Yo, Philly in the News

• A college student died in West Chester over the weekend from an unusual strain of meningitis called meningococcal meningitis, which is not one of the five or six strains covered by the vaccine recommended for college students. The death has prompted some fear and panic in the area, but only two people have been identified who had close enough contact with the student to warrant antibiotics. The source of the student's infection remains unknown.
• News from the court: North Philadelphia Democratic ward leader Carlos Matos was sentenced yesterday "to three years in prison and fined $50,000 for bribing three Atlantic City councilmen in the hope they would help him get a role in several development projects." Meanwhile, Richard Kitcherman, the 31-year-old Philadelphian convicted of killing and dismembering his father in July of 2005, will be sentenced today.
• In a ceremony at 7PM tonight on Independence Mall at the National Constitution Center, Bono - along with the DATA (Debt, AIDS, Trade, Africa), the advocacy group he helped found - will receive the prestigious National Constitution Center's 2007 Liberty Medal award. Tickets are available at 1-888-633-2572, two per person, on a first-come, first-served basis, and are free except for a $3.50 service charge. Although keep in mind the whole thing will also be broadcast live on 6 ABC, and webcast on www.libertymedal.org and www.6abc.com.
• Pennsylvania's House Children and Youth Committee "is considering a bill to ban non-wood bats in organized baseball and softball from the high- school level on down." But a coalition called Don't Take My Bat Away has arisen with the goal of saving metal bats, and they get a hearing before the committee today. The coalition is going all out, even hiring Ari Fleischer, President Bush's press secretary from 2001-03, "to craft a public-relations campaign against proposed local and state legislation."
• A fire in Sharon Hill, Delaware County last night - apparently started when a man lit a candle in his garage while working on a motorcycle - led to injuries for five firefighters and two police officers. One of the firefighters is still in critical condition this morning.

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