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5 stories to follow: April 2

    by Emily Babay
    Published 

Here's your round-up of five stories to follow today:

1. Casey backs gay marriage: Pennsylvania Sen. Bob Casey has become the latest Democrat to shift his views on same-sex marriage. "If two people of the same sex fell in love and want to marry, why would our government stand in their way," Casey said in a statement. Casey is largely moderate on social issues and is a pro-life Catholic. The reverse in his position on gay marriage comes after the U.S. Supreme Court heard two gay-marriage cases last week and other high-profile Democrats have announced that they have changed their views on the issue.

2. Phillies opening debrief: The Atlanta Braves beat the Phillies, 7-5, on opening day. The Phils play the Braves again on Wednesday at 7:10 p.m. In a bright spot, Chase Utley scored his 200th homer. More coverage: Inquirer recap, Daily News recap, video, Phil Sheridan: Preseason pitching problems persist in opener, Bob Brookover: Utlley makes opening-night statement, DN Phillies notebook, More positives than negatives in loss

3. Kaboni Savage trial: The accused drug kingpin's firebombing murder trial heated up Monday when hitman Lamont Lewis testified that Savage ordered the October 2004 attack that killed six people, including four children. "Why didn't you tell me there was kids in the house," Lewis testified that he asked Kidada Savage, Kaboni Savage's brother. Lewis, a key witness in the murder and racketeering trial, is expected to continue testifying today.

4. SEPTA Powerball winner accused of threats: Joseph C. Byrd, one of the 48 SEPTA employees who won a $172.7 million Powerball jackpot last year, is accused of making wild threats against a police official at SEPTA's Market Street headquarters. The DN has the details on the bizarre episode; Byrd is due in court on April 15.

5. Oldest American dies: Elsie Thompson, the Pennsylvania native who was the oldest living American, died in Clearwater, Fla., last week. Thompson, who grew up in Beaver Falls, was the eight days shy of her 114th birthday, the Beaver County Times reports. She was the fourth-oldest person in the world.