Media Mentions
FTC honors tops in class
Franklin Towne Charter High School last week hosted an academic pep rally to honor student achievement in the first marking period. State Sen. Jimmy Dillon and Rep. Joe Hohenstein honored students in ninth through 12th grades who had the top grade point averages.
Bill protecting referees from harassment advances out of Pa. Senate
HARRISBURG — Bad calls by officials at sporting events draw the ire of players, coaches and fans. Sometimes, it goes too far and ends in harassment or worse. Pennsylvania state senators voted 48-2 Wednesday to create a third-degree misdemeanor charge for anyone...
Philadelphia officials cut ribbon on new police department
A step forward for community policing in one Philadelphia neighborhood. Officials Friday cut the ribbon on a new 15th police district in Northeast Philadelphia. NBC10’s Miguel Martinez-Valle has more about the new building.
Respecting The Whistle Bill Advances
HARRISBURG – Senate Bill 842, known as the Respect the Whistle Act, has been approved by the PA Senate by a bipartisan vote. While PA sports officials have had protection from assault since 1990, the bill addresses a critical gap in that protection by tackling the...
How AI is poised to impact government – and vice versa
Since OpenAI launched its chatbot in November 2022, artificial intelligence has seemed to shift from a far-fetched sci-fi premise – think HAL 9000 in “2001: A Space Odyssey” or the childlike android in “A.I. Artificial Intelligence” – to an inescapable, everyday...
Hey, sports spectators, respect the whistle
State Sen. Jimmy Dillon on Saturday held a news conference in the Bustleton Bengals gym to rally support for SB 842, the “Respect the Whistle Act.” The legislation addresses the issue of harassment and bullying faced by sports officials across Pennsylvania, creating a...
Harassment of sports officials could become its own offense in Pa.
Some Pennsylvania senators are throwing a flag on harassment of sports officials. Harassing sports officials could become a separate offense in the state under a bill that recently passed the state Senate Judiciary Committee. Under Senate Bill 842, known as the...
State Senate Democratic Caucus Members Announce Build Better PA
PHILADELPHIA, PA — State Senators Steve Santarsiero (D-10), Tina Tartaglione (D-2), Jimmy Dillon (D-5) and John Kane (D-9), and representatives from the building trades this week announced Build Better PA, a package of bills to promote fairness, quality, and skilled...
Respect the Whistle Act gains bipartisan support to protect Pa. sports officials
State Sen. Jimmy Dillon (D, Philadelphia) recently announced the successful passage of Senate Bill 842, known as the Respect the Whistle Act, by the Pennsylvania Senate Judiciary Committee. With a bipartisan majority of 13 to 2, this vote is a significant step towards...
Happy 100th birthday, Ray Lodise
A vehicle parade took place on Saturday morning at the Villages at Pine Valley to celebrate the belated 100th birthday of Aurelio (Ray) Patrick Lodise. Residents waved American flags as Lodise watched Warriors’ Watch Riders, the Rockledge Volunteer Fire Company,...
Bill Offers Respect For The Whistle
HARRISBURG – Legislation called Respect the Whistle Act is advancing in the PA Senate. With a bipartisan vote, Senate Bill 842 was approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee and is before the full Senate. Sports officials in the Keystone State have had protection from...
Police-style body cams for referees? Not in Pennsylvania yet, but here’s what they might get
HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) — Physically assaulting a referee or umpire has long been a crime because assaulting anyone is a crime — former Spring Grove football player Tyree Brooks pleaded guilty in 2022 to a charge of assaulting a referee in 2021. But harassing any...
A football player’s good deed
Last year, when the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Romans JV (fifth and sixth grades) football team arrived to scrimmage St. Jerome, the Doylestown-based squad sported nice uniforms. Brian Trymbiski, then a Romans sixth-grader, noticed St. Jerome players were wearing...
A night for champions
Hundreds of people gathered last week at Frankford and Cottman avenues to celebrate not one, but two local championship teams. The St. Hubert Large Varsity Division II and JV Gold cheerleading teams captured national championships in February in Orlando. The Father...
Local leaders push for slate of gun laws in Pennsylvania they believe will save lives
PHILADELPHIA - A group of Pennsylvania Senate Democrats are demanding a vote on gun bills that they say are commonsense and can save lives. A contingent of state and local leaders, including Senator Vincent Hughes and District Attorney Larry Krasner, gathered Tuesday...
Improvements Coming to Y Basketball Court
State Sen. Jimmy Dillon (D-5th dist.) on Friday attended the Northeast YMCA Camp Family Engagement Night to present a $50,000 grant to Y executive director Shea Trogdon. The Northeast Family Y, 11088 Knights Road, will use the money to make improvements to its...
Funding for Fox Chase
Fox Chase Cancer Center last week thanked state Rep. Kevin Boyle and Sens. Jimmy Dillon and Tina Tartaglione for their support in securing $1.5 million in funding for the modernization of its research facilities.
Recognizing Borski for his vision of the riverfront
The Robert A. Borski Jr. Lifetime Achievement Award went to City Councilman and former state Rep. Mike Driscoll for his efforts to revitalize the Delaware River waterfront. Meanwhile, Driscoll and Kathryn Ott Lovell, commissioner of the city Department of Parks and...
$2 Million for Holy Family Hall
State Sen. Jimmy Dillon, state Rep. Pat Gallagher and City Councilman Mike Driscoll last week presented Anne Prisco, president of Holy Family University, with a check from the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program for $2 million. The money will be used to renovate...
Dillon opens second office
State Sen. Jim Dillon (D-5th dist.) on Monday opened a second office at 10007 Ferndale St. “I’m excited to be up here,” Dillon said. “The office should be a great asset.” Dillon also has an office on the east side of Roosevelt Boulevard, at 12361 Academy...