Septa Strike Hits Some Newer Area Workers Hardest

by KYW's Karin Phillips

The Septa strike is already endangering the jobs of some people who have just gotten themselves back into the working economy.

David Fair, vice president of community impact for United Way, says people who have just gotten jobs after being on welfare or long-term unemployment are now at great risk of losing their jobs if they can't get there.

He says many of those new workers are employed outside of the city or outside of the neighborhoods where they live:

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Bicyclists Find a Winning Formula During Septa Strike

by KYW's Hadas Kuznits

Without public transportation, some people are turning to their bicycles to get around.

Center city bicyclists say that trying to get around the city during a Septa strike is different from getting around when public transportation is available:

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Ecstasy in the Bronx! Yankees win title No. 27

Ecstasy in the Bronx! Yankees win title No. 27

New York Yankees celebrate after winning the Major League Baseball World Series against the Philadelphia Phillies Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009, in New York.

NEW YORK (AP) -- The New York Yankees bolted from the dugout even before the last grounder was scooped up. After waiting nine years for championship No. 27, no one would dare hold them back.

"It feels better than I remember it, man," captain Derek Jeter said. "It's been a long time."

Hideki Matsui tied a World Series record with six RBIs, Andy Pettitte won on short rest and New York beat the Philadelphia Phillies 7-3 in Game 6 on Wednesday night, finally seizing that elusive title - the most in all of sports.

Paint the town in pinstripes! Nearly a decade after their dynasty ended on a blooper in the desert, the Yankees are baseball's best again.

Matsui, the Series MVP, powered a quick rout of old foe Pedro Martinez. And when Mariano Rivera got the final out, it was ecstasy in the Bronx for George Steinbrenner's go-for-broke bunch.

What a way for Alex Rodriguez and Co. to christen their $1.5 billion ballpark: One season, one World Series crown - the team's first since winning three straight from 1998-2000.

"The Yankees won. The world is right again," team president Randy Levine said.

The season certainly ended a lot better than it started - with a steroids scandal involving A-Rod, followed by hip surgery that kept him out until May.

"My teammates, coaches and the organization stood by me and now we stand here as world champions," said Rodriguez, who admitted using steroids from 2001-03 while with Texas. "We're going to enjoy it, and we're going to party!"

For Chase Utley and the Phillies, it was a frustrating end to another scintillating season. Philadelphia fell two wins short of becoming the first NL team to repeat as World Series champions since the 1975-76 Cincinnati Reds.

Utley tied Reggie Jackson's record with five home runs in a Series. But Ryan Howard's sixth-inning shot came too late to wipe away an untimely slump that included 13 strikeouts, also a Series mark.

Meanwhile, Phillies pitchers rarely managed to slow Matsui and the Yankees' machine.

"I told them that I loved the way they played. We're fighters and never quit," Philadelphia manager Charlie Manuel said. "We want to keep what we got as far as attitude and chemistry."

For second-year manager Joe Girardi, a three-time Yankees champion as a player, it was the fulfillment of a mission. When he succeeded Joe Torre in October 2007, Girardi chose uniform No. 27, putting his quest on his back for all to see. His tenure didn't start out so well, with New York missing the playoffs in its final season at old Yankee Stadium following 13 consecutive appearances.

"To be able to deliver this to the Boss, the stadium that he created and the atmosphere he has created around here is very gratifying for all of us," Girardi said.

This championship came eight years to the day that the Yankees lost Game 7 of the 2001 World Series in Arizona on Luis Gonzalez's broken-bat single off Rivera.

Steinbrenner spent billions trying to win another Series. At long last, his team did.

Fittingly, it was dedicated to the 79-year-old owner, who has been in declining health and didn't make the trip from his home in Tampa, Fla.

Still, his presence was felt.

"Boss, this is for you," the giant video screen in center field flashed during postgame ceremonies while his son, Hal, the team's managing general partner, accepted the championship trophy.

For the Four Amigos, it was ring No. 5.

Jorge Posada, Jeter, Pettitte and Rivera came up together through the minors and were cornerstones for those four titles in five years starting in 1996.

Now, all on the other side of age 35, they have another success to celebrate. And surely they remember the familiar parade route, up Broadway through the Canyon of Heroes.

"It's an honor for me to win a championship with those guys. They are Yankee legends," Mark Teixeira said.

But, hey, Babe and Yogi, Mr. October and Joltin' Joe - you've got company. Teixeira, CC Sabathia and a new generation of Yankees have procured their place in pinstriped lore.

Moments after second baseman Robinson Cano fielded Shane Victorino's grounder and threw to first for the final out, Joba Chamberlain and Nick Swisher led a victory lap around the warning track, carrying flags that read "2009 World Series champions."

Players high-fived fans, then sprayed bubby behind the mound - the same sort of celebration Philadelphia enjoyed last year after beating Tampa Bay.

"We think we can be back here again and again. We have a great squad," Phillies closer Brad Lidge said.

New York wasted its chance to wrap things up in Game 5 at Philadelphia, then set its sights on clinching the World Series at home for the first time since 1999.

While nine years between titles is hardly a drought for most teams, it was almost an eternity in Yankeeland.

New York's eight seasons without a championship was the third-longest stretch for the Yankees since their first one, following gaps of 17 (1979-95) and 14 (1963-76).

Jackson's three homers in Game 6 against the Los Angeles Dodgers made the Yankees champs in '77. On this November night, Matsui delivered a sublime performance at the plate that made Mr. October proud.

"It's awesome," Matsui said through a translator. "Unbelievable. I'm surprised myself."

Playing perhaps his final game with the Yankees, Matsui hit a two-run homer off Martinez in the second inning and a two-run single on an 0-2 pitch in the third.

A slumping Teixeira added an RBI single in the fifth off reliever Chad Durbin, and Matsui cracked a two-run double off the right-center fence against lefty J.A. Happ.

A designated hitter with balky knees, Matsui came off the bench in all three games at Philadelphia. Still, he had a huge Series, going 8 for 13 (.615) with three homers and eight RBIs. His go-ahead shot off an effective Martinez in Game 2 helped the Yankees tie it 1-all.

