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TRENTON - Teen drivers in New Jersey will soon face a slew of new restrictions aimed at reducing the number of deaths by young drivers.

Gov. Corzine is expected to sign two new teen driving bills into law today.

Under the bills, those with learner’s or exam permits would need 12 months of practice before they could get a provisional license. That’s twice the current requirement.

Reflective decals would be required on vehicles operated by anyone with a learner’s or exam permit, or a provisional license.

Permit or probationary drivers could not use cell phones, even handsfree. -AP

“We lost our voice today,” said Phillies president David Montgomery.

Mr. Kalas was found unconscious in the broadcast booth yesterday before the Phillies’ game at Nationals Park in Washington. He was taken to George Washington University hospital, where he was pronounced dead about 1:20 p.m., the Phillies said. The cause of death was not announced.

“Harry Kalas is the Phillies,” said John Kruk, the ex-Phils first baseman and now an ESPN broadcaster.

Phillies and Nationals officials discussed whether to play yesterday’s game but chose to because, Montgomery said, Mr. Kalas would have wanted them to do so. However, the Phillies’ planned visit to the White House today was postponed with no new date set.

The news of Mr. Kalas’ death prompted makeshift memorials around Philadelphia and made headlines on newscasts and Web sites across the country. There was a moment of silence before the Phillies-Nationals game, as well as before the Rockies-Cubs contest at Wrigley Field in Chicago, near Mr. Kalas’ boyhood home.

“The Kalas family is overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and affection from all of Harry’s fans and friends cross America,” Mr. Kalas’ family said in a statement. “Especially the Phillies fans whom he loved as much as the game of baseball itself.”

Mr. Kalas, a self-effacing Midwesterner who arrived here in 1971, when the Phillies moved into Veterans Stadium and was their lead announcer when they transitioned to Citizens Bank Park 33 years later, seemingly was born to be a baseball announcer.

That destiny was clear enough to classmates at Naperville (Ill.) High School that someone placed these prophetic words alongside the 1954 yearbook photo of the blond kid with the impish smirk:

“Harry Kalas . . . Future Sports Announcer.”

His fan’s passion for the game, his golden voice, enthusiasm and endearing personality combined to make him not just a widely respected announcer but perhaps this hard-bitten city’s most beloved sports figure.

“He was so well-prepared, had such a great set of pipes and was a real professional,” said veteran Philadelphia broadcaster Bill Campbell, whom Mr. Kalas replaced with the Phillies. “He was just a wonderful broadcaster.”

Despite 38 years in Philadelphia, Mr. Kalas never abandoned the tastes he developed in 1950s Naperville.

He favored garish sport coats, white shoes and belts, and cornball poems and songs. His innate optimism was best expressed by the lyrics of “High Hopes,” the 1950s novelty song that Mr. Kalas would gladly and lovingly croon in bars, press boxes or buses.

Next time you’re found, with your chin on the ground
There’s a lot to be learned, so look around:
Just what makes that little old ant
Think he’ll move that rubber tree plant.
Anyone knows an ant, can’t
Move a rubber tree plant.
But he’s got high hopes, he’s got high hopes,
He’s got high apple pie, in the sky hopes.

Professionally, Mr. Kalas was, along with Vin Scully of the Dodgers and Ernie Harwell of the Tigers, among the most respected and recognizable voices in recent baseball history. That voice, burnished by a half-century’s cigarette habit, became even better known when two local institutions, NFL Films and Campbell’s Soup, hired him for voice-over work.

He was Notre Dame football’s radio voice for several seasons and for the last few decades had broadcast NFL games as well. He was inducted into the broadcasters wing of baseball’s Hall of Fame in 2002. He won 18 Pennsylvania Sportscaster of the Year Awards and in 2003 was a charter inductee into the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame.

Through his years here, Mr. Kalas became a comforting and engaging presence on the Phillies’ radio and television broadcasts. He was clear, concise and always curious. His long partnership with the late Richie Ashburn, who became perhaps his closest friend, was marked by humorous exchanges and good-natured ribbing.

