LIP News
Lancaster Independent Press
-
PERMANENT POST – ARREST THE KILLERS & RESIGN CHIEF! PLEASE PAGE BELOW FOR TODAY’S NEWS
Posted on January 26th, 2011 30 comments
On December 6, 2010, an arsonist killed Olga Sanchez-Reyes and critically injured two of her children. A year-and-a-half before, an arsonist also targeted a property owned by Sanchez-Reyes and her husband. This post will remain at the top of this site until an arrest is made in this horrific murder and also the horrific murder below added in July of this year.
Click here for “Lancaster police chief vows to find arsonist.”
On May 16th of this year, 83-year-old Erma Kaylor was brutally stabbed to death in her home at 235 W. Vine Street. No arrest has been made. Click here for “Chief says police will find killer of 83-year-old woman.”
Click on the “UNSOLVED MURDERS” tab above to see the names of the victims of the eleven unsolved murders since Keith Sadler became the Police Chief on April 23, 2008.
______________________________________________
This permanent box had been up for over a year when on July 29, 2012, I chanced upon Rosaura Torres-Sadler and her book detailing physical abuse by her ex-husband, the current Chief of the Lancaster Police, Keith Sadler (click here).
The Lancaster Newspapers have not written one word about this and most citizens in Lancaster are unaware of his past. “Abuse Hidden Behind the Badge” is available from Amazon.com. -
PICTURES ARE WORTH…
Posted on March 9th, 2014 4 commentsFEDERAL AND STATE
INVESTIGATIONS,
MULTIPLE FINES,
LAWSUITS AND MORE!Below are photos of the 83 employees of the Lancaster Newspaper’s editorial staff as listed by them online (click here). They are in the same order as LNP’s “Contact Us” page and their names will be added tomorrow. In the few cases where no photo is provided by LNP, I have added them from Facebook and Linkedin after absolutely verifying they are the employee in question.
Coming Monday afternoon: a look at the latest U.S. Census numbers for Lancaster County and City and the breakdown by race and ethnicity for both.
.***********************************************************************************
-
IDIOTIC SWOONING!
Posted on March 9th, 2014 8 commentsTHIS IS NOT
PULITZER PRIZE MATERIAL!
News flash: not everyone is obsessed with Penn State and the idiotic swooning.
Penn State taco sauce?
Are you seriously that childish???
I speak for a lot of people when I say we are tired of all the Penn State hype. It ain’t that great a place
Grow up and move on.The first and only comment on Lancaster Online as of 8:30 am under their lead, huge, front-page story by “investigative reporter” Gil Smart, “Junkets, JoePa and Phil Knight: Why Penn State’s relationship with Nike is more than a business deal,” (click here).This is beyond unbelievable. LNP’s new president, John Kirkpatrick III, comes from the Harrisburg Patriot-News who, of course, won a won a Pulitzer Prize for their investigation of the Jerry Sandusky/Penn State scandal. Doesn’t this man have a new thought in his head? Does he think it’s going to happen again?It’s not! Oh my God! This is unbelievable! This is awful!Please check back later today. -
* UPDATED – EQUAL JUSTICE? – 3
Posted on March 7th, 2014 12 comments$40,000 CASH BAIL VS.
$50,000 UNSECURED BAIL
I have added the exact charges for the two eighteen-year-olds below this morning’s pictures and post. I could not find the docket for 17-year-old Devin Gardill (pictured left), who is the son of West Hempfield policeman James Gardill, and who is charged as an adult. I called District Justice Robert Herman’s office this afternoon and spoke with Pam. She stated that his charges are idential to Luke Karpathios’ charges, which again are listed below. He was also released on $50,000 unsecured bail and according to the latest LNP article (click here), showed up in school today.Unfortunately this is Friday, but on Monday I will be calling Robert Herman’s office, the DA’s office and Judge Madenspacher, who oversees the District Judges, to ask why there is this unbelievable disparity in bail amounts and why two young adults each with six first-degree felony charges, three second-degree felony charges and one third-degree felony charge are free on $50,000 unsecured bail while another young adult who is charged with one third-degree felony is sitting in jail on $40,000 cash bail.ONE IS IN JAIL
ONE IS FREE!
Darnell Greene, 18, was charged yesterday with one third degree felony, one first degree misdemeanor and one misdemeanor. His bail was set at $40,000 cash and he is in the Lancaster County Prison.
Luke Karpathios, 18, was charged yesterday with six first degree felonies, three second degree felonies, one third degree felony and numerous misdemeanor counts. His bail was set at $50,000 unsecured and he is free.