Bobby Richardson was the only other player with six RBIs in a World Series game, doing it for the Yankees in Game 3 against Pittsburgh in 1960. Richardson had a first-inning grand slam and a two-run single in the fourth.

Matsui's big hits built a comfortable cushion for a feisty Pettitte, who shouted at plate umpire Joe West while coming off the field in the fourth. Still, Pettitte extended major league records with his 18th postseason win and sixth to end a series.

The 37-year-old left-hander, pitching on three days' rest, became the first pitcher to start and win the clincher in all three postseason rounds. He beat Minnesota and the Los Angeles Angels in the AL playoffs.

Pettitte lasted 5 2-3 innings, allowing three runs, four hits and five walks. Chamberlain and Damaso Marte combined for 1 2-3 innings of scoreless relief before Rivera secured the final five outs.

"You don't look at it as a failure," Howard said. "We had a great season. We just got beat by the better team."

It had been nearly a half-century since players had won five titles with one team. The last to do it? Of course a bunch of Yankees: Yogi Berra (10 titles), Mickey Mantle (seven) and Whitey Ford (six) in 1962, according to STATS LLC.

NOTES: Jeter batted .407 in the Series. ... It was the fourth time Rivera got the final out of a World Series. ... Yankees LF Johnny Damon left after three innings with a strained right calf.

Fla. baby missing for 5 days found alive under bed

Fla. baby missing for 5 days found alive under bed

FILE --This undated file photo provided by the Washington County Sheriff's Office shows Shannon Dedrick. Washington County Sheriff Bobby Haddock said early Thursday, Nov. 5, 2009, that investigators found 7-month-old Shannon Dedrick in a box at her babysitter's home in Chipley, Fla.

CHIPLEY, Fla. (AP) -- A baby missing for five days was found alive and well under her baby sitter's bed, and Florida authorities said Thursday they plan to charge the sitter, her husband and the child's mother.

Investigators found 7-month-old Shannon Dedrick in a box tucked under a bed surrounded by items intended to hide the child at Susan Elizabeth Baker's home near Chipley, a rural Panhandle town, Washington County Sheriff Bobby Haddock said in an interview early Thursday. The baby was placed in protective custody.

"Statistically speaking this should not have ever happened, that we found this child alive, especially after so many days. Time was against us," Haddock said.

Shannon was taken to a hospital but appeared healthy, Haddock said.

"It was very emotional for us, because once we got her to the hospital, we called our wives and every one of us was crying. Grown men crying. It's just such a relief," he said. "We've had missing children cases in the past, but nothing like this."

Haddock said deputies were working to charge Baker, her husband James Arthur Baker and the child's mother, Chrystina Lynn Mercer. He wouldn't provide details about the possible charges or say how they believe the mother was involved, but said more information would be released later Thursday. Authorities don't believe the child's father, James Russell Dedrick Jr., was involved but the case is still under investigation, Haddock said. He said Susan Baker and the father are related.

Haddock confirmed that Baker was the Susan Elizabeth Baker cited in court records as being convicted of assault in South Carolina in 1987, and questioned but not indicted in 2000 for a 3-year-old child's disappearance, also in 1987. He confirmed that Baker wrote an e-mail to Florida Gov. Charlie Crist's office in August, pleading for the governor to help Shannon Dedrick.

"And my response is, 'We saved the child, Ms. Baker," Haddock said.

Court documents released Wednesday showed that child welfare workers in Florida began looking into allegations Shannon was being abused less than two weeks after she was born.

Her parents reported her missing around 11 a.m. Saturday. They told authorities that they had not seen her since about 3 a.m.

About 100 law enforcement agents and others scoured the woods around the couple's home, Haddock said. Investigators contacted the Bakers again on Wednesday and they allowed them into their home, Haddock said.

"They gave us consent to search the home and found the baby in a box under a bed, with stuff pushed around the box to hide the baby," he said.

Court records released Wednesday said investigators frequently went to the infant's home from August to late September and reported that both parents used marijuana and kept a messy home.

But investigators reported that Shannon seemed to be cared for and repeatedly noted that the risk to the baby was "intermediate." In September, an investigator said a physician determined that the child was healthy and expressed "no concerns regarding the baby."

Court records show that Elizabeth Baker was charged in South Carolina with assault and battery with intent to kill and assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature in 1987. After being convicted, she was sentenced to 10 years in prison. The sentence was suspended to 80 days.

She was extradited to South Carolina from Chipley in 2000, and charged in the disappearance of 3-year-old Paul Leonard Baker, who has been missing since March 1987. Baker wasn't indicted by a grand jury in the case. The child was never found, according to the Beaufort County, S.C., sheriff's office. Police reports don't indicate the child's possible relation.

A sheriff's investigator from Beaufort County was sent to Florida to assist in the missing child case, sheriff's spokeswoman Robin McIntosh said Wednesday.

5th Anniversary Discussing Jehovah’s Witnesses Youth Abuse, Courts, And Voting by Van Stone vspfoundation@yahoo.com (610) 931-8810

5th Anniversary Discussing Jehovah’s Witnesses Youth Abuse, Courts, And Voting
by Van Stone vspfoundation@yahoo.com (610) 931-8810




Anniversary Court Abuse & Voting Abuse Survivor Kid Models.
Tony, left, Bronson, middle, and Brahleah, right, are children
of parents happy to have learned all about the Community Family
Issues (CFI), religion, loss, and safety first classes in West
Philadelphia. The Community Family Issues Free Screenings -many
diseases can be detected early and cured long before any symptoms
develop, through routine screenings - are conducted by CFI at
University Square, 3901 Market St. weekdays for University City area
families.

It was five years ago last September you may recall his story. He lost 4 family members, survived two wrongful imprisonments, survived several violations of his Constitutional Rights, and weighed barely 190 pounds when his mother tried to bail him out of George Hill Correctional Facility, known as the Delaware County Prison, in 2004.

