Fatal Pennsylvania Chocolate Factory Explosion Traced to Decades-Old Defective Gas Fittings, Investigators Report

A gas leak from a faulty fitting, known to be defective, led to a catastrophic explosion at the R.M. Palmer Co. chocolate factory in Reading, Pennsylvania, killing seven people, according to federal investigators.

The leak was traced to two gas fittings, one installed in 1982 by DuPont and listed as a "poor performance" material, and another installed in 2021.

Both fittings remained in use despite the known risks.

The natural gas utility, UGI Corp., allegedly replaced a service line in 2021 but kept the problematic 1982 service line

connected. Lawyers for the victims' families have expressed outrage at the continued use of the defective fittings, while investigators are yet to conclusively attribute the cause of the explosion to the gas leaks.

Man Sentenced to Probation for Illegally Filming Hotel Guest in Upper Providence

Joshua Hayman, a 40-year-old man from West Virginia, was sentenced to four years of probation and a psychosexual evaluation for using his cellphone to secretly film a woman in an adjacent room at an Upper Providence Township hotel in Pennsylvania.

Hayman had concealed his cellphone in an air vent to record the woman.

Judge Thomas P. Rogers, who accepted Hayman's plea of guilty to a misdemeanor charge of possessing an instrument of crime, ordered that he be placed under sex offender supervision during his probation and prohibited him from contacting the victim. Lesser charges of invasion of privacy were dismissed as part of the plea agreement.

'Rich Dad Poor Dad' Author Foresees a Dramatic Stock Market Crash and Predicts Downturn in the US Economy

Renowned author Robert Kiyosaki has issued a stark warning of a potential crash in the stock market and the collapse of the U.S. economy.

The ‘Rich Dad Poor Dad’ author expressed his concerns in a tweet on Sunday, stating that he doesn't trade stocks and bonds due to his preference for more control over the outcome of his investments. However, he highlighted that current indicators suggest a severe stock market crash is imminent.

He advised those whose futures are tied to stocks and bonds to tread with caution and possibly seek professional advice, as he fears a depression is approaching.

This bleak prediction starkly contrasts the current optimistic state of markets and the economy. The S&P 500 index has seen a 17% increase this year, with the Nasdaq Composite experiencing a 35% surge, largely due to investors' anticipation of increased corporate profits driven by artificial intelligence.

Moreover, the inflation rate, which reached a 40-year high of 9.1%, has now reduced to 3% over the past year, slightly above the Federal Reserve's 2% target. This decrease has spurred optimism that the U.S. central bank may soon cut interest rates after raising them to over 5% to combat inflation. A reduction in borrowing costs could potentially reduce the risk of recession and boost stocks and other assets.

However, parallels have been drawn between the AI boom and the dot-com bubble, with some experts warning of overhype and overvaluation of related stocks. There are also concerns that persistent or resurgent inflation could trigger further interest rate hikes, which could slow down the economy.

Although Kiyosaki's recent tweet did not detail the reasons behind his prediction, he had previously, in May 2021, anticipated that the Federal Reserve would raise rates to control inflation, leading to a crash in stocks, bonds, real estate, and gold. While he was accurate about the interest rate hikes, the economy and asset prices have remained resistant to higher borrowing costs.

It's important to mention that Kiyosaki is a known critic of the Biden administration and has been warning of a major market crash and advocating for gold, silver, and bitcoin as safe haven assets for over two years. The personal finance expert has also openly shared his strategy to prosper if the markets and the economy indeed take a hit, believing that a crash presents the optimal opportunity for wealth accumulation.

The Ghost Inside & Underoath

with special guests We Came As Romans and Better Lovers

July 19th, 2023 - 7:00 PM

@ Santander Arena

Get Tickets Here

The Ghost Inside

Hard-hitting, passionate, and fueled by the kinetic riffing and thunderous breakdowns that have become synonymous with the genre, L.A.-based melodic metalcore outfit the Ghost Inside found mainstream success in 2014 with the release of Dear Youth, which found its way onto multiple Billboard charts.

Comprised of vocalist Jonathan Vigil, guitarists Zach Johnson and Chris Davis, bassist Jim Riley, and drummer Andrew Tkaczyk, the band formed in 2006 under the moniker A Dying Dream and released one EP, Now or Never, before changing their name and unleashing their debut full-length, 2008's well-received Fury and the Fallen Ones.

Underoath

Florida hardcore outfit Underøath built a devoted following as a hard-hitting Christian metalcore band in the early 2000s, evolving into a dynamic rock group who adeptly blended emotive melody and charged punk rock rhythms.

They found mainstream success with 2004's They're Only Chasing Safety and 2006's Define the Great Line, both of which were certified gold. At their peak, the band took an almost decade-long hiatus before re-emerging in 2018 free of religious labels with the Grammy-nominated LP Erase Me. They followed in 2022 with Voyeurist.

We Came As Romans

We Came as Romans emerged in the late 2000s with a sound rooted in post-hardcore and screamo. Hailing from the Detroit suburb of Troy, Michigan, the band became fixtures on the Billboard charts with acclaimed efforts like 2013's hard-hitting Tracing Back Roots and 2015's more melodic rock-driven We Came as Romans.

Guitarist Joshua Moore, bassist Andy Glass, drummer Eric Choi, guitarist Lou Cotton, and vocalists David Stephens and Kyle Pavone headlined shows in the Michigan area before graduating to the national circuit, where they opened for the likes of Our Last Night, Gwen Stacy, and the Number Twelve Looks Like You.

Upcoming Local Events

• SoulJoel Presents: Paint and Sip with Brandon Pizzola - July 19th, 7-9 PM

• The Ghost Inside & Underoath - July 19th, 7:30 PM

• Greg Fitzsimmons debuts at SoulJoel’s inside SunnyBrook - July 20th, 7 PM

• 25th Hour + Stateside / Free Outdoor Show at Rivet! July 21st, 6-10 PM

• PHILADELPHIA FUNK AUTHORITY AT RIVET!

