I-LEAD School Rocks Downtown Reading’s Redevelopment Plans

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

When CNA Insurance announced Monday that it was donating its downtown Reading office building to I-LEAD Charter School, it was done with quite a bit of fanfare.

The sidewalk outside the five-story building at Fourth and Penn streets was filled with people. Speakers praised CNA’s generosity and the work I-LEAD does.

Applause erupted as a ceremonial key exchanged hands.

But as the celebratory din diminished, some questions were raised.

Read more: http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=515758

Owners Donate CNA Building In Reading To I-LEAD Charter School

A 1947 topographic map of the Reading, Pennsylvania area. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

A major piece of the downtown Reading puzzle has a new owner.

The five-story, 260,000-square-foot CNA Insurance building at Fourth and Penn streets has been donated to the I-LEAD Charter School, company and school officials said.

“It’s a blessing from the sky,” said Angel Figueroa, vice president for resource and development at I-LEAD. “It’s going to change the lives of many young people.”

Officials from CNA and I-LEAD are expected to officially announce the donation at an event this afternoon.

Read more: http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=515104

Wilkes-Barre Barber Shop Alleged Hub Of Drug Trafficking

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

WILKES-BARRE — Undercover drug agents believe Ramon Colon was providing more than haircuts from The Master Barber Shop on Hazle Avenue.

Billed as the “The Best Cut in Town,” the barbershop that opened within the last year was “the hub” of a major cocaine and marijuana trafficking organization, said state Deputy Attorney General Tim Doherty.

Colon, 26, and his wife, Alexandra Mateo, 21, of Mayflower Crossing, Wilkes-Barre, were described by Doherty as the alleged ring leaders that peddled hundreds of pounds of marijuana and several kilos of cocaine from New York City to Luzerne County for the last eight months.

About 15 drug agents armed with assault rifles and wearing bulletproof armor served search warrants early Thursday morning at the barbershop and across the street at Idley’s Furniture Store. The apartment of Colon and Mateo at Mayflower Crossing on South Empire Street was searched, as was a residence on Coplay Place in Mountain Top.

Read more:  http://www.timesleader.com/news/local-news/633462/W-B-barber-shop-alleged-hub-of-drug-trafficking