New Medical Students at Drexel University's Tower Health Create Mural for Reading Community

Berks County welcomes a fresh batch of aspiring doctors.

On Thursday, the College of Medicine at Tower Health, affiliated with Drexel University, greeted its third cohort of medical students.

As a part of their initiation, the students created a mural at the school. This artwork is set to be showcased at North 11th and Richmond Streets in Reading.

Berks County Partners with Alvernia University: Offers Tuition Discounts to Employees and Their Families

On Thursday, the Berks County Commissioners approved a collaborative agreement with Alvernia University. This deal grants county employees a tuition fee reduction for those joining graduate or adult education programs.

This partnership incurs no costs to the county.

Christian Y. Leinbach, Commissioner, shared that discussions surrounding the agreement have been underway since the start of the year.

Jessica Weaknecht, the director of human resources, further mentioned that this reduction also extends to family members of employees seeking further education. "This partnership is not only a positive stride for us but also a fantastic opportunity for our employees to pursue higher education. The addition of certification programs further amplifies our enthusiasm," said Weaknecht.

This tuition discount agreement was among the vendor contracts approved in Thursday's meeting.

On a related note, Leinbach disclosed that both he and Commissioner Michael S. Rivera attended the recent annual County Commissioners of Pennsylvania meeting. At this event, Rivera, currently the first vice-president, was elected as the organization's president for 2024.

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!

Illegal Firearm Trafficking Using Soldier's Stolen ID Uncovered in Montgomery County

Three men, Taalibudeen Anderson, Tariq Anderson, and Daijon Griffin, have been charged for their alleged involvement in a scheme to illegally purchase and attempt to sell 28 firearms using the stolen ID of an active-duty U.S. soldier.

These activities took place between June and July 2023. The authorities emphasized the seriousness of their crimes, as some of the purchased weapons were found at crime scenes within days of acquisition.

The gun trafficking operation was dismantled by Montgomery County's Violent Crime Unit in collaboration with the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General Gun Violence Task Force.

The case is set to be prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Samantha Arena.

Jayquan Sanchez, Suspected of 2022 Reading Murder, Arrested in California

In July 2022, Quadell Spradley was reportedly killed by Jayquan Sanchez in Reading while attempting to intervene in a fight that had moved from a club to Church Street. Approximately a year after the incident, Sanchez has been apprehended in Chico, California.

Mike Ramsey, the district attorney of Butte County, California, expressed his surprise at the arrest, noting that Sanchez hadn't been on their local watchlist. The arrest occurred after local police responded to a separate shooting incident at a party, where Sanchez was not a suspect. Following a two-hour standoff at a residence, officers found Sanchez hiding under a bed. He was subsequently taken into custody for providing a false identity.

Although his fingerprints matched a record from Pennsylvania, there was no immediate warrant. It wasn't until a Chico detective conducted an online search that they discovered Sanchez's wanted status in relation to the Reading murder.

Reading Police Captain Christian Rothermel noted that they had been searching for Sanchez for months with the assistance of the United States Marshal Service, but Sanchez had evaded detection by staying off social media.

Sanchez is scheduled for a court appearance in California soon. There, he will decide whether to accept extradition to Pennsylvania or contest it. Ramsey emphasized their commitment to ensuring Sanchez faces the legal consequences in Pennsylvania.

Disney Announces Price Hikes for Streaming Platforms; Wall Street Responds Positively

Disney has declared increased prices for its Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ streaming platforms. Starting mid-October, Disney+ without ads will be priced at $13.99, marking a 27% rise from $9.99. Hulu (ad-free) will now cost $17.99 per month, a 20% increase from $14.99, and ESPN+ will be $10.99, up from $9.99. Notably, prices for ad-tier subscriptions remain unchanged at $7.99/month.

These hikes come amidst Disney's linear TV business witnessing a dip, counterbalanced by the surge in its streaming realm, which, despite accumulating 800,000 new Disney+ subscribers, reported a loss of $512 million in Q3. Interestingly, Wall Street showed a positive response to Disney's announcements, leading to a 4% stock rise in Thursday's trading.

