Blind social media star Molly Burke shatters stigmas: 'Show the person behind the blindness'

PHILADELPHIA - Philadelphia police say a woman was just trying to get off a bus when she became the victim of a stabbing in the city's Frankford section.The victim, a 44-year-old woman, was stepping off a bus on Pratt and Saul sreets just after midnight when she was stabbed in the forehead by a male suspect.She was transported to a local hospital, where she was placed in stable condition.MORE HEADLINES:Police say a 42-year-old man was taken into custody, and charges are pending at this time.

File photo of Black's Beach in San Diego, California. (Sam Hodgson/Bloomberg via Getty Images) The San Diego Police Department told Fox News Digital that eight people are confirmed dead so far after two boats carrying a "group of immigrants" crashed off Black's Beach. The police spokesman said San Diego Lifeguards is handling the incident as rescue and recovery efforts continue. A tweet from a KNSD reporter, initially listing the death toll at 6, says Coast Guard, the San Diego Fire Department, and U.S.

(Photo by Rainer Binder/ullstein bild via Getty Images) A suspected bank robber in Utah demanded $1 from a bank teller Monday and waited for police officers to arrive because he wanted to be jailed in federal prison.Donald Matthew Santacroce, 65, was instead booked into the Salt Lake County Jail on a robbery charge, the Salt Lake City Police Department said. UTAH SUSPECT CHARGED WITH MURDER OF MISSING 19-YEAR-OLD MAN NEARLY A YEAR AFTER HIS DISAPPEARANCE"Please pardon me for doing this but this is a robbery. Please give me $1.

CAMDEN, N.J. - A historic home in Camden went up in flames, the fire badly damaging a home where the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. stayed during his time living in the Delaware Valley.Historians have been planning to restore the home for years and create a museum, to share Dr.

WEST PHILADELPHIA - A man was shot multiple times and killed on a West Philadelphia street, outside of a convenience store and police are searching for a suspect.Officials say the shooting happened Saturday night, just after 8:30 p.m., near the intersection of North 52nd and Haverford Avenue, in West Philadelphia.16th District officers arrived to find the victim, a 26-year-old man, shot numerous times across his body, outside a convenience store.MORE HEADLINES:Police rushed the man to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center where he died.Police are actively searching for the shooter and say no arrests have been made.___Tips can be submitted by calling 215-686-TIPS (8477) or texting PPD TIP (773847). Tips can also be submitted anonymously online, here.

NEWARK, N.J. - History was made Thursday when a monument of Harriet Tubman was unveiled in the newly named square bearing her name, in Newark, New Jersey.The "Shadow of a Face" monument replaced a statue of Christopher Columbus which was removed in June 2020. The new exhibit features an audio installation of Tubman’s life narrated by singer and actor Queen Latifah, who was at the monument’s unveiling.Harriet Tubman (1820-1913), American Abolitionist, Portrait, circa 1885. (Photo by: Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group via Getty Images) City officials livestreamed the unveiling as a crowd gathered at a ribbon cutting. RELATED: Biden administration looks to 'speed up' efforts to put Harriet Tubman on $20 bill"It’s incredibly beautiful to have it here in Harriet Tubman Square, down here in Newark.

CAMDEN, N.J. - One person was rushed to the hospital early Saturday morning after a fire broke out inside a house in Camden.Officials say the fire ignited inside a house on the 700 block of Walnut Street, then spread next door.Several fire crews were called to the scene shortly before 3 a.m.

PHILADELPHIA - A Philadelphia middle school that abruptly closed this week due to the discovery of asbestos will reopen on Monday, according to officials. A spokesperson for Mastery Charter said "minor" asbestos found at Gratz Middle School, located in the city's Nicetown section, has been "resolved." In a letter to families, Mastery Schools CEO Scott Gordon said inspectors from the School District of Philadelphia found damaged asbestos on the campus of Simon Gratz High School, which also houses Simon Gratz Preparatory Middle School. MORE LOCAL HEADLINESOfficials say the three-year reinspection of the district-owned building was in accordance with the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act. The district recommended the school be closed for the duration of the inspection, according to school officials. As of Friday night, school officials have not said if Simon Gratz High School will also reopen on Monday.

