Today's Top Picks: June 11, 2015
Your look at the day's top stories and what we're reading.
Here's your early look at the day's top stories and what we're reading.
Top 5 Headlines
1. Council sets school funding plan: City Council is planning a series of tax increases to raise $70 million for the financially struggling Philadelphia School District. The plan falls short of the district's $103 million request, and the Council plans to hold $25 million in its own budget, to be sent to the district separately, to prolong conversations about plans for outsourcing nurses and substitute instructors. Council's plan includes a 4.5-percent property-tax increase, as well as raises to the use and occupancy tax for businesses and off-street parking taxes. Read more.
2. TEDx Philadelphia conference takes place: The TEDx Philadelphia conference happens today at Temple's Performing Arts Center. The 14 speakers will give talks centered around the theme of "And Justice for All." Presenters range from Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey to architect Rosa Sheng to Philadelphia Daily News columnist Ronnie Polaneczky. Read more.
3. Engineer wasn't using talking or texting before Amtrak crash: Federal investigators have determined that engineer Brandon Bostian wasn't using his cell phone to talk or send text messages before Amtrak Train 188 derailed at Frankford Junction last month. The 32-year-old engineer's lawyer has said the phone was off and put away during the trip. But the National Transportation Safety Board said it remains undetermined whether an app was being used and investigators are continuing to probe why the train was traveling more than 100 mph at the curve that had a 50 mph speed limit. The May 12 tragedy killed eight people and injured more than 200. Read more.
4. Frankie Avalon contributes to mural fund: Frankie Avalon has pledged money to save a deteriorating mural of famous musicians from South Philadelphia. The Mural Arts Program is trying to raise $80,000 to find a new home for the crumbling art of South Philly's stars, now at Ninth Street and Passyunk Avenue. Avalon and disc jockey Jerry Blavat have pledged $5,000 each in the effort for the replacement mural. Read more.
5. Mom of man shot by police wants answers: Pennye Johnson is looking for answers about the death of her son Andrew Ellerbe, who was shot to death by a Philadelphia police officer during what investigators said was a botched robbery at Rising Sun Pizza. Johnson says the incident "doesn't sound like my son." Ellerbe was killed after he and another man allegedly tried to rob a patron, who turned out to be an off-duty detective. The search for the second man continues. Read more.
What We're Reading
1. New grant completes financing for Divine Lorraine (Plan Philly)
2. In women's rights battle, a call to underarms (New York Times)
3. This man's blood has saved the lives of two million babies (CNN)
4. It's getting really, really expensive to live in gaybhorhoods (Fusion)
5. Can you get rich from making your cat an Internet celebrity? (Vanity Fair)