ReportWire

Category: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Local News

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Local News | ReportWire publishes the latest breaking U.S. and world news, trending topics and developing stories from around globe.

  • Georgia student’s death emerges as touchstone in immigration battle

    Georgia student’s death emerges as touchstone in immigration battle

    [ad_1]

    (The Hill) — The death of a Georgia student has taken center stage in Washington’s battles over immigration, as former President Trump and his allies lean into the issue to attack President Biden and Democrats over the border.

    Trump, whose signature issue is border security, has repeatedly criticized Biden’s policies over the death of 22-year-old Laken Riley.

    Riley, a nursing student at Augusta University’s Athens campus, was found dead last Thursday after her roommate reported that she did not return from a run in the wooded area of the University of Georgia campus. A 26-year-old Venezuelan citizen named Jose Ibarra was arrested in connection to her death and charged with murder.

    U.S. Customs and Border Enforcement has said Ibarra entered the country illegally in September 2022 near El Paso, Texas, from Mexico and was released for further processing after being detained.

    “We have a new category of migrant crime, and it’s going to be more severe than violent crime and crime as we know it,” Trump said during his speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference last week.

    Democrats have criticized Republicans for linking Riley’s death to Biden’s handling of the border, arguing that the issues of immigration and crime should not be conflated.

    A series of Cato Institute papers have found that immigrants – including undocumented immigrants – commit murders at a lower rate than native-born Americans.

    Rep. Katie Porter (D-Calif.) said a “sense of outrage” is normal following violent crime, but it shouldn’t change broader policy.

    “I think the important thing to focus on is any one instance shouldn’t shape our overall immigration policy, which has so many different facets, including economic choices about what workers to allow and how to create prosperity in America,” she said during an interview on CNN’s “Erin Burnett OutFront” on Monday.

    The White House and Democrats also have been blistering in criticizing Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and other Republicans for rejecting a bipartisan Senate bill aimed at tightening border security.

    Republicans opposed to that compromise argued it didn’t go far enough, but the White House is leaning into the argument that Trump and the GOP, by politicizing the border bill, have actually prevented the government from taking steps to tighten security at the border.

    Trump and Republicans see a political advantage in highlighting Riley’s death as emblematic of what they see as chaos at the border.

    Both Trump and Biden visited spots on the border on Thursday, but the former president noted that he called Riley’s parents the day before and directly blamed Biden for Ibarra entering the country.

    “I spoke to her parents yesterday. They’re incredible people that are devastated beyond belief,” he said.

    Numerous GOP officials, from allies of Trump such as Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) to GOP officials who have clashed with the former president, such as Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, have linked the student’s death to immigration policies they say are too lenient.

    Kemp, who had a falling out with Trump over the governor’s opposition to overturning the results of the 2020 election in the state, argued that the country has a “nightmare” with “mass migration.”

    “That is inexcusable in any absence of any real effort by the Biden administration to step up and address this crisis, as they continue to ignore the calls for meaningful policy change that governors like me had made for well over two years,” he said.

    The Georgia case gives Trump a dramatic story to point to, even as the investigation into exactly what happened continues.

    “Any time that you can put a face, especially a child or a young person’s face, and attach it to a policy, whether it’s good or bad, it’s going to have a much more outsized impact,” said Georgia-based Republican strategist Jay Williams. “And the more personal you can make it, the more effective it becomes.”

    GOP strategist Brady Smith said the incident will make for an “extremely effective” attack for Republicans.

    “It’s going to be that inflection point where this is going to be the one that especially stands out, and everything else is going to harken back to Laken Riley,” he said.

    Polls have shown immigration overtaking the economy as the top issue on voters’ minds. A Gallup poll released Tuesday showed it ranked as most important for the first time since 2019.

    Biden is seeking to go on offense himself on the border. It’s one reason he went to the border on Thursday, and it’s reflected in the White House attacks on Johnson over the border bill.

    A senior Democratic operative argued that the assertion Biden is to blame for the killing is an “absurdity.” This operative said Kemp is more responsible for the incident as the governor overseeing the people of the state.

    “I didn’t know Joe Biden was a beat cop in Athens, Ga.,” the operative said. “Why is it that anytime anything happens with illegal immigrants that they have no responsibility? Why is it that they have no responsibility for crime?”

    Republicans have often argued that allowing migrants to continue across the border only increases the chances of crime or potentially an attack on U.S. soil.

    However, several studies have found those who enter the country illegally are not more likely to commit other crimes than U.S. citizens.

    Cato analyzed Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) figures because that agency keeps track of immigration status for people arrested and convicted of crimes in the state. DPS’s figures from 2015 to 2019 consistently show a lower murder rate among undocumented immigrants.

    “Few people are murderers, and illegal immigrants are statistically less likely to be murderers. Still, some illegal immigrants do commit homicide, and that statistical fact is no comfort to victims and their families. More importantly, nobody should expect the statistics to comfort individuals affected by violent crime,” wrote Alex Nowrasteh, author of the Cato papers.

    Williams, the GOP strategist, said the specific details of the case further add to Republicans’ argument, given that Ibarra was previously arrested in New York City a few months ago.

    ICE has said Ibarra was charged with acting in a manner to injure a child less than 17 and a motor vehicle license violation, but New York officials released him before immigration officials could detain him.

    Democrats have pointed to Rep. Tom Suozzi’s victory in the special election for New York’s 3rd congressional district last month as an example of how they can still win races that are tied to the issue of immigration.

    Suozzi flipped a seat for Democrats this month following a successful campaign in which he made his position on immigration clear and challenged his Republican opponent for her opposition to the bipartisan Senate border bill that Trump also opposed.

    “We need to do what Tom Suozzi did, which is to address the issue head on,” the operative said.

    Brett Samuels contributed.

    [ad_2]

    Jared Gans

    Source link

  • Greek cookbook author shares secrets of island known for its long-living residents

    Greek cookbook author shares secrets of island known for its long-living residents

    [ad_1]

    Greek cookbook author shares secrets of island known for its long-living residents – CBS News


    Watch CBS News



    Renowned Greek cookbook author Diane Kochilas is sharing the secrets of her family’s native island Ikaria in her newest cookbook, “The Ikaria Way.” About one in three people on Ikaria live into their 90s, in large part because of their flavorful and healthy diets. Nancy Chen has more.

    Be the first to know

    Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.


    [ad_2]

    Source link

  • A New Jersey city that limited street parking hasn’t had a traffic death in 7 years

    A New Jersey city that limited street parking hasn’t had a traffic death in 7 years

    [ad_1]

    What to Know

    • Hoboken, New Jersey, recently marked seven consecutive years without a traffic death. Officials there credit their decision to take away some street parking, a change that increases visibility for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians.
    • The city of nearly 60,000 people just across the Hudson River from Manhattan has become a model. Sweden originated similar changes more than a quarter-century ago, and numerous cities, states and nations have since adopted the approach.
    • A key part of Hoboken’s success has been so-called daylighting, which removes parking spots near intersections and often replaces them with curb extensions, bike racks or planters. Now more than 40 states have some sort of daylighting law. California joined the list this year.

    Street parking was already scarce in Hoboken, New Jersey, when the death of an elderly pedestrian spurred city leaders to remove even more spaces in a bid to end traffic fatalities.

