NewsWorks

Philadelphia International moves closer to getting key property for expansion

newsworks@whyy.org (Tom MacDonald @tmacdonaldwhyy) — Sun, 19 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

A Philadelphia City Council Committee has approved a bill that would lead to purchasing some Tinicum Township properties critical to expanding the airport.

DHS willing to pay more money to foster older kids

newsworks@whyy.org (Elizabeth Fiedler @EAFiedler) — Sat, 18 May 2013 20:00:35 GMT

Philadelphia's Department of Human Services says it's willing to shell out more money to help find foster homes for older youths.

Almost half the kids in DHS care for are age 14 or older and while it's not easy or cheap to raise a teenager, DHS Commissioner Anne Marie Ambrose said more families need to step up.

NBC10 weather forecast: Few showers Sunday, highs near 65

newsworks@whyy.org (NBC10) — Sat, 18 May 2013 19:00:00 GMT

Reports of first-time, midlife allergies on the rise this season

newsworks@whyy.org (Phil Gregory) — Sat, 18 May 2013 18:00:00 GMT

This is a tough time of the year for people with seasonal allergies. All the moisture from Superstorm Sandy has driven up pollen counts. And though it's not clear why it's happening, more people are developing allergy problems for the first time in their 30s, 40s and 50s.

Penn State report reviews women’s status at university

newsworks@whyy.org (Associated Press) — Sat, 18 May 2013 16:30:42 GMT

A report by a Penn State commission says that women have lagged behind in representation over the last decade in positions such as administrator and professor.

The Commission for Women released its "Status of Women at Penn State, 2001-11" report this month. Among notable findings was a decline in the representation of women in teaching positions as academic rank increased, from instructor to full professor.

NBC10 report: Former 'hero' police officer charged, holding women captive

newsworks@whyy.org (David Chang, NBC10) — Sat, 18 May 2013 15:25:16 GMT

A former Philadelphia Police Officer once hailed a hero and saluted by President Obama has been arrested.

Law enforcement sources say Richard DeCoatsworth is now in police custody after he allegedly held two women captive inside his home.

Get out! Art Museum Day, 9th Street Italian Market Festival

newsworks@whyy.org (Robin Bloom, @RobinWHYY) — Sat, 18 May 2013 14:00:00 GMT

Looking for something exciting to do? The WHYY Weekly Entertainment Guide has events happening all around the area.

Enjoy free admission to the Philadelphia Museum of Art this afternoon as the Association of Art Museum Directors celebrates "Art Museum Day."

Family fun: Mt. Airy Kids Literary Festival this weekend

newsworks@whyy.org (Jen Bradley) — Sat, 18 May 2013 12:45:10 GMT

Celebrate books with wonderful events like author meet-and-greets, kid's yoga, storytelling, craft making and face painting during this weekend's Literary Festival in Mt. Airy. Click through for a lineup of today's events.

Plea offer reached in Delaware waterboarding case

newsworks@whyy.org (Randall Chase, Associated Press) — Sat, 18 May 2013 12:00:00 GMT

A woman who lived with a Delaware pediatrician accused of waterboarding her 11-year-old daughter has agreed to plead guilty to child endangerment charges and testify against him.

Philly to Newark: Landing gear issue forces plane’s belly landing overnight

newsworks@whyy.org (Associated Press) — Sat, 18 May 2013 11:35:00 GMT

An airline official says a US Airways flight with 34 people aboard was forced to make a belly landing at Newark International Airport after experiencing landing gear trouble. No injuries were reported.

US Airways spokesman Davien Anderson tells The Associated Press that a turboprop plane that left Philadelphia shortly before 11 p.m. Friday landed safely at Newark with its landing gear retracted at about 1 a.m. Saturday.

New skate park opens in late May for freestylers and Sunday strollers

newsworks@whyy.org (Peter Crimmins, @petercrimmins) — Fri, 17 May 2013 23:00:00 GMT

Ten years in the making, $4.6 million spent, and over 70,000 square feet of skateable surface: Paine's Park is unique among American skate parks in that it is designed to solve multiple programming challenges: move people between the Schuylkill River and the Parkway, create a centralized gathering spot along the heavily used Schuylkill River Trail, and make it awesome enough to be a skateboarding destination like Love Park used to be.

On the Gosnell conviction and Philly schools budget woes

newsworks@whyy.org (Shai Ben-Yaacov) — Fri, 17 May 2013 21:41:03 GMT

NewsWorks Tonight Host Dave Heller discussed the week's top stories - the conviction of West Philadelphia abortion provider Dr. Kermit Gosnell and Mayor Michael Nutter's request to find funding for schools - with reporters Holly Otterbein and Carolyn Beeler.

Charter schools accused of ignoring Pa. Right to Know Law

newsworks@whyy.org (Mary Wilson) — Fri, 17 May 2013 21:23:51 GMT

The head of Pennsylvania's Office of Open Records is pointing a finger at public charter schools for being the biggest violators of the commonwealth's Right-to-Know law, now 5 years old.

What many Philly kids experience can hurt them as adults

newsworks@whyy.org (Maiken Scott, @maikenscott) — Fri, 17 May 2013 21:20:16 GMT

Adults in Philadelphia have experienced high rates of childhood adversity - according to a survey of close to 2,000 city residents.

