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Boyertown School Board Approves $139 Million Budget with 3% Tax Increase

The Boyertown School Board in Pennsylvania has approved a final budget of $139 million for the 2023-2024 school year, resulting in a 3% increase in taxes.

The budget relies on using $1.8 million from the district's reserves and assumes that the district will receive the full amount of proposed funding from Governor Josh Shapiro's budget.

The new millage is set at 30.814, and the average residential property in the district assessed at $150,000 would have an annual tax bill of $4,622.10. The budget drew criticism from residents for using a significant portion of reserves for recurring costs and for not addressing factors like rising special education costs or cyber charter school expenses.

The teachers' union is also currently negotiating a new contract with the school board.

Fire Company Annual Fair Returns with Rides, Games, and Fun for All

The Fire Company's annual fair, which has been a tradition since the 1950s, is back after being canceled only once in 2020 due to COVID-19.

When: July 3rd thru July 8th, 2023

Where: 144 W Schuylkill Rd, Pottstown, PA, 19465

The fair, spanning six nights, offers a variety of attractions including rides, games, bingo, seafood, walking tacos, and a beer garden. Volunteers play a crucial role in ensuring the safety and enjoyment of the thousands of attendees.

Wristbands are now available for purchase, allowing kids to enjoy unlimited rides throughout the night. The highlight of the week is a fireworks show on Friday night, with Saturday serving as a rain date.

This year, the fair will feature the Sly Fox Beer Garden, along with the new SPLASH Bar sponsored by SPLASH Car Wash, offering a selection of wines and mixed drinks in addition to locally brewed Sly Fox beer. The beer garden will be located in the firehouse engine room.

Visitors can check the fair's website or Facebook page for daily specials and activities.

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Reading Man Faces Child Pornography Charges Following Online Uploads and Forensic Investigation

Eliezer Gonzalez, a 29-year-old man from Reading, has been charged with possession and dissemination of child pornography, as well as criminal use of a communications facility. The Berks County district attorney's office disclosed that the charges came after a complaint from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children about child pornography files shared through a Google account under the name Eli Gonzalez.

Between July and September, the account uploaded a video and several photos suspected to be child pornography. Detectives traced the internet address used for these uploads to Gonzalez's account.

On December 1, authorities seized Gonzalez's phone through a search warrant and a subsequent forensic analysis revealed numerous digital files of child pornography.

Gonzalez was charged and arraigned before District Judge Priscilla Campos. His bail was set at $100,000 and he remains in Berks County Prison for an unrelated offense.

Supreme Court Strikes Down Affirmative Action in College Admissions, Banning Consideration of Race

The Supreme Court has ruled to strike down affirmative action in college admissions, stating that race cannot be a factor in the process.

The court's conservative majority overturned admissions plans at Harvard and the University of North Carolina, arguing that universities have wrongly focused on an individual's identity based on their race rather than their challenges overcome, skills built, or lessons learned.

Justice Clarence Thomas, who is the second Black justice on the court, stated that the decision exposes the universities' admissions policies as race-based preferences.

Justice Sonia Sotomayor dissented, stating that the ruling rolls back decades of progress. President Joe Biden expressed strong disagreement with the ruling and urged colleges to continue their commitment to diversity. The vote was 6-3 in the North Carolina case and 6-2 in the Harvard case.

Former Presidents Donald Trump and Barack Obama expressed contrasting opinions on the decision. Affirmative action cases were brought by conservative activist Edward Blum, who argued that the Constitution prohibits the use of race in college admissions.

The ruling may impact how colleges achieve diverse student bodies and could lead to increased focus on socioeconomic status as a means of achieving diversity.

Snapchat+ Surpasses 4 Million Subscribers for Paid Premium Features

Snapchat's paid subscription service, Snapchat+, has surpassed four million active subscribers who pay $3.99 per month for the premium features, according to reports.

Snapchat+ offers exclusive features such as custom app icons, priority story replies, the ability to pin a top chat friend, chat wallpapers, custom sounds, story view counts, and boosts. T

he company is planning to introduce expressive message features, including font size and color control, for Snapchat+ users in the future. Last year, Snapchat gained one million subscribers within six weeks of launching its premium version.

