Tag: Montgomery County

It’s not hype that Pennsylvania could decide the 2024 presidential election. It’s math.

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The road to the White House goes straight through Pennsylvania. While there are a handful of other battleground states that could sway the upcoming presidential election, it will be very difficult for Kamala Harris or Donald Trump to find a path to victory without winning the Keystone State — and both candidates know it.

Simply put: “Pennsylvania will determine this election,” as Rep. Brendan Boyle (D-2nd) said said during the Democratic National Convention.

MORE: Federal prosecutors in Philly say Russian government is behind online plot to meddle in U.S. politics

Pennsylvania has a long history of picking winners. The state has been won for the eventual president in 10 of the last 12 elections, and it’s one of only five states that backed Trump, a Republican, in 2016 and Democrat Joe Biden in 2020.

For this election, there are seven clear swing states according to polling, and Pennsylvania has more electoral votes (19) than any of the others — Nevada (6), Wisconsin (10), Arizona (11), Michigan (15), Georgia (16) and North Carolina (16). Assuming the other 43 states vote as expected, Trump and Harris would both sit around 220 electoral votes in the race to 270, and Pennsylvania’s 19 electoral votes represents about 40% of the difference.

And if that’s not enough to show this state’s grave importance in the upcoming election, just look at how much time and money both campaigns have spent here.

Last month, Trump was in York County weeks after surviving an assassination attempt during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. Meanwhile, his running mate, Sen. JD Vance (Ohio), was speaking in Philadelphia.

“Pennsylvania is an incredibly important state to me and President Trump,” Vance said during his visit. “It is a state with a proud energy tradition, a proud manufacturing tradition. We’re going to be here a lot.”

Harrison Jones/USA TODAY NETWORK

Former president Donald Trump speaks during a rally at the New Holland Arena on July 31 in Harrisburg, Pa. It was Trump’s first appearance in Pennsylvania since his attempted assassination in Butler, Pa.

Earlier in August, Harris picked Philadelphia as the place to announce her vice presidential nominee, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz.

“We know that Pennsylvania is core to our pathway to victory as we look at getting to 270 (electoral votes) which, of course, is our North Star,” Harris’ campaign manager Chávez Rodriguez told Pennsylvania delegates last month, according to the Inquirer. “We want to reach Democrats everywhere they are throughout the state.”

Even the first Trump-Harris debate will be in the state, with the National Constitutional Center in Philly hosting the event on Tuesday, Sept. 10.

CHRIS LACHALL/USA TODAY NETWORK ATLANTIC GROUP

Vice President Kamala Harris stands with her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, at a rally at Temple University in Philadelphia on Aug. 6.

As far as spending, both campaigns have allocated more money on advertising in Pennsylvania than any other state, according to AdImpact data from late August.

And whether Pennsylvania goes red or blue in November — Harris is leading Trump by 3 percentage points, according to the latest Washington Post polling data — could ultimately come down to voting in the Philly suburbs, which proved to be a major reasons the state flipped parties from 2016 to 2020.

While Bucks, Delaware, Chester and Montgomery counties each backed the Democratic candidate in both elections, Biden in 2020 significantly outperformed 2016 Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton in those suburbs.

In head-to-head totals from 2016, Clinton won 57.27% of the vote in those counties compared with Trump’s 42.73%. Four years later, Biden received 59.56% to Trump’s 40.44%.

Eight years ago, the difference between Clinton and Trump in Pennsylvania was a narrow 44,292 votes, less than 1% of votes cast. If she had the same percentage of support among those four counties that Biden got four years later, she would have had 30,000 more votes, nearly making up the difference in the entire state.

Another factor will be voter turnout in these counties, which are some of the fastest-growing in the state. From July 1, 2022, to July 1, 2023, Montgomery (+3,698), Chester (+3,146), Delaware (+847) and Bucks (+427) each saw an increase in residents — a rarity in a state that had 57 of 67 counties experience population declines over that time.

And the growth in these counties from 2016 to 2020 translated to larger voter turnouts: While Clinton had 188,353 more votes than Trump in 2016, Biden had 293,094 more than the former president in 2020.

But the increase in population in these Democratic-leaning Philly suburbs doesn’t necessarily equate to more votes for Harris.

Republicans see great potential to gain ground in Bucks County, which sided with Biden by more than 17,000 votes in 2020 when registered Democrats outnumber Republicans by about 10,000. In July, WHYY reported Republicans had flipped the county and held a registration advantage over Democrats by more than 200.

All around Pennsylvania, canvassers from each party are battling to win over voters. While there are more than 160 million registered voters in the United States, it seems like the entire election could be decided by the nearly 9 million in this state.

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Jeff Tomik

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September 5, 2024
Frozen remains found 47 years ago on the Appalachian Trail are identified as Montgomery County man

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Frozen human remains that were found in a cave on the Appalachian Trail nearly five decades ago have finally been identified as a Montgomery County man who had died from a drug overdose before a pair of hikers located his body, the Berks County Coroner’s Office said Tuesday.

Nicholas Paul Grubb, 27, had long been referred to as “Pinnacle Man” because his remains were found at a high point of the trail known as the Pinnacle in Albany Township, which is about 65 miles northwest of his hometown of Fort Washington. Grubb’s body was found in January 1977 during one of the coldest winters in Pennsylvania’s history, when temperatures had averaged in the single digits, authorities said.

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On Tuesday, Berks County Coroner John Fielding III said the breakthrough in the cold case was achieved using an old fingerprint card that was recovered by an investigator earlier this month. The discovery enabled authorities to identify Grubb after past attempts to do so with DNA and other methods had failed.

The hikers found Grubb’s remains on Jan. 16, 1977. The next day, an autopsy was conducted at Reading Hospital and it was determined Grubb had died from an overdose of phenobarbital and pentobarbital, which are both barbiturate drugs. At the time, the medical examiner concluded that the cause of death was suicide. Grubb, whose body went unclaimed, was buried at Potter’s Field in Berks County.

