WILDWOOD, N.J. (CBS) — The Wildwood American Legion is now petitioning to bring the statue of Kate Smith to town. It comes after the mayor of Wildwood said he also wants the statue, which was removed from the sports complex by the Flyers.
American Legion Post 184 “will be happy to put the statue at the post,” post commander Harry Weimar told Eyewitness News. A petition will be available on Legion184.org for people to sign and show their support.
On Monday, Troiano announced Smith’s version of “God Bless America” will still be played daily at 11 a.m.
The controversy surrounding Smith erupted after it came to light that she recorded at least 2 racist songs back in the 1930s. Both the Flyers and New York Yankees have said they will no longer play her rendition of “God Bless America.”
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – A 10-year-old boy is in critical condition after being struck by a vehicle in Philadelphia’s West Oak Lane neighborhood, police say. The incident happened at approximately 7:05 p.m. on the 2000 block of Washington Lane on Wednesday night.
Police say the boy ran out in between cars and was hit by a white van.
The boy suffered a broken arm, head trauma and lacerations to his head, according to police.
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — A Manayunk restaurant has voluntarily closed after it was accused of illegally dumping waste into a street drain. Eyewitness News viewer John Teague sent video from outside Hot Pot Gourmet on Main Street.
The video shows several workers dumping an unknown liquid down the sewer.
The health department says the restaurant agreed to close after finding violations unrelated to the alleged dumping. The dumping investigation continues and the restaurant could face fines.
RIDLEY PARK, Pa. (CBS) – A mother and son’s prayers were answered when a mystery man rescued them from a burning boat. Now the search is on for the good Samaritan who jumped into action to save their lives.
What started out as the perfect day for a fishing trip for Sharon Keller and her son Steven Kelly quickly turned into a nightmare Tuesday.
Kelly’s boat was rapidly became engulfed in flames and thick, black smoke began billowing into the air.
“All of a sudden we just heard a loud explosion so we both turned around and the engine exploded,” Keller said. “I go in panic mode.”
“The guy ends up finding me and he’s just real calm. He’s like, ‘I got you, I got you,’” Keller said. “So he leaned over, wrapped his arms around my arms and literally just pulled me up.”
Sharon was rushed to the shore, where witnesses ran to provide aid while her son was still struggling to fight the boat fire – not only trying to save his vessel but others in the process too.
“I begged him to jump with me,” Keller said. “I’m like, ‘Steve you got to jump, like who cares about this?’ And he said, ‘Mom, I didn’t care about the boat. I care about everybody else’s stuff.’ Because he’s got such a kind heart.”
PHILADELPHIA (CBS/CNN) — The American Lung Association is issuing a dire warning. More and more Americans are breathing polluted air.
The group just released its annual State of the Air report. Philadelphia and almost every surrounding county got an “F” for their unhealthy air.
Credit: CBS3
The only local counties that did not get a failing grade are Lehigh, Atlantic and Cumberland Counties.
The country had been making progress in cleaning up air pollution, but during the Trump administration, it has been backsliding, the report says. Deregulation and climate change are largely to blame.
President Donald Trump made a pledge in his 2017 State of the Union address to “promote clean air and water,” but his administration has reversed or proposed rollbacks to major air pollution protections, emissions standards and drilling and extraction regulations. He’s also slashed the EPA budget; the current proposal is to cut the budget by a third.
“We have a long list of things we are concerned about this administration doing,” said report author Janice Nolen, the American Lung Association’s assistant vice president of national policy. “We have to keep cleaning up the air, and we have to deal with climate change first and foremost, especially after seeing the harm of what is happening now.”
The new report says that 141.1 million Americans — 4 in 10 — live in counties that have air with unhealthy levels of particle pollution or ozone. That’s an increase of 7.2 million people from last year’s report. Wednesday’s report, the organization’s 20th, looks at data on particle pollution and ozone pollution from 2015 to 2017.
Particle pollution is the mix of solid and liquid droplets in the air, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency. It can come in the form of dirt, dust, soot or smoke. Particle pollution comes from coal- and natural gas-fired plants, cars, agriculture, unpaved roads and construction sites.
Ozone, also called smog, essentially causes a sunburn of the lung, irritating and inflaming the lining of our lungs when we breathe it in. It can leave us winded, cause asthma attacks, make us more susceptible to infection and even shorten our lives.
The country as a whole recorded more days with hazardous air quality than ever from 2015 to 2017, the researchers said, defined as air that reaches “emergency conditions” on the government’s air quality index.
Eight city areas had recorded the highest number of days with unhealthy spikes in particle pollution since the American Lung Association started monitoring pollution this way: Fairbanks, Alaska; Missoula, Montana; Bismarck, North Dakota, Bend-Pineville, Oregon; Yakima and the Spokane-Spokane Valley-Coeur d’Alene area in Washington; and Salinas and Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, California.
