4+ day, 18+ hour ago (1037+ words) It's the season of giving, but, for some, it's also the season of taking. The Better Business Bureau is warning of 12 holiday scams that could turn your good intentions into a Grinch-like experience. The bureau advises that most scams targeting your money or personal information can be avoided by taking some simple precautions. Social media ads promoting discounted items, holiday events, job opportunities and donation requests, as well as direct messages from strangers, should be viewed cautiously. And a red flag should go up if you are asked to make a payment or donation by wire transfer, through a third party or by prepaid debit or gift card. The bureau has compiled the following list of scams: Products are often advertised on your social media feeds, so always research before you buy. The bureau says its BBB Scam Tracker receives…...

2+ week, 23+ hour ago (749+ words) Though Kevin Siegel claimed to police it was a "one-time thing," investigators found the defendant had downloaded and accessed files of suspected child porn going back to May 2023. He also addressed the court A former Penn-Delco School District middle school counselor who pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography in July was sentenced to 6-12 months in jail Friday. Kevin S. Siegel, 46, of the 3800 block of Marsh Road in Garnet Valley, was also ordered to register as a sexual offender for 15 years under Megan's Law and serve five years of consecutive sex offender probation under the sentence imposed by Common Pleas Court Judge Dominic Pileggi. Siegel, who had worked as an eighth-grade counselor at Northley Middle School for more than two decades, previously entered open pleas to two counts of possessing child sexual abuse material and criminal use of a communication facility,…...

3+ week, 5+ day ago (555+ words) Snapchat threats, deer crashes, a white Dodge with a light bar whose driver was attempting to pull over vehicles on the Blue Route, and more crime. The latest new reports from the Media station: Arson: At 11:22 a.m., troopers responded to the County Alternative School at 710 S. Old Middletown Road in Middletown Township for the report of students starting a fire. A 13-year-old Clifton Heights boy and a 13-year-old Upper Chichester boy allegedly lit paper on fire and threw it into a classroom while the school was occupied. DUI: At 8:54 p.m., troopers responded to the on ramp to the Commodore Barry Bridge from Second Street in Chester for an accident. The driver of a 2020 Suburban, a 45-year-old Garnet Valley man was charged with driving under the influence. DUI: At 1:09 a.m., troopers stopped a silver Nissan Altima for traffic violations on Interstate 95 north in Chester. The…...

2+ week, 4+ day ago (1008+ words) By SAM McNEIL, Associated Press He waited for his brother-in-law to cross the front line smuggling documents stolen from the Syrian dictatorship's archives. Detection could mean dismemberment or death, but they were committed to exposing the industrial-scale violence used to keep President Bashar Assad in power. Now, safely in exile in France and with Assad having fallen in a surprise rebel offensive last year, Uthman is sharing how he, his wife and her brother teamed up to smuggle evidence of the horrific crimes out from under Syria's infamous surveillance apparatus as war tore the country apart. "We have hundreds of thousands of mothers waiting for news of their loved ones," said Uthman. "I send her five snapshots of her son's body, torn under Bashar Assad's whips, and she rejoices. She says, "Thank God, I have confirmed that he is dead,…...

3+ week, 4+ day ago (1173+ words) Mental health and substance abuse services have skyrocketed more than 450% over a year for one pilot program as new drugs are also emerging on the scene. Another 36 were added to that by Oct. 29, making the total 282 with an 80% rate of linking them to treatment. "They've been going up significantly consistently," Kayla Taylor, ConnectEd coordinator, said. "We probably will go over 300." "The ConnectEd program has helped a family in almost every township, borough and city in Delaware County," Corson said. "This is something that affects our communities here in Delaware County." Delaware County Council Chair Dr. Monica Taylor praised the program meant to'reduce the barriers to help get support for young people in the community. "Seeing where your numbers have gone from the first year and just how it expanded and the work that you've done to get the word out…...

