Eagles Wrap Up Week Of Workouts In The Heat

Eagles Wrap Up Week Of Workouts In The Heat

 

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – The Eagles finished another week of OTAs amidst hot and humid conditions.
The players were forced to adjust to the type of temperatures they are used to during the dog days of training camp, but quarterback Michael Vick said it was all part of the process.

“This is what it’s all about,” said Vick. “This is why you prepare and this is why you have an off-season and a strength and conditioning program. This is why you play in the NFL.”

For full story go to:  http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/

Police Release Surveillance Video Of Deadly Police-Involved Shooting In Germantown

Police Release Surveillance Video Of Deadly Police-Involved Shooting In Germantown

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – Police have released surveillance video of a deadly police-involved shooting in Germantown.

The incident happened at about 10 p.m. near the 4500 block of Wayne Avenue on Wednesday night.

Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey and Mayor Michael Nutter held a press conference Friday afternoon at Police Headquarters to display the video, in hopes of showing what police are up against.

According to police, an officer was on routine patrol checking out a store where curfew violators are known to hang out.

For full story go to:  http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/

UPDATE: Jury In Kaboni Savage Trial Votes Unanimously For Death Penalty

UPDATE: Jury In Kaboni Savage Trial Votes Unanimously For Death Penalty

Kaboni Savage.
 
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – The federal jury considering the penalty for convicted drug kingpin and murderer Kaboni Savage has voted unanimously that Savage shall be sentenced to death, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Friday.

The federal jury sought gruesome evidence for its deliberations.

For full story go to:  http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/

Brawl breaks out at Ohio kindergarten graduation

Brawl breaks out at Ohio kindergarten graduation 
  

CLEVELAND (AP) -- A brawl that started over spilled punch at a kindergarten graduation ceremony Friday resulted in the arrest of eight people, authorities said. Police were called when one participant pulled out a pipe and another a hammer.

Two teenage girls apparently started hitting each other at Michael R. White Elementary School, and their families joined in, Cleveland police Cmdr. Wayne Drummond said. The fight involved adults and minors, he said.

"You had adults fighting adults, juvies fighting juvies, and so forth," he said as parents streamed into the building to pick up their children. "You just had a melee here."

No one was hurt, Drummond said. It wasn't clear whether the hammer and pipe were brought to the school or were grabbed during the fight from a janitor's supplies or elsewhere, police spokeswoman Detective Jennifer Ciaccia said.

No charges were immediately filed, but those arrested were being booked for aggravated rioting, Drummond said. By city practice, charges are filed after prosecutors review a case.

A parent of students at the school, Brianna Smith, was alerted by a neighbor about the fight and went to the school to get her 7- and 12-year-old sons. "It makes me not want to send them for the rest of the school year," she told The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer.

City Councilman Jeff Johnson lives across the street from the school, which is in a blue-collar neighborhood overlooking the leafy University Circle arts and museum district. He said the spilled punch set off the fight, with one person pulling out a pipe and another a hammer, leading school security officers to call police.

"Mouthing off, one thing leads to another and it spills out here," Johnson said.

At least 10 patrol cars went to the scene.

"It was a very chaotic scene," according to Drummond, who said the fight erupted as the ceremony was ending about 11 a.m. and then moved outside.

Officers quickly restored order, Drummond said. More than the eight arrested were involved in the fight, and the initial heavy police response came amid a call, which turned out to be false, about shots fired, he said.

No students enrolled at the school were involved, school district communications officer Roseann Canfora said in an email.

The school was put on lockdown and parents began arriving to take their children home.

Johnson said the quick police response was important amid heightened concerns about school security.

"It is embarrassing that parents during a kindergarten promotion cannot control themselves, and what we tried to do was respond significantly," he said.

Any parent involved in the fight should be banned from the building, Johnson said. "We're not going to have people coming into our schools, being disrespectful, fighting," he said. "So I support them being hauled off."

School Reform Commission Votes On Stripped Down Budget Tonight

School Reform Commission Votes On Stripped Down Budget Tonight

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - The School Reform Commission votes tonight on a stripped-down budget that would eliminate art, music and counselors next year. Local philanthropists are saying this would have a negative impact far beyond the classroom.

The Philadelphia region would suffer a cultural and economic loss if the school district adopts a budget that would eliminate art, music and athletics, says philanthropist Carole Haas Gravagno of the Stoneleigh Foundation.

For full story go to:  http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/

Russians find mammoth carcass with liquid blood

Russians find mammoth carcass with liquid blood 

In this image made available on Thursday, May 30, 2013 from Rossiya television a mammoth carcass lies in snow on the Arctic Lyakhovsky Island, Russia. Russian researchers say they have discovered a perfectly preserved woolly mammoth carcass with liquid blood on a remote Arctic island, fueling hopes of cloning the Ice Age animal. The frozen remains of a female mammoth were so well preserved that blood came running out after it was recovered from ice.

MOSCOW (AP) -- A perfectly preserved woolly mammoth carcass with liquid blood has been found on a remote Arctic island, fueling hopes of cloning the Ice Age animal, Russian scientists said Thursday.

The carcass was in such good shape because its lower part was stuck in pure ice, said Semyon Grigoryev, the head of the Mammoth Museum, who led the expedition into the Lyakhovsky Islands off the Siberian coast.

"The blood is very dark, it was found in ice cavities bellow the belly and when we broke these cavities with a poll pick, the blood came running out," he said in a statement released by the North-Eastern Federal University in Yakutsk, which sent the team.

Wooly mammoths are thought to have died out around 10,000 years ago, although scientists think small groups of them lived longer in Alaska and on islands off Siberia.

Scientists have deciphered much of the woolly mammoth's genetic code from their hair, and some believe it's possible to clone them if living cells are found.

Grigoryev said the find could provide the necessary material. The blood of mammoths appeared not to freeze in extreme temperatures, likely keeping mammoths warm, he said.

The temperature at the time of excavation was -7 to - 10 degrees Celsius (14 to 19 degrees Fahrenheit.)

The researchers collected the samples of the animal's blood in tubes with a special preservative agent. They were sent to Yakutsk for bacterial examination in order to spot potentially dangerous infections.

The carcass' muscle tissue was also in perfect condition.

"The fragments of muscle tissues, which we've found out of the body, have a natural red color of fresh meat," Grigoryev said.

Up to 4 meters (13 feet) in height and 10 tons in weight, mammoths roamed across huge areas between Great Britain and North America and were driven to extinction by humans and the changing climate.

Hip Hop for Philly on National HIV Testing Day 2013

Hip Hop for Philly is a concert sponsored by Philadelphia FIGHT and The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
It will be held on National HIV Testing Day, June 27.
Teens and young adults ages 13-24 that get tested for HIV at one of our sites listed below or any of our 4 testing events below will receive a FREE ticket to the concert.

---

This Year’s Headliner is FABOLOUS!

Anyone of any age who receives a test at the events below or any participating agency below before July 31, will be entered for a chance to win tickets to see Justin Timberlake and Jay Z on August 13.
For more information, call 215.985.4448 x200.
Tickets are non-transferable, limited to one person and available only while supplies last.

Testing Event Locations

Date	Location	Time
June 1st	Wilson Park Community Center 25th and Jackson	11am -5pm
June 8th	York House 5325 Old York Road, Suite #15	10am-4pm
June 15th	Meyers Rec 57th and Kingsessing	11am-4pm
June 22nd	Cobbs Creek Rec 63rd & Walnut	11am-4pm

Plan Unveiled To Connect Camden County With Bike Trail System

Plan Unveiled To Connect Camden County With Bike Trail System

 photo of the Benjamin Franklin Bridge


CAMDEN, N.J., (CBS) – The Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission has unveiled a “master plan,” to connect Camden County with a system of bike and multi-use trails.

