The state of Maryland on Saturday terminated a $12.5 million contract for personal protective equipment with a firm started this spring by two well-connected Republican operatives, one of whom has raised campaign funds for Sen. Patrick Toomey of Pennsylvania and other Republicans.The state of Maryland on Saturday terminated a $12.5 million contract for personal protective equipment with a firm started this spring by two well-connected Republican operatives.State officials said the company, Blue Flame Medical, failed to deliver masks and ventilators as promised and that the matter has been...…The state of Maryland on Saturday terminated a $12.5 million contract for personal protective equipment with a firm started this spring by two well-connected Republican operatives, one of whom has raised campaign funds for Sen. Patrick Toomey of Pennsylvania and other Republicans.The state of Maryland on Saturday terminated a $12.5 million contract for personal protective equipment with a firm started this spring by two well-connected Republican operatives.State officials said the company, Blue Flame Medical, failed to deliver masks and ventilators as promised and that the matter has been...WW…

“People are targeting property as a way to fight social forces," said Donna Murch, a Rutgers University history professor.As looting spread from Center City two weekends ago, the Scurry family became desperate to protect La’Vanter, their women’s clothing boutique in North Philadelphia.Ninety percent of sales had disappeared during the pandemic, and another hit could finish their small company. Store owner Jamil Scurry, a former Philadelphia police officer, grabbed a large piece of vinyl and spray-painted it with the words he hoped would spare them:BLACK OWNED #FLOYD.It worked. Nearby...…“People are targeting property as a way to fight social forces," said Donna Murch, a Rutgers University history professor.As looting spread from Center City two weekends ago, the Scurry family became desperate to protect La’Vanter, their women’s clothing boutique in North Philadelphia.Ninety percent of sales had disappeared during the pandemic, and another hit could finish their small company. Store owner Jamil Scurry, a former Philadelphia police officer, grabbed a large piece of vinyl and spray-painted it with the words he hoped would spare them:BLACK OWNED #FLOYD.It worked. Nearby...WW…

“It’s so much rapid death so quickly,” said Gregory Burrell, who for the past 20 years has been the owner of Terry Funeral Home in West Philadelphia.For 81 years, generations of families have come to say their goodbyes here. They’ve shared words of comfort, cried freely, and sung hymns to salve the pain. The chapel inside Terry Funeral Home has held them all.Elmer Lynn had planned to memorialize his 70-year-old wife, Mildred, here, too. She died on Easter of COVID-19 at Lankenau Hospital.Seated at an antique table in the casket selection room, a weary Lynn explained to Gregory Burrell, the...…“It’s so much rapid death so quickly,” said Gregory Burrell, who for the past 20 years has been the owner of Terry Funeral Home in West Philadelphia.For 81 years, generations of families have come to say their goodbyes here. They’ve shared words of comfort, cried freely, and sung hymns to salve the pain. The chapel inside Terry Funeral Home has held them all.Elmer Lynn had planned to memorialize his 70-year-old wife, Mildred, here, too. She died on Easter of COVID-19 at Lankenau Hospital.Seated at an antique table in the casket selection room, a weary Lynn explained to Gregory Burrell, the...WW…

This first-ever picture of the havoc, how it spread, where, and which homes were hit first and hardest is based on data Philadelphia inadvertently made available online that charted test results of residents at those homes from the start of the pandemic through April 23.The first confirmation that the coronavirus had infiltrated a Philadelphia nursing home came on March 20, an unseasonably warm Friday that hit 79 degrees. A test of a resident at the Renaissance Healthcare & Rehabilitation Center for COVID-19 came back positive.In the weeks since, the coronavirus has torn through almost...…This first-ever picture of the havoc, how it spread, where, and which homes were hit first and hardest is based on data Philadelphia inadvertently made available online that charted test results of residents at those homes from the start of the pandemic through April 23.The first confirmation that the coronavirus had infiltrated a Philadelphia nursing home came on March 20, an unseasonably warm Friday that hit 79 degrees. A test of a resident at the Renaissance Healthcare & Rehabilitation Center for COVID-19 came back positive.In the weeks since, the coronavirus has torn through almost...WW…

