Burglar Hits Franklin Institute

PHILADELPHIA-(AP) — A burglar nabbed more than $8,000 in cash and nearly $20,000 worth of checks from an unlocked safe at the Franklin Institute this week, police said.
The theft, reported at 9 a.m. Wednesday, may have occurred the night before, when a silent alarm may have been triggered at 11 p.m.

The safe, though unlocked, was behind a door with an alarm, police said.

There were no signs of forced entry at the Center City Philadelphia museum. Detectives spent part of the day Wednesday reviewing security tapes and looking for clues.

Philly Tourism Jumps 39% Compared to 8% National Average
New Tourism Report Released Today Reveals: Philly Makes Double Digit Growth in Leisure Tourists


PHILADELPHIA -- The Philadelphia region has experienced steady growth in leisure tourism, with leisure visitors staying longer and spending more in the five-county region, according to a new research study. Compiled by the Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation (GPTMC) with data from seven independent organizations, the report entitled Greater Philadelphia Tourism Monitor, documents, for the first time, the economic impact of leisure tourism marketing but warns that future market expansion will hinge on continued and increasing investment.

The study reveals that leisure tourism grew 39.5% between 1997 and 2002 (compared to an 8.8% growth in domestic leisure travel overall), and hotel room night revenue grew 55% between 1995 and 2003 - from $489 million to $775 million. Visitor spending rose from $78 to $98 per day, a 26% increase, between 2001 and 2002. And, visitors are staying longer, from 1.8 days in 1990 to 3.6 days in 2002.

Perhaps the most significant development in the report is the analysis of the economic impact of investment in tourism marketing. Each $1 spent on tourism marketing returned $185 in direct, indirect and induced regional spending, of which $41 represented increased wages and salaries, according to an analysis by Econsult Corporation of three GPTMC tourism campaigns. (Note: Direct spending is what visitors spend in the region, indirect spending is what businesses spend to run their businesses and induced spending is what their employees spend during their daily lives.)

"More visitors mean significant dividends to the region in the forms of increased economic activity, personal income, employment and tax revenues," says Stephen P. Mullin, senior vice president and principal of Econsult Corporation. "The recommendation of the report is to increase investment in Philadelphia tourism marketing to $50 million over the next five years."

"Travel and tourism generates $9 billion in economic impact and employs 125,000 people in the Philadelphia region," says GPTMC Board Chairman Manny Stamatakis. "This report confirms that investment in tourism marketing pays big dividends and demonstrates why we must continue to invest to maintain and grow our competitive position."

R&B Star Shot Dead In Philadelphia

Philadelphia(NBC 10)-Rhythm-and-blues artist John Whitehead was shot dead Tuesday night in the West Oak Lane neighborhood of Philadelphia.

Whitehead was working on a vehicle with another man when three men approached and shots were fired. The men fled.

Whitehead was shot in the neck and collapsed. The other man was shot in the buttocks and taken to a hospital.

The 55-year-old singer-songwriter is best known for his work with Gene McFadden in the group McFadden & Whitehead. They sang the 1979 hit song "Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now."

According to Whitehead's official biography at www.letfreedomringinc.com, McFadden & Whitehead wrote "The Backstabbers" for the O'Jays as the first of 37 gold or platinum records for the team and Philadelphia International Records.

Whitehead also wrote songs for Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes, The Intruders, Billy Paul, Teddy Pendergrass, The Jacksons, Archie Bell and The Drells, Lou Rawls, Freddie Jackson and Melba Moore.

Local Man Beheaded in Iraq

CAIRO, Egypt - A video posted Tuesday on an Islamic militant Web site showed the beheading of an American civilian in Iraq, and said the execution was carried out by an al-Qaida affiliated group to avenge the abuse of Iraqi prisoners by American soldiers.

The video showed five men wearing headscarves and black ski masks, standing over a bound man in an orange jumpsuit — similar to a prisoner's uniform — who identified himself as Nick Berg, a U.S. contractor whose body was found on a highway overpass in Baghdad on Saturday.

"My name is Nick Berg, my father's name is Michael, my mother's name is Susan," the man said on the video. "I have a brother and sister, David and Sarah. I live in ... Philadelphia."

After reading a statement, the men were seen pulling the man to his side and putting a large knife to his neck. A scream sounded as the men cut his head off, shouting "Allahu Akbar!" — "God is great." They then held the head out before the camera.

Berg was a small-business owner from the Philadelphia suburbs, his family said Tuesday.

