s allegations of abuse by Days-Chapman, nor anyone at the school.

Instead, prosecutors claim that law enforcement officials only learned of the abuse allegations on January 24, 2024, when they were reported to police by a “non-school entity.”

The Smalls have denied any wrongdoing while Days-Chapman’s lawyer says she is innocent.

“Mandy is innocent of the charges in the indictment. We provided the Prosecutor’s Office with incontrovertible evidence of her innocence. The Prosecutor ignored it; the jury will not,” Lee Vartan, Days-Chapman lawyer, said.

Police officials in New Jersey are asking anyone who may have information about this incident or other serious crimes to contact the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office at 609-909-7800 or go to the Prosecutor’s Office’s Website at ACPO.Tips and provide information by filling out a form anonymously.

Crime Stoppers: People can also call Crime Stoppers at 609-652-1234 or 1-800-658-8477 (TIPS) or visit the Crime Stoppers Website at http://www.crimestoppersatlantic.com.

28-year-old Jamar Antoine Lovett was apprehended within the Tamerlane Campground after fleeing into the woods Wednesday morning following the shooting.

Lovett has been charged with unlawful possession of a handgun, armed robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, theft, and more related charges.

According to the police, they were called to a residence on Kings Highway in Dennis Township, Cape May County for a shooting around 5:28 a.m. Wednesday morning.

The resident of the home that Lovett and another suspect robbed, witnessed them stealing his dirt bike and confronted Lovett who took off into the woods on foot.

The victim, Jesse Gery, shared surveillance video of two suspects wheeling his dirt bike out of his driveway and away from his home.

Gery said they took the dirt bike out a trailer that they initially broke into inside his garage where they also took his gun, wallet and keys to his trailer.

The victim said shots were fired at him as he chased after the thieves, but no one was hurt.

The second suspect remains at large, New Jersey State Police said. They have not identified them.

“That was definitely frightening. I woke up this morning and that’s the first thing I hear. Immediately thought the worst,” Colin Gery, the victim’s son said.

New Jersey State Police had a chopper that could be seen hovering over the area as troopers on the ground had a U-Haul truck stopped on the side of the road up the street from Gery’s home.

“Immediately I think that’s their vehicle. If you pay attention to other dirt bikes that get stolen, they’re all done in U-Hauls,” Colin said.

Lovett is lodged in Cape May County Jail pending a detention hearing.

The incident remains under investigation, and no additional information is available.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the NJSP Troop “A” Woodbine Station at (609) 861-5698.

A positive laboratory test result for the virus was reported to the Camden County Department of Health and Human Services this week launching an investigation.

“The best way to avoid West Nile virus, is to avoid mosquito bites altogether. To do so, residents should wear long sleeved shirts and pants when possible, use bug spray and take steps to control mosquitos on their property by removing standing water,” Commissioner Virginia Betteridge, liaison to the Health Department said in a statement. “The Mosquito Control Commission have also completed additional spraying, treating, trapping, and mosquito testing in the area.”

Health officials said that in most cases, WNV causes asymptomatic infection or a mild to moderate illness, typically with a fever. However, people over the age of 50 with a weak immune system are at greater risk for developing severe illness.

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Pennsylvania Jul 18

Mosquitoes test positive for West Nile virus in Delaware County

Those who develop a more severe form of the disease could experience severe headaches, high fever, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, and paralysis. West Nile virus can even lead to death.

Symptoms of West Nile virus can often be confused with COVID-19 or other common illnesses.

To protect yourself and your loved ones from the virus, officials urge everyone to use insect repellents with one of these active ingredients:

• DEET
• Picaridin (known as KBR 3023 and icaridin outside the US)
• IR3535
• Oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE)
• Para-menthane-diol (PMD)
• 2-undecanone

As of Sept. 10, there have been 15 cases of the virus in New Jersey for 2024, according to the Camden County Department of Health and Human Services.

For more information on West Nile Virus, you can click here.

Sen. George Helmy, a Democrat and former chief of staff to New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, was sworn in on Monday and will serve in office for about two months until the November election. Democratic Rep. Andy Kim and Republican hotelier Curtis Bashaw are vying for the seat in November and the winner will immediately replace Helmy.

Menendez resigned in August after he was convicted on charges that he used his influence to meddle in three different state and federal criminal investigations. Prosecutors said he helped one bribe-paying friend get a multimillion-dollar deal with a Qatari investment fund and another keep a contract to provide religious certification for meat bound for Egypt.

Crime and Courts Sep 4

Menendez co-defendant Daibes pleads guilty to separate bank fraud charges

Congress Aug 20

New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez resigning Tuesday after bribery convictions

Murphy appointed Helmy to the temporary role after Menendez announced his intention to resign. Murphy said he picked Helmy because he understands the role after serving as an aide to New Jersey U.S. Sen. Cory Booker and the late New Jersey U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg.

Booker, now the state’s senior senator, stood with Helmy as he was given the oath of office by Washington Sen. Patty Murray, who is the senior-most Democrat and serves as Senate president pro tempore.

Helmy, 44, served as Murphy’s chief of staff from 2019 until 2023 and then served as an executive at one of the state’s largest health care providers, RWJBarnabas Health. He previously served as Booker’s state director in the Senate. He is the son of Egyptian parents who immigrated to New Jersey

After he was sworn in, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer welcomed Helmy to the chamber and said that he was making history as the first member of the Coptic Orthodox Church to become a senator. Dozens of Helmy’s friends and family watched from the gallery above.

“We wish him nothing but success and are ready to assist him however necessary in the weeks and months to come,” Schumer said.

When Murphy announced his appointment, Helmy said he had never sought and would never seek elected office. He said he would focus on serving the public during his short stint in the Senate.

“New Jersey deserves its full voice and representation in the whole of the United States Senate,” he said.

Menendez was also convicted of taking actions that benefited Egypt’s government in exchange for bribes, including providing details on personnel at the U.S. Embassy in Cairo and ghostwriting a letter to fellow senators regarding lifting a hold on military aid to Egypt. FBI agents also said they found stacks of gold bars and $480,000 hidden in Menendez’s house.

Menendez has denied all of the allegations against him and has said he’s planning to appeal the convictions.

New Jersey State Police said the 38-year-old driver crashed into a memorial constructed for Trooper Thomas Hanratty on Aug. 31, around 2 p.m. on Interstate 78 in Summit. When officers responded, police said they found firefighters already on scene providing first-aid to the man.

The Berkeley Heights man was treated at a nearby hospital and then placed under arrest for charges of driving under the influence, possession of a controlled dangerous substance and being criminally under the influence.

“The crash caused significant damage to the Trooper Hanratty memorial, a solemn reminder of the daily dangers our troopers face while serving and protecting the public,” the NJSP said in a Facebook post on Sunday.

Hanratty, according to police, was struck and killed at the site of the memorial (milepost 46.8) on April 2, 1992. The trooper had been conducting a traffic stop when he was fatally struck.

“This incident underscores the importance of safe and sober driving on our roadways,” the post concluded.

President Jonathan Holloway announced earlier this week the university hired Lowenstein Sandler partner Matthew Boxer to lead the investigation into allegations against coach Umme Salim-Beasley.

The allegations coincided with the surprising retirement of Scarlet Knights Athletic Director Pat Hobbs on Aug. 16. He cited health issues in stepping down.

A former New Jersey state comptroller and federal prosecutor, Boxer investigated the Rutgers’ softball program in 2020 after members of the team said coaches subjected athletes to emotional abuse and abusive conditioning.

NJ Advance Media first reported the gymnastics allegations, talking with seven former gymnasts and one still on the team who described a “toxic” climate in the program while detailing their experiences with Salim-Beasley.

“This effort will ensure that any and all concerns raised about the program have been thoroughly reviewed, determine whether appropriate follow-up steps were taken, identify reasons for any potentially insufficient responses, and recommend areas where additional steps may be necessary,” Holloway said in a statement. “The review will further identify and address any concerns about the culture of the team that are revealed.”

