Christmas Eve Headlines: Water Main Repairs, “Redskins” Controversy, Pickpocketer Arrested

Happy Christmas Eve! Here are your morning headlines:

• Water-main repair could take months, official says: “About 8:50 a.m., a 106-year-old water main burst 20 feet below the ground at Frankford and Torresdale Avenues. A total of 23 million gallons of water was lost, said Laura Copeland, spokeswoman for the Philadelphia Water Department. Repairs will take months, she said. ‘There’s a lot of work to be done,’ Mayor Nutter said.” [The Inquirer]

• Student newspaper’s “Redskin” policy could wind up in court: “The student editors of Neshaminy High School’s newspaper, The Playwickian, say they won’t back down from their decision not to use the name “Redskins” in the paper for the school’s sports teams. … District officials put the policy on hold, then met with the students and their parents. Following the meeting, officials said the policy remains suspended while the district continues to investigate its merits.” …  An attorney for the students presented a letter to the board: “Because the Directive is plainly unconstitutional, the students will proceed in accordance with their published policy and, if disciplined for doing so, will take action to defend their rights. This is certainly not a course of action they or their parents wish to take or would take lightly; they hope instead that (Neshaminy High School) will immediately rescind the Directive.” [Bucks County Courier Times]

• S&P raises Philadelphia’s bond rating: “Philadelphia’s economy just got a shot in the arm. Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services raised Philadelphia’s general obligation bond rating to an A+, it’s highest rating ever. That’s up from an A-.” [Philadelphia Business Journal]

• Woman accused of pickpocketing is arrested: “Philadelphia police have arrested a woman suspected in nearly a dozen recent pickpocket crimes in Center City, authorities said. Investigators nabbed Lakisha Edwards, 33, as she returned a rental car to a Crescentville business Saturday, said Sgt. Phil McAlorum of the Ninth District, which covers western Center City.” [The Inquirer]

• Plus, Crossing Broad has the latest Terrell Owens commercial. Seems he hasn’t forgotten Philly:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0EzeStwP5I