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  • Plymouth Meeting Mall slated to be sold to Philly developer

    Plymouth Meeting Mall slated to be sold to Philly developer

    The Plymouth Meeting Mall may soon change hands.

    The mall’s current owner, PREIT, plans to sell the property to LA Partners, previously known as Lubert Adler Real Estate Funds, PREIT leadership confirmed Thursday, noting that the sale is still pending. PREIT did not disclose the price of the sale.

    PREIT, which is based in Philadelphia, also sold the Exton Square Mall to Abrams Realty & Development in March. PREIT also owns the Cherry Hill and Moorestown Malls.

    LA Partners executive chairman Dean Adler told the Philadelphia Business Journal, which first reported on the pending sale, that he expects to invest over $100 million to redevelop the mall. Early plans include adding residences.

    PREIT CEO Jared Chupaila said in a statement that the sale reflects the company’s “commitment to disciplined balance sheet management and liquidity generation.”

    “We believe LA Partners is uniquely positioned to build on the multipurpose hub we have laid the groundwork for, which has long served as a central part of Plymouth Township and the surrounding communities,” said Chupaila.

    PREIT has faced financial challenges in recent years. The business has filed for bankruptcy twice since 2020, and most recently emerged from bankruptcy as a private company in 2024 helmed by a group of investment firms.

    The Plymouth Meeting Mall, for its part, has tried to undergo a makeover in the last few years, following the 2017 closure of its anchor, a 215,000 square-foot Macy’s. Amid PREIT’s plans to “diversify the tenant mix” at the mall, nearly half the tenants there were either dining or entertainment businesses in 2018.

    Lubert Adler’s other properties include the Bellevue in Center City, which recently underwent extensive renovations, and the Battery, a former power plant in Fishtown redeveloped into a multipurpose complex.

    A spokesperson for LA Partners did not immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday.

    Peter Abrams, managing partner for Elkins Park-based Abrams Realty & Development, said the Plymouth Meeting Mall site “is the best-located large parcel of real estate in the Delaware Valley.”

    “There’s a lot of dead and dying malls in this country, and some of us, like myself and Dean Adler, understand the opportunity and aren’t afraid of the challenges, which are many,” said Abrams, who is behind proposed development plans at the Exton Square Mall.

    Boscov’s at Plymouth Meeting Mall on June 6, 2020.

    How did PREIT get here?

    At the time of PREIT’s bankruptcy filing in 2020, the business managed 4.7 million square feet of space in the region as the largest mall owner in the Philadelphia area.

    Consumers had already been shifting toward e-commerce before the pandemic. But as COVID forced nationwide shutdowns in 2020, some of PREIT’s tenants were forced to close, couldn’t pay rent, or didn’t want to, intensifying issues for the mall owner.

    Prior to the pandemic, PREIT sold off malls and tried to transform others by adding supermarkets, movie theaters, and apartments.

    Through the most recent bankruptcy process, PREIT shed $800 million in debt and gave up its stake in the Fashion District in Center City. When it emerged from bankruptcy last year, PREIT owned 13 malls across Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, and Virginia.

    It’s a time of struggle and transition for many malls across the country, including several in the region that have survived beyond their heyday. In the Philadelphia suburbs, plans are in the works to redevelop mall sites including the Exton Square Mall and the former Echelon Mall in Voorhees.

  • As Cowboys prepare for ‘dangerous’ Eagles, their newest star is excited to finally face ‘cool’ Tush Push

    As Cowboys prepare for ‘dangerous’ Eagles, their newest star is excited to finally face ‘cool’ Tush Push

    On Sunday, the Eagles will travel to AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, to face the Dallas Cowboys in a Week 12 rematch of the season opener, which the Birds won, 24-20, at home.

    The Eagles (8-2) enter Sunday’s game as 3.5-point favorites as they try to move a step closer to clinching the NFC East. Meanwhile, the Cowboys (4-5-1) are coming off a 33-16 win over the Las Vegas Raiders on Monday Night Football.

    Will the Birds sweep their rival for the second consecutive season? Or will the drama surrounding the Eagles push their on-field performance toward the brink of dysfunction? As both teams prepare, here’s what the Cowboys are saying about the Eagles:

    ‘These guys are dangerous’

    The Eagles’ first-place record didn’t come without obstacles. They’ve struggled to find an identity on offense through 10 games, A.J. Brown and Saquon Barkley haven’t been as productive as last season, and drama suddenly is surrounding Jalen Hurts in the locker room.

    Eagles drama is ‘disrespectful’ to Jalen Hurts; DeSean Jackson stirs the pot; and what else they’re saying

    However, that doesn’t give Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer any reason to doubt his opponents heading into their rematch.

    “Jalen is an incredible player,” Schottenheimer told reporters. “I think you can put their two receivers up there, with DeVonta [Smith] and A.J. [Brown], against anybody in the league. They’re very, very talented. So at any moment, they can strike. They’re explosive.