His sudden loss did not mean that 4 family members had suffered death. While in prison he had lost the right of any physical contact with them. So, once out of prison he moved as close as he could to them just 5 neighborhood blocks. Still he never saw them once. Imagine the grief of loss due to the poor soul, a caring dad, not being able to phone, write, set eyes on them, or as much as speak to 4 children who he was raising as a single parent. And when this had occurred the oldest 2 kids, his nieces hadn’t turned 12 years old yet. Most difficult to live with was that then the youngest 2 kids, girl age 6 and boy age 2, he fathered. The babies were taken away from him first of all just because the courts had determined he became a measly threat to the Jehovah’s Witnesses. Secondly it was discovered that he had not voted since he became old enough to vote. And third because the arrogance of a judge means that any form of judge can do to children and youth whatever they want. So, positive parents and youth needed discussion about this.

The Community Family Issues, a discussion group, was form by that dad, West Philadelphia native, Sam Downing, in 2004 to help youth and adults talk about the alleged discriminatory practices and illegal use of the Pennsylvania State Bench to wrongfully imprison. Fathers and minorities who are dads experience violations of their Constitutional Rights, of particular their children and their families. These violations end in trauma to children who end up not being able to know who their fathers are or find it almost impossible to reunite with their dads due to not understanding parenting.

Downing has been one of the most documented survivors of recent abuses by both the Jehovah’s Witnesses court process and the Commonwealth of PA Family Court process known to Philadelphia County and Delaware County residents. It’s because of Downing’s local writings about how injustice and lawlessness do prevail in religion, law suits, and voting that has brought the matter of children living without family on the rise to the attention of city council, state representatives and even foster care leaders. For example “Both the JW’s judges and the Family Court judges have authority to make decisions on the lives of parents which 90% of their judgments end in universal traumatizing punishment of children,“ says Downing when speaking to groups about abuse. As a result kids end up being locked out of parents lives and onto the streets.

During discussion meetings Downing speaks with youth and parents helping them to understand the blaming of the state legal system is not the answer. JW’s Elder‘s effort to cover-up the ongoing embarrassment of behavior and safety problems are manipulated under the Church’s friendly guise of its Judicial Tribunal decisions called Disfellowshipping. In the family court judges use decisions called the Presumption of Guilt. “Both authorities have low-visibility with crushing powers so that even lawyers can’t help kids.”

Ultimately, Downing’s group sessions helps youth and parents to understand that many parents are detained, misjudged or otherwise easily abused harming kids in the cross because the youth and the adults are known not to have participated as voter registrants.

In many cases of abuse such as this, the harassment and trauma they endure is outside the voting process. “Caring elected officials and foster care leaders find it frustrating when trying to prove the judges and the elders have abused the law in broad daylight,” he says.

But the Community Family Issues, a discussion group meetings are helping to make things somewhat better for adults and youth who are old enough to register to vote.

A Philadelphia County and Delaware County spotlight on court abused children has forced some candidates during the November elections to consider victims who can not sue for their rights. Anyone interested in discussion about family issues may visit the University Square, 3901 Market St. weekdays or call (215) 416-0862 for

Eagles RB Westbrook ready for Sunday

Philadelphia Eagles injured running
back Brian Westbrook adjusts his cap as
he watches practice at the team's workout
facility on Wednesday in Philadelphia.

Eagles running back Brian Westbrook says he will be back on the field for Sunday's game against Dallas following a concussion that forced him to miss a game.

Westbrook returned to practice Wednesday.

He said he is feeling no effects from the concussion that forced him to miss last week's 40-17 win over the New York Giants.

Westbrook was knocked unconscious when he was hit in the head by a knee a week earlier in a win over Washington.

Eagles coach Andy Reid said Westbrook should be "good to go" against the Cowboys, who are tied with Philadelphia for first place in the NFC East.

Governor-Elect Chris Christie Visits a Newark, NJ School

by KYW's Ian Bush

Chris Christie spent his first day as New Jersey's governor-elect at a Newark charter school.

Christie (in file photo above) told the students at Robert Treat Academy that he wants their success to be duplicated across the state:

For full story go to:

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Commuters Struggle on Day Two of Septa Strike

KYW Newsradio Team Coverage

Philadelphia commuters were learning slowly how to deal with the Septa mass transit strike, now in its second day. There was no indication of further negotiating sessions between Septa and the TWU, and Septa provided information about Transpass refunds (below).

KYW's Tony Hanson made stops at Market East and Suburban Station to check out delays during the evening rush on this second day of the strike.

Generally there was less confusion and shorter lines and waits, with many people waiting only a matter of minutes for the regional rail trains.

For full story go to: http://www.kyw1060.com/

Group urges CW stations not to air 'Gossip Girl'

Group urges CW stations not to air 'Gossip Girl'

FILE - In this image released by The CW, a controversial print advertisement for the second season of "Gossip Girl," is shown.

NEW YORK (AP) -- On-air promos for a sexual threesome on an upcoming episode of "Gossip Girl" have spurred the Parents Television Council to ask affiliates of the CW network to pre-empt the show.

Airing the teen tryst, which is being teased in an ad as a "3SOME," is "reckless and irresponsible," said PTC president Tim Winter in a statement Wednesday. The threesome involves three main characters in the show but they are not identified in the promos.

The PTC has urged CW affiliate stations not to air the episode, scheduled for Nov. 9.

In a letter to the affiliates, Winter asked: "Will you now be complicit in establishing a precedent and expectation that teenagers should engage in behaviors heretofore associated primarily with adult films?"

This is not the first time the PTC has complained about the sexy prep-school soap, which Winter said is "expressly targeted to impressionable teenagers."

In July 2008, the organization spoke out against a racy marketing campaign for its new season. Ads showed intimate moments between the show's characters (on a couch, in the sack or apparently skinny-dipping), accompanied by headlines like "A Nasty Piece of Work" and "Mind-Blowingly Inappropriate."

"CW has been defending graphic content on 'Gossip Girl' by asserting that they don't target teenagers," Winters said Wednesday. "Such a claim doesn't even pass the 'laugh test.'"