    For seven years now, the city of nearly 60,000 people has reported resounding success: Not a single automobile occupant, pedestrian or bicyclist has died in a traffic crash since January 2017, elevating Hoboken as a national model for roadway safety.

    Mayor Ravi Bhalla was a City Council member in 2015 when a van struck 89-year-old Agnes Accera as she crossed Washington Street in the bustling downtown business district. Bhalla didn’t know Accera but attended her wake and said her death inspired him to push for better safety.

    “I felt it wasn’t acceptable,” Bhalla said. “Our seniors, who we owe the greatest duty of safety to, should be able to pass that street as safely as possible. For her to actually be killed was a trigger that we needed to take action.”

    Bhalla became mayor in 2018 and the city fully committed to Vision Zero: a set of guidelines adopted by numerous cities, states and nations seeking to eliminate traffic deaths. Proponents believe no accident is truly unavoidable and even want to do away with the word “accident” altogether when describing roadway fatalities.

    Sweden originated the concept more than a quarter-century ago, and U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg touted Hoboken in 2022 when announcing his department would follow Vision Zero guidelines. Major U.S. cities including New York, Minneapolis, San Francisco, Baltimore and Portland, Oregon, have integrated aspects of the program into their safety plans, including at least some form of daylighting, the term for the removal of parking spaces near intersections to improve visibility.

    Hoboken’s success has chipped away at the notion that reaching zero traffic deaths is more aspirational than achievable.

    “That goal is obviously bold,” said Leah Shahum, founder and director of the Vision Zero Network, a nonprofit advocating for street safety. “It’s also meant to help us kind of shake off the complacency that we’ve had for too long that traffic deaths are inevitable, that what we’re experiencing today is just an unfortunate and unavailable byproduct of modern society. That’s not the case.”

    While Hoboken’s plan has numerous components, including lower speed limits and staggered traffic lights, daylighting is often credited as one of the biggest reasons its fatalities have dropped to zero.

    Ryan Sharp, the city’s transportation director, said when roads need to be repaved, Hoboken takes the additional step of cordoning off parking to widen curbs and shorten crosswalks.

    Many of the concrete barriers installed are equipped with bike racks, benches and even rain garden planters that help absorb stormwater runoff. If there isn’t enough money for an infrastructure solution right away, the city puts up temporary bollards.

    “There really isn’t a silver bullet or any magic, innovative thing where we’ve cracked a code,” Sharp said. “Our approach has been more about focusing on the fundamentals. We’ve created a program where we’re layering these things in year after year.”

    But removing parking from a place where it’s in short supply has critics.

    Joe Picolli, who opened Hoboken Barber Shop on Washington Street in 2018, said the curb extensions — or bumpouts — have made it difficult for downtown merchants to win back business lost during the pandemic.

    “Before the bumpouts, there were a lot more buses, a lot more cars, a lot more parking,” said Picolli, who lives in Point Pleasant, New Jersey, and sometimes has to trail street sweepers to find parking. “It’s good as far as people walking on the street, but it’s bad because you’re not getting the flow from other towns.”

    Although a bit larger than its Mile Square City nickname would imply, Hoboken ranks fourth nationwide in population density, trailing three other New Jersey cities and two spots ahead of New York, according to 2022 census data.

    While the compact footprint means everyone is within range of public transit, cars still crowd the major streets and curbsides.

    “We’re not New York City, but we’re not a suburb, either,” said Tammy Peng, who has lived in Hoboken for more than 15 years. “We’re kind of a weird in between. A lot of families keep a car because they want to run errands on the weekend, but Monday to Friday they’re commuting into the city.”

    While daylighting slightly lengthens her trips to soccer practice or the grocery store, Peng said it’s much easier to spot pedestrians crossing the street.

    Overall fatality numbers have remained largely unchanged since New York joined the Vision Zero movement in 2014 with a plan that included widening some curbs. Mayor Eric Adams boosted the city’s commitment in November by promising to daylight 1,000 intersections each year.

    Some cities have even used the practice to beautify their downtowns. Baltimore hired artists to liven up curb extensions with geometric shapes and vibrant colors.

    States are embracing daylighting, as well. More than 40 had enacted some sort of daylighting law when California’s Legislature approved a new statewide rule in 2023 that prohibits parking within 20 feet (6 meters) of an intersection. Cities can set shorter distances with proof their plans are safe. Violators started receiving warnings in January and face fines beginning early next year.

    Assemblymember Alex Lee, who authored California’s legislation, said he was troubled by the fact that his state’s traffic fatalities were even higher than the national average, with around 1,100 pedestrians killed in both 2021 and 2022. Deaths were recorded at a similar pace through the first six months of 2023.

    Although cities in the nation’s most populous state range from behemoth metropolises to sparsely populated rural communities, Lee figured a statewide standard would eliminate any confusion. The only thing better, he contends, would be a national standard.

    “Just as I assume in every state you can’t park in front of a fire hydrant or can’t park close to the train track, it should be the same whether you’re in California or Nebraska,” Lee said.

    Stefanie Seskin, director of policy and practice at the National Association of City Transportation Officials, said signs are fine, but not nearly as effective as infrastructure changes.

    “It certainly takes a next level of chutzpah for a driver to park on a curb extension than it does to park where a sign says ‘please don’t,’” Seskin said.

    Jeff Speck, author of the book “Walkable City,” which makes the case for pedestrian-friendly downtowns, commends cities like Hoboken for improving visibility at intersections. However, he said some communities go too far by taking away too many parking spaces without adding physical barriers, creating broad “sight triangles” leading to increased speeding.

    “What a number of cities have done is overreacted to the laudable goal of daylighting and placed oversized no-parking zones around every driveway and curb cut,” Speck said. “That’s counterproductive.”

    In 2012, Seattle was one of the first major U.S. cities to pursue zero traffic deaths. Mike McGinn, the mayor at the time, said he wanted to recalibrate the public’s expectation of road safety to make it more akin to their thoughts on airplane safety, where no fatality is considered acceptable.

    Why, he asks, should downtown areas where people work, shop, or attend entertainment events have to settle for a lower standard?

    “This is literally the easiest real estate that should be given over to safety,” said McGinn, now executive director of the pedestrian advocacy group America Walks. “It’s low-hanging fruit.”

    [ad_2]

    Jeff Mcmurray

    Source link

  • Iris Apfel, fashion icon known for her eye-catching style, dies at 102

    Iris Apfel, fashion icon known for her eye-catching style, dies at 102

    [ad_1]

    NEW YORK (AP) — Iris Apfel, a textile expert, interior designer and fashion celebrity known for her eccentric style, has died. She was 102.

    Her death was confirmed by her commercial agent, Lori Sale, who called Apfel “extraordinary.” No cause of death was given. It was also announced on her verified Instagram page on Friday, which a day earlier had celebrated that Leap Day represented her 102nd-and-a-half birthday.

    Born Aug. 29, 1921, Apfel was famous for her irreverent, eye-catching outfits, mixing haute couture and oversized costume jewelry. A classic Apfel look would, for instance, pair a feather boa with strands of chunky beads, bangles and a jacket decorated with Native American beadwork.

    With her big, round, black-rimmed glasses, bright red lipstick and short white hair, she stood out at every fashion show she attended.