    “Then you mix in the runner — who is arguably the best, if not, one of the best in the league — in Saquon [Barkley]. You got tight ends, and then you got the offensive line. Everybody finds their flow at different times and this is a tough league. At the end of the day, I’m not looking at the film and saying, ‘These guys are struggling.’ I’m looking at this film and saying, ‘Man, these guys are dangerous.’”

    The Eagles ran the Tush Push against the Cowboys in Week 1 but didn’t have to face Quinnen Williams.

    ‘It all gels together’

    As the Cowboys prepare to play three games in 12 days, their first focus is on the Eagles. New Cowboys defensive tackle Quinnen Williams is prepared to stop the Birds’ signature play, the Tush Push.

    “It’s a cool play that they do on second-and-short, on third-and-short, and fourth-and-short,” Williams, who was acquired at the trade deadline from the New York Jets, told reporters. “I’ve never been against it. … I’m excited to see the game plan. Excited to go against it. Excited to be able to try and stop it.”

    The Eagles had problems with the Tush Push against the Lions. Nick Sirianni has to adjust his coaching accordingly. | Mike Sielski

    Williams, a former teammate of Hurts at Alabama, says the Super Bowl MVP is one of the reasons the team has had so much success with the play.

    “I think they got a great technique and a great game plan, like everybody around the boards, to be able to make that play efficient,” Williams said. “You got a quarterback — I played with him at ’Bama, probably one of the strongest quarterbacks in the NFL. So you got a great offensive line that can be efficient in that play. So I think it all gels together.”

    Schottenheimer didn’t give away all his plans on how to stop the play, but he did mention bringing in “reinforcements” for Sunday.

    “They still do a very good job at it,” the first-year head coach said. “But, we’ve got some reinforcements in there and guys that have seen it. It’s a game of leverage, it really is. And I do think that, you know, the league is trying to make sure that it’s a legal play in terms of everyone getting off on the snap. But, they’re still really good at it. We’ll still see it. But we definitely have some reinforcements in there to give you a chance to win the leverage game.”

    NFL officials stand between Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (left) and Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter (right) after Carter spit at Prescott. Carter was ejected.

    ‘[Jalen Carter] is a big difference’

    The Eagles scraped out a narrow win in their first meeting, despite an early exit for Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter, who spit on Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott before the first snap. With Carter set to play on Sunday, Schottenheimer understands he’ll have a big impact in their second meeting.

    “It’s a big difference,” Schottenheimer said. “He’s a really good player. He’s packaged in there with some really good players. Jordan Davis is obviously a really good player as well. There’s Jaelan Phillips. It’s a hell of a defense. They’re the best in the league, I think. Again, it’s going to be really, really tough. But we love that challenge, and we think we’re pretty good, too.”

    Eagles remain the favorite heading into Dallas, but Cowboys close the gap

    Cowboys offensive lineman Tyler Smith agreed that Carter will make a difference once he steps onto the field at AT&T Stadium.

    “I think he’s a great player for them,” Smith told reporters. “I think the tape speaks for itself. Obviously, he’s a talented guy. A lot of the work that’s done for that team is on that D-line. So I think they’re a huge part of what they do there.”

    Cowboys running back Javonte Williams added: “Great player. Yeah, we didn’t play him the first game. But, I mean, no matter who is there, we just got to go out and play our game, execute, and do what we got to do.”

    Eagles cornerbacks Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean celebrate an interception during the season opener against the Cowboys.

    ‘He’s got a chance to be a star’

    Carter wasn’t the only defensive player the Cowboys praised ahead of Sunday’s game. Schottenheimer complimented Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean during his news conference on Wednesday.

    “[Mitchell is a] very good cover corner,” Schottenheimer said. “Physical, patient, he understands that there is a time clock the offense has to work with because they’re good at disrupting and affecting the quarterback.

    “But, I think the coverage skills, you’ve seen the growth. You’ve seen him improve and get better. I think he’s got a chance to be a star in this league and trending that way. And the versatility of Cooper DeJean is what they love about him. … The football instincts are off the charts. He’s got a knack for the ball. … They’ve done a great job with those two guys, for sure.”

    Quinyon Mitchell looked like an All-Pro vs. the Lions. His Florida family and friends were there to see it. | Marcus Hayes
  • A South Jersey woman will spend 8 years in prison for siphoning money from a nonprofit

    A South Jersey woman will spend 8 years in prison for siphoning money from a nonprofit

    The former chief financial officer of a Burlington County nonprofit was sentenced to eight years in state prison for stealing $2.5 million from the company for personal expenses, including settling her credit card debt and buying vacation homes and a Corvette Stingray sports car, officials said Thursday.

    Colleen Witten, 56, of Buena, Atlantic County, pleaded guilty in June to theft, money laundering, and tax evasion for the scheme, which took place during her time as an executive with OTC Services, a company that provides job training for adults with disabilities.

    New Jersey State Attorney General Matthew Platkin said Witten’s prosecution reflects his office’s “unbreakable commitment to pursue justice for victims and hold accountable those who abuse their positions of trust to commit crimes.”