Do you know which one is which?Charges against Luke Dimitri Karpathios (Pictured right):CHARGES# Charge Grade Description Offense Dt. Disposition
1) 18 § 3502 §§ A1 F1 Burglary – Overnight Accommodation, Person Present 03/02/2014
2) 18 § 3502 §§ A1 F1 Burglary – Overnight Accommodation, Person Present 03/02/2014
3) 18 § 3502 §§ A1 F1 Burglary – Overnight Accommodation, Person Present 03/02/2014
4) 18 § 3701 §§ A1II F1 Robbery-Threat Immed Ser Injury 03/02/2014
5) 18 § 903 §§ C F1 Conspiracy – Burglary – Overnight Accommodation, Person Present 03/02/2014
6) 18 § 2702 §§ A4 F2 Aggravated Assault 03/02/2014
7) 18 § 3701 §§ A1IV F2 Robbery-Inflict Threat Imm Bod Inj 03/02/2014
8) 18 § 3701 §§ A1V F3 Robbery-Take Property Fr Other/Force 03/02/2014
9) 18 § 2902 §§ A2 M1 Unlawful Restraint/ Involuntary Servitude 03/02/2014
10) 18 § 2701 §§ A2 M2 Simple Assault 03/02/2014
11) 18 § 2701 §§ A3 Other to Physical Contact 03/02/2014
12) 18 § 2701 §§ A3 M2 Simple Assault 03/02/2014
13) 18 § 2701 §§ A3 M2 Simple Assault 03/02/2014
14 ) 18 § 4912 M2 Impersonating A Public Servant 03/02/2014
15) 18 § 2709 §§ A1 S Harassment – Subject Other to Physical Contact 03/02/2014
16) 18 § 2709 §§ A1 S Harassment – Subject -Threat Immed Ser Injury 03/02/201417) 18 § 903 §§ C F1 Conspiracy – Robbery M2 Simple Assault 03/02/201418) 18 § 903 §§ C M2 Conspiracy – Simple Assault 03/02/2014
19) 18 § 903 §§ C F2 Conspiracy – Aggravated Assault 03/02/201Charges against Darnell M Greene (Pictured left):CHARGES
# Charge Grade Description Offense Dt. Disposition
1) 18 § 6106 §§ A1 F3 Firearms Not To Be Carried W/O License 03/06/2014
2) 35 § 780-113 §§ A31 M Poss Of Marijuana 03/06/2014
3) 18 § 912 §§ B M1 Possess Weapon On School Property 03/06/2014 -
** UPDATED – * EQUAL JUSTICE? – 2
Posted on March 6th, 2014 6 comments** “Son of West Hempfield Twp. police officer charged as adult in home invasion” – click here for WGAL-TV’s report. These kids are free on ankle bracelets? Read what they did!!!
* I am doing research this afternoon. Will be back tomorrow.
FULL OF IMPROPRIETY!
Lancaster County District Attorney Craig Stedman said Wednesday that he was confident township police would’ve been fair in their investigation.
But went on to say that “to avoid all appearance of impropriety, the wise course to take was to turn the case over to (state police).”
From today’s LNP article, “State police take over West Hempfield home-invasion investigation; officer’s son is suspect,” (click here).
District Attorney Craig Stedman should have done this with Bryan Cutler’s brother-in-law, Geoffrey Scott Davis, who shot and killed his two-month-old daughter on Christmas Eve. And it’s already evidently clear that this case is not being handled properly or normally because neither of the two suspects have been charged! This is outrageous!
Please see the story immediately below on this site and check back later today. -
* UPDATED – RELEASE HIS IDENTITY!
Posted on March 5th, 2014 19 comments“YOU GOTTA TAKE IT!”
Karpathios is not in police custody but Pugliese said he has an attorney and is expected to answer to the charges when they are filed.
From LNP’s article, “Cop’s son accused in West Hempfield home invasion; stabbed by victim during encounter,” (click here).
Luke Karpathios is the 18-year-old! Why hasn’t he been arrested/booked/had bail set? They committed felonies! Is this a sick joke? And, of course, LNP is doing their best to hide this story.
Karpathios’ motto on Vine is “No ones given anything in life, you gotta take it,” (click here). Looks like you’ve been given a heck of a lot, Luke! But this blatant preferential treatment and allowing this dangerous individual to walk around free is beyond outrageous!
There will be more tomorrow.EQUAL JUSTICE?
Police have confirmed that one of the two juvenile suspects is the son of a West Hempfield Township police officer.
WGAL-TV, “Home invasion in Lancaster ends with victim taking control,” (click here).
Will this cop’s son be charged as an adult and his identity revealed?
Please check back later today. -
** UPDATED – * UPDATED – LNP’S BLUEPRINT FOR LOCAL NEWS COVERAGE…
Posted on March 4th, 2014 5 commentsA FAKE INVESTIGATION!
LNP reporter Hambright, left, and Breit with “Lebanon Levi.”Thank goodness on this deep-hitting and important investigative reporting Lancaster Newspapers! Maybe you should be out with your limited resources investigating real crimes and corruption, instead of assuring everyone who has any intellect that Amish Mafia is fake.
The first comment on Lancaster Online under today’s big story, “Amish Mafia through the years: Here’s why it’s fake and always has been fake,” (click here).This is the most absurd and childish piece I have read in ages! And where’s lawyer Steven Breit in this piece? After all, he’s the “legal consultant” to the show and represents several of the “stars” of the show. That’s right, Breit is LNP’s court reporter and “co-author” of this story, Brett Hambright’s, good buddy who gives him tips and information to help his cases – case in point – the very recent article, “Attorney: Lititz man charged with New Year’s Eve rampage is mentally ill, will plead guilty,” (click here). From the article:A preliminary hearing on the Columbia chase and crash is scheduled for March 18. Breit said he intends to begin talks then with prosecutors of a potential plea agreement.“We want to discuss a global plea that would take into account all charges and his mental state,” Breit said.Well, isn’t that special? “A global plea!” That’s pretty fancy talk for an attorney who represents the Amish Mafia! Self-serving much, Breit and Hambright?Also, click here for, “HAMBRIGHT: NO JOURNALISM ETHICS, BREIT: NO LEGAL ETHICS!” with the top portion of the story dealing with yet another “mysterious death” in Lancaster.Unbelievable!