NEW ORLEANS - You can still barely make out the words ‘Six Flags’ on the sign outside what used to be Six Flags New Orleans. But besides being used for a few movies like ‘Jurassic World,’ the gates have been shuttered since August 21, 2005 – eight days before Hurricane Katrina hit Louisiana. New drone video from inside the park shows the abandoned rides sitting untouched for years, along with graffiti covering the old buildings. The park sits in a low-lying area just a few miles from the largest lake in the state, so a lot of those floodwaters from Katrina pooled there when the deadly storm hit. File: Six Flags New Orleans amusement park underwater in New Orleans, Louisiana, September 13, 2005.

A medical team examined Amiry, took a sample for a DNA test and tested him for narcotics. (Ray Anderson/Cincinnati Animal CARE) CINCINNATI - An African serval cat that was found with cocaine in its system after an escape at a traffic stop now calls the Cincinnati Zoo home, much to the delight of social media users still amused by the recent release of the movie "Cocaine Bear."The wild cat's story has trended online, where users relished in the absurdity of the horror comedy, which riffs off the true story of a 175-pound black bear that was found dead near a duffle bag and some $2 million worth of cocaine.

EAST LANSING, Mich. (FOX 2) - Anthony McRae, the man who shot up Michigan State University last month, had a note in his pocket detailing other targets, along with a list of his emotions and mindset.VIEW: Police release full Michigan State University shooting timelineMSU police released a redacted version of the note Friday.

PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 03: Bryce Harper #3 of the Philadelphia Phillies runs to second after hitting a double in the fifth inning of Game 5 of the 2022 World Series between the Houston Astros and the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park o CLEARWATER, Fla. - Philadelphia Phillies slugger Bryce Harper has joined his teammates at spring training and hasn't ruled out being back by the All-Star break following Tommy John surgery."Things can change either way," the two-time National League MVP Harper said Thursday. "I could be after, I could be before. But as right now that’s the date we kind of solidified.

PHILADELPHIA - A years-old binge-drinking concoction popularized on college campuses is getting a second-life via social media, causing parents and health experts alike to warn young adults about its dangers. The Black Out Rage Gallon, commonly shortened to "BORG," is being blamed for sending nearly three dozen people to the hospital at the University of Massachusetts' Amherst campus. The university sent out a warning to students and families after sickened students were seen carrying jugs containing BORG mix. The dangerous drink is often times a mixture of water, vodka, caffeinated flavor enhancer and electrolyte powder. Several videos on TikTok and other social media apps provide tutorials on how viewers can properly blend the drink. Dr.

TACOMA, Wash. - Former NBA star Shawn Kemp was released from jail on Thursday after a drive-by shooting investigation in Tacoma. Prosecutors say right now they are not filing charges against the former SuperSonic.Kemp was booked into jail in connection with a drive-by shooting outside the Tacoma Mall, but was released a day later after no charges were filed. The shooting call came into police just before 2 p.m. on Wednesday.

OAKLAND, Calif. - Federal prosecutors are asking a judge to stray from normal procedures and send a former Dublin prison warden to 15 years behind bars – more than 10 years more than the sentencing guidelines recommend. At the same time, Ray Garcia's attorney wants U.S. District Court Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers to sentence the former warden – convicted of seven counts of sexual abuse and one count of lying to the FBI – to no more than 4 years in prison, but hopefully, just two.The maximum sentence for Garcia under the federal guidelines would be 4.8 years in prison. These dueling memorandums were filed Thursday ahead of Garcia's sentencing scheduled for March 22 in Oakland, where the probation department is recommending that the former warden be taken immediately into custody. Gonzales has already signaled her disgust with current sentencing guidelines in February when she reluctantly sent former FCI Dublin prison cook Enrique Chavez to prison to nearly two years.She made it clear she thought Chavez should be incarcerated for much longer than that.