• Roaring 20’s Gatsby Themed Dance Party w/ The Blackbird Society Orchestra Inside the SunnyBrook Ballroom - July 21st, 7-10 PM

• Rich Vos headlines at SoulJoel’s Comedy Dome - July 21st, 8 PM

• Family Friendly Illusionist Show w/ Tom Coverly July 22nd, 3:30 PM

• Stephanie Grace Band / Free Outdoor Show at Rivet! July 22nd, 6-10 PM

• Sean Donnelly and Friends headline at SoulJoel’s inside SunnyBrook - July 22nd, 7:00 PM

Got an upcoming event you want us to share?

Click Here to Let us Know About Your Upcoming Event

PHILLIES

Nola Dominates, Schwarber Homers as Phillies Secure 4-3 Victory Over Brewers, Achieving Season-Best Record

Aaron Nola exhibited a commanding pitching performance with six strikeouts over 7 1/3 innings, complemented by Kyle Schwarber's home run, enabling the Philadelphia Phillies to achieve their season-best record of 10 games over .500. The Phillies clinched a 4-3 victory against the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday evening.

Bryson Stott, Trea Turner, and Alec Bohm all contributed two hits each, helping the Phillies, last season's NL champions, to boost their record to 52-42. The team marked their fourth successive win, commencing the match half a game away from a playoff position. Impressively, every starting player from the Phillies registered at least one hit.

"It's a significant team victory," acknowledged Nola.

Andruw Monasterio of the Brewers, currently topping the NL Central, made two hits and contributed an RBI. The Brewers had been on a four-game winning streak prior to this match.

According to Brewers manager Craig Counsell, "(Nola) delivered strikes on the zone's fringes. His off-speed strikes were abundant, keeping us unsettled."

Nola (9-6) initially retired 14 batters straight, with Schwarber's outstanding catch against the left-field wall denying Owen Miller extra bases for the fifth inning's second out.

"Exceptional," praised Phillies manager Rob Thomson.

Schwarber responded in a lighter vein, "I guess I can indeed play left field."

Raimel Tapia then reached first base through an infield single. Despite Turner's best efforts at shortstop, he couldn't outpace Tapia after picking up the ball deep in the hole at short.

Monasterio put the Brewers on the scoreboard with a double that enabled Tapia to score. The Brewers then closed the gap to 3-2 as Monasterio scored from second base following Brice Turang's grounder, which became both a hit and an error against first baseman Darick Hall after he missed Stott's throw.

Nola, however, regained control, retiring the subsequent seven batters before both Monasterio and Turang led off the eighth with back-to-back singles. Nola attributed his impressive performance to a slower delivery rhythm.

"Tonight, Nola was pitching extraordinarily," Schwarber commented. "He's classic Nola. He was hitting the zone hard, and the ball was moving well."

Nola conceded only five hits and issued no walks. The ninth inning saw Craig Kimbrel navigating through a couple of errors to secure his 16th save.

"Craig has seen it all. He's done an exceptional job for us this year," stated Thomson about his closer.

The Phillies provided Nola with a comfortable lead early on, with Julio Teheran (2-4) letting in single runs in the initial three innings. Schwarber's home run from the first pitch started the game on a high note. This was Schwarber's fourth consecutive game with a homer, setting a personal record. This home run was Schwarber's 26th this season, marking his 26th career leadoff homer, and sixth this year.

Bohm's RBI groundout in the second inning and Nick Castellanos' RBI single in the third brought the score to 3-2.

As the Brewers pulled within a run, Stott responded with an RBI single, extending the Phillies' lead by two.

After Nola was pulled out post his 98th pitch in the eighth inning with one out remaining, Christian Yelich's groundout off Gregory Soto brought the Brewers closer at 4-3.

SIXERS

Harden's Potential Trade: 76ers GM Morey Insists on Retaining Championship Contention

In a recent conversation with 97.5 The Fanatic, Daryl Morey, the general manager of the Philadelphia 76ers, acknowledged that James Harden would like to move elsewhere. However, Morey maintained that any trade involving Harden would need to retain the Sixers' potential to vie for the championship.

Harden chose to stick with his $35.6 million contract for the 2023-24 season before the onset of free agency, signaling his desire for a trade. Reports suggest that he is interested in joining the LA Clippers.

Having spent eight seasons with Harden at the Houston Rockets, Morey mentioned he is considering Harden's request, but only for the right value. He conveyed that any trade for Harden would necessitate either a high-quality player or assets that could be converted into one. Moreover, Morey expressed that should Harden decide to stay with the Sixers, the team would welcome it. As it stands, however, Harden is looking for a trade, and the team is trying to facilitate this.

This discussion followed a recent viral video featuring Joel Embiid expressing his desire to win a championship, irrespective of the location. Morey emphasized the importance of keeping the team competitive in the forthcoming season, regardless of the outcome of this situation.

Morey underscored the need to pair Joel Embiid, one of the best players in the world, with a top-notch running mate. He stated the team's need for more talent, whether that involves Harden staying or trading him for valuable assets.

The conversation also touched upon the team's recent offseason, during which the Sixers lost three key players from their rotation: Jalen McDaniels, Shake Milton, and Georges Niang. Morey indicated the team's intent to preserve flexibility going forward. For the 2024-25 season, only Embiid and P.J. Tucker (with an $11.5 million player option) have guaranteed money in the Sixers' budget.

Morey outlined the team's strategy of forming the best possible roster for the current year, while also preparing for the subsequent seasons, intending to create a unique team with significant cap room.

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