    Her style was the subject of museum exhibits and a documentary film, “Iris,” directed by Albert Maysles.

    “I’m not pretty, and I’ll never be pretty, but it doesn’t matter,” she once said. “I have something much better. I have style.”

    Apfel enjoyed late-in-life fame on social media, amassing nearly 3 million followers on Instagram, where her profile declares: “More is more & Less is a Bore.” On TikTok, she drew 215,000 followers as she waxed wise on things fashion and style and promoted recent collaborations.

    “Being stylish and being fashionable are two entirely different things,” she said in one TikTok video. “You can easily buy your way into being fashionable. Style, I think is in your DNA. It implies originality and courage.”

    She never retired, telling “Today”: “I think retiring at any age is a fate worse than death. Just because a number comes up doesn’t mean you have to stop.”

    “Working alongside her was the honor of a lifetime. I will miss her daily calls, always greeted with the familiar question: “What have you got for me today?,” Sale said in a statement. “Testament to her insatiable desire to work. She was a visionary in every sense of the word. She saw the world through a unique lens – one adorned with giant, distinctive spectacles that sat atop her nose.”

    Apfel was an expert on textiles and antique fabrics. She and her husband Carl owned a textile manufacturing company, Old World Weavers, and specialized in restoration work, including projects at the White House under six different U.S. presidents. Apfel’s celebrity clients included Estee Lauder and Greta Garbo.

    Apfel’s own fame blew up in 2005 when the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute in New York City hosted a show about her called “Rara Avis,” Latin for “rare bird.” The museum described her style as “both witty and exuberantly idiosyncratic.

    Her originality is typically revealed in her mixing of high and low fashions — Dior haute couture with flea market finds, 19th-century ecclesiastical vestments with Dolce & Gabbana lizard trousers.” The museum said her “layered combinations” defied “aesthetic conventions” and “even at their most extreme and baroque” represented a “boldly graphic modernity.”

    The Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, Massachusetts, was one of several museums around the country that hosted a traveling version of the show. Apfel later decided to donate hundreds of pieces to the Peabody — including couture gowns — to help them build what she termed “a fabulous fashion collection.” The Museum of Fashion & Lifestyle near Apfel’s winter home in Palm Beach, Florida, also plans a gallery dedicated to displaying items from Apfel’s collection.

    Apfel was born in New York City to Samuel and Sadye Barrel. Her mother owned a boutique.

    Apfel’s fame in her later years included appearances in ads for brands like M.A.C. cosmetics and Kate Spade. She also designed a line of accessories and jewelry for Home Shopping Network, collaborated with H&M on a sold-out-in-minutes collection of brightly-colored apparel, jewelry and shoes, put out a makeup line with Ciaté London, an eyeglass collection with Zenni and partnered with Ruggable on floor coverings.

    In a 2017 interview with AP at age 95, she said her favorite contemporary designers included Ralph Rucci, Isabel Toledo and Naeem Khan, but added: “I have so much, I don’t go looking.” Asked for her fashion advice, she said: “Everybody should find her own way. I’m a great one for individuality. I don’t like trends. If you get to learn who you are and what you look like and what you can handle, you’ll know what to do.”

    She called herself the “accidental icon,” which became the title of a book she published in 2018 filled with her mementos and style musings. Odes to Apfel are abundant, from a Barbie in her likeness to T-shirts, glasses, artwork and dolls.

    Apfel’s husband died in 2015. They had no children.

    [ad_2]

    Beth J. Harpaz

    Source link

  • Instant observations: Tobias Harris breaks out of slump, Sixers defeat Hornets

    Instant observations: Tobias Harris breaks out of slump, Sixers defeat Hornets

    [ad_1]

    The Sixers made a quick stop at home Friday night for a matchup against the struggling Charlotte Hornets. It was a timely opponent for a Sixers team desperate for a win, and they took care of business, defeating the Hornets 121-114. Here is what jumped out from the victory:

    Nick Nurse makes big changes

    With Joel Embiid, De’Anthony Melton and Kelly Oubre Jr. all out for this contest, the Sixers’ head coach took the opportunity to get creative and change up his starting five. Nurse made some radical adjustments: he started Kyle Lowry alongside Tyrese Maxey, slid Buddy Hield up to the three, and replaced Paul Reed in the starting lineup with Mo Bamba. The Sixers’ starting unit in this one — Maxey, Lowry, Hield, Tobias Harris and Bamba — had never spent one single possession on the floor together before this one tipped off.

    Nurse has remained adamant that Nic Batum would be a long-term starter, as his several talents are tailor-made for someone who is rounding out a star-centric unit. But Batum returned to the bench Friday night. It is unclear how much of this is performance-based — Batum has struggled to leave a lasting impact on games since returning from another lengthy absence due to injury — and how much of this is about protecting him from missing time down the line. But it is certainly notable that Batum, who at one point seemed like a lock to start for the remainder of the season, has been returned to the bench after a period of regression.

    For as long as Embiid is out, Nurse is justified in experimenting with his lineups, because nothing has stuck since the reigning NBA MVP went down with his left meniscus injury. As the Sixers focus on maintaining their standing in the Eastern Conference’s top six seeds — and bypassing the NBA’s Play-In Tournament — Nurse must figure out how to maximize the capabilities of his injury-ridden roster.

    First Quarter

    • Harris got off to a nice start in this one, giving the Sixers a solid first eight minutes or so. He scored eight points, grabbed two rebounds and collected an assist, including knocking down two of his four attempts from beyond the arc, before checking back in and the end of the period and scoring twice more, including a buzzer beater three, to get to 13 points in the first 12 minutes. The Sixers have been desperate for Harris to break out of what has been possibly his single worst slump in five-plus years as a member of the team. With Embiid out, they have needed their veteran wing scorer to step up. Instead, he has been largely disastrous. The Sixers hope his nice start to this one can help him escape the struggles that have been plaguing him for weeks.

    • The most impressive aspect of Buddy Hield’s tremendous opening to his Sixers tenure was his playmaking. Just as much as he was knocking down tough shots, he was creating looks for others consistently — something he had never done very well in the NBA. Just as his shooting percentages have dipped in recent games, his assist numbers have gone down. Well, in the first quarter of this game he dished out four assists. His ability to leverage the attention defenses pay him because of his threatening nature as a three-point shooter into better looks for his teammates has been impressive.

    Second Quarter

    • After a solid defensive quarter in the first, the Sixers’ defense fell off a cliff in the opening minutes of the second period. First against a small-ball lineup with Harris and Batum manning the middle, and then against a lineup with Bamba at the five, the Hornets were getting to the rim with little deterrence and finishing there just as easily. For all of his flaws, the Embiid-less Sixers are at their best on the defensive end of the floor when Reed is in the game.

    • Ricky Council IV is clearly a ridiculous athlete, so much that just about every time he checks into the game he seems to make at least one play that impresses. In this one, he finally got the poster dunk he was longing for: Council duped a defender with a pass fake, opened up a driving lane and threw down an absolutely massive slam over Grant Williams. Council’s leaping ability is absolutely outrageous: 

    • After going down due to their poor interior defense and a hot shooting stretch from the Hornets, the Sixers put together an impressive run, led by Hield and punctuated by a three from Lowry. It was a much-needed spurt, as the Sixers were down by as many as a dozen in the middle of the quarter.

