BY TONY WEST/ Pennsylvania’s prison population is huge and soaring even higher. It stands apart, not only from the rest of the world, but from many other states. In 1980, there were 8,243 inmates in the Keystone State; last year, there were 51,326.
The Commonwealth can’t build prisons fast enough; it is exporting prisoners to...
Read more »
Latest Story
GETTING SMART ON CRIME: A Flurry Of Bills Chips Away At Prison Walls
BRIGHT FUTURE FOR SACRED HEART: How 4 Guys Turned a Church Around
BY RORY McGLASSON/
New Sacred Heart of Jesus pastor Robert Feeney jokes about how he used to visit the 3rd Street church with a miner’s hat on his head.
So dark was the aged building’s interior, Father Feeney says he was barely able to see down the aisle.
However, today residents are walking in the church amazed...
Read more »
Will Firehouse Brownouts Place Neighborhoods In Peril?
Will “brownouts” put out the overtime the city has to pay to firefighters, or will it spike up more casualties should fires occur?
Rolling the dice is Mayor Michael Nutter. He is closing down, for a shift, a minimum of six firehouses daily. That’s three during the day and three at night.
Objecting to the gamble...
Read more »
POLS ON THE STREET: Fattah Sees December Deal To Cut The Deficit
As the national debt moves into front and center of public attention during the fall election campaigns, Congressman Chaka Fattah predicts major action will place – right after they’re over.
Speaking at Temple University Monday, the Congressman said a committee is already working to plan dramatic legislation to reduce the Federal deficit. The package will...
Read more »
Clarke’s Bill Seeks Ways To Battle Electric Hikes
Councilman Darrell Clarke has convinced his City Council colleagues to pass legislation that could help all Philadelphians battle the lifting of energy rates which end Dec. 31.
Effective Jan. 1, PECO and other energy generators are expected to raise rates to consumers. But Clarke hopes to mitigate the damage that will be done by the...
Read more »
OUT & ABOUT: Why Steele Stood Us Up
BY DENISE CLAY/ My original intention was to write a column about seeing Republican National Committee chairman Michael Steele at the National Association of Black Journalists in San Diego last week.
Steele was to be interviewed by CNN pundit (and the best self-promoter since P.T. Barnum) Roland Martin and asked questions about the RNC, his...
Read more »
