Yo, Philly in the News

• A report released yesterday advised New Jersey to allow gay marriage because civil unions are not providing same-sex couples with the protections and benefits granted to married heterosexual couples. The document was issued by a panel commissioned to evaluate New Jersey’s civil-union law. "This is the same message that racial-segregation laws wrongfully sent," the report states. "Separate treatment was wrong them and it is just as wrong now."
• A series of human errors caused a 40-minute failure in the city’s police radio system July 22, according to a report submitted yesterday to City Council by the Nutter administration. The report also stated that the problem-plagued Motorola system would cost $40 million to upgrade—nearly as much as it cost to install in 2002. Last Summer, Police Commissioner Charles H. Ramsey called the problem "unacceptable."
• For the first time since the 2004-05 school year, Philadelphia School District officials are projecting that they’ll end the fiscal year with a budget surplus, they said during yesterday’s School Reform Commission meeting. If expenses stay on course, the district will have $490,000 left when the fiscal year ends next June 30, 2009. Last Spring, the schools were grappling with a $29.7 million deficit.
• Current Penn State back up quarterback and former Downingtown East star, Pat Devlin, is expected to transfer. Devlin, who lost an off-season competition for the starter’s job to Darryl Clark, was seldom used this season. Penn State released a statement that said, "Sophomore quarterback Pat Devlin has informed coach Joe Paterno that he intends to transfer. He will not participate with the team in the Rose Bowl. The Penn State football program wishes him well at his new school."
• William Foster, the career criminal charged with killing Police Sgt. Timothy Simpson last month in a traffic crash, added two more lines to his lengthy rap sheet yesterday. Foster pleaded guilty to theft and shoplifting charges in Bucks County Court. The crimes occurred three months apart, in different areas of the county, while Foster was wanted for a parole violation in New Jersey. No sentencing date was set. Foster had been sought since July for violating his parole in New Jersey, where he had served time on drug-related charges.

Image Credit: Flickr user SmileyReilly