At the time the remains were discovered, investigators said there were no signs of foul play. Grubb was described as a white male between 25 and 35 years old. He had a full beard and a scar in the shape of the letter “T” on the left side of his chin. He was found wearing Wrangler blue jeans and a buckskin jacket with tassels on the sleeves and torso. He also wore hiking boots and appeared to have gone to the trail prepared to handle the harsh elements.

Over the ensuing decades, the coroner’s office tried to determine Grubb’s identity using various technologies that had emerged with advances in forensics. Grubb’s body was exhumed from Potter’s Field in 2019 and bone samples were sent to labs on two separate occasions for DNA extraction. Efforts to match Grubb’s‘ DNA with records in a national database of unidentified remains did not yield results. Investigators also tried a method known as craniofacial reconstruction, which attempts to model faces using skeletal remains.

The case took a turn earlier this month when an FBI expert located an original, ink-and-paper fingerprint card that contained Grubb’s prints, the Reading Eagle reported. In years past, the coroner’s office had been relying on a copy of the card that was too deteriorated to make a definitive match. The original card was found in records that were not immediately accessible, Fielding said. Fingerprint technology has since advanced to use digital scanners.

Once the fingerprint card was located, Pinnacle Man’s prints were submitted to a national database on Aug. 12. A match with Grubb was made within an hour using another copy of his fingerprints that were on record from police in Colorado, where Grubb had once lived and had an interaction with law enforcement.

“For 47 years, this man remained unidentified,” Fielding said. “A nameless figure in a long-forgotten case. But today I’m honored to announce that through the unyielding determination of federal, state and local agencies, the Berks County Coroner’s Office has confirmed the identity of this individual.”

Investigators are now working to learn more about Grubb’s life in the years before his death. Authorities have made contact with his family and learned that he once served in the Pennsylvania National Guard in the early 1970s. The coroner’s office plans to transfer Grubb’s remains to his family to be buried at a place of their choosing.

Although Grubb’s cause of death was deemed to be suicide, investigators now hope to determine how the drugs got into his system before he died on the Appalachian Trail. The investigation will remain open until a final determination is made.

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Michael Tanenbaum

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August 27, 2024
Montgomery County native competes in finals of NBC’s ‘American Ninja Warrior’ – WTOP News

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Growing up in North Potomac, Karen Potts loved watching NBC’s “American Ninja Warrior” on TV. On Monday night, she’ll compete in Stage 1 of the finals.

WTOP’s Jason Fraley previews ‘American Ninja Warrior’ (Part 1)

Growing up in North Potomac, Maryland, Karen Potts loved watching NBC’s “American Ninja Warrior” on TV. On Monday night, she’ll compete in Stage 1 of the finals.

“I’m definitely excited to watch,” Potts, 19, told WTOP. “I know what happens, but I love to see the way they put it all together and then a bunch of my friends are competing too, the way you meet people through there. I’ll be back at school by then, so I think my softball team and some other friends are all going to watch it together.”

She currently attends Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, where she’s majoring in nutrition and psychology with a minor in sports medicine — all things that come in handy on “American Ninja Warrior.”

“Nutrition is big when you’re competing in sports, especially when you’re competing in something like ‘Ninja’ where it’s very active, a lot of strength is involved,” Potts said. “Then psychology, being on the course and especially with this being a TV show, there’s a big mental aspect, so that definitely goes hand in hand.”

Her athletic prowess began at Wootton High School where she was a goalkeeper on the soccer team in the fall, a post player on the basketball team in the winter, and a shortstop on the softball team in the spring.

“Hand-eye coordination, agility and overall athleticism helps a lot with ‘Ninja,’” Potts said.

This isn’t her first ninja rodeo. The teenager previously competed in Season 2 of “American Ninja Warrior Junior,” followed by Season 14 of the adult “American Ninja Warrior” where she fell during the finals in 2020.

“In Season 14 on Stage 1, I fell on something called the Giant Rollercoaster,” Potts said. “There’s three different tracks, so you’re hanging on a bar on the first one, then you slide down it and lache, which is what they call jumping from bar to bar. You have to lache to another track, slide down that one, then for the third one you have to carry the bar with you and place it in smaller handles and dismount from there. I fell on the transfer with the bar.”

Now, she’s making her comeback on Season 16 trying to finally get over the finish line.

“I definitely wanted to come back because I love the sport itself,” Potts said. “Ninja has such a great community, so the experience of being on the show is just super cool and super fun. You get to meet people from all over, so I wanted that aspect again. I also wanted to do better than I had done. … I wanted to try that one again and hopefully beat it. I was super excited when I was called to be on Season 16 because I wanted another chance.”

This season started with her placing first in the qualifying round, becoming the only woman to reach the fifth obstacle in a six-obstacle course. In the semifinals, she won a side-by-side race in another obstacle course.

“The beep sounded, which started our race, I was running across steps, you have to go back and forth, and went through these laches,” Potts said. “I was a step and a half ahead of my opponent into the wing nuts … made the dismount then onto the next obstacle, hop scotch, which is small cliffhanger ledges to little laches. I was about one move in and saw my opponent fall next to me, so I knew the only thing I had to do was complete that obstacle.”

Now, she faces her biggest challenge yet in Stage 1 of the finals in Las Vegas.

“Tonight, there’s a bunch of big obstacles,” Potts said. “It starts with big agility strides into a double barrel, which is two big swings on rotating barrels to dismount, followed by the Giant Rollercoaster, which is actually the obstacle that took me out last year. After that, there’s a spider wall, which is a trampoline jump, you have to prop yourself up between two walls. There’s another upper-body obstacle, then the Warped Wall, a staple of ‘Ninja Warrior.’”

WTOP’s Jason Fraley previews ‘American Ninja Warrior’ (Part 2)

Listen to our full conversation here.

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© 2024 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

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Jason Fraley

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August 25, 2024
2-year-old injured by fallen tree in Montgomery County, police say

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A two-year-old was injured by a fallen tree in Montgomery County on Saturday, authorities say.

The toddler was playing in a residential driveway with a group of children on the 7900 block of Chandler Road in the Glenside section of Cheltenham Township just after 6 p.m. when the tree fell, police said on Facebook. Police, EMS and the fire department were called to the scene and found the 2-year-old with injuries including an amputated arm from a large branch that fell about 50 feet, authorities say.

