Archive for the ‘12:30 Report’ Category

THE 12:30 REPORT: Your News Update

Missing Fairmount Park paintingHave you seen this painting?: The FBI has put up a $10,000 reward for any information leading to the recovery of a John Woodside painting that has gone missing from the offices of the Philadelphia Parks System. Fairmount Water Works, painted in 1842, depicts the reservoir system along Kelly Drive and is worth up to $75,000. [KYW]

Operation FALCON swoops in: In an effort to curb violent crime throughout Eastern Pennsylvania, FBI agents and federal marshals locked up more than 200 fugitives — including murder suspects, sexual predators and accused drug dealers — in a sweep dubbed Operation FALCON. This is the fourth year officers have executed this kind of sweep, which has been called the largest and most successful fugitive apprehension effort in its history. On the flip side, prison overcrowding will cause many of those arrested for lesser crimes to be back on the street in no time. [6 ABC]

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THE 12:30 REPORT: Your News Update

Officer Mark S. UffelmanIt takes more than a bullet to stop this cop: Officer Mark S. Uffelman, 52, successfully captured a robbery suspect after he was shot in the arm during a pursuit early this morning. Uffelman, a 29-year veteran, and his partner were patrolling the area where Beau Zabel was shot last week when they witnessed the robbery in progress. Uffelman was taken to Thomas Jefferson University Hospital and released hours later. [Inquirer]

Charges filed in grandson’s car death: Edward M. Kanterman, 59, has been charged with involuntary manslaughter for accidentally leaving his 14-month-old grandson, Nicholas McCorkle, in a car for more than five hours on June 10th. Although police don’t believe Kanterman intentionally left his grandson in the car instead of dropping him off at daycare, officials believe he showed “gross negligence” during an intense heat wave. [Inquirer]

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THE 12:30 REPORT: Your News Update

Schuylkill face-lift, plan accordingly
Stock up on the Advil if you plan on hitting the Schuylkill anytime after 8 p.m. Tonight marks the start of an $8.1 million project to resurface the worn, 12-mile stretch of I-76 spanning from Route 1 to I-476 and Route 202 to Croton Road Bridge. Expect lane shutdowns and major traffic overnight, as construction is set to take place between 8 p.m. and 5 a.m., in an effort to minimize rush-hour road rage. [CBS 3]

Students stripped of free SEPTA?
Philadelphia school kids might have a new reason to skip school: it’ll be too expensive to get there. A proposal to cut free SEPTA passes for students will go before the School Reform Commission this Wednesday. While the cut would save the district over $4 million per year, it would shift a $720 yearly burden to the students — a financial stress that many fear would increase student dropout rates. [Daily News]

Crooks for cocks
Officials busted a cockfighting ring in Kensington on Saturday night, confiscating 18 roosters, many of them injured. Also discovered on the premises was a ring for fights, antibiotics to treat infections from injuries, and drugs used to increase the birds’ aggression. Marijuana was also found. The property owners have been identified, but have yet to be located. No arrests have been made. [Daily News]

The sky is falling
Bricks came tumbling down onto a busy street and sidewalk in Center City when a guardrail became unhinged on a building at 23rd and Walnut streets this morning. Surprisingly, no injuries have been reported, although several cars were damaged. [6 ABC]

 

THE 12:30 REPORT: Your News Update

Tallest skyscraper Philadelphia“Tallest skyscraper” project advances: Councilman Darrell Clarke yesterday initiated legislation to make the necessary zoning code changes for the building of a massive new skyscraper announced earlier this year. The “American Commerce Center” would protrude to a stunning 1,500 feet — more than twice the height of the Comcast Center. Opponents are worried about the shadow the building will cast over the neighborhood, along with added congestion, as the proposed site on 18th and Arch streets is currently the location of a parking lot. Mayor Nutter views the project as an opportunity to obtain his goal of developing the city, calling it “one of the most incredible buildings built not just in Philadelphia but anywhere in the country.” [Daily News]

States enter solar panel race: Solar panel projects are booming locally. New Jersey, although far from being known as the most environmentally friendly state, is currently one of the largest solar markets in the nation — second only to California. Pennsauken currently boasts the biggest solar spread east of the Mississippi, and soon Lower Bucks could top that with 16.5 acres of panels near the GROWS landfill. Pennsylvania’s legislature is currently debating incentives such as New Jersey’s rebates, which allow projects to pay for themselves in a few years. [Inquirer]

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THE 12:30 REPORT: Your News Update

tainted tomatoesAttack of the tainted tomatoes reaches Pennsylvania: As the FDA revealed that it may never find the source of the salmonella sickness, the Pennsylvania Department of Health reported four cases in Bucks, Butler, Lancaster, and Warren counties. At least two of the cases are believed to be from a source outside of Pennsylvania. The FDA urges people to check its website, www.fda.gov, for an updated list of areas cleared of salmonella suspicion — such as your friendly neighbor, New Jersey. [KYW]