    Witten’s attorney, Brendan Kavanagh, did not immediately return a request for comment.

    Prosecutors said Witten altered corporate board meeting minutes to give herself the authority to open a company bank account, and then used the account to siphon money between May 2019 and March 2024.

    She disguised the theft by laundering the money through checks issued to a landscaping business she owned with her husband, and the couple failed to pay taxes on these funds.

    Witten’s husband, Allan, pleaded guilty earlier this year to one count of receiving stolen property for accepting money from the nonprofit for work he knew his business did not perform. He was sentenced to three years in state prison.

  • Trump administration steers $1 billion to Three Mile Island, Pennsylvania’s shuttered nuclear power plant championed by Shapiro

    Trump administration steers $1 billion to Three Mile Island, Pennsylvania’s shuttered nuclear power plant championed by Shapiro

    The U.S. Department of Energy will loan $1 billion to help finance the reopening of Three Mile Island, a nuclear power plant in Pennsylvania that has been renamed the Crane Clean Energy Center.

    The nuclear plant is owned by Constellation Energy Corp. and located on an island in the Susquehanna River just outside Harrisburg. The federal loan will lower Constellation’s price tag to get the mothballed plant running again, an effort that was already put on an accelerated timeline with the support of Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro over the summer.

    The plant shuttered its one functioning reactor in 2019 when its then-parent company Exelon said it was losing money and that state lawmakers wouldn’t subsidize it. The one other reactor at the Londonderry Township site was destroyed in 1979 in the nation’s worst commercial nuclear power accident.

    “Constellation’s restart of a nuclear power plant in Pennsylvania will provide affordable, reliable, and secure energy to Americans across the Mid-Atlantic region,” Secretary of Energy Chris Wright said in a statement. “It will also help ensure America has the energy it needs to grow its domestic manufacturing base and win the AI race.”

    Constellation announced last year that it planned to spend $1.6 billion to reopen the plant as the demand for energy increases. The company announced a 20-year agreement with Microsoft to buy the power for its data centers.

    Shapiro has supported that plan and touted pushing grid operator PJM to approve an early interconnection request for the site. Constellation employees celebrated with the governor in July with news that the plant’s last working reactor would be slated to open as early as 2027, a year ahead of schedule.

    Joe Dominguez, president and CEO of Constellation, said in a statement this week that the DOE and Federal Energy Regulatory Commission have “made it possible for us to vastly expedite this restart without compromising quality or safety.”

    Constellation spokesperson Mark Rodgers said Thursday the loan “supports” the already-existing plan.

    When asked for comment on the federal loan, Shapiro did not mention the federal financing or the Trump administration at all, focusing instead on his own administration’s efforts.

    “In Pennsylvania, we’re doubling down on our legacy of energy leadership by taking big, decisive steps to build new sources of power,” Shapiro said in a statement. “As an all-of-the-above energy Governor, my Administration is supporting new energy projects from all sources —from natural gas and solar to geothermal and nuclear.”

    “The Crane Clean Energy Center takes advantage of our Commonwealth’s energy assets and brings more energy onto the grid, creating jobs and more opportunity for Pennsylvanians,” he added.

    A group of people who called themselves survivors of the plant’s 1979 partial meltdown protested the reopening plan earlier this year.

    Trump’s administration has said bolstering nuclear power and artificial intelligence are among its priorities.

    Constellation is working to restore equipment for the plant, including the turbine, generator, main power transformer and cooling and control systems. Its 835-megawatt reactor can power the equivalent of approximately 800,000 homes, according to the DOE.

    The agency said in a statement that the reactor “will provide reliable and affordable baseload power,” in turn helping to lower electricity costs, strengthen the reliability of the energy grid, and “advance the Administration’s mission to lead in global AI innovation and restore domestic manufacturing industries.”

    Sen. Dave McCormick, a Republican who has championed embracing tech and energy in Pennsylvania, said in a statement that the state is “leading America’s energy independence and the AI revolution by providing safe, clean, reliable nuclear power.” He said the center brings 3,400 jobs and “carbon-free electricity operating 24/7 to meet our increasing energy demands and economic growth across the region.”

    The loan is being issued under an existing $250 billion energy infrastructure program initially authorized by Congress in 2022. Neither the department nor Constellation released terms of the loan.

    The plan to restart the reactor comes during a sort of renaissance for nuclear power, as policymakers are increasingly looking to it to shore up the nation’s power supply, help avoid the worst effects of climate change, and meet rising power demand driven by data centers.

    The Associated Press contributed to this article.

  • The Union’s 2026 MLS schedule is set. Here’s what to know about it.

    The Union’s 2026 MLS schedule is set. Here’s what to know about it.

    MLS usually makes its schedule announcement with lots of fanfare, but this time, it jumped straight in out of almost nowhere.

    The league announced its 2026 calendar on Thursday, confirming news everyone had been waiting for: a World Cup break from May 25-July 16.

    With five MLS stadiums hosting tournament games and many more serving as practice sites, the notion that there would be a lengthy stoppage felt ever-present.

