Yo, Philly in the News

• Philadelphia police were questioning Leroy Townsend, 53, about possible narcotics violations on May 18 when an officer noticed red dye on his pants and then recognized him (from wanted photos broadcast on television) as a serial bank robber believed to be responsible for five Center City heists. He was, of course, arrested.
• A group calling itself the Keystone State Skinheads has taken credit for a series of racist posters put up in Port Richmond and Northeast Philadelphia. The posters feature pictures of various white Philadelphia police officers killed in the line of duty, including Sgt. Stephen Liczbinski, and read: "Guns don't kill people. Dangerous minorities do. How much longer can you ignore this?" The city's Commission on Human Relations said on Wednesday that the posters, while repugnant, are still legal.
• A suit filed by the League of Women Voters this week in federal court in Harrisburg alleges that former State Supreme Chief Justice Ralph Cappy secretly negotiated with legislators for a judicial pay raise during the time that the high court was considering upholding Pennsylvania's new gambling law. The league is claiming that its due-process rights were violated by such negotiations which violate the separation of powers.
• The results of New Jersey's first Top 10 Beaches contest were released yesterday, just in time for the Memorial Day Weekend, and the big winner is Wildwood. In fact, almost all of the top 10 beaches are in South Jersey. So you can eat it, North Jersey!
• "Shortly before midnight yesterday in Chester County, a Verizon worker was killed when he was struck by a cable caught by a passing truck.... The accident shut down northbound Route 202 in East Whiteland Township until about 6 this morning."
• Starting at 5 this morning and continuing for the next eight days, northbound Broad Street will be closed between JFK Boulevard and Race Street, and southbound between Race and Arch Streets.
• Mayor Nutter signed a $4 billion budget—the first of his administration—into law yesterday before City Council. The revised budget adds $10 million in spending and has less aggressive tax-cutting than originally planned.

Photo taken at Hereford Lighthouse, North Wildwood, New Jersey, by Flickr user tedkerwin