Pennsylvania

Pottstown residents, NAACP raise concerns over lack of diversity in military banners

Published

1 month ago

May 22, 2026

Pottstown residents, NAACP raise concerns over lack of diversity in military banners

POTTSTOWN, Pa. (WPVI) — A program honoring local military service members with banners along High Street in Pottstown, Pennsylvania is drawing concerns from some residents who say the display lacks representation of minorities and women.

The banners, part of the “Heroes of Pottstown” project, feature photos of service members submitted by families.

But Robert Brown, whose father served in the Navy during World War II, said he noticed something missing.

“You’re walking around, the flags look nice,” he said. “There was a lot of people that weren’t represented.”

Brown said he began trying to add his father, Edward Brown Jr., to the display months ago.

“When we initially talked with them, it was way back in February,” he said.

The project, launched by Elks Lodge 814, has been in place for about a year.

The lodge’s president told Action News that all 74 banner spots, which are first-come-first-served, were filled almost immediately after the program was announced.

Families pay $200 and must provide a photo and proof of military service – requirements Brown said he has met.

Brown brought his concerns to the Pottstown chapter of the NAACP. Its president, Johnny Corson, said the absence of minority and female service members sends the wrong message.

“When you don’t show minorities and people of color on the banners, it just makes it seem like the service that our Black, Spanish, Muslim, Jewish, female – because there’s no females on these poles – their service meant nothing,” he said.

To expand the display, the Elks Lodge would need the borough to make additional light posts available.

Brown and the NAACP say their issue is not with the lodge, but with borough leaders, whom they accuse of delaying the action of adding more light poles to the list where banners can be placed.

“You could go to Hanover Street. You can go to the park. There’s so many places you can put banners up,” Corson said.

The lodge president said she has arranged a meeting with the borough council president to discuss next steps. Brown said he hopes the outcome will allow his father and other underrepresented service members to be included.

“(America’s) 250th is coming up. That’s what makes it even more important about getting representation out there,” he said.

The Elks Lodge said it hopes to expand the program. The borough manager and council president did not respond to requests for comment.

Source link

Pennsylvania

Neighbors say ‘hundreds of rats’ are running through their yards every night

Published

18 minutes ago

June 21, 2026

Press Room

Neighbors say ‘hundreds of rats’ are running through their yards every night

ROSTRAVER TOWNSHIP, Pa. (KDKA/CNN NEWSOURCE/WKRC) — Residents of a western Pennsylvania neighborhood say they are battling a growing rat infestation that they believe originated from a condemned property where more than 100 pigs and other animals were recently removed.

Neighbors along Adams Drive in Rostraver Township say they have trapped and killed dozens of rats in recent weeks but continue to see large numbers of rodents around their homes.

Residents of a western Pennsylvania neighborhood say they are battling a growing rat infestation that they believe originated from a condemned property where more than 100 pigs and other animals were recently removed. (KDKA/CNN NEWSOURCE)

“The smell’s better, but the rats are worse,” resident Erin McCay told KDKA.

Earlier this month, authorities and animal rescue groups removed dogs, cats and more than 100 pigs from the property. Investigators described conditions at the site as deplorable.

According to Pittsburgh Squealers Rescue, 105 pigs were removed from the property, and several later died due to alleged neglect.

The property, which operated as an animal sanctuary, has since been condemned and listed for sale.

Township officials said they have contracted with a pest control company in an effort to eliminate the infestation. The one-year agreement is valued at approximately $12,000 and includes placing traps throughout the affected neighborhood.

Residents say the infestation has become a public safety concern, especially after dark.

“It’s definitely a public safety issue,” McCay said. “I want to feel safe being able to go in our yard and walk into the house.”

Township officials said they hope the rat population will begin to decline in the coming weeks.

Police said the investigation into conditions at the property remains active.

Source link

Pennsylvania

6abc Loves the Arts: Historical Society of Pennsylvania Presents “Paths to Independence: 1765 to 1787” through Sept. 18

Published

10 hours ago

June 21, 2026

Press Room

6abc Loves the Arts: Historical Society of Pennsylvania Presents “Paths to Independence: 1765 to 1787” through Sept. 18

PHLADELPHIA (WPVI) — The Historical Society of Pennsylvania is celebrating the semi-quincentennial with a new exhibition that shows off some very rare documents that date to the founding of our nation.

“Paths to Independence: 1765 to 1787” documents America’s origin story in two parts.

“The exhibition looks at the decade of controversies and conflicts leading up to the Declaration of Independence,” says David Brigham, Librarian & CEO of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. “Why did we feel as American colonies that we needed to separate from Great Britain?”

And then the 11 years between the signing of the Declaration and the adoption of the Constitution.

“The colonies have a lot of work to do,” says Brigham.

There are 141 pieces on view.

“They include original letters, journals, newspapers, broadsides,” he says. “And an incredible oil painting of a tea protest event that happened in Annapolis, Maryland in October of 1774.”

The artwork depicts the burning of the tea ship, Peggy Stewart.

“It’s been in a private home for generations,” he says. “This painting has not been seen in public possibly for 170 years.”

Items are on display in seven cases.

“This case focuses on the Stamp Act, which is passed in the spring of 1765 by Parliament,” he says.

There’s a section on rising tensions in the 1770s, which includes the Battle of Lexington and Concord and the Boston Tea Party.

You can see what’s known as the Dunlap Broadside.

“This is an original printing of the Declaration of Independence,” he says.

Just 200 were printed and only 26 survive.

Brigham says the one on display at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania is unique.

“We think it was Jefferson’s proof copy,” he says. “He would mark his speeches out with quotation marks where he intended to emphasize a phrase.”

Another case includes a first draft of the Articles of Confederation, which Brigham says is “the first attempt by Congress to write a Constitution of the United States.”

There is also a first newspaper printing of the Constitution of the United States. It was someone’s personal copy, complete with notes in the margin of the newspaper.

Brigham says people of different social statuses and religions found their way to independence “for different reasons.”

“Sometimes the story’s flattened out into ‘good guys’ and ‘bad guys.’ That’s way too simple,” he says. “There was a lot of complexity and even in that 20-year period a lot of attitudes changed.”

“Paths to Independence: 1765 to 1787” is on view through September 18 at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. This exhibition is free and open to the public during regular library hours, but visitors must check in at the front desk.

Historical Society of Pennsylvania’s library hours:

Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Wednesday from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Closed Saturday – Monday

Historical Society of Pennsylvania (HSP)
1300 Locust Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107

Source link