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Pennsylvania teacher arrested in Russia on drug charges is wrongfully detained: US officials

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Pennsylvania teacher arrested in Russia on drug charges is wrongfully detained: US officials


A Pennsylvania history teacher arrested in Russia on drug charges has been officially designated as wrongfully detained, US officials announced Friday.

Marc Fogel, a husband and father of two, was arrested in 2021 when he and his wife flew to Russia to teach. He was caught at the airport with what his family said was medically prescribed marijuana that he took for chronic back pain.

Fogel is currently serving a 14-year prison sentence.

The US State Department determined in October that Fogel was wrongfully detained but just confirmed the designation Friday.

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Marc Fogel, a history teacher from Pennsylvania, is serving a 14-year prison sentence after being arrested in 2021 at a Russian airport.

Fogel was omitted from a prisoner swap in August that included the release of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, corporate security executive Paul Whelan and others.

“The United States has been working to secure Marc Fogel’s release for some time,” the State Department said in a statement. “We have long called for his humanitarian release and tried to include him in the August 1 deal, but were unable to.”

In August, a prisoner swap between Russia and the US brought home Marine veteran Paul Whelan. AP
Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich was detained in Russia in March 2023 and released in August. Russia State TV via Reuters

Fogel’s wife, Jane, and his sons, Ethan and Sam, said in a statement that “The State Department has finally acknowledged what we have known all along — that our husband and father, Marc Fogel, has and continues to be wrongfully detained.

“Now that we have the full force of the U.S. government behind us, we must do everything in our power to bring Marc home as quickly and safely as possible.”

Family members of Marc Fogel rallied outside the White House for his release in July 2023. AP

The designation means the federal government is now legally required to work for his release. His case will be transferred to the Office of the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs, which deals with hostage and detainee releases.

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In making the determination, the State Department considers factors, including if there is credible information that the person is innocent and if the country holding the prisoner is seeking to influence US policy or get concessions from the US government.

With Post wires



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Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania DEP accuses J&K Salvage of violating order, continuing to accept waste

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Pennsylvania DEP accuses J&K Salvage of violating order, continuing to accept waste


The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection accused J&K Salvage of violating its administrative order to close the business, according to a new court filing.

During an inspection on March 23, a DEP inspector saw several vehicles enter and exit the salvage yard while hauling scrap metal, according to the petition.

The DEP said this is in violation of its March 17 administrative order that required the business to “cease accepting all solid wastes at the site.”

READ MORE | Pennsylvania DEP orders York County scrap yard to shut down, asks court to jail owner

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In his report, inspector Kalen Boyer attached several photos of vehicles that he said brought additional scrap metal to the site.

A photo submitted by DEP inspector Kalen Boyer in his inspection report. He captioned the photo, “Roll off container on the back of the roll off truck entering the Site. Scrap metal is sticking above the sides of the container.”{ }
A photo submitted by DEP inspector Kalen Boyer in his inspection report. He captioned the photo,

A photo submitted by DEP inspector Kalen Boyer in his inspection report. He captioned the photo, “Roll off truck entering the Site with roll off container containing scrap metal.”

A photo submitted by DEP inspector Kalen Boyer in his inspection report. He captioned the photo,

A photo submitted by DEP inspector Kalen Boyer in his inspection report. He captioned the photo, “Tan pick up truck that entered the Site with the scrap metal desk leaving the Site empty.”

In the petition, the DEP is requesting a judge enforce its order against J&K Salvage. It also requests the owners to pay $100 per day for each day they fail to comply with the court order.

CBS 21 reached out to J&K Salvage for comment and has not immediately heard back.

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Pa. House committee advances bill to require radon testing and mitigation in schools

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Pa. House committee advances bill to require radon testing and mitigation in schools






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Suspect arrested for shooting near basketball court in Elkins Park, Pa.

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Suspect arrested for shooting near basketball court in Elkins Park, Pa.


ABINGTON TWP., Pa. (WPVI) — Police have arrested a suspect who they say fired shots at a vehicle near a crowded basketball court in Montgomery County.

Jamell Whitmore, 18, of King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, was arrested on Thursday.

The shooting happened on March 22 near a basketball court on the 300 block of Cadwalader Avenue in Elkins Park, Pennsylvania.

Shooting near Elkins Park basketball courts sends stray bullet into home

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Police said multiple callers reported hearing gunfire around 8:15 p.m. and witnessed a large group of people run from the area behind the McKinley Firehouse.

As a vehicle drove by, one of the men in the group, identified by police as Whitmore, ran off to the parking lot to retrieve a gun and began firing multiple shots towards the vehicle.

Police say it’s unclear if the vehicle was hit, but one of the bullets struck a nearby home.

No one in the home was injured.

Police said no innocent bystanders or those involved in the shooting were injured.

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The motive for the shooting remains unknown.

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