These sentences have been deleted from Cindy Stauffer’s online article (click here). The sentences appeared on the continuation of the story from the front page to A-5 in the February 19th print edition. They appeared in the online story for many days until very recently being deleted. Why were these sentences deleted?
There will be much more later today.DELETE IT AND
MAKE IT GO AWAY!
“Good journalism isn’t an arm for any administration or political party. Good journalism isn’t an extension of the PR department of the police department or the mayor’s administration – no matter what party holds the office – and shouldn’t run interference for local Big Business’s ambitions”“A good investigative reporter ferrets out information, follows their own leads, and doesn’t just take dictation from official spokesmen or regurgitate press releases. Investigative journalism should always be seeking out sources, should be the very essence of integrity for ‘We the People,’ not with the goal of giving us salacious tidbits or tabloid sensationalism, but to hold to the fire the feet of those whose jobs it is to serve and protect the citizens.”“Perhaps the answer to remaining viable in the Internet-driven world is not to go safe, to just aim at hanging on, being the Hometown News. Perhaps the answer is to go big or go home. Perhaps the answer is to find 21st-century ways to emulate Woodward and Bernstein, aiming to break big local stories and issues wide open!”“I pray the reader will demand that their local press become the tenacious bulldogs that get the answers to their most pressing questions. It’s time to stop thinking of Lancaster city as just some sleepy backwater where the only thing readers are interested in are human interest feel-good stories. The feel -good stories Lancastrians are interested in are the back story on the fiscal impact of the convention center on taxpayers, the shocking disparity in sentencing in local courtrooms, and the arrests of the murders of 16 of our citizens.”From Carol Petersen’s last column in the Sunday News, “Here’s a blueprint for local news coverage.”The sixteen undolved murders are only in Lancaster City – the number does not include the huge number in the county as well. And the inaction by the police, District Attorney Craig Stedman and the coroner on the Darryl Morton and Judy Cora murders is outrageous.And what do the Lancaster Newspapers do – they have deleted Carol Petersen’s last column. My link to her column no longer works nor does NewsLanc’s who also wrote about it (click here). And this morning, I realized they have deleted several very significant sentences from a recent story about Morton and Cora, in order to protect the police, the DA and the coroner. Unbelieveable and absolutely unconscionable!Please check back later today.[Editor's note: My original story is here. There's a reason I printed a complete "picture" of her column as it appeared in the print edition! They can't "delete" that!] -
TOTALLY FLAWED POLICE WORK – MORTON & CORA
Posted on March 3rd, 2014 No commentsOVER THREE MONTHS
LATER AND THE DA & POLICE
HAVE NOTHING?Inside 788 Sterling Place, one body was found in a bathroom; another in a bed, according to investigators.Neither body was bruised, beaten or showed any other signs of trauma.Nothing appeared to be stolen from the home.“(It’s an) extremely unusual set of circumstances,” Lancaster County District Attorney Craig Stedman said on Tuesday.Police say they are keeping all options open in investigating who or what killed the couple.Carbon monoxide or some other type of poisoning is on that list of factors being investigated.“Nothing has been ruled out and (we) have looked at possible carbon monoxide poisoning,” Stedman said. It is “still treated as a homicide, until established otherwise.”By LNP Reporter Brett Hambright on December 10, 2013, “DA: Deaths of Lancaster Twp. couple investigated as homicides,” (click here).Morton’s family said there were some strange things going on.The bathroom where Morton was found was torn apart, items thrown all over the floor, and bottles of lotion and other toiletries even found tossed inside the toilet bowl.Morton’s safe, which he kept in an upstairs closet, was standing open and completely empty.Morton was interrupted as he arrived home Monday night with groceries for the Thanksgiving meal. The items sat, untouched, in his pickup truck in the driveway.And somebody apparently was at the home during the day before the discovery of the couple’s bodies.…Darryl Morton, upset over the people his son was associating with, had asked DJ Morton to move out of his home this spring, family members said.DJ Morton filled more than a dozen trash bags with items and removed them from his father’s house two days after his dad’s and his dad’s girlfriend’s bodies were discovered, Sonya Morton said.While that was happening, she said she went to the house, told DJ Morton not to take any of her brother’s things and then asked him to leave, along with two people who were with him, whom she said she did not know.…The couple’s home had electric heat, and so carbon monoxide poisoning was not a factor, she [Sonya Morton] said.By LNP reporter Cindy Stauffer on February 19, 2014, “Family wants answers in death of Lancaster Township couple,” (click here).Both of these articles are about the “unsolved deaths” of Darryl Morton (50) and Judy Cora (54) who were found dead in their Sterling Place home this past Thanksgiving morning. How can two accounts differ so completely? Why wasn’t carbon monoxide poisoning ruled out in a matter of days after finding their bodies? Is District Attorney Craig Stedman really this incompetent? Why aren’t his Lancaster County Detectives involved in the investigation?This is an absolute disgrace and there will be more inconsistencies and more on the shockingly bad police work tomorrow. This is a totally flawed murder investigation leaving yet another killer or killers on the loose in Lancaster County and leaving families with no justice or closure. -
DARRYL MORTON WAS TERRIFIED
Posted on March 2nd, 2014 1 commentANOTHER SHOCKING FACT
IN THE UNSOLVED MURDERSDarryl Morton defecated on himself before he died. The families of Morton and his girlfriend, Judy Cora, learned this fact for the first time on Friday in their meeting with the Manheim Township Police. The police also reported his feces were on the floor of the bathroom where his body was found.
