Organization found 'red flags' in evaluations of Philadelphia prisons: 'It's a real crisis'

PHILADELPHIA - A parking lot ATM outside a shopping center near one of Philadelphia's busiest roadways has become the site of a recent stretch of violent crimes that may have been carried out by the same group.The Bank of America ATM tucked in the corner of Roosevelt Plaza Shopping Center is where police say a 53-year-old man was shot twice Wednesday night while using the machine. Police found the victim - who has not been pubically identified - laying next to his car and rushed him to Jefferson-Torresdale Hospital where he was admitted in critical condition. Investigators believe the man, who police say lives nearby the shopping center, was trying to use the ATM when someone shot him. No update on his condition was provided on Thursday. MORE LOCAL HEADLINESThe shooting was a culmination of a spate of violence that has happened at the ATM within the week that has left people who live and work near the shopping center "scared to death." Hours before the shooting, police responded to the shopping center parking lot after a man who was using the ATM was carjacked at gunpoint by someone who got out of a suspected stolen car.A parking lot ATM has been the site of a recent spate of violence, including a shooting a two carjackings.

PHILADELPHIA - The brother of an inmate who escaped a Philadelphia correction facility with another prisoner and was arrested after a 10-day manhunt posted bail after being charged as an accomplice. Court documents show 24-year-old Amir Woods paid the required 10% of a $1M bail set after he was charged with Criminal Conspiracy, Hindering Apprehension, and Escape. Woods was taken into custody on Wednesday when he and fugitive Ameen Hurst, 18, were seen getting into a vehicle after leaving a property in Southwest Philadelphia. According to a criminal complaint obtained by FOX 29's Kelly Rule, it's alleged that Woods helped Hurst arrange for transportation during his time away from prison. RELATED COVERAGEAuthorities believe that during Hurst's escape he traveled to New York before returning to Philadelphia where agents who were trying to negotiate his surrender brought him into custody.U.S. Marshals say Hurst was arrested after missing three deadlines - one at midnight and two more early Wednesday morning - which were brokered his family members over the last few days.Agents camped outside a property in Southwest Philadelphia Wednesday morning and closed in on Hurst and Woods as they were seen leaving a home and getting into a car. Marshals swarmed the vehicle and pulled out both men.

Portraits, signed and dated by Rembrandt in 1635, are going up for auction at Christies in London The last known pair of privately owned Rembrandt portraits have resurfaced after nearly 200 years in hiding.Christie’s in London says the portraits, signed and dated by Rembrandt in 1635, were of the famed painter’s relatives and remained in the family until 1760. They were sold and passed on to various private art collections until 1824, when an ancestor of the current owners bought them at a Christie’s auction.The portraits have remained in that private collection for nearly 200 years, "completely unknown to scholars." Now, they’re expected to sell for up to $10 million when they hit the auction block this summer.READ MORE: Collection of rare Shakespeare folios on sale for $10.5 million at New York book fair"This is one of the most exciting discoveries we have made in the Old Masters field in recent years," Henry Pettifer, international deputy chairman of Old Master Paintings at Christie's, said in a prepared statement.

MORE HEADLINES: The victim was shot four times in the left leg and taken to the hospital in critical condition. No injuries to the child were reported. The suspect has been described as a male with a full beard and medium build, wearing a baseball cap and gray hoodie. Anyone with information about the suspect is asked to contact police. 

PHILADELPHIA - Authorities have announced an arrest in an incident outside a Philadelphia speakeasy that left three people with serious injuries last year.Joel Martinez, 22, was arrested in connection with the incident that occurred back on June 12, 2022, near Rosehill and East Westmoreland streets.Martinez is accused of shooting a young woman and a teenage girl while also pistol-whipping a trans woman. Police say the victims were leaving the nightclub when they encountered another group of people, including Martinez. At that time, Martinez allegedly uttered a derogatory word at one of the victims and an argument ensued. During the argument, police say Martinez pulled out a handgun and fire at least six shots, striking two of the victims.