When the master plan has been realized, county officials estimate about five years from now, you’ll be able to get from the Ben Franklin Bridge to Winslow Township by bike.

For full story go to:  http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/

U.S. Files Lawsuit Against Philadelphia Food Warehouse After Urine, Feces Found Inside

U.S. Files Lawsuit Against Philadelphia Food Warehouse After Urine, Feces Found Inside

Cat excrement next to a refrigerator.
 
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – The United States has filed a lawsuit in district court to stop a Philadelphia warehouse from selling food that has been held in filthy conditions, allegedly in violation of the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act.

According to a press release from the U.S. Department of Justice, the suit was filed against New Rich City Trading Corporation, as well as president and owner, Ms. Xiaoping Sun, and manager, Mr. Si Yan Chuen.

For full story go to:  http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/

Former player backs up allegations against Hermann

Former player backs up allegations against Hermann 

FILE - In this May 15, 2013 file photo, Julie Hermann listens at Rutgers University in Piscataway, N.J., as it is announced that she is to be its new athletic director. A high ranking official at the University of Tennessee has voiced her support for Hermann, who is facing allegations she verbally abused players while she was the volleyball coach with the Volunteers.

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- A former Tennessee volleyball player has written a blog post backing up her teammates' accusations that incoming Rutgers athletic director Julie Hermann abused them verbally and emotionally during her coaching tenure in the 1990s.

On her blog (http://www.erinzammettruddy.com ), Erin Zammett Ruddy wrote Wednesday that the players held a meeting after the 1996 season to figure out why they were miserable, and "we quickly realized Julie was the common denominator." Zammett Ruddy said the players detailed their grievances in a letter they brought to Joan Cronan, the Tennessee women's athletic director at the time.

While Zammett Ruddy's statement supports allegations that were first reported by The Star-Ledger of Newark, N.J., on Saturday night, she also wrote of Hermann that, "our intention today is not to see her suffer or to take her down in any way. None of us wants that. It is simply to tell the truth because we were asked. And because it is relevant."

Zammett Ruddy added that "just because she was a bad coach doesn't mean she can't be a good administrator." Separately, another Tennessee player who graduated earlier in Hermann's tenure praised her on Wednesday.

Hermann was the Tennessee women's volleyball coach from 1991-96 and went on to serve as an administrator in Louisville's athletic department. Now she is set to replace Tim Pernetti at Rutgers. He resigned as athletic director after men's basketball coach Mike Rice was fired for throwing balls at players and using abusive language.

Hermann is scheduled to take over as Rutgers' athletic director on June 17, but her work record has become a major issue at New Jersey's state university, still reeling from the Rice scandal and a series of missteps since.

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie said Tuesday he has "absolute confidence" in school president Robert Barchi, who has endorsed Hermann.

In the Tennessee matter, Zammett Ruddy wrote that Cronan called a team meeting in which the players discussed their issues with Hermann face-to-face.

Cronan issued a statement Tuesday in which she said, "I hold Julie Hermann in high regard and I believe she is well-prepared for her new role at Rutgers University." Cronan also said she remembers the end of Cronan's tenure being a very frustrating time for the volleyball program due to the team's lack of success but that she did "not recall it being an abusive situation."

Tennessee fired Hermann after she went 77-106 in six seasons.

Cronan's statement didn't mention a letter in which players had detailed allegations of abuse. Hermann denied having previous knowledge of the letter Monday during a conference call with reporters in which she said she had no intention of stepping down. Such a letter didn't appear in Hermann's personnel file, which The Associated Press obtained from the university via a public records request.

"We don't have a copy, but it was a long time ago," Tennessee vice chancellor Margie Nichols said. "We can't say definitively there was not a letter."

While Zammett Ruddy offered support for her teammates, another former Tennessee volleyball player - from earlier in Hermann's tenure - came to her coach's defense. Tamala Brightman, who played at Tennessee from 1990-93, raved about Hermann to the AP and said players affectionately called her "Jules."

"When I heard these allegations, I was shocked because this was not the coach that I knew," said Brightman, who had 1,781 career kills and continues to hold the school record in that category.

Brightman said she never saw Hermann act abusively toward any player. She added that players had such a great relationship with Hermann that they said she reminded them of Wonder Woman.

"She was a mother figure," said Brightman, who now works as a personal trainer. "She molded us, taught us about work ethic and how to work hard and have fun. To this day, when I coach, I put that forth in my players."

Marc Gesualdo, a graduate assistant for Tennessee sports information department from 1994-96, said he didn't see any instances of abuse while handling media inquiries for the volleyball program. Gesualdo attended virtually all of Tennessee's games during that stretch, but he wasn't at all practices.

Gesualdo said he had heard the players had sent a letter expressing their dissatisfaction with Hermann, but he hadn't been aware of the letter's contents and didn't believe it caused Hermann's exit. He said it was "pretty common knowledge" going into the 1996 season that Tennessee had to show major progress for Hermann to keep her job.

Hermann resigned from Louisville after working there for 15 years, most recently as executive senior associate athletic director. When asked if Hermann would be welcomed back to Louisville if the Rutgers job fell through, athletics department spokesman Kenny Klein said, "Julie has a position at Rutgers."

State Lawmaker Wants To Help Philadelphia School District Budget By Tracking Down Tax Deatbeats

State Lawmaker Wants To Help Philadelphia School District Budget By Tracking Down Tax Deatbeats

 

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – A state lawmaker wants to help the City of Philadelphia raise money for the school district by tracking down tax deadbeats.

State Senator Mike Stack stood in the lobby of Abraham Lincoln High School surround by Philadelphia Federation of Teachers officials, teachers, parents and students to announce a five-bill package he says will help the School District of Philadelphia fill its blistering $300 budget hole.

For full story go to:  http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/

1 Dead In School Bus-Involved Crash In Delaware County

1 Dead In School Bus-Involved Crash In Delaware County

UPPER CHICHESTER, Pa., (CBS) – A school bus was involved in a crash with another vehicle in Delaware County on Tuesday.

The incident happened at about 3:30 p.m. on the 600 block of Conchester Highway in Upper Chichester.
Officials say police, fire crews, and fire police are on scene and that the driver of the vehicle that rear-ended the bus is dead.

For full story go to: http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/

Just Months After Sandy, Summer Off To A Good Start At The Shore

Just Months After Sandy, Summer Off To A Good Start At The Shore

SEASIDE HEIGHTS, NJ (CBS) – Summer fun has begun at the Jersey Shore.

“It’s only one hurricane, [it] can’t beat us,” says Frank Rainey, who has operated a boardwalk game for more than 30 years.

He says progress has ballooned since Sandy hit Seaside Heights.

“Two weeks ago, there was sand right where you were standing. So they’ve made a lot of progress,” he explains.

For full story go to:  http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/

Philadelphia Attorney Writes Message On Social Media For Woman Found Dead In Home

Philadelphia Attorney Writes Message On Social Media For Woman Found Dead In Home

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – A heartfelt message was written on the Facebook page of attorney Charles Peruto, Jr. for the woman who was found dead inside his home.

Twenty-six-year-old Julia Law was found face down in a bathtub inside the home of Peruto at about 10 a.m. Saturday.

The following message was posted on Peruto’s Facebook page Sunday:

For full story go to: http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/

Analysis: Philadelphia School District’s Budget Crisis

Analysis: Philadelphia School District’s Budget Crisis

 

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – Philadelphia Public schools are facing a $300 million deficit and, so far, political leaders have failed to reach an agreement to stop cutbacks.

Many schools are threatened with severe cutbacks, but Helen Gym, co-founder of Parents United For Public Education, says there is crisis after crisis because the School Reform Commission keeps hiring out-of city superintendents and forgets basic values.

