Briefly... CITY/REGION

Man shot in East Falls

A 53-year-old man was shot and wounded last night in East Falls, police said.

Police responded to McMichael Terrace near Defense where they found the victim shot once in each leg about 8:30, cops said. He was taken to Temple University Hospital where he was listed in stable condition, cops said. The motive for the shooting was unknown and police reported no arrests.

He pointed gun, cops shoot

Police have charged a Pottstown man with aggravated assault after two police officers shot him when, cops say, he pointed a gun at them outside a store in Kensington Tuesday night.

Steven Geser, 27, remained in critical condition yesterday at Temple University Hospital after the 8 p.m. incident at B and Ontario streets, police said. Geser allegedly pointed the gun at several civilians in the area too, police spokesman Lt. Frank Vanore said. The officers shot him in the abdomen when he pointed his gun at them, Vanore said.

Tax help from IRS

The IRS will host a nationwide open house on Saturday, Sept. 25 to help taxpayers - especially veterans and people with disabilities - with tax problems.

The IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center, at 600 Arch St., is one of the offices participating, said Mark Hanson, IRS spokesman. It, along with 100 offices nationwide, will be open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

He admits to stealing 500G

Charles Mancini III, 45, of Wenonah, N.J., pleaded guilty yesterday in U.S. District Court in Camden to stealing more than $500,000 from the New Sharon Fire Company in Deptford Township while serving as its president and treasurer.

Mancini admitted he obtained a $90,000 line of credit for the fire company then diverted most of that money to his personal use. He also diverted proceeds from a $449,000 insurance settlement the fire company received.

N.J. unemployment drops

New Jersey labor officials say the state's unemployment rate dropped slightly last month, from 9.7 percent to 9.6 percent. That's now equal to the national rate, which rose by one-tenth of a percentage point. The Labor Department said the state gained 500 jobs overall.

3 charged in corporate scam

Mark Marino, 40, a Skippack supervisor, and David Kane, 38, a Limerick supervisor, have been charged by the U.S. Attorney's Office with using corporate bank accounts to pay for vacations, strip clubs and sports tickets, and with tax evasion. Also charged is Jamie Baugher, who worked for a real-estate company they ran, Kane Core Inc. All three were released after court appearances yesterday.

- Staff and wire report