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The boy’s arm was trapped under the fallen branch when first responders arrived, 6ABC reported. Authorities say the two-year-old was attending a birthday party when the incident took place.

The injured toddler was flown to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia for treatment, authorities say. No update has been provided on his condition.

Cheltenham Township police said on Facebook that the injury is believed to be a “tragic accident,” but their investigation is ongoing and they are looking for witnesses. Anyone with information can call Cheltenham Police at 215-885-1600 or send an email to PoliceTips@CheltenhamPA.gov.

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Franki Rudnesky

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July 7, 2024
Montgomery County barbershop owner accused of shooting killing neighbor in dispute

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A Montgomery County barbershop owner was on the phone with a 911 dispatcher when authorities said he shot and killed a man who lived above the shop.

Maurice Byrd was charged over the weekend in the killing of 37-year-old Stephen Strassburg outside of Razor Reese’s Salon and Spa on North York Road in Hatboro, Pennsylvania.

Hatboro police officers found Strassburg suffering from multiple gunshot wounds in the parking lot next to the hair salon around 6 p.m., a joint news release from Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele and Hatboro Police Chief Mark Ruegg said. Strassburg died a short time later at the hospital.

“A joint investigation into the homicide by Montgomery County Detectives and Hatboro Police found that there was an ongoing dispute between the defendant and the victim, who lived above Razor Reese’s, which is owned by Byrd,” the DA’s office and police said. “The defendant had called 911 at 5:45 p.m. to say that he was being verbally assaulted by Strassburg. While he was on the phone, the 911 dispatcher heard five gunshots, then a pause, followed by two additional gunshots.”

“Strassburg did not have a weapon at the time of the shooting,” authorities said.

Investigators said they found evidence that seven shots were fired. They also recovered a 9mm Smith & Wesson semi-automatic handgun that is registered to Byrd, authorities said.

Byrd was arrested and charged with first-degree murder, third-degree murder and possession of a weapon. He remained jailed without bail, according to court records, which don’t list an attorney who could comment on his behalf.

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Brenna Weick and Dan Stamm

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June 9, 2024
MCFMO releases safety guidelines for downed power lines after 3 people were shocked
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After three people were hospitalized after being shocked by a downed power line near Lake Conroe, the Montgomery County Fire Marshall’s Office released a list of tips to keep residents safe.

The victims were a 59-year-old man, a 56-year-old woman and a 6-year-old boy.
KPRC 2 obtained cell phone video showing a power line bursting into flames at the Lake Conroe RV Campground Tuesday afternoon.

“We were in the warehouse just watching the rain come on the wind started blowing really hard. At first, I thought the wind was blowing down the power line but then the tree knocked over. I was just thinking about those trailers over there. They’re real close to the powerline,” witness Nathan Christy said.

Hours after the powerline went down, Montgomery County Fire Marshals said a 59-year-old man came in contact with the downed line. Neighbors found him on the ground with severe burns. A 56-year-old woman and a 6-year-old boy were also severely injured during the incident. Officials said it’s unclear how they got their injuries.

Devin Vega saw first responders show up after the fact. He lives on the campground and say he saw several first responders arrive.

“I was surprised it hadn’t been fenced off or anything sooner. There wasn’t an email sent out any sooner. I was honestly quite surprised that it happened. Because the arc flashes it actually happened hours previous that day,” Vega said.

Many people in the area, now thinking twice about getting close to down power lines.

“Would never get close to anything sparking like that even the day after, I would make sure all of the emergency crews are here,” Christy said.

As downed power lines have become a prominent risk in storms across Houston in recent weeks, officials are trying to educate people on the risks associated with being near a downed power line during a severe weather event.

Here are the guidelines as listed by the MCFMO:
- If you see a downed power line, move away from it and anything touching it. The ground around power lines – up to 35 feet away – may be energized.
- You cannot tell whether or not a power line is energized just by looking at it. You should assume that all downed power lines are live.
- The proper way to move away from the power line is to shuffle away with small steps, keeping your feet together and on the ground at all times. This will minimize the potential for a strong electric shock.
- If you see someone who is in direct or indirect contact with the downed line, do not touch the person. You could become the next victim. Call 911 for help.
- Do not attempt to move a downed power line or anything else in contact with it by using an object such as a broom or stick. Even non-conductive materials like wood or cloth, can conduct electricity if even slightly wet.
- Be careful not to touch or step in water near where a downed power line is located.
- Do not drive over downed power lines.
- If your car comes in contact with a downed power line while you are inside, stay in the car. Honk your horn to summon help, but direct others to stay away from your car.
- If you must leave your car because it is on fire, jump out of the vehicle with both feet together and avoid contact with both the car and the ground at the same time. Shuffle away from the car.
Copyright 2024 by KPRC Click2Houston – All rights reserved.

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Michael Horton, Corley Peel

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May 29, 2024
Already soaked neighborhoods gearing up for soaking rain
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HOUSTON – Just as many families are getting ready to put last week’s flooding in the rear-view mirror, Mother Nature is gearing up another storm that could dump several inches of rain on already saturated areas.

Another round of showers is forecast to move through the Houston area later in the day on Monday.
Some areas could see several inches of rain, including neighborhoods north of I-10. Many of those communities are still cleaning up from the most recent flooding.

“Yes, we washed up. But it stunk so bad,” said Sharon Hambrick.

It was a flood that nearly rivaled that of Hurricane Harvey in 2017.

In its wake is streets lined with debris and cars flooded out.

A visible water line on the seats of a car left behind in flood waters in the Forest Cove neighborhood of Kingwood in Houston, Texas on May 12, 2024. (Copyright 2024 by KPRC Click2Houston – All rights reserved.)

“t flooded, maybe 3 or 4 days, and it hasn’t flooded since like 2017,” said Glenn Sutton.

Gage: “We could see a healthy amount of rain, does that worry you at all that give you PTSD or Déjà vu?”

Glenn: “No. I’m okay. You know, it’s not going to rain 20 inches like it did the other day, I don’t think. But no, I’m okay.”