An increasing number — more than 20.5 million people — lived in counties with year-round particle pollution problems. Topping that list was the Fresno-Madera-Hanford, California, area; followed by Bakersfield, California; Fairbanks, Alaska; Visalia, California; Los Angeles-Long Beach, California; San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, California; the Pittsburgh-New Castle Weirton, Pennsylvania-Ohio-West Virginia area; El Centro, California; the Cleveland-Akron-Canton, Ohio, area; and Medford-Grants Pass, Oregon.
Climate change brings higher temperatures, drought, floods, wildfires and other extreme weather that makes it harder to breathe and makes pollution worse.
“We are seeing the impact of climate change now. Something has to be done,” Nolen said.
There are some cities in the report that the American Lung Association thinks are getting it right. Only six qualify as “cleanest,” meaning they have no high ozone or high-particle-pollution days and rank among the 25 cities with the lowest year-round particle pollution. They are Bangor, Maine; Burlington-South Burlington, Vermont; Honolulu, Hawaii; Lincoln-Beatrice, Nebraska; Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, Florida; and Wilmington, North Carolina.
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — It’s a sign of the season. Parks on Tap made its long-awaited return Wednesday.
The roving beer garden officially opened for its fourth year. The event made its first stop at the Azalea Garden behind the Art Museum.
Parks on Tap is officially BACK IN SEASON! Head out to opening night tonight at the Azalea Garden. Have a beer, hang with friends and enjoy the gorgeous weather. Get the full schedule https://t.co/p2IZKZVnHv#ParksonTappic.twitter.com/lEl7Cj6Tuw
— Philadelphia Parks & Recreation (@PhilaParkandRec) April 24, 2019
Parks on Tap features local brews, wine and cider, as well as sandwiches and snacks.
This year, it will journey to 23 parks, including several new locations. It takes place Wednesdays through Sundays until Sept. 29.
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – A tractor-trailer has overturned on the on-ramp to Martin Luther King Drive, officials say. The incident happened shorty after 6 p.m. under the Spring Garden Bridge, causing major traffic problems.
Chopper 3 over Eakins Oval showed the tractor-trailer on its side, blocking the on-ramp to MLK Drive.
(Credit: CBS3)
It’s not yet known how the tractor-trailer ended up on its side.
WILDWOOD, N.J. (CBS) — The mayor of Wildwood wants to bring the Kate Smith statue to the Jersey Shore after the Philadelphia Flyers removed it following racism allegations against the singer. Mayor Ernie Troiano, who already said Smith’s version of “God Bless America” will continue to play on the boardwalk, now wants the statue to come to Wildwood.
The mayor says he’s fine-tuning a plan should such an acquisition be possible, even suggesting having the Smith statue on the boardwalk.
“I’m a mayor of a great city who is colorblind because we have free beaches, we invite everybody. I don’t sit here atop of that bridge and say, ‘You’re pretty well dressed, you can come in. You know what, I don’t like the way you look, you can’t come in.’ We invite the world,” said Troiano.
This past weekend, the Flyers decided to remove Smith’s statue and stop playing her rendition of “God Bless America” at games when it was revealed that she sang racially insensitive songs in the 1930s. One song Smith recorded was called “That’s Why Darkies Were Born,” and it included the lyrics, “someone had to pick cotton.”
“I don’t think she’s the person everyone saying she is, and, of course, she’s not here to defend herself,” said Troiano.
The Flyers would not take questions about the statue, referring back to the statement they released this weekend.
“We cannot stand idle while material from another era gets in the way of who we are today,” the Flyers said in a statement.
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — Philadelphia police are asking for the public’s help locating two sisters who went missing Wednesday morning in the city’s Olney neighborhood. Police are looking for 9-year-old Brandi Conaway and 12-year-old Hailey Conaway.
Brandi Conaway, left, and Hailey Conaway. (credit: Philadelphia Police Department)
The two were last seen at 7:30 a.m. on the 100 block of East Albanus Street.
Brandi is 5-foot-2 and 100 pounds with a light complexion, thin build, hazel eyes and straight, brown hair. She was last seen wearing khaki pants, a navy blue polo shirt and a black hoodie.
Hailey is 5-foot-6 and 120 pounds with a light complexion, heavy build, hazel eyes and straight, brown hair. She was last seen wearing khaki pants, a navy blue polo shirt, a floral scarf, black and white sneakers and a clear fanny pack.
Police say the two sisters may be together. If you have any information on the sisters’ location, call police at 215-686-3353.
ALLENTOWN, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania firefighters say a man was stuck in a sewer and rescued after construction workers heard him calling for help from underground.
Video shows the man, who appears to be barefoot, stumbling and being held up by emergency workers as they put him on a gurney.