Camden County Freeholders OK sale of county health center

newsworks@whyy.org (Maiken Scott, @maikenscott) — Fri, 17 May 2013 21:11:16 GMT

Camden County freeholders have voted to sell a public health center - but the county will retain control over the center's psychiatric unit.

Hurricane Sandy contributes to wicked bad pollen count

newsworks@whyy.org (Phil Gregory) — Fri, 17 May 2013 20:58:33 GMT

This is a tough time of the year for people with seasonal allergies. All the moisture from Superstorm Sandy has driven up pollen counts.

'Oasis Room' offers serene space in psychiatric hospital

newsworks@whyy.org (Maiken Scott, @maikenscott) — Fri, 17 May 2013 20:37:35 GMT

Psychiatric emergency facilities treat patients who are deeply in crisis. They are typically suicidal, homicidal, psychotic, or unresponsive.

After one year, renovations to Camden County's primary park ready for next step

newsworks@whyy.org (Tara Nurin for NewsWorks) — Fri, 17 May 2013 20:30:00 GMT

One year into a major overhaul that could take up to a decade, Camden County officials are preparing to start the most visible and significant phase of their $23 million renovation of Cooper River Park, which stretches into parts of Cherry Hill, Haddon Township, Collingswood and Pennsauken.

After spending approximately 11 months and $230,000 to construct eye-pleasing berms, add signage and plant flowers at two eastern entrances to the park, the county is planning to break ground this fall on projects that include and encircle the Jack Curtis Stadium and its surrounding playground and concert grounds.

N.J. issues regulations for Internet gambling

newsworks@whyy.org (Associated Press) — Fri, 17 May 2013 20:02:58 GMT

New Jersey casino regulators have issued regulations on how Internet gambling is to be carried out in the state.

The rules offered Friday include techniques to verify that players are within New Jersey's geographic boundaries, set a 15 percent tax on casinos' online winnings, and include cautions for people at risk of becoming compulsive gamblers.

Pa. open records office bristling at reforms to Right to Know Law

newsworks@whyy.org (Emma Jacobs, @ecjacobs) — Fri, 17 May 2013 19:23:32 GMT

The head of Pennsylvania's Open Records Office would like to see changes to a bill that's been introduced in the State Senate.

When the new Right to Know Law, improving access to government records, was enacted in 2009, it brought some unexpected consequences. The Pennsylvania corrections department was flooded by requests from inmates. Businesses started asking for stacks of records to improve their marketing.

NBC10 weather forecast: Sunday showers kick off hot, stormy week

newsworks@whyy.org (NBC10) — Fri, 17 May 2013 19:00:10 GMT

Delaware unemployment at 7.2 percent

newsworks@whyy.org (Mark Eichmann, @markeichmann) — Fri, 17 May 2013 18:18:57 GMT

April's unemployment rate remained unchanged from the revised March unemployment rate for the First State.

Wilmington city council approves FY14 budget, mayor vows a veto

newsworks@whyy.org (Shana O'Malley @shanaomalley) — Fri, 17 May 2013 18:08:13 GMT

Wilmington Mayor Dennis Williams said he will veto the FY 2014 operating budget passed by Wilmington City Council in a 10-2 vote Thursday night.

Higher per diem for older foster kids would help families get by

newsworks@whyy.org (Elizabeth Fiedler @EAFiedler) — Fri, 17 May 2013 18:06:26 GMT

Philadelphia's Department of Human Services says it's willing to shell out more money to help find foster homes for older youths.

Postal Service stamp commemorates Battle of Gettysburg

newsworks@whyy.org (Associated Press) — Fri, 17 May 2013 17:38:46 GMT

The U.S. Postal Service is issuing a special stamp commemorating the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg.

The stamps will first be issued at a ceremony at Gettysburg National Military Park on Thursday, a day before they are scheduled to go on sale across the rest of the country.

Photographing the photographer watching the watchers

newsworks@whyy.org (Emma Lee for NewsWorks) — Fri, 17 May 2013 17:30:00 GMT

On a Saturday morning in the off season at Cape May Point, a lone bicyclist stops and pulls out his smart phone to capture the spectacle before him: Four birdwatchers have abandoned their Prius in the middle of the street to pursue their elusive quarry. The news van following them has been similarly abandoned and a photographer and reporter are scrambling to capture the moment.

Pollsters rising to challenge of survey fatigue

newsworks@whyy.org (Dave Heller) — Fri, 17 May 2013 17:13:07 GMT

Frank Newport, editor in chief at the Gallup Poll, joins us this week to talk about the challenge of getting respondent cooperation, the rising costs of producing data, and Gallup's response to criticism of it's 2012 presidential campaign polling.

Business Journal: USPS says Philly dogs are snippy

newsworks@whyy.org (Jeff Blumenthal for The Business Journal) — Fri, 17 May 2013 16:49:40 GMT

Use and Occupancy tax increase approved by council committee

newsworks@whyy.org (Tom MacDonald @tmacdonaldwhyy) — Fri, 17 May 2013 16:24:28 GMT

A Philadelphia city council committee has approved an increase to the city Use and Occupancy tax.

The approval came after an extended hearing with both school suporters of the move and members of the business community who were against the increase.

The increase would help schools and avoid other proposed tax hikes.

The Notebook: List of Philadelphia school with known principal vacancies

newsworks@whyy.org (Bill Hangley Jr. for The Notebook) — Fri, 17 May 2013 16:00:23 GMT