Philadelphia "Brain Drain" not as Severe as many believed

PHILADELPHIA - The Philadelphia region retains 86 percent of college graduates originally from the area, and 64 percent of all graduates, better retention rates than Boston, according to an online study by an economic development group.

But only 29 percent of those who are not from Philadelphia stay in the region, while Boston retains 42 percent of its nonnative grads, according to the study conducted by the Knowledge Industry Partnership.

The study was based on e-mail responses from 2,550 people who graduated from 29 colleges in the region in 2003.

"The numbers show our retention is higher than conventional wisdom had assumed, which is very encouraging," said David B. Thornburgh, executive director of the eastern division of the Pennsylvania Economy League, which co-sponsored the study.

James Gallagher, president of Philadelphia University and chairman of the Knowledge Industry Partnership, said colleges need to talk more with businesses and redesign curriculums to prepare students for and channel them into fields where jobs are.

Philadelphia Standardized Test Scores Up

PHILADELPHIA (KYW 1060) For the second year, the Philadelphia School District has received its national standardized test scores and the news is good, say district officials.

The TerraNova test results, says school district CEO Paul Vallas, find that student scores continue to improve across the board:

"In eight of ten grades, we saw improvement in reading scores. In nine of ten grades we saw improvement in language arts scores. And in seven of nine grades we saw improvement in math scores.

"While we saw solid growth in our reading scores, the growth in math was very strong. And let me point out that the strongest growth was in the middle grades -- 6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th grades."

Vallas attributes the improved scores to redirecting resources back into the classroom, although he says the work is not done.

The state standardized test scores are expected next month, but Vallas says they normally follow the national scores in terms of improvement

Senator Vince Fumo visits the Paul Kircher Show
Announces Pennsylvania has a $456,000,000 budget surplus, also notes that he's very optimistic that The Produce Terminal will not leave Philadelphia and move to Camden, discuss' plans for a brand new cutting edge facility in Philadelphia.

The entire show including The committee to Protect Journalists and R Emmett Tyrell on Ronald Reagan will be available on www.paulkircher.com shortly.

South Philly Produce Terminal Decision Near

Announcement Could Come Within Days
Merchants Propose New Jersey Move

PHILADELPHIA (KYW 1060) South Philadelphia's produce terminal is expected within days to announce whether the merchants will move to South Jersey or stay put.

The produce terminal merchants voted last month to move to Camden unless Philadelphia and Harrisburg come up with a better offer.

That offer is on the table, and Philadelphia commerce director Stephanie Naidoff is among those waiting anxiously for the decision:

"We're all keeping our fingers crossed, hoping that the combination of the city and state efforts are going to produce a good result. We really want them to stay in Philadelphia. The thousand jobs are important, but even more important is their business to Philadelphia."

This comes as Mayor Street sent to City Council a plan to give the produce terminal a special tax status known as a "Keystone Opportunity Zone."

Naidoff says that's a key part of the package being offered the merchants.

New Jersey counters with tax breaks and a new, $100 million facility.