5+ day, 21+ hour ago (231+ words) I believe that if the government, regulatory bodies, and parents all play their roles, we can ensure that the Internet in Malaysia is not only fast, widespread and affordable but most importantly, safe, especially for children and families," he said. Since January, major social media and messaging platforms with at least 8 million users in Malaysia are required to obtain a license as part of a broader tightening of state oversight over digital platforms. Licensed platforms must implement age verification, content-safety measures and transparency rules, reflecting the government's push for a safer digital space. Australia's parliament enacted the world's first ban on social media for children that will begin Dec. 10, setting the minimum age at 16. Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Threads, TikTok, X and YouTube as well as message board Reddit and livestreaming service Kick face fines of up to $33 million for systemic…...

2+ week, 5+ day ago (345+ words) The dual strikes on Sunday bring the total number of known attacks up to 19 and the death toll to at least 75 people since the Trump administration launched a campaign against drug trafficking in South American waters that many see as a pressure tactic on Venezuelan President Nicol's Maduro. The Trump administration has provided no evidence for its assertions, and lawmakers, including Republicans, have pressed for more information on who is being targeted and the legal justification for the strikes. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Hegseth met with a bipartisan group of lawmakers who oversee national security issues last week, providing one of the first high-level glimpses into the legal rationale and strategy behind the strikes. While Democrats said it wasn't enough, Senate Republicans voted a day later to reject legislation that would have put a check on President Donald…...

3+ week, 2+ day ago (271+ words) Slime, that gooey, sticky and often-homemade plaything, was enshrined into the National Toy Hall of Fame on Thursday along with perennial bestselling games Battleship and Trivial Pursuit. Each year, the Hall of Fame recognizes toys that have inspired creative play across generations, culling its finalists from among thousands of nominees sent in online. Voting by the public and a panel of experts decides which playthings will be inducted. Milton Bradley's Battleship, a strategy game that challenges players to strike an opponent's warships, and Trivial Pursuit, which tests players' knowledge in categories like geography and sports, have each sold more than 100 million copies over several decades, according to the Hall of Fame. Slime's appeal is more about squish than skill. It was introduced commercially in 1976 and has been manufactured under various brand names, but it is even more accessible as a…...

1+ week, 5+ day ago (395+ words) Violations and comments on food-safety inspections conducted last week by the Delaware County Health Department of establishments with liquor licenses, with violations found at all five restaurants visited: " Comments: Facility is operating without a valid DCHD Food License- current DCHD license expired 9/30/25. A renewal application and invoice was dropped off to establishment, fill out and submit application along with supporting documents. " Facility does not have a valid food license issued by the Delaware County Health Department. Food license application and fee must be received within 7 days of this violation to avoid additional follow up inspections and fees. " Observed food employee cutting fish with her bare hands. " Hand washing sink blocked by dirty dishes. " Shrimp is thawing at room temperature. " A thermometer is not provided in all refrigerator/freezer. " In-use wiping cloths are not stored properly. " Ice machine is not clean…...

1+ week, 5+ day ago (329+ words) Note: Email only to [email protected] by Monday at noon. All notices will appear online. Print is based on a space-available basis. Media Lions Club Breakfast with Santa: Saturday Dec. 6 at 8 a.m. to noon. Lima United Methodist Church 209 N. Middletown Road. Adults and children $15 at the door, kids under 3 are free. All proceeds benefit local charities. Do you worry: about how much someone drinks? Al-Anon and Alateen can help." Attend an Al-Anon meeting on Fridays at 6:30 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church, 356 Summit Road, Springfield. Park in back of building, handicapped accessible. Contact AISDV.ORG or call 215-222-5244 for more information and other meetings. Nar-Anon Family Group: Courage to Live meets every Wednesday at 10 a.m. at Brookhaven Municipal Center, 2 Cambridge Road, Brookhaven." All those affected by a loved one's addiction are welcome. The meeting is wheelchair accessible. Plus, the center offers: police/court accompaniment, advocacy and free…...