PHILADELPHIA - The Democrat who will almost certainly become Philadelphia's next mayor wants to hire hundreds of additional police officers to walk their beats and get to know residents. She wants to devote resources to recruiting more police and says officers should be able to stop and search pedestrians if they have a legitimate reason to do so.Those positions, particularly the search policies that have been criticized for wrongly targeting people of color, would seem out of step in a progressive bastion like Philadelphia.

PHILADELPHIA - A man was shot and killed in front of his wife as he parked his car in Philadelphia’s Rhawnhurst neighborhood early Thursday morning, according to police.Investigators say the victim was ambushed in his own driveway around 1:30 a.m. on the 7300 block of Whitaker Avenue. At least 15 shots were fired into the vehicle, fatally wounding the 34-year-old driver.

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. - A Philadelphia firefighter who was badly hurt when he fell from the roof of a rowhome while battling a fire is preparing to play with his band in front of thousands of people at the Jersey Shore Memorial Day weekend. Officials say Ladder 13 firefighter Randy Ballinger was working with his colleagues to extinguish a rowhome fire on the 1100 block of South Paxon Street in February when he fell 25-feet. Now, after months of recovery, Ballinger is ready to take the stage with his punk band "Jersey Calling." PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Officials: Philadelphia firefighter seriously injured after falling from roof of two-story rowhome on firePhiladelphia firefighter who fell from roof while battling fire returns home"I've been playing with Josh Kates and Sean Bresling since 2002," said Balinger. "We got back together in 2020 during the pandemic when everybody had a lot of time on their hands." Ballinger is still in a wheelchair, but he's not letting that stop him from shredding his bass at the Adjacent Music Festival in Atlantic City.

PHILADELPHIA - Local bicycle enthusiast gathered Wednesday in Philadelphia for an eight-mile ride to honor cyclists killed in vehicle accidents and call for more safety measures for people to protect bikers. "We want to show people that they have to drive safely, and we also want to show that we are respectful as bicyclists," Philadelphia Ride of Silence organizer Ray Scheinfeld said. Approximately 800 bicyclists across the county were killed last year in accidents with vehicles, including 12 in the Philadelphia region. Sidney Ozer participates in the Philadelphia Ride of Silence every year in memory of his 17-year-old son Sam, who was killed in an accident on Henry Avenue almost three years ago."Coming home on Father's Day he was struck and killed by an automobile on Henry Avene, one of the high-injury streets that we have in our city," Ozer said. Before the ride, John Siemiarowski, an organizer, acknowledged the city's efforts in trying to protect bikers."The number of trails are increasing at a tremendous pace, the number of bike lanes is greater than ever.

PHILADELPHIA - A man is fighting for his life after police say he was shot near an ATM machine in Philadelphia's Oxford Circle neighborhood. Officers from the Philadelphia Police Department were called to the 6500 block of Roosevelt Boulevard around 9 p.m. for reports of a shooting. Chief Inspector Scott Small reports the victim, a man, was near an ATM machine when someone shot him in the neck. He was taken to a nearby hospital where police say he is in critical condition. Investigators have not said what lead to the shooting.

PHILADELPHIA - Temperatures may have been below average on Wednesday, but lots of sunshine across the Delaware Valley made for a beautiful day. Temperatures sat around 66 degrees in Philadelphia. Overnight temperatures will plummet into the 40s with northern parts of the region dropping into the 30s. The near-freezing temps will cause a frost advisory for parts of Lehigh County with areas near the Poconos experiencing a freeze warning overnight into Thursday. Thursday morning will start off with a chill with temperatures in the 40s and mostly sunny skies.

Authorities say Norelis Mendoza, 32, of Lindenwold, was found dead on the side of Route 440 near the Jersey City border. BAYONNE, N.J. - The Hudson County Prosecutor's Office announced on Wednesday that an investigation is underway after a South Jersey woman was found dead in Bayonne, New Jersey.On Sunday, May 14, the Jersey City Police Department say they received a missing person report for a 32-year-old Lindenwold woman who was last seen in Jersey City the Saturday before. On Wednesday, investigators say they located the lifeless body of a woman off of Route 440 near the Jersey City border.