Holloway said the recommendations in the report will be made public. He said the firm will be paid a $50,000 retainer and a rate of $225,000 for the first month, dropping to $195,000 for the second month. Fees will be revisited if additional time is needed to complete the review.

Holloway told the university governing boards on Aug. 31 about ordering the external investigation. At the time he wrote that he was confident that the university had applied its policies appropriately as it pertains to the gymnastics program.

“Our learning environment depends upon the safety, health, and mental well-being of all our students, and the university strives in every aspect of our operations to foster an environment where our students can thrive,” Holloway wrote. “Rutgers Athletics shares this commitment. Whenever concerns or allegations arise about our support for students, the University investigates those concerns in accordance with our policies, the law, and, in the case of Athletics, our NCAA standards.”

___

A double rainbow surprised many throughout the Greater Philadelphia region on Saturday evening.

Everywhere from New Jersey to the Philly suburbs, NBC10 viewers shared some photos of the colorful display on Sept. 7.

Pennsylvania

New Jersey

Taylor Perkins, 30, of Riverton, was convicted last week of manslaughter, eluding, two counts of theft by unlawful taking, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, and unlawful possession of a weapon, according to prosecutors. The conviction came after a Superior Court deliberated for hours.

Prosecutors said the investigation began back on April 20, 2023, after the Mount Laurel Police Department was called to the Rodeway Inn along Route 73 in Mount Laurel just before 10 a.m. after receiving a report of two men fighting.

Responding officials found the body of Michael Jefferies, 36, of Mount Laurel on the ground outside of a second-floor room near a stairwell, according to prosecutors.

New Jersey Sep 5

NJ resident tests positive for botulism, health officials say

New Jersey Sep 5

2 killed in wrong-way crash on Route 55 in Mantua Township, NJ, police say

The investigation determined that after stabbing Jefferies, Perkins fled on foot to a nearby BMV dealership and drove off in a sport utility vehicle, prosecutors said. He abandoned the SUV in Evesham and stole a truck belonging to an Xfinity worker who was up on a ladder working at the time.

Prosecutors said Perkins was eventually apprehended at a residence on Decatur Street in Camden.

An autopsy performed by Burlington County Medical Examiner Dr. Ian Hood revealed that Jefferies died from multiple stab wounds, according to prosecutors.

Perkins’ sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 18 in Mount Holly, prosecutors said.

If you’re not into being scared but still want to enjoy some fun fall festivities, continue reading for our guide to what’s on tap this autumn.

Philadelphia

Free Philadelphia Fall Arts Fest

Ensemble Arts is launching its 2024/2025 season with live performances and various showcases. A small ensemble from the Philadelphia Orchestra will perform and there will be a chance to design your own jewelry with the Carribean Community of Philadelphia.

Events begin at the Commonwealth Plaza on Sept. 21 at 11 a.m. with more happening at the Perelman Theater starting at 11:50 a.m.

Click here for more information.

Mid-Autumn Festival

Thousands of residents and families will head over to Philadelphia’s Chinatown neighborhood for the 29th annual Mid-Autumn Festival as the community gives thanks under the Harvest Moon on Sept. 21.

The event runs from Noon to 8 p.m. on 10th Street from Arch to Winter streets.

There will be lion dances, Chinese opera performances, carnival games and much more.

Click here for more information.

Midtown Village Fall Festival

Midtown Village will be taken over by the community’s 17th annual Fall Festival from Noon to 8 p.m. on Sept. 28 with food, crafts and live music.

Organizers say the footprint for the one-day festival is:

• 13th Street – from Locust to Market streets
  · Sansom Street – from Broad to 12th streets
  · Drury Street – from Juniper to 13th streets
  · Chancellor Street – from Juniper to 13th streets
  · Chestnut Street – from Broad to 12th streets

Click here for more information.

Fringe Arts Festival

The Philadelphia Fringe Festival is running until Sept. 29 and features theater, film screenings and immersive experiences.

Click here for more information.

Fishtown Festivale

For the third year in a row, Frankford Avenue in Fishtown will be closed on Sept. 28 from Noon to 8 p.m. for the Fishtown Festivale.

There will be a dunk tank and carnival games as well as over 50 local art and retail vendors.

Click here for more information.

Pennsylvania

Fall Foliage Festival in Jim Thorpe

Every weekend from Oct. 5 through Oct. 20, visitors to Jim Thorpe can check out the Fall Foliage Festival with train rides, crafts, food and live music.

Click here for more information.

Downington Fall Fest

Great food, crafts and the Victory Beer Garden all come together to form the Downingtown Fall Fest on Sunday, Oct. 6 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The event shuts down Green Street and East Pennsylvania Avenue in Chester County allowing vendors and visitors to enjoy the event.

Click here for more information.

Harvest Fest in Bethlehem

On Saturday, Oct. 12 from Noon to 5 p.m. adults 21 and up can explore shops, restaurants and the festival grounds on Bethlehem’s Historic Main Street.

Participants can try the food and “brews that make Bethlehem special.”

Click here for more information.

Octoberfest at Peddler’s Village

For the eighth year in a row Peddler’s Village is hosting their Octoberfest bringing visitors a weekend stuffed with food trucks, entertainment and family-friendly activities.

The event happens in Bucks County on Saturday, Oct. 12 and Sunday, Oct. 13 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

While you’re there don’t forget to check out their free Scarecrows in the Village tradition.

Click here for more information.

Fall Fest in Upper Gwynedd Township

Fun, rides and games including a petting zoo and hayrides will take over at Parkside Place on Saturday, Oct. 19. The event runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and is free.

During the fest, former Philadelphia Eagle Hollis Thomas will make an appearance!

Click here for more information.

New Jersey

Oktoberfest at Morey’s Piers in Wildwood

The Mariner’s Pier will be open every Friday through Sunday from now until mid-October for its annual Oktoberfest. Live music as well as German-styled foods and beer will be on tap.

• Fridays from 6 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
• Saturdays from Noon to 10:30 p.m.
• Sundays from Noon to 5 p.m.

Click here for more information.

Mullica Hill Fall Festival and Living History Weekend

For the 52nd year, Mullica Hill is hosting its annual Fall Festival with lots of family fun. Everything from live music to glass-blowing demonstrations and food trucks on Oct. 12 and 13.

The living history part of the festivities will feature authentic Civil War camps and battle reenactments.

Click here for more information.

Tri-State Sunflower Festival and Pumpkin Fest at Dalton Farms

You can pick you own sunflowers and pumpkins as well as enjoy live music, a corn maze and tractor rides at Dalton Farms in Swedesboro this fall season.

• Tri-State Sunflower Festival runs until Oct. 27
• Pumpkin Fest runs Sept. 21 through Oct. 27

Click here for more information.

Fintastic Pumpkin Glow at Adventure Aquarium

A new sort of fin-friendly animal is taking over at the Adventure Aquarium in Camden this spooky season until Nov. 3. The aquarium said that super-sized aquatic animals made of pumpkins are all over for some fun.

There will be underwater pumpkin carvers and other illuminating surprises for visitors of all ages.

Click here for more information.

Kids Boo Fest at Six Flags

Family-friendly rides, a trick or treat trail and various boo fest-themed activities make up the Kids Boo Fest at Six Flags Great Adventure from now until Nov. 3

Click here for more information.

For the big kids, Six Flags is also hosting their annual Fright Fest.

Delaware

Fall Fest in Wyoming

The pumpkins and apples are waiting to be picked at Fifers Orchards in Wyoming, Del. The farm will have family-friendly attractions along with homemade apple cider and kettle corn.

Fall Fest runs from Sept. 21 through Nov. 9 from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Click here for more information.

Bridgeville Apple-Scrapple Festival

Hundreds of vendors and local crafters will descend upon Delaware for the Apple-Scrapple Festival in October. There will also be carnival rides, a food court and a Little Miss Pageant.

• Friday, Oct. 11 starting at 4 p.m.
• Saturday, Oct. 12 starting at 9 a.m.

Click here for more information.