    • Before the trade deadline, it felt like the Sixers could really use another heady player who makes good decisions. Fast forward, and they have Lowry, simply a brilliant basketball mind who is leaving a significant impact on every game with both his play and his mind. It is more apparent than ever just how much the Sixers needed someone like him. A funny anecdote: as he was being replaced by Cam Payne in the final minutes of the first half, Lowry refused to leave the floor until each of his teammates on the floor had acknowledged the play he had called — a “Horns” set that the team frequents. Lowry finally stepped to the bench and continue to direct traffic on the possession from across the floor — and, yes, the Sixers did score on the possession.

    Third Quarter

    • It was more of the same from Harris early in the second half, a fantastic sign. He was able to continue scoring efficiently in a variety of ways, whether it be from beyond the arc, at the rim or in the intermediate area. At this point, even a half-decent game from Harris would have been an encouraging sign. Instead, he went above and beyond, truly leaving his mark on the game for the vast majority of the contest. The Sixers surely hope this performance can serve as a turning point of sorts for their $180 million man.

    • When you think about great shooters in the NBA, you think about the catch-and-shoot triples first and foremost. Maybe, if you are lucky, your best shooter can run around a bunch of screens and fire away while on the move. And then there are the truly great launchers: guys who can create their own shots from beyond the arc all on their own. And while Hield has never been thought of as an on-ball generator of offense, in addition to the aforementioned shot creation for others, he has displayed the ability to knock down off-the-dribble threes. Hield truly is an elite three-point shooter in every possible fashion.

    Fourth Quarter

    • Maxey received some rest in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter, and it was clear that these minutes would be pivotal. The Sixers went to a lineup led by Lowry and Payne as ball-handlers, with Harris and Batum on the wing and Reed in the middle. That grouping gave Nurse excellent minutes: Harris and Lowry created timely offense, Batum knocked down his first three of the game and Reed was a stalwart at the rim. Those minutes could have easily sunk the Sixers. Instead, they propelled them.

    • Given Batum’s recent struggles, it was a significant encouraging sign to see him give the Sixers solid minutes, particularly in the second half. Batum did a little bit of everything, as he does when at the top of his game. It remains to be seen whether he will be a starter long-term or if he will be relegated to a bench role, but either way he figures to be a significant piece of the Sixers’ puzzle for the remainder of the season.

    • Reed has similarly not been himself of late, and so maybe there is something to him having his best game in recent memory Friday night after being returned to the bench. What matters much more than who starts a game is who logs the most minutes. Anecdotally, it feels as if Reed consistently gives the Sixers better minutes when coming off the bench. One thing is for sure: for as long as Embiid is unavailable, it remains crucial that Reed gives the Sixers quality production at the center position. On Friday night he did, and it was a major reason the Sixers were able to nab a victory. 

    [ad_2]

    Adam Aaronson

    Source link

  • After terminating $35M planned investment, Norcross-Braca group relaunches lawsuits against Republic First Bancorp

    After terminating $35M planned investment, Norcross-Braca group relaunches lawsuits against Republic First Bancorp

    [ad_1]

    The group relaunched two separate lawsuits filed last June — one against the bank and the other against board members — claiming breach of fiduciary duty.

    [ad_2]

    Jeff Blumenthal

    Source link

  • ATM skimmers found on 2 machines inside a Wawa store in Atlantic County, New Jersey

    ATM skimmers found on 2 machines inside a Wawa store in Atlantic County, New Jersey

    [ad_1]

    ATLANTIC COUNTY, N.J. (WPVI) — Authorities in Atlantic County, New Jersey, are warning about ATM skimmers.

    Galloway Township police say an ATM mechanic found devices on two machines on Wednesday inside the Wawa on the White Horse Pike at Pomona Road.

    Surveillance photos show two men entering the store around 7:40 a.m. Tuesday. Police believe these men planted skimming devices on both ATMs. The devices were discovered the next day.

    Police are asking anyone who used these ATMs recently to monitor their accounts and contact their bank.

    IMAGE: Galloway Twp. Police are searching for these two suspects in connection with the ATM skimmer case.

    “Banks nowadays are pretty good about keeping an eye out for any fraudulent activity and monitor your statements at all times,” said Galloway Twp. Police Lt. Mark D’Esposito.

    An ATM skimmer attachment is designed to look like part of an ATM but illegally collects card numbers and PIN codes.

    Police say to look for any loose-fitting or bulky parts on the ATM you’re using, or tape or glue residue on the machine.

    Reports of skimmers are on the rise in New Jersey and across the country, according to FICO reports.

    In 2022, more than 161,000 cards nationwide were impacted by skimming, which is nearly five times the number impacted the year before.

    Drexel University criminology professor Rob D’Ovidio says these devices are getting more advanced.

    “Now they’re using cellular technology. So it’s not uncommon to see skimmers with SIM cards and cellular transmission capabilities,” he said.

    In this case, police say it doesn’t appear that any data was transmitted from these devices, but officers are still investigating.

    Anyone who has recently used the Pomona Wawa ATMs should check their bank accounts.

    Copyright © 2024 WPVI-TV. All Rights Reserved.

    [ad_2]

    6abc Digital Staff

    Source link

  • When Will Joel Embiid Return? – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    When Will Joel Embiid Return? – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    [ad_1]

    The Sixers are struggling to find answers to fill the void Joel Embiid leaves and it hasn’t been easy to watch. Recent news has hinted at the hope of Embiid returning before the regular season is over. But, if Joel were to return this season when is the most realistic time and where should the team stand?

    Joel provides an update

    Embiid spoke with reporters on Thursday for the first time since his injury. He said that the plan is for him to return this season and that he’s feeling good. There’s still no timeline for his recovery time but reports came from Adrian Wojnarowski on Tuesday that said that the earliest hope is late-March. Woj also said we’re about a week away from getting an update on his timeline. 

    The optimism is there from the team and Embiid that he’ll be able to come back before the regular season ends. However, this decision to return is up to him and when he feels he’s ready. Embiid said on Thursday his mindset is that it doesn’t matter where the team is, if he can play then he’s going to play.

    When is the most rational timeline for his return? 

    Obviously, no one is rushing Joel to come back and the most important thing is that he’s as close to 100% as he can be in the playoffs. Assuming late-March is the correct timeline, March 27th feels the most realistic date. It would give Embiid around two weeks to ramp up while also helping the Sixers win crucial games to be in a good playoff position. Woj stated that the team’s goal isn’t to bring him back and see the amount of regular season games they’re going to win with him. It’s to get Embiid as healthy as possible for a playoff run.

    What the team needs to do in the meantime

    The Sixers are 4-8 since Embiid went down with his injury, dropping them to 5th in the East. They’re tied with the Magic and the Pacers, while being a half game up on the 8th seed Heat. If they continue to lose at this rate they’ll find themselves in the Play-in Tournament. Looking ahead at the schedule there’s at least 11 games they should win, on paper anyways. 

    And, while we shouldn’t get caught up in potential first-round matchups, it’s certainly something to keep in mind during the last month of the season. If they finish in 6th or 7th place, they would play the Bucks or the Cavaliers, who with a healthy Embiid, would be great matchups for the Sixers. Regardless, if the Sixers have a healthy Embiid it’s a nightmare matchup for any of the top teams.

