Edgmont strip mall burns

A two-alarm blaze ripped through an Edgmont Township strip mall in Delaware County yesterday morning, damaging an insurance agency, an orthodontist's office and a skin-care company.

The fire began about 5:30 a.m. at the mall along West Chester Pike near Providence Road. No injuries were reported and the fire was brought under control in about an hour. Police and fire officials were investigating the cause.

Health fair at Chester hospital

A team of local health and wellness organizations, including Keystone Mercy Health Plan, will host the first Community Wellness Day for Chester-area women on Saturday.

The daylong program at Community Hospital of Chester, 2600 W. 9th St., includes workshops on breast health, stress reduction and habits for better nutrition. Gynecological exams, mammograms and pap-smear screenings also will be available.

CCP to hold tuition steady

Community College of Philadelphia will not increase tuition rates or fees in the 2008-2009 fiscal year, for the first time in nearly two decades.

President Stephen M. Curtis said the tuition freeze is made possibly by the city's decision to increase funding for the college by $4 million, for a total of $28.47 million for the fiscal year. The tuition for a full-time student taking 24 credits a year is $3,528, higher than the national average of $2,400 for community colleges.

2 men shot in S. Phila.

A shooting in South Philadelphia yesterday left two men in the hospital with leg wounds.

About 2 p.m., police said, shots rang out at 4th and Christian streets in Queen Village. One man was hit twice in the legs and the other man once. They were reported in stable condition at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital. Police said they had no suspects and knew of no motive for the shootings.

Work to shut lane on I-95

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation has announced that there will be a lane closure tomorrow and Friday nights and Saturday morning on northbound Interstate 95 between Bartram Avenue and Broad Street for barrier construction. Work will be done from 10 p.m. tomorrow to 5 a.m. Friday, and from 10 p.m. Friday to noon Saturday.

Reward in Coatesville murder

The Citizens Crime Commission is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrests and convictions of the killers of a young Coatesville couple early Sunday.

Carnell Parker, 24, and Shontae Peterson, 21, were shot to death, execution style, in a residence on Charles Street in Coatesville. Tipsters should call the commission at 215-546-TIPS.

Guv signs lending protections

Gov. Rendell signed five bills yesterday that are designed to combat foreclosures by toughening regulations for home-lending professionals and providing more information to buyers.

Under the new laws, mortgage brokers must be licensed by the state and undergo training on mortgage laws. Appraisers, who were accused of sometimes inflating home values and causing people to borrow more than the value of properties, will be subject to scrutiny by the Banking Department and the Attorney General's Office. *

- Staff and wire reports