THE RUNDOWN:
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1. Roe V. Wade: Locals react to Supreme Court draft opinion that seeks to overturn landmark abortion ruling
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Philadelphia reacts after leaked Roe v. Wade draft
How the decision could impact Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware
PHILADELPHIA - Local leaders and concerned residents in Pennsylvania and New Jersey reacted Tuesday to an unprecedented Supreme Court draft opinion that aims to overturn Roe V. Wade abortion rights.
The national uproar started Monday night when Politico reported a leaked draft opinion on the landmark Roe V. Wade and Casey decisions written by Justice Samuel Alito. Politico cautioned that the draft was written in February, and may have already been re-written. In addition, Justices sometimes change their votes.
"Roe was egregiously wrong from the start. Its reasoning was exceptionally weak. And the decision has had damaging consequences," Justice Samuel Alito wrote, in the draft opinion. "We hold that Roe and Casey must be overruled."
A day later, officials with the Supreme Court confirmed that the leaked draft ruling is authentic, but also states that the draft opinion "not represent a decision by the Court or the final position of any member on the issues in the case."
The news brought out an almost immediate reaction from both Pro Choice and Pro Life activists. Locally, both groups gathered outside the Planned Parenthood building in Center City Philadelphia on Tuesday to make their voices heard.
"I’m actually thinking about moving out of the country," Macky Delapiedra told FOX 29's Jeff Cole. On the other side of the aisle, a Pro Choice advocate said she cried Monday night at the prospect of overturning Roe V. Wade.
2. Delaware County bear shot with tranquilizer, not captured, game warden says
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Bear shot with tranquilizer, not captured in Delaware County, game warden says
Authorities in Delaware County hope to soon capture a bear that was spotted Tuesday in wooded residential areas after shooting it with a tranquilizer dart.
UPPER DARBY, Pa. - Authorities in Delaware County hope to soon capture a bear that was spotted Tuesday in wooded residential areas after shooting in with a tranquilizer dart.
Pennsylvania Game Warden Jerry Czech told FOX 29's Chris O'Connell that the bear has not been captured after being hit and has migrated from Upper Darby to Drexel Hill.
Authorities were previously spotted loading a bear trap with sweet treats to lure the bear, including Dunkin' Donuts doughnuts. They specifically asked residents to stay away from Kent Park and to not approach the bear.
The bear was previously spotted roaming wooded areas of Lansdowne Borough and Clifton Heights, near Creek Road.
SKYFOX flew over Delaware County where bear sightings were reported Tuesday morning.
Charles Kelly Elementary School, located on Dennison Avenue, was placed in a lock-out out of an abundance of caution, according to their administration. Staff and students stayed inside the building on Monday
3. Weather Authority: Rainy week ahead before skies clear for Mother's Day
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Weather Authority: 5 p.m. Tuesday forecast
Showers and thunderstorms expected for the rest of the week ahead of Mother's Day.
PHILADELPHIA - Tuesday was a lovely May Day; and another one is coming this week - but not before some showers!
Rain is forecasted to begin Tuesday night, and carry into Wednesday morning. FOX 29's Kathy Orr says to expect some rumbles from thunder along the way.
A cloudy Wednesday afternoon will warm to temperatures in the 70s, with possible spotty showers in the evening hours.
Dry weather expected until Friday night, when things get dicey.
More wind and rain bring cooler temperatures Saturday, until skies clear Sunday for Mother's Day.
4. At least one hurt in rush hour crash on Pennsylvania Turnpike that briefly stymied traffic
TREDYFFRIN, Pa. - A rush hour crash involving a tractor trailer temporarily closed all lanes of the Pennsylvania Turnpike in Chester County on Tuesday.
Emergency crews were called to milepost 322.6 between State Route 29 and Valley Forget around 5:30 p.m. for reports of a multi-vehicle crash on the eastbound side.
Chester County officials said all lanes were briefly closed to allow a medevac helicopter to transport a patient to the hospital.
The westbound side was later reopened, and eastbound traffic funneled into one lane as emergency crews remained on the scene.
The condition of the person injured in the crash is unknown.
5. SEPTA safety takes center stage at Philadelphia City Council budget meeting
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SEPTA safety a big topic at budget hearing with Philadelphia officials
Just about every council member had a question or comment about public safety during Tuesday's hearing.