HARRISBURG, PA - JANUARY 17: Adam Shapiro arrives before his brother, Josh Shapiro, was sworn in as Governor of Pennsylvania at the State Capitol Building on January 17, 2023 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Shapiro defeated Republican nominee Doug Mastr HARRISBURG, Pa. - Lawyers for the districts that won a landmark school funding court case in Pennsylvania say that Gov.

MIDDLETOWN TOWNSHIP, Pa. - The new SEPTA Media Wawa Line has residents in nearby Aston, Middletown and Chester Heights blowing a fuse. The trains blow their horns at all hours of the night, causing a level of noise residents find discomforting."We are pro-train.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - The major freight railroads announced a number of steps Wednesday that they are taking to improve safety in the wake of last month’s fiery Ohio derailment, but it’s not clear if their actions will be enough to satisfy regulators and members of Congress who are pushing for changes.Many of the proposals from the Association of American Railroads trade group focus on strengthening the network of trackside detectors that railroads use to spot problems before they can cause derailments.

PHILADELPHIA - A Philadelphia public school was forced to abruptly close due to asbestos for the second time in as many weeks, worsening concerns from parents and faculty about the safety and upkeep of city schools.In a letter to families, Mastery Schools CEO Scott Gordon said inspectors from the School District of Philadelphia found damaged asbestos on the campus of Simon Gratz High School, which also houses Simon Gratz Preparatory Middle School. Officials say the three-year reinspection of the district-owned building was in accordance with the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act. The district recommended the school be closed for the duration of the inspection, according to school officials. "We were unaware of the existence of these conditions prior to the inspections, the safety of ouse students and staff is our primary concern," Gordon said.

PHILADELPHIA - Police are investigating a shooting that they say left a man injured near a West Philadelphia elementary school Wednesday afternoon.Shortly before 4 p.m., police were called to the 1600 block of North 54th Street, right near Heston Elementary School, for reports of shooting. Upon arrival, responding officers say they found a 21-year-old man suffering from a gunshot wound to the thigh.

NASA officials Tuesday provided post-flight updates on Artemis I mission’s technical performance, along with any impacts the mission may have on the timeline of Artemis II.Artemis I launched on Nov. 16, 2022 from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center near Orlando, Florida and then returned on Dec.

PHILADELPHIA - It is certainly a happy Hump Day for one lucky winner - and lucky shop - in Philadelphia!A $3 million Snow Bank Scratch-Off was sold at the Sunny Cigarette shop at 6447 Sackett Street.The winning ticket earned the top prize for the Pennsylvania Lottery game, which costs $30.Sunny Cigarette will receive a $10,000 bonus for selling the $3 million ticket.

HARRISBURG, Pa. - A Pennsylvania state lawmaker submitted his resignation letter Wednesday, a week after a union lobbyist accused him by name of having sexually harassed her four years ago.Democratic Rep. Mike Zabel of Delaware County said in the letter to Democratic Speaker Joanna McClinton that his resignation will take effect March 16, leaving enough time for her to order that the vacancy be filled during the May primary."The toll is just too great on my family, and was too detrimental to my well-being.

PHILADELPHIA - Upon entering the Philadelphia Flower Show space at the Pennsylvania Convention Center last week, I was entranced by a forest of stunning orchids suspended from the ceiling above the color-changing entrance garden. The display, titled "FLORASTRUCK," greeted visitors back indoors after two pandemic years at the city’s FDR Park.The nine-day event, billed as the world’s oldest and largest indoor garden show, typically draws some 250,000 attendees from around the globe.This year, the show’s display gardens are arranged in a winding promenade that allows for leisurely, self-guided meandering.

