Pennsylvania Guard sends crew of 6 for Harvey recovery work
MIDDLETOWN, PA. » Six airmen skilled in securing and re-establishing cellphone and satellite communications are on their way to help with Tropical Storm Harvey recovery in the Houston area.
The Wolf administration said Tuesday the members of the 193rd Special Operations Wing departed on a C-130 transport plane for Kelly Air Force Base in San Antonio.
They’re based at Harrisburg International Airport in Middletown, Pennsylvania.
Man granted retrial because of sleepy attorney admits guilt
PITTSBURGH » A Pennsylvania businessman who won a new trial because his first lawyer fell asleep during proceedings has pleaded guilty to fraud charges.
James Nassida pleaded guilty to wire and bank fraud at federal court in Pittsburgh Tuesday morning. The Pittsburgh PostGazette reports (http://bit. ly/2x0Nusj ) his family and new lawyer refused to comment on the plea.
Federal agents say Nassida and his sister led a scheme to inflate borrower income and assets to obtain millions in fraudulent loans through their mortgage brokerage firm. The scheme was among the largest investigated by the local mortgage fraud task force.
Nassida’s sister killed herself after the two were convicted last year.
However, a judge ruled Nassida was denied a fair trial because attorney Stan Levenson dozed off during the October trial where he was convicted.
Local jury to hear case of 3 charged in officer’s death
SCRANTON, PA. » A local jury will hear the case of three teenagers accused of having caused the death of a Pennsylvania police officer during a chase two years ago.
The (Scranton) Times-Tribune reports that a Lackawanna County judge denied a defense request to move the trial to another county or bring jurors from another county.
Jury selection is scheduled to begin Sept. 22 for the trial of Tanner Curtis, Isiah Edwards and Nasiir Jones. The 19-year-old defendants face charges of second-degree murder and murder of a law enforcement officer.
Authorities said patrolman John Wilding died after falling from a 15-foot retaining wall while chasing the then-17-year-olds after a July 2015 armed robbery.
Their attorneys argued that extensive publicity would make it difficult for them to get a fair trial.
Prison for woman convicted in teens’ crash death after party
YORK, PA. » A Pennsylvania woman convicted of involuntary manslaughter in the crash deaths of two teenagers who had been drinking at her home has been sentenced to 2½ to six years in prison.
Forty-six-year-old Jodie Tierney was sentenced Tuesday in York County Court.
She was also convicted in July of child endangerment, corruption of minors and furnishing alcohol to minors following the June 2015 SUV crash that killed 17-year-old Stone Hill and 16-year-old Nicholas Mankin in Lower Chanceford Township.
Prosecutors alleged that they and other teens had been drinking at the couple’s home. Tierney tearfully pleaded for leniency, and her attorney called prison time “unnecessary.”
Save the date: Next Philly Naked Bike Ride just days away
PHILADELPHIA » The wheels are in motion for Philadelphia’s next gathering of naked bicyclists.
Organizers of the Philly Naked Bike Ride said Tuesday the ninth annual event will take place throughout the city’s streets Sept. 9.
Around 3,000 riders are expected to pass by sites including Independence Hall and the Philadelphia Museum of Art, where Sylvester Stallone ran up the steps while training as Rocky.
Ride organizers say participants can go as bare as they dare. Last year some riders wore nothing at all or sported body paint while others wore underwear.
Los Angeles artist Matt Deifer (DY’-fer) is among those who’ll be in Philadelphia to paint the naked cyclists before they pedal away.
The ride is to protest against dependence on fossil fuels, advocate for the safety of cyclists and promote positive body image.