York City Mayor Proposes No Tax Increase

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

York City Mayor Kim Bracey is proposing a 2014 budget that does not increase property taxes.

The proposal is now in the hands of the York City Council, which has scheduled two hearings in early December to discuss the budget. It is scheduled to be adopted at the council’s Tuesday, Dec. 17 meeting.

“This was a tough budget,” Bracey said Tuesday at a press conference.

The city’s costs continue to rise, and revenues haven’t kept pace, Bracey said. Meanwhile, Pennsylvania’s “antiquated” local-government system greatly limits the options for officials in third-class cities like York, she said.

Read more: http://www.yorkdispatch.com/breaking/ci_24553629/york-city-mayor-proposes-no-tax-increase

Wilkes-Barre Police Seek Cellphone Records In Onley Murder Investigation

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Wilkes-Barre police got a search warrant Tuesday for the cellphone records of the “paramour” of a man they say was at the scene of the fatal shooting of Michael Onley, according to court records.

Onley, a popular deejay who worked as “DJ Mo,” was shot in the forehead in a drive-by shooting at Outsiders Bar at 650 S. Main St. on Oct. 13.

According to an affidavit filed in support of the warrant, witnesses reported seeing a silver or gray car, possibly a Mercedes-Benz, driving south on South Pennsylvania Avenue at the time of the shooting. Police “obtained information” that David “D-Rock” Nealy, 32, may have been at the bar the night of the shooting, the affidavit says.

Cell phone records revealed a phone used by Nealy, who is under supervision of the state Board of Probation and Parole, used a cellphone tower near the bar, police said.

Read more: http://citizensvoice.com/news/w-b-police-seek-cellphone-records-in-onley-murder-investigation-1.1588140

Officials: Transportation Will Suffer With Bill’s Defeat

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Commuter rail service is likely to be cut next year, and Pennsylvania’s highways and bridges will continue to deteriorate, transportation officials said Tuesday, following the narrow legislative defeat of a major transportation funding increase.

Most lawmakers from southeastern Pennsylvania supported the funding measure, but eight area Democrats and five Republicans voted against it. And a key supporter, Rep. Louise Bishop (D., Phila.), was out sick, the only legislator not voting on the measure, which was defeated 103-98 Monday night.

Supporters of the bill, which would have increased gas taxes and motorists’ fees to provide about $2.4 billion in additional funding, said negotiations were continuing Tuesday to try to revive the bill, which was one of Gov. Corbett’s key legislative priorities.

Republican opponents cited the increased taxes and fees as a prime reason for their “no” votes, while Democratic opponents said they objected to a provision that would have increased the prevailing-wage exemption on government construction projects, which some labor unions opposed.

Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/business/transportation/20131120_Officials__Transportation_will_suffer_with_bill_s_defeat.html#QyFtCBDquPww1RMr.99

Gov. Mifflin School Board Censures Member

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

Gov. Mifflin School Board member Elaine K. Fiant has been using her position to harass one of the district’s vendors and has repeatedly flooded school administrators with requests for information, her colleagues said Monday night.

On Monday, the board voted 8-1 to censure Fiant, with Fiant voting against the measure.

Board member Jill Koestel read the resolution aloud and said the move came after Fiant recently used her authority on the board “to intimidate and harass” one of the district’s vendors.

“It’s just unfathomable to me,” Koestel said. “It’s so wrong. It’s so inappropriate and so outside your scope as a school board member.”

Read more: http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=519591

Suspect In Fatal Stabbing In Reading Still At Large

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A Reading man accused of breaking into a city home and fatally stabbing an acquaintance while women and children were there remained at large Monday.

Julio A. Ortiz-Lugo, 30, is charged with first-, second, and third-degree murder, burglary and related counts in the slaying of Juan C. Lopez-Bonilla, 36, on Sunday morning in the 500 block of Minor Street.

Ortiz-Lugo, whose last-known address was in the 1100 block of Franklin Street, might not be easy to find, police said.

In addition to the new arrest warrant, police said there was an outstanding bench warrant for Ortiz-Lugo in a 2012 theft and weapons case in Reading.

Read more: http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=519494

Greater Reading Chamber Receives Grant For Manufacturing

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

The Corbett administration today announced the award of a Discovered in Pennsylvania-Developed in Pennsylvania grant to help launch the Greater Reading Chamber of Commerce & Industry’s Reignite in Pennsylvania program, created to support the growth of manufacturers.

The Greater Reading Chamber will receive a $286,600 grant to support targeted outreach, coaching, mentoring, training and consulting to an estimated 30 companies in the first year and another 30 companies in the second year.

Read more: http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=519627