A 28-year-old man who was staying at the encampment was critically injured after being stabbed there Tuesday night, police said.After a man was stabbed in the homeless encampment on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway on Tuesday night, frightened neighborhood residents voiced outrage, while professionals who work with the homeless moved quickly to temper heated reactions.The dual responses reflect the fraught realities of a controversial patch of the city at North 22nd Street, where around The 28-year-old man who police said was living in the encampment was stabbed once in both legs and once in...…A 28-year-old man who was staying at the encampment was critically injured after being stabbed there Tuesday night, police said.After a man was stabbed in the homeless encampment on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway on Tuesday night, frightened neighborhood residents voiced outrage, while professionals who work with the homeless moved quickly to temper heated reactions.The dual responses reflect the fraught realities of a controversial patch of the city at North 22nd Street, where around The 28-year-old man who police said was living in the encampment was stabbed once in both legs and once in...WW…

The council wants the governor to increasing diagnostic testing in the area and separately assess new coronavirus cases in its nursing-home population against those among the rest of the population.» UPDATE: Officials in Delaware and Bucks Counties are asking Gov. Tom Wolf to aid the Philadelphia region as it looks to eventually reopen, including by increasing diagnostic testing and separately assessing new coronavirus cases in its nursing-home population against those among the rest of the population.State health officials, meanwhile, say these populations are naturally intertwined and...…The council wants the governor to increasing diagnostic testing in the area and separately assess new coronavirus cases in its nursing-home population against those among the rest of the population.» UPDATE: Officials in Delaware and Bucks Counties are asking Gov. Tom Wolf to aid the Philadelphia region as it looks to eventually reopen, including by increasing diagnostic testing and separately assessing new coronavirus cases in its nursing-home population against those among the rest of the population.State health officials, meanwhile, say these populations are naturally intertwined and...WW…

Here's the latest breakdown.Former Vice President Joe Biden was able to flip Pennsylvania back to the Democratic column largely through overwhelming support in Philadelphia and its four suburban counties.Biden received 59% of the vote in the suburbs, compared with Hillary Clinton’s 55% share in 2016. He also defeated President Donald Trump by more than 283,000 votes, an improvement of about 95,000 votes over Clinton’s margin in 2016.Suburban turnout was also high. As of Monday, more than 1.5 million votes were cast in the suburbs, an increase of 173,000 votes from 2016.Biden also won 81% of...…Here's the latest breakdown.Former Vice President Joe Biden was able to flip Pennsylvania back to the Democratic column largely through overwhelming support in Philadelphia and its four suburban counties.Biden received 59% of the vote in the suburbs, compared with Hillary Clinton’s 55% share in 2016. He also defeated President Donald Trump by more than 283,000 votes, an improvement of about 95,000 votes over Clinton’s margin in 2016.Suburban turnout was also high. As of Monday, more than 1.5 million votes were cast in the suburbs, an increase of 173,000 votes from 2016.Biden also won 81% of...WW…

Ryan Kappler, 38 of Montgomery County, was arrested by the SEPTA police and faces charges of theft by unlawful taking, theft by deception, and receiving stolen property.A SEPTA maintenance manager has been fired by the transportation authority for alleged overtime fraud, an authority spokesperson confirmed Wednesday.Ryan Kappler, 38, of Montgomery County, was arrested by the SEPTA Transit Police Department and faces charges of theft by unlawful taking, theft by deception, and receiving stolen property, according to Municipal Court documents filed Tuesday.He was dismissed by the authority...…Ryan Kappler, 38 of Montgomery County, was arrested by the SEPTA police and faces charges of theft by unlawful taking, theft by deception, and receiving stolen property.A SEPTA maintenance manager has been fired by the transportation authority for alleged overtime fraud, an authority spokesperson confirmed Wednesday.Ryan Kappler, 38, of Montgomery County, was arrested by the SEPTA Transit Police Department and faces charges of theft by unlawful taking, theft by deception, and receiving stolen property, according to Municipal Court documents filed Tuesday.He was dismissed by the authority...WW…

Protests for racial justice, moves towards curbing police, could offset damage to American power overseas.What began in Minneapolis with the murder of George Floyd did not remain in America. His death has not only shaken this country but has reverberated far beyond U.S. shores. And I’m not just referring to to Chile to Lebanon, Syria and beyond, protesting racism and inequality in America and within their own countries.America’s allies and enemies are closely watching how well the United States handles the mass political protests for racial justice as well as a c. Until the last few days,...…Protests for racial justice, moves towards curbing police, could offset damage to American power overseas.What began in Minneapolis with the murder of George Floyd did not remain in America. His death has not only shaken this country but has reverberated far beyond U.S. shores. And I’m not just referring to to Chile to Lebanon, Syria and beyond, protesting racism and inequality in America and within their own countries.America’s allies and enemies are closely watching how well the United States handles the mass political protests for racial justice as well as a c. Until the last few days,...WW…