Eleven people blocking the office to a major Philadelphia-based insurer were arrested yesterday while participating in a nonviolent protest at Market Street near 19th, police said. The protesters, many of them Swarthmore undergraduates, staged a sit-in outside the entrance of Independence Blue Cross to support an expansion of Medicare to act as a universal single-payer health- care plan.

Several members of the Independence Hall Tea Party Association were present as part of a smaller counter protest against health-care reform.

Ex-airline staffer sentenced

A former U.S. Airways customer-service representative was sentenced yesterday to two months in federal prison and two months of house arrest for helping his then-roommate Damien Young smuggle an unloaded handgun in a carry-on bag onto a flight from Philadelphia to Phoenix last June.

Authorities said Roshid Milledge, 38, of South Philadelphia, helped Young circumvent screening procedures at the airport by bringing the gun in through an employees' entrance. He then handed the bag to Young before boarding the aircraft. Both were later arrested. Young, 29, of Phoenix, was sentenced this week to five years' probation and to perform 75 hours of community service.

Man shot in groin in W. Phila.

A 19-year-old man was shot in the groin and critically wounded in West Philadelphia last night, police said. The victim, whose name was not released, was wounded while riding his bike on 62nd Street near Market about 7 p.m., said Lt. John Walker of Southwest Detectives. Investigators made no immediate arrests.

Vigil for slain Officer Cassidy

A vigil will be held at Broad Street and 66th Avenue, in West Oak Lane, about 7 p.m. tomorrow to mark the second anniversary of the slaying of Officer Chuck Cassidy, police officials said.

Cassidy, 54, was gunned down Oct. 31, 2007, when he interrupted a robbery at the Dunkin' Donuts at that location. He died the next day. Cassidy's alleged killer, John "Jordan" Lewis, is due to stand trial next month.

Woman alleges groping

A 23-year-old woman told police she was groped by a man on 48th Street near Market in West Philadelphia Wednesday morning. Police said the victim was attacked by a medium built, 5-foot-4 Hispanic man in his 30s, who wore an orange sweatshirt, light blue jeans and work boots. Tipsters can contact investigators at 215-685-3251.

2 arrested in baker slaying

Two men have been arrested in the murder of a bakery owner from Woodlynne, Camden County, authorities said yesterday.

According to the Camden County Prosecutor's Office, Rashawn Carter, 24, of Philadelphia, and William Cooper Jr., 31, of Camden, are charged with the Oct. 14 shooting death of Oscar Medina Hernandez, inside the bakery on Ferry Avenue. Authorities said that Cooper, Carter and a third man entered Alex's Bakery and Food Store to rob Medina Hernandez, and that Cooper shot him once in the chest.

- Staff and wire reports