For full story go to:  http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/

Preview: Cirque du Soleil Returns To Philadelphia Area

Preview: Cirque du Soleil Returns To Philadelphia Area

 

CAMDEN, N.J. (CBS) – Cirque du Soleil has returned to the Philadelphia area, inside the big top on Camden’s waterfront.

A large, dynamic stage is surrounded by 2,600 seats and there’s not a bad seat in the house.

Francis Jalbert, with Cirque du Soleil, says Totem is like nothing you’ve ever seen before.

“The show features 11 acrobatic acts and disciplines that all portray an aspect or era of evolution,” he explains.

For full story go to:  http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/

'Blue is the Warmest Color' is Cannes' Palme d'Or

'Blue is the Warmest Color' is Cannes' Palme d'Or 

Actress Lea Seydoux, left, director Abdellatif Kechiche, centre, and Adele Exarchopoulos pose with the Palme d'Or award for the film La Vie D'Adele during a photo call after an awards ceremony at the 66th international film festival, in Cannes, southern France, Sunday, May 26, 2013.

CANNES, France (AP) -- The tender, sensual lesbian romance "Blue is the Warmest Color: The Life of Adele" won the hearts of the 66th Cannes Film Festival, taking its top honor, the Palme d'Or.

The jury, headed by Steven Spielberg, took the unusual move of awarding the Palme not just to Tunisian-born director Abdellatif Kechiche, but also to the film's two stars: Adele Exarchopoulos and Lea Seydoux. The three clutched each other as they accepted the award, one of cinema's greatest honors.

"The film had a beautiful French youth that I discovered during the long time filming the movie," said Kechiche at the festival closing ceremony Sunday. "It taught me a lot about the spirit of freedom."

Exarchopoulos stars in the French film as a 15-year-old girl whose life is changed when she falls in love with an older woman, played by Seydoux. The three-hour film caught headlines for its lengthy, graphic sex scenes, but bewitched festival goers with its heartbreaking coming of age story.

"Life of Adele," which premiered at Cannes just days after France legalized gay marriage, was hailed as a landmark film for its intimate portrait of a same-sex relationship.

"The film is a great love story that made all of us feel privileged to be a fly on the wall, to see this story of deep love and deep heartbreak evolve from the beginning," said Spielberg. "The director didn't put any constraints on the narrative, on the storytelling. He let the scenes play as long as scenes play in real life."

Spielberg called Kechiche ("Games of Love and Chance," `'The Secret of the Gran") a "sensitive, observant filmmaker."

Cannes' feting of "Life of Adele" came the same day tens of thousands of protesters marched against the new law Sunday in Paris, and police clashed with some demonstrators. Seydoux called the film "a witness to our time."

"If it can show everyone tolerance, then it's gratifying," said Exarchopoulos.

But jury member Cristian Mungiu, the Romanian director, said current events had no bearing on the decision.

"We were giving awards to cinema," said Mungiu. "Not for political statements."

"Gay marriage is something that many brave states in America are resolving," said Spielberg. "This film actually carries a wry, strong message, a very positive message."

The Palme d'Or, which the jury selected from the 20 films in competition at Cannes, had been viewed as a relatively wide-open race ahead of Sunday's awards. The festival audience embraced the jury's choice, giving Kechiche and his two stars a standing ovation. "Life of Adele" had ranked highest in critics polls at the French Riviera festival.

The jury otherwise spread the awards around.

The Coen brothers' 1960s folk revival "Inside Llewyn Davis" earned the Grand Prix, Cannes' second most prestigious award. The film's breakout star, Oscar Isaac, accepted the award for the Coens, who won the Palme in 1991 for "Barton Fink."

Best actor went to 76-year-old Bruce Dern for Alexander Payne's father-son road trip "Nebraska." Berenice Bejo, the "Artist" star, won best actress for her performance as a single mother balancing a visiting ex-husband and a new fiancé in Asghar Farhadi's "The Past."

The jury prize, Cannes' third top award, went to Kore-eda Hirokazu's gentle switched-at-birth drama "Like Father, Like Son." Mexican filmmaker Amat Escalante took best director for his brutal drug war drama "Heli." Best screenplay went to Zhangke Jia's "A Touch Of Sin," a four-part depiction of the violence wrought by China's economic boom.

Singaporean director Anthony Chen won the Camera d'Or, the award for best first feature, for his "Ilo Ilo." Set during the Asia financial crisis in 1997, the film is about a Singaporean family and its new maid.

Spielberg, whose jury also included Ang Lee, Nicole Kidman and Christoph Waltz, said the group bonded immediately, joking: "I wanted to take them all home with me."

The Palme d'Or can catapult a filmmaker to international renown, and significantly raise the profile of a film. "Life of Adele" was picked up for U.S. distribution during Cannes by IFC's Sundance Selects. Last year's winner, Michael Haneke's "Amour," went on to win best foreign language film at the Oscars, as well as land the rare best picture nomination for a foreign film. In 2011, Terrence Malick's "The Tree of Life" topped Cannes.

Sunday's awards encompassed films from France, Japan, the United States, Mexico, China and Singapore.

Said Spielberg: "We crossed the world through these films."

AP PHOTOS: Tony Kanaan finally wins Indy 500

AP PHOTOS: Tony Kanaan finally wins Indy 500 

The sun rises over the grounds of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Sunday, May 26, 2013. The 97th Indianapolis 500 starts at noon.

Popular Brazilian Tony Kanaan ended years of heartbreak and won the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday on a day that saw a record 68 lead changes and a record average speed of 187.433 mph. It was also the coolest day in a decade at the speedway, but it didn't keep Kanaan from celebrating with the traditional celebration of milk after his victory. Carlos Munoz, a 21-year-old Colombian making his first IndyCar start, finished second and defending IndyCar Series champion Ryan Hunter-Reay was third.

Police Say Missing 12-Year-Old Boy Has Been Found

Police Say Missing 12-Year-Old Boy Has Been Found

 

Maurice Sorzano-Carter

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – Police confirm that 12-year-old Maurice Sorzano-Carter has been found.

Maurice was reported missing Friday. He was last seen Wednesday, May 22 in the 700 block of Brighton Street.

For full story go to:  http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/

Pa. State Police Issue Amber Alert For Abducted Girl

Pa. State Police Issue Amber Alert For Abducted Girl

POTTSVILLE, Pa. (CBS) – Pennsylvania State Police are asking for the public’s assistance in finding a 17-year-old female that was abducted early Saturday morning.

According to police, Cassidy Bowers was abducted by 20-year-old Stephen Campion Jr. after he assaulted a third party around 6 a.m. at 305 Howard Avenue in Pottsville, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania.

For full story go to:  http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/

Three Children Injured In Southwest Philadelphia House Fire

Three Children Injured In Southwest Philadelphia House Fire

 

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — Three children were injured during a house fire in Southwest Philadelphia early Saturday morning.

The blaze broke out around 5:40 a.m. inside a two-story rowhome along the 6500 block of Windsor Avenue in the Cobbs Creek section of the city.

For full story go to:  http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/

Police Shoot, Kill Man Allegedly Armed With Knife

Police say officers have shot and killed a man armed with a butcher knife in Northeast Philadelphia.

Lt. John Stanford said officers were called to the Oxford Circle section of the city at about 7 a.m. Saturday and found the man in the middle of the street “with knife in hand.”

He says the officers used the bumper of their vehicle to knock him to the ground and then used pepper spray on him, but he ran toward them and they fired.

He says at least three officers were finally able to wrest the knife from the man, who was later pronounced dead at Aria Health Torresdale Hospital.

Stanford said a witness corroborated the officers' accounts. A seven-inch butcher knife was recovered. The 23-year-old man's name hasn't yet been released.