Punkin Ale Fest

Food trucks and local vendors will be at the annual Punkin Ale Fest hosted by Dogfish Head at the Milton Brewery on Saturday, Oct. 12.

Click here for more information.

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Johnny Gaudreau was a member of Gloucester Catholic’s class of 2011. Matty graduated from the Gloucester City School in 2013. The school released a statement after their deaths and said the school community is devastated by the “sudden and unspeakable losses.”

“Johnny and Matt truly loved Gloucester Catholic, and the entire Gaudreau family have always been loyal and dedicated supporters of Gloucester Catholic,” the school wrote on Facebook. “Along with their incredible talents on the ice they will be remembered even more by our GC Family as loving sons, brothers, fathers, husbands, friends and role models.”

“Johnny and Matt were incredible hockey players and students, but even more amazing human beings,” GC Principal Thomas Iacovone, Jr. said. “Their loss will be felt forever by the entire Gloucester Catholic community and by me personally. I will continue to pray for them and their families during this unimaginable tragedy.”

“They’ve done so much for the school since they left,” Iacovone later told NBC10.

The “Quiet Night of Remembrance” was held in the GCHS gymnasium at the private school’s Ridgeway Street campus on Friday, Sept. 6.

Heavy hearts filled the gymnasium as friends and members of the South Jersey community and beyond gathered with the family.

“I don’t even know what to say. My heart is absolutely broken. Absolutely broken for all of them,” Mary Kay Shea, who knows the Gaudreau family, said.

There was a long line outside of the school – a testament to the enormous impact the brothers had on this tight-knit community.

“The point of tonight is to help people come together, that’s what Gloucester Catholic is,” Iacovone said. “To help people pay tribute to John and Matt.”

The event was open to anyone who wanted to honor John and Matty.

The funeral for the Gaudreau brothers will take place Monday at St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church in Media, Pennsylvania. Their obituaries noted it would be streamed on the Columbus Blue Jackets’ website, given the number of people expected to attend.

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In the meantime, families told NBC10 that their stops have been changed, and in some cases are not safe.

One parent even said she was physically sick to her stomach sending her son to school on Thursday.

“I just feel like this all should be easier than what they’re making this out to be and what they’re doing to us,” Amy Luke explained.

Luke is just one of many parents in the Deptford Township School District who is frustrated with district leaders’ handling of this year’s bus plan.

Thursday, Sept. 5 was Luke’s 9-year-old son Derrick’s first day of fourth grade at Shady Lane Elementary School in Westville.

“We go to the bus stop. It was a different bus number and when the bus driver came to the door to get him, there was no aide on the bus,” she said.

Her son Derrick lives with Down Syndrome and Autism.

Luke said that he has been in the school district since he was 3 years old and has always ridden the bus with an aide until this day.

“It made me physically sick to my stomach because my son shouldn’t be left alone on a bus with just a bus driver. It’s very unsafe for the bus driver, other kids on the bus,” she said.

As parents in the district started getting their kids ready for a new school year last week, many noticed they had not been assigned a bus number, or like in Derrick’s case, the stop was changed from out front of his home to down the street.

One dad told NBC10 that his child’s stop was moved about one mile down a busy road with no sidewalks or crosswalks.

“It has definitely took a lot of the fun out of going to the first day of school. As a parent we are very concerned. I have four kids, we have a business to run,” George Moularkis said.

The bus issues started last month when the district announced it would stop offering free bus service for students who live within a certain distance to their schools.

That plan was eventually rescinded a few days later after community-wide backlash.

Then, on Wednesday, Sept. 4, the district explained the data loss and the new transportation staff was “working to rectify issues created from prior department supervision which had deleted student information from our old transportation routing software.”

“My message to the district is: do better. All of us parents aren’t here to fight you, but we want you to do better. Our children deserve better and we’re tired of what’s been going on,” Amy Luke said.

The district has not provided families with a timeline for when the routes will be finalized.

Luke said she plans to drive Derrick to school on Friday.

Health officials said that botulism is a rare illness that can be spread through food or wounds.

Léelo en español aquí

“Botulism is rare, but it is a serious illness and is always considered an urgent medical matter,” said Camden County Health Officer Dr. Paschal Nwako. “It is important to note that botulism is not contagious and cannot spread from person to person, but the Health Department will continue to monitor the situation and investigate this case.” 

It is caused by a bacteria called “clostridium botulinum” and is related to a bacteria that can attack the body’s nerves, officials explained.

Symptoms of botulism:

• Difficulty swallowing
• Muscle weakness
• Double vision
• Drooping eyelids
• Blurry vision
• Slurred speech
• Difficulty breathing
• Difficulty moving the eyes

Symptoms of foodborne botulism include:

• Vomiting
• Nausea
• Stomach pain
• Diarrhea

Botulism symptoms in an infant:

• Constipation
• Poor feeding
• Drooping eyelids
• Pupils that are slow to react to light
• Face showing less expression than usual
• Weak cry that sounds different than usual

The CDC has more information on botulism on the website.

For more information on botulism from the New Jersey Department of Health, click here.

According to New Jersey State Police, troopers responded to a motor vehicle crash at 8:58 a.m. on Route 55 northbound at milepost 51.8.

Police said a preliminary investigation revealed that a Jeep Compass was traveling southbound on State Highway 55 when, at an unknown location, the Jeep crossed into the northbound lanes, traveling in the opposite direction.

A Toyota Rav4 was traveling northbound on State Highway 55 and collided head-on with the Jeep; police said both vehicles overturned, and the Toyota caught fire.

Police said the driver of the Jeep, Stanley Kahana, 62, from Philadelphia, and the driver of the Toyota, Jennifer Hufnell, 53, from Deptford, New Jersey, sustained fatal injuries.

Officials had shut down Route 55 northbound for hours as they investigated the crash; the highway has since reopened.

The crash remains under investigation, and no further information is available at this time.

Filomena Lakeview, a restaurant in Deptford where Hufnell was employed, put out a heartfelt statement on Facebook regarding her death.

The statement read in part:

“It is with a heavy heart to post this, Jenn Hufnell a part of our Mena Family was killed in a tragic accident today. Words cannot describe how much we will miss her. It is unimaginable that her smiling face and warm heart will no longer brighten the restaurant. We know she has touched many lives and her memory will live with the Filomena Family forever. We love you Jenn.”

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If you’re not into being scared but still want to enjoy some fun fall festivities, continue reading for our guide to what’s on tap this autumn.

Philadelphia

Free Philadelphia Fall Arts Fest

Ensemble Arts is launching its 2024/2025 season with live performances and various showcases. A small ensemble from the Philadelphia Orchestra will perform and there will be a chance to design your own jewelry with the Carribean Community of Philadelphia.

Events begin at the Commonwealth Plaza on Sept. 21 at 11 a.m. with more happening at the Perelman Theater starting at 11:50 a.m.

Click here for more information.

Mid-Autumn Festival

Thousands of residents and families will head over to Philadelphia’s Chinatown neighborhood for the 29th annual Mid-Autumn Festival as the community gives thanks under the Harvest Moon on Sept. 21.

The event runs from Noon to 8 p.m. on 10th Street from Arch to Winter streets.

There will be lion dances, Chinese opera performances, carnival games and much more.

Click here for more information.

Midtown Village Fall Festival

Midtown Village will be taken over by the community’s 17th annual Fall Festival from Noon to 8 p.m. on Sept. 28 with food, crafts and live music.

Organizers say the footprint for the one-day festival is:

• 13th Street – from Locust to Market streets
  · Sansom Street – from Broad to 12th streets
  · Drury Street – from Juniper to 13th streets
  · Chancellor Street – from Juniper to 13th streets
  · Chestnut Street – from Broad to 12th streets

Click here for more information.

Fringe Arts Festival

The Philadelphia Fringe Festival is running until Sept. 29 and features theater, film screenings and immersive experiences.

Click here for more information.

Fishtown Festivale

For the third year in a row, Frankford Avenue in Fishtown will be closed on Sept. 28 from Noon to 8 p.m. for the Fishtown Festivale.