    Now we know the details. May 25 is FIFA’s mandatory reporting date for players in the tournament, and the last league games before then will be on Saturday, May 23, and Sunday, May 24. The Union will play on the latter, and it will be a big one: at Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami in the Herons’ new stadium, currently under construction next to Miami’s airport.

    Inter Miami’s new stadium, Miami Freedom Park, will open next year.

    That will also be one of three Union regular-season games on network television, with a prime-time kickoff on Fox. The others are March 14 at Atlanta United (also on Fox) and Sept. 9 vs. FC Cincinnati on FS1.

    International fans with World Cup tickets coming to America next summer can get a priority visa. Here’s how.

    The Union open the season on the road against D.C. United on Feb. 21, and will play their home opener on March 1 against New York City FC. The latter is one of four home games with afternoon kickoffs, two in March and two in October.

    Jay Sugarman wants the Union to get more respect, and knows winning MLS Cup will make that happen

    The MLS season will resume on the weekend of the World Cup final, with six games across Thursday and Friday between the semifinals and final. The Union won’t be in those games, though, as their campaign won’t resume until July 22 — the Wednesday after the tournament ends — against Red Bull New York (the slightly-rebranded New York Red Bulls) at Subaru Park.

    The Seattle Sounders will visit three days later on July 25, followed by another marquee home game against Atlanta United on Aug. 1.

    Cristian Roldan (right) might visit the Union with the Seattle Sounders soon after playing in the World Cup for the United States, if he makes the team.

    Messi’s visit here, at least in theory, is set for Aug. 19, a Wednesday. The Argentine superstar might also play close to town on March 7 when D.C. United hosts Miami at M&T Bank Stadium, the home of the Baltimore Ravens. That game is a 4:30 p.m. kickoff, and enterprising fans could catch it before the Union host the San Jose Earthquakes at 7:30 p.m. that night in Chester.

    The Union’s marquee road trip of the season is the team’s first matchup with San Diego FC, out west on Sept. 13. Though it will take place after the school year resumes, many fans will likely circle it.

    The Union clinched their second Supporters’ Shield thanks to three key veterans

    They might also circle Aug. 16, when the Union visit New York City FC. Along with being a rivalry clash, it will be the last time the Union play at Yankee Stadium before the Pigeons open their own home in Queens (next door to the Mets’ Citi Field) in 2027.

    The worst game of the year weather-wise is likely the Aug. 22 visit to Austin FC, a scorching time of year in Texas. Toward the opposite end of the weather spectrum, the Union visit CF Montréal for the Canadian club’s home opener on April 11, when it will still be fairly chilly up north.

    Next year will bring the Union’s last game at Yankee Stadium before New York City opens its new stadium in Queens in 2027.

    The regular season concludes with the usual Decision Day of simultaneous kickoffs on Nov. 7, with the Union hosting Toronto. MLS will then pause for a week for November’s FIFA window (Nov. 9-17), then at long last get an uninterrupted run for its playoffs.

    Though the league said its postseason schedule will be announced later, it seems the final will be later in December than its recent home on the first weekend of the month.

    Behind a complete ‘body of work,’ Union manager Bradley Carnell wins MLS Coach of the Year

    The Leagues Cup will also be played at some point next year, and the Union are expected to be in it. That schedule will be set later.

    Also, 2026 will be the last year when MLS runs a summer-centric calendar. The league will flip to a winter-centric one in 2027, running a short season in the first half of that year before starting the new full calendar in July.

    Union fans will have to get used to watching more games in cold weather after next year.

    2026 Union schedule

    All games will be broadcast on Apple TV. MLS Season Pass is no longer, with the league’s games now included in the same package with baseball, Formula 1, and scripted shows like Ted Lasso and Severance.

    Union season ticket holders, and season ticket holders of all MLS teams, will be able to get Apple TV free of charge as part of their 2026 packages.

    MLS will move to a winter-centric schedule in 2027

    Saturday, Feb. 21: at D.C. United, 7:30 p.m.

    Sunday, March 1: vs. New York City FC, 4:30 p.m.

    Saturday, March 7: vs. San Jose Earthquakes , 7:30 p.m.

    Saturday, March 14: at Atlanta United, 3 p.m. (also on Fox29 and Fox Deportes)

    Saturday, March 21: vs. Chicago Fire, 4:30 p.m.

    Saturday, April 4: at Charlotte FC, 7:30 p.m.

    Saturday, April 11: at CF Montréal, 7:30 p.m.

    Saturday, April 18: vs. D.C. United, 7:30 p.m.

    Wednesday, April 22: at Toronto FC, 7:30 p.m.

    Saturday, April 25: at Columbus Crew, 7:30 p.m

    Saturday, May 2: vs. Nashville SC, 7:30 p.m.

    Saturday, May 9: at New England Revolution, 7:30 p.m.

    Wednesday May 13: at Orlando City, 7:30 p.m.

    Saturday, May 16: vs. Columbus Crew, 7:30 p.m.