Darryl Morton was in terror during the last minutes of his life. He was in absolute terror before he was killed.
Please see the story immediately below and I will continue this tomorrow. This is such a deeply disturbing case on so many levels that I have trouble writing about it. -
*** BREAKING NEWS *** FAMILIES MEET WITH POLICE
Posted on February 28th, 2014 12 comments*** BREAKING NEWS ***
THE FAMILIES ARE TOLD
NOTHING NEW AND THEY
ARE FRUSTRATED!
-
Darryl Morton, Sr. with Darryl Morton, Jr. (known as “DJ”) in an undated photograph.LIP NEWS has learned the families of Darryl Morton and Judy Cora met with the Manheim Township Police this morning. Morton and Cora’s bodies were found in their Sterling Place home early last Thanksgiving morning.
While still being told the case is being treated as a homicide, the families learned no new information other than the police are still awaiting test results from the coroner and the police are bringing in specialists. The exact nature of the test results they are awaiting are still unknown.
The police did tell the families that Morton and Cora died on Monday night or early Tuesday morning. At the time, Morton’s son, known as “DJ,” had very recently come from Chicago and was staying with the couple. It has been reported that he and Darryl Sr. had a rocky relationship and his father told him he had to move out before his death.
The police told the families they have talked to “DJ” but they won’t tell them where he claims to have been between Monday night and Thursday morning when he was in the house when their bodies were found. The families do not know where DJ is living now and he was not, obviously, at this meeting nor did he attend his father’s burial.
There will be much more tomorrow. These families are frustrated and they have every right in the world to feel that way. There is no reason any of this should be taking this long. -
* TRY NOT TO BE A VICTIM! – 2
Posted on February 27th, 2014 17 comments* The editorial is here.
NEVER LEAVE HOME!
Hopefully, the police chief is correct in saying that the recent shootings — none which resulted in a fatality — could be an aberration. But we won’t know that for a while, will we?Until then, residents — not just those in the city but across the county — should take precautions to keep themselves safe.From today’s New Era editorial, “Gunfire erupts in the city,” (not currently online).This is the best the Lancaster Newspapers can do? This is beyond despicable! How about the police making arrests? The shooter of 14-year-old Dasire is still on the loose. Why don’t these papers hold the police accountable? Where are the arrests of these shooters? Remember your map of the shootings and the coalition cameras, LNP? Most of these shootings happened directly under cameras! Where are the images? Where are the arrests? What are the cameras really for? What do the police do all day?The Turkey Hill on Manor Street was robbed three nights ago and there still has not been a description, let alone a photo, of the robber released to the public! Is this a joke? What convenience store will he rob tonight? Will he kill someone?Residents should “take precautions to keep themselves safe?” That translates to never leave your home! This is simply unconscionable! Do your job, LNP, and hold the police and the mayor accountable!Please check back later today. -
HOLD ON TO YOUR HAT!
Posted on February 26th, 2014 No commentsA GOOD REPORTER LEAVES
So floored by the outpouring of love and support on my last day at FOX43! Thank you all so much! I’ll have to shut down this page after today, so if you still want to keep up with my adventures in Baltimore, I’d love for you to follow me on this page! Trang Do of Fox 43 on her Facebook page.I was saddened to read her message this morning but glad for her personally. Trang had a sense of humor, an eye for a good story and was willing to do stories others wouldn’t touch. That, of course, is the reason she’s going to Baltimore. She will be missed. The best of luck to you, Trang! -
DA STEDMAN GRANDSTANDS AGAIN!
Posted on February 25th, 2014 11 commentsLNP, “Live at 9 a.m.: District attorney press conference in fatal police shooting of 22-year-old man,” (click here).
We’ll see if they really “live-stream” it today!
-
** UPDATED – * 8-YEAR-OLD BOY CALLS 911 FOR DOMESTIC DISPUTE…
Posted on February 24th, 2014 4 commentsLNP: NOT PROTECTING
THEIR READERS!