Sharon: “Yeah, especially my husband. He’s very worried. He always gets jumpy and, you know, should we do this anymore because of our age? We’re up in age.”

Simply put – some of these neighborhoods are like a soaked sponge.

Any more water and the ground might not be able to absorb it, resulting in flooding.

While this rain won’t even come close to what we just went through, it’s a knee jerk reaction that still has those that went through the heartbreak a little nervous about any kind of rain.
Copyright 2024 by KPRC Click2Houston – All rights reserved.

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Gage Goulding, Michael Lemons

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May 12, 2024
Pa. native Sabrina Carpenter to make her ‘Saturday Night Live’ debut on May 18

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In Sabrina Carpenter’s catchy new single, “Espresso,” she sings “I’m working late, ’cause I’m a singer.” She’ll live up to that line later this month when she makes her debut on “Saturday Night Live.”

Carpenter — an actress and singer who was born and raised in the Philly suburbs — will be the musical guest on the May 18 episode of “SNL,” the Season 49 finale, which will be hosted by Jake Gyllenhaal.

MORE: Learn more about Taylor Swift’s ‘The Tortured Poets Department’ album by talking to your Amazon Alexa

During her “SNL” set, Carpenter is almost sure to perform “Espresso,” which she released last month and is already being called a front-runner for the song of the summer. Throughout her music career so far, Carpenter has released five albums, including 2022’s “Emails I Can’t Send,” which garnered explosive success with tracks like “Nonsense” and “Feather.”

But with its dance-inducing beat, earworm-worthy lyrics — just try to get “That’s that me, espresso” out of your head — and a splashy music video to match, “Espresso” became Carpenter’s first to hit the Billboard top 10.

Her “SNL” gig comes in the wake of Carpenter’s Coachella debut, as well as her run as the opener for a string of international dates on Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour — which she previously attended in Philadelphia as a fan and famous friend of Swift herself. During downtime at Coachella, Carpenter was spotted hanging out with her rumored flame, actor Barry Keoghan, along with Swift and her boyfriend, Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce.

Carpenter, 24, was born in Quakertown, Bucks County, and grew up in East Greenville, Montgomery County, where she was homeschooled. She moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in entertainment at age 13. Along with her music career, Carpenter also is an actress who’s best-known role was in the Disney Channel series “Girl Meets World” — a reboot of ’90s Philly-based sitcom “Boy Meets World” — which ran from 2014 to 2017.

Following the announcement of Carpenter’s “SNL” gig on Thursday, fans took to X (formerly Twitter) to “espresso” their excitement for the pop star’s performance.

Fans also riffed off the fact that Carpenter would be appearing during Gyllenhaal’s episode. Gyllenhaal is famously believed to be the inspiration behind Swift’s breakup song “All Too Well,” and the even more scathing “All Too Well (10 Minute Version),” which Swift performed on “SNL” in 2021. The lore is further complicated, for people who are a little too online anyway, by the fact that “Barbie” star Ryan Gosling spoofed “All Too Well” during his “SNL” monologue last month.

would actually pay millions to see the text chain between taylor swift and sabrina carpenter about this one https://t.co/Ww2eknJM44

— ellie schnitt! (@holy_schnitt) May 2, 2024

Before Carpenter’s debut, the next new episode of “SNL” will air Saturday, with host and musical guest Dua Lipa. In case you’re one of the few people in the world who haven’t heard “Espresso” yet, give it a listen below to learn the lyrics and perfect your dance moves ahead of Carpenter’s performance:

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Franki Rudnesky

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May 2, 2024
Longtime lottery player thought he won $10,000 in Maryland. The prize was much bigger

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A lottery player in Maryland landed a “hot streak” and ended up winning huge, officials said.

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A longtime lottery player “just kept winning” in Maryland, officials said.

The Montgomery County man’s “hot streak” started with a $50 win with an instant ticket he bought in Gaithersburg, according to an April 23 news release by the Maryland Lottery. He had know clue a $100,000 prize was waiting for him.

He ended up using the $50 prize money from the scratch-off to buy five $10 50X The Cash tickets, officials said.

Before he knew it, one of the scratch-offs revealed a $500 prize, officials said.

Then he scratched another ticket and thought he’d won $10,000, officials said. Instead, the scratching had revealed a 10X symbol, which meant the prize would be multiplied by 10, equaling $100,000.

“I was happy and pleased. I have been playing for a long time,” the winner told lotto officials.

The man plans to save the money for now with the idea of potentially buying a house, officials said.

Gaithersburg is about a 50-mile drive southwest of Baltimore.

Many people can gamble or play games of chance without harm. However, for some, gambling is an addiction that can ruin lives and families.

If you or a loved one shows signs of gambling addiction, you can seek help by calling the national gambling hotline at 1-800-522-4700 or visiting the National Council on Problem Gambling website.

Paloma Chavez is a reporter covering real-time news on the West Coast. She has a degree in journalism from the University of Southern California.

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Paloma Chavez

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April 23, 2024
Police: Driver struck and killed while fleeing scene of 2-vehicle crash in Montgomery Co. – WTOP News

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A driver was struck and killed Saturday night while fleeing the scene of a two-vehicle crash in Montgomery County, Maryland, police said.

A person was struck and killed on Interstate 270 Saturday night while fleeing the scene of a two-vehicle crash in Montgomery County, Maryland, police said.

Maryland State Police told WTOP that officers were called to go to the area of northbound Interstate 270 near Montrose Road at around 10:30 p.m. for a crash with a possible overturned vehicle and fire.

A few minutes later, another call came in for a separate crash in the southbound lanes of I-270 near Route 28.

When police arrived, they learned that one of the drivers in the original crash fled the scene in the southbound lanes where that person was hit, according to police.

The person was pronounced dead at the scene, police said. The identity of the driver has not been released yet.

Police said the cause of both crashes remain under investigation.

Below is a map of the area where the crash took place:

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© 2024 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

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Terik King

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April 21, 2024
Jury convicts Philly man who tried to abduct teen girl at Montco mall

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A Montgomery County jury has found a man accused of trying to abduct a teen girl at a mall last year guilty on all counts.

