Governor Josh Shapiro to Enact Bill Expanding Pennsylvania's Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program

Governor Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania is set to enact legislation on Friday that will broaden the scope of the state's Property Tax/Rent Rebate program.

The bill, referred to as House Bill 1100, modifies the 2006 Taxpayer Relief Act to offer additional tax deductions and senior citizen tax and rebate support. The Governor expressed his endorsement for the bill during his budget address on Thursday.

As per an announcement from the governor's office, approximately 175,000 new residents of Pennsylvania will become eligible, and about 400,000 seniors who currently qualify will witness their rebates nearly doubling. The program's future expansions will be linked to inflation, as stated in the press release.

Missed Your Chance at Mega Millions? You Won't Believe the Jackpot Now - History's Being Made!

While the probability of securing a win may be slim, the potential payoff has reached an unprecedented level. Following the absence of any winners in the Mega Millions lottery drawing held on Friday, August 4, the jackpot has seen a further increase, now amounting to a staggering $1.55 billion.

This has marked a new record for the largest jackpot in the history of Mega Millions, surpassing the previous record of $1.53 billion, which was claimed in South Carolina in October 2018.

The overall record for the largest lottery jackpot still lies with the $2.04 billion Powerball prize that was won in November 2022.

The subsequent drawing for the Mega Millions lottery is scheduled for Tuesday, August 8.

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 Arrested in Major Drug Bust Operation in Exeter Township; Heroin, Firearms, and Drug Packaging Materials Seized

On Friday morning, authorities arrested two individuals in Exeter Township following a drug bust operation at a residential property, according to the local police department.

The police from Exeter Township worked in collaboration with the Berks County District Attorney's Office and its narcotics division to carry out the search warrant at a residence on 1311 Butter Lane.

This operation was the culmination of an extensive investigation, with the Berks County Emergency Response Team leading the way into the home.

In the process of the search, detectives found and confiscated various items, including: a significant amount of presumed heroin/fentanyl ready for sale; a .30-06 caliber rifle; five scales; and a multitude of materials intended for drug packaging.

The suspects, 51-year-old Christopher W. Smith and his girlfriend, 42-year-old Christy R. Petitijean, were taken into custody and face charges of possession with the intent to distribute a controlled substance, criminal conspiracy, among others.

Smith faces an additional charge related to a firearm violation.

The Berks County Animal Rescue League was involved in the operation to help remove a dog from the premises.

Four Convicted in Plot to Smuggle Drug-Laced Papers into Montgomery County Correctional Facility

A woman from Norristown and a man from Philadelphia have been found guilty of participating in a plot to smuggle papers laced with illegal substances into the Montgomery County Correctional Facility in Lower Providence. The conspiracy involved two others.

33-year-old Latashia Lucas of Norristown was convicted on charges including possession with intent to deliver controlled substances, attempted possession of contraband by an inmate, and conspiracy to deliver drugs or contraband to inmates. These charges relate to incidents that took place at the jail between October and December 2021.

Lucas's boyfriend, 38-year-old Luis Valazquez, who was an inmate at the time, was convicted of similar charges related to these incidents.

The convictions were given by Judge Thomas M. DelRicci following a two-day trial without a jury. Lucas and Valazquez, represented by defense attorneys Luther Weaver and Gregory DiPippo respectively, didn't testify during the trial and are currently free on bail pending sentencing hearings.

Assistant District Attorney Gabrielle Hughes plans to seek imprisonment for Lucas and Valazquez.

Two other accomplices previously pleaded guilty to their roles in the plot. Mason Alexander Hall, 23, is waiting for sentencing after pleading guilty for his part in the conspiracy. Patrick David Perna, 22, also pleaded guilty to contraband and conspiracy charges and is awaiting sentencing.

According to Hughes, the plot seriously jeopardized the safety and order of the facility. Hall and Valazquez attempted to smuggle synthetic marijuana into the jail using sprayed pieces of paper, aiming to sell the drugs to other inmates.

During the investigation, detectives found a letter from Hall outlining his plan to profit from the drug-laced papers. The probe included surveillance, interviews, and drug testing of recovered letters, among other methods. It revealed that Hall and Valazquez were collaborating with Perna and Lucas to bring controlled substances into the facility.

According to investigators, the first smuggling attempt was made by Lucas using a piece of children's artwork, which was rejected by prison officials. Later, Lucas facilitated getting the drug-soaked paper to Perna under Hall and Valazquez's directions. The letter from Perna to Hall was intercepted by officials, tested, and found to be laced with cocaine.

