Briefly... CITY/REGION

$11,749 taken from church

The age-old question "Is nothing sacred?" has been answered with a resounding "No!"

Police said a burglar stole $11,749 worth of cash and checks from the Church of the Resurrection of Our Lord, Castor Avenue and Vista Street, between 12:40 p.m. Sunday and 6 a.m. yesterday.

Detectives searched the church's sacristy for clues and are now asking for the public's help. Tipsters can contact Northeast detectives at 215-686-3153 or -3154.

2 red-light cameras activated

Two more red-light cameras were activated yesterday to monitor key intersections. The cameras are at Henry Avenue and Walnut Lane in Roxborough, and Rising Sun and Adams avenues in the Summerdale section of the Northeast.

Drivers who ignore red lights will receive warnings for the next 60 days. After the two-month grace period ends Nov. 12, violators will face a $100 fine. Other cameras are being installed at Aramingo Avenue and York Street and Aramingo and Castor avenues.

West Nile virus case

Health authorities say Pennsylvania has its second case of West Nile virus for the year.

The county Health Department said a 30-year-old Bridgeport man was found to be infected with the virus, and that has been confirmed by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Last month, officials reported that a 69-year-old Philadelphia man had been found to have the virus.

Ex-officer guilty of assault

A Ridley Township police officer, fired in December after he was accused of assaulting a Wawa employee, was convicted in county court yesterday of simple assault and harassment.

Brian Decker, 34, was charged with punching the female employee, Monique Bronson, because she carded him for chewing tobacco. During his nonjury trial last week, he denied punching her. Judge Patricia H. Jenkins set sentencing for Nov. 8.

Chiropractor is arraigned

Hania McCracken, 30, a former Swarthmore chiropractor, was arraigned yesterday on dozens of counts of insurance fraud, theft and related charges, District Attorney G. Michael Green said. McCracken is the former owner of Maximized Living Health on Chester Road. Authorities say she bilked customers and submitted more than $200,000 in fraudulent bills to Independence Blue Cross.

Man accused of sex assault

Authorities in Camden County said an 18-year-old Winslow man sexually assaulted a young boy last month while another teen recorded the incident.

Jamal Holmes is accused of having the child, who was under 13, perform a sex act on him on Aug. 27 in the township. A 15-year-old boy recorded the act on video and distributed it via cell phone, the Camden County Prosecutor's Office said.

Holmes had another sexual encounter with the boy on Aug. 21, the prosecutor's office said. Holmes was charged with aggravated sexual assault, endangering the welfare of a child, and child pornography. The 15-year-old, also from Winslow, was charged with creating and distributing child pornography.

New costs for summer school

Gov. Chris Christie has signed a law allowing public- school districts to bill parents for children's summer-school classes.

The measure allows schools to pass on the costs of summer remedial and enrichment classes to families that can afford it. Less-well-off families would be charged partial tuition.

$48.8M for city schools

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan has announced that Pennsylvania will receive $387.8 million to support education jobs, including $48.8 million for Philadelphia schools.

"I commend Pennsylvania for being one of the first to submit their application and thank our team at the department for making funds available within a matter of days," said Duncan. "These education dollars will help Pennsylvania keep thousands of teachers in the classroom working with our students this school year."

-Staff and wire reports