The real fallout of LarryGate®: Philebrity unleashed both barrels this morning on Dan Gross and Michael Klein for their part in escalating the Alycia Lane/Larry Mendte debacle. Choicest bit: “Gross in particular seems entirely unwilling to admit he was punked on a very crucial level. Forget all this bravado he’s been spooning out about how ‘I do not discuss sources, ever’ lately, because that is just bullshit. … Meanwhile, the whole mess — in which Gross was a pawn, and should admit such status — nearly ruined the career of a woman on the verge of huge success.” [Philebrity]

Not a pleasing finish for Berwyn bordello owners: Three owners of Berwyn’s Swan Day Spa were arrested yesterday and charged with conspiracy related to operating a brothel. The charges follow a two-year probe investigating the business after two illegal Chinese immigrants — who came to work at the alleged spa thinking they were going to be masseuses, but instead were asked to shower with clients and massage their, uh, nether regions — ran away from the spa and informed the police. [Daily News]

Rates rising at the airport: The Philadelphia Parking Authority has announced that parking rates will increase at Philly International on August 1st, rising about $2 for stays of longer than two hours. The proceeds will go to the airport and help keep down the airline’s rents. [NBC 10]

“Maybe on 10 acres … this might be pretty. But not like this”: Two twin brothers living together in Paulsboro, N.J., are annoying their neighbors with the more than 100 bronze statues they have crammed onto their 50-foot-wide concrete front yard — including a 12-foot bronze Neptune statue. The yard went from unsightly to annoying when the brothers fired a small bronze canon during a Fourth of July celebration. One of the brothers allegedly screamed at a neighbor that he would kill her if she complained to the police about noise. The pair are charged with maintaining a nuisance, fireworks violations and harassment. Couldn’t get any weirder? No such luck: The Hubbs’s 82-year-old mother, Ethel, went missing six years ago, and a body has never been officially recovered. Hmmmm. [Inquirer]

Cop radio mess figured out: Motorola said today it has nailed down the problem that wiped out the Philadelphia police department’s radio system for 50 minutes on Tuesday night. No word yet on when the problem will be fixed, however. [NBC 10]

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Bright lights, big … business?: Today Unisys Corp. will plead its case to the city zoning board regarding the placement of its logo on the side of Two Liberty Place in Center City. Two 912-square-foot LED signs facing east and west are under heavy opposition from residential and corporate tenants in the building, as well as from those who say the huge red glowing logo will just never be as pretty as the huge “PSFS” sign. Still others say that corporate logos branding buildings will lead to a change in the very character of Center City. None of this really matters though: All of Center City may soon be under the shadow of the American Commerce Center. [Inquirer]

Philly police hearing static: The Philadelphia Police Department reports that there was a 50-minute radio malfunction last night, during which officers could hear only static. The $52 million Motorola radio system has malfunctioned before, and the company’s technicians are still working on the problem. John McNesby, member of the Fraternal Order of Police, said, “The main concern is the safety of the officers on the street and the safety of the community.” [NBC 10]

So-so Taguchi boosts Phils in crucial series opener win: Right-hander So Taguchi doubled off an 0-2 pitch in the ninth inning last night at Shea Stadium, knocking in two runs and opening the floodgates for what turned out to be a bizarre rally and win against the New York Mets. Taguchi, who had opened the season as the Phillies’ top pinch-hitter, has since hit downright horribly, going 0-for-16 until last night’s blast. Tuesday’s win puts Philadelphia exactly one game ahead of the Mets. [Daily News]

If George Washington had had to pay these rates, we’d all be British: Soon it will cost more to cross the Delaware, according to the Delaware River Port Authority. Tolls on the four Delaware bridges are expected to increase a dollar by September, with officials citing billion-dollar maintenance as the cause of the raise. And rising tolls look like they may become an annual occurrence, with a hike to $5 planned for next year. [NBC 10]

Trees can’t “go green” by themselves: The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society is spreading the word about good tree care in area neighborhoods. The group’s Tree Tenders program is holding free workshops in Philadelphia, Delaware and Chester counties this fall to promote environmental improvement in communities. Tree Tenders project manager Mindy Maslin said communities should plant trees and tend to ones already planted. “Possibly even more important than that, [the program will] get people to act as a political force to make our legislators know that urban greening is an important thing in our lives,” Maslin said. [KYW]

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Mendte to be charged: Charges against CBS 3 anchor Larry Mendte, under federal investigation for allegedly tampering with the e-mail account of former co-anchor Alycia Lane, will be formally announced today at 1 p.m. by the U.S. Attorney’s office. Mendte is alleged to have forwarded Lane’s personal e-mails to various media outlets. The anchor and former Access Hollywood co-host has been off the air since May after his home was raided. [6 ABC]

