Rain prompts flash-flood warnings
Hazardous road conditions were being reported throughout the Philadelphia region yesterday evening, and weather officials were cautioning motorists to avoid barricaded roads and other areas prone to flooding.
( By Stephanie L. Arnold and Ira Porter, Inquirer Staff Writers, 06/21/2003 03:01 AM EDT)

SEPTA considers leaner budget
A new plan would put proposed cuts on hold while state funds are sought.
SEPTA might not be able to avoid fare increases and severe reductions in rail and bus service, but yesterday the transit agency's board appeared ready to do the next best thing: Delay the pain.
( By Jere Downs, Inquirer Staff Writer, 06/20/2003 03:01 AM EDT)

John Grogan | Milton, it's you: Do what's right
Milton? Oh, Milton? Milllllll-tonnnnn? T. Milton Street, can you hear me? It's your conscience calling. Over here, up on your right shoulder. Long time, no talk, old friend.
( By John Grogan, Inquirer Columnist, 06/20/2003 03:01 AM EDT)

Library opens in Ludwig'sCorner complex
The developer wanted a civic anchor. The county was looking for a library site.
At the opening ceremony for the library named for his mother, developer Bob Hankin stood in front of a crowd of book lovers and shared a secret - growing up, he hated to read.
( By Nancy Petersen, Inquirer Staff Writer, 06/20/2003 03:01 AM EDT)

Budget may avoid pain for SEPTA
The proposal contains fewer fare hikes and service cuts. Officials hope the state will close the $41 million deficit.
Confident that relief will arrive when Pennsylvania lawmakers finalize the state budget sometime this summer, a SEPTA board committee will consider a revised budget for fiscal 2004 today that would delay most of the threatened cuts in rail and bus service, as well as nearly all of the fare increases.
( By Jere Downs, Inquirer Staff Writer, 06/19/2003 03:01 AM EDT)

Spurned, with a twist
Chubby Checker had the gray heads bopping in the aisles the other night during the first of four sold-out concerts at Caesars casino.
( By Tom Infield, Inquirer Staff Writer, 06/19/2003 03:01 AM EDT)

Congregation wins battle with pastor over assets
A white, stucco farmhouse sits vacant on an overgrown, seven-acre tract in Downingtown sandwiched between Route 322 and the Route 30 bypass.
( By Kathleen Brady Shea, Inquirer Staff Writer, 06/19/2003 03:01 AM EDT)

Schools struggle, waiting for state to enact budget
Layoffs are likely in some districts. Others are freezing budgets, raising taxes or borrowing funds.
With school-budget deadlines looming and uncertainty over how much relief Harrisburg will provide, school districts across the region are increasing taxes, dipping into reserves, and considering staff and program cutbacks to make ends meet.
( By Connie Langland, Kellie Patrick and Dan Hardy, Inquirer Staff Writers, 06/19/2003 03:01 AM EDT)

Drought ends officially in all Pa. counties
Southeastern Pennsylvania residents dodging mud puddles and raindrops may be comforted to know the commonwealth's drought is officially over.
( 06/19/2003 03:01 AM EDT)

Reports on state police unsealed
A judge ordered some details of 47 internal investigations of alleged sexual misconduct by troopers be made public.
The Pennsylvania State Police may no longer keep secret all details of sexual-misconduct complaints against troopers, a federal judge ruled yesterday.
( By Joseph A. Slobodzian and Chris Gray, Inquirer Staff Writers, 06/18/2003 03:01 AM EDT)

Moody's upgrades Chesco's bond rating
After a bad patch, the county adopted policies that nearly assure fiscal prudence. Now, glowing praise is rolling in.
Three years after Chester County taxpayers were stunned by a double-digit property-tax increase, one of the nation's leading credit agencies has upgraded the county's bond rating, pronouncing Chester County one of the best-run counties in the nation.
( By Nancy Petersen, Inquirer Staff Writer, 06/18/2003 03:01 AM EDT)