    The night and day difference Embiid makes for the team has never been more obvious than in the past month. Embiid’s presence is key to the Sixers’ playoff chances, so the team has to do whatever is right to make sure he’s there in the postseason.

    The biggest question surrounding the return of Embiid besides his overall health is whether he and the team can go back to playing prior to his injury. Until then, the Sixers have to pull it together and put up enough wins in hope that Embiid will return at some point this season.

    Photo: Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images

    [ad_2]

    Caitlin Barrar

    Source link

  • National Urban League President Marc Morial talks

    National Urban League President Marc Morial talks

    [ad_1]

    National Urban League President Marc Morial talks “State of Black America” report – CBS News


    Watch CBS News



    The National Urban League’s 2024 “State of Black America” report highlights the ongoing struggle for equality. The report reveals a significant gap, with Black Americans scoring just under 76% towards achieving full equality with their white counterparts. Marc Morial, president of the National Urban League, joins “CBS Mornings” to discuss the findings.

    Be the first to know

    Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.


    [ad_2]

    Source link

  • Philadelphia biotechnology firm names former Novartis executive as CEO

    Philadelphia biotechnology firm names former Novartis executive as CEO

    [ad_1]

    The precision oncology company had been without a permanent CEO since September.

    [ad_2]

    John George

    Source link

  • Alexei Navalny funeral: Crowd gathers in Moscow as Russian opposition figure is laid to rest

    Alexei Navalny funeral: Crowd gathers in Moscow as Russian opposition figure is laid to rest

    [ad_1]

    Hundreds of people said farewell to Alexei Navalny at a funeral Friday in Moscow under a heavy police presence, following a battle with authorities over the release of his body after his still-unexplained death in an Arctic penal colony.

    His supporters said several churches in Moscow refused to hold the service for the man who crusaded against official corruption and organized big protests as President Vladimir Putin’s fiercest political foe. Many Western leaders blamed the death on the Russian leader, an accusation the Kremlin angrily rejected.

    Navalny’s team eventually got permission from the Church of the Icon of the Mother of God Soothe My Sorrows, which was encircled by crowd-control barriers on Friday. Hours before the funeral started, hundreds waited to enter under the watch of police.

    Western diplomats were spotted in the long line, along with presidential hopefuls Boris Nadezhdin and Yekaterina Duntsova. Both wanted to run against Putin in the upcoming presidential elections and opposed his war in Ukraine; neither was allowed on the ballot.

    After the hearse arrived at the church, the coffin was taken out of the vehicle, as the crowd applauded and chanted: “Navalny! Navalny!” Some also shouted: “You weren’t afraid, neither are we!”

    A photo from inside the church showed an open casket with Navalny’s body covered with red and white flowers, and his mother sitting beside it holding a candle.


    Navalny Team

    In this photo released by Navalny Team, relatives and friends pay their last respects at the coffin of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny in the Church of the Icon of the Mother of God Soothe My Sorrows, in Moscow, Russia, Friday, March 1, 2024.

    Navalny’s father was also present, but it wasn’t clear who else in his family attended.

    His widow, Yulia Navalnaya, just two days ago addressed the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France; his daughter is a student at Stanford University, and the whereabouts of his son are unknown.

    The politician’s closest associates have all left Russia under pressure and watched the funeral, which was streamed live on his YouTube channel, from abroad.

    Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov urged those gathering in Moscow and other places not to break the law, saying any “unauthorized (mass) gatherings” are violations.

    A burial was to follow at the nearby Borisovskoye Cemetery, where police also showed up in force.

    Navalny’s mother, Lyudmila Navalnaya, spent eight days trying to get authorities to release the body following his Feb. 16 death at Penal Colony No. 3 in the town of Kharp, in the Yamalo-Nenets region about 1,900 kilometers (1,200 miles) northeast of Moscow.

    Even on Friday itself, the morgue where the body was being held delayed its release, according to Ivan Zhdanov, Navalny’s close ally and director of his Anti-Corruption Foundation.

    Authorities originally said they couldn’t turn over the body because they needed to conduct post-mortem tests. Navalnaya made a video appeal to Putin to release it so she could bury her son with dignity.

    At least one funeral director said he had been “forbidden” to work with Navalny’s supporters, his spokeswoman Kira Yarmysh said on social media. They also struggled to find a hearse.

    “Unknown people are calling up people and threatening them not to take Alexei’s body anywhere,” Yarmysh said Thursday.

    Russian authorities still haven’t announced the cause of death for Navalny, who was 47.

    “No one should be fooled,” President Joe Biden said, referring to the death of Alexei Navalny.

    Navalny had been jailed since January 2021, when he returned to Moscow to face certain arrest after recuperating in Germany from nerve agent poisoning he blamed on the Kremlin.

    His Foundation for Fighting Corruption and his regional offices were designated as “extremist organizations” by the Russian government in 2021.

    His widow accused Putin and Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin of trying to block a public funeral.

    “We don’t want any special treatment — just to give people the opportunity to say farewell to Alexei in a normal way,” Yulia Navalnaya wrote on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. In a speech to European lawmakers on Wednesday, she also expressed fears that police might interfere with the gathering or would “arrest those who have come to say goodbye to my husband.”

    Moscow authorities refused permission for a separate memorial event for Navalny and slain opposition leader Boris Nemtsov on Friday, citing COVID-19 restrictions, according to politician Yekaterina Duntsova said. Nemtsov, a 55-year-old former deputy prime minister, was shot to death as he walked on a bridge adjacent to the Kremlin on the night of Feb. 27, 2015.

    Yarmysh also urged Navalny’s supporters around the world to lay flowers in his honor Friday.

    “Everyone who knew Alexei says what a cheerful, courageous and honest person he was,” Yarmysh said Thursday. “But the greater truth is that even if you never met Alexei, you knew what he was like, too. You shared his investigations, you went to rallies with him, you read his posts from prison. His example showed many people what to do when even when things were scary and difficult.”

    Zhdanov, the Navalny ally, said that the funeral had initially been planned for Thursday — the day of Putin’s annual state-of-the-nation address — but no venue agreed to hold it then.

    In an interview with the independent Russian news site Meduza, Zhdanov said authorities had pressured Navalny’s relatives to “have a quiet family funeral.”

    [ad_2]

    Katie Marie Davies | The Associated Press

    Source link

  • FBI raids home of Eric Adams aide

    FBI raids home of Eric Adams aide

    [ad_1]

    (The Hill) — The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) raided the home of New York City Mayor Eric Adams’s aide on Thursday, multiple outlets reported. 

    Federal agents raided two homes owned by Winnie Greco, Adams’s director of Asian affairs. The raid, first reported by News 12 in the Bronx, is part of an investigation conducted by the U.S. attorney’s office in Brooklyn. 

    It is unclear if the raid is connected to Adams, who is the subject of a separate inquiry.

    The search of the properties came months after Adams associates’ homes were searched as part of a federal corruption probe centered on the mayor’s 2021 election campaign, which allegedly conspired with the Turkish government to receive illegal foreign donations.   

    Following the raid, Greco was put on leave. 

