5 stories to follow: Sept. 23

Fall started this weekend. Kick off your first autumn work week with a look at five stories we're following today:

1. Coatesville resignations: Are racist text messages behind the recent resignations of the superintendent and athletic director of the Coatesville Area School District? The Chester County District Attorney is investigating the messages between former Superintendent Richard Como and ex-high school athletic director Jim Donato, which reportedly used racist, lewd and sexist language.

2. Villanova expansion: Radnor Township officials will vote tonight on Villanova University's expansion plan, after the board of commissioners rejected the school's first proposal in May.

3. Lawyer's sentencing: A New Jersey lawyer will be sentenced on murder and racketeering charges today. Well-known defense attorney Paul Bergrin -- who is also a former prosecutor -- was convicted in March on nearly two dozen counts.

4. Property-tax appeals: Oct. 7 is the deadline for Philadelphia property owners to file formal tax-assessment appeals to the Board of Revision of Taxes. But about half of the 50,000 Philadelphians who asked for a "first-level review" from the city Office of Property Assessment won't know the results of those reviews before the deadline. The city is planning to mail letters today to the owners of about 25,000 properties to let them know the reviews won't be finished on time.

5. Minimum wage in N.J.: A poll being released today shows that New Jersey voters largely support raising the state's minimum wage. About two-thirds of respondents in the Monmouth University/Asbury Park Press poll say they plan to vote for the ballot measure to increase the minimum wage from $7.25 to $8.25, and just 12 percent say they intend to vote no.