This was the fourth police-involved shooting in the past four days.

On Thursday, police shot a 21-year-old man in North Philadelphia after he allegedly ran towards them while pointing a gun at them. Neighbors claimed however that the man, who survived the shooting, was not armed.

Wednesday night, a man identified as Belton "Amir" Lomax was shot and killed by officers in Germantown. While police say he was armed with a semi-automatic weapon, family and neighbors of the father of 8 also claimed he was unarmed.

Also on Wednesday, police shot and killed another man in West Philadelphia after he allegedly pointed a gun at them during a police chase.

Christie Acknowledges Progress Made, But Says ‘It’s Not Where I Want It To Be’

Christie Acknowledges Progress Made, But Says ‘It’s Not Where I Want It To Be’ SEASIDE HEIGHTS, N.J. (CBS) – A blue ribbon spread over five miles of the New Jersey Coastline Friday morning was a symbolic show of a new start for the residents and business owners who’ve had to endure and rebuild after Hurricane Sandy tore through the shoreline. In Seaside Heights, Governor Chris Christie cut the ribbon and declared the Jersey Shore is open for the summer season. The Governor strolled through crowds of residents and visitors on this opening day, more than six months after Sandy. For full story go to: http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/

Police Search For Missing 12-Year-Old Boy In Philadelphia

Police Search For Missing 12-Year-Old Boy In Philadelphia PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – Philadelphia Police are searching for a 12-year-old boy who they say was last seen on Wednesday. Police say Maurice Sorzano-Carter was last seen on May 22 at his residence on the 700 block of Brighton Street. Maurice is a Black male, 5’8″, 115 pounds, with brown eyes, light complexion, and has short black hair. For full story go to: http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/

SEPTA Riders To See Fare Hikes Starting July 1

SEPTA Riders To See Fare Hikes Starting July 1 PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Public transit riders in Philadelphia and its suburbs will be paying more to travel starting this summer. The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority approved across-the-board fare hikes on Thursday. The base cash fare for buses, subways and trolleys will rise from $2 to $2.25 on July 1. It will go up to $2.50 when a smart-card payment system is installed by the middle of next year. For full story go to: http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/

Exclusive: I-Team Uncovers What Prayer-Healing Family Told Police After Son’s Death

Exclusive: I-Team Uncovers What Prayer-Healing Family Told Police After Son’s Death PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – The Schaible’s are due at the Criminal Justice Center Friday morning and prosecutors are making efforts to keep them behind bars until their trial. Eyewitness News has been granted exclusive access to statements about the death of their son made by the couple to detectives. Catherine and Herbert Schaible offered no answers as they surrendered to detectives after being charged with third degree murder in the death of their 7 month-old son Brandon, who perished inside of their Northeast Philadelphia home. For full story go to: http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/

Ohio kidnap case hero gets year of free McDonald's

Ohio kidnap case hero gets year of free McDonald's CLEVELAND (AP) -- The man who famously put down his Big Mac to help rescue three women held captive for years in a Cleveland house will get free McDonald's for the next year, a company spokeswoman confirmed Thursday. Local franchisees in Charles Ramsey's neighborhood have offered him free food at their restaurants, said Heidi Barker, a spokeswoman for Oak Brook, Ill.-based McDonald's Corp. Ramsey was called a hero after helping Amanda Berry, Gina DeJesus and Michelle Knight break out of the house May 6. Homeowner Ariel Castro faces charges. His defense team has said he will plead not guilty. Ramsey had noted in an interview with a local TV station that he was eating McDonald's when the scene unfolded. He also spoke of it in a 911 call. Both the interview and the call quickly became popular online, and McDonald's caught wind of Ramsey's mentions. The world's biggest hamburger company had said a day after the rescue on Twitter: "We salute the courage of Ohio kidnap victims & respect their privacy. Way to go Charles Ramsey - we'll be in touch." Barker said local McDonald's owner-operators later connected with Ramsey. "Out of respect for the survivors of this harrowing ordeal and the ongoing investigation, we have not shared publicly details of our outreach," Barker said in an email. McDonald's also has made a $10,000 donation to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children in the names of the three women and Ramsey, Barker said. Ramsey has also been promised free burgers for life at more than a dozen Cleveland-area restaurants. The restaurant where Ramsey worked as a dishwasher initially created a special burger in his honor, but eateries in the city decided a larger tribute was due, The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer reported. The newspaper said Ramsey was traveling and would get his reward when he returns.

Young And Howard Lift Phillies Over Marlins

Young And Howard Lift Phillies Over Marlins MIAMI (AP) — Delmon Young homered and Ryan Howard added three hits and three RBIs to help carry the Philadelphia Phillies to a 7-3 win over the Miami Marlins on Tuesday night. Tyler Cloyd (1-0) allowed two runs and eight hits in seven innings. He was recalled from Triple-A Lehigh Valley (International League) earlier in the day. Miami’s Jose Fernandez went five innings, allowing one run and five hits. He walked one and struck out two. For full story go to: http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/

Skateboarders Might Find New Love At Philly Park

Skateboarders Might Find New Love At Philly Park PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Brokenhearted skateboarders long banned from Philadelphia’s internationally renowned shredding paradise of Love Park may have a new object of affection: Paine’s Park. The $4.5 million space, which has been about a dozen years in the making, officially opened to boarders after a ribbon-cutting Wednesday. Just don’t call it a skate park. For full story go to: http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/

Prayer-Healing Couple Charged With 3rd Degree Murder In Death Of Son

Prayer-Healing Couple Charged With 3rd Degree Murder In Death Of Son PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – A prayer-healing couple has been charged with third degree murder in the death of their 7-month-old son. Philadelphia district attorney Seth Williams announced Wednesday afternoon that Herbert and Catherine Schaible had been charged with third degree murder, involuntary manslaughter, conspiracy and endangering the welfare of a child. The Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office says Herbert and Catherine Schaible chose prayer over medical attention. For full story go to: http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/

Veteran Phila. Police Narcotics Officer Caught In FBI Sting, Charged With Ripoff

Veteran Phila. Police Narcotics Officer Caught In FBI Sting, Charged With Ripoff PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — A narcotics officer and 23-year veteran of the Philadelphia Police Department is in custody today, charged with making a false arrest and robbing the target. Federal authorities allege that officer Jeffrey Walker planted drugs in the target’s car, then led an arrest of the individual, stole a house key, and then went to the target’s home with a cooperating witness and stole approximately $15,000. For full story go to: http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/

