Resource Center Opens in Berks County to Assist Residents Affected by Storm and Flooding

Local and state officials have announced the establishment of a resource center to provide support to residents of Berks County impacted by the recent storm and flooding on July 9.

The Berks County Department of Emergency Services (Berks DES), in collaboration with the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) and other state and county agencies, will open a Multi-Agency Resource Center (MARC) on Thursday at noon.

The MARC serves as a temporary facility, conveniently located in the Exeter Township School District Lausch Administration Building at 200 Elm Street, St. Lawrence Borough. Its primary purpose is to offer direct assistance to community members affected by this disaster.

The MARC will operate during the following hours: Thursday from noon to 7 p.m., Friday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Various county and state agencies will be present at the center to provide aid and support to community members. These agencies include:

- Berks Department of Emergency Services: Assisting with referrals to appropriate resources for individuals who have not yet reported their damages to local government.

- Berks County Area Agency on Aging: Providing assistance to the older population affected by the disaster.

- Office of the Attorney General: Offering information on contractor fraud, scams, and related matters.

- Department of Environmental Protection: Providing safety advice and addressing questions regarding waterway management and private wells.

- Department of Human Services: Assisting with document replacement (e.g., birth/death certificates), disability assistance services, and new benefit applications.

- Berks County MH/DD Office: Offering crisis counseling services.

- Department of Insurance: Addressing inquiries and providing information regarding conflicts with insurance carriers.

- Department of Military and Veterans Affairs: Assisting with document replacement and providing information on veteran-specific programs.

- PEMA: Providing general support, disaster recovery information, and details about the National Flood Insurance Program.

- PennDOT: Offering information about their online driver services, driver's license replacement, and related matters.

- Department of Health: Providing safety information.

Berks DES emphasizes the importance of reporting property damage caused by the rain and flooding to the respective local municipality as soon as possible.

The local municipality refers to the city, borough, or township where local taxes are paid. Accurate and comprehensive reporting of damages can potentially help residents and businesses in Berks County qualify for additional disaster recovery programs.

Philadelphia Medical Assistant Sentenced to Prison for Stealing Patient Data for Fraudulent Activities

Ashley Latimer, a 35-year-old medical assistant from Philadelphia, has been sentenced to 2-5 years in prison and ordered to pay over $31,000 in restitution for stealing patient information and using it for fraudulent activities. The thefts took place at several clinics in Montgomery County where she worked, and the information was used to open credit cards, make purchases, and lease an apartment.

The sentence was handed down by Judge Thomas M. DelRicci in Montgomery County Court, where Latimer pleaded guilty to felony charges of identity theft and computer theft. These crimes were committed between January and June 2022. In addition to the prison term and restitution, Judge DelRicci also sentenced Latimer to two years of probation after parole, making her under court supervision for a total of seven years.

As part of her sentence, Latimer agreed to relinquish her medical assistant license and not to work in any doctor's offices. A violation of this agreement would breach her sentence.

The investigation, conducted by the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, found that Latimer used her cellphone to photograph patient information forms and licenses. The investigation linked her to seven women, patients at Axia Women's Health, whose personal information was found on Latimer's phone. One of her fraudulent activities included more than $30,000 in orders from online furniture retailer Wayfair.

Prosecutors revealed that Latimer even rented an apartment using a patient's name, with the victim unaware until authorities contacted her. The case was handled by Mike McNicholas, a special agent with the attorney general's Bureau of Criminal Investigation, and prosecuted by Deputy Attorney General Katherine McDermott.

Florida Man Arrested for Possession and Dissemination of Child Pornography in Reading

A Florida man, Antonio Figueroa-Colon, 26, has been charged with possessing and disseminating child pornography while residing in Reading, Pennsylvania.

Berks County detectives launched an investigation after receiving a complaint from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children regarding child pornography files uploaded on a Facebook account. Through their investigation, detectives traced the account to an internet customer residing at an address in the 400 block of Schuylkill Avenue, where Figueroa-Colon lived.

During the execution of a search warrant at Figueroa-Colon's residence, detectives seized his smartphone. In an interview with detectives, Figueroa-Colon confessed to using his mobile phone to possess and share files containing child pornography.

