By Hadas Kuznits

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — The Red Cross received a significant donation today for its Red Cross House in the Powelton Village section of West Philadelphia.

Cathy Engel Menendez, with the electric utility Peco, says her organization’s parent company, Exelon, is donating half a million dollars to the Red Cross House to help victims of disasters transition back to their normal lives.

“We certainly spend a lot of time dealing with local emergencies,” she said today, “be it from weather or from fire or other emergency situations.  And a lot of times the Red Cross is there, and they’re a partner with us, helping the customers that may be displaced or affected by the emergencies that we’re also battling with.”

In honor of the donation, Menendez says Peco workers are volunteering at the Red Cross House, assembling furniture for one of the lounges (top phot0).

Red Cross CEO Renee Cardwell Hughes (below) says the most common reason for Philadelphians to make use of the Red Cross House is fire.

“And in fact, in the region we will see almost 1,000 fires in the course of a calendar year,” she tells KYW Newsradio.

Story continues below photo…

(Renee Cardwell Hughes, CEO of the Red Cross of Southeastern Pennsylvania chapter. Credit: Hadas Kuznits)

—-

The Red Cross is a donation-supported organizaton, and Hughes says they are gearing up for their annual Red Ball fundraiser, on March 10th.

Hear Hadas Kuznits’ interview with Renee Cardwell Hughes about the Red Cross’ upcoming “Red Ball”…

Download podcast for later listening

—–

Article source: http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2012/02/22/exelon-donates-500000-plus-elbow-grease-to-philadelphias-red-cross-house/

link

SI.com: After Maryland Saga, Time For NCAA Rule That Actually Protects Athletes

sportsillustrated.cnn.com

Article source: http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/2012/2/22/2816533/philadelphia-union-sheanon-williams-contract-extension

Memphis outscored Philadelphia 30-10 in the first quarter. The 76ers cut the deficit all the way down to five at halftime. However, Memphis remained strong and kept the 76ers just a little bit behind the pace the rest of the way. The Grizzlies had four players in double figures including former 76ers forward Marreese Speights. They won the game despite shooting below 40 percent.

The 76ers were even worse than Memphis offensively. As a team they shot just 36.5 percent. Thaddeus Young and Lou Williams combined to make just five of 23 of field goal attempts. Evan Turner struggled once again. No bench player reached double figures. That is something that we never see happen with this team. Jrue Holiday and Lavoy Allen were the two best players for the 76ers. Holiday led the team with 22 points while Allen added 14 points. It wasn’t nearly enough to get the job done.

The 76ers were without Elton Brand in this game. He joined Spencer Hawes on the shelf with a lingering thumb injury. Right now the 76ers are a banged up team that is struggling to do what they have been able to do all season. Perhaps the break couldn’t come at a better time. Still, it would be great to see them close the first half on a positive note. They visit Houston on February 22 with that chance. The Rockets are another solid team with a 19-14 record. It certainly won’t be easy. But the 76ers are a resilient team and I suspect that Doug Collins will have them pushing hard to snap this losing streak. If they can shoot the ball better and get to the free throw line they should be able to do that.

* – Mark Paul is a Philadelphia 76ers fan. Follow him on Twitter here.

Note: This article was written by a Yahoo! contributor. Sign up here to start publishing your own sports content.

Article source: http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=ycn-10996446

The Philadelphia Eagles and head coach Andy Reid have to find upgrades at the linebacker position as well as along the offensive line to protect QB Michael Vick. With WR DeSean Jackson expected to see the Franchise Tag, let’s take a look at some prospects that match the Eagles top needs heading into the draft.

Philadelphia Eagles

2011 Record: 8-8
First round draft position: No.15

Top Priority: LB

Luke Kuechly, ILB, Boston College: He’s not the biggest, strongest or fastest of athletes. But he’s instinctive, plays faster than he times, finds the football in all areas of the game and can really tackle. He’s going to be a bit limited in coverage, but he’s instinctive enough to play on third down in zone and should end up being one of the NFL’s top tackling linebackers for years to come.

Dont’a Hightower, ILB, Alabama: Looks like a potential impact caliber 34-inside linebacker who has the skill set to win inside vs. the run and create pressure on third down as a savvy rush guy as well.