Khalilh Evans, 44, of Philadelphia is now facing jail time for false imprisonment and harassment charges for the incident that happened back in July of last year.

The incident occurred at the Willow Grove Park Mall, located on 2500 Moreland Road in Montgomery County, Abington Township police said.

The victim – a 14-year-old girl – told police she was descending an escalator from the second level to the first level when she was met at the bottom by a man who identified himself as “Alex,” investigators said.

The man, later identified as Evans, asked the girl to walk with him and extended his arm as if escorting her.

The girl told Evans she was underage and tried to step away from him, according to police. As she stepped away, Evans grabbed her arm, placed it in his arm and restrained her before leading her across the mall.

Police said the girl escaped Evans grasp, screamed and ran away. Several witnesses then stepped in and stopped him from approaching the girl, according to investigators. The attack was all caught on video.

Police added Evans appeared to be working with a second man. Both men left the mall immediately after the girl fled.

Another woman had also come forward and said she also had a run-in with the same two men.

According to police, Evans is now facing 27 to 33 months in jail. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

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NBC10 Staff

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April 18, 2024
Firefighters battling 3-alarm blaze in Royersford, Pa.

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Wednesday, March 20, 2024 11:26PM

ROYERSFORD, Pennsylvania (WPVI) — Firefighters are battling a three-alarm blaze in Royersford, Pennsylvania.

The call came in around 5:43 p.m. Wednesday for a fire at a residence on 2nd Avenue.

Officials say the flames have spread to multiple homes.

Crews are still working to get the blaze under control.

The cause is still under investigation.

No injuries have been reported.

Copyright © 2024 WPVI-TV. All Rights Reserved.

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6abc Digital Staff

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March 20, 2024
Sugar Land man arrested after driving more than an hour to meet a child for sex

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THE WOODLANDS – A Houston-area man is in police custody after being involved in a sting operation.

Max T. Lambert, 62, was arrested by the Human Trafficking Unit of the Montgomery County Precinct 3 Constable’s Office.

He allegedly drove over an hour from his home in Sugar Land to The Woodlands with the intent of meeting someone he believed to be 14 years old.

Lambert was charged with Online Solicitation of a Minor. He was also found be carrying a felonious quantity of Methamphetamine, as well as a prescription drug used to enhance sexual intercourse. He was also charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance.

Copyright 2024 by KPRC Click2Houston – All rights reserved.

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Michael Horton

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March 16, 2024
Video: Police catch suspected arsonist in the act, getaway driver who fled the scene

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Video from police in Lower Moreland Township’s body cameras shows the moments leading up to them apprehending a man after, they claim, he attempted to set a home on fire and tried to flee—only to be left behind by his getaway driver.

According to police, the incident happened at about 4:07 a.m. on Sunday, when officers with the Lower Moreland Police Department were dispatched to a home along the 2200 block of Pine Road after receiving a report that a suspicious person with a mask on was at the front door of the home.

Upon arrival, officials said, the first officer on the scene saw a man, identified by police as Michal Gonsalves, attempting to set a home on fire and the porch, at that time, was “engulfed in flames.”

Once police arrived, officials claim, Gonsalves attempted to flee to a vehicle that was parked in front of the home, but the vehicle took off before the man got to it. He then, police said, attempted to flee on foot but he was apprehended in the backyard of the home.

After Gonsalves was arrested, officials said, first responders put the fire out on the porch of the home and there were no injuries caused by the fire. There were two people sleeping in the home that police were able to get out the back door.

Gonsalves is in custody at Montgomery County Correctional Facility and was unable to post bail. He has been charged with a number of crimes including arson.

The vehicle that fled has not yet been located, officials said, but has been identified as a black Volkswagen Jetta with a missing headlight.

The Lower Moreland Police Department Detective Division is currently investigating the incident and they are asking any information regarding the incident to call the Lower Moreland Police Department at 215-947-3132.

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Kaleah Mcilwain and Deanna Durante

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March 11, 2024
Controversial Perkiomen Valley School District bathroom policy retired

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Just months after a controversial bathroom policy — that concerned which bathrooms or locker rooms students and faculty members are required to use at schools throughout the district — was preserved, it has now been removed.

On Monday night, members of the Perkiomen Valley Board of School Directors, with a 6 to 3 vote, reversed a policy that was the subject of contention for months.

Some argued that students — and others — have the right to privacy in the bathrooms. While those on the other side of the argument made the case that transgender students have the right to use the bathroom of the gender they identify with.

The effort in question, called policy 720, was enacted back in October of last year and it had required “restrooms, locker rooms, and showers that are designated for one sex” only to be used by students and faculty members who were assigned that corresponding gender at birth.

The creation of the policy followed an earlier effort in the district to create “multi-user facilities” in September of last year, that had allowed transgender students to use facilities that aligned to the gender they identify with.

Claire Tremba, a junior at Perkiomen Valley High School told officials that students were scared due to the controversy over the issue.

“I would love to hear student voices more. I would love more roundtables, but I would just like to remind everyone that our students are scared,” she said. ” It’s not as simple as a poll or a survey. Hearing someone’s voice is not a yes or a no box on a Google form. So, just please consider that when you think about student voices. Consider that they are a human being, they are a child.”

The policy will officially be retied Wednesday as the school is closed due to snow on Tuesday.

The school board president has told NBC10, however, that there will certainly be revisions later on.

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Hayden Mitman and Johnny Archer

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February 13, 2024
‘The Bachelor’ star Joey Graziadei gets a visit from Delco’s Susan Noles in latest episode

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Fan-favorite “Golden Bachelor” contestant Susan Noles, of Delco, made a cameo during the latest episode of “The Bachelor” to assist Montgomery County’s Joey Graziadei in his journey as the star of the ABC dating show.

The third episode of “The Bachelor” Season 28, which began with 18 contestants, featured two group dates, a one-on-one date and a dramatic pool party. During the episode, Graziadei, a 28-year-old tennis instructor from Collegeville, also collaborated with a pair of tennis pros, showed off his surfing skills and addressed bullying among the cast, as he continued his journey to form connections with his eligible bachelorettes.

