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<p>FBI agents armed with search warrants raided two houses in a southwestern suburb of Philadelphia yesterday, backed by members of a hazardous-materials squad wearing full protective gear.</p> <p>Located less than two blocks apart in Chester, Pa., some 15 miles southwest of Philadelphia, the houses are owned by Dr. Irshad Shaikh, a Pakistani physician and specialist in epidemic diseases who is Chester's city health commissioner, and by Asif Kazi, the Chester city accountant, who also is a Pakistani native.</p>

<p>A married Amish man has been accused of sexually assaulting six girls, one his cousin, in a case that has plunged his insular community into crisis. Over ten years, Chester Mast is said to have abused victims aged from five to 15.</p>

A suburban Philadelphia city has declared a state of emergency following the fourth killing in eight days, including the death of a 2-year-old boy a week ago. Mayor Wendell Butler Jr. today proclaimed the state of emergency beginning tonight and running through Thursday morning, and he said he will ask the city council to extend it for a month. During that time, no one is allowed on the street from 9 p.m. until 6 a.m. each day, and no assembly of three or more people is allowed without a permit.

Gladiators fought to the death in Chester By Nic Fleming, Science Correspondent Last Updated: 2:09am GMT 17/02/2007 Gladiatorial contests took place at the largest amphitheatre in Roman Britain, according to new evidence unearthed by archaeologists. An artist's impression of Chester's ampitheatre Finds at an excavation of the arena in Chester provide the most conclusive proof yet that it played host to grisly fights to the death for public entertainment, and reinforce the view of the town's importance in the Roman Empire. A stone block with iron fittings was discovered at the centre of the two-storey amphitheatre, which dates back to...

Andrew Dinniman held a lead last night in his bid to become the first Democratic state senator from Chester County in memory. Dinniman and Republican Carol Aichele, both county commissioners, were seeking to finish the term of Robert J. Thompson, who died in January. Dinniman led by a 5-4 ratio in late returns. But Aichele was not conceding. "I feel good about this race," she said last night. "It was a great day at the polls." Dinniman, who toured the polling places yesterday with his dog, Henry, said last night that he was confident that enough Democrats and independents had...

Dennis Weaver passed away today according to Fox News on TV.

< Second Thoughts 8-24-05 By: William W. Lawrence We stopped by the World War II victory celebration, Aug. 15 in Rose Tree Park. Jim Gallagher -- Newtown Square's own George Washington -- organized the event. It commemorated the 60th Anniversary of the surrender of Japan and featured the widely acclaimed 76-piece John Philip Sousa Band from Upper Darby. Certificates of appreciation and American flags were presented to 15 men who were prisoners of war in World War II or Korea.Media Mayor Bob McMahon, a Vietnam veteran, was the emcee.Kudos, Jim.* * *And a tip of the battered old Stetson to...

Operation Quick Strike: Neither Quick, Nor just a Strike Things are about to change dramatically in Anbar province. As both Wretchard (here, here, and here) and Bill Roggio have noted, Operation Quick Strike has begun. The question is, why now? An LA Times story (8 U.S. Troops Killed in Battle for Border) on the death of 6 Marine snipers (aside: this is extremely unusual and bears close examination) contained a tantalizing detail of the nature of Quick Strike: The deaths of the Americans, though, highlight the intensity of the fighting in the area after a recent order by Army Gen....

CHESTER, Pa. (AP) - A veteran principal and school administrator has been suspended while officials investigate allegations that she helped students cheat on tests. Jayne Gibbs was placed on a paid leave Thursday after eighth graders at Edward E. Parry Edison Junior Academy said she had given them answers to questions on the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment test, said Wayne Emsley, Chester Upland School District assessment director. Gibbs is an administrator with the for-profit education company Edison Schools, which has run most of Chester Upland's schools for the last several years but recently announced it was severing its relationship...

More than two dozen teenagers were arrested, and hundreds were sent home, when police locked down Chester High School after a brawl that got out of control yesterday, Chester police said. Two teenagers were arrested on criminal assault charges after they attacked a police officer who responded to the fighting, police said. Twenty-six students were arrested for disorderly conduct and failure to disperse. Police said the students, all under 18, were released to their parents pending a hearing in juvenile court.

Police question bishop over gay row A bishop who suggested gay people should seek medical help to reorientate their sexuality is to be questioned by police. The Rt Rev Dr Peter Forster, Bishop of Chester, is to be interviewed over statements made in a newspaper on Friday. He is reported to have said that some people who are "primarily homosexual" can "reorientate themselves" with the help of psychiatrists. "I would encourage them to consider that as an option, but I would not set myself up as a medical specialist on the subject, that's in the area of psychiatric health," he...

<p>January 26, 2003 -- The FBI is getting the sealed records of ex-U.N. arms inspector Scott Ritter's Internet kiddie-sex-sting bust with an eye toward slapping him with federal charges, officials said yesterday.</p> <p>A judge last week signed an order requiring cops and prosecutors to hand over all records and any evidence in the Ritter case to the FBI and the U.S. attorney's office.</p>

By the days end, at least 10 Senate Republicans contacted by CBS News have endorsed Lott's leadership, a small boost for the embattled Senator, but far short of the 26 he will need from the Senate GOP Caucus to keep his job reports CBS News Washington Correspondant Bob Fuss.Those standing with Lott include:Mike Dewine-OhioOrrin Hatch-UtahArlen Specter-PennslyvaniaLott still believes a majority of the 51 Senate Republicans support him.'I'm telling you this morning, I am hanging in there,' he told the Biloxi Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday.

SARASOTA -- Republican congressional candidate Chester Flake dropped out of the 13th District race Wednesday because of a paperwork error that he says was engineered by his opponent, Katherine Harris. Flake, 27, a computer consultant who has never held elected office, was on his way to the Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections office Wednesday morning to deliver a stack of 2,400 petition signatures when he ran into a friend. Seeing the pile of petitions, Flake's friend asked him if he'd also remembered to turn in his "alternative method affidavit," required for candidates who seek to get on the ballot by...