PHILADELPHIA - A local YouTube star has been sentenced to prison for his role in what prosecutors have called one of the largest illegal TV pirating rings they’ve ever seen.Bill Omar Carrasquillo - a 36-year-old known online as ‘Omi in a Hellcat’ - was sentenced to 5.5 years in prison after a years-long investigation concluded with a 62-count federal indictment accusing him of conspiracy to commit copyright infringement, tax evasion, and fraud.In addition to his 66-month sentence, Carrasquillo was also ordered to forfeit $30 million in assets and pay $15 million in restitution to the cable companies involved and the IRS. The indictment claimed that from 2016 to 2019, Carrasquillo and two partners created an illegal multi-million dollar TV streaming empire.It claimed his company stole and retransmitted cable signals from companies like Comcast and Verizon FIOS. Subscribers would pay a $15 a month subscription for access to premium cable channels, on-demand movies, and pay-per-view events, according to the indictment.RELATED HEADLINES: Carrasquillo, a former drug dealer from North Philly turned millionaire, gained internet fame by showing off his collection of high-end cars and expensive jewelry to hundreds of thousands of followers. Following his arrest in Sept.

BURLINGTON COUNTY, N.J. - A blaze broke out inside a home in Burlington County Wednesday morning, sending at least one person to the hospital.Emergency crews responded to the fire on Whitlow Drive in Westhampton around 6 a.m.SkyFOX was live over the scene of the torched home, where at least one window appeared to be blown out.MORE HEADLINES:Officials say one person was hurt and transported to a local hospital after a search of the home.

HONG KONG - A gruesome murder case that happened in the former British colony of Hong Kong has sent shockwave throughout Asia and the rest of the world.According to officials with the Hong Kong Police Force, four people have been arrested in connection with the murder of Abby Choi, a model and social media influencer who was known amongst the city's rich and famous.Here's what you should know about the murder.(This story contains details that some may find disturbing. Discretion is advised)While statements issued by officials with the Hong Kong Police Force did not identify the victim, Hong Kong English newspaper South China Morning Post (SCMP) has identified the victim as Abby Choi Tin-fung.The Associated Press, along with Hong Kong Chinese news website HK01, have also identified the victim as Abby Choi.According to Hong Kong Police, Choi was last seen during the afternoon hours on this day.In an article published by SCMP, it is stated that Choi was set to pick up a daughter she had with her ex-husband, but the child was never picked up.A missing person's report, according to police, was filed on Feb.

FILE - Marijuana plants at the mausoleum for reggae musician Peter Tosh (1944 - 1987) in the grounds of his former house in Belmont, Jamaica, June 3, 2011. (Kevin Cummins/Getty Images)OKLAHOMA CITY - Oklahoma voters will decide Tuesday whether to make the state one of the most conservative to green light cannabis use for adults.State Question 820, the result of a signature gathering drive last year, is the only item on the statewide ballot.

TEMPE, Ariz. - New details surrounding the arrest of a man for allegedly committing a sexual act at the Tempe Town Lake area on Mar. 5 have been released.According to court documents, 30-year-old Jonathen Baxter is accused of public sexual indecency in connection with the incident, which happened during the afternoon hours of Mar.

FILE IMAGE - Michelle Obama on Nov. 14, 2022.

children’s aid society in 2012, she went on a listening tour about the child-welfare system that left her feeling appalled.At roundtables, kids described brutal conditions. Being stigmatized.

Though The Tragically Hip knows how important it is for some people to play My Music At Work, they don’t seem to want Pierre Poilievre to use their tunes for his.

