Yo, Philly in the News

• Three fatal car crashes occurred in the area between Thursday night and Friday morning. One involved a speeding car travelling the wrong way on the Schuylkill Expressway. The vehicle collided with another car, killing both drivers. The highway was closed for three hours as a result. Meanwhile, another fatal accident early Friday on Route 42 in New Jersey blocked off the Walt Whitman Bridge for hours. The third incident was a hit-and-run and occurred Thursday around 8PM on Gurney Street near Somerset in Kensington. The vehicle involved was large and red; call 215-685-3180 if you have any information.
• Despite being named among the top U.S. leaders last month, the Philadelphia school district's chief executive, Paul Vallas, got raked over the coals on Friday by the School Reform Commission for the district's $73.3 million deficit.
• Another local group having trouble with its budget is the Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority. They've been trying to put together a showcase expansion to the center for some years now, but rising real estate costs, amongst other things, are making it difficult for them to come up with a plan that costs less than the $700 million budgeted.
• The Street administration's drive toward increased efficiency, and its plan to streamline the city's three housing agencies, involved 44 pink slips, which were handed out to housing agency employees on Friday. The laid off workers will get hiring preference for new, lower cost jobs opening up at the Office of Housing and Community Development.
• Turns out the Wyncote Mini-Deli in the West Oak Lane neighborhood was selling more than just sandwiches to its customers. In fact, if you knew the right code (which involved getting a couple of soft drinks we've never heard of called Hugs), you could buy marijuana there right over the counter. Police figured it all out thanks to some undercover work, and on Wednesday raided the deli and two other properties belonging to the owner. They came out with 22 pounds of marijuana worth $108,560, $14,952 in cash, and four guns. They also arrested the owner and his two employees.

Image Credit: Flickr user confusedvision