#PhillyFive Developing Stories: June 3, 2015
Your early look at the day's developing stories.
Here's your look at five stories we're following today:
1. Congress wants answers on Amtrak engineer's phone use: Members of Congress are questioning why federal investigators still don't know wheter Amtrak engineer Brandon Bostian was using his cell phone when Train 188 derailed in Philadelphia last month. The questions from lawmakers came during a House transportation committee hearing on Tuesday. The National Transportation Safety Board says discrepancies among sources of information about the phone are making getting those answers more complex. Read more.
2. Movement for Fattah challenger grows: The people behind Crowdpac, a nonpartisan Kickstarter-style website, are aiming to find a primary challenger to run against U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah in next year's primary. Crowdpac tries to instigate competetion in typically noncompetitive districts like Fattah's (the 11-term Democrat hasn't had a close race since he was elected to Congress in 1994) and help fund challengers. Read more.
3. PHA planning Ridge Avenue revitalization effort: The Philadelphia Housing Authority wants to revitalize the Ridge Avenue corridor through acquiring vacant and tax-delinquent properties, building its headquarters there and sparking a business district with a grocery store and other shops. The agency is planning to invest hundreds of millions of its own funds into the project and apply for federal grants. Read more.
4. Wolf nominees face troubles: Two of Gov. Tom Wolf's nominees for cabinet positions may face a tough path to confirmation. A state Senate panel declined to endorse John Quigley to lead the Department of Environmental Protection before moving his nomination to the full Senate. And Marcus Brown, Wolf's nominee for State Police commissioner, faces what's expected to be a contentious hearing today. Read more.
5. Layoffs planned for Coatesville facility: Sikorsky Aircraft is planning to lay off 160 full-time workers and 560 contractors at its Coatesville facility, the headquarters for the company's commercial division. The firm says low oil prices have cut demand for its helicopters, particularly from oil and gas exploration companies. Read more.