Colombo (News 1st) – State Minister of Foreign Affairs Tharaka Balasooriya says that "Sri Lanka actively participated and contributed to the process," of agreeing upon the historic High Seas Treaty.After more than 20 years of negotiations, over 100 member states of the United Nations on Saturday (4th) finally agreed upon the text of the historic High Seas Treaty, the world's first international treaty aimed at protecting the millions of species that inhabit the world's oceans.The High Seas Treaty places 30% of the seas into protected areas by 2030, aiming to safeguard and recuperate marine nature.The agreement was reached on Saturday evening, after 38 hours of talks, at UN headquarters in New York.The negotiations had been held up for years over disagreements on funding and fishing rights.The last international agreement on ocean protection was signed 40 years ago in 1982 – the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.When News 1st reached out to State Minister of Foreign Affairs Tharaka Balasooriya in this regard, he said that "Sri Lanka actively participated and contributed to the process."He added, "An agreement was reached following more than a decade of discussions on the 4th of March 2023 by UN member states to have an internationally legally binding instrument on the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity beyond areas of natural jurisdiction under the united nations law of the sea."  That agreement established an area called the high seas – international waters where all countries have a right to fish, ship and do research – but only 1.2% of these waters are protected.Marine life living outside of these protected areas has been at risk from climate change, overfishing, and shipping traffic.

A social media influencer has pleaded guilty to fraudulently obtaining more than $1m in COVID-19 pandemic-related loans from the US government used to fund a lavish lifestyle which she flaunted on Instagram. Danielle Miller, a self-proclaimed con artist whose scams have been chronicled in a New York Magazine profile last year, appeared before a general judge in Boston by video from a prison cell to plead guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft charges.

BUCKEYE, Ariz. - The adoptive mother of a boy who went missing in 2016 and was later found dead in 2018 in Buckeye has been arrested, police said.On Dec. 13, Buckeye Police announced that 54-year-old Crystal Wilson was arrested at her home in Gainesville, Georgia in connection to the death of Jesse Wilson.Crystal Wilson was extradited to Maricopa County in March and is jailed on a $50,000 cash bond.Buckeye Police Chief Larry Hall said at a news conference that there wasn’t enough evidence to charge Crystal Wilson with homicide, but she was the main "person of interest" all along."We never gave up hope that justice was going to be served," said Jesse's grandmother at the news conference.As Crystal Wilson returns to Arizona, a criminal defense attorney says the case of Jesse Wilson's death shares some similarities with another high-profile murder case."This case has a lot of similarities to the Casey Anthony case.

FILE - Victoria's Secret's Angels take to the runway for the 2018 Victoria's Secret Holiday Special. (Jeff Neira via Getty Images) Victoria’s Secret plans to bring back its annual fashion show after a four-year hiatus, CFO Tim Johnson said in the 2022 earnings call on Friday. "We're going to continue to lean into the marketing spend to invest in the business, both at top-of-funnel and also to support the new version of our fashion show, which is to come later this year," Johnson said.The company previously mentioned resurrecting the over-the-top show that often involved lingerie-clad models strutting in extravagant ensembles during their investor day in October. "At VS&Co, we are always innovating and ideating in all spheres of the business to continue to put our customer at the center of all we do and reinforce our commitment to championing women's voices and their unique perspectives," Victoria’s Secret told Fox News Digital in a statement on Saturday, confirming the planned reinvention of the show. VICTORIA'S SECRET SAYS GOODBYE TO ANGELS IN AN ATTEMPT TO REDEFINE ‘SEXY’ "As we've previously shared, our new brand projection and mission will continue to be our guiding principle.

Matt Hancock told aides he wanted to “frighten the pants off everyone” about the Kent variant of Covid to ensure compliance with lockdown rules, leaked messages have revealed. The latest set of WhatsApp exchanges show the then-health secretary and others discussing how to use an announcement about the variant to scare the public into changing their behaviour. The messages, among 100,000 passed to the Telegraph by journalist Isabel Oakeshott, show cabinet secretary Simon Case suggested in January 2021 that the “fear” factor would be “vital”.