There will be a dunk tank and carnival games as well as over 50 local art and retail vendors.

Click here for more information.

Pennsylvania

Fall Foliage Festival in Jim Thorpe

Every weekend from Oct. 5 through Oct. 20, visitors to Jim Thorpe can check out the Fall Foliage Festival with train rides, crafts, food and live music.

Click here for more information.

Downington Fall Fest

Great food, crafts and the Victory Beer Garden all come together to form the Downingtown Fall Fest on Sunday, Oct. 6 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The event shuts down Green Street and East Pennsylvania Avenue in Chester County allowing vendors and visitors to enjoy the event.

Click here for more information.

Harvest Fest in Bethlehem

On Saturday, Oct. 12 from Noon to 5 p.m. adults 21 and up can explore shops, restaurants and the festival grounds on Bethlehem’s Historic Main Street.

Participants can try the food and “brews that make Bethlehem special.”

Click here for more information.

Octoberfest at Peddler’s Village

For the eighth year in a row Peddler’s Village is hosting their Octoberfest bringing visitors a weekend stuffed with food trucks, entertainment and family-friendly activities.

The event happens in Bucks County on Saturday, Oct. 12 and Sunday, Oct. 13 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

While you’re there don’t forget to check out their free Scarecrows in the Village tradition.

Click here for more information.

Fall Fest in Upper Gwynedd Township

Fun, rides and games including a petting zoo and hayrides will take over at Parkside Place on Saturday, Oct. 19. The event runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and is free.

During the fest, former Philadelphia Eagle Hollis Thomas will make an appearance!

Click here for more information.

New Jersey

Oktoberfest at Morey’s Piers in Wildwood

The Mariner’s Pier will be open every Friday through Sunday from now until mid-October for its annual Oktoberfest. Live music as well as German-styled foods and beer will be on tap.

• Fridays from 6 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
• Saturdays from Noon to 10:30 p.m.
• Sundays from Noon to 5 p.m.

Click here for more information.

Mullica Hill Fall Festival and Living History Weekend

For the 52nd year, Mullica Hill is hosting its annual Fall Festival with lots of family fun. Everything from live music to glass-blowing demonstrations and food trucks on Oct. 12 and 13.

The living history part of the festivities will feature authentic Civil War camps and battle reenactments.

Click here for more information.

Tri-State Sunflower Festival and Pumpkin Fest at Dalton Farms

You can pick you own sunflowers and pumpkins as well as enjoy live music, a corn maze and tractor rides at Dalton Farms in Swedesboro this fall season.

• Tri-State Sunflower Festival runs until Oct. 27
• Pumpkin Fest runs Sept. 21 through Oct. 27

Click here for more information.

Fintastic Pumpkin Glow at Adventure Aquarium

A new sort of fin-friendly animal is taking over at the Adventure Aquarium in Camden this spooky season until Nov. 3. The aquarium said that super-sized aquatic animals made of pumpkins are all over for some fun.

There will be underwater pumpkin carvers and other illuminating surprises for visitors of all ages.

Click here for more information.

Kids Boo Fest at Six Flags

Family-friendly rides, a trick or treat trail and various boo fest-themed activities make up the Kids Boo Fest at Six Flags Great Adventure from now until Nov. 3

Click here for more information.

For the big kids, Six Flags is also hosting their annual Fright Fest.

Delaware

Fall Fest in Wyoming

The pumpkins and apples are waiting to be picked at Fifers Orchards in Wyoming, Del. The farm will have family-friendly attractions along with homemade apple cider and kettle corn.

Fall Fest runs from Sept. 21 through Nov. 9 from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Click here for more information.

Bridgeville Apple-Scrapple Festival

Hundreds of vendors and local crafters will descend upon Delaware for the Apple-Scrapple Festival in October. There will also be carnival rides, a food court and a Little Miss Pageant.

• Friday, Oct. 11 starting at 4 p.m.
• Saturday, Oct. 12 starting at 9 a.m.

Click here for more information.

Punkin Ale Fest

Food trucks and local vendors will be at the annual Punkin Ale Fest hosted by Dogfish Head at the Milton Brewery on Saturday, Oct. 12.

Click here for more information.

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“They were just the most genuine people. They weren’t just good hockey players. They are our best friends,” said Jamie Hill, a long-time friend of the Gaudreau brothers.

John Gaudreau, 31, and Matthew Gaudreau, 29, grew up in South Jersey. Their dad, Guy Gaudreau, was the hockey director at Hollydell Ice Arena in Sewell, New Jersey.

As soon as John and Matty were old enough, Coach Guy had them on the ice. It is where the brothers got their start and it is where they formed some of their closest friendships.

“We grew up in the rink here,” said friend, Charlie Vasaturo.

Vasaturo, Hill, Anthony Calabrese, and Chris Gentile returned to Hollydell, the ice rink that they all grew up in, to tell stories about John and Matty. The friends said they could have talked about the brothers for hours on end.

“Silly, goofy dudes who just enjoyed life and loved their family,” said Calabrese. “They are just the sweetest boys in the world.”

Both John and Matty were always standouts on the ice. From Hollydell to Gloucester Catholic High School, Boston College to the pros. Matty eventually returned home to coach.

“He gave right back to the youth community at the rink he started at, the rink his dad built essentially,” said Gentile.

John became known around the world as “Johnny Hockey”, a seven-time NHL All-Star.

“It was always just John for us. We just saw him as that. A friend just sitting at a bonfire or pulling a prank. Granted, all the other stuff we were very aware. But it was always just a hometown family member for us. Both of them,” said Vasaturo.

“They are great on the ice. They are incredible on the ice, but off the ice they are even better,” said Calabrese. “Off the ice, they are perfect guys.”

The friends remembered Matty as the life of the party and John as a jokester who loved a good prank.

“We’ve lost some serious bets to those guys,” said Gentile.

The group of friends said Matty and John cherished the small moments in life.

“They enjoyed their family and friends,” said Vasaturo. “Not really worrying about anything outside of how do we enjoy what we are doing today.”

The brothers also cherished each other. Matty and John’s friends said they were inseparable and almost like twins.

“You don’t get John without Matty and you don’t get Matty without John,” said Gentile. “They supported each other through everything.”

In addition to their parents and two sisters, John and Matty are survived by their wives. John and his wife have two children. Matty and his wife are expecting their first child in the coming months.

“Matty was looking forward to being a dad. John was already a good dad. They are just good people. Just good human beings. Would give the shirt off the back for their friends. Always there through everything. And that’s what we are going to remember them by,” said Hill.

The friends said John and Matty are terribly missed, but they will continue to honor their lives and legacies.

“Hold your family tight and make sure you tell them you love them because I would do anything to tell them I love them one more time,” said Calabrese.

According to police, an emergency was declared at about 12:20 p.m. after a gas main broke in Washington Township.

Officials posted about the incident on social media on Wednesday afternoon and updated the information when the incident was cleared at about 3 p.m.

In order to deal with the issue, Pembrook Road was closed and homes along that road as well as those on Mulberry and Benner roads were evacuated.

The Washington Township Senior Center, on the 300 block of Greentree Road was used as a temporary shelter for the evacuees.

Police were asking people to avoid the area as crews work to clear the situation.

This is a breaking news story. It will be updated as new information becomes available.

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The county’s emergency management team released a statement on social media Tuesday stating that a widespread and unpleasant odor had impacted several communities, including Franklin, Monroe, Washington, and Deptford Townships.

Officials said the odor was likely due to aerial mosquito spraying in Atlantic County, which happened on Tuesday, between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m.

Aerial spraying is done using an ultra-low volume aerosol. Officials said residents should not worry about relocating or taking special precautions.

For more information about mosquito spraying in Atlantic County, visit www.atlanticcountynj.gov.

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More than a month after Gov. Phil Murphy announced New Jersey officials were speaking with the Philadelphia 76ers about potentially moving the team to Camden, a new letter to the Sixers highlights the possibility of up to $400 million in tax incentives should the move take place.