East Norriton Man Pleads Guilty to Secretly Filming Hundreds in Gym Bathrooms, Faces Possible Jail Time

A resident of East Norriton, Steven DeLuca, has confessed to charges that he covertly filmed men in various states of undress in public restrooms and gym locker rooms, collecting over 600 photos and videos.

DeLuca, 54, was apprehended in the act at LA Fitness in Upper Providence. He pleaded guilty in Montgomery County Court to 10 counts of invasion of privacy. The incidents took place from March 2019 through May 2022 across different county locations.

DeLuca's cellphone contained 646 images and videos of men recorded in public restrooms, according to the criminal complaint. Among these, 85 had location data pinpointing them to Montgomery County.

Sentencing is delayed while a background investigation and a psychosexual evaluation of DeLuca is prepared. He also faces assessment by the Pennsylvania Sexual Offender Assessment Board to determine if he qualifies as a sexually violent predator. This could result in stricter restrictions if he is put on probation or parole. The potential maximum sentence DeLuca faces is 6 to 12 months in jail.

Caroline Goldstein, the Assistant District Attorney, seeks a jail term for DeLuca, stressing the seriousness of his actions. His defense lawyer, Paul J. Mallis, will argue for a probationary sentence, highlighting DeLuca's remorse and lack of criminal history.

The investigation began after a customer at LA Fitness reported DeLuca's inappropriate behavior. Upon confrontation, DeLuca initially denied involvement but was apprehended when officers saw an explicit image on his phone. Following his arrest, DeLuca confessed to the recordings. Despite this, many victims remain unidentified, and images from multiple LA Fitness locations were discovered on DeLuca's phone.

DeLuca may also face a 15-year requirement to report his address under Pennsylvania's Sexual Offender Registration and Notification Act, although this is being contested in the state Supreme Court.

Off-Duty Reading Police Officer Arrested for Allegedly Threatening Daughter's Boyfriend with Firearm

A Reading police officer, who was off-duty at the time, has been apprehended on allegations of menacing his daughter's boyfriend with a firearm near his Chester County residence past midnight.

Matthew J. Troxell, a 42-year-old resident of Elverson, was detained on Thursday by state authorities. He is facing charges of making terroristic threats, simple assault, endangering another individual recklessly, and possession of a crime instrument. Troxell is currently on leave from his duties at the Reading Police Department.

Following his arraignment, Troxell was released, awaiting a preliminary hearing.

The arrest affidavit, prepared by Trooper Richard Whitehouse, outlines that the incident happened after Troxell spent an evening drinking at his residence. While the threatened individual was not physically harmed, he expressed profound fear for his life, as per the state police's statement.

Whitehouse began investigating upon receiving a report about an alleged threat involving a Reading officer from the department’s Office of Professional Standards on July 11.

During the investigation, Whitehouse conducted interviews with Troxell, his wife, daughter, and the daughter's boyfriend. The basic details of the incident were confirmed by all parties involved.

The daughter's boyfriend, who had first met her on a family vacation in Texas, had been invited to visit the Troxell family in Pennsylvania. His arrival dates back to late May or early June. Troxell had set ground rules for their sleeping arrangements, prohibiting them from seeing each other after 12:30 a.m.

The night of June 5 saw Troxell and his wife consuming whiskey in their garage. Around 2 a.m., they decided to retire to bed, but Troxell noticed that neither the young man nor his daughter were in their designated rooms.

Fearing an abduction or that his daughter might have been taken out of the house by her boyfriend, Troxell strapped his 9 mm pistol to his side and went searching for them. He discovered the couple lying on a trampoline outside their residence.

The boyfriend recounted that Troxell grabbed him by his collar, aimed his firearm at his neck, and questioned their activities. Troxell allegedly threatened him, stating the gun could kill him if he didn't leave immediately. Believing the gun was loaded, the boyfriend left the scene, stating he didn't want to risk getting shot.

However, he later returned to the house with the daughter, who assured him the situation would be diffused. Troxell's wife offered an apology later, and Troxell referred to the incident as "water under the bridge."

Although Troxell admitted to brandishing his firearm during the confrontation, he denied making any threats.

A statement from Reading police confirms Troxell's arrest and subsequent placement on leave while an investigation into the matter is ongoing. Further comment from the city is withheld due to the ongoing nature of the investigation.