LOS ANGELES - A high-speed bullet train connecting Southern California to Las Vegas is one step closer to reality after a landmark deal was inked with several craft rail unions that will enable construction for the historic project to begin this year. Brightline, which is reportedly the only private rail company in the U.S., is on track to connect Las Vegas to Los Angeles with a new 218-mile rail system linking stations at the Las Vegas Strip, Apple Valley, Hesperia, and Rancho Cucamonga within the I-15 right-of-way with trains capable of speeds of 200 mph.The company recently announced the memorandum with the High Speed Rail Labor Coalition, which includes 13 rail unions representing more than 160,000 freight, regional, commuter and passenger railroad workers.Construction on a highly anticipated bullet train from LA to Las Vegas is slated to begin later this yearPREVIOUS COVERAGE: US infrastructure plan spurs talk of Vegas-LA rail service"The MOU demonstrates the support of union labor in the development of the Brightline West system and Brightline West’s commitment to providing the safest possible rail operations and high-quality working conditions for its employees," the company said in a statement.The Brightline train is seen at the new MiamiCentral terminal during the inaugural trip from Miami to West Palm Beach on May 11, 2018 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) According to Brightline, the expected travel time between Las Vegas and Los Angeles is approximately 2.5 hours.

CENTER CITY - After it was held outdoors the last two years, the 2023 Philadelphia Flower Show is back inside the Convention Center. The 9-day event kicked off Saturday, welcoming guests into an immersive and colorful world of landscape and floral design."How can you not get one of these when you’re at the Philadelphia Flower Show"It’s the electric feeling you get when you receive something or give something in a beautiful way, like flowers," Director of Experience and Engagement for the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, Rebecca Schuchart, stated.Appropriately named Florastruck, the elaborate design is captivating with eyes wandering from one arrangement to the next."So, that’s the joy that we wanted to create and portray through the show this year, that electric feeling you get when you see all this beauty around you," Schuchart explained.The Philadelphia Flower Show is the largest and oldest one in the country and has been for nearly 200 years.The Philadelphia Flower Show kicked off Saturday, welcoming guests into an immersive and colorful world of landscape and floral design."Every single year, since I was about 10," Amy Jachimski said.Jachimski, from Ocean City, Maryland, is at the show with her daughter, mother and their flower crowns.

CENTER CITY - Were you able to get out and enjoy the beauty of the Philadelphia Flower Show, once again, back inside the Philadelphia Convention Center?The nearly two-centuries old event has been a staple in Philadelphia, hosted by the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, since 1829, putting its first floral display at the Masonic Hall on Chestnut Street.This year's nine-day event kicked off Saturday at the Convention Center in Center City. It was held in FDR Park, in South Philadelphia, for the last two years, due to COVID-19 concerns.

NORTH PHILADELPHIA - A 40-year-old man is in critical condition after he was stabbed three times inside a North Philadelphia store and police say a suspect is in custody.Officials say 22nd District Police responded to the stabbing on the 2200 block of North Broad Street Saturday afternoon, about 3:45, inside a store at the intersection of North Broad and West Susquehanna.When they arrived, police found the 40-year-old victim suffering with stab wounds in the abdomen.MORE HEADLINES:Police then rushed the man to Temple University Hospital where he is listed in critical condition.Police apprehended one man and recovered a weapon at the scene. The investigation is ongoing.___Tips can be submitted by calling 215-686-TIPS (8477) or texting PPD TIP (773847).

Matt Hancock expressed concern that a flagship Rishi Sunak policy was contributing to the spread of Covid-19 as the latest set of leaked messages reveal how the pair were at odds during the pandemic.

SOUTH PHILADELPHIA - Philadelphia police officials say the South Philadelphia school placed on a lockdown was given the all-clear after officers and K9 inspected the situation.About an hour earlier, the Stanton School was placed on a lockdown after a live round was found inside the school building.Officials said the incident happened Thursday morning, around 11:30, on the 900 block of South 17th Street.School district police placed the school on the lockdown after someone found a live round on the gym floor, inside the school.Philadelphia police, with K9, inspected the premises and cleared the incident around 12:40 Thursday afternoon.