“We believe the Aspire program, a critical component of the ERA toolkit, could support two awards of up to $400 million of tax credits: one to support an arena and ancillary infrastructure (parking, open space etc.) and one to support significant residential, retail and office development as part of a broader mixed use neighborhood development strategy with potential to transform the surrounding areas of the City,” Tim Sullivan, the CEO of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, wrote in a letter to Tad Brown, the CEO of Sixers owner Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment (HBSE). “An Aspire award supporting development of arena would be subject to a standard Net Benefit Test, ensuring that New Jersey taxpayers are more than paid back for their investment via incremental state, county and local tax revenues.”

Gov. Murphy confirmed in July that New Jersey officials were speaking with Sixers leadership about possibly relocating the team to Camden before their lease agreement expires with the Wells Fargo Center in South Philadelphia in 2031.

In the letter, which was released on Monday, Sullivan wrote they envisioned a “multi-billion dollar privately-led comprehensive mixed-used development north of the Ben Franklin Bridge.”

“Anchored by a world-class arena, we believe that this project will enable development of significant residential, commercial, and retail offerings within the City of Camden,” Sullivan wrote.

The Sixers currently have a practice facility in Camden which opened in 2016. Sullivan touted New Jersey’s current relationship with the team’s ownership and the state’s multiple development projects as part of his pitch.

“The results of our focus on economic growth are clear: New Jersey has added more than 200,000 new jobs since 2018, (leading the Northeast in private sector job creation since 2020) and New Jersey now ranks third among American states for venture capital investment,” Sullivan wrote.

On Tuesday, Camden Mayor Victor G. Carstarphen released a statement supporting New Jersey’s efforts to relocate the Sixers.

“Thank you to Governor Phil Murphy and his team at NJEDA for promoting Camden, NJ as the prime location for a new sports and entertainment arena.  This type of large scale redevelopment would be a game-changer,” Carstarphen wrote. “This project would be a catalyst for additional development, attracting new residential and commercial investment, not to mention transforming the adjacent North Camden waterfront and neighborhood.”

Carstarphen described Sullivan’s proposed incentives as “attractive” and the offer “compelling.” He also described the proposed site in Camden.

“The parcel is owned by the state, shovel ready, and a prime location,” he wrote. “We are talking about taking vacant land which was a former prison site and turning it into a world-class sports and entertainment venue.”

NBC10 reached out to the city of Philadelphia for a response to the letter. A city spokesperson said Tuesday they had “no statement tonight.”

The talks with New Jersey come after the Sixers announced plans to build a new $1.3 billion arena in Center City titled “76 Place.” The proposal has sparked resistance and protests from leadership in the city’s Chinatown community. Members of the community have said that the proposed arena could cause street parking to disappear as well as a rise in traffic. They also said it could be harder to hold festivals.

The Sixers called New Jersey’s offer “thoughtful and compelling,” though the team is still talking to Philadelphia leaders about a new arena in the city.

“The reality is we are running out of time to reach an agreement that will allow the 76ers to open our new home in time for the 2031-32 NBA season,” team spokesperson Molly Mita McEndy wrote in an email. “As a result, we must take all potential options seriously, including this one.”

At an unrelated event in suburban Philadelphia on Tuesday, Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro said the team wants to remain in Philadelphia and that he hasn’t been asked for tax incentives or offered any.

“I love the Sixers,” he said. “They belong in Philadelphia.”

In August, the City of Philadelphia released four reports analyzing the potential impact of the Sixers proposed arena in Center City.

According to the study, the impact on Market East is “inconclusive” and with or without the arena, the area will still face challenges in terms of development. However, the report also notes the development could help reinvigorate the neighborhood if it can resolve transportation and safety issues.

As for Chinatown, the report says 1 in 5 small businesses in the neighborhood could benefit. Those businesses are mainly in entertainment, food and hospitality.

On the other hand, half of the small businesses in Chinatown would not benefit or see a negative impact, according to the report.

The report also says there will be no direct housing displacement, but there is evidence for indirect displacement of small businesses, through gentrification.

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According to Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer, the boy — who officials have not provided further identifying information on — died on Monday, Sept. 2, 2024, after he was pulled from a pool a few days prioe.

On Friday, Aug. 30, 2024, officials said, the boy was found in a swimming pool at a residence in South Seaside Park at about 3:30 p.m. after he had accidentally fallen in.

Officials said the child was unresponsive at that time and life-saving techniques were performed before the boy was taken to a nearby hospital.

However, on Tuesday, officials claim, the boy succumbed to the injuries he suffered in that incident.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with this child’s parents, family and friends at this most difficult time,” Billhimer said in a statement.

That’s because the district — one of the largest in South Jersey — has implemented a ban on cellphones, smart watches, ear buds and wireless headphones during class instruction.

Officials with the district said that the move is intended to help students focus in the classroom.

In a statement on the move, district officials said that the “use of wireless communication devices in schools, particularly cell phones, has negative effects on academic performance, focus, and mental health.”

“To support school environments in which students can fully engage with their classmates and their teachers, and to focus attention upon classroom instruction, the Cherry Hill Board of Education has determined that the use of cell phones and other wireless communication devices by students during school hours should be limited,” officials said in a statement.

While the use of phones is banned during instructional periods, students will still be permitted to use them “during lunch, recess, between classes, while on school buses, or during co-curricular activities (unless the school’s Principal elects to prohibit such use during lunch and provided that any co-curricular use is approved by the co-curricular supervisor and does not create a safety hazard during the co-curricular activity).”

Students will be required to either keep phones silenced in a secure place — like a locker or backpack — during times when cellphone use is prohibited, officials said.

“I think it’s great. I think they need such a hard pause on the phones in general,” Dana DelGrosso, mother of middle school students, told NBC10’s Karen Hua. “I don’t even see how kids can learn when the phone is present because it’s such a distraction.”

“I hate it, it’s dumb,” London Atiya, a seventh grade student in Cherry Hill, argued. “They’ve been saying this for years but it’s never been done.”

However, there will be exceptions to this rule — for example, there will be concessions for students who need their phones for health or accessibility reasons.

Laura Donovan Elementary in Freehold was scheduled to open doors and welcome students back from summer break on Sept. 5, but mold found by custodial staff over the summer could take months to remove, district administrators announced in a letter to parents last week.

Students at the elementary school will still start school this week, but they will be reassigned to different elementary schools in the district until Laura Donovan has been cleared of mold.

“It is anticipated that these alternate arrangements may last several months,” Neil Dickstein, superintendent of Freehold Township School District.

Laura Donovan students will be divided among the other elementary schools based on grade level:

• Kindergarteners will attend C. Richard Applegate Elementary.
• First and second graders will attend Marshall W. Errickson Elementary.
• Third and fourth graders will attend West Freehold Elementary.
• Fifth graders will attend Joseph J. Catena Elementary.

The remediation company tasked with cleaning the school has been on the premises seven days a week, but Dickstein says the source of the mold is still under investigation.

“While students will be physically located at other schools, they will attend school on the regular Donovan time schedule,” he wrote to parents.

Wendy Geiger and her sons were outside Laura Donovan Elementary School last week where her son, Jonathan, was set to start third grade this week.

“We were lucky the child study team took us for a little tour of the school so we see what the classroom is like and on the first day maybe it won’t be as overwhelming,” she said.

TJ Hughes has a daughter going into first grade, so she’ll be Marshall Errickson for a few months.

“She’s a little confused, a little nervous. She’s starting a new school to begin with, now the situation is a little different,” Hughes said. “But she’ll adapt.

The school district said it will provide buses to pick students up and transport them to their temporary schools. Bus assignments will be published in the online portal for parents.

Officers with the police department were called to the 1500 block of Blackwood Clementon Road in the Blackwood section of Gloucester Township just before 2 p.m. for reports of the man being pinned under a tree, officials explained.

The man’s leg was pinned under a tree that was in the process of being cut down, police said.

Several fire departments arrived on scene and secured a large section of the tree as first responders assisted the patient, according to police.

The eastbound side of Blackwood Clementon Road was closed for over an hour, officials said.