He told fire officials he woke up down there.
The workers heard him yelling for help Tuesday morning in Allentown. Firefighters arrived, opened a manhole cover and helped him up a ladder to street level.
The rescued man was taken to a hospital. His condition is unknown.
It’s unclear how he got into the sewer and exactly how long he’d been down there. Allentown Fire Captain John Christopher said the man was mildly hypothermic and dehydrated and could have been down there for days.
WYNNEWOOD, Pa. (CBS) — Police in Lower Merion Township say three people stole $450,000 worth of colonoscopes from Lankenau Hospital on Monday morning. The incident happened around 7:30 a.m.
Lower Merion Township police say the suspects gained access to a secured area in the hospital and removed numerous Olympus Colonoscopes. According to the World Health Organization, colonoscopes “are used for the removal of foreign bodies, excision of tumors or colorectal polyps (polypectomy), and control of hemorrhage.”
The stolen items are worth approximately $450,000.
Police say the suspects drove off in a newer model, dark-colored Jeep Wrangler, with a hard top.
(credit: Lower Merion Township Police)
The first suspect is described as a white male in his early 20s, possibly wearing a wig with curly hair, glasses, dark-colored sweatshirt, blue jeans, black sneakers with white soles and carrying a black backpack.
The second suspect is described as a white male in his late 40s, wearing a gray Fedora hat, dark-colored coat, scarf, blue jeans, black boots and carrying a black backpack.
The third suspect is described as a white female in her late 20s, wearing a pink winter ski cap, black jacket, white shirt, blue jeans and white sneakers.
Anyone with information about this incident can call police at 610-645-6229.
POTTSTOWN, Pa. (CBS) – Police are asking for the public’s help finding a suspect wanted for the murder of a 25-year-old man on Easter. Authorities say 31-year-old Stephen Moore has been charged with first-degree murder for the shooting death of Joshua Smith at 625 Industrial Highway in Pottstown.
Police say Moore’s last known address is in Pottstown but has since fled. Moore has ties to both the Reading and Camden, New Jersey, areas.
Officials say Moore is a black male with black hair and brown eyes. He’s 5-foot-7 and weighs about 150 pounds.
(Credit: CBS3)
Smith was found shot multiple times on Sunday.
According to police, at the time Smith’s body was found, an officer began following a silver Jeep speeding down Industrial Highway. The jeep crashed at the intersection of High and Wilson Streets and the male driver fled the scene on foot.
Investigators found that the jeep is owned by Moore’s wife and both Moore and Smith were seen leaving Smith’s residence earlier on Easter.
DOYLESTOWN, Pa. (CBS) — Police are investigating after a car crashed into a rehab center in Doylestown on Wednesday afternoon. The car crashed into the NovaCare Rehabilitation building at 101 Progress Drive.
It is not known what caused the car to drive into the building. So far, there is no word on any injuries.
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – Firefighters are battling a house fire in Philadelphia’s Frankford neighborhood on Wednesday. The blaze broke out at approximately 2:30 p.m. at a row home on the 5200 block of Duffield Street.
Officials say flames and black smoke are coming from the roof of the row home.
There is no word of any injuries.
Stay with CBSPhilly.com for this developing story.
BETHLEHEM, Pa. (CBS) — A fire at a church in Bethlehem has been ruled an arson, officials say. The blaze broke out at the Iglesia Pentecostal de Bethlehem at 1044 Pembroke Rd., shortly after midnight on Tuesday.
The Bethlehem City Fire Marshall says someone entered the sanctuary area of the church and started the fire.
The fire grew to two alarms, before firefighters could get it under control.
The majority of the damage to the church appears to be due to smoke and soot. No one was hurt.
Officials say this appears to be an isolated incident and they do not believe there is any ongoing danger to the community.
The ATF is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information that leads to a successful prosecution.
Anyone with information about the fire is asked to contact the Bethlehem Police Department at 610-691-6660.
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – A person was rushed to the hospital after being struck by a vehicle on Roosevelt Boulevard in the Crescentville section of Philadelphia, officials say. The incident happened at approximately 1:30 p.m. on the northbound inner lanes of Roosevelt Boulevard, near Adams Avenue.
Officials say the pedestrian was crossing the boulevard when they were struck by the vehicle.
The person was transported to Einstein Medical Center. Their condition is unknown at this time.
The driver of the vehicle remained on scene.
(Credit: CBS3)
The inner lanes of Roosevelt Boulevard are closed while officials investigate the accident.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation.
Stay with CBSPhilly.com for this developing story.
HACKENSACK, N.J. (CBS/AP) — A Philadelphia minister and New Jersey police officer are among 16 men who allegedly tried to set up sexual encounters with people they thought were teenage boys and girls. New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Grewal announced the arrests Wednesday.