Wall Street's responses include:

- Bank of America: Applauding Disney's moves, it highlighted the announced price hike for Disney+, the company's optimistic outlook for FY2023, the initiation of ESPN BET in collaboration with PENN, the forthcoming crackdown on password sharing, and the prospective reinstatement of dividends by 2023. The bank gives Disney a "Buy" rating with a potential 50% upside, setting the price target at $135.

- Goldman Sachs: Recognizing Disney's stride towards direct-to-consumer streaming profitability, they praised Disney's Parks' profitability and the upcoming launch of new cruise ships in the upcoming three years. They anticipate Disney to reintroduce a modest dividend soon and predict a buy-in for Hulu next year. Goldman Sachs places Disney at "Buy", projecting a 42% potential upside with a $128 price target.

- JPMorgan: Acknowledging Disney's turnaround endeavors, they mentioned their cautious stance on the overall media landscape due to various factors but showed confidence in Disney owing to its robust assets and anticipated swift reduction in streaming losses. JPMorgan endorses Disney as "Overweight", suggesting a 39% potential rise with a $125 price target.

Upcoming Local Events

• Helping Hands BINGO at Boone Area Library - AUGUST 11TH, 10:15 AM – 11 AM

• Comedy, Music, and Fire under SoulJoel's Comedy Dome - AUGUST 11TH · 7:00 PM

• NCPD's 7th Annual Fallen Heroes' Car Show - AUGUST 12TH, 9AM - 2PM

• DMIG Weekly Pokemon League - AUGUST 12TH, 11:30 AM – 3 PM

• Limerick Community Day 2023 - AUGUST 12TH, 12 PM – 3 PM

• DJ Saturday's at Gatsby's Pub w/ MC ΔT The SunnyBrook Ballroom - AUGUST 12, 9 PM – 11 PM

• Baby Goat Yoga @Birdsboro Farmer’s Market - AUGUST 12, 10 AM

• West Reading French Fry Fest - AUGUST 12TH, 11 AM – 6 PM

Got an upcoming event you want us to share?

Click Here to Let us Know About Your Upcoming Event

PHILLIES

Phillies Soar to Victory with Trio of Two-Run Homers; Lead NL Wild-Card Race

Trea Turner, Nick Castellanos, and J.T. Realmuto showcased their prowess with two-run home runs, propelling the Philadelphia Phillies to a notable 6-2 triumph over the Washington Nationals this past Thursday evening.

This recent victory marked the Phillies' third win in a four-game series against the Nationals. Notably, this series also witnessed Michael Lorenzen's mesmerizing no-hitter the previous night. Philadelphia's recent performance has allowed them to edge ahead by 1 1/2 games over San Francisco in the NL wild-card standings.

With a 64-52 record, the Phillies have now surged to 12 games above the .500 mark, a seasonal best for them. Their post-June record stands at 39-22, a tally only equaled by NL East frontrunners, Atlanta.

However, the celebratory atmosphere took a hit when star player Bryce Harper had to exit mid-game during the fifth inning due to back spasms. His condition was later being assessed by the team's medical staff.

The Phillies' sixth inning saw them capitalizing on Nationals starter Patrick Corbin's seven walks. The turning point came with Turner's 12th seasonal homer, launched off reliever Andres Machado, giving the Phillies a slender lead. Turner, despite having a challenging start with his $300 million free agent contract, has been showing signs of his old brilliance. The Philadelphia crowd, known for their stringent standards, showered him with standing ovations. Over the last seven games, he's recorded an impressive .370 batting average.

The game continued to favor the Phillies as Castellanos and Realmuto delivered home runs in the seventh inning. Realmuto registered two hits during the game. Pitcher Aaron Nola, though having a solid five innings without conceding any runs, wasn't credited with the win, which went to Matt Strahm.

The Nationals saw commendable performances from CJ Abrams, Joey Meneses, Keibert Ruiz, and Ildemaro Vargas, with Vargas securing both runs for the team.

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