The man was ultimately taken to a nearby hospital by helicopter for further treatment, police said.

Officials are not releasing the man’s name at this time.

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According to Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer, around 3:30 p.m., the Berkeley Township Police responded to a home in South Seaside Park for a report that a 4-year-old boy had been removed from a swimming pool and was unresponsive.

Emergency life-saving techniques were performed on the child, and he was transported to the hospital, where he is listed in critical but stable condition, officials said.

New Jersey Aug 29

Man found dead after drowning in NJ, police say

New Jersey Aug 30

NHL star Johnny Gaudreau, brother Matt Gaudreau killed by drunk driver in NJ, police say

Officials said the incident is currently under investigation by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit, Berkeley Township Police Department and Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit.

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A commercial fishing boat lost power on Friday, Aug. 30 and crashed into the bridge, the Lower Township Police Department chief told NBC10. The boat is 80 to 100 feet in length.

The boat was towed from the area, and officials waited until Saturday morning for engineers to inspect the bridge before reopening it.

No injuries were reported, police said.

The Middle Thorofare Bridge connects Diamond Beach to Cape May and was closed on Aug. 18 due to a motor failure.

The bridge was reopened just three days later, on Aug. 21.

If you’re not into being scared but still want to enjoy some fun fall festivities, continue reading for our guide to what’s on tap this autumn.

Philadelphia

Free Philadelphia Fall Arts Fest

Ensemble Arts is launching its 2024/2025 season with live performances and various showcases. A small ensemble from the Philadelphia Orchestra will perform and there will be a chance to design your own jewelry with the Carribean Community of Philadelphia.

Events begin at the Commonwealth Plaza on Sept. 21 at 11 a.m. with more happening at the Perelman Theater starting at 11:50 a.m.

Click here for more information.

Mid-Autumn Festival

Thousands of residents and families will head over to Philadelphia’s Chinatown neighborhood for the 29th annual Mid-Autumn Festival as the community gives thanks under the Harvest Moon on Sept. 21.

The event runs from Noon to 8 p.m. on 10th Street from Arch to Winter streets.

There will be lion dances, Chinese opera performances, carnival games and much more.

Click here for more information.

Midtown Village Fall Festival

Midtown Village will be taken over by the community’s 17th annual Fall Festival from Noon to 8 p.m. on Sept. 28 with food, crafts and live music.

Organizers say the footprint for the one-day festival is:

• 13th Street – from Locust to Market streets
  · Sansom Street – from Broad to 12th streets
  · Drury Street – from Juniper to 13th streets
  · Chancellor Street – from Juniper to 13th streets
  · Chestnut Street – from Broad to 12th streets

Click here for more information.

Fringe Arts Festival

The Philadelphia Fringe Festival is running until Sept. 29 and features theater, film screenings and immersive experiences.

Click here for more information.

Fishtown Festivale

For the third year in a row, Frankford Avenue in Fishtown will be closed on Sept. 28 from Noon to 8 p.m. for the Fishtown Festivale.

There will be a dunk tank and carnival games as well as over 50 local art and retail vendors.

Click here for more information.

Pennsylvania

Fall Foliage Festival in Jim Thorpe

Every weekend from Oct. 5 through Oct. 20, visitors to Jim Thorpe can check out the Fall Foliage Festival with train rides, crafts, food and live music.

Click here for more information.

Downington Fall Fest

Great food, crafts and the Victory Beer Garden all come together to form the Downingtown Fall Fest on Sunday, Oct. 6 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The event shuts down Green Street and East Pennsylvania Avenue in Chester County allowing vendors and visitors to enjoy the event.

Click here for more information.

Harvest Fest in Bethlehem

On Saturday, Oct. 12 from Noon to 5 p.m. adults 21 and up can explore shops, restaurants and the festival grounds on Bethlehem’s Historic Main Street.

Participants can try the food and “brews that make Bethlehem special.”

Click here for more information.

Octoberfest at Peddler’s Village

For the eighth year in a row Peddler’s Village is hosting their Octoberfest bringing visitors a weekend stuffed with food trucks, entertainment and family-friendly activities.

The event happens in Bucks County on Saturday, Oct. 12 and Sunday, Oct. 13 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

While you’re there don’t forget to check out their free Scarecrows in the Village tradition.

Click here for more information.

Fall Fest in Upper Gwynedd Township

Fun, rides and games including a petting zoo and hayrides will take over at Parkside Place on Saturday, Oct. 19. The event runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and is free.

During the fest, former Philadelphia Eagle Hollis Thomas will make an appearance!

Click here for more information.

New Jersey

Oktoberfest at Morey’s Piers in Wildwood

The Mariner’s Pier will be open every Friday through Sunday from now until mid-October for its annual Oktoberfest. Live music as well as German-styled foods and beer will be on tap.

• Fridays from 6 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
• Saturdays from Noon to 10:30 p.m.
• Sundays from Noon to 5 p.m.

Click here for more information.

Mullica Hill Fall Festival and Living History Weekend

For the 52nd year, Mullica Hill is hosting its annual Fall Festival with lots of family fun. Everything from live music to glass-blowing demonstrations and food trucks on Oct. 12 and 13.

The living history part of the festivities will feature authentic Civil War camps and battle reenactments.

Click here for more information.

Tri-State Sunflower Festival and Pumpkin Fest at Dalton Farms

You can pick you own sunflowers and pumpkins as well as enjoy live music, a corn maze and tractor rides at Dalton Farms in Swedesboro this fall season.

• Tri-State Sunflower Festival runs until Oct. 27
• Pumpkin Fest runs Sept. 21 through Oct. 27

Click here for more information.

Fintastic Pumpkin Glow at Adventure Aquarium

A new sort of fin-friendly animal is taking over at the Adventure Aquarium in Camden this spooky season until Nov. 3. The aquarium said that super-sized aquatic animals made of pumpkins are all over for some fun.

There will be underwater pumpkin carvers and other illuminating surprises for visitors of all ages.

Click here for more information.

Kids Boo Fest at Six Flags

Family-friendly rides, a trick or treat trail and various boo fest-themed activities make up the Kids Boo Fest at Six Flags Great Adventure from now until Nov. 3

Click here for more information.

For the big kids, Six Flags is also hosting their annual Fright Fest.

Delaware

Fall Fest in Wyoming

The pumpkins and apples are waiting to be picked at Fifers Orchards in Wyoming, Del. The farm will have family-friendly attractions along with homemade apple cider and kettle corn.

Fall Fest runs from Sept. 21 through Nov. 9 from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Click here for more information.

Bridgeville Apple-Scrapple Festival

Hundreds of vendors and local crafters will descend upon Delaware for the Apple-Scrapple Festival in October. There will also be carnival rides, a food court and a Little Miss Pageant.

• Friday, Oct. 11 starting at 4 p.m.
• Saturday, Oct. 12 starting at 9 a.m.

Click here for more information.

Punkin Ale Fest

Food trucks and local vendors will be at the annual Punkin Ale Fest hosted by Dogfish Head at the Milton Brewery on Saturday, Oct. 12.

Click here for more information.

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According to the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office, Carl Agyemang, 26, has been charged with first-degree murder and weapons offenses following the death of his brother, Floyd Agyemang, 23.

Police said the investigation began on Saturday, Aug. 24, at 11:15 a.m. after officers from the Willingboro Township Police Department were called to Hepburn Lane for a report of a stabbing.

Upon arrival, police said officers discovered Floyd with a stab wound to his chest. He was taken to the hospital and pronounced dead just after 10:30 p.m. on Saturday.

New Jersey Aug 30

NHL star Johnny Gaudreau, brother Matt Gaudreau killed by drunk driver in NJ, police say

New Jersey Aug 29

New Jersey man indicted on animal cruelty charges after over 150 animals seized from his home

According to police, Carl fled on foot but was arrested in the area a short time later. A knife was recovered from him, which police believe was used in the fatal assault.

An autopsy performed by a Burlington County Medical Examiner ruled the death a homicide, officials said.