    Sunday, May 24: at Inter Miami, 7 p.m. (also on Fox29 and Fox Deportes; last game before the World Cup break)

    Wednesday, July 22: vs. Red Bull New York, 7:30 p.m.

    Saturday, July 25: vs. Seattle Sounders, 7:30 p.m.

    Saturday, Aug. 1: vs. Atlanta United, 7:30 p.m.

    Sunday, Aug. 16: at New York City FC, 6:30 p.m. (at Yankee Stadium)

    Wednesday, Aug. 19: vs. Inter Miami, 7:30 p.m.

    Saturday, Aug. 22: at Austin FC, 8:30 p.m.

    Saturday, Aug. 29: at Red Bull New York, 7:30 p.m.

    Saturday, Sept. 5: vs. CF Montréal, 7:30 p.m.

    Wednesday, Sept. 9: vs. FC Cincinnati, 7:30 p.m. (also on FS1 and Fox Deportes)

    Sunday, Sept. 13: at San Diego FC, 9 p.m.

    Saturday, Sept. 19: at Sporting Kansas City

    Saturday, Sept. 26: vs. Orlando City SC

    Saturday, Oct. 10: vs. Real Salt Lake, 7:30 p.m.

    Wednesday, Oct. 14: at Chicago Fire, 8:30 p.m.

    Saturday, Oct. 17: vs. Charlotte FC, 2:30 p.m.

    Saturday, Oct. 24: vs. New England Revolution, 7:30 p.m.

    Wednesday, Oct. 28: at Nashville SC, 8:30 p.m.

    Saturday, Oct. 31: at FC Cincinnati, time TBD

    Saturday, Nov. 7: vs. Toronto FC, 4 p.m.

  • Trump administration threatens to withhold $75 million from Pennsylvania over immigrant truck drivers

    Trump administration threatens to withhold $75 million from Pennsylvania over immigrant truck drivers

    The Trump administration threatened Thursday to withhold nearly $75 million in funding if Pennsylvania does not immediately revoke what the administration claims are illegally issued commercial driver’s licenses to immigrants.

    The move by U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy to target Pennsylvania follows similar action against California. Both states are run by Democratic governors who have criticized President Donald Trump’s administration and who are viewed as potential top-shelf contenders to be the party’s 2028 presidential nominee.

    Duffy has made it a priority to scrutinize how the licenses are issued since August, when a tractor-trailer driver not authorized to be in the U.S. made an illegal U-turn and caused a crash in Florida that killed three people. That incident thrust the issue into the public’s consciousness.

    In a statement Thursday, DOT spokesperson Danna Almeida said all states were being reviewed.

    It’s unclear how many people would be affected in Pennsylvania. In any case, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro ‘s administration said the federal government didn’t identify a single commercial driver’s license issued to someone who wasn’t eligible.

    Still, a letter Thursday from the Republican administration to Shapiro cited an audit that found two out of 150 people whose licenses exceeded their lawful presence in the country.

    In four cases it had reviewed, the federal government said Pennsylvania provided no evidence that it had required noncitizens to provide legitimate proof that they were legally in the country at the time they got the license.

    The Trump administration called on Pennsylvania to stop issuing new, renewed and transferred commercial driver’s licenses and permits, as well as conduct an audit to identify those licenses whose expirations exceed the driver’s lawful stay in the U.S.

    It is also asking the state to void noncompliant licenses and remove those drivers from the road. The administration said approximately 12,400 noncitizen drivers hold an unexpired commercial learner’s permit or commercial driver’s license issued by Pennsylvania.

    The governors of California and Pennsylvania — Gavin Newsom and Shapiro — are tough critics of Trump, and both have been repeated targets of Trump’s administration.

    Shapiro’s administration said the state transportation department ceased issuing commercial driver’s licenses to noncitizens after the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration published a regulation in late September that would severely limit which immigrants can get one.

    A federal court has put the rule on hold for now, but Shapiro’s administration said its transportation department still hasn’t resumed issuing what are called “non-domiciled CDLs.”

    Pennsylvania’s transportation department said Thursday that it follows federal rules for verifying an immigrant applicant’s lawful presence in the country by checking the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s database.

    But Shapiro this week suggested that DHS was falling short by failing to properly maintain that database, which states use to check an immigrant’s legal status before issuing a driver’s license to a noncitizen.

    His comments came after DHS said it had arrested an Uzbek national with a commercial driver’s license issued by Pennsylvania. The man, who had a work authorization granted in 2024, was wanted in his home country for belonging to a terrorist organization, the department said.

    But Shapiro said the state transportation department checked the federal database over the summer before issuing a CDL to the man, and he was authorized to get one. The state rechecked the database this week, and it still listed him as qualified to get a CDL, Shapiro said.

    “They clearly are not minding the shop, and they’ve gotta get better, because every single state in the country relies on this database when making a determination as to who qualifies for a CDL. We relied on the feds before issuing this one,” Shapiro said.

