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Today's Top Picks: June 16, 2015

Your early look at the day's developing stories and what we're reading.

Top 5 Headlines

1. Former Fox 29 anchor loses N-word lawsuit
Former Fox 29 anchor Tom Burlington has lost the racial-discrimination suit he filed against the station after a jury determined that he hadn't been fired for racial reasons. Burlington was terminated in 2007 after using the N-word during a staff meeting discussing coverage of the Philadelphia NAACP's symbolic burial of the word, asking "Does this mean we can finally say N---?" The newsman had contended that his comments weren't malicious and said black employees had used the term without punishment. Read more.

2. (Pop-up) Pope Francis has rock-star status
Pope Francis has a rock-star status in the Philadelphia area -- even in cardboard form. Life-size cutouts of the Catholic leader have been appearing around the region (and are for sale online) in advance of his visit to Philadelphia in September for the World Meeting of Families. The pop-up poes are popular for selfie shots, and many credit Francis' popularity with bringing new life to the church, especially among younger people. Read more.

3. Newlyweds file latest Amtrak crash lawsuit
Two newlyweds hurt in the May Amtrak derailment at Frankford Junction have filed the latest lawsuit connected to the crash that killed eight people and injured more than 200. Declan MacFarland, a 34-year-old who suffered a concussion and other injuries, and Kathryn Varnum, a 33-year-old who broke her hip and spine, have sued the rail line and engineer Brandon Bostian. So far, at least six lawsuits have been filed, with many more expected. Read more.

4. Wolf concedes on state police, open records leaders
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf gave in to state Republicans regarding two high-level positions on Monday: He agreed not to fight Erik Arneson's reinstatement as head of the state's Office of Open Records, and withdrew his controversial pick to lead the Pennsylvania State Police, Marcus Brown. The concessions come as the Wolf administration aims for smoother negotiations with GOP lawmakers as the July 1 budget deadline approaches Read more.

5. Heat prompts public school closings
Philadelphia public schools are closing early today due to the forecasted heat. The high temperature is expected to surpass 90 degrees, and most city schools lack air conditioning. Students are slated to be dismissed at noon. Read more.

What We're Reading

1. Gentrify me: The history of homes, hipsters, and high-priced real estate in Philadelphia's riverwards
SpiritNews

2. Chrome for OS X will soon go easier on your MacBook battery
Mashable

3. First peek inside Delaware's marijuana Compassion Center
Newsworks

4. Here's the good news and the bad news about progress on climate change
Vice

5. Activists say it's time for Philadelphia to join most other major cities and overturn our ban on raising chickens
PhillyMag