    The New York City Department of Investigation opened a probe into Greco in November after a local news outlet, The City, reported that she tried to improperly benefit from her post through a nonprofit she ran. Greco was also accused of asking Adams’s campaign volunteer to help renovate her kitchen, in exchange for help getting a government position.

    A City Hall spokesperson told multiple outlets that the Adams administration “always” follows the law. 

    “Our administration will always follow the law, and we always expect all our employees to adhere to the strictest ethical guidelines. As we have repeatedly said, we don’t comment on matters that are under review, but will fully cooperate with any review underway. The mayor has not been accused of any wrongdoing,” the spokesperson said.

    Before politics, Greco ran a food export business.

    [ad_2]

    Filip Timotija

    Source link

  • Are the top candidates to replace Mitch McConnell as Senate Republican leader MAGA enough?

    Are the top candidates to replace Mitch McConnell as Senate Republican leader MAGA enough?

    [ad_1]

    WASHINGTON — Former President Donald Trump knows how to influence an election, that much is clear. In the last few years, he has championed down-ballot nominees, wielded extensive influence over primary races and had his fingerprints on the House leadership race.

    But Trump is already beginning to leave his MAGA mark on a new sort of Republican race: the race to succeed Republican leader Mitch McConnell, who announced Wednesday that he is stepping down from his leadership role in November after nearly two decades. After the 2024 election, but before newly elected members are sworn in, there will be closed-door Senate Republican Conference meeting in which members will nominate and elect a new leader.

    Trump has not yet publicly commented on McConnell’s departure, but the former president’s sway over the party as McConnell has waned in popularity is clear. Many Senate Republicans said on Thursday that they believe a candidate’s ability to work with Trump, and in many cases align with him, is an essential factor in their consideration of who they’ll back during the November contest.

    Listen to Mitch McConnell’s full speech on the Senate floor announces he will step down as Senate GOP leader in November.

    Top-tier contenders cozy up to Trump

    Already, top-tier contenders — referred to as the “three Johns” — are trying to cozy up to Trump, leaving many to speculate if they are MAGA enough for the job.

    In a statement formally announcing his candidacy for Republican leader, Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, touted his Trump bona fides.

    “As the Republican Whip, I helped President Trump advance his agenda through the Senate, including passing historic tax reform and remaking our judiciary — including two Supreme Court Justices,” Cornyn said.

    In a gaggle with reporters, Cornyn said he spoke to Trump Wednesday — the same day McConnell announced his plans to step down — to make his “intentions” known.

    ‘I have learned a lot’: John Cornyn announces he’s running for Senate GOP leader

    Sen. John Cornyn officially announced he is running for Senate GOP leader a day after Mitch McConnell announced he was stepping down.

    Sen. John Thune, the South Dakota Republican and current GOP whip, has been slightly less overt about his intentions, but a spokesperson said Thursday that Thune is “reaching out to each of his colleagues directly to discuss the future of the Senate Republican Conference and what they would like to see in their next leader.”

    Thune issued an endorsement of Trump on Monday after speaking to the former president over the weekend.

    “I worked closely with him when he was president last time. You know, I was one of the key negotiators on the Senate Finance Committee on the tax cuts and Jobs Act. We put through, I want to say, 15 judges when I was the whip on the floor under his administration, and so yeah — we’ve got a record of accomplishment, of getting things done for the American people,” Thune said Thursday.

    Senate Minority Whip John Thune, R-S.D., speaks during a news conference on border security, following the Senate policy luncheon at the Capitol in Washington, Feb. 6, 2024.

    AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana

    Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., hasn’t issued a formal statement on his intentions yet either. But on Wednesday he said he would “talk to members of the conference and hear what they have to say and listen to them in terms of what direction they want to take the conference.”

    Barrasso’s ties to Trump are well-documented. He is the most outspoken Trump supporter of the “three Johns” and was the first to endorse him, which he did in January.

    Other candidates are also expected to throw their hat in the ring in the coming months. Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., ran against McConnell for leader in late 2022, and may run again. Some of Scott’s colleagues, including Sen. Mike Braun of Indiana, have already said they’d back him.

    Scott is still considering Trump when weighing a potential bid, too.

    “President Trump, I’m sure he wants somebody he can work with, so that’s probably what he’ll do. He’ll probably think about all the people who are considering running and whether he feels comfortable he can work with,” Scott said.

    Rank-and-file Republicans say Trump is a key factor

    It’s nine months until a leadership election — that’s quite a runway. But as contenders for the role begin jockeying for support within their conference, it’s clear a key factor for many will be how closely the candidate is able to work with Trump.

    Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kan., said he’ll be looking to ensure that Senate leadership aligns with the party leader — presumptively Trump.

    “I think it’s really important that whoever our next Senate majority leader, shares the same priorities and goals as whoever the Republican president is,” Marshall said. “So it’s important that they share the same priorities.”

    Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., said he expects Trump would be “very concerned” about who the eventual new leader is.

    “He should be involved,” Tuberville said of Trump.

    Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., has asked for a special conference meeting to be called in March for contenders to outline their visions for the future of the conference.

    “This is something for the Republican Senate Conference to accomplish,” Johnson said, when asked about the impact Trump might have on that vision.

    Johnson said he did not think it would be productive for Trump to weigh in now. But if no consensus is reached before the November election, “Trump might have some influence,” Johnson said.

    Copyright © 2024 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

    [ad_2]

    AP

    Source link

  • Escaped prisoner Alleem Bordan captured by U.S. Marshals in Cambria County

    Escaped prisoner Alleem Bordan captured by U.S. Marshals in Cambria County

    [ad_1]

    Alleem Bordan, the prisoner who escaped from police custody at Temple Health’s Episcopal Hospital, was captured Thursday in Cambria County by the U.S. Marshals Service after more than three days on the run, officials said.

    Bordan was taken into custody at a home in Johnstown, more than 200 miles away from Philadelphia, Supervisory Deputy U.S. Marshal Ryan Clark said. He allegedly had been driven there with help from people aware of his situation and taken to a house where he knew the residents. Bordan has a criminal history in Johnstown, Clark said.

    Bordan did not resist arrest when U.S. Marshals went to the home, Clark said. He allegedly told authorities he was aware of the news reports about his escape. He is being held at Cambria County Prison and awaiting extradition. 

    Authorities have not yet determined whether anyone else will face charges for helping Bordan, Clark said. 

    Bordan, 29, was arrested Sunday for allegedly stealing a car from a food delivery driver on Feb. 22. Police found him sleeping in the vehicle, which was parked on the 1100 block of Frankford Avenue in Fishtown. He was later taken to Episcopal Hospital in East Kensington to be treated for back pain.

    After he was discharged, Bordan broke free from the officers who were escorting him to a police car. Surveillance video shows him running through a gas station parking lot while still handcuffed. Footage also shows him enter a home nearby a short time later and then get into a gold Hyundai that left the area, investigators said.

    On Tuesday afternoon, U.S. Marshals went to a home on Columbia Avenue, near Fairmount Park, in an effort to find Bordan after his criminal history helped trace him to the property, police said. Bordan allegedly opened the door and rushed past police, jumping down a 30-foot embankment to get to the SEPTA tracks below. He then ran north to escape from investigators.

    That was the final time Bordan was seen before he was captured.

    Police had warned that Borden was “possibly armed” and offered a $2,500 reward for information leading to his arrest. Clark was not armed when he was taken into custody, Clark said. He’s expected to be charged with escape in addition to charges stemming from the alleged car theft. 

