GREENSBURG – At first, it looked like suicide in the suburbs, with a twist: The 14-year-old boy found dead in the woods behind his home one morning last July had been killed with a state senator’s pistol. But investigators have been unable to rule out an accident – or foul play. It didn’t help that the senator’s son, who had a five-minute phone conversation with the victim late on the night of the shooting, stopped talking to police as the investigation wore on and refused to testify at an inquest. Now, the case has turned into a battle of father […]
LAST MINUTE: Calling All Peace Creeps
WHAT, WHERE, WHEN: Captain Milkshake, rarely-screened 1969 Hippie Anti-War Film, Andrew’s Video Vault at the Rotunda, 8 PM TONIGHT! BY DAN BUSKIRK FILM CRITIC I lived in the San Francisco Bay area for most of the ’90s, and with their numerous repertory movie houses, one could hang out at the movies every night. The Pacific Film Archive, The Castro, The Roxy, The Red Vic, the UC Theater, The Fine Arts — I slouched for hours in their seats, catching scores of double features of noir films, foreign oddities, indie documentaries and weirdo one-offs that I’ll probably never be able to […]
Joe Mamma, ‘Millionaire Crimefighter,’ Pleads Guilty
BY JOHN SHIFFMAN INQUIRER STAFF WRITER A Philadelphia egg-processing factory owner who made a name for himself offering high-dollar, high-profile rewards for unsolved crimes pleaded guilty yesterday to a gun charge and agreed to plead guilty to expected tax charges. Joseph Mammana, who has been in federal custody since November, used checks written from his factory to the Citizens Crime Commission and Sam Katz for Mayor to evade federal income taxes, authorities said. Mammana, 46, agreed to plead guilty to failing to pay taxes on roughly $400,000 in 2005 income and underreported income from 2000 to 2004. Those charges are […]
Super-Scofflaw Busted For $16,000 In Unpaid Tolls
March 7, 2007 – Authorities have arrested a New Jersey man on charges of evading tolls to the tune of $16,000. The arrest is the first to come as part of a combined effort by Delaware State Police and Delaware River and Bay Authority Police. The suspect, 39-year-old John Harper [NOT pictured] of Irvington, is accused of evading tolls on the Delaware Memorial Bridge and on I-95 in Newark. If found guilty, Harper would be forced to pay the $16,011 in unpaid tolls, civil costs and any unpaid penalties imposed by the court. 6ABC: Perp May Also Owe Untold Hundreds […]
VIET NOW: Local G.I. Jane Dead By I.E.D.
(CBS 3) MACUNGIE For the third time this week, a military service member from the area has died in Iraq. The latest victim is Sergeant Ashly Moyer of Lehigh County. The 21-year-old was killed when an IED or roadside bomb exploded under the Humvee she was traveling in while in Central Baghdad. Asley’s sister said she will never forget the last few words that they shared while communicating on the computer. “I love you, I miss you, be careful,” said Karissa Thomas. Ashly was a graduate of Emmaus High School and her family lived in Macungie, Lehigh County. She first […]
HOT FOR TEACHER: Mrs. Robinson Busted For Texting
WOODBRIDGE, N.J. (AP) – March 6, 2007 – A high school teacher was arrested Tuesday on charges that she sent several sexually explicit text messages to a 17-year-old student who attends the school where she teaches and a 16-year-old student whom she previously taught. Karen Binder, 42, of Manalapan, faces two counts of second-degree official misconduct. If convicted, she could face up to 10 years in state prison on each count. The 17-year-old boy’s parents notified officials at Colonia High School in Woodbridge last month about the sexually explicit text messages on their son’s mobile phone, police told The Star-Ledger […]
NOW PLAYING ON PHAWKER RADIO
BY JONATHAN VALANIA God, it was almost 17 years ago that I first met her. It was at an art opening at Tyler — the exact who and the why of the occasion are both long lost but I distinctly remember hearing her laugh before I even saw her: It sounded like something that had long ago gone out of style. She laughed like a woman from an earlier time, dare I say it, her laugh sounded positively antebellum. Frankly Scarlett, I was giving a damn. And then the crowd parted and there she was: radiant, coquettish, from Texas. I […]
POP IN TAPE: Hot Wax In The 215
I OWN GROUND HOG DAY BY MICHAEL FICHMAN I have a sort of musical synesthesia — all the great albums I have enjoyed in the past are locked into my memory as the soundtrack to a particular time and place in my life. These associations transcend rhetorical constructions: Midnight Marauders is endless hours in the back of the family car on an epic roadtrip. Devin the Dude’s Just Tryin’ ta Live is the summer I drove a construction truck up and down the hills of Pittsburgh. Neil Armstrong’s epic Originals mixtapes are 2003’s kabob and box wine barbeques. And goddamn […]
HIZZONER ’07: Evans Gets Black Clergy Endorsement
BY MICHAEL MATZA INQUIRER STAFF WRITER With an amen chorus of supportive preachers responsively shouting, “He is the man!” Philadelphia mayoral candidate Dwight Evans last night received the endorsement of the Black Clergy of Philadelphia and Vicinity, an influential group representing 300,000 parishioners in the politically active world of Philadelphia’s black churches. In a crowded field of candidates, including three African Americans, the group’s nod can provide a boost, particularly if the race is close. “We need a man with vision… and a passion to improve the whole city, not just the downtown, but the whole town. We need a […]
FORECAST: Slurpee
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GUNCRAZY: Son In Kabul Safer Than Mom In Mantua?
Philadelphia was very much on Gregory’s mind before his mother’s death, even as bombs exploded and people died at the hands of the Taliban. He took a few moments to do what military people do when they’re far from loved ones. He got on the Internet and ordered his mother bubble bath and lotion for her birthday. He included a note: Mummy, happy birthday to the best mother and grandmother in the world. Hope you will live to see many, many healthy and happy birthdays. Gregory paid extra to get the gift delivered to his mother’s home in West Philadelphia […]
THE RONETTES: Be My Baby
Phil Spector has criticises The Ronettes’ induction into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame which will take place on March 12. Ronettes singer and ex-wife of the producer, Ronnie Spector, has said that Phil has attempted to play down the band’s contribution to music. Ronnie Spector said the producer sent a letter, obtained by her lawyers two years ago, addressed to the Rock Hall‘s nominating committee, dated July 11, 1994 detailing why The Ronettes are unworthy of induction. It says: “My first objection to The Ronettes is that they did not record! Of all the recordings they made, only the […]