Gunfire pelted a car, killing the driver and causing the vehicle to crash early this morning in Southwest Philadelphia. “As he succumbed the car struck two vehicles and as it came to rest, it flipped over on its hood,” said Homicide Sgt. William Gallagher. The incident [NOT pictured, right] happened in the 1000 block of S. 59th Street around 2 a.m. Just before the shooting, the driver had dropped a friend at a house. The friend, who is not a suspect, was questioned by police, Gallagher said. “We don’t know if it was a robbery attempt or if there was […]
We Know It’s Only Rock N’ Roll But We Like It
WHAT’S NEW, PUSSYCAT: Tom Jones, Resorts, Atlantic City, Last Night [SLIDE SHOW] BY JONATHAN VALANIA Last night, I took my mom to see Tom Jones in Atlantic City for her 67th birthday — cue up an image of a horned-up blue-haired old lady, and then multiply it by a thousand and you start to get an idea of that scene Sunday night at Resorts’ Superstar Theater. Can’t honestly say that mom turned me onto a LOT of music when I was a kid, but two faves — The Mamas & The Papas and Tom Jones — inhabit a special place […]
KILLADELPHIA 2: Hot Lead Is The New Thorazine
Witnesses and cops gave various accounts of what happened in the 30 minutes from when cops arrived at Henry’s house in Ogontz until her son was shot dead shortly before noon. Did 23-year-old Jason Henry lunge at police with a 14-inch butcher knife, giving an officer no choice but to shoot, as the police claim? Or was Henry simply trying to regain his composure after being stunned by a Taser gun, as witnesses claim? The only thing cops and witnesses agree on is that Henry began throwing sharp objects — including a knife and a drill — out of a […]
KILLADELPHIA: 1 More Dead Since U Went To Bed
BY KYW’s HADA KUZNITS Homicide detectives are investigating the city’s 252nd murder so far this year. They say it happened around 6:00am Sunday morning near Broad and Fitzwater. Police were flagged down by a passing motorist who tipped them off that there had been a shooting. They found a man lying dead in the street at 731 South Broad Street. The victim had been shot twice — once in the back and once in the leg. He was taken to Jefferson hospital where he was pronounced dead at about 6:30am. Homicide detectives say they have spoken to witnesses but so […]
THUG LIFE: Hustle And Flow
I was young then, and at the time, everyone around me saw jobs as, “That’s for the older people.” But whatever was going on that was quick money, I was involved in it. And being used to that planted me stiff to the point where this is what I wanted to do, and I ain’t wanna do nothing different.–Hareem BY JEFF DEENEY Once a hustler, always a hustler? It’s a crucial question: can ex-offenders change their stripes? Can a habitual criminal be rehabilitated? There are passionate arguments from both sides; social service providers who work with at risk […]
We Know It’s Only Rock N’ Roll But We Like It
NO SLEEP ‘TIL BROOKLYN: Beastie Boys, Festival Pier, Last Night [SLIDE SHOW] BY JONATHAN VALANIA So as promised, here’s a rough transcript of the Q&A at the Beasties press conference. The assembled press included Dan DeLuca from the Inquirer, Christian Hoard from Rolling Stone, some dude and dudette from Wonkavision, and dude from Gloucester County Times. (Note: We all sat around waiting about an hour for a.d. amorosi to show up — and when he finally did, he sat down for two minutes, checked his cell phone messages and then he left before the press conference even started! Now that […]
PAPERBOY: White Punks On Dope Guns Edition
BY AMY Z. QUINN Like time, news waits for no man. Keeping up with the funny papers has always been an all-day job, even in the pre-Internets era. These days, however, it’s a two-man job. That’s right — these days you need someone to do your reading for you, or risk falling hopelessly behind and, as a result, increasing your chances of dying lonely and somewhat bitter. Hey, we know how it is — so many words to read, so little time to surf for free porn. That’s why every week, PAPERBOY does your alt-weekly reading for you, freeing up […]
GAMBLOR: Gaming Chair Quits After Picking SugarHouse, Takes Cushy Job At Law Firm That Represents SugarHouse — How Is This Legal?
HARRISBURG, Pa. – Tad Decker, who oversaw the birth of the state’s slot machine industry as the first chairman of the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, said Wednesday he is leaving the job after one term to return to his former law firm. Decker, 61, will step down Aug. 9 to take over as president and chief executive officer of Philadelphia-based Cozen O’Connor. Decker was the firm’s managing partner three years ago when Rendell, his college pal, appointed him chairman of the fledgling agency. Cozen O’Connor is no stranger to the state’s gambling industry: The firm is representing two slots casino […]
KILLADELPHIA: 6 More While U Were Down The Shore
* 2 a.m. Saturday – 15-year-old Raheem Grant was found dead of a gunshot wound to the head on Callowhill Street near 63rd, in the Overbrook section. * 4:46 a.m. Saturday – Jason Brewer, 25, was shot multiple times near 18th Street and Girard Avenue, in North Philadelphia. He was pronounced dead at the scene at 5 a.m. * 1:40 p.m. Saturday – An unidentified male victim was stabbed multiple times in the neck on 10th Street near Schiller in North Philadelphia. He was pronounced dead at 7:38 p.m. at Temple University Hospital. * 2:51 p.m. Saturday – A 25-year-old […]
We Know It’s Only Rock N’ Roll But We Like It
BLUES EXPLOSION: White Stripes, The Grand Opera House, Wilmington, Friday BY JONATHAN VALANIA Mississippi said to Michigan: What did Delaware? If you ask this question – a variation on the old school bus singalong “Delaware” — to a sold out crowd at the Grand Opera House in Wilmington, Delaware, and pause dramatically and then answer your own question with “Alaska!” and (this part can’t be underestimated) your name is Jack White — well, people go positively apeshit. As Hello Clevelands go, it’s pure Jack: old-timey, slightly bawdy, just this side of corny, and, in the right hands, showbiz gold, Jerry. […]
TROUBLE WITH PHAWKER: Why That ‘Apology’ Sucks
. BY DAN OMBUDSMAN BUSKIRK Hey Jonathan- Let me first say that I’m not accusing you of anything I can’t imagine me getting myself into. I’ve gotten myself into more than my share of charged racial situations and I’m sure there is more to come but I’ve definitely tried to learn something along the way. If I was receving this letter I wouldn’t feel very apologized to, although you do actually say “I apologize”. But for every point you concede you defend yourself twice over. I’ll comment on a couple of things from the letter: Nita, First I would like […]
KILLADELPHIA: 1 More Dead Since U Went To Bed
Police had no initial suspects and no immediate motive in a Wednesday night shooting in North Philadelphia that left a 17-year-old dead, and a 49-year-old man wounded in stable condition. The incident happened around 9:45pm near 24th Street and Lehigh Avenue. The 17-year- old male was dead on arrival at Temple University Hospital. The 49-year-old man was admitted to the same hospital with a leg wound. [via KYW] RELATED: This just in from Jeff Deeney in the comments section. “We moved a client off this block (Judson Street) last year, she said they had to keep all their beds as […]
PAPERBOY: Special Kill, Kill, Kill Edition
BY AMY Z. QUINN Like time, news waits for no man. Keeping up with the funny papers has always been an all-day job, even in the pre-Internets era. These days, however, it’s a two-man job. That’s right — these days you need someone to do your reading for you, or risk falling hopelessly behind and, as a result, increasing your chances of dying lonely and somewhat bitter. Hey, we know how it is … so many words to read, so little time to surf for free porn. That’s why every week, PAPERBOY does your alt-weekly reading for you, freeing up […]