Squatter sighting in Drexel Hill: An Upper Darby woman was shocked to come home early from a two-day vacation to find a strange man sleeping on her couch. William Lott, a 41-year-old career criminal, broke in to the locked Drexel Hill home and made it his own, eating some food, turning her air conditioning on and doing a little laundry. Lott isn’t completely a stranger — his mom, Florence Lott, and the victim are friends. Flo says her son had been living with her until he disappeared a week ago, stating, “Terribly sorry that he did it, but it’s not my fault he did that. He’s a grown adult.” Then she sent him to his room. [NBC 10]

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THE 12:30 REPORT: Your News Update

rec center auditWrecked rec centers: The City Controller’s Office has released a report on 75 of the city’s 170 recreation facilities, detailing a number of safety hazards and upkeep issues stemming mostly from underfunding and poor management. Mayor Nutter has allotted $1 million to remedy conditions such as a pool of water complete with electrical cords reaching across it (not fun) and a hole in a wall big enough for kids to climb through (could be fun). [Inquirer]

Possible terroristic teacher goes to trial: Susan Romanyszyn, the fourth-grade teacher accused of terroristic threats against her own school, will go to trial today. Romanyszyn, who worked at Longstreth Elementary School for ten years, was accused of retaliating against the school after being reassigned to teach fourth grade. Over nine days, officials found various threatening notes sprawled throughout the school along with nails in the parking lot and a bomb-like contraption in a fifth-grader’s desk. Romanyszyn maintains her innocence, claiming she is a scapegoat brought on by backlash from outraged parents. [Inquirer]

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THE 12:30 REPORT: Your News Update

missing infantMissing infant found: Police found an infant who had been missing for more than two days in North Philly last night. The child was not reported missing by her mother until 27 hours after she left two-month-old Shaniyah Granby with Clarissa Hanton, a female acquaintance she knew as “Crystal” or “Claire.” Hanton is now in custody and facing charges. Authorities are now questioning the mental health of the mother. [Inquirer]

New Jersey first to make you choose?: The New Jersey legislature is waiting on Governor Corzine to approve a law requiring all motorists applying for or renewing their license or identification card to declare if they want to be an organ donor. The proposed law would also mandate classes on organ donation in high schools. According to the United Network for Organ Sharing there are currently 4,200 people on the transplant list in New Jersey alone, and 105,000 in the U.S. [6 ABC]

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THE 12:30 REPORT: Your News Update

Beau ZabelAspiring teacher killed: A 23-year-old Minnesota native who came to Philadelphia in hopes of teaching math in the city’s school system was fatally wounded while leaving the midnight shift of his temporary Starbucks job. Beau Zabel had lived in South Philly for a short six weeks before he was shot in the neck. Zabel chose Philadelphia over Chicago for the Philadelphia Teaching Fellows program, which would have enabled him to teach while getting certified through Drexel. No arrests have been made. [Inquirer]

The City of (Big) Brotherly Love: Ever feel like you’re being watched? Soon you might be right. In a scary mix of surveillance and marketing, Moto Media is set to install a camera inside a Suburban Station billboard promoting the Philadelphia Soul. The camera does not record images or video, but will trace points on your face to determine your approximate age, sex and the amount of time spent looking at the ad. [KYW]

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THE 12:30 REPORT: Your News Update

Virtual speedbumpsSlow your roll, Philly: In a sneaky attempt to slow down Philly drivers, high-tech 3-D images of speed bumps will soon be projected at about 100 intersections throughout the city. Great, now drivers will think actual speed bumps are fake too and fly over them without braking. [KYW]

A (not so) happy ending: And now, from the Department of Stating the Obvious, those “massage parlors” you see advertised in newspapers aren’t really massage parlors! Who knew? Four alleged prostitutes were arrested in Chinatown yesterday in the first of many police raids to come. Some say prostitution is a victimless crime, but Chief Inspector William Colarulo disagrees, stating that drug addiction and gang ties often go hand in hand with women involved in acts of prostitution. [Inquirer]

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THE 12:30 REPORT: Your News Update

Septa Bus Crash20 hospitalized in school bus and SEPTA crash: A school bus collided with a SEPTA bus this morning in Philly’s Lawncrest section, sending 20 people to the hospital. Although the severity of the injuries is currently unknown, 17 students headed to Maritime Charter School are being treated at St. Christopher’s Hospital, while both drivers and another passenger were taken to Einstein Medical Center. [6 ABC]

Gas-guzzling government employees: While the rest of us are struggling at the pump, a dozen New Jersey government employees have been filling up all willy-nilly at taxpayer expense. Six employees of the City of Camden and six current or previous workers for the Department of Children and Families have been indicted for stealing hundreds of gallons of gas. One of the deceptive dozen is Patrick L. Freeman, superintendent of Camden’s Bureau of Recreation, who has worked for the city for 30 years and makes around $72,000 a year. [Inquirer]

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