Aruban guide that Beth Holloway and friends hired in the wake of her daughter, Natalee Holloway, going missing in 2005, says the island has taken an economic hit ever since the Alabama student went missing.Natalee Holloway disappeared during a 2005 Mountain Brook High School senior trip in Aruba. The primary suspect, Joren van der Sloot, is currently in a Lima, Peru, prison serving a 28-year prison sentence for the killing of 21-year-old Stephany Flores in Lima.Flores was killed by van der Sloot on May 30, 2010 — exactly five years after Natalee Holloway was last seen alive.Peruvian officials announced late Wednesday van der Sloot would be temporarily extradited to the U.S., where he will face charges relating to an alleged extortion scheme to get money from the Holloways.After getting word in 2005 that her daughter was missing, Beth Holloway and a group of friends flew down to Aruba and hired Alberto Groeneveldt to be their guide, and assist them in the search for Natalee Holloway, according to an episode of ABC's "20/20" that aired in 2019.In a phone call with FOX Business, Groeneveldt, who owns an event planning business, said that the island has taken an economic hit ever since the disappearance.He said business in the area has "picked up a little bit" but said, "it's not like before."Specifically, Groeneveldt cited a decrease in clubs in the area, in addition to a drop in cruises that make stops in Aruba.

The artifacts were discovered aboard a ship that was wrecked in shallow waters of the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Beit Yanai, just north of Netanya. (Credit: Israel Antiquities Authority via Storyful)JERUSALEM - Archaeologists in Israel have discovered 1,800-year-old marble artifacts on the seabed near Netanya, just north of Tel Aviv. The artifacts were discovered aboard a ship that was wrecked in shallow waters of the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Beit Yanai, just north of Netanya, according to the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) which reported the findings on May 15. The vessel included "corinthian capitals decorated with vegetal motifs, partially carved capitals, and a huge marble architrave, measuring up to 6 meters long," the IAA said."It seems that these valuable architectural elements were destined for a magnificent public building—a temple or perhaps a theatre," said the IAA.The location of the artifacts was reported a few weeks earlier by an experienced sea swimmer, Gideon Harris, who reported seeing "ancient columns" on the seabed off Beit Yanai beach, according to the IAA.Koby Sharvit, the head of the IAA’s underwater archaeology unit, said they had "been aware of the existence of this shipwrecked cargo for a long time" but did not know its exact location."From the size of the architectural elements, we can calculate the dimensions of the ship; we are talking about a merchant ship that could bear a cargo of at least 200 tons," said Sharvit.

Defendants sit on May 16, 2023, at the Higher Regional Court in Dresden, eastern Germany, prior to a hearing in the trial over a jewelry heist on the Green Vault (Gruenes Gewoelbe) museum in Dresdens Royal Palace in November 2019. (Photo by SEBASTIAN BERLIN - A German court convicted five men Tuesday of breaking into a Dresden museum and stealing 21 pieces of jewelry containing more than 4,300 diamonds.The men, ages 24 to 29, received prison sentences ranging from four years and four months to six years and three months, German news agency dpa reported.

PHILADELPHIA - Two men were struck by gunfire after several shots were fired on board a SEPTA bus Wednesday afternoon.The shooting unfolded near 21st and Diamond streets around noon.One man was shot in the leg, and transported to a local hospital.

Two skeletons were found beneath a collapsed wall in the Pompeii archaeological site point to deaths by powerful earthquakes that accompanied the devastating eruption of Mount Vesuvius. (Pompeii Archaeological Park) MILAN - The discovery of two skeletons buried beneath a collapsed wall in the Pompeii archaeological site point to deaths by powerful earthquakes that accompanied the devastating eruption of Mount Vesuvius in the first century, experts said Tuesday, in addition to the victims of volcanic ash and gas.The two skeletons believed to be men at least 55 years old were found in the Casti Amanti, or House of Chaste Lovers, beneath a wall that collapsed before the area was covered in volcanic material.