Fate of man in drug case is in debate
He pleaded guilty to 7 counts, which could get him decades. His attorney says authorities waited too long to arrest him.
The police investigation into drug-dealing by Damon Twyman cranked into high gear in September 2001 when the 27-year-old Kennett Square man sold $60 worth of crack cocaine to a relative.
( By Kathleen Brady Shea, Inquirer Staff Writer, 06/18/2003 03:01 AM EDT)

Governing structure shaky for vo-techs
One district threatens to pull out of the current pact. Another district voted against a rule proposal.
In most respects, these are good times for the Chester County Intermediate Unit's vocational-technical programs. Enrollment is high at both the Center for Arts and Technology-Pickering (CAT-Pickering) campus in Schuylkill Township, near Phoenixville, and at the CAT-Brandywine campus in Caln Township, just outside Coatesville.
( By Dan Hardy, Inquirer Staff Writer, 06/18/2003 03:01 AM EDT)

Regional school set for one location
Formed decades ago by three Coatesville Catholic parishes, it plans to end a multisite arrangement.
More than 30 years ago, three Coatesville Roman Catholic parishes found themselves with congregations that were too small to support separate schools and buildings that weren't big enough to house their combined student population at any one site.
( By Dan Hardy, Inquirer Staff Writer, 06/18/2003 03:01 AM EDT)

John Grogan | Vince, it's time you got in gear
Dear Sen. Fumo: Brother, we need to talk. It's that big black Caddie DeVille you drive. The one with the Sopranos-like smoked windows and Pennsylvania Senator license tag No. 1.
( By John Grogan, Inquirer Columnist, 06/17/2003 03:01 AM EDT)

West Chester center stays true to its roots
Institution tries to remain at core of a community.
It was 5 p.m. on a rainy Wednesday and, as usual, children of all ages were whizzing around the West Chester Community Center. Some raced each other around the gym, while others downstairs surfed the Internet or wrote papers for school. Another youth sat in the reading room, getting help with homework.
( By Benjamin Y. Lowe, Inquirer Staff Writer, 06/17/2003 03:01 AM EDT)

Pa. Senate OKs easing motorcycle helmet law
The bill would allow those over 21 to go without protection. It now goes to the House.
The state Senate voted yesterday to exempt most motorcyclists from a 35-year-old state law requiring them to wear helmets. The bill would allow motorcyclists over 21 with two years of riding experience or a rider-education course to go bareheaded.
( By Marc Levy, Associated Press, 06/17/2003 03:01 AM EDT)

SEPTA union leader suspended from job
Jean Alexander - the president of SEPTA's largest union - is fighting for her job, and SEPTA general manager Faye Moore is fending off rumors of her own departure amid a budget crisis that threatens crucial rail and bus routes.
( By Jere Downs, Inquirer Staff Writer, 06/17/2003 03:01 AM EDT)

Therapeutic riding is growing among the disabled.
When it comes to treatment, horses often make good sense
Among the riders were a blond 6-year-old with inherited retinal blindness, a teenager with head trauma from a car accident, and a woman in her 40s with multiple sclerosis.
( By Tom Infield, Inquirer Staff Writer, 06/16/2003 03:01 AM EDT)

Special election tomorrow will fill state House seat
A special election will be held tomorrow to fill the state House seat in Delaware and Chester Counties left vacant by the death of veteran Republican legislator Matthew J. Ryan.
( 06/16/2003 07:26 AM EDT)

Late-train refunds could be derailed
SEPTA is scrambling to erase a $55 million budget deficit. One option: Quit giving riders fare vouchers for slow service.
For the last decade, SEPTA riders whose trains and subways arrive more than 15 minutes late have been able to get fare refunds in the form of vouchers - a low-cost customer courtesy when the system runs like clockwork, and a budget-buster when it doesn't.
( By Jere Downs, Inquirer Staff Writer, 06/15/2003 03:01 AM EDT)