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Federal Judge Orders Morris Pace Assisted Living to Pay $162,250 for Labor Law Violations

Issue #059

Author

Drew Griffin
31 Jul

In this Pottstown Local Scoop Issue…

 🏥 Federal Judge Orders Morris Pace Assisted Living to Pay $162,250 for Labor Law Violations

👮🏼‍♂️ Reading Police Chief Richard Tornielli Announces Retirement

 🏡 Chester County Sees First Rise in Homelessness Since 2020 Amid Housing Challenges

🏛️ Two Men Held Without Bail in Berks County Prison for First Reading Homicide of the Year

 🗞️ Illegal California Lab Discovered Housing Bioengineered Mice Carrying Infectious Diseases

🌤️ Pottstown PA Weather

 📅 Lots of Events this Week

⚾️ Phillies drop 2 of 3 to Pirates

 

Pottstown PA Weather

Federal Judge Orders Morris Pace Assisted Living to Pay $162,250 for Labor Law Violations

A West Reading-based care home, Morris Pace Assisted Living Inc., has been ruled by a federal judge to have violated labor laws.

After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division, it was found that the care home incorrectly deducted rent from five employees' salaries and failed to adequately pay overtime to 20 workers.

As a result, Morris Pace is mandated to pay over $162,250 in back wages and damages. The firm has not yet issued a comment on the ruling.

Reading Police Chief Richard Tornielli Announces Retirement, Mayor Seeks New Strategy for Public Safety

Reading Police Chief Richard Tornielli will retire on today, July 31, moving towards a different career path.

Mayor Eddie Moran stated that Tornielli's retirement comes at a time when a new strategic approach is needed to handle public safety and violent crime.

Tornielli served as police chief from January 9, 2020, following the resignation of his predecessor, Andres Dominguez. Prior to this, Tornielli was a supervisor at the Reading Police Department for eight years and had been employed by the city for more than 20 years in total.

In response to his retirement, the mayor thanked Tornielli for his years of service and announced plans for a nationwide search for a new police chief and the appointment of an interim chief in the meantime.

Tornielli, reflecting on his career, shared that his experience in Reading had been rewarding, and he hopes that new leadership will continue to make the community safer.

Chester County Sees First Rise in Homelessness Since 2020 Amid Housing Challenges

Chester County witnessed a rise in homelessness for the first time since 2020, with a recorded increase of eight percent from the previous year. The 2023 Point-In-Time count found 436 homeless individuals on January 25. The figures present a setback for Pennsylvania's wealthiest county, which had aimed to eliminate chronic homelessness by 2021.

While the county had been making consistent progress in addressing homelessness in comparison to its neighboring jurisdictions, the current housing market poses a challenge to the development of affordable homes, according to Shaun Bollig, deputy director for the Chester County Department of Community Development (DCD).

Officials argue that the surge in homelessness isn't unique to Chester County, with a similar trend being seen across the nation. Robert Henry, administrator of the Chester County Partnership to End Homelessness, attributes the increase to the end or scaling down of pandemic-era housing and rental programs, combined with the rise in housing costs. As a result, many people are having to choose between affording rent or basic necessities.

The county's system performance report further suggests that the duration of homelessness is extending, a situation exacerbated by reductions in federal funding for crucial assistance programs. Although emergency rental aid and eviction prevention programs are still active, their capacity has been reduced.

The 2023 count also revealed substantial racial disparities in homelessness, with people of color representing 44% of the total count and children accounting for 25%.

You’re Invited To Join the Pottstown Local Scoop - Official Community Discussion Group on Facebook

We’re so glad you’ve joined the Pottstown Local Scoop - Official Community Discussion Group! This group was created as a place for residents to come together and discuss everything happening in our great town.

Whether you’ve lived here your whole life or just moved to Pottstown, we’re excited to have you as part of this community forum. Here are a few things we hope you’ll use this group for:

  • Share local news and events - help your neighbors stay in the know!

  • Recommend your favorite local businesses - help support our local economy

  • Ask questions and get advice about the area

  • Join or organize community groups and meetings

  • Stay up to date on town issues and developments

  • Connect with fellow residents who share your interests

  • And more! Everything Pottstown-related is welcome.

This group is for residents to discuss news, events, businesses, issues, and anything else related to our town. Let’s keep the conversations friendly, relevant, and productive.

We can’t wait to see members sharing local insights, tips, and perspectives.

Introduce yourself in the comments!

  • What brought you to Pottstown?

  • What do you love about the town?

  • What would you like to see happen here in the future?

Thanks for being part of this community forum. We’re looking forward to the great discussions ahead!

Two Men Held Without Bail in Berks County Prison for First Reading Homicide of the Year

Two men, Julio Nival and Angelo Delgado, are being held without bail at Berks County Prison, facing charges for the first murder of the year in Reading.

They were charged with first and third-degree murder, among other charges, relating to the shooting of 47-year-old Eric Ferrer on January 18.

Surveillance footage and eyewitness accounts placed three males, including Nival and Delgado, at the scene of the crime. Law enforcement used this footage and cell tower data to link the suspects to the crime. A potential third suspect remains uncharged.

Reading Man Facing Chop-Shop Charges Accused of Armed Robbery of Nephew's Car

A man from Reading, currently facing charges for involvement in a chop-shop operation, has been accused of robbing his nephew's car at gunpoint.