PHILADELPHIA - After an extensive search involving multiple law enforcement agencies, an inmate who escaped a Philadelphia prison in early May has been taken into custody Wednesday, according to Philadelphia Police.Ameen Hurst, 18, escaped the Philadelphia Industrial Correctional Center on May 7 around 8:30 p.m. with Nasir Grant, 24. Prison guards did not realize the duo was missing until the afternoon of May 8, police say. Philadelphia Police Commissioner Danielle M.

DOVER, Del. - A former U.S. Post Office employee in Delaware who stole more than 100 packages from the mail over a course of several months will not serve any time in prison.A federal judge on Monday sentenced Jasmine Holloway, 33, to six months of home confinement followed by two years' probation.

PHILADELPHIA - Cherelle Parker, a Democrat with a long political history in Pennsylvania, won Philadelphia’s mayoral primary on Tuesday, likely setting her up as the city’s 100th mayor and the first woman to serve in the role.Parker, 50, who served for 10 years as a state representative for northwest Philadelphia before her election to the city council in 2015, asserted herself as a leader whose government experience would allow her to address gaping problems with public safety and quality of life in the nation’s sixth-largest city. She will go up against Republican David Oh in the Nov.

PHILADELPHIA - An inmate charged with helping two fellow prisoners escape a Philadelphia correctional facility played lookout while the pair managed pull of the first prison break since 2010, court docs show.Jose Flores-Huerta, an inmate at Philadelphia Industrial Correctional Center on charges stemming from a deadly brawl outside Pat's King of Steaks, was charged with Escape and Criminal Conspiracy.New court documents show Flores-Huerta's alleged involvement in the orchestrated prison break of 18-year-old Ameen and 24-year-old Nasir Grant on May 7.It's alleged that moments before the escape Flores-Huerta is seen on video walking around a cell block when he was not permitted to be outside his cell, and checking the guard tower for officers. RELATED COVERAGEThe video also shows Hurst and Grant leaving their cells and crawling to the shower-area of the cell block where they stopped and waited for a signal from Flores-Huerta, according to court docs. From there, Hurst and Grant were able to exit a cell block door into a recreation yard.

HARRISBURG, Pa. - Democrats’ narrow majority in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives is on the line Tuesday with two special elections that will determine which party controls the chamber.One of those contests is expected to swing Republicans’ way, but the other in Delaware County, in the Philadelphia suburbs, will be more competitive. It's the second time this year that Democrats have sweated the outcome of House special elections, and they hope to be just as lucky as before.The stakes are high: A Democratic victory in Delaware County would give first-term Democratic Gov.

Ernest Pressley, 43, will spend the rest of his life behind bars after he was sentenced to five consecutive life sentences for his role in half a dozen deadly shootngs. (Philadelphia Police Department)  PHILADELPHIA - A Philadelphia man was sentenced to serve five consecutive life sentences for his role in six deadly shootings and one attempted murder. Ernest Pressley, 43, was arrested in Sept.

PHILADELPHIA - Authorities are investigating a stabbing that occurred inside the same Philadelphia prison where two inmates managed to escape more than a week ago. Police say the incident occurred around 10:45 a.m. inside the Philadelphia Industrial Correctional Center on the 8300 block of State Road.A 28-year-old man was stabbed multiple times in his upper body and transported to Jefferson Torresdale Hospital.

PHILADELPHIA - The Pennsylvania State Police provided updated totals on recent road-rage related shootings, and they're asking for the public's help in investigating and preventing interstate shootings. In the last three years, authorities say there has been an increase in the number of road rage-related shootings on the interstates surrounding Philadelphia. In 2020, Pennsylvania State Police say they investigated only four interstate shootings, but in 2022, that number spiked to 20. Officials say this year is on pace to match or surpass last year's totals with troopers reporting that they've already responded to ten interstate shootings. There have been a total of 40 reported road rage-related shootings since 2020 and of those 40, eight victims were struck by gunfire, according to State Police.

A missing girl has been found six years after she was abducted, thanks in part to the show Unsolved Mysteries.