    Bordan is one of several prisoners in the Philly region who have escaped custody in the last year. Last month, authorities caught alleged murderer Shane Pryor, 17, four days after he escaped custody outside Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, where he was being treated for an injured hand.

    [ad_2]

    Michael Tanenbaum

    Source link

  • FOCO Releases Jason Kelce Mummer Suit Mini Bighead Bobblehead – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    FOCO Releases Jason Kelce Mummer Suit Mini Bighead Bobblehead – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    [ad_1]

    In a delightful nod to the Philadelphia Eagles’ iconic Super Bowl LII victory and Jason Kelce’s memorable celebration, FOCO has announced the release of a unique collectible that is set to captivate fans and collectors alike, the Jason Kelce Mummer Suit Mini Bighead.

    This highly detailed piece pays homage to Kelce’s unforgettable mummer suit attire, which he donned following the Eagles’ triumphant Super Bowl win, marking a moment forever etched in the hearts of fans.

    Unlike standard bobbleheads, the Mini Bighead series elevates the craft with an even larger head, allowing for an unprecedented level of detail that captures the essence and charisma of the subjects they represent.

    Photo: FOCO

    This mini version, while scaled down, loses none of the intricate details FOCO is renowned for. Priced at an accessible $35, the Jason Kelce Mummer Suit Mini Bighead stands close to 5 inches tall, making it a prominent yet compact addition to any display. In an exciting twist for collectors, each piece will be numbered out of a limited quantity, yet to be determined, adding to its exclusivity and potential as a collectible item.

    The design features Kelce in an action pose, gripping a football, and adorned in the vibrant mummer suit that became symbolic of the Eagles’ Super Bowl LII victory. The attention to detail extends to the thematic mummer’s base, which displays Kelce’s name at the forefront, celebrating his contribution to the team’s success and his connection with the city’s culture and traditions. FOCO’s decision to commemorate one of Jason Kelce’s most iconic moments comes at a time when Philadelphia sports fans eagerly await if the Eagles superstar will be back for another season with the team. In addition to the Jason Kelce Mummer Suit Mini Bighead, FOCO also launched 18-in and 36-in versions of the Mummer bobblehead for the true collectors out there. 

    The limited-edition piece Jason Kelce Mummer Suit Mini Bighead stands as a testament to the moments that define Philadelphia sports history and the figures who inspire generations.

    With its detailed craftsmanship, limited availability, and rich symbolism, it promises to be a cherished item for years to come, capturing the essence of victory, celebration, and community spirit that defines the Philadelphia Eagles and their dedicated fanbase.
    Get yours here!

    Photo: FOCO

    [ad_2]

    PHLSportsNation

    Source link

  • Local private school receives $5M gift from real estate developer

    Local private school receives $5M gift from real estate developer

    [ad_1]

    It is the largest gift in the Catholic school’s 130-year history.

    [ad_2]

    Ryan Mulligan

    Source link

  • 3-year-old cries for home burned to

    3-year-old cries for home burned to

    [ad_1]

    3-year-old cries for home burned to “nothing but ash” in Texas wildfires – CBS News


    Watch CBS News



    “I want to see house”: The Texas Panhandle wildfires burned this family’s house to the ground, leaving nothing but the frame of a swing set – and a young toddler crying for the only home her parents say she’s ever known.

    Be the first to know

    Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.


    [ad_2]

    Source link

  • Philly Today: Mayor Says You ALL Need to Get Back to the Office

    Philly Today: Mayor Says You ALL Need to Get Back to the Office

    [ad_1]

    News

    Plus, the unfortunate return of woman-beater Terrence Howard. And the end of Verizon Hall.

    Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker, who says all Center City office workers need to return (image courtesy of 6 ABC)

    Check phillymag.com each morning Monday through Thursday for the latest edition of Philly Today. And if you have a news tip for our hardworking Philly Mag reporters, please direct it here. You can also use that form to send us reader mail. We love reader mail!

    Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker Says You All Need to Go Back to the Office. Now.

    Some of you reading this who worked in an office as of March 19, 2020, probably haven’t been back to that office, at least not full-time, since March 19, 2020. That was the day when then-Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf (remember him?) ordered all non-essential businesses to close. But that was 2020. COVID is, of course, still a thing. But it’s now a thing sort of like the flu and RSV are things. And Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker says enough is enough.

    Last week, Parker told many city officials in Philadelphia to get off their couches and back to the office full-time. She fully expects the 25,000 or so other city employees to eventually do the same. And now, Parker has expanded her call, telling all Philly businesses to get their workers back to the office.

    She said so at a Wednesday meeting of the Chamber of Commerce of Greater Philadelphia, telling the business owners and executives in attendance that she’ll do everything she can to make sure their employees have a clean and safe Center City to come back to. But, Parker insisted, a bright new future for Center City is “only sustainable” if all those workers head back to the office.

    Thanks to COVID, pedestrian traffic in Center City went way, way down, as any Center City store, café, restaurant or bar will attest. But things have improved. Pedestrian activity is now up to about 85 percent of what it was before COVID knocked us out. Parker is hoping her back-to-the-office agenda will bring that stat up to 100 percent or even higher.

    You can read Parker’s remarks here. One thing’s for sure: She knows how to give a speech.

    Speaking of Cherelle Parker…

    She also just appointed a “2026 director,” the person in charge of making sure Philly is ready for all the things happening here in 2026, including the World Cup and the 250th anniversary of America in the place where it all started.

    And One More Cherelle Parker Thing…

    She says she’s going to crack down on Kensington. But some Kensington neighbors have concerns.

    The Unfortunate Return of Terrence Howard

    As a journalist, there are ne’er-do-wells you write about who wind up rearing their ugly heads again and again. You think the story you’re working on about them might finally be the last. And then they just creep up again. One example of this would be notorious Philadelphia restaurant scoundrel Matt Swartz, who seemed to bring trouble with him wherever he went.

    Another person who fits the bill is actor Terrence Howard, who owns a home in Plymouth Meeting. I’ve written a bunch of things about Howard’s bad acts and alleged bad acts, including the time he allegedly punched a woman at a Montco diner. There was the time police in Whitemarsh arrested Howard and charged him with beating up his first wife in a case that eventually saw Howard plead guilty to disorderly conduct. I could go on.

    It’s been quite a while since I’ve written about or thought about Howard. But then came Wednesday. No, he didn’t punch anybody. At least not that I know of. News emerged yesterday that a federal judge in Philadelphia just slapped Howard with a nearly $1 million judgment for failing to pay his taxes. The IRS had been trying to get the money out of Howard for a good while, but Howard managed to elude them.

    According to court records, Howard’s defense appears to be that descendants of slaves shouldn’t be forced to pay taxes.

    Meanwhile, Howard just reportedly agreed to play the lead in the upcoming series Fight Night on Peacock, which is owned by Comcast. It’s good to know that woman-beating tax evaders can still get a job in this town.

    The End of Verizon Hall

    It shall now be known as Marian Anderson Hall. As it should be.

    Did Penn Just Rehire Liz Magill as President?