Berg's family said they knew their son had been decapitated, but didn't know the details of the killing. When told of the video by an Associated Press reporter, Berg's father, Michael, and his two siblings hugged and cried.

"I knew he was decapitated before. That manner is preferable to a long and torturous death. But I didn't want it to become public," Michael Berg said.

The video tape included a statement by one of the executioners:

"For the mothers and wives of American soldiers, we tell you that we offered the U.S. administration to exchange this hostage with some of the detainees in Abu Ghraib and they refused."

"So we tell you that the dignity of the Muslim men and women in Abu Ghraib and others is not redeemed except by blood and souls. You will not receive anything from us but coffins after coffins ... slaughtered in this way."

The video bore the title "Abu Musab al-Zarqawi shown slaughtering an American." It was unclear whether al-Zarqawi — a lieutenant of Osama bin Laden was shown in the video, or was claiming responsibility for ordering the execution.

The Web site on which the video was posted is known as a clearing house for al-Qaida and Islamic extremist groups' statements and tapes.

The family of Berg, 26, of West Chester, Pa., said they were informed by the U.S. State Department on Monday that Berg was found dead near a highway overpass in Baghdad.

Berg's mother, Suzanne Berg, said her son was in Iraq as an independent businessman to help rebuild communication antennas. He had been missing since April 9, she said.

"He had this idea that he could help rebuild the infrastructure," she said.

The U.S. military Tuesday said an American civilian was found dead in Baghdad, but did not release his identity. State Department spokeswoman Susan Pittman said she couldn't release the name of the dead American, but said she not aware of more than one civilian found dead in recent days.

The military said there were signs of trauma to the body. Suzanne Berg said she was told her son's death was violent but did not want to discuss details.

Berg, who was in Baghdad from late December to Feb. 1, returned to Iraq in March. He didn't find any work and planned again to return home on March 30, but his daily communications home stopped on March 24. He later told his parents he was jailed by Iraqi officials at a checkpoint in Mosul.

"He was arrested and held without due process," his father, Michael Berg, told the Daily Local News of West Chester recently. "By the time he got out the whole area was inflamed with violence.

The FBI on March 31 interviewed Berg's parents in West Chester. Jerri Williams, a spokeswoman for the Philadelphia FBI office, told The Philadelphia Inquirer the agency had been "asked to interview the parents regarding Mr. Berg's purpose in Iraq."

On April 5, the Bergs filed suit in federal court in Philadelphia, contending that their son was being held illegally by the U.S. military. The next day Berg was released. He told his parents he hadn't been mistreated.

The Bergs last heard from their son April 9, when he said he would come home by way of Jordan, Turkey or Kuwait. But by then, hostilities in Iraq had escalated.

Suzanne Berg on Tuesday said she was told her son's body would be transported to Kuwait and then to Dover, Del. She said the family had been trying for weeks to learn where their son was but that federal officials had not been helpful.

"I went through this with them for weeks," she said. "I basically ended up doing most of the investigating myself."


Nick Berg

Underwater Tunnel from N.J. to Philly Proposed

(Philadelphia-AP) — A Philadelphia City Councilman proposes building a tunnel under the Delaware River for a subway line connecting Philadelphia with southern New Jersey.
Councilman-at-large Jim Kenney admits it's farfetched. He's not even sure it's technically feasible -- but he is planning hearings on the idea of a subway tunnel connecting the Philadelphia Navy Yard with underdeveloped portions of South Jersey.

Then, he says, the Broad Street subway could be extended to the Navy Yard.

Kenny says the project could reduce reliance on automobiles and create construction jobs. He says it would also "make Philadelphia a better destination point, both for jobs and recreational and cultural activities."

City Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell doesn't like the idea. Blackwell says a tunnel running to South Jersey would only encourage more Philadelphians to move there, since the commute into town would be easier.

Smokin' Joe arrested in North Philly

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - Former heavyweight champion Joe Frazier was arrested Friday on charges of simple assault and reckless endangerment.

Philadelphia Police Corporal Jim Pauley told The Sports Network that Frazier was taken into custody early Friday morning at a residence on North 18th Street in Philadelphia. The victim was described by Pauley as the 44-year old mother of Frazier's son.

Frazier, nicknamed Smokin' Joe, is in jail awaiting arraignment.

Frazier was the champion in the late 1960s and early 1970s. He fought Muhammad Ali in three classic heavyweight fights, winning once and losing twice.