CW spokesman Paul McGuire said the target audience for "Gossip Girl" is 18- to 34-year-old women, with a median viewer age of 27 years old. The network had no comment on PTC's complaint, he said.

The Parents Television Council describes itself as a nonpartisan education group advocating responsible entertainment.

Philadelphia 76ers +7 to give Boston Celtics tight battle

The Boston Celtics are playing like a team on a mission thus far while going 4-0, but the Philadelphia 76ers are a dangerous team at home and this is a lot of points for them to be receiving at Wachovia Center.

The 76ers have won two straight since losing at Orlando on opening night, winning their only home game by 13 points over the Milwaukee Bucks and then beating the New York Knicks by 14 in overtime at Madison Square Garden.

The Philadelphia starters can compete with any team in the East right now, as Elton Brand is healthy unlike last year and new young point guard Lou Williams has done an excellent job thus far. To give you an idea how talented the Sixers are right now, they had four starters in double-digits vs. the Knicks and both of their starting guards (Williams and Andre Iguodala) has double-doubles in points and rebounds. They make for a tough matchup for any team in the league/

Now the Celtics are eying a return trip to the NBA Fianls after getting knocked out by the Orlando Magic without Kevin Garnett in the playoffs last year, and they did sweep the season series from the 76ers 4-0. However, the two wins here in Philadelphia were by just one (100-99) and two (100-98) points respectively/

We see no reason why a new and improved Sixers team cannot hang with Boston again here, and an outright upset would not be too shocking.

Phillies’ Game 5 World Series Win Over Yanks Draws Lower Rating

Phillies’ Game 5 World Series Win Over Yanks Draws Lower Rating

Nov. 3 (Bloomberg) -- Television ratings for the Philadelphia Phillies’ win over the New York Yankees last night were 5 percent lower than for Game 4 the previous evening.

The fifth game in the best-of-seven World Series was seen in an average of 12.8 percent of U.S. households in the top 50 television markets, News Corp.’s Fox Sports said in a news release, citing Nielsen Media Research.

Game 4 of the Series, which the Yankees won, was seen in an average of 13.5 percent of U.S. television homes, making it the highest-rated World Series game since 2004, when the Boston Red Sox clinched their first title in 86 years.

Last night’s game still pulled in ratings 15 percent higher than for Game 5 a year ago, when the Phillies clinched the Major League Baseball title in a contest spread over two days because of rain.

The decline in ratings this year from Game 4 may have reflected competition from the “Monday Night Football” game between the Atlanta Falcons and New Orleans Saints on Walt Disney Co.’s ESPN network.

The Phillies beat the Yankees 8-6 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, narrowing New York’s Series lead to 3-2. Game 6 is scheduled for tomorrow at Yankee Stadium, where New York will attempt to clinch its record-extending 27th title.

Lots to Decide This Election Day in New Jersey

by KYW's David Madden

Tuesday is Election Day, and in New Jersey voters are selecting a governor, among other officials.

Believe it or not, there are 12 names to choose from for governor. The main players, though, are Democratic incumbent Jon Corzine, Republican former US attorney Chris Christie, and Independent onetime Republican environmental official Chris Daggett.

All 80 seats in the General Assembly are up for grabs, and there are a pair of special elections to fill unexpired state senate terms. One of them is in the 6h District, in Camden and Burlington counties, where former Camden county clerk Jim Beach -- appointed to replace now congressman John Adler -- hopes to be elected over former Magnolia mayor Joe Adolf for the right to finish out that term.

For full story go to: http://www.kyw1060.com/

Philadelphia Hospitals Implement Transit Strike Contingency Plans

by KYW's John McDevitt

Hospitals in Philadelphia have been monitoring the Septa strike closely. Many had already created a contingency plan for a mass transit shutdown and are making modifications as needed.

At Pennsylvania Hospital in center city, shuttle buses are transporting employees during late-night and early-morning hours to and from 8th and Market and 11th and Market Streets, for those who want to use Regional Rails or Patco.

Darryl Beard is the director of security and parking for the hospital, and is now overseeing the transportation situation. He says parking is being added for workers, too:

For full story go to:

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Race for DA Dominates General Election in Philadelphia

by KYW's Mike Dunn and Tony Hanson

Philadelphia voters on Tuesday were choosing a new district attorney, and were deciding whether to send the incumbent controller back for another term.

One DA candidate, Seth Williams, filed a court motion on Tuesday morning asking to keep the polls in Philadelphia open an extra hour on Election Day because of the Septa transit strike. Late in the afternoon, a judge turned down the request.

For the first time since 1985, the district attorney's race does not feature an incumbent. Lynne Abraham, who succeeded Ron Castille by appointment in 1991, is not seeking another term.

For full story go to: http://www.kyw1060.com/

Rendell, Nutter Angered by Union's Strike Decision

KYW's Tony Romeo reports that the governor (in file photo above) says the union walked away from what he calls a “sensational” contract offer, especially considering the economic climate.

That, he says, combined with years of “ill will” that has built up, leads him to believe that nothing would be accomplished by calling the two sides back to the bargaining table soon:

“We could never let the union and Septa management be in the room by themselves. The mayor and I and Congressman Brady... at least two of us had to be in the room at all times to keep the tempers and the animosity down so they could focus on issues.”

For full story go to:

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Election 2009: Test of Obama clout in NJ, Virginia

Election 2009: Test of Obama clout in NJ, Virginia

Republican candidate for New Jersey governor Chris Christie waves after voting Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2009, in Mendham, N.J. Christie is running against Gov. Jon S. Corzine and Independent candidate Chris Daggett in Tuesday's election.

WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Barack Obama's political clout was on the line Tuesday as Virginia and New Jersey chose governors in contests that could serve as warning signs for Democrats about the public's mood heading into an important midterm election year.

Elsewhere, Maine voters weighed in on same-sex marriage in a closely watched initiative, and New York and California picked congressmen for two vacant seats. A slew of cities selected mayors, and Ohio voted on allowing casinos.

One year after Obama won the White House in an electoral landslide and Democrats expanded their majorities in Congress, much of the focus was on Virginia and New Jersey, where Democratic control was in danger despite hefty campaigning by Obama himself.

