• Hero Philadelphia cop arrested and charged with rape other crimes

  A former Philadelphia police officer once hailed as a hero and given a seat next to the first lady at a speech by President Obama has been arrested and charged with rape and other crimes. Authorities allege that former officer Richard DeCoatsworth left a party with two females early Thursday and took them to another location, where they allege he produced a handgun and forced them to use ...

• Eagles experiment with Clay Harbor Jason Avant on defense to add versatility

  Tight end Clay Harbor and wide receiver Jason Avant have both spent time at different positions during practice this week, examples of coach Chip Kelly's emphasis on versatility and perhaps a way to add value to two players who are not guaranteed to make the final roster. Harbor has worked with outside linebacker, while Avant tried defensive back. It should be noted that neither player is ...

• Criticism flares around new Pa. graduation tests

  HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) -- It seemed to hit the Capitol like a brick: a sudden groundswell of criticism over a move by Gov. Tom Corbett and the Pennsylvania State Board of Education to toughen academic achievement standards and tie them to graduation tests for the state's roughly 1.7 million public and charter school ...

• Mysterious bite marks on disabled Philadelphia teenager trigger investigation

  A Philadelphia teenager with cerebral palsy is recovering after a brutal attack in which she was bitten across her back and shoulders.  However, from where the bites originated remains a mystery. 16-year-old Ariel Alexander's condition has confined her to a wheelchair for most of her life, leaving her unable to communicate to authorities about who committed the savage act, ...

• DeCoatsworth former hero officer charged with rape

  Richard DeCoatsworth in happier times, as he joined first lady Michelle Obama and Jill Biden at a presidential address in 2009. (Associated ...

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