Man Arrested In Shooting Death In Hill District

Locator map with the Homewood West neighborhood in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania highlighted. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Pittsburgh police arrested a man late Thursday in connection with the shooting death of a man with gang ties last week in the Hill District.

Jay Morrison, 37, is scheduled to be arraigned today on charges of criminal homicide and a firearms violation in the killing of Harold Cabbagestalk, 40.

Morrison was arrested about 11:35 p.m. at Lady Di’s bar in Homewood based on a lead from the U.S. Marshal’s Fugitive Task Force, Pittsburgh police major crimes unit Lt. Daniel Hermann said in a press release.

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/neighborhoods-city/man-arrested-in-shooting-death-in-hill-district-705143/#ixzz2g718m2HT

Moving Harrisburg Forward Might Be Impossible Without Settling Present

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

The forum was supposed to focus on the future of Harrisburg. And to a large extent, it did. But the reality of city’s present casts a long shadow over any discussion in the capital these days.

At some point in the next three months, it is likely the Harrisburg recovery plan, whether you support it or not, is going to go into effect, essentially eliminating the city’s massive debts and putting its government back on the path to some form of solvency.

How much it is able to carry that past the next four years remains unknown. But the future of the city, whether it stagnates or begins a new renaissance, will largely be in its own hands, unencumbered from debt obligations.

At its core, argues developer Ralph Vartan, is a simple equation. Of the 58,000 people who work in the city, only about 10,000 live in the city. That is further unbalanced by the fact that over the last several decades the regional population has almost doubled, while Harrisburg’s has stagnated.

Read more: http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2013/09/moving_harrisburg_forward_may.html#incart_m-rpt-2

Wilkes-Barre Police Investigating Deadly Shooting

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

WILKES-BARRE, PA — City police and the Luzerne County District Attorney’s Office are investigating a shooting that claimed the life of a 47-year-old woman and critically injuring a 48-year-old man on Andover Street late Thursday night.

Police said the shooting at 389 Andover St. occurred just after 11 p.m.

Read more: http://www.timesleader.com/news/local-news/866051/W-B-police-investigating-deadly-shooting

Activists Free Hundreds Of Mink Now ‘Running Around All Over’ Cambria County

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

For nearly 60 years, George Rykola has raised mink on this quiet, bucolic farm in rural Cambria County.

He and his wife, Anna, live next door to thousands of mink they keep and pelt for market. Their relatives live close, too, and help on the farm about 90 minutes east of Pittsburgh.

“We’ve always lived a peaceful life here,” Mr. Rykola, 92, said.

That is until early Wednesday morning, when he learned someone had come on his property overnight and released hundreds of mink from their cages, prompting a police investigation and sudden media attention.

Read more: http://www.mcall.com/news/nationworld/mc-animal-rights-free-mink-cambria-0927-20130927,0,952771.story#ixzz2g6qzRYGj 
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Dollar General, Like Its Shoppers, Weathers Tough Times

Four years ago, Jacqueline Horne lost her job as a business agent for a union and became a regular shopper at the Dollar General store in Pennsauken.

On a recent visit, the 46-year-old mother of two, who now works part time at a Wal-Mart store, bought cleanser for 50 cents, candy for $1, press-on nails for $1 (she said she can’t afford to get her nails done), and spices for $2.25, the most expensive item in her cart.

“Actually, it turns out to be cheaper,” Horne said of items at the Dollar General at 3400 Haddonfield Rd., on the border of Pennsauken and Cherry Hill. “When you’re on a budget in this economy, you watch everything.

“They really do have everything you need.”

Read more: http://www.mcall.com/news/nationworld/mc-dollar-general-stores-tough-times-20130926,0,3690723.story

Police: Easton Slaying Victim Connected To Drug Trade; Won’t Comment On Motive

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

Four days after a 28-year-old woman was found shot to death in the West Ward, Easton authorities identified her and said she is linked to the drug trade, though they would not comment on a motive.

