Kidnap Victim's Family Presses Lawsuit Against Philadelphia School District
The family of the little girl who was abducted from her West Philadelphia kindergarten class continues to pursue legal action against the Philadelphia school district.
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The family of the little girl who was abducted from her West Philadelphia kindergarten class continues to pursue legal action against the Philadelphia school district.
Seven Philadelphia parents say the Pennsylvania Department of Education has violated its duty to look into allegations of "curriculum deficiencies" in Philadelphia schools.
Laurie Friedman, who lives in West Philadlephia, had tears in her eyes as she read letters written by students begging state lawmakers to increase funding for the city's schools.
An agreement is now in place to preserve Septa transportation for thousands of Philadelphia high school students.
With the governor and the School Reform Commission calling on teachers to make concessions, Philadelphia Federation of Teachers' president Jerry Jordan was hearing directly from members about their working conditions.
Cigarette tax money, if it comes, would fill about half of the budget hole. The district is still pushing its teachers union for concessions. Superintendent William Hite says the district is no longer seeking across the board wage cuts.
Pennsylvania schools will have to make room for almost 400 undocumented children this fall. In Delaware more than 100 and in new Jersey, more than 1,500. In all, that's enough to fill nearly 70 classrooms.
Schools superintendent William Hite, standing next to the governor for the announcement, stressed that this early disbursement does not resolve the $81-million funding gap the school district needs to close to avoid layoffs and other serious cuts.
Governor Corbett on Monday failed to convince leaders in the House to meet this month and to vote on a two-dollar-a-pack tax on cigarettes.
The $2-per-pack tax, if passed by the state legislature, was expected to provide about $45 million in funding for the School District of Philadelphia.
The district is inviting principals and teachers to present their own instructional ideas to overhaul Philadelphia schools.
In all, 342 layoff notices are going out. A school district spokeswoman says this is unrelated to the cigarette tax standoff in Harrisburg.
Philadelphia's schools superintendent says if the state legislature doesn't authorize a cigarette tax by the middle of next month, he'll begin sending out pink slips.
Hillary Linardopoulos, of the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers, said the ballot question would be an important -- albeit symbolic -- statement.
Council president Darrell Clarke said an additional $30 million would serve as a stopgap in case Harrisburg approves a city tax on cigarettes.
Philadelphia school district officials are warning of dire consequences if the city and state don't quickly come through with millions in new funding.
Drexel paid $25 million for the school building, which the district closed last June.
The money comes from a group called the Children's Scholarship Fund Philadelphia -- from businesses who get Pennsylvania corporate tax credits for contributing.
The report, by the Policy Lab at Children's Hospital, says 17 percent of Philadelphia school students have been involved with DHS or the juvenile justice system, and 20 percent of those in high schools.
The School District of Philadelphia's plan to sell a shuttered high school to Drexel University appears to be a go, and that would mean an infusion of cash for the schools next week as officials struggle to pay the bills by month's end.
But the lawmakers voiced frustration at how the school district conducts its business.
School District of Philadelphia to host its first dramatic stage play ever. The play, presented Saturday at 8pm, is a fictional account of a meeting between civil rights leaders Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr.
City Council president Darrell Clarke says the school district's immediate need for $35 million by month's end is a "self-inflicted wound" because the district, in his view, dragged its feet on selling old, shuttered buildings.
Even so, the proposed legislation does not fully meet the district's needs for the coming year.
At a Council hearing this morning, school district COO Fran Burns said seven of the 27 buildings have buyers, and the rest are not likely to bring in as much as had been hoped.
We've issued two NEXT Weather Alerts for steady Friday morning rain and a chance of wintry mix and snow Sunday.
Jalen Johnson had 32 points and 10 rebounds, and CJ McCollum added 23 points as the Hawks beat the 76ers 117-107 on Thursday night in the teams' first game after the All-Star break.
Photo by HughE Dillon.
In April 2025, Eric Dane announced he had been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS.
A shooting in Norristown led police to uncover two rival human trafficking operations that spanned into New York City.
We've issued two NEXT Weather Alerts for steady Friday morning rain and a chance of wintry mix and snow Sunday.
Jalen Johnson had 32 points and 10 rebounds, and CJ McCollum added 23 points as the Hawks beat the 76ers 117-107 on Thursday night in the teams' first game after the All-Star break.
Displays about slavery at the President's House in Old City are being reinstalled nearly a month after they were removed by order of the Trump administration.
In April 2025, Eric Dane announced he had been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS.
A shooting in Norristown led police to uncover two rival human trafficking operations that spanned into New York City.
A shooting in Norristown led police to uncover two rival human trafficking operations that spanned into New York City.
The Philadelphia Catholic League basketball championships are set for a Sunday doubleheader at the Palestra.
Valley Forge National Historical Park is celebrating its 50th anniversary and America's 250th birthday this year.
Emily Bhatnagar is sharing her love of literature with children undergoing treatment at St. Christopher's Hospital for Children.