A forensic analysis of the cellphone conducted by the Berks County Forensic Services Unit revealed numerous digital images of child pornography.

However, before the completion of the forensic analysis, Figueroa-Colon had relocated to Titusville, Florida. On June 1, he was charged with two counts of sexual abuse of children related to the dissemination and possession of child pornography, as well as one count of criminal use of a communication facility.

On Monday, Figueroa-Colon voluntarily returned from Florida and surrendered to county detectives. He was arraigned before District Judge Alvin B. Robinson and is currently held at Berks County Prison on a $25,000 bail, awaiting a hearing.

Philadelphia Man to Face Jury Trial on Homicide Charges for Hit-and-Run Crime Spree in

Kareem Maurice Welton, a 42-year-old Philadelphia man, will stand trial in November for homicide-related charges stemming from a hit-and-run crime spree.

Welton appeared in a Montgomery County courtroom for his arraignment hearing, where he entered not guilty pleas through his lawyer.

He faces charges of first-, second-, and third-degree murder, as well as multiple counts of attempted murder, aggravated assault, robbery, driving under the influence of controlled substances, and more.

Welton's alleged crime spree began in Philadelphia on July 27, 2021, and ended in Montgomery County, where he was apprehended by police. The trial is scheduled to begin on November 13.

Berks County's Economic Development Gains Momentum: Focus on Business Growth and Job Creation

The senior director of economic development for the Greater Reading Chamber Alliance, Aaron Gantz, presented a bi-annual report to the Berks County Commissioners, highlighting the strategic focus on business and industry growth in the first half of 2023.

Gantz shared that they have worked with over 70 diverse companies in the last six months, representing nearly 17,000 jobs in the community.

There is approximately $5.2 million in funding available for Berks-based companies through various loan and grant programs. Gantz also emphasized the ongoing challenges of talent acquisition and access to capital financing for businesses in the county.

The manufacturing industry remains a significant sector, and efforts are being made to support it through talent development and professional opportunities. Gantz concluded by stating that Berks County is well-positioned as an attractive choice for businesses and individuals, utilizing the Greater Reading platform to showcase the community's strengths.

Meta's Threads App for iPhone Receives First Update, Fixes Photo Attachment Bug in iOS 17 Beta

Meta has rolled out the first update to its newly launched Threads app for iPhone, addressing a bug that caused the app to crash when users attempted to attach a photo or video to a post using iOS 17 beta.

The issue was fixed in Threads version 291, which also included performance improvements. Despite the update, the app still lacks iPad support and other key features.

The bug fix comes at a crucial time as Apple expanded iOS 17 testing from developer beta to public beta, which means more users can test the new OS without undergoing the developer registration process.

The update now allows users to post up to ten photos in a carousel per post, whereas previously, they were limited to pasting a single photo. The new version of Threads is available for download on the App Store.

Upcoming Local Events

• Warehouse Warriors / Free Outdoor Show at Rivet! July 14th - 6-10PM

• 5th Annual Lew’s Crew Ride for Veteran & First Responder Suicide Awareness - July 15th, 9AM-4PM

• Jimmy Shubert returns to SoulJoel's Inside SunnyBrook - July 15th at 7:00 PM

• The Alley Arts & Craft July Event - July 30th, 12PM-5PM

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UNION

Union win slug fest over Nashville

Daniel Gazdag successfully executed two penalty kicks, one in each half, leading the Philadelphia Union to a 2-0 victory over Nashville SC on Wednesday night. This win ended Nashville SC's eight-game winning streak at home across all competitions.

Gazdag scored his first goal in the 38th minute after Nashville defender Daniel Lovitz pushed him inside the box, marking Philadelphia's first penalty opportunity since May 27. In the 84th minute, Lovitz received his second yellow card of the night for a reckless challenge on the Union's Mikkel Uhre, which gave Gazdag another opportunity to score, ending Philadelphia's four-game winless run on the road.

Nashville, with a total of 19 shots in the game, suffered its fourth loss in five matches, also ending its 10-game unbeaten streak at home. They nearly equalized before Gazdag's second goal but Hany Mukhtar's attempt hit the post. Later, Sean Davis missed the target following a rebound from Union keeper Joe Bendik.