Authorities said Thursday they had no current address for Amanda Stratford, but online searches link the victim of Sunday’s homicide to the Wilkes-Barre area, where she lived for several years.

Easton police Lt. Matthew Gerould would not comment on a motive in the slaying, nor say if authorities have any suspects in custody, but said she likely knew her killer or killers. He said investigators were releasing Stratford’s street nickname, “Money,” in hopes that anyone who knew her may come forward with information.

Stratford was involved in drug trade “in and around” Easton and other areas, Gerould said.

Read more: http://www.mcall.com/news/breaking/mc-easton-homicide-victim-identified-shooting-20130926,0,2668397.story#ixzz2g6mGOcX0
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SEPTA Warns Of ‘Devastating’ Cuts

SEPTA logo with text (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

With a showdown looming in Harrisburg, SEPTA officials made a final pitch Thursday for millions more in state aid to avoid a “devastating” cutback in service.

A House vote is expected as early as next week on statewide transportation funding, and SEPTA says it is prepared to enact a doomsday plan to eliminate nine of its 13 rail lines, close a subway line, and convert all trolley routes to bus lines.

Deputy general manager Jeffrey Knueppel told the SEPTA board that old rail bridges, power stations, vehicles, and train stations could no longer be maintained and must be replaced.

Without more state funding for those capital needs, SEPTA will begin a “rational progression” of cutbacks over a decade, starting next year, Kneuppel said.

Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/business/transportation/20130927_SEPTA_warns_of__devastating__cuts.html#0mpGuZ38YSbrJSk6.99

Daniel Boone Schools Eye Potential $3.6M Budget Shortfall

Map of Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States Public School Districts (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

BIRDSBORO, PA — Kindergarten, sports and other large expenditure items will likely be recommended once again for cuts in the Daniel Boone Area School District, the school board president warns.

Board President Andrew Basile, who also serves as chairman of the board’s finance committee, said reduction or elimination of those programs would be one option for the board to reduce an anticipated $3.6 million budget deficit for the 2014-15 school year.

The district avoided steep cuts in programs and activities this year by dipping into its budget reserves.

Dennis Younkin, the district’s interim business manager, provided the finance committee with an updated Act 1 Timeline for 2014-15, a five-year budget analysis, and a 2014-15 proposed budget.

Read more: http://www.pottsmerc.com/social-affairs/20130926/daniel-boone-schools-eye-potential-36m-budget-shortfall

Mansfield University Announces Layoffs

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

Mansfield University plans to cut up to 29 full-time faculty positions and 25 administrative jobs due to a projected $14.3 million shortfall over the next two years, the school said Thursday. It blamed enrollment declines over the past three years and reduced state support.

Read more: http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=514674

A Clothes Call: Spring Township Nixes Naked Haunted House

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

The owner of Sinking Spring‘s Shocktoberfest was pumped about offering his customers a one-of-a-kind experience: the chance to go through a haunted house stark naked.

But Thursday, Patrick Konopelski found out that his guests are going to have to keep their underwear on.

Konopelski’s application to have the naked haunted house challenge on the Spring Township portion of his Park Avenue property was turned down, three days after Sinking Spring officials said there could be no nude entertainment on the borough side.

Township officials said they would need more time to evaluate the request, and Shocktoberfest kicks off today. Konopelski emailed his request to the township about 9 p.m. Wednesday.

Read more: http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=514528

Soon-To-Be-Restored Penn Street Bridge Is Turning 100 . . . And Looks It

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

It’s seen a century of Reading — the good and the bad, the highs and the lows.

It’s served as the entrance and the exit to the city, the first thing people see when they come and go.

But most of all, the Penn Street Viaduct — the formal name for the 1,337 feet of concrete arches that span the Schuylkill River to connect the main thoroughfares of Reading and West Reading — has become an icon.

“When you think of the city, the first things that come to mind are the Penn Street Viaduct and the Pagoda,” said George M. Meiser IX, Berks County historian.

Read more: http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=514101