The outcomes were sure to feed discussion about the state of the electorate, the status of the diverse coalition that sent Obama to the White House and the limits of the president's influence on the party's base of support - as well as on moderate lawmakers he needs to advance his legislative priorities.

As if on cue, Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid indicated Tuesday that lawmakers may not complete health care legislation this year, missing Obama's deadline on his signature issue and pushing debate into a congressional election year.

Democratic victories in both Virginia and New Jersey in 2005 preceded big Democratic years nationally in 2006 and 2008.

Tuesday's impact on Obama's standing and on the 2010 elections can easily be overstated. Voters are often focused on local issues and local personalities. Indeed, most people in Virginia and New Jersey, say they're not casting ballots because of their feelings about the president.

Yet, national issues, like the recession, were clearly a factor, with voter attitudes shaped to some degree by how people feel about the state of their nation - and their place in it.

It was also difficult to separate Obama from the outcomes after he devoted a significant chunk of time working to persuade voters to elect Democrat R. Creigh Deeds over Republican Bob McDonnell in Virginia and re-elect Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine of New Jersey, who was in a three-way race with Republican Chris Christie and independent Chris Daggett.

The president campaigned in person for both Deeds and Corzine and was featured in their advertisements. He characterized the two as necessary allies in the White House's effort to advance his plans. And he deployed his political campaign arm, Organizing for America, in an effort to ensure the swarms of party loyalists and new voters he attracted in 2008 turned out.

He also spent energy trying to ensure the Democrats would pick up the GOP-held vacant 23rd Congressional District seat in New York, where Democrat Bill Owens faced conservative Doug Hoffman.

That's the race that highlighted fissures in the Republican Party between conservatives and moderates, illustrating problems the GOP could have in capitalizing on any discontent with Obama and Democrats that Tuesday's results may show.

With so much involvement in so few races, Obama raised the stakes of a low-enthusiasm off-year election season.

Thus, any Democratic losses would be a blot on Obama's political standing to some degree and would signal trouble ahead as he seeks to achieve his policy goals, protect Democratic majorities in Congress and expand his party's grip on governors' seats next fall.

Obama needs all the lawmakers he can get to pass his legislative priorities of health care and climate change, but defeats Tuesday could make it much harder for him to persuade moderate Democrats from right-leaning states and conservative districts, who are hearing from voters worried about his expansion of government at a time of rising deficits, to get on board.

Defeats also could tease out upcoming problems for Democrats, particularly in moderate districts and in swing states like Ohio, Colorado and Nevada, as they defend their turf next fall. In 2010, most governors, a third of the Senate and all members in the House will be on ballots.

New Jersey is a traditional Democratic-leaning state with an incumbent Democratic governor.

But Virginia is a new swing state and has trended Democratic in recent elections after being reliably Republican in national races for many years. It's home to a slew of northern bellwether counties filled with independents who carried Obama to victory last fall, the first Democrat to win the state in a White House race since 1964. Rapidly growing counties like Loudoun and Prince William, exurban areas outside Washington, D.C., swung toward Democrats in the 2005 governor's race, previewing an Obama win three years later.

A loss in Virginia could suggest that the diverse coalition that Obama cobbled together last year in Virginia and elsewhere - blacks, Hispanics, young people, independents and Republican crossovers - was a one-election phenomenon that didn't transfer to the Democratic Party when Obama wasn't on the ballot.

Phila. Officials Plan for Smooth Voting Day

Phila. Officials Plan for Smooth Voting Day

by KYW's Steve Tawa

In Philadelphia, the big races on Tuesday are the elections for district attorney and city controller.

The Philadelphia DA's office says it will once again deploy its personnel on Election Day to make sure everything goes smoothly.

First assistant district attorney Arnold Gordon says his office's detectives and assistant DAs will jump on any and all Election Day complaints:

For full story go to:

http://www.kyw1060.com/

AP sources: House health bill totals $1.2 trillion

AP sources: House health bill totals $1.2 trillion

House Minority Leader John Boehner speaks behind a copy of the Democrat's version of the health care bill during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Oct. 29, 2009.

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The health care bill headed for a vote in the House this week costs $1.2 trillion or more over a decade, according to numerous Democratic officials and figures contained in an analysis by congressional budget experts, far higher than the $900 billion cited by President Barack Obama as a price tag for his reform plan.

While the Congressional Budget Office has put the cost of expanding coverage in the legislation at roughly $1 trillion, Democrats added billions more on higher spending for public health, a reinsurance program to hold down retiree health costs, payments for preventive services and more.

Many of the additions are designed to improve benefits or ease access to coverage in government programs. The officials who provided overall cost estimates did so on condition of anonymity, saying they were not authorized to discuss them.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has referred repeatedly to the bill's net cost of $894 billion over a decade for coverage.

Asked about the higher estimate, Pelosi spokesman Brendan Daly said the measure not only insures 36 million more Americans, it provides critical health insurance reform in a way that is fiscally sound.

"It will not add one dime to the deficit. In fact, the CBO said last week that it will reduce the deficit both in the first 10 years and in the second 10 years," Daly said.

Democrats have been intent on passing legislation this year to implement Obama's call for expanded coverage for millions, curbs on industry abuses and provisions to slow the rate of growth of health care costs nationally.

"Now, add it all up, and the plan I'm proposing will cost around $900 billion over 10 years," the president said in a nationally televised speech in early September.

Whatever the final cost of legislation, the calendar is working increasingly against the White House and Democrats. While a House vote is possible late this week, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., may not be able to begin debate on the issue until the week before Thanksgiving. Additionally, the Republican leader, Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, has hinted at efforts to extend the debate for weeks if not months, a timetable that could extend into 2010.

One casualty of the time crunch and threatened Republican delaying tactics may be formal House-Senate negotiations on a final compromise. An alternative is a less formal hurry-up final negotiation involving the White House and senior Democrats.

Pelosi and her lieutenants worked on last-minute changes in the measure to ease concerns among opponents of abortion and a contentious provision relating to illegal immigrants. Conservative Democrats have expressed concern about the cost of the bill, and an evening closed-door meeting gave the leadership its first chance to hear their response.