** I am going to wait for the Lancaster Police and the Lancaster Newspapers to do their jobs. There have been no photos or even a description of last night’s Turkey Hill robber released. Not a word about eight police cruisers in the first block of East Ross Street. Not a word about the police setting up perimeters and searching the area. Not a word about police entering a property with rifles. Not a word about a black Chevy Tahoe and who owns it. Not a word about an 8-year-year old boy’s call to 911.This morning’s front-page lead article with a large photo in the print edition was yet again about dogs, “Measure targets crimes against K-9 officers,” (click here). Never mind that there are sixteen unsolved murders in Lancaster in the last eight years. Never mind that a 14-year-old girl was shot and critically injured and her shooter has not been arrested. Never mind that the Turkey Hill on Manor Street was robbed at gunpoint again last night and likely he’ll rob again soon and may shoot and kill someone this time. Never mind the police have not done the very basics of police work to arrest him before that occurs. No, a police dog was killed in Pittsburgh and now they want a harsher penalty:The bill calls for such crimes to be increased to a second-degree felony with a penalty of up to 10 years in prison and a fine of $25,000.Under the state’s current law, it is a third-degree felony to kill, injure or taunt a police animal, punishable by up to 7 years in prison and a fine of $15,000.That’s absurd. In Lancaster County you can apparently “accidentally,” ignoring two plain warnings there is a bullet in the chamber, shoot and kill your two-month-old daughter and get no more than a slap on the wrist with DA Stedman repeatedly relaying to the public the shooter’s “pain.”The Lancaster Newspapers have three police reporters and three “investigative reporters” and this multi-million dollar company is constantly being “beaten” by a woman in Philadelphia? Are the reporters and editors at the Lancaster Newspapers that incredibly bad at their jobs or is there something else going on? One thing is absolutely certain: The Lancaster Newspapers are failing to protect their readers and there is nothing lower or more despicable than that.*** BREAKING NEWS ***
SAYS MOM’S BOYFRIEND
ROBS TURKEY HILLS!
A police car sits by the Chevy Tahoe on Jefferson Street last night (photo courtesy of “Must See Pics an Vids” Facebook page).
The Turkey Hill at 870 Manor Street was robbed at gunpoint last night at 8:06 pm. Half-an-hour later, an 8-year-old boy called 911 from the 800 block of Plum Street to report a fight between his mother and her boyfriend. The 8-year-old told police the man has a history of robbing Turkey Hills. The man left in a black Chevy Tahoe and the police followed and ran the name of the owner, a woman who lives in the first block of East Ross Street. Police surrounded the Tahoe, parked in the Jefferson alley by the Ross Street address and surrounded the home, bringing in long guns.
Please check back for more on this developing story. The LNP “story” is here but they have the time of the robbery incorrectly stated. It happened at 8:06 and is incident #26252.
Police at the Manor Street Turkey Hill last night (photo courtesy of “Must See Pics an Vids” Facebook page).
-
PURPOSELY IGNORING THE ELEPHANT!
Posted on February 23rd, 2014 No commentsINVESTIGATIVE GIL:
IF HE’S AMIABLE -
ALL IS WELL!
So state Rep. Bryan Cutler was in the newspaper office yesterday to meet with a bunch of folks regarding his union deduction legislation, which I’ve ripped. Amiable guy.Posted by Gil Smart on his “Smart Remarks” blog on February 20th, (click here).So, let’s examine this:1. Gil Smart is one of the Lancaster Newspaper’s “investigative reporters.”2. Gil Smart has been known for years as LNP’s “liberal columnist.”3. Bryan Cutler’s brother-in-law, Geoffrey Scott Davis, shot and killed his two-month-old daughter on Christmas Eve this past year.4. Davis has received blatantly preferential treatment by District Attorney Craig Stedman.5. Cutler boasts he is a life-long member of the NRA and very strongly backs the Second Amendment.And Bryan Cutler was in the Lancaster Newspaper offices three days ago and Smart doesn’t mention a word about it?Does it get any more hypocritical or “ridiculous” than this? This is a joke of a newspaper and Smart is a complete joke as an investigative reporter.Please click here for “DA STEDMAN OBSTRUCTS JUSTICE” and see below for the owner of the Lancaster Newspapers, Beverly (Peggy) Steinman’s, political contributions. They add up to over $200,000 in the past ten years. -
* UPDATED – LNP HAS LOST THEIR WAY!
Posted on February 22nd, 2014 5 commentsTHE STEINMANS
ARE THE PITTS!
Thank you very much to the persistent emailer who kept telling me to follow the money and sent links! Check out Beverly Steinman’s, owner of the Lancaster Newspapers, political contributions (click here). Joe Pitts? My God!I have a lot more work to do with this but it certainly explains LNP’s failure to inform the public about DA Craig Stedman’s obstruction of justice and preferential treatment of Republican House Member Bryan Cutler’s brother-in-law, Geoffrey Scott Davis, in the Christmas Eve shooting death of his two-month-old daughter. Actually, it explains a lot of things except for Mayor Gray! A commenter sent this in under one of the stories on this site regarding DA Stedman and they nailed it (except even this doesn’t explain their blatant and illegal racism and discrimination in hiring):LNP supports the causes that leave them in power and enriches their pockets. In Lancaster County, most of those are Republican/conservative causes but not all. In the City, they support Democrats because only Democrats, for the most part, can get elected. Even at the County level, I believe that they support the minority candidate that they want on the board of commissioners. One of the reasons they wanted, and helped the Chamber, promote home rule would have been the shift away from any Democrat, minority candidate, on the County board. I repeat that they do what is good for them, and only want is good for them. They tell just enough of the other side of any story to foster controversy and sell news but not to influence decisions away from what suits their own interests.CHASE – MORE COVERAGE
THAN FOUR MURDER VICTIMS
Chase, the dog, has now received more coverage than Erma Kaylor, Olga Sanchez-Reyes, Allan Wayne Hess and Titus Eugene Gant combined. They are the victims of four recent unsolved murders. Their families and friends are waiting for answers and justice. Their killers are still on the loose. And LNP is going to do yet another story about Chase, the dog. It is beyond despicable.
