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Paramedics now 'firefighters' City Council unanimously passed legislation yesterday that defines paramedics as firefighters, which should allow them to remain as members of Fire Fighters Local 22. The Nutter administration last year appealed to the state Labor Relations Board to have paramedics removed from the union. The union - which has 2,200 members, more than 200 of them paramedics - has opposed that position.

Grand jury to probe West Philly abortion doctor - 2:18am: A local grand jury is investigating Kermit B. Gosnell, the embattled West Philadelphia abortion doctor who's been linked to the deaths of two patients.
2 politicians seek answers from DHS over abortion-pressure allegations - 2:18am: Two Philadelphia-area politicians want the city's Department of Human Services to answer some questions following allegations published this week in the Daily News that a caseworker pressured a teen in foster care into having an abortion.
3 charged over fake driver's licenses - 2:18am: Authorities charged three men yesterday - including a former PennDOT driver's-license examiner from Philadelphia - in a scheme that began in 2003 to bribe examiners in exchange for issuing driver's licenses to people who were ineligible for the licenses.
Gary Barbera faces jail time after admitting tax fraud - 2:18am: A prominent Philadelphia car dealer, Gary Barbera, admitted in federal district court yesterday that he filed false tax returns in 2003 and 2004, cheating Uncle Sam out of $77,675 in taxes.
Mom didn't let chips fall, faces count of assault - 2:18am: The mother of a student at a West Philadelphia elementary school assaulted her son's 11-year-old classmate inside the school on Wednesday morning, police said yesterday.
Recess coaches help kids play, and that helps them to learn - 2:18am: Program in 9 schools shows promise, but kids out-of-shape

Fourth-graders at the William Dick School, in North Philly, listened intently yesterday as they learned the rules of dodgeball. "If someone taps you with the ball, you're out," said "recess coach" Joe Cokes, demonstrating by touching a ball to a student's chest. "If you don't catch the ball, you're out."
Penn students go to the dogs to take a bite out of study stress - 2:18am: Instead of taking a nap to de-stress after her final exam, Penn freshman Rae Tao watched a dog named Dolce skateboard, play the piano and jump through hoops.
Woo, woo! The Goo Goos to headline July 4 fete - 2:18am: Ice cream, fireworks, the Goo Goo Dolls and Rocky Balboa look-alikes - all will be part of this year's bigger-than-ever Independence Day celebrations in Philadelphia.
Clout: You, too, like Tony Williams, can think outside the box - 2:18am: STATE SEN. Anthony Hardy Williams has been working the phrase "thinking outside the box" like crazy in his run for governor.
Nutter: I'll cut another $17M, but that's all - 2:18am: Bowing to City Council's push for more budget cuts, Mayor Nutter says he'll slash another $17 million from next year's spending plan.
Mastronardo to stay in jail tilltrial - 2:18am: "Gentleman gambler" Joseph Mastronardo, his body wracked by throat cancer, must remain at the Montgomery County Prison while awaiting trial, a judge ruled yesterday.

Elderly Northeast man accidentally killed by rolling car - 2:18am
Agency halts grants to 2 Fumo-linked groups - 2:18am
Bus of possibilities: Now leaving from Tent City - 2:18am
Harry Gross: Overdraft protection is not worth the money - 2:19am
Overkill in park shooting? Cops say they're investigating - 05/06/2010
Condemned killer shows trickle of remorse - 05/06/2010
BLOODY SCARS - 05/06/2010
Ed's transit-aid effort visits SEPTA substation - 05/06/2010
Ronnie Polaneczky: To save teen lives, let's get HB 67 passed - 05/06/2010
Faith group says it'll help Camden's 'Tent City' - 05/06/2010
Stu Bykofsky: Arizona's 'hateful' law not much different from Philly's - 05/06/2010
Too late too often, so no prom for her - 05/06/2010
Rendell freezes judge appointments due to 'precarious' court finances - 05/06/2010
Chitwood hit with $1.7M libel suit - 05/06/2010
Harry Gross: Boyfriend is now gone, and he wants gifts back - 05/06/2010
N. Liberties biz owners livid over memorial-lunch parking ban - 05/06/2010
Briefly... CITY/REGION - 05/06/2010
As expected, Memeger is confirmed as U.S. attorney - 05/06/2010
Cops seek 2 in robbery, assault - 05/06/2010
Correction - 05/06/2010
‘A goofy kid’ or ‘hero,’ he nets national headlines - 05/05/2010
Paul Hagen: Current thinking among the Phils: You can’t be too careful - 05/05/2010
Cops want feds to handle shot-baby case - 05/05/2010
D.A.: Wife got lover to kill her husband - 05/05/2010
Bond forged by MOVE siege lasts - 05/05/2010
No matter the tax, Phila. residents will pay the piper - 05/05/2010
John Baer: Ed's plea for $472M more in taxes is a no-go now? - 05/05/2010
Poll: Arlen still ahead, but by less - 05/05/2010
Audit shows size of Fumo 'misspent' $ - 05/05/2010
Activists fear 'save rate' drop in city takeover of animal control - 05/05/2010
Taubenberger reappointed to Parking Authority board - 05/05/2010
One too many times in court, Delco man gets 6-month term - 05/05/2010
Don't tase him, bro - 05/05/2010
Family, friends mourn hit-run victim - 05/05/2010
Briefly... CITY/REGION - 05/05/2010
City Howl Help Desk: Water torture, Part 2 - 05/05/2010
Killer mentally impaired or a schemer? Jury deliberating on life or death of man who killed fed witness, friend - 05/05/2010
Harry Gross: SAT prep offer has a bad smell - 05/05/2010
Correction - 05/05/2010
LIFE, DEATH OF CITY STRAYS - 05/05/2010

PhillyClout: Nutter Offers To Make More Budget Cuts - 05/06/2010
Earth to Philly: Spring greening in Philly - 05/06/2010
It's Our Money: Latest budget casualty: judges - 05/06/2010
Attytood: Robin Roberts, 1926-2010 - 05/06/2010

Clout: You, too, like Tony Williams, can think outside the box
Harry Gross: Overdraft protection is not worth the money

City Howl Help Desk tries to fix your problems

City Howl Help Desk: Water torture, Part 2
City Howl Help Desk: City code snow job
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