Man shot to death while questioned in Boston probe

Man shot to death while questioned in Boston probe ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) -- A Chechen immigrant was shot to death by authorities in central Florida early Wednesday after he turned violent while being questioned about his ties to one of the Boston Marathon bombing suspects, officials said. Ibragim Todashev, a 27-year-old mixed martial arts fighter, was fatally shot at his Orlando townhouse during a meeting with an FBI agent and two Massachusetts state troopers, authorities said. The agent was taken to a hospital with injuries that were not life-threatening. Three law enforcement officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Todashev had lunged at the FBI agent with a knife. However, two of those officials said later in the day it was no longer clear what had happened. The third official had not received any new information. The FBI gave no details on why it was interested in Todashev except to say that he was being questioned as part of the Boston investigation. However, two officials briefed on the investigation said he had implicated himself as having been involved in a 2011 triple-slaying in the Boston suburb of Waltham that authorities believe may have been connected to one of the men behind the bombings. Several of Todashev's former roommates who were questioned said that he knew the older bombing suspect, Tamerlan Tsarnaev, from mixed martial arts fighting in Boston and that the FBI was asking about him. Public records show Todashev lived in Watertown, Mass., just outside Boston, last year. Tamerlan Tsarnaev, an aspiring boxer, was killed in a shootout with police days after the April 15 bombings. His younger brother, Dzhokhar, survived and is charged with carrying out the attack that killed three people and wounded more than 260. He's also charged in the slaying of an MIT police officer days later. Investigators have been trying to establish the scope of the Boston bombings plot. Authorities in Massachusetts said they would investigate whether Tamerlan Tsarnaev had any connection to the unsolved 2011 deaths in Waltham, where three men were found in an apartment, their throats slit and marijuana sprinkled over their bodies. One of the victims was a boxer and a friend of Tsarnaev's. Two officials who were briefed on the investigation said Todashev made statements implicating himself as being involved in the 2011 Waltham slayings while he was being interviewed by the FBI and Massachusetts state police. Neither of the officials, one of whom had earlier told The Associated Press there was no new information on Todashev lunging at the agent, knew whether Todashev had also implicated Tamerlan Tsarnaev in the killings. The two people, a federal law enforcement official and a Massachusetts state official, were not authorized to release details of the investigation and spoke on condition of anonymity. Neither official was sure of the extent of Todashev's supposed involvement. According to friends, Todashev had lived on and off with other Chechens in the Orlando suburb of Kissimmee and had moved to Orlando more recently. "He's a regular guy, nothing wrong," Saeed Dunkaev said. Police records, however, suggest he had a hot temper, with arrests in a road rage incident and, more recently, in a fight over a parking space. Muslin Chapkhanov, another former roommate, said Todashev knew the older Tsarnaev brother. Todashev "was living in Boston and I think he trained with him," Chapkhanov said. Former roommate Khusen Taramov said the FBI was asking questions about a conversation that Todashev had with the elder bombing suspect a month before the Boston attack. The Tsarnaev brothers have roots in the turbulent Russian regions of Dagestan and Chechnya, which have become recruiting grounds for Islamic extremists. Investigators have said the brothers carried out the bombings in retaliation for the U.S. wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. An FBI team was dispatched from Washington to review the shooting, standard procedure in such cases. Todashev was arrested earlier this month on a charge of aggravated battery after getting into a fight over a parking spot with two men - a father and son - at an Orlando shopping mall. The son was hospitalized with a split lip and several teeth knocked out, according to a sheriff's report. Todashev claimed self-defense. "Also by his own admission Todashev was recently a former mixed martial arts fighter," the arresting deputy said in his report. "This skill puts his fighting ability way above that of a normal person." Todashev was released on $3,500 bail after his May 4 arrest. His attorney, Alain Rivas, didn't immediately respond to a call for comment Wednesday. Todashev was also arrested by Boston police in 2010 after a road rage incident. Witnesses told police that he argued with two other drivers and cut them off with his vehicle. According to a police report, he yelled, "You say something about my mother, I will kill you."

Gov. Christie Orders Flags In New Jersey To Be Flown Half-Staff In Mourning of Oklahoma Tornado Victims

Gov. Christie Orders Flags In New Jersey To Be Flown Half-Staff In Mourning of Oklahoma Tornado Victims TRENTON, N.J., (CBS) – Governor Chris Christie ordered all State buildings to fly flags at half-staff on Wednesday in mourning of the tornado victims and devastation brought upon the State of Oklahoma. “The people of the State of New Jersey have experienced firsthand the impact of natural disasters, and today we stand in unity with the people of the State of Oklahoma to mourn their losses,” said Christie in the executive order. For full story go to: http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/

Polls Close In Pa. Primary And The Counting Begins

Polls Close In Pa. Primary And The Counting Begins HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — The polls are now closed in Pennsylvania’s primary election and now the counting begins. Most of Wednesday’s balloting was by Democrats and Republicans to choose nominees for the Nov. 5 general election. Officials said turnout was around 20 percent. The biggest races include contested mayoral nominations in Pittsburgh, Scranton, Harrisburg and York, as well as a three-way Democratic primary for Philadelphia city controller. For full story go to: http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/

Gay Fla. teen charged for underage girlfriend

Gay Fla. teen charged for underage girlfriend MIAMI (AP) -- An 18-year-old Florida cheerleader is facing felony charges that she had sexual contact with her underage, 14-year-old girlfriend, leading gay rights advocates to say the teen is being unfairly targeted for a common high school romance because she's gay. The criminal case against Kaitlyn Hunt is unusual because it involves two females, not an older male and a younger female. But advocates say older high schoolers dating their younger counterparts is an innocuous, everyday occurrence that is not prosecuted - regardless of sexual orientation - and not a crime on par with predatory sex offenses. Hunt played on the basketball team with her younger girlfriend and shared the same circle of friends, said Hunt's mother, Kelley Hunt Smith. The two had a consenting relationship that began soon after Kaitlyn Hunt turned 18, and Hunt Smith said she assumed the younger girl's parents knew that. But Hunt was kicked off the basketball team near the end of last year after the coach learned of the relationship because players were not allowed to date each other, her parents said. Then, in February, she was charged with lewd and lascivious battery on a child 12 to 16. The day before she was arrested, police and the younger girl's parents secretly recorded a phone conversation in which the two girls discussed kissing in the school bathroom, said Hunt's father, Steve Hunt. "It's horrible. For my daughter's sexual preferences, she's getting two felony charges. It could possibly ruin her future," Steve Hunt told The Associated Press in a phone interview Tuesday. The alleged victim is identified only by her initials in court documents, and her parents have not been publicly identified. The AP does not identify alleged victims of sex crimes. Kaitlyn Hunt, who hopes to become a nurse, declined to be interviewed and is scared, her father said. However, the family has received support from all over the world, with messages coming from as far away as New Zealand, the Netherlands and Canada, Steve Hunt said. He said he reads them to her to keep her spirits up, but she feels like she has let everyone down, he said through tears. Prosecutors have offered a plea deal to Kaitlyn Hunt that would allow her to avoid registering as a sex offender if she pleads guilty to lesser charges of child abuse. State Attorney Bruce Colton said he would recommend two years of house arrest followed by one year probation if she takes the deal. If she is found guilty, it's also possible that Hunt could apply to not have to register as a sex offender under a "Romeo and Juliet" law because the girls were no more than four years apart in age, Colton said. Colton said the victim's family is not pushing for prison but wants Kaitlyn Hunt to be held responsible in some way. However, the Hunt family said they would accept a plea deal only if the charges are dropped to a misdemeanor. "One of the reasons this case has gotten people's attention is because it's being publicized as a person being persecuted because she's gay, and that has nothing to do with the case, nothing to do with the law, nothing to do with the sheriff's office filing the charges," Colton said. He said the law is designed to protect younger children from older children who might be more aggressive in starting a relationship. "The law doesn't make any differentiation. It doesn't matter if it's two girls or two boys, or an older boy and a younger girl or an older girl and a younger boy. Whatever the combination, it doesn't matter." However, gay rights advocates aren't buying that. The American Civil Liberties Union of Florida said Kaitlyn Hunt is being criminalized for behavior that "occurs every day in tens of thousands of high schools across the country, yet those other students are not facing felony convictions ... and potential lifelong branding as sex offenders." Her support extends beyond the ACLU. A "Free Kate" Facebook page has generated more than 30,000 followers so far, and an online petition urging that the charges be dropped crashed at one point because it got so much traffic. It now has more than 100,000 signatures. And during a press conference Monday, dozens of supporters showed up outside of the Indian River Sheriff's Department, many wearing T-Shirts that read "Stop the Hate, Free Kate" with rainbow hearts. "It's very difficult under these circumstances when the defendant and the victim do not see what they're doing as a crime, but understandably the law is very clear that when someone is more than four years older than the victim and the victim is under the age of 16, then they cannot give legal consent," said New Jersey defense attorney Gregory Gianforcaro, who has represented victims and defendants on both sides of this issue. Gianforcaro said that Hunt's case is clearly not a predatory situation and that prosecutors should consider that when they look at sentencing and plea bargains. "This is a very uncommon situation because of the fact there are two women. However, if it were a man and a woman and there was more than four years of an age difference, it's very possible that that kind of situation would be pursued criminally as well," Gianforcaro said. The family said Kaitlyn Hunt had been demonized by some, and they disabled her personal Facebook account to protect her from negative comments. At school in February, her 17-year-old sister spent a half-hour cleaning a mirror where someone had written a slur against women and other words including "rapist" and "disgusting," Steve Hunt said. In the meantime, Kaitlyn Hunt has been attending an alternative school since her expulsion and will be allowed to walk with her class at graduation in June. Her mother said she was expelled by the school board even though a judge ruled she could stay. Sebastian River High School's principal and assistant principal did not immediately respond to emails sent Tuesday.

