Phili News

Officials promised Tuesday to conduct a careful review of dozens of other large buildings across the city and look into whether criminal charges are warranted as fire marshals search for the cause of a blaze at a vacant warehouse that killed two firefighters. More >

Two Philadelphia firefighters died early Monday and three others were injured when the wall of a building collapsed as they battled a five-alarm fire, officials said. More >

A landmark priest-abuse trial moved into its second week Monday, with the dismissal of two jurors and testimony about a priest-turned-prowler who admitted years later he had molested campers in their sleep. More >

A group of powerful local business leaders announced Monday that it had bought Philadelphia’s two largest newspapers from hedge funds for approximately $55 million, a fraction of what investors paid for them in 2006. It is the fifth time in six years the newspapers were sold.

The buyers, who include influential New Jersey Democrat George Norcross III, former New Jersey Nets owner Lewis Katz and cable TV mogul H.F. “Gerry” Lenfest, said they plan to keep the newspapers’ tradition of strong journalism alive in the digital age.

Beyond the $26 million it must cut by June, the Philadelphia School District faces a $186 million shortfall for the 2012-13 budget year, and officials plan to plug it, in part, with more aggressive city tax collections. More >

A witness in the Philadelphia priest-abuse trial says a priest stalked and undressed him at his Catholic high school before a knock on the door saved him.

The 36-year-old man is the first accuser called to testify in the landmark trial of Monsignor William Lynn. Lynn, the former secretary for clergy, is charged with endangering children by helping the church hide abuse complaints.

After nine years and two grand jury reports, prosecutors have brought a landmark case to trial that explores how the Archdiocese of Philadelphia dealt with child sex-abuse complaints against scores of Roman Catholic priests. More >

The Archdiocese of Philadelphia protected sexual predators in its ranks for more than 70 years, putting the church’s reputation over the safety of children, a prosecutor said Monday at the start of a landmark priest abuse case that’s shaken the Roman Catholic establishment. The church kept secret files dating back to 1948 that show a long-standing conspiracy to doubt sex abuse victims, protect priests and avoid scandal, Assistant District Attorney Jacqueline Coelho said in opening statements.

Coelho called the case “a battle between right and wrong within the archdiocese and the office of secretary for clergy.”

A Roman Catholic church official facing a child sex-abuse trial in Philadelphia Monday wants a new jury seated because of publicity over a co-defendant’s guilty plea. More >