    California, which said it would revoke 17,000 licenses, is the only state the administration has acted against because it was the first one where an audit was completed. The government shutdown delayed reviews in other states, but the Transportation Department is urging all of them to tighten their standards. ___ Catalini reported from Trenton, New Jersey, and Levy from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Associated Press writer Josh Funk contributed.

  • Haverford College president to step down in 2027

    Haverford College president to step down in 2027

    Haverford College president Wendy Raymond announced she will retire in June 2027, and the college plans to launch a search for her replacement early in the new year.

    The announcement comes after a particularly difficult year for the college and Raymond, who faced intense grilling in May by a Republican-led congressional committee probing antisemitism complaints on college campuses. The school also is under investigation by the U.S. Department of Education over its handling of antisemitism complaints.

    “This was not an easy decision, but after more than three decades in higher education, I am ready to step away from academia,” Raymond said in her message to campus.

    U.S. Department of Education launches investigation into Haverford College over antisemitism complaints

    Her news comes just two days after she announced John McKnight, the dean of the college, would be leaving in June for a new role at Dartmouth College.

    Raymond said she wanted to give the college’s board of managers time to search for a replacement.

    Raymond, 65, a molecular biologist, became president of the 1,470-student liberal arts college on the Main Line in July 2019. She came to Haverford from Davidson College in North Carolina, where she had been vice president for academic affairs and dean of faculty.

    She has been in the job longer than her three most recent predecessors, Kim Benston, who served four years; Daniel Weiss, who was there two; and Stephen G. Emerson, who had four years.

    With ‘grace and invitation,’ Haverford’s new president has much to teach

    In her announcement, she noted accomplishments including the completion of a strategic plan, efforts to advance diversity, equity, and access, the launch of the Institute for Ethical Leadership and Inquiry named for board chair Michael B. Kim, and the new recital hall.

    She also acknowledged challenges, including the pandemic, the strike for racial justice in 2020 in which students refused to attend class and demanded that Haverford do more to support its Black and brown students, and “more recent times of social unrest and public scrutiny.”

    Haverford students on strike after college officials’ comments on Walter Wallace Jr. death

    Raymond earlier this year in a message to the campus acknowledged that she “came up short” in dealing with conflict over antisemitism complaints and said both she and Haverford can do better.

    “To Jewish members of our community who felt as if the College was not there for you, I am sorry that my actions and my leadership let you down,” she said in that message.

    Haverford was the only local college earlier this year to receive an F on a report card by the Anti-Defamation League for its response to antisemitism — a rating given to less than 10% of schools nationwide. The ADL’s methodology for categorizing antisemitism has been questioned, and critics have argued that criticism of the state of Israel and its government have been wrongly conflated with antisemitism.

    Congressional committee demands answers from Haverford College on its handling of antisemitism complaints

    But the F rating caught the attention of the congressional Committee on Education and Workforce, which called on Raymond and two other college presidents to testify in May. Raymond took the worst of the grilling, largely because she was reluctant to answer questions about discipline for alleged antisemitism, especially in specific cases. Raymond testified that the college does not release data on student suspensions and expulsions.

    In June, the committee demanded answers about faculty and student discipline. And in August, the education department, which has launched a flurry of investigations of colleges regarding antisemitism, said it would probe Haverford.

    The investigation follows “credible reports that Haverford has failed to respond as required by law to multiple incidents of discrimination and harassment against Jewish and Israeli students on its campus,” the department said at the time.

    In her testimony to the congressional committee, Raymond noted the college had made a plethora of changes to address concerns about antisemitism, including changes in the antibias policy and rules around protesting, steps to revise the honor code, and increases in campus safety at events.

    Kim, the board chair, thanked Raymond for her service amid a difficult time in a message to campus Thursday.

    “She has guided the College with great care during periods of both remarkable growth and significant challenge,” he said. “During her tenure, Haverford has welcomed two of its largest incoming classes, increased support for student resources, access, and engagement, and continued to graduate students who use their liberal arts education to effect positive change in the world.”

    Raymond said in her Thursday message that through the challenges, “ … the College has remained strong and resolute in its mission to foster a campus culture of belonging and respect, where academic freedom and freedom of expression remain fundamental to Haverford’s nearly 200 years of academic excellence and open inquiry, and where our values guide us through new territory.”

  • Hockey Fights Cancer night hits home for many connected to the Flyers: ‘They’ve battled much harder than any of us’

    Hockey Fights Cancer night hits home for many connected to the Flyers: ‘They’ve battled much harder than any of us’

    About two weeks ago, Jason Myrtetus received a phone call from the Flyers.

    The team was figuring out its plans for the annual Hockey Fights Cancer night and wanted to know if the Flyers broadcaster and host of the “Flyers Daily” podcast would be interested in dropping the ceremonial puck.

    “I said, ‘Let me think about it. Yes,’” said Myrtetus without much pause. “So, yeah, my reaction was pretty humbling.

    “As somebody who grew up here, and the love of the game and the love of the team, and what it’s meant in my life, and to be asked to do that is a huge honor. I think of my dad when I hear that, if he were still here, what would his reaction be?” added Myrtetus, whose father died of lung cancer in 2016.