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, WY - MAY 26: General views of the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone and the Yellowstone River in Yellowstone National Park on May 26, 2021 in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. (Photo by AaronP/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images) MAMMOTH HOT SPRINGS, WY - A woman was found dead inside a car and a man was arrested at Yellowstone National Park over the weekend. Park rangers said on Saturday, they responded to an incident on Craig Pass, approximately 3 miles south of Old Faithful.Crews found a single vehicle that was driven into a snowbank and a man was standing outside. When they looked inside the vehicle, they found a woman deceased.

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - MAY 12: EDITORIAL USE ONLY, Taylor Swift performs onstage during the Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour at Lincoln Financial Field on May 12, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Lisa Lake/TAS23/Getty Images for TAS) PHILADELPHIA - Philadelphia welcomed Taylor Swift home with open arms, and the superstar couldn't be more grateful!Thousands of Swifties descended on Lincoln Financial Field over the weekend to sing, dance, and sometimes cry, with Taylor during her three-night hometown tour stop.Even more fans - with no ticket to their name - gathered around the stadium each night just to be part of the action.RELATED COVERAGE: Taylor Swift interrupts Philadelphia show to defend fan against security guardThree nights to remember for Philadelphia, and Taylor - who called the city "a dream" as her time home came to an end."Playing three nights in the stadium I used to see on TV when my dad watched Eagles games every Sunday," she tweeted.

The family of a Toronto woman who died in Jamaica over the weekend is remembering her as a “free spirit” and a “beautiful person” who had a “big personality.”

Screenshots of Google’s new search results that include pre-written text messages asking for help. (Credit: Google) SAN FRANCISCO - Google is implementing new ways in which people struggling with suicidal thoughts can get support in a moment of crisis. The company on Monday noted how people often turn to Google Search "in some of their most vulnerable moments," adding how searches for "mental health crisis" continue to climb each year. For years, suicide prevention information has been visible at the top of relevant search results on Google.

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - MAY 11: Head Coach Doc Rivers of the Philadelphia 76ers points against the Boston Celtics during the first quarter in game six of the Eastern Conference Semifinals in the 2023 NBA Playoffs at Wells Fargo Center on May 11, PHILADELPHIA - The Sixers will be looking for a new head coach after sources confirm to FOX 29 that Doc Rivers is out.Rivers was fired by the 76ers after losing 112-88 to the Boston Celtic during Game 7 in the second round of the 2023 NBA playoffs.RELATED COVERAGE: 76ers have questions to solve on Harden, Rivers after another 2nd-round exitThe Celtics moved on to the Eastern Conference finals for the second straight year.The 76ers, and Rivers, have yet to comment on his departure.

PHILADELPHIA - Voters in Philadelphia are determining who will likely lead the nation's sixth-largest city in a crowded field of Democratic candidates on Tuesday, as the city faces upticks in gun violence and quality-of-life issues that make people feel unsafe.Five front-runner candidates — including former city council members, former city officials and a grocery store franchiser — have sought to differentiate themselves in a tight contest.The Philadelphia race serves as the latest barometer of how residents of some of the nation’s largest cities hope to emerge from the pandemic, which heightened concerns about crime, poverty and inequality. The results have sometimes been tumultuous in other parts of the country, leading to the defeat of the incumbent mayor of Chicago in February and the ouster of San Francisco’s district attorney last year.Philadelphia voters will choose between front-runner candidates including former council members Allan Domb, Helen Gym and Cherelle Parker; former city controller Rebecca Rhynhart; and political outsider and grocer Jeff Brown.

PHILADELPHIA - If you submitted a mail-in or absentee ballot for the Pennsylvania Primary Election, check to make sure your vote will be counted!The Philadelphia County Board of Elections says 1,400 ballots are at risk of not being counted due to lack of signature or date, or potentially incorrect date, on the declaration envelope.Officials encourage Philadelphia residents with returned ballots to request a replacement ballot at the County Board of Elections Office.RELATED COVERAGE: Pa. Primary Election: Residents casting votes for Philadelphia mayor, 2 state house seatsTo check the status of your ballot, visit the City of Philadelphia official website. Voters can also cast their ballots in-person at polling stations across the city until 8 p.m.

Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya told her supporters on Monday to be ready to grab any chance to turn her country into a democracy as speculation about the health of veteran President Alexander Lukashenko swirled.Shortly after her message to supporters via Twitter, a Belarusian state news channel released a photo of Lukashenko, 68, at what it said was a military command center in what would be his first public appearance in almost a week.State TV later broadcast a clip of Lukashenko at what it said was a central air force command base. It showed him sitting in a chair talking to officers.

PHILADELPHIA - A trio of suspect's dangerous attempt to steal money using explosives has proved unsuccessful, according to the Philadelphia Police Department.An explosive device was found on the 3500 block of North 17th Street in the city's Tioga section around 3:40 a.m Tuesday.Police say the device was used in an attempt to blow up an ATM located just outside a convenience store.MORE HEADLINES:Footage from the scene appeared to show the front part of the machine missing, but the rest remained intact.At least three male suspects fled the scene, and are being sought by police.

PHILADELPHIA - Tuesday is the Primary Election in Pennsylvania, where residents will cast their votes in various races, including in the race for Philadelphia’s 100th mayor and a special election that will determine party control over the State House. The deadline to register to vote or get an absentee ballot has passed. Residents must now cast their ballots in person. Polls will be open from 7 a.m.

FILE - U.S. President Joe Biden gives remarks to reporters alongside Spains Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez before a bilateral meeting in the Oval Office of the White House on May 12, 2023 in Washington, DC.

Noel Gallagher has suggested the Covid pandemic played a part in the end of his marriage. The 55-year-old rocker revealed earlier this year he and Sara MacDonald are divorcing after 22 years together but he doesn’t think the situation is particularly uncommon for people of their age. He told the Big Issue: “When you get to your mid-50s, you do come to some kind of crossroads in your life.

A 15-year-old boy is fighting for his life after police say he was shot in Hunting Park Monday night.  PHILADELPHIA - A 15-year-old boy is fighting for his life after police say he was shot in Hunting Park Monday night. Just after 7:30 p.m., police responded to reports of gunshots on the 100 block of West Wyoming Street.

for an unknown “medical complication.”Foxx’s daughters, Corinne and Annalise — plus the latter’s mom, Kristin Grannis — were all in the Windy City over the weekend to spend time with the 55-year-old entertainer, TMZ reported on Monday. Annalise was spotted outside of a physical rehab center with her guitar, while Grannis was captured holding Mother’s Day flowers and a balloon.While the outlet did not name the specific rehab center where Foxx is reportedly staying, they did say that the facility specializes in stroke recovery, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury and cancer rehabilitation.TMZ claimed a source told them that Foxx arrived at this Chicago facility in late April.

FARMINGTON, N.M. - At least three people were dead and multiple others wounded Monday after a shooting in Farmington, New Mexico, police said, and schools citywide were put on lockdown."There are multiple civilian victims," Farmington police reported via Facebook, adding that one suspect "was confronted and killed on scene."Two officers were shot including a member of the city police and one with the New Mexico State Police, the message said. Both were reported to be in stable condition at San Juan Regional Medical Center."The suspect’s identity is unknown and there are no other known threats at this time," police said, adding that city, San Juan County and state police were involved.The shooting was reported shortly after 11 a.m.

Ameen Hurst (L) remains at large. Nasir Grant (R) was taken back into custody on Thursday.  PHILADELPHIA - A third arrest was made Monday in connection with a recent escape from a Philadelphia prison, sources tell FOX 29.Officials have not yet identified the third suspect or clarified what role they may have played in the escape. Ameen Hurst, 18, remains at large after he and Nasir Grant, 24, escaped Philadelphia Industrial Correctional Center last Sunday. The pair managed to escape the facility around 8:30 p.m.

FILE - A voting booth at the Gates of Heaven Synagogue on Nov. 8, 2022, in Madison, Wisconsin.

Signs of recovery in Canada’s housing market after a year-long slump, just as higher borrowing costs are expected to slow much of the rest of the economy, could raise inflation and delay a shift by the central bank to interest rate cuts, analysts said.