Popular Podcast App Stitcher to Shut Down After 15 Years

Stitcher, a popular podcast app, has announced that it will be shutting down on August 29, marking the end of its 15-year run.

The app, founded in 2008 and acquired by SiriusXM in 2020, will be closed as SiriusXM aims to integrate podcasts into its flagship subscription service. Stitcher Premium, which offered ad-free episodes and exclusive content, will also be discontinued.

However, the Stitcher brand name will live on through its podcast production companies, which will continue to create shows for SiriusXM.

Upcoming Local Events

• The 5th Annual Sidewalk Chalk Festival June 30th, 5PM - 8PM

• Vuja De at JJ Ratigan Brewing Company, June 30th, 7-10 PM

• Donnie Baker Headlines at SoulJoel's Comedy Dome, July 1st, Doors open at 6PM

• Mike Britt returns to headline inside SoulJoel’s at SunnyBrook, July 1st, 8PM

• Pottstown Nights Car Show America’s Birthday This Saturday, July 1, 5-9 PM

• Fire Company Annual Fair Returns with Rides, Games, and Fun July 3rd-8th

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PHILLIES

Schwarber homers on 1st pitch, Walker wins 5th straight start as Phillies beat Cubs 3-1

Philadelphia Phillies Defeat Chicago Cubs 3-1 Behind Schwarber's First-Pitch Homer and Walker's Strong Start

In a game that started with a bang, Kyle Schwarber homered on the very first pitch, setting the tone for the Philadelphia Phillies' 3-1 victory over the Chicago Cubs. Bryce Harper contributed two RBIs, while Trea Turner added two hits and a run, helping the Phillies continue their impressive form with their 18th win in 23 games.

Schwarber, facing his former team, wasted no time in launching a home run to right field off Kyle Hendricks (3-3), marking his 21st long ball of the season and the 25th time he has led off a game with a homer.

On the pitching side, Taijuan Walker (9-3) shined once again, going six innings and surrendering just one run and six hits while striking out six and issuing one walk. Walker has been on a hot streak, boasting a remarkable 0.84 ERA in his last five starts.

Yunior Marte and Gregory Soto each delivered a solid inning of relief before Craig Kimbrel sealed the deal in the ninth, notching his 12th save of the season. Despite a couple of dropped fly balls, the Phillies extended their road winning streak to nine games, matching their best run since May 1984.

Meanwhile, the Cubs experienced their fourth consecutive loss after winning nine out of their previous ten games. Kyle Hendricks had a tough outing, despite performing well in his previous three starts. The right-hander allowed three runs and six hits over seven innings of work.

Chicago briefly tied the game in the second inning when Cody Bellinger singled and scored on Jared Young's two-out triple. However, the Phillies quickly regained the lead in the third as Harper drove in Kody Clemens and Turner with a clutch two-out single up the middle.

The Cubs had their chances, including a scoring opportunity in the fifth after Schwarber dropped a fly ball and Nico Hoerner singled. But Walker managed to retire the next three batters, celebrating with a few claps after striking out Dansby Swanson looking.

Similarly, the Cubs had a runner in scoring position in the sixth inning after Brandon Marsh dropped a fly ball in center field. However, Nick Madrigal grounded out to end the inning, denying Chicago a chance to rally.

Overall, the Phillies showcased their power and resilience, while Walker continued his dominant form on the mound, securing another crucial win for Philadelphia.

Sixers

James Harden Exercises Contract Option with 76ers, Trade Possibilities Explored

James Harden has exercised his $35.6 million contract option with the Philadelphia 76ers for the next season, according to a person familiar with the decision. The Sixers are reportedly exploring trade options for the veteran scorer, as Harden expressed a desire to win a championship either with Philadelphia or another contender.

The team, which was found guilty of tampering last offseason, cannot negotiate a contract with Harden's representatives until Friday. This decision sets the stage for another potential blockbuster trade involving Harden, who previously forced his way out of Houston and Brooklyn.

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