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    “My dad had season tickets at the Spectrum in Section R, Row 7, back in the day, and what would his reaction be to me dropping the ceremonial puck? All the early morning car rides to rinks all over the Northeast, going to games with me, that hits you a little bit.”

    The call from the Flyers came around the same time the 53-year-old Myrtetus, who grew up in West Chester, learned his recent scans and tests showed no evidence of the Stage 3 colorectal cancer he was diagnosed with just before Christmas 2024.

    Working with Penn Medicine and his oncologist, Dr. Daniel Altman, Heather Levinsky, CRNP; and his surgeon, Dr. Erica Pettke, Myrtetus underwent an aggressive treatment plan that included eight chemotherapy infusions over 16 weeks, followed by 28 oral chemo and radiation treatments. The members of his care team will drop the puck alongside him before the Flyers host the St. Louis Blues on Thursday (7 p.m., NBCSP).

    Founded in 1998 by the NHL and the NHLPA, Hockey Fights Cancer has raised more than $44 million since its inception and more than $12 million in the past two seasons.

    Before the game, Layton Kovol will read the starting lineup. The 15-year-old goalie was the top fundraiser in Pennsylvania for the 2025 October Saves campaign, raising over $6,000 for cancer research. Alongside him will be his mother, Jamie, who has faced a long-term battle with brain cancer.

    “My brother went through a form of cancer, he beat it, so it means a lot,” said coach Rick Tocchet of his brother Dan, when asked what tonight means to him. “You forget about that, right? You’re in the day-to-day [as a] hockey coach, and you forget about what’s really more important in life, and the awareness and all that stuff really kind of clues you in a little bit.”

    Several of the Flyers players worked with local kids who are cancer survivors to design custom equipment for Hockey Fights Cancer night.

    Players will wear lavender jerseys into Xfinity Mobile Arena and sign them for an auction that runs through Nov. 26 at 7 p.m.

    Several Flyers will also wear custom SkateSkins and goalie helmets in warmups. The items were designed by players in partnership with children, ages 8-19, battling cancer. The rest of the team will wear generic Hockey Fights Cancer SkateSkins, which allow them to write who they fight for.

    “It’s honestly just awesome to always meet those kids. They’re always the happiest guys and girls in the room, so, just taking it from their perspective, they always have the best attitudes you’ll ever see, and just enjoying every moment,” said defenseman Jamie Drysdale, one of nine players who worked with the children.

    “I had a blast. I know all the guys had a blast. Some pretty cool skins we made, and one of the kids gave me this bracelet, and I’ve been wearing it since. Really cool experience for us to be a part of it. We’re the lucky ones to be able to design with them, so it was awesome.”

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    The orange bracelet Drysdale sports on his right wrist says “Aiden Strong” and “Leukemia Awareness.” Aiden, 8, was first diagnosed with leukemia at age 5 and rang the bell to finish his treatments in March. He started playing hockey last year and is now a Junior Blue Hen.

    Aiden worked with Dan Vladař, who will start on Thursday, to design the mask the Czech goalie will wear during warmups. Sam Ersson will also wear a mask he created with 11-year-old Brayden, a two-time cancer survivor who plays for Team Philadelphia 12U in West Chester. Langhorne’s Franny Drummond of Paint Zoo Studios, who is the artist behind Vladař’s game mask, brought their designs to life.

    Noah Cates, Travis Konecny, Travis Sanheim, Trevor Zegras, Garnet Hathaway, and captain Sean Couturier will each wear the specialty skins they helped create.

    “He did a nice job,” said Couturier of 14-year-old Emile, who was diagnosed with craniopharyngioma and hails from Quebec. “He drew a lot of stuff about the Flyers, hockey, and stuff like that. But I told him to draw something about himself, and he likes nature, likes climbing, fishing. So he put a fishing [rod and reel].”

    Konecny said ideas bounced around on what to put on the skates but 11-year-old Frankie, who was diagnosed at 10 with Ewing sarcoma, “was the one doing it all.” Drysdale is a fan of how the design came out and is looking forward to sporting the skates as all the kids who designed the skins watch warmups from the bench.

    “We’re fortunate that we get to do things like this and be around those kids because they’re troopers. They’re awesome. Their attitudes. Perspective is the biggest thing,” said Drysdale, who worked with 10-year-old Chase.

    “Obviously, they’ve battled much harder than any of us. So, yeah, just puts things in perspective. It’s really cool that we get the opportunity to work with them.”

    Trevor Zegras and Juliette, 19, pose with their designs for Trevor’s Hockey Fights Cancer SkateSkins. Juliette is currently battling brain cancer.
  • Grand jury clears officer who fatally shot man firing rifle in Burlington County, prosecutors say

    Grand jury clears officer who fatally shot man firing rifle in Burlington County, prosecutors say

    A grand jury decided not to charge a police officer in Burlington County for fatally shooting a 57-year-old man who was firing a rifle during a confrontation a year ago, the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office said Thursday.