CHICAGO - The man accused of killing Chicago police officer Andres Vasquez-Lasso was ordered held without bond Friday afternoon after prosecutors disclosed new details of the deadly confrontation near a playground at a grade school in Gage Park.A Cook County judge denied bond to Steven Montano who has been charged with first-degree murder, aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, aggravated discharge of a firearm and two other misdemeanors seaming from the Wednesday shooting.The decision happened roughly an hour after the body of Vasquez Lasso was taken with a police escort from the Cook County medical examiner's office to a funeral home in Oak Lawn.Montano, 18, is charged with gunning down Vasquez-Lasso as he was being chased by the officer in the 5200 block of South Spaulding Avenue near Sawyer Elementary School.During the bond hearing, prosecutors said Montano and a 37-year-old woman he was dating began arguing about their relationship and living arrangement.An 18-year-old man has been charged in the shooting death of a Chicago police officer in the city's Gage Park neighborhood.Montano allegedly tried to strike his girlfriend who stepped out of the way, according to the bond proffer. Montano then threatened to get his gun. Montano's girlfriend exited the home and called 911 to report he had a gun, prosecutors said.

HARRISBURG, Pa. - A Pennsylvania state representative accused of sexual harassment said Friday he is not resigning but has stepped down from the Judiciary Committee and plans to enter inpatient treatment of some kind.In a letter to House Democratic leaders, Rep. Mike Zabel of Delaware County said he was "very mindful of and saddened by the sensitive and disturbing allegations against me."A union lobbyist said this week that Zabel sexually harassed her four years ago.

World Health Organization (WHO) is still working to identify the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic, its director general said on Friday, after a U.S. agency was reported to have assessed the pandemic had likely been caused by a Chinese laboratory leak.

Hoda Kotb made a brief appearance on Friday's episode of the show in a pre-taped interview with John Easterling and Chloe Lattanzi, the husband and daughter of the late Olivia Newton-John.The 58-year-old newswoman has been noticeably absent from live segments of the NBC morning show for more than a week. Kotb's co-anchors shared earlier this week that she is «OK,» but is dealing with «a family health matter,» and will be back on the show soon.During Friday's episode, Sheinelle Jones introduced Kotb's interview saying her co-anchor «recently» spoke to Newton-John's family.

PHILADELPHIA - Students at a Philadelphia high school were abruptly moved to remote learning when the presence of asbestos was found in the building during a Tuesday night inspection. The Building 21 School in the city's West Oak Lane section will remain closed for the rest of the week after asbestos was found in stairwells and the auditorium. The School District of Philadelphia says it's working to clear the hazardous material, but they did not offer a timetable about when the job will be complete.Before the coronavirus pandemic, a dozen Philadelphia schools closed between 2019 and 2020 due to the presence of asbestos. District teachers say it's a health hazard that must be addressed. MORE LOCAL HEADLINES"You come in here, and you try to teach the kids, but you've got to worry about your own health, and their health, and there ain't nothing being done," Robert Smith said. Philadelphia Federation of Teachers President Jerry Jordan says a lack of funding for school maintenance has caused problems like asbestos to keep reoccurring. "Our buildings have been neglected because of the lack of budget to keep them in good repair, this unfortunately happened," Jordan said.A recent court decision in Pennsylvania called state funding of Philadelphia school unconstitutional, but Senator Vincent Hughes has crafted a bill that he believes will provide appropriate funding."It provides $1B to fix up toxic and broken schools, it provides $2.15B – the largest increase in equity and adequacy funding in Pennylvania's history – to make our schools in compliance with the state's constitution," Senator Hughes said. He was optimistic that he could get newly-elected Pennsylvania Gov.