Secondary Priority: OT

Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford: He’s got the NFL size, length and overall athletic skill set. However, he’s not a natural anchor player and doesn’t strike me as a guy who is ever going to be real physical at the next level. He can mirror in space, but struggles to stick through contact and isn’t real heavy handed. Looks like a finesse tackle who will get over drafted because of athletic talent, but is going to have a hard time keeping the edge clean at the next level.

Andrew Datko, OT, Florida State: He’s a solid athlete who can bend, re-direct and block in space. However, he’s had some struggles with power when trying to stay engaged and hasn’t been able to stay healthy throughout his career. Nevertheless, in a weak offensive tackle class, he’s one of the few prospects that possess the skill set to start in the NFL.

Mid-Tier Priority: S, QB

Trenton Robinson, FS, Michigan State: Is coordinated and can keep his feet under him, but looks tighter when asked to turn and run. Tackles well and looks like at best a low end starter who needs to play in tighter areas to be effective in coverage.

Brandon Taylor, FS, Louisiana State: He can tackle in the box and in space, despite being a bit inconsistent at times. Displays some natural coverage ability and looks capable of maturing into tweener starter/nickel safety at the next level.

Russell Wilson, QB, Wisconsin: Wilson is a plus athlete who can spin the football and gives you a nice run/pass threat. However he’s undersized, is going to struggle to consistently make plays from the pocket and is still learning how to work his way through defenses. He is worth a pick late, but I don’t see the guy as a potential starter in the NFL. Reserve only.

Aaron Corp, QB, Richmond: He has a nice sized frame and throws a pretty football. He’s going to need some time, but is worth a draftable grade.

Click here to see the NFP Big Board.

Follow the National Football Post on Twitter.

Article source: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/football/nfl/02/22/eagles.team.needs/index.html

Washington Post reporters or editors recommend this comment or reader post.

Article source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/nationals/philadelphia-phillies-1b-ryan-howard-takes-first-live-batting-practice-since-offseason-surgery/2012/02/22/gIQAH3lfTR_story.html

The Sixers look to end their woes tonight against the Houston Rockets in the continuation of a four-game road trip at the Toyota Center. In Tuesday’s 89-76 loss at Memphis, the Sixers struggled inside without Elton Brand (thumb) and Spencer Hawes (Achilles) and were led by Jrue Holiday’s 22 points.

“Mistakes at the wrong time, defensive mistakes, turnovers,” stated Sixers coach Doug Collins. “We’re just struggling mightily to try and score.”

Rookie Lavoy Allen scored 14 points and All-Star Andre Iguodala chipped in 11 points, seven assists and five rebounds for Philadelphia, which is on its longest losing streak since dropping five in a row from Nov. 10-17, 2010 and hasn’t scored 100 points in any of the past 16 games.

Losers in six of eight games overall and three in a row on the road, Philadelphia is 7-7 away from Wells Fargo Center and sits four games ahead of New York and Boston in the division standings. The team will wrap up the road trip next Tuesday at Detroit. Brand and Hawes are expected to miss tonight’s game in Space City.

Houston will continue a six-game homestand Wednesday and is 3-1 so far on the residency. It won for the sixth time in nine tries with Monday’s 97-93 victory over Memphis, as oft-injured guard Kyle Lowry scored a game-high 24 points with nine assists and seven rebounds.

“My legs feel better, and it’s the best I’ve felt in awhile,” said Lowry about his performance. “We just have to continue with one more game and then we have the break and that will be the time to recuperate.”

Kevin Martin netted 22 points and Luis Scola chipped in 10 for the Rockets, who improved to 13-4 at the Toyota Center this season.

The Rockets will close out the homestand next Tuesday versus Toronto and are four games behind San Antonio for the Southwest Division lead. Dallas is second in the standings at two games off the Spurs’ pace.

Houston was swept in last year’s home-and-home series with the Sixers and has dropped seven of the past eight meetings between the teams. Philadelphia is riding a four-game winning streak in Space City.

Article source: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/02/22/2654778/philadelphia-76ers-20-13-at-houston.html

In a nod to their First Amendment rights, delegates will meet in Philadelphia to draft and ratify a “petition for a redress of grievances,” convening during the week of July 2 and holding a news conference in front of Independence Hall on the Fourth of July.