Nashville's first home defeat since a 1-0 loss to FC Cincinnati on March 25, was further intensified when they were reduced to nine men, and Philadelphia to 10, after Shaq Moore and Julian Carranza respectively received red cards during stoppage time.

Despite Nashville controlling much of the early possession, the first real opportunity of the match came from the Union's Quinn Sullivan, whose shot struck the left post in the ninth minute. Philadelphia emerged victorious even without their star goalkeeper Andre Blake, who was on international duty, and All-Star midfielder Jose Martinez, who was absent due to illness.

USMNT

U.S. Bounced Out of Gold Cup by Panama

In the Gold Cup semifinals held at San Diego's Snapdragon Stadium on Wednesday night, Panama triumphed over the United States in a 5-4 penalty shootout.

Panama's Iván Anderson and America's Jesus Ferreira scored during extra time, leading to a 1-1 deadlock which resulted in penalties. Under the guidance of Thomas Christiansen, Panama emerged victorious in the penalty shootout, marking the first defeat for the U.S. under interim coach B.J. Calaghan.

Despite a strong start from the U.S. team, with Cade Cowell striking the post in the early minutes, Panama gradually demonstrated superior gameplay as the first half proceeded. Despite a well-executed goal from Panama being disallowed for offside, the game entered halftime with no points on the board for either team.

The second half witnessed a balanced contest. U.S. player Brandon Vazquez missed a goal opportunity, and a close-range header from Panama's Ismael Díaz was deflected by U.S. goalkeeper Matt Turner.

In the extra time, Anderson managed to outsmart Turner and netted a goal for Panama. However, Ferreira leveled the score with a skillful volley, assisted by Jordan Morris' header.

Orlando Mosquera, Panama's goalkeeper, thwarted a penalty attempt from Cristian Roldan of the U.S. team. In the sudden death of the penalty shootout, Adalberto Carrasquilla scored the decisive goal against Turner, securing Panama's place in their third Gold Cup final.

Panama will now contend with the victor of the other semifinal match between Jamaica and Mexico at Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas.

The game had a striking resemblance to the U.S. quarterfinal match against Canada, where the U.S. managed to equalize and win in a penalty shootout, following a 2-1 lead by Canada in extra time. This was the first occasion in the U.S. team's history that it played consecutive matches extending into extra time, and also the first time it played extra time twice in a single tournament.

During the fourth minute of the regulation stoppage time, the U.S. avoided a potential penalty when a video review showed that Djordje Mihailovic had not committed a handball.

Christian Pulisic Arrives in Italy for Medical Test with AC Milan Ahead of Expected expected transfer from Chelsea

Christian Pulisic, the United States forward, arrived in Italy on Wednesday to undergo a medical examination with AC Milan as part of his anticipated transfer from Chelsea.

The 24-year-old Pulisic, who has one year remaining on his contract with Chelsea, is expected to sign a four-year deal with AC Milan. Upon completion, he will become the third American player to join the club, following in the footsteps of Oguchi Onyewu and Sergiño Dest.

Expressing his excitement, Pulisic stated, "I'm very happy to be here. I'm excited. I'm excited to start with this historic club." He acknowledged the legendary status of AC Milan and expressed his eagerness to contribute towards winning titles with the team.

AC Milan, a seven-time European champion and holder of 19 Serie A titles (with the most recent one in 2022), aims to bolster its squad. The club reached the semifinals of the Champions League last season but was defeated by city rival Inter Milan.

It is reported that AC Milan, owned by American investment firm RedBird, is prepared to pay a transfer fee of 20 million euros ($22 million) for Pulisic, as stated by the Gazzetta dello Sport. This amount is less than half of what Chelsea had paid Borussia Dortmund for Pulisic's services in 2019.

Pulisic, who faced challenges with injuries during his time in England, will be reuniting with former Chelsea teammates Olivier Giroud and Fikayo Tomori at AC Milan, both of whom have also made the switch from Chelsea to Milan in this transfer window.

Having represented the United States in international football, Pulisic has earned 60 caps and scored 25 goals. The Pennsylvania native played a vital role in helping the U.S. team reach the Round of 16 in the 2022 World Cup held in Qatar.

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