RELATED: Joey Graziadei goes on his first dates as ‘The Bachelor’ in latest episode

Here are some highlights from this week’s episode of the reality show:

(Spoilers ahead)

‘If you’re ASKN, we’re telling’

The first date of the episode is a group date involving eight women. The ladies were invited with a date card reading, “I’m looking for my Mrs. Right…” “Mrs. Right” refers to the title of a pageant that the ladies must enter as the main activity of the date. The pageant, which takes place in front of a live audience, has three rounds: loungewear, Q&A and talent.

Graziadei can’t judge the pageant on his own, of course. He solicits the help of “ASKN” — April Kirkwood, Delco’s own Susan Noles, Kathy Swarts and Nancy Hulkower — a girl gang of fan-favorite contestants from “The Golden Bachelor” senior-citizen dating show, to help. Ironically, Graziadei made a cameo on Season 1 of “Golden Bachelor” for a group date in which he helped Noles and her fellow contestants play in a pickleball tournament.

For the first round, the contestants rock their finest “Sunday chill” loungewear, before being asked some pressing questions by the ASKN ladies in the next round.

“So, Lexi, what’s Joey’s most attractive quality to you?,” Noles, a wedding officiant from Aston Township, asks contestant Lexi Young.

Young first compliments Graziadei’s physical attractiveness before commending his “heart and his sincerity.” This response impresses Graziadei, and Young continues capturing the lead’s attention during the final talent round. While other contestants’ performances included songs, cheer routines and dance numbers, Young decides to show off her status as “the world’s best kisser.” She invites Graziadei onstage where they share a passionate smooch.

Philly’s Allison Hollinger, a 26-year-old realtor whose older sister Lauren exited the show last week, is also on the date. For her talent, she uses her feet to juggle a basketball. Graziadei later describes Hollinger as “extremely attractive” and “fun to be around.”

Living up to their group’s motto, “If you’re ASKN, we’re telling,” the “Golden Bachelor” women offer Graziadei some thoughts on his ladies as he tries to determine the pageant winner. Noles says her favorites on the date are Edwina Dorbor and Maria Georgas. Regardless, Graziadei follows his heart and crowns Young as the winner of the pageant.

John Fleenor/Disney

‘The Bachelor’ star Joey Graziadei consults with a group of former ‘Golden Bachelor’ contestants, including Delco’s Susan Noles, during a pageant-themed group date.

The date ends on a sour note when she-said-she-said drama from last week resurfaces between Georgas and fellow contestants Sydney Gordon and Madina Alam. Comments that Georgas said behind Alam’s back were relayed to Alam by Gordon, and Georgas’ meaning may have been misconstrued in the process.

During the evening portion of the date, Graziadei hears that Alam feels that she’s been bullied. Graziadei, who says he wants to make a “safe space” for the contestants, tries to address the situation.

“I know there’s things that happened in the house, and I’m definitely the type of person that tries to rise above it and not talk about it, but to even hear the idea of the word of a ‘bully’ scares me because I am taking this seriously,” Graziadei tells the women on the group date. “I’m trying to find my forever person. And the idea of possibly something going on that I don’t know what it is, it scares me.”

Despite the solemn vibes, Graziadei gives the group date rose to Kelsey Anderson.

Surf’s up!

For the only one-on-one date of the episode, Graziadei selects Jenn Tran, a 25-year-old physician assistant student who lives in Miami. Graziadei takes Tran to the beach, where they pull on their wetsuits and hit the waves. Graziadei shows off his surfing prowess throughout the date, teaching Tran — who can barely stand up on the board — a thing or two.

John Fleenor/Disney

Joey Graziadei shows off his surfing skills during a one-on-one date with contestant Jenn Tran.

From there, there is certainly more smooching than surfing as the couple makes out, shares drinks and generally enjoys each other’s company during a picnic on the sand.

“I left today truthfully feeling some butterflies,” Graziadei tells Tran.

Later, Graziadei and Tran meet back up for a dinner, where they continue connecting over deeper topics. Tran opens up about her parents’ tumultuous relationship and how she no longer keeps in touch with her father. At the end of the date, a light show blazes across the sky with a rose design and the words, “Jenn, will you accept this rose?”

She says yes, of course.

Looking for his doubles partner

For the second group date of the episode, Graziadei invites the eight contestants with a date card reading, “I’m done playing singles…” It would surely be a missed opportunity if Graziadei, who has been playing tennis since he was 13, didn’t host at least one date revolving around the sport.

The invited ladies show up to tennis courts in their trendiest tennis outfits, which Graziadei describes as a “fantasy,” and are introduced to two former tennis pros, Pam Shriver and James Blake, who will be assisting with the date. The contestants are soon split into four teams of two, and are informed they’ll be competing in the first-ever “Bachelor Open” tennis tourney.

John Fleenor/Disney

Joey Graziadei is joined by former tennis pros Pam Shriver and James Blake on a tennis-themed group date.

But, there’s a catch — instead of their fashionable tennis skirts and dresses, the women have to change into outlandish costumes for the matches. The kooky costumes include babies, a hot dog, a lobster, butter and bumblebee. The “lobster and butter” team, Evalin Clark and Kelsey Toussant, emerge victorious in the inaugural Bachelor Open.

During the evening portion of the date, Graziadei gave a rose to Katelyn DeBacker, who opens up about how all of the women in her family are single and she hopes to break the “curse.”

A dramatic pool party, featuring KFC

Eager to see his ladies before the rose ceremony, Graziadei chooses to forgo a formal evening cocktail party in favor of a more casual pool party. In what can only be described as a commercial for KFC, the pool party is catered by the fast food chain, with tables lined with red-and-white buckets filled to the brim with fried fare.

But, despite the sunshine and fried chicken, the event turns out to be a total dud. One contestant, Rachel Nance, describes it as “the worst pool party I’ve ever been to in my life.” This is because the drama from earlier in the episode reaches a boiling point. While Alam and Georgas have a conversation and appear squash their beef, Gordon’s feud with Georgas only intensifies.