Carl remains at Burlington County Jail in Mount Holly pending a detention hearing in Superior Court.

If you’re not into being scared but still want to enjoy some fun fall festivities, continue reading for our guide to what’s on tap this autumn.

Philadelphia

Free Philadelphia Fall Arts Fest

Ensemble Arts is launching its 2024/2025 season with live performances and various showcases. A small ensemble from the Philadelphia Orchestra will perform and there will be a chance to design your own jewelry with the Carribean Community of Philadelphia.

Events begin at the Commonwealth Plaza on Sept. 21 at 11 a.m. with more happening at the Perelman Theater starting at 11:50 a.m.

Click here for more information.

Mid-Autumn Festival

Thousands of residents and families will head over to Philadelphia’s Chinatown neighborhood for the 29th annual Mid-Autumn Festival as the community gives thanks under the Harvest Moon on Sept. 21.

The event runs from Noon to 8 p.m. on 10th Street from Arch to Winter streets.

There will be lion dances, Chinese opera performances, carnival games and much more.

Click here for more information.

Midtown Village Fall Festival

Midtown Village will be taken over by the community’s 17th annual Fall Festival from Noon to 8 p.m. on Sept. 28 with food, crafts and live music.

Organizers say the footprint for the one-day festival is:

• 13th Street – from Locust to Market streets
  · Sansom Street – from Broad to 12th streets
  · Drury Street – from Juniper to 13th streets
  · Chancellor Street – from Juniper to 13th streets
  · Chestnut Street – from Broad to 12th streets

Click here for more information.

Fringe Arts Festival

The Philadelphia Fringe Festival is running until Sept. 29 and features theater, film screenings and immersive experiences.

Click here for more information.

Fishtown Festivale

For the third year in a row, Frankford Avenue in Fishtown will be closed on Sept. 28 from Noon to 8 p.m. for the Fishtown Festivale.

There will be a dunk tank and carnival games as well as over 50 local art and retail vendors.

Click here for more information.

Pennsylvania

Fall Foliage Festival in Jim Thorpe

Every weekend from Oct. 5 through Oct. 20, visitors to Jim Thorpe can check out the Fall Foliage Festival with train rides, crafts, food and live music.

Click here for more information.

Downington Fall Fest

Great food, crafts and the Victory Beer Garden all come together to form the Downingtown Fall Fest on Sunday, Oct. 6 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The event shuts down Green Street and East Pennsylvania Avenue in Chester County allowing vendors and visitors to enjoy the event.

Click here for more information.

Harvest Fest in Bethlehem

On Saturday, Oct. 12 from Noon to 5 p.m. adults 21 and up can explore shops, restaurants and the festival grounds on Bethlehem’s Historic Main Street.

Participants can try the food and “brews that make Bethlehem special.”

Click here for more information.

Octoberfest at Peddler’s Village

For the eighth year in a row Peddler’s Village is hosting their Octoberfest bringing visitors a weekend stuffed with food trucks, entertainment and family-friendly activities.

The event happens in Bucks County on Saturday, Oct. 12 and Sunday, Oct. 13 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

While you’re there don’t forget to check out their free Scarecrows in the Village tradition.

Click here for more information.

Fall Fest in Upper Gwynedd Township

Fun, rides and games including a petting zoo and hayrides will take over at Parkside Place on Saturday, Oct. 19. The event runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and is free.

During the fest, former Philadelphia Eagle Hollis Thomas will make an appearance!

Click here for more information.

New Jersey

Oktoberfest at Morey’s Piers in Wildwood

The Mariner’s Pier will be open every Friday through Sunday from now until mid-October for its annual Oktoberfest. Live music as well as German-styled foods and beer will be on tap.

• Fridays from 6 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
• Saturdays from Noon to 10:30 p.m.
• Sundays from Noon to 5 p.m.

Click here for more information.

Mullica Hill Fall Festival and Living History Weekend

For the 52nd year, Mullica Hill is hosting its annual Fall Festival with lots of family fun. Everything from live music to glass-blowing demonstrations and food trucks on Oct. 12 and 13.

The living history part of the festivities will feature authentic Civil War camps and battle reenactments.

Click here for more information.

Tri-State Sunflower Festival and Pumpkin Fest at Dalton Farms

You can pick you own sunflowers and pumpkins as well as enjoy live music, a corn maze and tractor rides at Dalton Farms in Swedesboro this fall season.

• Tri-State Sunflower Festival runs until Oct. 27
• Pumpkin Fest runs Sept. 21 through Oct. 27

Click here for more information.

Fintastic Pumpkin Glow at Adventure Aquarium

A new sort of fin-friendly animal is taking over at the Adventure Aquarium in Camden this spooky season until Nov. 3. The aquarium said that super-sized aquatic animals made of pumpkins are all over for some fun.

There will be underwater pumpkin carvers and other illuminating surprises for visitors of all ages.

Click here for more information.

Kids Boo Fest at Six Flags

Family-friendly rides, a trick or treat trail and various boo fest-themed activities make up the Kids Boo Fest at Six Flags Great Adventure from now until Nov. 3

Click here for more information.

For the big kids, Six Flags is also hosting their annual Fright Fest.

Delaware

Fall Fest in Wyoming

The pumpkins and apples are waiting to be picked at Fifers Orchards in Wyoming, Del. The farm will have family-friendly attractions along with homemade apple cider and kettle corn.

Fall Fest runs from Sept. 21 through Nov. 9 from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Click here for more information.

Bridgeville Apple-Scrapple Festival

Hundreds of vendors and local crafters will descend upon Delaware for the Apple-Scrapple Festival in October. There will also be carnival rides, a food court and a Little Miss Pageant.

• Friday, Oct. 11 starting at 4 p.m.
• Saturday, Oct. 12 starting at 9 a.m.

Click here for more information.

Punkin Ale Fest

Food trucks and local vendors will be at the annual Punkin Ale Fest hosted by Dogfish Head at the Milton Brewery on Saturday, Oct. 12.

Click here for more information.

This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

Shannon Franke, an AC Electric customer, said she was shocked when she got her most recent bill in the mail. She went from owing $434 in June, to $780 in July. By August she owed $1,032.

“I double checked to see if it was for my home. I was like, is this my address?!” said Franke. “You go into the summer knowing that you’re going to have a high electric bill, but I had a bill for over a thousand dollars.”

She is not alone. Atlantic City Electric acknowledged they have heard from customers with fluctuating bills.

“They have reached out to us and we are working with them,” said Candice Womer, a spokesperson for the utility company.

According to Womer, two factors are driving the bill increases. First, she said, it has been a hotter than usual summer. Residential usage for June and July increased 20% compared to last year.

Plus, at the same time as the extreme heat, rate increases went into effect.

“Customers have also experienced a 20% overall rate increase during the last year due to several different factors including supply, distribution and seasonal rate increases,” according to a press release from AC Electric.

The supply rate increased, as it did for other power companies across New Jersey.

“We recognize our customers’ concerns and the economic challenges so many are facing right now. Atlantic City Electric wants to make certain customers not only understand their bills, but also the resources available to lower energy usage and save money. We will continue to work with local officials to ensure we are meeting the energy needs of our customers and to understand the factors contributing to rising energy costs,” the company wrote in a news release.

Some people are not satisfied with the utility company’s response. More than 30,000 people have signed an online petition calling for transparency on the rising rates.

U.S. Congressman Jeff Van Drew wrote a letter to the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) demanding, “a public hearing to allow South Jersey residents to voice their concerns over the outrageous spikes in their electricity bills.”

“Over the past few months, my office has compiled substantial data from thousands of residents, which indicate that their energy bills have sometimes tripled compared to the same period last summer,” Van Drew wrote in the letter. “Such increases, especially at a time of severe economic hardship on nearly all expenses are unacceptable and have placed an undue financial burden on many families in our community.”

A spokesperson for the NJBPU said the board does investigate high bill complaints that they receive from ratepayers. The board has received outreach from ratepayers regarding increases in summer electric bills, according to the spokesperson.