This comment came in under “DON’T CALL THE CRITTER CATCHER!” below on this site and I think it sums up these situations perfectly:
I love animals. Especially dogs and cats. But it is heartbreaking to see more column inches and more letters to the editor about abandoned puppies and one dead chicken than about murder victims. We have lost our way.
The Lancaster Newspapers have lost their way.
Please check back later today. -
* UPDATED – TRY NOT TO BE A VICTIM?
Posted on February 21st, 2014 8 comments* I mentioned the incident with Mayor Gray’s neighbor below and the link to one of the entries on this site involving it, “MAYOR GRAY: A TERRIBLE MAYOR! – 3″ is here. Have a great Friday and try not to be a victim…
FIRE CHIEF SADLER!
This is a quote from the police chief at a community meeting where citizens expressed concern about recent shootings:“There’s crime everywhere,” said Lancaster City Police Chief Keith Sadler. “But you’re safer in this neighborhood than you are in some of the communities surrounding the city.”“Know your surroundings, he advised, and try not to be a victim.”That seems awfully flippant to me. “Try not to be a victim”? That’s the advice of a trained law enforcement professional?This comment in referring to the LNP article, “Residents want reassurances about safety,” (click here).It is sickening. It is beyond sickening. His police force can’t get the murderers, shooters, stabbers and robbers off the street so they reoffend over and over again. I suppose it was Mayor Gray’s neighbor’s fault for being robbed and beaten right outside his front door? Have you caught the robber yet, Chief Sadler? There’s a coalition camera right there that should have caught him on camera, yet he is free to rob and beat again. Chief Sadler should be fired!Disparity in bail….why????Cherlie LaFleur.. crime….stillbirth (dead fetus).. 1 million dollars cash bond.G. Scott Davis.. shoots his infant daughter ..$300,000 unsecured bail.Prison guard abuses his infant son…$25,000.It appears the State of PA cares more about a dead fetus vs living children! What do you think?This email in regarding the LNP article, “Law-enforcers wanted higher bail for freed prison guard charged with severely beating infant child,” (click here).I agree 100 percent! And apparently DA Stedman, who set LaFleur’s bail, came in after the fact looking for some good press and agreed about the prison guard. And if you want to see another case of disparity and blatant racism in setting bail, read “Three Baltimore men charged in attempted pre-dawn Park City heist,” (click here). When, except for LaFleur, have you seen bail set that high? $500,000 each? Alleged murderers don’t get bail set that high!Please check back later today. -
DON’T CALL THE CRITTER CATCHER!
Posted on February 20th, 2014 10 commentsWHO’S PLAYING POSSUM?
Another piece of evidence in the igloo was a blanket that had been ripped apart, but police do not seem to be investigating the incident any further.
As for the likely innocent opossum, Miller euthanized him.
He said if he had released the marsupial into the wild at this time of year, it likely would have starved to death.
From today’s LNP story by Ryan Robinson, “Lancaster County crime solvers: Did the opossum kill the chicken in an igloo using sharp teeth?” (click here).
So, one of LNP’s three police reporters decided to have some “fun” with a ridiculous call to the police? Can you say “backfire?”
Thank you to an emailer who sent this photo of an opossum in her cat igloo. Actually, she has a pair of igloos and her cats use one and a pair of opossums uses the other! What do you think of that, Ryan Robinson?
Please check back later today. -
USE THE CRIZ MONEY!
Posted on February 19th, 2014 No commentsHORRIFIC MANAGEMENT
BY MAYOR GRAY!ATTENTION NEIGHBORS! City Council President John Graupera has scheduled a Public Meeting for 6 p.m. tonight (February 19th) at Southern Market Center for you to learn more and comment on the proposed Storm Water Management Fee. The proposal would put $2.6 million annually toward a green infrastructure plan that would address storm water flowing into the Conestoga River and eventually into the Chesapeake Bay, which has been mandated for cleanup from The Environmental Protection Agency. The fee will be assessed on all City properties and has impacts for both homeowners and business owners.
Posted today on the Lancaster City Alliance Facebook page (click here) and briefly mentioned in an LNP article on February 11, “Park City manager: delay city stormwater fees,” (click here).
I am switching topics and posting this early today so people are aware of the meeting tonight. The Lancaster Newspapers ran an editorial about the fees and briefly mentioned the meeting this morning (click here) and I previously ran a piece about this – click here for “A PROVERBIAL GUN?”
This is terrible governing and management by Mayor Gray and his staff, and as a commenter to this site said under the above captioned post:
USE THE CRIZ $$! -
GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND
Posted on February 19th, 2014 3 comments& WHY NOT EVERYDAY?