The pope and the devil: Is Francis an exorcist?

The pope and the devil: Is Francis an exorcist? VATICAN CITY (AP) -- Pope Francis' fascination with the devil took on remarkable new twists Tuesday, with a well-known exorcist insisting Francis helped "liberate" a Mexican man possessed by four different demons despite the Vatican's insistence that no such papal exorcism took place. The case concerns a 43-year-old husband and father who traveled to Rome from Mexico to attend Francis' Mass on Sunday in St. Peter's Square. At the end of the Mass, Francis blessed several wheelchair-bound faithful as he always does, including a man possessed by the devil, according to the priest who brought him, the Rev. Juan Rivas. Francis laid his hands on the man's head and recited a prayer. The man heaved deeply a half-dozen times, shook, then slumped in his wheelchair. The images, broadcast worldwide, prompted the television station of the Italian bishops' conference to declare that according to several exorcists, there was "no doubt" that Francis either performed an exorcism or a simpler prayer to free the man from the devil. The Vatican was more cautious. In a statement Tuesday, it said Francis "didn't intend to perform any exorcism. But as he often does for the sick or suffering, he simply intended to pray for someone who was suffering who was presented to him." The Rev. Gabriele Amorth, a leading exorcist for the diocese of Rome, said he performed a lengthy exorcism of his own on the man Tuesday morning and ascertained he was possessed by four separate demons. The case was related to the legalization of abortion in Mexico City, he said. Amorth told RAI state radio that even a short prayer, without the full rite of exorcism being performed, is in itself a type of exorcism. "That was a true exorcism," he said of Francis' prayer. "Exorcisms aren't just done according to the rules of the ritual." Rivas took the Vatican line, saying it was no exorcism but that Francis merely said a prayer to free the man from the devil. "Since no one heard what he said, including me who was right there, you can say he did a prayer for liberation but nothing more," Rivas wrote on his Facebook page, which was confirmed by his religious order, the Legionaries of Christ. Fueling the speculation that Francis did indeed perform an exorcism is his frequent reference to Satan in his homilies - as well as an apparent surge in demand for exorcisms among the faithful despite the irreverent treatment the rite often receives from Hollywood. Who can forget the green vomit and the spinning head of the possessed girl in the 1973 cult classic "The Exorcist"? In his very first homily as pope on March 14, Francis warned cardinals gathered in the Sistine Chapel the day after he was elected that "he who doesn't pray to the Lord prays to the devil." He has since mentioned the devil on a handful of occasions, most recently in a May 4 homily when in his morning Mass in the Vatican hotel chapel he spoke of the need for dialogue - except with Satan. "With the prince of this world you can't have dialogue: Let this be clear!" he warned. Experts said Francis' frequent invocation of the devil is a reflection both of his Jesuit spirituality and his Latin American roots, as well as a reflection of a Catholic Church weakened by secularization. "The devil's influence and presence in the world seems to fluctuate in quantity inversely proportionate to the presence of Christian faith," said the Rev. Robert Gahl, a moral theologian at Rome's Pontifical Holy Cross University. "So, one would expect an upswing in his malicious activity in the wake of de-Christianization and secularization" in the world and a surge in things like drug use, pornography and superstition. In recent years, Rome's pontifical universities have hosted several courses for would-be exorcists on the rite, updated in 1998 and contained in a little red leather-bound booklet. The rite is relatively brief, consisting of blessings with holy water, prayers and an interrogation of the devil in which the exorcist demands to know the devil's name, how many are present and when they will leave the victim. Only a priest authorized by a bishop can perform an exorcism, and canon law specifies that the exorcist must be "endowed with piety, knowledge, prudence and integrity of life." While belief in the devil is consistent with church teaching, the Holy See does urge prudence, particularly to ensure that the victim isn't merely psychologically ill. The Rev. Giulio Maspero, a Rome-based systematic theologian who has witnessed or participated in more than a dozen exorcisms, says he's fairly certain that Francis' prayer on Sunday was either a full-fledged exorcism or a more simple prayer to "liberate" the young man from demonic possession. He noted that the placement of the pope's hands on the man's head was the "typical position" for an exorcist to use. "When you witness something like that - for me it was shocking - I could feel the power of prayer," he said in a phone interview, speaking of his own previous experiences. The Vatican spokesman, the Rev. Federico Lombardi, sought to temper speculation that what occurred was a full-fledged exorcism. While he didn't deny it outright - he said Francis hadn't "intended" to perform one - he stressed that the intention of the person praying is quite important. Late Tuesday, the director of TV2000, the television of the Italian bishops' conference, went on the air to apologize for the earlier report. "I don't want to attribute to him a gesture that he didn't intend to perform," said the director, Dino Boffo. That said, Francis' actions and attitude toward the devil are not new: As archbishop of Buenos Aires, the former Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio frequently spoke about the devil in our midst. In the book "Heaven and Earth," Bergoglio devoted the second chapter to "The Devil" and said in no uncertain terms that he believes in the devil and that Satan's fruits are "destruction, division, hatred and calumny." "Perhaps its greatest success in these times has been to make us think that it doesn't exist, that everything can be traced to a purely human plan," he wrote. Italian newspapers noted that the late Pope John Paul II performed an exorcism in 1982 - near the same spot where Francis prayed over the young disabled man Sunday.

Police Search For Missing College Student Headed Home To Montgomery County

Police Search For Missing College Student Headed Home To Montgomery County SKIPPACK, Pa. (CBS) – Police are searching for a University of Rhode Island student who they say never made it home to Montgomery County. According to police, 21-year-old Matthew Royer left his apartment at school at about 6:30 p.m. on Thursday to travel to his home in Collegeville, Pa. He texted his mom that night to tell her he was on his way home for the summer. For full story go to: http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/

Galvis, Kratz Homer Off Chapman In 9th; Phils Win 3-2

Galvis, Kratz Homer Off Chapman In 9th; Phils Win 3-2 PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Freddy Galvis and Erik Kratz each homered off closer Aroldis Chapman in the bottom of the ninth innings Sunday, rallying the Philadelphia Phillies past the Cincinnati Reds for a stunning 3-2 victory. Chapman (3-2) blew his second straight save opportunity after converting his first eight chances this season. The 100 mph throwing left-hander walked pinch-hitter Delmon Young on four pitches to open the ninth. For full story go to: http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/

27-Year-Old Woman Arrested For Assaulting Child At Philadelphia Elementary School

27-Year-Old Woman Arrested For Assaulting Child At Philadelphia Elementary School PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – A 27-year-old woman has been arrested for assaulting a student at a Philadelphia elementary school. Atiff Brown, of S. 60th Street in Philadelphia, was arrested for allegedly assaulting an 11-year-old student at A.B. Anderson Elementary School on Monday. Brown was charged with Terroristic Threats, Simple Assault, Recklessly Endangering Another Person and Defiant Trespass. For full story go to: http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/