Date with destiny for flying bloodsuckers: The Health Department says it will spray a section of Northeast Philadelphia’s Pennypack Park for mosquitoes tonight as a precaution against the West Nile virus. At dusk the Vector Control staff will spew out the potent Anvil 2+2 — a chrysanthemum-derived aerosol — from trucks outfitted with special bug-killing equipment. The spray is said to evaporate quickly into the air, killing mosquitoes on contact while leaving people unharmed. There have been no reported cases of West Nile virus in Pennsylvania yet this year. Philly can thank its mosquito tanks. [Inquirer]

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Starbucks reveals local closings, city workers breathe caffeinated sigh of relief: After announcing earlier this month that store closings were coming soon, the coffee giant has released a list of the 600 locations getting the axe. About a dozen stores in the Philadelphia region are being closed, but none are within the city limits. [KYW]

Honey, why does this steak smell like almonds?: A South Jersey woman who tried to “punish” her ex-cop husband by attempting to poison him after being overwhelmed with managing their family business was sentenced to five years in prison this morning. Karen Tubertini tried to kill her husband several times — first with an OJ-and-antifreeze mix, and then with several meals laced with cyanide. [Inquirer]

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Parkway to perk up: Governor Ed Rendell is expected to visit Philly today to hand over a check that would fund a makeover for the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. Mayor Nutter says the undisclosed amount is an “exciting” prospect for the Philadelphia thoroughfare, and would fund safety enhancements and other beautification projects. [CBS 3]

Hot hot heat: That hellish weather has come again. The National Weather Service predicts that, today through Saturday, Philadelphia will experience mid-90 temperatures. Worse, increasing humidity over the weekend could make it feel about 100 degrees in the city and surrounding areas. Some good advice: Open the windows, drink fluids, avoid coffee and other drinks that may dehydrate you, and pray for snow. [Inquirer]

Lito the new T.O.?: Eagles cornerback Lito Sheppard has hired Drew Rosenhaus — the man who formerly represented Terrell Owens in 2006 before Owens’s move to the Cowboys — to find the disgruntled Bird a new nest. Sheppard sought Rosenhaus’s help after growing unhappy with a 2004 contract extension that would keep him on the Eagles through 2011, receiving well below top free-agent cornerbacks’ average pay. The Eagles have already signed Asante Samuel to a six-year, $57 million free-agent contract as Sheppard’s replacement, which means Sheppard could be seeing a lot of the bench if he doesn’t make a move. [Daily News]

Blowing badly: The town of Ventnor, New Jersey, is considering approving a new ordinance that would target people who carelessly blow leaves into the street. Though there’s no leaf-blower ban yet, the Jersey shore town is trying to raise awareness of the bad habit’s consequences, such as clogged sewer inlets. Councilman Stephen Weintrob warned today that homeowners who don’t blow leaves into a pile and bag them could face a fine. [KYW]

Car chase ends in teen death: Roosevelt Boulevard was shut down early this morning after what police believe to be a car chase resulted in a crash, killing a 17-year-old male and injuring several others, including a 1-year-old child. Homicide detectives were sent to the scene. [CBS 3]

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And you thought the Comcast Center was big: The Philadelphia Planning Commission is considering plans for the city’s next tallest building. At 1,500 feet, the proposed American Commerce Center would be taller than any building in the United States and would host a five-star hotel, retail space and nearly 1.3 million square feet of office space. Condo owners, citing obstructed views and increased congestion, are expected to speak out against the construction at today’s proposal meeting.
[CBS 3]

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Convention Center growing pains: Forget the originally proposed sum of $700 million — the Pennsylvania Convention Center is now approximately $100 million over budget in its expansion efforts, scheduled to be completed in 2011. Convention Center officials say that the actual number will be more clear in mid-August once bids are in for the next phase, but that rising building material costs could continue to add to it. Governor Ed Rendell says that, looking down the road, the expansion project is “getting to the point where the cost will outweigh the benefit.” [CBS 3]

More dangerous swimming conditions: Boat and helicopter crews from the Coast Guard, Philadelphia police and fire departments and Swift Water Rescue are still searching for a 21-year-old male who disappeared into the Delaware River last night. Sandro Valentine and a friend were swimming near the Frankford Arsenal pier just yards from the Tacony-Palmyra Bridge when Valentine got caught in a current and went below the surface. The search was suspended at 10:40 last night, before being resumed this morning. [Inquirer]

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