Did you read Ryan Robinson’s article regarding the thugs with guns? Names, addresses, details, even the police officers names. LNP really can do it, maybe they just forgot! I am just totally AMAZED.I received this email on November 19th of last year with a link to this story, “Four Lancaster men face gun charges,” (click here).That is the way every article should read. Every single one in which arrests are made should name the officers involved. Did you hear that Police Chief Keith Sadler? I can’t recall a similar report/article ever appearing before or after this one.No one holds the Lancaster Police accountable! No one! I will come back to Susan Baldridge’s two articles on the spate/storm/flurry of shootings in Lancaster later today.On a much happier note, Trang Do of Fox 43 did a very nice story on EMS workers going above and beyond their jobs (click here). It is based on a video from the “Must See Pics an Vids” Facebook page. Nice job by both Jerri and Trang!Please check back later today. -
* UPDATED – I HATE YOU – AND YOU – AND YOU?
Posted on February 18th, 2014 1 commentGET THE FAMILIES ANSWERS!
Cindy Stauffer has a good story today on the unsolved deaths of Darryl Morton and Judy Cora whose bodies were found Thanksgiving morning (click here). Has Morton’s son been given a lie detector test? Have his phone records been checked? This delay is outrageous and it is an obvious homicide as I stated in a headline when I went up with this story the day after Thanksgiving.
“Investigative reporter” Susan Baldridge has a follow-up to this mornings story showing where the shootings occurred compared to the Coalition cameras (click here). What does this tell you, Susan? Will you follow-up and find out why no arrests have been made in the large majority of these shootings and why video of the suspects has not been released to the public?
I will come back to the shootings and cameras tomorrow.Spate of shootings
strikes cityPolice spokesman blames it on a “bunch of people who hate each other.”
Today’s front page, lead story with the above headlines in the print edition. Click here for the story online.
Please check back later today.
-
DID SARA DO IT?
Posted on February 17th, 2014 1 commentAND FACING THE MUSIC?
If the power of the press would be utilized for addressing all the issues that need to be addressed in Lancaster the quality of life here would vastly improve.This comment in today.You are dead-on and that is a major function of the press. I think I have shown examples of LNP’s total failure and obvious lack of any desire to improve anything except their bottom line almost everyday for years. But I will address several even more specific items shortly.As far as the assaults, stabbings, shootings, and murders go in Lancaster, the more they are happening the more chronic they become. When something becomes chronic, people often tend to say ‘oh well, that’s their problem’ until it becomes the peoples’ own.Honestly I’ve lost count of the mayhem. Hell, they can’t even figure out who rammed the house on Ann Street in a non-stolen truck. I feel sorry for the folks who own that home. I wish they would come forward and at least update their situation. I wonder if they have been told to be silent because the detectives are working on the case.This comment in several days ago. And yes, detectives all over the county seem to go with the “silent routine” to “protect their case” and LNP let’s them do it over and over again. I know the Ann Street crime bothers the heck out of you, as it should, and I will come back to it. Not only do they have a non-stolen truck, they have video from the Wal-Mart of these two men stealing televisions before they rammed the house.And speaking of comments, under the story immediately below I mentioned a self-promoting, terribly written, ridiculous and dreadful ”Voices” column by reporter Tom Knapp in today’s print edition. It was also online and I linked to it but about an hour later the link no longer worked.According to Tom Knapp’s Facebook page, they did infact pull it offline.He posted this:For complicated reasons, this column actually is no longer available to view online. It is still on B1 of the Monday 2/17 newspaper, however, if anyone cares to read it!And then this:Yeah, I had a few stories in today. The others are still online; the column on B1 is not. Available ONLY in print!And then he proceeded to post the entire column on his Facebook page. As I said in my comment, “Yuck, yuck and more yuck!” It had absolutely no business being published in the first place.In the past year, Lancaster Newspapers has affirmed its commitment to covering local news.In Kirkpatrick’s view, that means looking out for readers’ best interests – reporting, for instance, on how their taxes are spent, or how their politicians are treating them.“I think you need a strong watchdog presence,” he said. “You really do have to be useful. You have to be respectful of readers’ time, and you have to be on their side.”That does not mean that newspapers should pander, he said. “You should do tough journalism. You have to be fearless.”The above is from October 17th of last year when LNP announced their new president with the story, “New Lancaster Newspapers president John Kirkpatrick III discusses his past and future in journalism,” (click here).What a sad, disturbing joke he has turned out to be. The Lancaster Newspapers went to the point of stopping live-streaming a press conference by District Attorney Craig Stedman to protect him and House member Bryan Cutler and then wrote an absolutely outrageous and lying editorial titled “Stedman’s Compassion.” There are so many blatant examples and there will be more on the Christmas Eve shooting death of two-month-old Kestyn Davis by her father, Geoffrey Scott Davis, tomorrow.Kirkpatrick’s fiance, Sara Glines, publisher of the York papers, posted a link to this story on her Facebook page on October 19th and had this exchange with several of her friends:Sara: Such an exciting time for Kirk and I.Friend: That’s a tough crowd in the comments section on Kirk’s announcement. May he get the last laugh.Sara: Commenters will cut you to the core. I had to stop looking.Friend: Make them register. That way you cut out the yahoos with nothing better to do. It’s a print tradition that should jump to digital, as a lot of papers have done.Well, all of the comments under the article from the old website are gone – and we know what happened to comments with the new site!Sara, they only cut you to the core if you deserve it! And the new website is dreadful and what happened to the focus on local? Oh, and where’s that watchdog? It looks like “Kirk” (Kirkpatrick’s nickname) deserves everything he got and gets in the future! -
DANCING AROUND THE TRUTH?