34-year-old Jose A. Lopez was remanded to Berks County Prison with a bail set at $70,000, pending a hearing after his arraignment in Reading Central Court. He is facing charges of robbery, making terroristic threats, and unlawful possession of a firearm.

The criminal complaint states that Lopez had arranged to buy a 2018 Maserati from his nephew on June 25, and during a test drive, he pulled out a gun, pointed it at the owner, and ordered him out of the car before the sale was finalized. After the owner complied, Lopez fled the scene.

The car owner later identified his assailant to the police as his uncle, who had recently served jail time.

Court records show that Lopez was arrested in November 2021 by Reading police for allegedly participating in a chop-shop operation, where stolen vehicles are disassembled for parts. After failing to attend court hearings, his bail was revoked by Berks County Judge Thomas Parisi, leading to a warrant being issued for his arrest.

Vic Debitetto to Headline at SoulJoel’s at 4th Annual SummerFest

Toward the end of August, 4th Annual SummerFest has @vicdibitetto returning to headline SoulJoel’s!

Illegal California Lab Discovered Housing Bioengineered Mice Carrying Infectious Diseases

California officials have raised concerns over an unauthorized laboratory found to be harboring close to a thousand bioengineered mice, some carrying infectious diseases like HIV and Hepatitis. Reedley City Manager Nicole Zieba stated that the event was unprecedented in her 25-year government service.

The makeshift facility housed around 30 refrigerators and freezers, some not functioning, along with medical testing supplies, incubators, and a vast number of mice. Lab samples also showed traces of harmful pathogens like herpes, coronavirus, E. Coli, and malaria.

Wang Zhaolin, from Prestige Biotech, the company operating the lab, informed investigators that the mice had been genetically modified to contract and spread COVID-19.

The warehouse came under the radar in March when a local code enforcement officer noticed a garden hose connected to the structure's back wall. A subsequent search revealed on-site made medical devices like pregnancy and COVID-19 tests. Court documents revealed that the warehouse contained several containers of liquid and other equipment, as well as blood, tissue, and bodily fluid samples and thousands of vials of unidentified fluids and probable biological material.

Authorities had to euthanize nearly 800 mice found in the warehouse, with around 175 mice already dead upon discovery. The site also contained over 800 different unidentified chemical substances.

By July 7, all the biohazardous material from the lab had been destroyed, though the investigation into the lab's origin and activities is still in progress. Requests for comment from the CDC and Fresno County Department of Public Health have not yet been answered.

National Night Out - Kimberton Fire Company & Fairgrounds

On Tuesday, August 1st, 2023, from 6pm to 9pm, East Pikeland Township Police Department and Kimberton Fire Company are hosting National Night Out.

This FREE event is at Kimberton Firehouse, located at 61 Firehouse Lane, Phoenixville.

There will be emergency vehicles, a dunk tank, water balloon match against police and much more!

Upcoming Local Events

Got an upcoming event you want us to share?

EAGLES

After much anticipation, the Philadelphia Eagles had to expedite the unveiling of their new Kelly Green alternate jerseys due to leaked promotional photos on social media. The long-awaited return of the Kelly Green was achieved after years of persuading the NFL to allow a second helmet.

The new jerseys have been met with high praise, with many considering them well worth the wait due to their striking look and vibrant color. It's unclear when the Eagles will sport these alternate jerseys during the 2023 season, though they can be worn up to three times, with the first potential date being the home opener against the Minnesota Vikings on September 14.

Fans eager to own the Eagles' new Kelly Green jerseys can purchase them from the team's three pro shops at Lincoln Financial Field, Cherry Hill, NJ, and Lancaster, PA, starting Monday at 9:00 AM Eastern time.

PHILLIES

Josh Palacios Celebrates Birthday with Game-Winning Home Run, Leading Pirates to 6-4 Victory Over Phillies

Josh Palacios delivered an impressive performance on his 28th birthday, hitting a two-run home run in the 10th inning that secured a 6-4 victory for the Pittsburgh Pirates over the Phillies. This win marked the Pirates' second triumph in the three-game series against the Phillies, causing the latter to fall behind in the race for the third NL wild card.

Palacios, who went 3 for 5, celebrated his birthday with his second homer of the season, making him the first Pirates player to hit a game-winning home run on his birthday, according to Elias Sports Bureau records.

Despite a strong start from Philadelphia, a series of errors and missed opportunities allowed Pittsburgh to rally. Bryan Reynolds, for instance, reduced the deficit to 4-3 with a single in the seventh, capitalizing on an error by rookie Johan Rojas.

Phillies' starting pitcher Cristopher Sánchez had a strong performance, not allowing a hit in five innings, despite later being pulled due to an upset stomach. After Sánchez's exit, Reynolds tied the game at 2-2 with his 12th home run of the season.

Phillies' manager Rob Thomson expressed dissatisfaction with the team's performance, emphasizing the need for the team to "clean up" their play. Despite the loss, Alec Bohm stood out with three RBIs, providing the Phillies an initial 2-0 lead with a two-run homer in the fourth inning.

USWNT

The USWNT will play Portugal tomorrow morning at 3 AM EDT.

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