Yo, Philly in the News

• The Inquirer is covering some of the nightmarish testimony at the Worman child porn trial.
• D'oh. Philadelphians have been ranked the ugliest again. (Via Ross)
• Yesterday citizens and other officers paid their respects at the public viewing for Police Officer Isabel Nazario. An additional viewing is being held until 11 this morning at the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul, with a mass scheduled for noon.
• The bleak economy and overly optimistic budgeting have led to a $450 million gap between the Nutter administration's five-year spending plan and economic reality. The gap is likely to grow bigger in the months to come, and could necessitate service cuts, layoffs, and a rollback on tax cuts. Administration official say a plan to deal with the financial crisis will be released at the end of October.
• Three men ambushed an 83-year-old WWII veteran in a bathroom at the Gallery Wednesday afternoon, beating him unconscious and robbing him of $50. He was taken from the hospital and was in good condition.
• At about 10:30PM last night, as trophies were being presented after the championship game of a youth basketball league at McAlpin Playground in West Philly, two men in hoodies started firing into the crowd. Two men were killed, including the organizer of the league, and three more critically injured. Police are urging anyone with information about the shooting to contact homicide detectives at 215-686-3334.
• An 84-year-old woman living in the Long Lane Apartments in Upper Darby was beaten, sexually assaulted, and killed this week. Police believe she knew her attacker, and that it was someone who has access to the building.
• Experts say many local hospitals are failing to report medical mistakes as legally required, thus undermining efforts to improve patient safety.
• A jury this week awarded $5.5 million to the family of a man shot to death two years ago at a Hahnemann University Hospital parking-lot booth. The attorney who argued the case against Hahnemann says the incident revealed an appalling lack of security.
• A woman identifying herself as a member of Mothers in Charge has been traveling all over Philadelphia fraudulently collecting money in the name of the organization. In fact, Mothers in Charge never goes door-to door seeking contributions. A $1,000 reward is being offered for the capture of the woman.
• Yesterday the Federal Highway Administration rejected Pennsylvania's application to install tolls on I-80, blocking a key part of the state's plan to fund highways, bridges and mass transit. Gov. Rendell's reaction was to urge the state legislature to fill the gap by approving his plan to lease the Pennsylvania Turnpike for $12.8 billion.

Image Credit: Flickr user cambodia4kidsorg