At the pool party, Gordon pulls Graziadei aside to tell him that Georgas “verbally attacked” her and called her names. This disturbs Graziadei, because he doesn’t want a hostile environment in the house. Gordon’s story also doesn’t match the version of Georgas that Graziadei feels he has already known and connected with. Graziadei then has a chat with Georgas, who explains her side of the drama, and how Gordon has fabricated parts of the story. Graziadei leaves the conversation feeling even more torn.

“I feel like I maybe should have asked more from Sydney,” Graziadei says, reflecting on his conversations with the two women. “Just because, if I’m being honest, how Maria was talking to me felt more real than how Sydney was talking to me. So I’m very distraught right now, just because I like both of them.”

In the end, the drama takes up most of the pool party, much to the chagrin of the contestants who missed out on quality time with Graziadei.

Who went home?

At the end of the rose ceremony, three women — Clark, Chrissa Perez and Starr Skyler — were sent home, bringing the roster of eligible ladies on Graziadei’s season down to 15. With Georgas and Gordon both still in the running, more drama is sure to follow.

According to teasers, Graziadei’s journey will continue abroad next episode, to the European island Malta. “The Bachelor” will air on two consecutive nights next week, on Monday and Tuesday.

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Franki Rudnesky

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February 5, 2024
Joey Graziadei goes on his first dates as ‘The Bachelor’ in latest episode

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Montgomery County’s Joey Graziadei continued his journey as “The Bachelor” on Monday night, taking some of this season’s eligible bachelorettes on dates for the first time.

The second episode of Season 28 of the ABC dating show featured two large group dates, a one-on-one date and a drama-filled cocktail party. Graziadei, a 28-year-old tennis instructor from Collegeville, also parted ways with one of the contestants from Philadelphia.

RELATED: Here’s what happened during the season premiere of ‘The Bachelor,’ starring Collegeville’s Joey Graziadei

The episode began with Graziadei giving a tennis lesson to host Jesse Palmer, who in turn gave Graziadei some advice on navigating the week ahead with the 22 remaining women.

“This is why you’re the Bachelor; being a good communicator,” Palmer told Graziadei. “Just be authentic and be yourself, and I know you’re gonna be that. If you navigate this as well as you teach tennis, you’re gonna find your person.”

Here are some highlights from this week’s episode:

(Spoilers ahead)

‘Here comes the brides…’

The first date of the season is a group date featuring nine of the contestants. The date card inviting the women reads, “Here comes the brides,” and the ladies chosen for the date are ushered into a dressing room where they pick out bridal dresses to wear for the day’s festivities.

It turns out Graziadei, who says he is “serious about finding my fiancé and future wife,” has invited the group to a faux-wedding reception where he is the groom and the nine women are his “brides.” The event features the usual wedding reception fare — like dancing, cake, champagne toasts and speeches — with each woman attempting to stand out to earn the coveted “first dance” with Graziadei.

A game of musical chairs — which would determined who got to sit next to Graziadei at the wedding’s “sweetheart table” — almost goes haywire when contestant Evalin Clark dives over the table to try to secure a seat, nearly knocking over Philadelphia’s Lauren Hollinger in the process.

John Fleenor/Disney

During a game of musical chairs on the group date, contestant Evalin Clark leaped over the table in hopes of scoring a seat next to ‘The Bachelor’ lead Joey Graziadei. She nearly knocked over fellow contestant, Philadelphia’s Lauren Hollinger (right).

Despite Clark’s feat of athleticism, Rachel Nance is the one chosen by Graziadei for the honor of the first dance. Special guest, Grammy-winning singer Michael Bolton, croons “When a Man Loves a Woman” as the pair dance and share a kiss.

Many of the contestants on the date take the goofy activities of the group date in stride, envisioning what it would actually be like to take Graziadei as their husband. But, one contestant isn’t feeling the celebratory vibes. Hollinger, a 28-year-old registered nurse who is on the show with her younger sister Allison, feels sorrowful emotions brought on by the date’s theme. That’s because the Hollinger sisters’ father passed away just months before “The Bachelor” began filming.

“That’s who walks you down the aisle,” Lauren Hollinger said of her father. “It’s like, what am I gonna do? Walk around alone? And then just being in a wedding dress and putting it on, and, like, him not being able to see me — I don’t know, it just brought up a lot of emotions and it just kind of put me in a weird vibe today.”

Later, once the ladies change out of their bridal wear, they have the chance to continue their conversations with Graziadei during an after-party. Some of the contestants who make impressions on Graziadei include Maria Georgas — who surprises Graziadei by changing into a risque, lacy black outfit — and Jess Edwards — who opens up about experiencing infidelity in a previous relationship and receives the group date rose from Graziadei.

One-on-one time with Daisy

For his first one-on-one date of the season, Graziadei chooses Daisy Kent, a 25-year-old nonprofit owner from Minnesota who captured his attention during night one. The pair take a scening helicopter ride to a musical festival, where they’re invited on-stage to dance (and smooch) along to the musician Bahamas’ set.

The day portion of the date is lighthearted for the pair, and Graziadei tells the cameras that there’s “something there that feels right” between them. But, Kent expresses apprehension about opening up to Graziadei about some more serious topics.

During the evening portion of the date, Kent tells Graziadei about some of her ongoing health struggles. She began having “stroke-like seizures” when she was about 11, and began losing her hearing when she was 17. She also felt sick all the time, she told Graziadei.

Kent was diagnosed with Lyme disease, and underwent a month-long treatment at a facility in Germany. She says she began feeling better, but her hearing continued to get worse. She then received a cochlear implant, which allows her to hear and communicate, and left her former job to focus on running a nonprofit that seeks to help people with hearing loss.

Graziadei gives Kent a rose at the end of the date, feeling more connected with her after learning more about her background.

“When Daisy started the conversation tonight, it took me by surprise initially,” Graziadei told the cameras. “But it takes a special type of person to be able to go through all these challenges in life and find a way to turn them into a positive. And she has done that in full force. … After this first date tonight, I could see Daisy being someone I end up with at the end of all of this.”

Protecting hearts

The final date of the episode is a group date hosted by former “Bachelor” contestants Jubilee Sharpe and Demi Burnett, during which the contestants are split up into teams for a paint battle. Specifically, they play a spin-off of “capture the flag,” in which they need to protect a giant heart from being stolen by members of the other team.