    Marvin Taylor was shot by Pemberton Township Officer Kyle McQueen on Oct. 19, 2024, in a wooded area behind a residence on Woodland Avenue in the township’s Browns Mills section.

    “Marvin, we are here to help you! Put the gun down now!” McQueen can be heard on bodycam video yelling at Taylor.

    McQueen again orders Taylor two more times to drop his weapon. Then a single gunshot can be heard, and McQueen yells to his fellow officers, “Shots fired! Shots fired!” McQueen then fires four times at Taylor.

    McQueen and other officers approach the fallen Taylor and McQueen is seen in the bodycam video picking up a rifle lying on the ground next to Taylor.

    “Gun secured, suspect down,” McQueen announces.

    Earlier that afternoon, volunteer firefighters and police responded to a 911 call reporting smoke coming from the residence.

    A firefighter went to the backyard and encountered Taylor, who pointed a rifle at him, according to the attorney general’s statement. Responding firefighters retreated as police arrived, and a single gunshot was heard coming from the backyard.

    Police used a loudspeaker to attempt to speak with Taylor, but he did not respond and officers lost sight of him, the statement said.

    Pemberton Township police waited for the arrival of a crisis negotiator and tactical specialists from the New Jersey State Police. McQueen and another township officer positioned themselves in the wooded area behind the residence. Taylor was seen behind the residence armed with a rifle, the statement said.

    After Taylor was shot, he was taken to Cooper University Hospital in Camden, where he was pronounced dead early that evening.

    A black bolt-action rifle was found next to Taylor’s body, as well as two spent shell casings that were fired from the rifle.

    The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and state authorities investigated the initial fire and concluded that it was started after gasoline was ignited at various locations inside the residence.

  • Former Central Bucks superintendent and principal appeal their terminations over handling of abuse allegations

    Former Central Bucks superintendent and principal appeal their terminations over handling of abuse allegations

    Former Central Bucks School District Superintendent Steven Yanni and former Jamison Elementary School principal David Heineman have appealed their terminations by the school board over their handling of abuse allegations in an autistic support classroom.

    The Central Bucks school board voted to terminate the duo last month, nearly a year after a classroom aide reported the alleged abuse.

    A report from the watchdog group Disability Rights Pennsylvania released in April found that students were illegally restrained, creating a “reasonable likelihood of bodily injury” and likely interfering with their breathing.

    The school board initially stood by the district’s leadership, but members’ tune shifted after the report’s publication. Yanni and Heineman were placed on leave the following day, and a two-day termination hearing was held in August.

    Yanni, who has accepted a position as the CEO of Northwood Academy charter school in Philadelphia, filed his appeal Monday in Bucks County Court.

    The filing rehashes the arguments Yanni made during the August hearing, including that he did not make an immediate report to ChildLine, Pennsylvania’s reporting system for child abuse or neglect, because he relied on the assessment of district officials during an internal investigation.

    Yanni’s appeal also says he did not remove the accused teacher and educational assistant from the classroom because the members of his leadership team closest to the investigation told him there was no reason to suspect abuse.

    The 139-page court filing attacks the termination hearing process and calls the school board biased. It notes that board member Jim Pepper‘s son was one of the alleged victims of abuse.

    Pepper recused himself from the hearing and other votes related to the investigation, but the appeal alleges that “he actively participated in the Board’s investigation and disciplinary actions and made public allegations.”

    Pepper declined to comment.

    “For almost a year now, there has been inaccurate and defamatory information shared about me,” Yanni said in a statement. “My appeal corrects the record and clearly articulates the truth around the Jamison situation.”

    The Central Bucks School District said it would not comment on the case because it is active litigation.

    Heineman, meanwhile, challenged his termination Oct. 29 by filing a petition through the Pennsylvania Department of Education’s tenure appeal process, according to a copy of his appeal obtained by The Inquirer. That process, unlike Yanni’s appeal in court, is private.

    The former principal accuses the board of terminating him after 26 years as a district employee over a series of “unproven allegations” that were made at his termination hearing.

    These include the notion that as principal he created a “chilling effect” that deterred staff from making reports to ChildLine, and that he threatened to fire the classroom aide for making the allegations.

    Heineman‘s petition notes that in the days after the allegations of abuse were made, the district’s leadership “unanimously agreed that there was no abuse, and no need to make a ChildLine report.”

    Heineman also says that there is no basis to the way he was characterized during the termination hearings.

    “CBSD’s allegation that Mr. Heineman ‘does not care about children’ carries no support in the record, and appears to be, once more, inflammatory rhetoric made more for the public than for purposes of meeting CBSD’s burden to terminate Mr. Heineman,” the petition says.

    Central Bucks also declined to comment on Heineman’s appeal. The attorney representing Heineman did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

    The school district responded to the petition this week, according to a copy of the filing obtained by The Inquirer that denies most of Heineman’s claims and stands by the termination decision.

    As for the allegation that the top leadership of the school concluded that there was no abuse before making a ChildLine report, Central Bucks says, “regrettably admitted.”