Posted on February 17th, 2014 4 commentsKICKSTARTING CHANGE?
Rodriguez’s release from “the hole” came after inquiries from Lancaster Newspapers about his situation.LNP reporter Gil Smart, “Mentally ill and in solitary confinement,” (click here).That is the power of the press. That is the unbelievable power of the monopoly Lancaster Newspapers.The Lancaster Newspapers and their owner, Beverly Steinman, use that power to line their own pockets, to promote and uphold the racial inequality and social injustice in the county and ignore the failings and corruption of public officials as long as those officials tow the LNP line.It is despicable and defies everything the news media should stand for in this country. There will be more later today.Kickstarter CEO Yancey Strickler said in a blog post that usernames, passwords, mailing addresses, e-mail addresses and phone numbers had been compromised by hackers, but no credit card information had been stolen.CNN, “Crowd-funding site Kickstarter hacked; CEO urges password changes,” (click here).This is for the twenty people who donated to the city through Kickstarter for the “Dancing Arches” in Rodney Park (click here for “PEANUTS, I SAY!”). And I wouldn’t believe a word of what this CEO says. If they got all the rest of your information, why not your credit card? Isn’t that the purpose of hacking a site? I’d keep a very close eye on it as I assume the folks who donated have more money in the bank than your average Joe.In slightly over 24 hours, and after another small bout of the cursed white stuff, it will be in the upper 40s! Things on the weather front, at least, are looking up!Pease check back later today. -
LNP: BLATANT PROPAGANDA FOR THE DA!
Posted on February 15th, 2014 11 comments& THEY TOTALLY CONTRADICT
THEMSELVES AS THEY DO IT!District Attorney Craig Stedman
Just last year, Stedman ruled two shooting homicides as justified by self defense.Christopher Leonards, 27, was shot Feb. 1, 2013, by his half-brother, James Leonards, when Christopher became combative inside a Manor Township home, police reported.Two weeks later, David Montes, 17, was killed when a group of rival teenagers exchanged gunfire in the 400 block of North Queen Street.Montes’ killer never was identified, but Stedman said his shooting also was justified.Not all communities are like Lancaster County, according to Maloney.From an article over a week ago by LNP reporter P. J. Reilly titled, “A gun owner’s guide to calling 911 after defending your life,” (click here).This article certainly got people riled up: Mayor Gray sent a letter to the editor (click here) and Gil Smart did a piece on his blog about it (click here).Why did LNP do the article other than to get people riled up? I think it was to give District Attorney Craig Stedman a platform to sound off and look good: He only wants the truth!I have major problems with this article and it has nothing to do with what Attorney Maloney said – it has to do with the reporter and a slanted, ridiculous article and what he should have learned in journalism school, if not in a fifth grade history class.1. The “not all communities are like Lancaster County” line is total crap and the article never says Mahoney mentioned Lancaster County. This is sheer propaganda for the DA and totally irresponsible nonsense. So you’re saying Lancaster County is the epicenter of justice and common sense in Pennsylvania? With the number of unsolved murders, cases with an “unknown” cause of death, unsolved major crimes and the DA’s obstruction and preferential treatment in the G. Scott Davis case, that is literally revolting.Did you study the two cases you mention and any others where the defendant may have tried to claim self-defense? The first case is highly questionable and a lawyer sent a very strong Letter to the Editor of the Lancaster Newspapers stating it absolutely was not justified.2. Montes’ killer never was identified, but Stedman said his shooting also was justified.This is unacceptable, P.J. Reilly! The public has a right to know who shot a 17-year-boy, self-defense or not! I bet George Zimmerman wishes he had never been identified but that’s not the way it works in this country. This also totally contradicts your absurd statement about Lancaster County. It is an outrage and LNP should be demanding the name from DA Stedman and if he continues to refuse they should put in a Right-To-Know request. Period. “Justice” does not happen in the dark or behind closed doors in this country. The public has a right and a need to know his name. Ask your fifth grade history teachers LNP editors and P.J. Reilly! Your job is to hold public officials accountable! This whole article is a disgrace! -
“WE ARE NOT THE BUILDING?”
Posted on February 15th, 2014 1 commentWHERE ONLINE, WGAL?
We are proving that we are not the building, we are the news and we will continue to bring you the news online.Kim Lemon on and about WGAL-TV (click here).Wow! I’m not buying it, Kim!So now Lancaster is down to truly one news source. A greedy, corrupt, totally unethical and racist news source. Unbelievable!Please check back later today. -
** UPDATED – * THINGS ARE LOOKING WARM!
Posted on February 14th, 2014 No comments** “Snow and ice collapses roof at WGAL, knocks local station off the air” – click here. Thank goodness everyone is okay.
* Wow! “Snow on roof forces evacuation at WGAL” – click here.
Happy Valentine’s Day! More snow for tomorrow – but hopefully the absolutely final snowfall of the winter of 2014. A long weekend and fifty degree days coming next week. Yippee! Things are looking up!