Ventnor Woman Charged With 2007 Murder After Human Remains Found In Closet

Ventnor Woman Charged With 2007 Murder After Human Remains Found In Closet VENTNOR, NJ (CBS) – A Ventnor woman has been arrested and charged with the murder of her husband, who went missing six years ago. On Friday, detectives arrested Loretta Doyle Burroughs, 61, for the murder of her husband, Daniel Burroughs, 66. Daniel Burroughs went missing back in September 2007, when the couple lived in Mays Landing. While authorities investigated the case at the time, it eventually went cold. For full story go to: http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/

7-Year-Old Girl Injured In Oxford Circle Hit-And-Run Accident

7-Year-Old Girl Injured In Oxford Circle Hit-And-Run Accident PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – A 7-year-old girl was injured in a hit-and-run accident in Oxford Circle Thursday. The incident happened at about 3:34 p.m. in the 6200 block of Large Street near McKinley Street. Chopper 3 HD was over the scene. Police say they are searching for a white female around 5-foot-4 in her 30s driving a white SUV that may be a Kia. For full story go to: http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/

Exit Becks: David Beckham retiring at season's end

Exit Becks: David Beckham retiring at season's end LONDON (AP) -- End it like Beckham. David Beckham, whose curling free kicks, rugged good looks and celebrity marriage made him one of the most famous athletes in the world, is retiring from soccer. Whether striding on the grass, the red carpet or the fashion catwalks, Beckham transcended his sport and became its highest-paid player, with a fortune estimated at $250 million. The 38-year-old former England captain said Thursday he would quit after his final two games with Paris Saint-Germain, where he won a league title this season. "It's a good way to go out," he said in Paris. "It's every athlete's dream, every footballer's dream to go out on the top - on top form or winning a trophy ... leaving as a champion." Although he never lifted the World Cup, soccer's ultimate prize, Beckham won enough club honors in his 21-year career to cement his status in the game and went out a winner on both sides of the Atlantic. He also helped popularize the sport in the United States, playing with the Los Angeles Galaxy of Major League Soccer. FIFA President Sepp Blatter described the midfielder as "one of the most iconic figures in global football." "It's the end of a chapter of an amazing story," Blatter wrote on Twitter. "David grew up as a football loving child & achieved his dreams, and unquestionably inspired millions of boys & girls to try & do the same." Beckham's fame went beyond the game. Guided by his wife, former Spice Girl Victoria Adams, the dashing Beckham was known as much for his fashion as his feet, with ever-changing hairstyles, nail polish and sometimes outrageous outfits. In 2002, Salon dubbed him "the biggest metrosexual in Britain." Last year, retailer H&M covered almost the entire side of a New York City building with a picture of Beckham in a pair of boxer briefs. "Sometimes that has overshadowed what I have done on the pitch or what I have achieved on the pitch," Beckham said in a television interview conducted by former United teammate Gary Neville. "And as much as I say that doesn't hurt me, of course it does. "I am a footballer that has played for some of the biggest clubs in the world and played with some of the best players in the world, played under some of the biggest and best managers and achieved almost everything in football." Beckham was immortalized in the 2002 movie "Bend it Like Beckham," which told the story of a British teenage girl of south Asian heritage struggling with family pressures and cultural expectations to play the sport she loves. Beckham's retirement led to a flood of tweets dubbing the day "End it Like Beckham." Beckham also was mentioned in the 2003 romantic comedy "Love Actually." Hugh Grant, portraying the British prime minister, touts the country's assets while telling off a bullying American president. "We may be a small country, but we're a great one, too," he says. "The country of William Shakespeare, Churchill, the Beatles, Sean Connery, Harry Potter. David Beckham's right foot. David Beckham's left foot, come to that." He began his career with Manchester United and also played for Real Madrid and Los Angeles, winning titles with all those clubs. He played on loan with AC Milan and made 115 appearances for his country, a record in England for someone other than a goalkeeper. Beckham's earliest defining moment was an audacious goal for United in 1996, lobbing the ball from the halfway line over the Wimbledon goalkeeper and into the net. "If you had told me as a young boy I would have played for and won trophies with my boyhood club Manchester United, proudly captained and played for my country over 100 times and lined up for some of the biggest clubs in the world, I would have told you it was a fantasy," Beckham said. "I'm fortunate to have realized those dreams." From 1992 to 2003, with United, Beckham won six Premier League titles, the Champions League, two FA Cups and the Intercontinental Cup. Beckham left United in 2003 shortly after manager Alex Ferguson accidentally struck Beckham's eye with a soccer boot. Ferguson announced his retirement from Manchester United last week. Beckham spent four years in Madrid - winning the 2007 Spanish title before making the surprise move to the Galaxy, where he won titles in 2011 and 2012. There were highs and lows in Beckham's international career. He was blamed for England's elimination from the 1998 World Cup for his red card against Argentina, but scored the winning goal against the same team at the World Cup four years later. Beckham responded to jeering at the 2000 European Championship with an obscene hand gesture to England fans, but was lauded by the same supporters little more than a year later when his last-minute free kick against Greece secured a place in the 2002 World Cup. England dropped Beckham in 2006 for younger players after a quarterfinal exit at that year's World Cup. He returned for the remainder of England's unsuccessful attempt to qualify for the 2008 European Championship. His last England appearance came against Belarus in October 2009, and he missed the 2010 World Cup because of an Achilles tendon injury. Asked what led to Thursday's decision, Beckham replied with a laugh: "Probably when (Lionel) Messi was running past me in that home game," referring to a match against Barcelona last month. Although he was overlooked for a spot on Britain's team for the London Olympics last year, Beckham played a key role in helping the city win the bid to host the games. He also was involved in England's unsuccessful bid to host the 2018 World Cup, and the English Football Association wants to draw on his influence and star power in the future. Beckham lives in London with his wife and their four children. Victoria Beckham said the couple is "excited about the next chapter in our lives." Beckham has the right to purchase an expansion team in Major League Soccer, and has said repeatedly that he intends to exercise that option. There are just two matches left for Beckham - against Brest on Saturday and at Lorient on May 26. He has been giving his salary to a children's charity.