The pink team and blue teams are tied after the first two rounds, but the blue team pulls out the win in the final round. While the contestants initially think that the whole winning team will get the chance to have special time with Graziadei, he chooses only one member of the team, Edwina Dorbor, for a one-on-one hangout.

During their date, Dorbor, a 25-year-old entrepreneur from Atlanta, tells Graziadei about the pressures she felt growing up as the oldest girl in her Liberian immigrant family. Graziadei appreciates Dorbor getting vulnerable, and gives her a rose.

John Fleenor/Disney

On the second group date of the episode, the ladies have to protect their hearts, literally, during a unique game of ‘capture the flag’ involving paint.

Drama at the cocktail party

Leading up to the rose ceremony, the ladies don their finest dresses to make final impressions on Graziadei before the rose ceremony. During the party, drama brews between contestants after Sydney Gordon tells Madina Alam that Georgas was talking about her behind her back. The ladies squash the drama, for now, but teasers for next week reveal that the battle is far from over.

Along with the she-said-she-said drama, Lauren Hollinger is still feeling unsettled after her tough week. She says she’s planning a surprise (involving a cake) for Graziadei to make up for her bad mood during the wedding group date. But, as the cocktail party wears on and more time passes without getting a chance to talk to Graziadei, she reaches her wit’s end.

“So, I’m gonna go home,” she tells Graziadei when they finally get the chance to chat, becoming emotional as she cites her increasingly bad mood.

“I wish I could say or do something,” Graziadei replies. “But I can tell that you’ve gotten to a point where you’re over it, which is OK. And I’m sorry if I did anything … I’m sorry that a lot of this has been tough on you. That’s never my intention through this. But, yeah, maybe this setting wasn’t the best way for us to really get to know each other.”

The cake Hollinger ordered to share with Graziadei ironically arrives at that moment, adding to the awkwardness of the breakup. She tries a bite before lamenting that it’s not the red velvet flavor she wanted, and — in a move that has become increasingly common in the franchise — throws the cake onto the ground.

Lauren’s younger sister, Allison — who was on the second group date and connected with Graziadei during the cocktail party — expresses sadness at her sister’s exit. But, the 26-year-old realtor from Philly decides she wants to continue on the journey and focus on growing her relationship with Joey.

Who went home?

Along with Lauren’s self-elimination, three other women were sent home at the rose ceremony: Erika Cardenas, Marlena Haddad and Taylor Wiens. That leaves Graziadei with 18 eligible bachelorettes remaining heading into the third episode, with only one Philly contestant left standing.

“The Bachelor” airs Mondays at 8 p.m. on ABC. According to a teaser for next week’s episode, Delco’s Susan Noles may be making an appearance alongside some of her pals/fellow contestants from “The Golden Bachelor.” Check out a trailer for the rest of the season below:

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Franki Rudnesky

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January 29, 2024
Jury finds Amsterdam violated law by firing worker with medical marijuana RX for failed drug test – Medical Marijuana Program Connection

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FONDA — An Amsterdam wastewater treatment plant worker has been awarded $191,762 by a jury in state Supreme Court in Montgomery County, which found the city violated state law when officials terminated the man with a medical marijuana license for failing a drug test.

Attorneys for the city argued in court filings that the worker did not disclose his prescription, as required by employee policies, until he was suspended and then fired after failing a drug test in February 2020.

Thomas Apholz, represented by Luibrand Law Firm, accused the city of unlawful employment discrimination and failure to accommodate under state Human Rights Law in a lawsuit filed in February 2021.

State law recognizes individuals prescribed medical marijuana as having a disability, which makes them members of a protected class safeguarded from employment discrimination.

The case was presented to a jury last week during a five-day trial before Judge Rebecca Slezak. The jury found in favor of Apholz on June 30, according to a press release issued by attorney Kevin Luibrand.

The outcome of the trial was first reported by The Times Union.

Beyond the $191,762 monetary award, Apholz is entitled to reinstatement to his former job at the wastewater treatment plant and recovery of his legal fees from the city based on the decision, according to the release.

“The jury found that senior Amsterdam city officials refused to provide Mr. Apholz an accommodation for his medical condition after he…

Original Author Link click here to read complete story..

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July 7, 2023
2 killed, 7 hurt when home under construction collapses during Texas storm

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2 killed, 7 hurt when home under construction collapses during Texas storm – CBS News

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Authorities surveyed the damage in Montgomery County, Texas, after severe storms rolled through the region. Two people were killed, and seven others hurt, when a home under construction collapsed in the city of Conroe, north of Houston.

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May 24, 2023
Trulieve Cannabis opens medical-marijuana dispensary in Limerick, Montgomery County | Inside Your Town – Medical Marijuana Program Connection

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Trulieve Cannabis Corp. has opened a medical-marijuana dispensary in Limerick, Montgomery County.

The 451 West Ridge Pike Store, near Route 422 between Pottstown and Norristown, will be open 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day. The dispensary opened Friday.

“Pennsylvania is one of the strongest medical markets in America,” Trulieve Chief Executive Officer Kim Rivers said in a statement.

Pennsylvania allows only patients with medical-marijuana cards to buy cannabis products. Across the Delaware River in New Jersey, anybody 21 or older can buy marijuana leaf, pre-rolled joints, gummies and more.

New Jersey’s laws allow Garden State residents and anybody of age visiting the state to shop at licensed stores. Purchases are limited to one ounce (28.35 grams) of cannabis per transaction. Dispensaries do not sell perishable edibles, such as cookies or brownies.

Trulieve-affiliated dispensaries operate throughout Pennsylvania, including in Camp Hill, Coatesville, Devon, Harrisburg, King of Prussia, Reading, Scranton, Whitehall and other locations. The company has operations in 11 states.

“We provide the relief you need in a safe and natural way,” the company’s website says.

Trulieve is based in Tallahasee, Florida, and is traded on the OTXQX market under the ticker symbol TCNNF. The closing price Friday was $4.22.

On May 10, the company…

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May 21, 2023