The bill includes an option for a government-run health plan.

The leadership can afford more than two dozen defections and still be assured of the votes to prevail on the bill, one of the most sweeping measures in recent years.

Republicans put the cost of the bill at nearly $1.3 trillion.

"Our goal is to make it as difficult as possible for" Democrats to pass it, House Republican leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, said at a news conference. "We believe it is the wrong prescription."

One day after announcing Republicans would have an alternative measure, Boehner offered few details. He said it would omit one of the central provisions in Democratic bills - a ban on the insurance industry's practice of denying coverage on the basis of pre-existing medical conditions. Instead, he said the Republicans would encourage creation of insurance pools for high-risk individuals and take other steps to ease their access to coverage.

Boehner also said Republicans would propose limits on medical malpractice lawsuits in what he said was an attempt to reduce the cost of coverage.

Rep. Mike Pence, R-Ind., the third-ranking leader, said that Democrats looked at their bill as a way to advance universal coverage. In contrast, he said, Republicans "believe the real issue back home is cost" of insurance, and said their alternative would be designed to tackle it.

Democrats have made elimination of the industry's practice a linchpin of their drive to overhaul the health care system. The industry has said it would not fight the change, and an accompanying restriction on its ability to charge higher premiums for certain groups, as the legislation includes a requirement for individuals to purchase insurance. Lacking that, the industry says millions of relatively healthy individuals would refuse to pay for coverage until they became sick, and the cost of premiums would rise sharply for everyone else.

Republicans oppose any government requirements for individuals to purchase insurance or for businesses to provide coverage.

The Congressional Budget Office is seen by lawmakers as the arbiter of claims about the costs and effects of proposed legislation, and the agency has been under intense pressure in recent weeks to compete assessments on several bills circulating in House and Senate.

In a letter last week, the agency's director, Dr. Douglas Elmendorf, said the net cost of expanding coverage in the House measure was estimated at $894 billion over 10 years, a figure reflecting a gross total of $1 trillion in federal subsidies as well as other spending.

The letter contained no similar assessment for the balance of the legislation and it was not clear when or whether one would be forthcoming.

In a letter last week to Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., on the general subject of health care, Elmendorf cautioned that some provisions in legislation have elements that raise costs and elements that lower costs.

"Tabulating all of the aspects of the proposal that would, in isolation, increase federal outlays would be complicated and would require somewhat arbitrary judgments" about calculating overall costs, Elmendorf said.

Eli Manning, New York Giants embarrassed in blowout loss to Philadelphia Eagles

Eli Manning, New York Giants embarrassed in blowout loss to Philadelphia Eagles

Leonard Weaver gets the Eagles off and running with a 41-yard
touchdown run less than two minutes into the game.

PHILADELPHIA - For two weeks and two losses, the Giants kept insisting it was not time to panic.

So how about now?

This once powerful team hit what they can only hope is rock bottom Sunday, when the Giants were embarrassed by the Philadelphia Eagles, 40-17, at Lincoln Financial Field. For the second straight week, Eli Manning was inept, throwing two more interceptions, and for the second time in three weeks the Giants' defense was a disaster, giving up 391 total yards.

That's three-straight losses for the reeling and fading Giants who, just three weeks after getting off to a 5-0 start, are sitting in third place in the NFC East for the first time in two years.

The Giants (5-3) deserve that less than lofty place in the standings their absolutely dreadful performance against an Eagles team that was playing without Giant-killer Brian Westbrook (concussion). They were down 13-0 before anyone broke a sweat on the Giants offense. And as soon as they made it a game, closing to within 16-7 late in the first half, the Eagles turned it into a blowout before anyone could blink their eyes.

The start was particularly pathetic, considering how desperate the Giants should have been. On the third play from scrimmage, Leonard Weaver - the Eagles fullback - went almost untouched up the middle for a 41-yard touchdown putting the Eagles up 7-0. And three plays after that, Eagles corner Asante Samuel picked off Manning and returned it to the Giants' 10, setting up another easy touchdown.

And it could've been worse. Way worse. Manning may have only thrown one interception in the first quarter, but four of the first five passes he threw were touched first by Eagles receivers. S Quintin Mikell dropped two interceptions on his own.

Still, it was a game and the Giants were only down 16-0 late in the second quarter, when Manning jump-started a long drive with a 22-yard delay pass to tight end Kevin Boss, followed by a 35-yard pass down field to rookie receiver Hakeem Nicks. And when the drive ended with a pretty, turning, 18-yard touchdown catch by Boss, the Giants were only down 16-7 with just 1:54 left in the half.

That, though, proved to be way too much time. Eagles cornerback Ellis Hobbs returned the ensuing kickoff 39 yards to near midfield. And on the next play, Eagles receiver DeSean Jackson found a remarkably large seam between Giants corner Corey Webster and safety C.C. Brown and got wide open for a 54-yard touchdown pass from McNabb.

That put the Eagles (5-2) up 23-7, but they weren't done yet. Two plays in to the next drive, Manning again badly overthrew his intended receiver, this time missing Sinorice Moss and finding safety Quintin Demps. Two plays after that, McNabb hit rookie receiver Jeremy Maclin for a 23-yard touchdown with just 46 seconds left in the half.

Just like that, in 68 seconds, what was a nine-point game became a 30-7 Philly rout at halftime. And, again, it just kept getting worse. Domenik Hixon fumbled the opening kickoff of the second half, leading to a field goal that gave the Eagles a 33-7 lead. And then after the Giants showed some life with a third-quarter touchdown, LeSean McCoy killed them again with a 66-yard touchdown run that put Philadelphia up 40-17.

'This Is It' tops charts with $101M worldwide

'This Is It' tops charts with $101M worldwide

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- "Michael Jackson's This Is It" pulled in $101 million worldwide in its first five days, and distributor Sony is extending the farewell performance film beyond its planned two-week run.

The film was the No. 1 Halloween thriller domestically with a $21.3 million opening weekend, according to studio estimates Sunday.