Any U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident who is 18 years of age or older may run as a nonpartisan candidate for delegate, according to Michael S. Pollok, an attorney who advised Occupy Wall Street protesters arrested on the Brooklyn Bridge last year and co-founded the working group.

“We feel it’s appropriate to go back to what our founding fathers did and have another petition congress,” Pollok said in an interview with The Associated Press. “We feel that following the footsteps of our founding fathers is the right way to go.”

In 1776, the Declaration of Independence was adopted by the Continental Congress in Philadelphia and cited King George III’s failure to redress the grievances listed in colonial petitions as a reason to declare independence.

One man and one woman will be elected from each of the 435 congressional voting districts, according to Pollok, and they will meet in Philadelphia to deliberate, draft and ratify a “redress of grievances.” One delegate will also be elected to represent each of the U.S. territories.

Organizers won’t take a position on what grievances should be included, Pollok said, but they will likely include issues like getting money out of politics, dealing with the foreclosure crisis and helping students handle loan debt.

Details of the conference are still being worked out, Pollok said, but organizers have paid for a venue in Philadelphia. Pollok would not identify the venue, but said it was “a major state-of-the art facility.” Pollok said the group planned to pay for the conference through donations.

Once the petition is completed, Pollok said, the protesters will deliver copies to the White House, members of Congress and the Supreme Court. They will demand that Congress takes action in the first 100 days of taking office next year. If sufficient action isn’t taken, Pollok said, the delegates will go back to their districts and try to recruit their own candidates for office.

Philadelphia Managing Director Richard Negrin said the city has been in communication with the conference organizers and said the biggest concerns are logistical. The conference is coming at a time when thousands of tourists flock to the City of Brotherly Love for Fourth of July festivities.

“It’s mostly a police and traffic control concern,” Negrin said. “We think that as the cradle of liberty we have to be careful and hold our constitutional rights especially reverent here. … We’re not going to be heavy handed.”

Hundreds of Occupy Philadelphia protesters set up an encampment in a plaza at City Hall in early October in unity with the Occupy Wall Street protests in New York. The city eventually ordered them to leave so it could break ground on a $50 million renovation project at the plaza and evicted the remaining protesters in late November.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Article source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/occupy-protesters-planning-national-general-assembly-in-philadelphia-during-week-of-july-4/2012/02/22/gIQADZUHTR_story.html

Some four months back when Philadelphia Phillies’ first baseman Ryan Howard had a surgery to repair a torn Achilles tendon, no-one in the Phillies roster was confident on his potential return in 2012.

But reports are coming that not only he is feeling pretty fine but his health can be seen in this year’s Spring Training in Arizona where he is working hard get back in the 40-man roster. Almost everyone in the Phillies roster
is happy on Howard’s potential return in the franchise and commenting in the media with great optimism.                       

“He did good,” said manager Charlie Manuel, who watched Howard’s swings with enthusiasm. “He did really good. I think there’s a good chance he’s going to miss some time next year, how much? I don’t think it’s going to be as much
as you think.”

“Obviously he feels what the market is dictating is not what he’d like to sign for,” GM Ruben Amaro Jr. said.                                                                                     

Later Howard’s teammate and Phillies catcher Brian Schneider also said in the media for his health and on potential return. He said, “Those first 20 pitches, I think he threw maybe one ball but fast, His change-up was really good
and productive. He threw the changeup, cutter, curveball, slider and I’m telling you, it was really good.”

Howard, a seven year Major League veteran, is a good player and has performed always with his top game showing very less loop-holes. His past record since coming into the Phillies’ roster has been proved many times. Even in the
last season when he achieved extraordinary batting average of .253 along with 33 home runs, 116 RBIs and .346 OBP, many described these very stats one of the best in the Phillies recent history.

The Phillies on the other-hand also has appreciated his game and never involved in any kind of trade despite receiving many offers from several baseball franchises. On the other hand, his potential arrival in the next Major League
season is linked with the level of performance he shows in this Spring Training and how his muscles react after the late surgery.

Article source: http://blogs.bettor.com/Philadelphia-Phillies-first-baseman-Ryan-Howard-shows-signs-of-improvement-MLB-News-a131255