    Absolutely not. But a satirical email that landed in the inboxes of Penn students this week and purported to come from Penn’s board of trustees said Magill was back “after nearly three months of timeout.” One nursing student admitted to believing the emailing for a minute before realizing it was a joke. So much for the Ivy League.

    What Did You Do on Valentine’s Day?

    Probably nothing as exciting as the celebs and socialites who gathered at Lincoln Center to watch our own Yannick Nézet-Séguin conduct the New York Philharmonic through musical selections from Maestro while clips from the film played. Afterward, Maestro star and director (and noted Jenkintown heartthrob) Bradley Cooper and co-star Carey Mulligan joined Nézet-Séguin for a convo about the movie. It’s all detailed in a New Yorker feature about Cooper really, really, really wanting to win an Oscar (or a bunch) next Sunday. My favorite line from the piece: “Fairly or not, Cooper has been pegged as this year’s Try-Hard Who Wants an Oscar So Badly That We Should Probably Just Give Him One to Prevent a Psychotic Break.”

    By the Numbers

    40: Years that the Chinatown staple Vietnam Restaurant has been in business. The James Beard Foundation just gave the restaurant a much-deserved “American Classics” award. Bit of Philly trivia for you: The daughter of the restaurant’s founders has done pretty well for herself. She’s the wife of Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie.

    15: ATVs and dirt bikes confiscated by police in just two hours on Tuesday. The police department says it’s stepping up enforcement, sending a message to riders before ideal illegal-riding weather sets in.

    28: Forecasted low in Philly today. Just when I thought I could turn my heater off.

    And From the Tyin’-Fightins Sports Desk …

    More déjà vu all over again! In yesterday’s game, the Phils, with lots of regulars in the lineup, scored three runs in the first off the Braves thanks to a homer by J.T. Realmuto:

    And one from Alec Bohm.

    But starter Tyler Phillips gave up two to the Braves, who won our division last year, in the second, and Nick Nelson allowed another in the third. We pulled ahead again, 7-4, with two more runs in the fourth and two in the sixth, then saw it all go to hell as Atlanta poured on three in the ninth against Austin Brice for a 7-7 tie. Next up: The Blue Jays, this afternoon at 1:05. Surely that won’t wind up a tie, too.

    And in College Hoops?

    The La Salle Explorers, playing in Pittsburgh last night, were ahead of Duquesne 34-31 at halftime, but the Dukes had the upper hand in the second half and wound up with the 75-63 win. Meantime, in honor of the late, lamented Flaco, it was Owls vs. Owls as Temple and Rice faced off in Houston. The two teams kept it close through the early minutes, but Temple pulled away to make it 28-19 at the half, and the good Owls were even hotter down the stretch, winding up with a 65-43 win. Hysier Miller was high scorer again, with 16. Tonight, Stony Brook comes to University City to play Drexel at 7 p.m.

    All Philly Today sports coverage is provided by Sandy Hingston.

    [ad_2]

    Victor Fiorillo

    Source link

  • Report: Jets believe Mecole Hardman leaked gameplan to Eagles before Week 6 matchup

    Report: Jets believe Mecole Hardman leaked gameplan to Eagles before Week 6 matchup

    [ad_1]

    Before he was catching the game-winning touchdown in the Super Bowl for Kansas City, Mecole Hardman was on the Jets to begin the 2023 season. Hardman was upset with his role and usage in New York. That’s nothing new for NFL players, but the case was so extreme for Hardman that he could have leaked the team’s gameplan to opponents ahead of multiple games.

    One of those leaks may have been to the Eagles.

    A report comes from SNY Jets reporter Connor J. Hughes following a (now deleted) post on X from Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner about the Jets believing Hardman did so:

    In the most Eagles turn of events ever, they may have had the Jets’ gameplan and still lost. The Eagles came into Week 6 undefeated, but fell 20-14 in the Meadowlands. The Eagles blew a 14-3 along the way in the Jets franchise’s first-ever win over the Eagles. 

    Hardman was traded back to Kansas City, where he previously won two Super Bowls, three days after the Eagles-Jets game. He went on to nab his third Super Bowl ring with the Chiefs in February. 

    MORE: Eagles-only mock draft

    Follow Shamus & PhillyVoice on Twitter: @shamus_clancy | @thePhillyVoice

    Like us on Facebook: PhillyVoice Sports

    Add Shamus’ RSS feed to your feed reader

    [ad_2]

    Shamus Clancy

    Source link

  • Happy Leap Day! (But, what’s Leap Day?)

    Happy Leap Day! (But, what’s Leap Day?)

    [ad_1]

    Once every four years, the calendar is stretched to give February one extra day. But, why?

    Short answer? It’s to make sure our calendar isn’t off by a quarter of a day. The actual length of a year is 365 and a quarter days.

    365.2421 to be exact.

    So if we were to ignore that in one year, we would be off a quarter of a day. Second year we’d be off half a day. Then three quarters of a day, and after four years we’d be off an entire day.

    Meaning over time, a long time, February might be more aligned with summer weather instead of winter. And that’s bad, right?

    And if Feb. 29 is your birthday, you have Julius Caesar to blame for its creation.

    Ancient civilizations knew a solar year was about 365 days. Egyptians, for instance, knew because of the flooding of the Nile. Caesar began the concept of leap year with the Julian Calendar on Jan. 1 45 BCE, and consisted of a 366-day leap year every four years without exception.

    However, a solar year is a tiny bit less than 365.25 days, meaning over centuries, the calendar still moved slightly off from the seasons.

    This wasn’t noticed until many centuries later but became an issue due to Easter, said Dr. Frank Maloney, associate professor of astronomy and astrophysics at Villanova University.

    Maloney has taught for nearly 12 leap years, and he’s an expert in calendars and timekeeping, calling them a “fundamental connection, as everyone has to agree what day and time it is.”

    “Nearly all calendars have a mystical or religious theological component,” Maloney said.

    In this case, Easter, which is always the first Sunday after the full moon that occurs on or after the spring equinox, was off by about 10 days.

    To get Easter back in line, Pope Gregory XIII issued a papal bull — a public decree issued by a pope of the Catholic church — in 1582 declaring that a year was 365 days, 5 hours, 49 minutes in length (not 365 years, 6 hours as the Julian calendar states).

    October of 1582 went from Oct. 4 to Oct. 15 to enact the switch on the calendar. Catholic countries mostly followed suit, but many other countries’ citizens resisted, fearing it was a trick.

    Great Britain and her colonies didn’t adopt the Gregorian calendar until 1752. So somebody like George Washington was born on one day in the Julian calendar, and had another birthday after the switch to the Gregorian. In the American colonies, September 1752 went from 2-14.

    The latest country to make the switch to adopt was Greece in 1923. By then, they were 14 or so days off. Afghanistan, Iran, Nepal and Ethiopia still don’t use the Gregorian.

    Even the Gregorian calendar will need an adjustment every once in a while. It’s margin of error is about 27 seconds a year, meaning every 3,236 years we will be an extra day out of line. Perhaps the year 4818 (3,236 years after the Gregorian calendar was first used) will be the first non-multiple of four leap year to correct it!

    If a country were to still be using the Julian calendar, you might be considered, in a way to be “traveling through time” if you were to travel back and forth to that country from one that uses the Gregorian calendar.

    [ad_2]

    Samuel O'Neal and Matt DeLucia

    Source link