The previous weekend's No. 1 movie, Paramount's low-budget horror sensation "Paranormal Activity," slipped to No. 2 with $16.5 million, lifting its total to $84.8 million.

"This Is It" raised its domestic total to $32.5 million. The movie pulled in $68.5 million overseas, including $10.4 million in Japan, $6.3 million in Germany, $5.8 million in France and $3.2 million in China.

"He's just loved everywhere on the planet," said Rory Bruer, head of distribution for Sony. "It doesn't matter if it's Asia, Africa, Australia, Europe, South America. Every continent in the world loved him and his music."

In Great Britain, where Jackson had planned a marathon series of 50 London concerts starting last July, the movie earned $7.6 million.

"This Is It" captures Jackson in behind-the-scenes performances in the weeks before his death last June, as he rehearsed his biggest hits for the London shows.

"This Is It" originally was scheduled for a theatrical run of only two weeks. The studio has extended it a few more weeks domestically, leaving it in theaters through Thanksgiving weekend, one of the year's busiest moviegoing times.

Sony plans to extend the run of "This Is It" overseas on a country-by-country basis, with most territories probably getting one to three weeks of extra playing time, Bruer said.

The studio paid $60 million for film rights to Jackson's rehearsal footage, an investment the movie recouped in days.

"They bet $60 million on this and got $101 million in just five days," said Paul Dergarabedian, box-office analyst for Hollywood.com. "It was a gamble and a bet that paid off."

The movie fell far short of last year's $31.1 million opening weekend domestically for "Hannah Montana & Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert." But Bruer said "This Is It" has a shot at surpassing the $65.3 million domestic total during the entire run of Cyrus' movie, which tops the all-time charts for music documentaries.

Worldwide, "This Is It" already has shot past Cyrus' concert film. Cyrus mainly appeals to American teens, and her movie got only a limited release overseas, where it took in about $5 million to give the film a global total of just over $70 million.

"This Is It" played in 3,481 theaters domestically, about five times the number for Cyrus' movie. But "Best of Both Worlds" ran in 3-D, for which theaters typically charge a few dollars more.

And Cyrus' young fans are an audience segment that tends to rush out to see movies over opening weekend, the movie doing nearly half its business in the first few days.

Sony hopes for a longer shelf life for "This Is It," which drew older crowds that catch movies on their own schedule, with less regard for the opening-weekend frenzy. Fans older than 25 accounted for 62 percent of the audience, according to Sony.

While "Paranormal Activity" led Halloween's scary movies, an established horror franchise lost its fear factor as Lionsgate's "Saw VI" fell sharply in its second weekend after an anemic debut.

"Saw VI" came in at No. 5 this weekend with $5.6 million, raising its total to just $22.8 million after 10 days. Previous sequels in the serial-killer series all had topped $30 million during opening weekend alone.

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Hollywood.com; final figures will be released Monday:

1. "Michael Jackson's This Is It," $21.3 million.

2. "Paranormal Activity," $16.5 million.

3. "Law Abiding Citizen," $7.3 million.

4. "Couples Retreat," $6.1 million.

5. "Saw VI," $5.6 million.

6. "Where the Wild Things Are," $5.1 million.

7. "The Stepfather," $3.4 million.

8. "Astro Boy," $3.04 million.

9. "Amelia," $3 million.

10. "Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant," $2.8 million.

Boondocks at Phila. Front Page News

Boondocks at Phila. Front Page News

CC Sabathia or Chad Gaudin in World Series Game 4? Yankees manager Joe Girardi makes right call

CC Sabathia will take hill Sunday night for Yankees in Game 4 against Joe Blanton and Phillies with chance to give Bombers a commanding 3-1 lead in World Series.

PHILADELPHIA - So Joe Girardi went ahead Saturday and announced that CC Sabathia will start Game 4 Sunday night, deciding not to wait until he knew if the Yankees were ahead or behind in this World Series. Suffice to say it was not exactly a shocker.

Did anybody really think he was going to let Chad Gaudin start such a pivotal game?

No, this isn't fodder for second-guessing. The Yankees may have a little breathing room after defeating the Phillies, 8-5, last night to go ahead 2-1 in the Series, but the Sabathia decision gives them a chance to go for the kill, and psychologically it puts huge pressure on the Phillies - not to mention Joe Blanton.

Yes, Charlie Manuel has given the Yankees an opening here by holding Cliff Lee back to pitch Game 5 on regular rest, and even though the Phillie skipper's reasoning makes sense, Sabathia could make him pay for it anyway.

Of course, if the Phillies do win tonight, Manuel suddenly looks a lot smarter.

But in any case, Girardi is in safe waters here. Sabathia wasn't sharp in Game 1, but he has proven he can pitch effectively and even dominate on three days' rest, based on what he did last year for the Brewers and then in Game 4 of the ALCS against the Angels, so it's hard to find fault with the idea - especially when Gaudin is the alternative.

No offense to Gaudin, but not only is he a journeyman starter, he's pitched one inning in this entire postseason, and hasn't started a game since Sept. 28th.

In some ways, then, this was a no-brainer for Girardi. Especially since Sabathia said last night that he actually prefers it this way at this time of year.

"I kind of like it because I hate to throw bullpens (in between starts)," he said with a chuckle. "So I don't have to throw a bullpen when I pitch on three days' rest. I take the next day off after my start and I throw two flat-grounds. I started doing that in Milwaukee last year and did it before Game 4 in the ALCS, so I'm definitely excited to get the ball."

The intrigue in this now is that the Series could swing one way or the other based on the opposite approach the teams are taking. Manuel had to be tempted to go with Lee tonight, partly to have him ready for a possible Game 7 start, but he said he'd rather have him at his best on full rest for Game5, with the potential to use him out of the bullpen in a Game 7.

It makes sense mostly because Lee has never started a game on short rest, and he threw 122 pitches in going the distance in Game 1.

But it sure does put Blanton under the gun. He's a serviceable No. 4 or 5 starter who went 12-8 with a 4.05 ERA this season, but he has an alarming number among his statistics - he gave up 30 home runs, the third-highest total in the National League, fourth-highest in the majors.