Famed 'hatchet hitchhiker' arrested in NJ homicide

Famed 'hatchet hitchhiker' arrested in NJ homicide ELIZABETH, N.J. (AP) -- A homeless, hatchet-wielding hitchhiker who became an Internet hero earlier this year was arrested Thursday for allegedly beating a New Jersey lawyer to death inside his home. Caleb "Kai" McGillvary, whose star turn as "Kai the Hatchet Wielding Hitchhiker" came after he intervened in an attack on a California utility worker, was arrested at a Philadelphia bus station, Union County Prosecutor Theodore Romankow said. "I believe that everyone is a little safer with this person off the streets," the prosecutor said. Philadelphia police could not immediately be reached for comment. McGillvary was charged with killing Joseph Galfy, Jr., a Clark, N.J. attorney found dead Monday. Romankow said he will be processed and sent to back to New Jersey, where his bail is set at $3 million. Galfy's body was found two days after authorities said he met McGillvary in New York City. Galfy, 73, was found wearing only his underwear and socks by police who went to his home to check on his well-being. Statements posted on McGillvary's Facebook page following the homicide indicated the encounter was sexual in nature, Romankow said, though he declined to go into specific detail. On his Facebook page, McGillvary's last post, dated Tuesday, asks "what would you do?" if you awoke in a stranger's house and found you'd been drugged and sexually assaulted. One commenter suggests hitting him with a hatchet - and McGillvary's final comment on the post says, "I like your idea." A hatchet helped give McGillvary a brief taste of fame in February when he gave a rambling, profanity-laced 5-minute interview to a Fresno, Calif. television station about thwarting an attack on a Pacific Gas & Electric employee. The interview went viral, with one version viewed more than 3.9 million times on YouTube. He later appeared on ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" Kimmel asked him what people were saying to him since the Feb. 1 incident. "Hey, you're Kai, that dude with the hatchet," he responded. McGillvary, who said in his TV appearance he prefers to be called "home-free" instead of homeless, traded on his newfound celebrity to meet fans across the country, according to Romankow. McGillvary met Galfy on Saturday in Times Square, then spent at least two nights at his home on a cul-de-sac in Clark, a quite community about 20 miles west of New York, Romankow said. His movements after that included two trips to meet a fan in Asbury Park, a trip to Philadelphia and another to Glassboro in southern New Jersey before he took a train bound for Philadelphia, authorities said. McGillvary swiftly gained notoriety in February after he intervened in an apparently unprovoked attack that led to charges including attempted murder. McGillvary said he was riding in a car with a man who veered into the worker, got out of the car, then said "I am Jesus and I am here to take you home" before attacking. McGillvary said he then pulled a hatchet from his backpack and struck the driver in the head several times to subdue him, The Fresno Bee reported. "That woman was in danger," Kai told KMPH-TV. "He just finished, what looked like at the time, killing somebody, and if he hadn't done that he would have killed more people." Last month, the driver entered a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity, according to The Fresno Bee. In his television interview, McGillvary also said he'd once intervened in what he called a domestic violence situation. A man "starts beating up on this woman who he calls his," McGillvary told the television station. "I started smashing him in the head and the teeth." McGillvary also goes by the names Kai Lawrence, Caleb Kai Lawrence and Kai Nicodemus, prosecutors said.

Michael Vick Ranked 21st Best QB In NFL

Michael Vick Ranked 21st Best QB In NFL PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – For the first time in over a decade, the Eagles are entering the season without the name of a starting quarterback written in stone. Michael Vick, Nick Foles, Matt Barkley, Dennis Dixon and GJ Kinne will all get an equal chance of winning the starting job, Chip Kelly has said multiple times. Those who expect Vick to start see Chip Kelly as the one man who may be able to revive Vick’s career. If so, perhaps Vick’s 2014 ranking among NFL quarterbacks will be more favorable than this year’s. For full story go to: http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/

Historical Marker Placed at Original Founding Site of Academy of Natural Sciences

Historical Marker Placed at Original Founding Site of Academy of Natural Sciences PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — A state historical marker was unveiled today on Market Street in Old City, marking the site where the Academy of Natural Sciences was founded 200 years ago. George Gephart, the academy’s president and CEO, and Drexel University president John Fry pulled the cover off the marker, sitting on a post on the sidewalk near the corner of Third and Market Streets. For full story go to: http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/

Mother Jumps Onto SEPTA Tracks To Save Baby After Stroller Falls

Mother Jumps Onto SEPTA Tracks To Save Baby After Stroller Falls PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – A mother jumped down to rescue her baby after the child’s stroller fell onto SEPTA train tracks Wednesday afternoon. The incident happened at about 12:45 p.m. at the 56th Street stop along the Market-Frankford Line. SEPTA officials tell Eyewitness News what was caught on surveillance video shows two things – disaster averted, and the safety measures that they have in place worked just as they should. For full story go to: http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/

OJ Simpson testifies in bid for new Vegas trial

OJ Simpson testifies in bid for new Vegas trial LAS VEGAS (AP) -- His leg shackles rattling as he shuffled to and from the witness stand, O.J. Simpson made his own case Wednesday for a new trial on armed robbery charges with testimony that he relied on the advice of his trusted attorney when he tried to reclaim mementos from his football glory days. "It was my stuff. I followed what I thought was the law," the 65-year-old former NFL star and actor said. "My lawyer told me I couldn't break into a guy's room. I didn't break into anybody's room. I didn't try to muscle the guys. The guys had my stuff, even though they claimed they didn't steal it." Simpson said he took the advice of his longtime former lawyer, Yale Galanter, and didn't testify in his Las Vegas trial at which he was convicted in 2008 of armed robbery, kidnapping and other charges and sentenced to nine to 33 years in prison. His fall from long-ago fame and fortune was on display as a grayer, bulkier Simpson made his way through the courtroom. The Heisman Trophy college running back and NFL record-setter once made TV commercials running through airports. As Nevada prison inmate No. 1027820, he's been handcuffed and chained at the ankles during a hearing on his claim that he was poorly represented by his attorney during the trial. His physician, Henry Johnson, watched and said Simpson appeared to be in good health. H. Leon Simon, attorney for the state, conducted a brief cross-examination that focused on some of the same details Simpson attorney Patricia Palm raised about advice Simpson received from his trial lawyers, Galanter and co-counsel Gabriel Grasso. "Mr. Galanter advised me not to testify," Simpson reiterated. "You made a decision to follow Mr. Galanter's advice, rather than Mr. Grasso's, and not testify?" Simon asked. "Yes," Simpson said. Simpson did acknowledge that he didn't have a legal right to take some things from the Palace Station hotel room where he and five men confronted two sports memorabilia dealers - including baseballs signed by Pete Rose and Duke Snyder and lithographs of football great Joe Montana. Simpson said he thought those items would be returned later. He said he didn't remember taking a hat from one of the dealers. Earlier, under detailed questioning by Palm, Simpson seemed to describe every minute of a weekend that began with plans for a friend's wedding and ended with him under arrest. He said he knew the memorabilia dealers, had no fear of them and certainly didn't need guns. "There was no talk of guns at all," he said. Simpson declared he never even saw guns during the confrontation. During the trial, two former co-defendants who testified for the prosecution said they had guns. Simpson's bid for freedom hinges on showing that Galanter had conflicted interests and gave him bad trial and appellate advice. Galanter, of Miami, is due to testify Friday. He has declined comment ahead of that appearance. "He was my guy," Simpson said of his long friendship and professional relationship with Galanter. He said Galanter told him he was within his legal rights to take back possessions as long as there was no violence or trespassing. Grasso has said it was Galanter who convinced Simpson not to testify. While the trial prosecutor testified earlier that there were preliminary discussions with Galanter about a plea bargain, Simpson testified he was never told a bargain was under consideration and that he did not remember any offer being given to him at trial. Asked by Palm if he knew he could have gotten as little as 30 months in prison if he pleaded guilty to robbery, Simpson said no, and that he would have considered it if he had known. Simpson also said Galanter led him to believe he could not be convicted on the charges. "If you understood you could be convicted on the state's evidence, would you have testified?" Palm asked. Simpson said yes. Dressed in a drab blue prison uniform, Simpson spoke clearly as he recounted events leading to the hotel room where the dealers had the memorabilia. His voice cracked a bit as he told of recognizing items on the bed, including framed photos that used to hang on the wall of his Los Angeles home. "Look at this stuff. Some of the stuff I didn't really realize was gone. These were things I hadn't seen in 10 years," he said. "You know, you get a little emotional about it." There is no jury in the hearing and Simpson's fate will be determined by District Judge Linda Marie Bell. It remained unclear Wednesday whether the judge plans to make an immediate ruling or issue a written order later. While Simpson's previous court cases were media events, including his 1995 acquittal in the Los Angeles killings of his ex-wife and her friend, there were empty seats in the Las Vegas courtroom for the first two days of the hearing. But on Wednesday, the courtroom was full, with Simpson family members and friends in the second row. A marshal turned people away, sending them to an overflow room where video was streamed live. Still, the scene was much tamer than in the past. "This is less hoopla than I expected. It's real toned down," said Wyatt Skaggs, a retired defense attorney visiting from Laramie, Wyo.