Yo, Philly in the News

• Lawrence Richette, 48, the son of veteran Common Pleas Judge Lisa A. Richette, was arrested Tuesday for beating his 79-year-old mother at her Center City home. "He was released on his own recognizance yesterday - his birthday - pending a preliminary hearing Oct. 29." He was also ordered to stay away from his mother, for obvious reasons. But the story gets worse (better?). When NBC10 reporters knocked on his door for a comment, he came out in a bathrobe and flashed them, saying, "That's what I think of TV news." Apparently the video is on the internet, but we didn't go searching for it, because we're already disturbed enough by the still picture of the incident (with a bar over the private area, thankfully) which accompanies this article (via Jessica).
• Commenting on a newly released report about the the West Nickel Mines Amish School standoff on Oct. 2, the Pennsylvania state trooper who was in command says the important lesson learned is that "the nation's front-line police officers need better training and more equipment."
• Police announced yesterday that a $5,000 reward is now being offered in a July 31 case in which a woman in the Queen Village section was robbed and sexually assaulted during a home invasion. The suspect is a black man in his late 20s, about 180 to 200 pounds with a muscular build, and might go by the name Kevin. Anyone with information should contact the Citizens Crime Commission at 215-546-TIPS.
• Two more shootings in North Philadelphia yesterday left two men in the hospital in critical condition.
• Steven L. Strawbridge Sr., once a vice president and treasurer for Strawbridge & Clothier, pleaded guilty yesterday to possessing child pornography. He probably faces four or more years in prison.
• Governor Rendell has decided to shut down the state's instant background check system for gun purchases - and thus halt all gun purchases - between September 2 and 6 in order to facilitate the install of much-needed computer upgrades. Many people are pissed about the decision because those four days happen to coincide with the start of hunting season - and they feel it's part of some plot by Philadelphia liberals to take their guns away. Uh... okay, we can sort of see how you might feel that way, but... if you need a gun so bad you can't wait four days, we kind of don't want you to have one.

Image Credit: Flickr user gadjoboy