Against the power-filled Yankee lineup, that could lead to a train wreck.

It makes for quite a contrast. More than ever the Yankees are counting on their high-priced imports, Sabathia and A.J. Burnett, to bring home a championship and justify the $243.5 million they guaranteed to the two of them last winter.

Girardi wasn't saying yesterday that he will definitely start Burnett in Game 5 and Andy Pettitte in Game 6 - if necessary - on three days' rest as well, but it's hard to see any other way now. The concern is that Pettitte has pitched with mostly extra rest over the last month, after experiencing a tired shoulder late in the season.

With that in mind, the Yankees should consider at least one Gaudin scenario. If they are up 3-1 in the Series they could afford to take a chance starting Gaudin in Game 5 and saving Burnett and Pettitte to pitch on regular rest in Games 6 and 7, with Sabathia ready to come out of the bullpen in the middle innings if needed.

Sabathia on three days' rest is the only way to go right now. But Girardi doesn't need to commit to his entire rotation going on short rest just yet.

City of Philadelphia Declares Swine Flu Emergency

by KYW's John McDevitt

The City of Philadelphia has declared a public health emergency due to the H1N1 ("swine") flu, and is asking all but the sickest patients not to go to a hospital emergency room.

City officials call the emergency declaration "an administrative action," which they say will enable hospitals to meet the growing demand for services by utilizing alternative spaces and volunteers.

For full story go to:

http://www.kyw1060.com/

Cheers! 3rd Annual Philly Whiskey Festival on Nov. 14th

by KYW's John McDevitt

The third annual Philadelphia Whiskey Festival will take place in center city later this month. Tickets are on sale now.

The Whiskey festival will take place on November 14th at the Union League of Philadelphia on the Avenue of the Arts from 6:30pm to 9:30pm.

For full story go to: http://www.kyw1060.com/

Geithner: Economy rebounding, but job growth lags

Geithner: Economy rebounding, but job growth lags

In this photograph provided by "Meet the Press," Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner appears on a pre-taping of "Meet the Press'" Saturday, Oct. 31, 2009, at the NBC studios in Washington. The interview will air Sunday, Nov. 1, 2009.

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner acknowledges the federal budget deficit is too high, but that the priorities now are economic growth and job creation.

Asked repeatedly on NBC's "Meet the Press" whether this means taxes will rise, Geithner avoided giving specifics. He did say President Barack Obama is committed to dealing with deficit in a way that will not add to the tax burden of people making less than $250,000 a year.

The White House has not decided how to reduce the red ink, Geithner said in an interview broadcast Sunday.

"Right now we're focused on getting growth back on track," he said. "And we're not at the point yet where we have to decide exactly what it's going to take."

He acknowledged that the economic recovery, while showing positive movement, has been shaky and uneven.

"A lot of damage was caused by this crisis. It's going to take some time for us to grow out of this. It could be a little choppy," he said. "It could be uneven. And it's going to take awhile."

A bright spot in the recovery identified by Geithner is the banking system, which he said is "dramatically more stable" because of the government bailout.

Geithner said that just one year ago economic activity came to a standstill as major financial institutions shut down due to lack of liquidity.

Even though 115 banks have failed so far this year, Geithner said there has been a "dramatic improvement in confidence," with private capital back in the system. He said large businesses are now able to borrow again.

"The banking system is dramatically more stable than it was three months ago, six months ago, nine months ago, a year ago," he said.

But Geithner said more needs to be done to assist small businesses, adding that the administration is working to help open up credit to them. These businesses, he said, "face a really tough environment on the financing side."

After financial institutions were widely blamed for assuming too much risk and bringing the economy to the brink of collapse, Geithner said a concern now is that they might end up being too timid.

"The big risk we face now is that banks are going to overcorrect and not take enough risk," he said. "We need them to take a chance again on the American economy. That's going to be important to recovery."

House Republican leader John Boehner of Ohio, citing the growing unemployment rate, said Sunday the president's economic stimulus program has done nothing but increase the size of government. He said businesses are "sitting on their hands" because of government spending and proposals for health care and other initiatives he contended would increase taxes.

"Business people are afraid to invest in their business, afraid to grow their business, because they don't know what's going to happen next," Boehner said on CNN's "State of the Union."

Geithner acknowledged the economy remains tough for many workers who have lost jobs and it's going to be some time before the employment outlook starts to brighten for many of them.

"Unemployment is worse than almost everybody expected. But growth is back a little more quickly, a little stronger than people thought," he said.

Unemployment hit a 26-year high of 9.8 percent in September, and the October report due in the coming week could show it topping 10 percent.

"It's likely still rising. And it's probably going to rise further before it starts to come down again."

Geithner said it's too early to decide if a second government stimulus package should be offered, though he acknowledged unemployment probably will rise even more before it starts to turn around. Economists expect to see job growth after the first of the year, probably in the first quarter, he said.

"You're not going to see real recovery until it's led by the private sector, by businesses," he said.

The treasury chief added that with about half of the stimulus money left, along with tax cuts and investments ahead, "there's a lot of force still moving its way through the system now" and that will keep providing economic support. "It's working. It's delivering what it should result."

Last week, Christina Romer, who heads the president's Council of Economic Advisers, said the government's economic stimulus spending already had its biggest impact and probably wouldn't contribute to significant growth next year.

Geithner also said the administration supports steps being considered by Congress like extending unemployment insurance and the homebuyer tax credit.

In addition, he complimented Obama's pay czar, Kenneth Feinberg, for his work in reining in pay for senior executives at the top seven recipients of government bailout money. Geithner played down concerns about government interference in executive compensation and the potential for the most talented and productive executives to leave their companies.

"We were very concerned about that from the beginning. And he had to balance some very difficult kind of choices. I think he's found a very good balance among them," Geithner said.

Asked if he saw an exodus at those companies, he said he didn't, but added, "I worry about this a lot."

Boehner disputed Vice President Joe Biden's recent assertion that the economic downturn has bottomed out.

"I don't think anybody knows whether we've hit bottom," Boehner said.