Lionel Messi's Move to MLS Boosts Apple TV+ Subscriptions, Exceeds Targets

The recent transfer of soccer legend Lionel Messi to Major League Soccer (MLS) has led to a significant boost in Apple TV+ subscriptions, according to the company's CEO Tim Cook. During Thursday's quarterly earnings call, Cook revealed that the streaming service had exceeded its subscriber targets for the quarter ending July 1. A portion of this success, he stated, can be attributed to increased interest generated by Messi's move to Inter Miami CF.

The Apple CEO voiced his enthusiasm over the streaming service's partnership with MLS and Messi's high-profile transfer to Inter Miami. "Though we're in the early stages, we've surpassed our subscriber expectations, and Messi's move to Inter Miami has certainly given us a lift – we're really thrilled about it," he added.

The collaborative relationship between Apple and MLS, initiated in February, features a Season Pass available at $13 monthly for subscribers and $15 for non-subscribers. Messi's decision to join Inter Miami, confirmed in June following the end of his contract with Paris Saint-Germain, was formally announced a month later.

Messi's debut in MLS has been spectacular, with the renowned player scoring five goals in his first three games with the new team. The Inter Miami club is slated to pay Messi $150 million over the coming two and a half years, which includes his salary, signing bonus, and an equity stake in the team. Messi has also reportedly signed revenue-sharing contracts with both Apple TV+ and Adidas, one of the largest corporate sponsors of the MLS.

Upcoming Local Events

• Trivia Tuesday's at Gatsby's Pub Gatsby's at the Sunnybrook - AUGUST 8TH, 7 PM – 9 PM

• Open Mic at SoulJoel's - AUGUST 8TH · 7:00 PM EDT

• Line Dancing at SunnyBrook Ballroom - AUGUST 8TH, 6:30 PM – 10:30 PM

• Pajama Party Themed Bingo at SoulJoel's for $2,550 in CASH

  SoulJoel's at SunnyBrook - AUGUST 9TH, 7 PM – 9 PM

• Kids Ice Cream Social with Mario and Bluey - AUGUST 10TH · 6:00 PM

• Karaoke Thursday's at Gatsby's Pub - AUGUST 10TH · 7:00 PM

• Trivia Night at Iron Gate Biergarten - AUGUST 10TH, 7 PM – 9 PM

• 21+ Line Dancing @ Island Pizza!! - AUGUST 10TH, 8 PM – 11 PM

• 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?

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PHILLIES

Turner and Harper Shine as Philadelphia Phillies Triumph Over Kansas City Royals 9-6 in Saturday Evening’s Game

The Philadelphia Phillies defeated the Kansas City Royals 9-6, with key performances by Bryce Harper and Trea Turner. Harper produced a single, double, and home run, while Turner provided a double, home run, and four runs batted in (RBIs).

Turner, who recently signed a significant contract, seems to have won the support of Phillies fans, receiving standing ovations during the games.

Despite his recent elbow surgery, Harper has shown resilience by alternating between the roles of designated hitter and first base. The victory helped the Phillies maintain their position in the second wild-card spot.

Stott, Schwarber, and Castellanos Power Phillies to 8-4 Victory Over Royals; Walker Makes Major League History with 13 Victories

The Philadelphia Phillies defeated the Kansas City Royals 8-4, with notable performances by Bryson Stott, Kyle Schwarber, and Nick Castellanos who each hit home runs.

Phillies pitcher Taijuan Walker recovered from a shaky start to become the first major league pitcher to secure 13 victories this season. Despite an early lead from the Royals, the Phillies managed to balance the game and eventually secure the lead.

Defensively, both teams showcased notable moments, especially a spectacular putout by Royals' Michael Massey and Maikel Garcia. Despite the loss, the Royals remain hopeful, having had a seven-game winning streak before this match.

Sweden Ousts US in Women's World Cup in Historic Penalty Shootout Victory

In the Women's World Cup, Sweden triumphed over the United States in a 5-4 penalty shootout following a goalless draw.

This marked the first time the US, which has won four World Cup titles, has been eliminated in the Round of 16. The match was the first in this tournament to extend into extra time. Sweden, undefeated in group stage games, moves onto the quarterfinals to face Japan.

The US team struggled during group play and, despite showing improvement against Sweden, failed to secure a win. Key players included Rose Lavelle, who was absent due to yellow card accumulation, and Megan Rapinoe, who was subbed in during overtime for her 200th appearance in her final World Cup.

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