“One recent reason ratepayers may have experienced an increase is that the cost of generating electricity has changed, something that is not unique to New Jersey. Utilities purchase their electricity in the marketplace and there are different market mechanisms that impact the cost of electricity. Details on the prices that went into effect on June 1, 2024, as a result of the electricity auction for Basic Generation are available here,” a spokesperson wrote in a statement emailed to NBC10. “One of the main drivers in the cost of an electric bill, though, is usage. After a particularly hot and humid summer, we encourage customers to compare their individual usage from month-to-month and year-to-year to determine if higher usage has caused an increase in their bill.”

How to get help

A spokesperson for the NJBPU said customers who are experiencing trouble paying their bills should contact their utility to set up a deferred payment plan. People can learn more about energy assistance programs here.

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The body of water where the man was found is located at the Cedar Lake Wildlife Management area off of Jackson Road in Monroe Township, according to a spokesperson with the police department there.

The man has been identified by authorities as Rafael Martinez Pascual.

Pascual had been swimming with friends before he disappeared under the water, police said. He is a citizen of Mexico but was living in Pitman, New Jersey.

Rescue workers from several local agencies were called just after 2 p.m. to assist in the search that used divers, special watercraft, helicopter and drones, police said. Pascual was found around 5 p.m.

Léelo en español aquí

SkyForce10 was over the scene just after 4 p.m. where crews could be seen on a beach as a small red boat floated in the water.

Officials said that this is the fourth person to die by drowning in Monroe Township during this summer season.

The area where Pascual died is closed to the public and swimming is not allowed, according to regulations from the Wildlife Management Area.

An investigation is underway by the Monroe Township Police Department with the help of the Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office.

This is a developing story. Check back here for updates.

Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced that Jeffrey Finlay, 56, of Brick Township, was indicted by a Grand Jury sitting in Ocean County on 149 counts of Animal Cruelty.

On May 4, 2023, officials said officers of the Brick Township Police Department responded to a residence on Mantoloking Road after Finlay himself requested assistance with removing an excessive number of animals from his home.

Officers found approximately 157 cats and three dogs inside the home, officials said. Over the course of 24 hours, the animals were removed and transferred for treatment and evaluation at Northern and Southern Ocean County Animal Facilities.

Then, on June 5, 2023, officials said the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office and Brick Township Police Department received the final veterinary reports from the Ocean County Health Department regarding the animals and it was reported that 25 cats needed to be euthanized and 4 cats suffered serious bodily injury as a result of Finlay’s failure to provide necessary care for them.

New Jersey Aug 26

Woman charged after trying to entice tiger at NJ zoo, police say

Aug 29

Lightning strikes Turtle Back Zoo building, sparking fire

Finlay was charged with animal cruelty on June 11, 2023, and a warrant was issued for his arrest, according to officials. Days later, on June 14, he surrendered himself to Brick Township Police Headquarters.

Officials said Finlay was processed, transported to the Ocean County Jail, and released as a consequence of New Jersey Bail Reform.

Baruch Ber Ziemba, 39, of Lakewood, was visiting the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area in Bushkill, Pennsylvania, with his wife and seven children, according to rangers with the National Park Service. He was on a boat when he saw the two children struggling near the recreation area’s Bushkill Access around 1:45 p.m. Monday.

Ziemba jumped into the water and got the children to safety before he was dragged by a wave, the rangers said. His body was recovered about 90 minutes later, about 20 to 30 feet from the shore in seven feet of water.

No other injuries were reported in the incident.

The three beaches within the recreation area do not have lifeguards and are “swim at your own risk,” according to the park service’s website. The agency advises swimmers to stay within guarded beaches, as the Delaware River often has strong currents, sharp drop-offs and other conditions that can make the waterway dangerous.

The meeting took place at Camden High School on 1700 Park Boulevard in Camden, New Jersey. Camden residents and advocates called for the immediate removal of Camden School Board President Wasim Muhammad, 56.

Muhammad, formerly known as Donnie Walker, was accused of sexually assaulting a middle school student when he was a teacher 30 years ago. In June, a jury in a civil case found that he “recklessly and intentionally committed extreme and outrageous conduct” though they did not believe he sexually abused the student. The Camden City School District reached a $2 million settlement with the former student.

During Tuesday’s meeting, Jeff Fritz, the attorney of the former student, showed a photo of his client to the crowd and read a brief statement from her.

“Every day is an intentional effort for me to function as a mother, wife and educator,” Fritz said on his client’s behalf. “I am plagued with memories and nightmares.”

The meeting soon became heated with a crowd repeatedly chanting and calling for Muhammad’s removal. At one point, Muhammad helped remove a woman who became upset about the attacks against him. Muhammad’s wife also tried to speak in her husband’s defense but was drowned out by noise and whistles from the crowd.

The former student, Salema Robinson spoke with NBC10 on Wednesday and shared what she had to say.

“It’s confusing, that’s for sure, that he’s still there. And it makes me very disappointed,” Robinson said.

Robinson moved away to the South decades ago but watched a live stream of the meeting centered around her case involving Muhammad. She’s urging families to not back down.

“I have a physical, visceral reaction when I think about it. It hurts my stomach,” Robinson said. “I struggle with trusting myself, trusting my judgement. I struggle with sleeping a lot,” she also shared.

While the Camden School District didn’t directly say if they would ask Muhammad to step down, State District Superintendent Katrina T. McCombs released a statement.

“While we humbly acknowledge the challenge we presently face, the Camden City School District remains committed to a successful start to the 2024-2025 school year,” McCombs wrote. “Our top priority is to ensure that students, staff, and families have the resources they need to succeed. Our students’ socioemotional and academic well-being drives our efforts. We are confident that, together, we can overcome these challenges and create a thriving environment for everyone in our district.”

NBC10’s Aaron Baskerville tried to speak with Muhammad at Tuesday’s meeting. Muhammad walked away while asking him to wait until after the meeting. Baskerville was later locked out of the hallway and he wasn’t able to get close to the school superintendent.

Eventually, Troy Archie, Muhammad’s attorney, spoke on camera.

“I think it’s going to come up but eventually he’ll have to overpower it,” Archie said when asked how Muhammad could stop the calls for his resignation from becoming a distraction during the school year.

A recall petition is underway to remove Muhammad since the school board doesn’t have the authority to force him out.

According to the Atlantic City Police Department, just before 8 p.m., officers responded to the first block of N. Morris Ave. for a report of an ATV striking a gas meter.

Police said responding officers arrived on the scene and immediately evacuated the neighborhood after smelling the odor of natural gas.

Officers at the scene learned that the ATV driver—31-year-old Laron Wright of Atlantic City—had entered an alleyway and attempted to turn when he lost control and struck a gas meter and a vehicle, according to police.

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Police said Wright was arrested for his actions, and his ATV was seized. He has been charged with recklessly creating the risk of widespread injury/damage and disorderly conduct.

Wright was released on a summons with a future court date, according to police.

Police said the Atlantic City Fire Department and South Jersey Gas responded to the scene, and after nearly two hours, residents were allowed back into their homes.

Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact the Atlantic City Police Department Criminal Investigations Unit at 609-347-5766 or submit a text anonymously to tip411 (847411). Begin the text with ACPD.

The boardwalk between Derby and Cornwall Avenues will be off-limits for both pedestrians and bicyclists.

Officials said the portion of the broadwalk is expected to reopen at 4 p.m. Wednesday afternoon.

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In a social media post, the aquarium said Anchor, the great hammerhead shark, was a tremendous ambassador for his species for 20 years.

They said he taught all who met him about shark conservation and the hammerhead’s vital role in the health of coastal marine ecosystems.

“Our thoughts are with the animal care and guest experience teams who knew him best, as they’ve lost a close friend,” the aquarium said.

Officials did not release how Anchor passed away but asked the public to share their favorite memories of him on their social media channels.

Adventure Aquarium is home to the largest collection of sharks in the Northeast, including Pacific blacktip reef sharks, silky sharks, sandbar sharks, sand tiger sharks, nurse sharks, bamboo sharks and epaulette sharks. 

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