PHILADELPHIA - SEPTA safety took center stage at Tuesday's budget meeting with Philadelphia City Council, as officials try to rebuild the public's confidence in the sixth-largest transit system in the country.
The meeting comes a week after SEPTA officials arrested a man for allegedly raping a woman on a SEPTA train. It's the latest in a series of violent horror stories that have unfolded on SEPTA property that General Manager Leslie Richards admitted is impacting ridership.
At the same time, Richards said that violent crime on SEPTA property is down compared to the first quarter of 2021. So far this year there have been 240 crimes on SEPTA propety, down from 301 between January and April of 2021.
The Philadelphia Police Department Tuesday named Quintez Adams, 28, as a suspect in at least two April sexual assaults. Law enforcement sources say Adams, who is believed to be homeless, is accused of sexually assaulting a woman on a SEPTA Broad Street line train. The spike in crime has riders feeling uneasy about their safety.
Still, SEPTA isn't resting its laurels on the improved hard data on crime. Richards said they are working on staffing eight new positions for a virtual patrol center to watch the 30,000 SEPTA cameras. They will also hire nearly 90 people for a new outreach initiative to serve as extra eyes and ears.
In a letter sent to Philadelphia City Council ahead of Tuesday's hearing, the Fraternal Order of Transit Police said transit officers are leaving for jobs that pay between $10k-$15k more annually.
SEPTA Transit Police believe this is why their budget for 260 officers remains about 50 officers short.
6. Pennsylvania man sentenced for hitting woman in head with metal baseball bat, prosecutors say
QUAKERTOWN, Pa. - A Pennsylvania man could spend more than a decade behind bars after prosecutors say he beat his then-girlfriend in the head with an aluminum baseball bat at a Bucks County hotel last year.
Roland Blake Ghiloni, 51, pleaded guilty Monday to two counts of aggravated assault and other charges related to the Jan. 30, 2021 incident at the Bush House Hotel in Quakertown.
Officers responded to the hotel around 10 p.m. and found Ghiloni's then-girlfriend bleeding from the top of her head and left eyebrow, according to investigators.
She was taken to St. Luke's Hospital where prosecutors say she required staples in her head and stitches above her eyebrow. She was also treated for a concussion, according to police.
Investigators say Ghiloni struck the victim in the head with an aluminum baseball bat during an argument, and tried to strike her again but she blocked the blow. As she was escaping the room, investigators said Ghiloni hit her in the back of the head.
"I’m terrified of him and don’t want anyone else to ever be put in that position," the victim said in an impact statement read to the court.
Prosecutors say Ghiloni was previously under investigation for an alleged assault against another girlfriend and her young son.
Ghiloni was sentenced Monday to 5 to 15 years in state prison and 5 years of probation.
7. Vigil held of boy allegedly shot by mother at Bucks County home
Authorities say Trinh T. Nguyen shot her two sons, Jeffrey and Nelson, as they laid in their beds.
A vigil was held Tuesday night for two Bucks County boys who authorities say were gravely shot by their own mother as they laid in their beds Monday morning.
Trinh T. Nguyen, 38, was arrested Monday morning near United Methodist Church in Washington Crossing hours after the shooting that left 13-year-old Jeffrey and 9-year-old Nelson in grave condition.
Officers from the Upper Makefield Police Department were called to Timber Ridge Road around 7 a.m. for reports of an armed person. Police were told by a 22-year-old neighbor that Nguyen allegedly tried to shoot him twice in the face after she handed him a box of photos to give to her ex-husband whom her worked with.
According to investigators, Nguyen pulled the trigger twice, but the gun did not fire. The 22-year-old man wrapped Nguyen in a bear hug and disarmed her, but she fled the neighborhood in a white Toyota Sienna minivan, police said.
Officers and the mother of the neighbor entered Nguyen's home and found her two boys gravely shot in the head. Bucks County District Attorney Matthew Weintraub told reporters that both children will have their organs donated.
"Both children will give the gift of life to others as their organs will be transplanted," Weintraub said. "Once that occurs, we will upgrade these charges to two counts of homicide."
The two young victims were students in the Council Rock School District, according to a release from the leadership. Acting Superintendent Susan Elliott offered support to district students and families struggling to process the "well-publicized tragedy."