Thousands of volunteers will help with the PGA Championship in Delaware County in May.
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection said more than 1,100 dead birds have been reported statewide between Saturday and Monday.
One child was taken to the hospital after a crash involving a school bus in Lindenwold, New Jersey, Thursday afternoon.
A New Jersey barbershop employee is facing charges after allegedly placing cameras in the shop's bathroom, police said.
Wawa says these four bottled milk products could present a choking hazard and are being recalled as a precaution.
The Diocese of Camden has agreed to a $180-million settlement resolving decades of sex abuse claims made against former priests.
Wawa says these four bottled milk products could present a choking hazard and are being recalled as a precaution.
The long-ago first husband of first lady Jill Biden pleaded not guilty to charges that he killed his current wife in Delaware.
A fire that broke out at a wastewater treatment facility in Wilmington, Delaware, is under control after an explosion early Tuesday morning.
Ice is still impacting bodies of water around the Philadelphia area after a long stretch of cold temperatures.
Two firefighters and two residents were taken to the hospital after a house fire in Wilmington on Sunday, officials said.
With their fathers in mind, two female therapists founded Black Men Heal to help change the perception about caring for your mental health.
Sick and dying geese at Alcyon Lake in Pitman, New Jersey, had presumed cases of bird flu, officials said in a news release.
A Code Orange alert is in effect Wednesday, Feb. 18, for all of southeastern Pennsylvania due to poor air quality levels around the region.
A nationwide shortage of estrogen patches used for hormone replacement therapy has prompted many women to look for alternatives for treating symptoms of menopause.
Pennsylvania Hospital in Philadelphia is the country's oldest hospital and will become a museum for the nation's 250th birthday in 2026.
Move over, Wawa, "there's a new player in town." Customers shed light on Pennsylvania's heated rivalry as Sheetz opened its first store in Montgomery County.
Former Sheetz president and CEO Steve Sheetz has died at age 77, the Altoona-based company announced on Monday.
The post-Christmas return rush was underway at shops and malls across the Philadelphia area.
With product return fraud on the rise, an emerging company is using AI to help spot issues.
Here are mall opening and closing hours for the Christmas and Christmas Eve holidays around the Philly region.
Martin Luther King Jr. Drive in Philadelphia has reopened following emergency repairs, according to the city.
A stretch of Spruce Street in Philadelphia's University City section is closed until further notice because of a water main break.
Police and fire crews are once again responding to the scene of a train fire that broke out Thursday.
More than 100 speed bumps near Philadelphia schools were installed improperly, a new report says.
The Downingtown Interchange on the Pennsylvania Turnpike reopened Wednesday night after a canopy over the toll booths collapsed.
Jalen Johnson had 32 points and 10 rebounds, and CJ McCollum added 23 points as the Hawks beat the 76ers 117-107 on Thursday night in the teams' first game after the All-Star break.
The Philadelphia Catholic League basketball championships are set for a Sunday doubleheader at the Palestra.
Three figure skaters from Team USA competed in the women's individual free skate event at the Milan Cortina Winter Games.
Thousands of volunteers will help with the PGA Championship in Delaware County in May.
This was the seventh gold medal match — and fifth in a row — between the two hockey powerhouses.
Bruce Springsteen is bringing the Land of Hope and Dreams tour to Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia on May 8.
J. Cole's "The Fall-Off Tour" will stop at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia in July.
Robert Duvall was in such classics as "The Godfather," "To Kill a Mockingbird," "M*A*S*H," "The Great Santini" and "Tender Mercies."
"Dawson's Creek" and "Varsity Blues" star James Van Der Beek has died at 48 years old.
The Pennsylvania Film Office has awarded $34 million for production on Season 3 of "Tires" and the fifth and final season of "Mayor of Kingstown."
Ukee Washington reports.
Natasha Brown reports.
Natasha Brown reports.
Natasha Brown reports.
Ukee Washington reports.
Middle school students in Philadelphia got the opportunity to do hands-on learning during the school district's five-day career and technical camp.
With her Girl Talk mentoring program, one Philadelphia teen turned her camp days into a safe space to discuss social issues young girls face every day.
Recent high school graduate Sylvain Farrell says his temporary position at a local clinic is the pathway to a full-time career.
A Philadelphia student won an award from NFL Films for his documentary on bringing back sports teams at his Kensington school.
A group of East Norriton eighth graders took what started as an Earth Day project and made a whole initiative.
Bill Kelly says rain will impact the commute on Friday morning in the Philadelphia region. He's also tracking snow for the weekend. Here's the NEXT Weather forecast.
Ocean City Council is trying to determine whether to bring in a professional planner to evaluate proposals for the site.
The former Prince Andrew, now Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, was arrested Thursday for suspected misconduct in public office after revelations in the Jeffrey Epstein files.
The water main break happened at 8th and Brown Streets in North Philly.
A series of exhibits and educational materials on the history of slavery that were removed from the President's House Site in Philadelphia were reinstalled Thursday, nearly one month after the Trump administration ordered they be taken down.