Americans On Food Stamps

English: Logo of the . (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The number of people using food stamps through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) increased by an average of 13 percent a year from 2008 to 2012.  House Republicans dropped funding for food stamps from a new version of the farm bill.  Voting takes place Thursday.  Read related article.

Click here to see map of US with 2012 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participation levels by state: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/politics/food-stamps/

Flash Flooding Leaves Widespread Damage In Pittsburgh

Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Allegheny County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

People in Western Pennsylvania braced Wednesday night for a second round of potentially devastating storms following torrents that dropped as much as 3 inches of rain in some parts of the area during the day.

But all of the foreboding and warnings ended up as mostly just that as a string of storms that arrived shortly after the evening rush hour brought with them less rain than was expected.

“It moved through so quickly,” said meteorologist Brad Rehak, of the National Weather Service.  “It wasn’t as heavy.”

Rainfall that was expected to end just after midnight should be replaced throughout the next three days with drier, more comfortable weather — aiding in crews’ cleanup efforts.

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/region/pittsburgh-area-roads-flooded-closed-as-heavy-storms-move-through-694893/#ixzz2Yktumgsi

Joshua Carlos Ovalles, Already A Suspect In January Shooting, Charged In Death Of Vaughn Kemp

Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Luzerne County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

WILKES-BARRE — A 19-year-old man police identified Wednesday as the suspect in the deadly shooting Sunday morning was free on bail when he attempted to kill another man earlier this year.

Police obtained an arrest warrant for Joshua Carlos Ovalles, of Kent Lane, Wilkes-Barre, charging him in the slaying of Vaughn Kemp, 24, outside 174 S. Grant St. Ovalles was still at large Wednesday night.

Witnesses told police Ovalles and Kemp were arguing in front of the house when Ovalles fired several rounds, according to the criminal complaint.

An autopsy revealed Kemp died from multiple gunshot wounds.  He became the sixth homicide victim within the city limits this year.

Read more:  http://www.timesleader.com/news/local-news/666625/Suspect-named-in-Grant-St.-homicide

The Most Obese Counties In New Jersey And Pennsylvania

A sweeping new report on Americans’ health from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluations evaluates how we fare in life expectancy, obesity, physical activity and other markers of well-being. Obesity rates have been climbing for years, and here, we take a look at the most obese counties in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, as of 2011.

Nationwide, 33.8 percent of men and 36.1 percent of women are obese.  State averages are 32.6 percent men and 32.2 percent of women in New Jersey and 35.3 percent of men and 37.6 percent of women in Pennsylvania.

To see the county lists, read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/phillylists/The-most-obese-counties-in-Pa-and-NJ.html#LPoTHzPpiCY79q35.99

Sources: West Reading Nears Police Chief Hire

Map of Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States with township and municipal boundaries (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The West Reading Police Department could hire a new police chief as early as next week.

Interviews were conducted Tuesday with three final candidates, according to multiple borough officials and department sources.

The finalists were identified by sources as Reading Police Department Capt. Steven Powell, who heads the city’s patrol division; former long-time Wyomissing detective Dan Billings, now director of security at St. Joseph Medical Center; and an unnamed officer from the Philadelphia area.

Reached Wednesday, Powell and Billings confirmed that they had interviewed for the chief’s spot, but declined to comment further.

Read more:  http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=492071

Penn Street Bridge On The Route To Restoration

Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Berks County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

For the century that the Penn Street Bridge has carried traffic into Reading, not much work other than small-scale repairs have been done to it.

It shows.

Chunks of concrete are missing from its extravagant arches and railings. But more concerning to PennDOT is the deterioration to the beams, deck and supports inside the bridge.

PennDOT plans to start a massive repair in the next couple of years intended to restore Reading’s iconic gateway to its former glory.

Read more:  http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=492075

Lower Pottsgrove Standoff Ends With AWOL Soldier Found Dead Inside Home (video)

Location of Lower Pottsgrove Township in Montgomery County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

LOWER POTTSGROVE — A 5½-hour standoff involving a man reportedly AWOL from the Pennsylvania National Guard ended with the discovery of his lifeless body in a second-floor bedroom early Wednesday night.

Lower Pottsgrove Police Chief Michael Foltz said the Montgomery County Detectives were not called to the scene because authorities do not believe the incident is a homicide. Township police would be conducting a thorough investigation throughout the evening hours Wednesday, Foltz said.

A van from the Montgomery County Coroner’s Office arrived at the scene shortly before Foltz addressed the media for the last time and confirmed the subject of the standoff was found dead.

Police did not release the name of the deceased pending notification of next of kin.

Read more:  http://www.pottsmerc.com/article/20130711/NEWS01/130719953/lower-pottsgrove-standoff-ends-with-awol-soldier-found-dead-inside-home-(video)#full_story