(credit: New Jersey Attorney General’s Office)
They were made as part of “Operation Home Alone,” a multi-agency undercover sting that targeted people who allegedly used social media in an attempt to lure children. The underage “children” were really undercover officers.
“The 16 men we arrested allegedly used social media to stalk victims they believed were vulnerable children who could be sexually exploited. Fortunately, their victims were really undercover officers prepared to put them in handcuffs,” said New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Grewal. “Parents need to know that the profiles of underage girls and boys we posted on social media to catch these offenders could easily have been profiles of their own children, who might also be targeted by predators on chat apps and popular gaming sites. Our message to parents with Operation Home Alone is be on guard. Our message to child predators is law enforcement is working overtime to find you and arrest you.”
Gurbir said most of the defendants were arrested when they arrived at a residence in Bergen County, where they expected to find their victim home alone. The arrests were made from April 11-15.
Among those arrested was 37-year-old Roger Arroyo, a traveling minister from Philadelphia. Peter Tuchol Jr., 28, an officer with the Ridgewood Police Department, was also arrested. The department has suspended him.
Seven defendants traveled to the undercover house from locations in New York State, while another came from Philadelphia. The defendants face various charges including luring and attempted sexual assault.
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – Philadelphia Phillies owner John Middleton and his wife, Leigh Middleton, have donated $100,000 to the Eagles Autism Challenge. The Eagles Autism Challenge is a one-day bike ride and family-friendly 5K run/walk that begins and ends at Lincoln Financial Field.
This year’s challenge will be held on Saturday, May 18.
There is also a virtual participant option for those who want to fundraise but are unable to ride, run or walk on event day.
“The Eagles are a world-class organization both on and off the field and we are proud to be part of their effort to drive autism research and improve the lives of millions of people around the world,” John Middleton said.
“John and I are honored to support the Eagles Autism Challenge and our friends, the Lurie’s, with their incredible movement to advance scientific breakthroughs and establish Philadelphia as the center for autism research,” said Leigh Middleton.
One hundred percent of the contributed funds will be offered to new and existing Eagles Autism Challenge participants through the Middleton Matching Gift Challenge. The first $100,000 in online donations will be matched, dollar for dollar.
“On behalf of my family and the Philadelphia Eagles, I would like to graciously thank John and Leigh for their extreme generosity and commitment, not just to the Eagles Autism Challenge but to the autism community,” said Jeffrey Lurie, Philadelphia Eagles chairman and CEO. “A contribution like this says a lot about someone’s character, thoughtfulness and compassion for others. John and Leigh are admired humanitarians who, together, have made a deep and profound philanthropic impact in the Philadelphia region and beyond. Our hope is that the Middleton’s generosity will inspire leadership support and further position our city as a base for autism research.”
The Middleton Matching Gift Challenge is the sixth Eagles Autism Challenge matching gift of the year, with an expected grand total of $760,000 to be matched by the end of the week.
To learn more about the Eagles Autism Challenge, click here.
NEWARK, Del. (CBS) — Police in Delaware apprehended a fugitive who assaulted a trooper and escaped custody on Wednesday morning. Delaware State Police say 42-year-old Robert Burke Jr., of New Castle, was found in a wooded area behind William B. Keene Elementary School around 10:30 a.m.
(credit: Delaware State Police)
The incident occurred shortly after 7:30 a.m. after Burke was arrested and arraigned on multiple offenses, including drug charges and disorderly conduct.
When the trooper was in the process of transporting Burke to the Howard R. Young Correctional Center, he assaulted the trooper and fled out of the back door. The trooper suffered minor injuries.
Multiple law enforcement agencies assisted with the search.
Burke was arrested and will be charged with multiple criminal offenses.
NEWARK, Del. (CBS) — Police in Delaware are searching for a fugitive who assaulted a trooper and escaped custody on Wednesday morning. Delaware State Police say they need the public’s help in locating 42-year-old Robert Burke Jr., of New Castle.
(credit: Delaware State Police)
The incident occurred shortly after 7:30 a.m. after Burke was arrested and arraigned on multiple offenses, including drug charges and disorderly conduct.
When the trooper was in the process of transporting Burke to the Howard R. Young Correctional Center, he assaulted the trooper and fled out of the back door. The trooper suffered minor injuries.
Multiple law enforcement agencies are now assisting with the search.
Burke is described as a 5-foot-8 white male, who weighs 150 pounds. He was last seen wearing a green-hooded sweatshirt that was recovered, an unknown colored shirt, faded green jeans, brown belt, and no shoes.
If anyone has information on Burke’s whereabouts, call 911 or Delaware State Police at 302-834-2620.
& © 2019 Cable News Network, Inc., a Time Warner Company contributed to this report.)