“Harry was as good a colleague as any sportscaster could hope to have,” said Andy Musser, his Phils broadcast partner for 26 years. ”He was easy to get along with, and I certainly enjoyed my 26 years sharing the booth with Harry.”

Mr. Kalas was present for the greatest moments in Phillies history. He was behind the mike when the 2008 Phils captured the World Series, when Mike Schmidt hit his 500th - and every other - home run, when Steve Carlton won his 300th game.

Executive Fire Chief Daniel Williams said they had to evacuate the people because of the high risk that the fire could spread to the nearby rowhomes.  They finally got the fire under control about an hour later at 9:45pm.

13 homes in total had to be evacuated.  The cause of the fire is still under investigation the Police report says.

I usually don’t comment on my stories but this fire was right down the block from me and it was not a small type of fire, this was probably the largest fire I have seen (in person).  Noone was hurt but one male was taken to Thomas Jefferson Hospital, and we hope he is going to be ok.

Daniel Giddings and the driver of a car were pulled over by Police Officer Patrick McDonald yesterday.  McDonald then went over to the car and got both of the driver and Giddings information.  Giddings gave a fake name and information.

Officer McDonald shortly realized this and then returned back to the car and Giddings side window and thats when Giddings jumped out and began to flee on foot.  McDonald gave chas shortly and then Giddings turned around and opened fire on Officer McDonald knocking him to the ground.

Giddings then stood over late Officer Patrick McDonald and executed him firing shots killing him.

Officer Richard Bowes Arrived at the scene to find Giddings trying to flee on a stolen bike.  Bowes gave chase and was shot in the hip and then he fired 6 shots at Giddings killing him on the scene.

Authorities said there was a 3rd man at the scene who was pronounced dead.  This man was the suspect they are saying, and possibly the one who shot at the 2 police officers.  They have not said what started the shooting or why the police officers were shooting at the man or being shot at by this suspect.

The man was supposedly wanted for aggravated assault on a police officer.  Police say that officer Richard Bowes, 35, was one of the officers who responded.  He was the other officer who was shot in the hip.  He is in stable condition.

Patrick McDonald was the fourth Philadelphia officer to die this year while on duty.   A semi-automatic was found near the dead suspects body.

Update: 95 burgundy buick is reportedly connected with the shooting of the police officer Patrick McDonald.  The License plate number is GVH7189.

Contact authorities if you have any information regarding this case.

“You’re going to see why people are not happy to be here,” Vega said.  He was referring to his prosecution witness who is supposed to testify that Bey, 26, fired gun shots that Killed Moses Williams, 23.

This happened on September 24, 2000.

District Attorney CArlos Vega opening statement was a solid one.  He pointed out to the jury the fear that so many whitnesses face when brought to testify in a trial.  He pointed out that is why they are reluctant to testify.

Both whitnesses who were set to testify in this trail, both were tragically murdered.  The most recent Chante Wright, at 23, was gunned down with a friend when she snuck back into Philadelphia from whitness protection, to visit her sick ailing grandmother.

Defense attorney Joseph Santaguida said in his counter opening statement that there will be no evidence presented against his client, Hakeem Bey, beyond a reasonable doubt.  Bey faces the death penalty if convicted of this crime.

All 3 of the teens were shot and only 2 of them managed to get away and get inside a row home in the 200 block of South Ithan Street.  Hakim Griffen was not one of the ones to get away, he fell to the ground with multiple gunshot wounds including one to the head.

He remains in critical condition at the hospital of the University of Pennsylvania while his 2 friends age 14 and 17 are in stable condition.

“All I know is that I was in the house feeding my son and I heard a pop, pop, pop,” said Hakim’s grandmother, Cynthai Griffin.

She said her grandson Hakim was a respectful young man and she does not know why anyone would be shooting at him or his friends.  While looking at the 12 or so bullet holes in the front of her house she said our kids are killing eachother right and left, and that might be something we need to look into.