Coast Guard Launches Navita™ Mariner Credentialing System

The United States Coast Guard today announces the initial release of Navita™, a new digital platform designed to streamline the application and issuance of merchant mariner credentials.

The Latin word for “sailor,” Navita™ (pronounced “Nā·vï·ta”) will reduce paper-based applications and manual processing by providing a simplified electronic application. The new process will reduce common errors and improve transparency of the mariner credentialing process.

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American Legion ‘s 4th Estate Award

A Pennsylvania newspaper and a Texas television station are the recipients of The American Legion’s 2026 Fourth Estate Award. The awards – which recognizes outstanding achievement in the field of journalism – were presented on Sept. 3 during the Legion’s national convention in Louisville, Ky.

The Bucks County (Pa.) Courier Times was cited for excellence in print journalism for its 2025 series “The Unclaimed,” written by reporter Jo Ciavaglia. The series told the stories of hundreds of remains stored in county morgues, without any next-of-kin or legal representatives claiming custody. Her reporting led to hundreds of remains being eventually claimed and dozens of veterans being awarded military honors.

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Philadelphia Police Provide Update on Chew Avenue Investigation

The Philadelphia Police Department, with assistance from the FBI Philadelphia Field Office, continues to investigate evidence recovered from 417 West Chew Avenue in the city’s Olney section.

As investigators continue reviewing digital evidence recovered from the property, police have identified three additional women depicted in images and videos who appear to be deceased. Two of those women have been identified. The third woman remains unidentified and is considered a Jane Doe at this time.

These three women are in addition to Maribel Fresses and Gabrielle Amarando, whom police previously identified in digital evidence recovered from the property. Both women were depicted alive and, in later images, appeared to be deceased.

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Eligible Families Can Claim a Child Tax Credit of Up to $1,000

If you had a child aged five or under in 2025 and you don’t usually file taxes because your income is below the filing threshold, you might qualify for a refundable Child Tax Credit of up to $1,000. A new free website called SimpleFile makes it easy to claim.

Many lower-income families miss out on this credit simply because they aren’t required to file taxes and don’t realize they can still claim it. More than 200,000 New Jersey families already claim the Child Tax Credit each year, and thousands more qualify but haven’t filed.

SimpleFile takes about 15 minutes to complete and is available in both English and Spanish. A video to help guide applicants is on YouTube.

Check If You Qualify

Run the Bridge. Help Us Support The Larc Norcross School

Join us November 1 for the Cooper Norcross Run the Bridge and help raise critical funds for the children and families served by The Larc Norcross School.

On Sunday, November 1, 2026, the Ben Franklin Bridge will close for the annual Cooper Norcross Run the Bridge, bringing our community together for an important cause.

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HUD’s Innovative Housing Showcase Returns

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) invites media to cover the sixth annual Innovative Housing Showcase on the National Mall. As a proud partner of the Freedom 250 Initiative, the Showcase will include a variety of full-scale housing models, including manufactured, 3D-printed, and modular homes, as well as industry-focused panel discussions and displays highlighting American innovations that can help expand housing supply, lower construction costs, and make homeownership more attainable.

This year’s Showcase is sponsored by: International Code Council (ICC), Manufactured Housing Institute (MHI), National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), Rocket, and Structural Building Components Association (SBCA).

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Event Take Over Fishtown for Fall Festival and Oktoberfest Season

Philadelphia, PA – Fall and family fun are in the air in Fishtown! This September, look for four major events, festivals and block parties set to take over one of Philadelphia’s hottest neighborhoods. First up, get ready to raise a glass at the 15th Annual Frankford Hall Oktoberfest on Saturday, September 19, 2026, from 12:00pm to 8:00pm, on the 1200 Block of Frankford Avenue. Look for live music by the Polka Brothers, dancing in the street, great German beer, pretzels, sausages, decorations and more. For families, come out and enjoy Fishtown Oktoberfest Family Funfest by Fishtown District on Saturday, September 19th from 12:00pm to 4:00pm, on Frankford Avenue, between Thompson and Master Streets. Look for face painting, vendors, balloon artists, nine-hole open-air mini golf, pop-up a-shot basketball, outdoor games, makers, artists and more.

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Robert Keith Beppel, 62, of Bridgewater

Robert Keith Beppel, age 62, of Bridgewater, NJ, passed suddenly on September 12, 2026.

Born on June 14, 1964, in Philadelphia, PA to the late Robert H. Beppel and Marian J. Beppel (nee Dennison).

Keith is survived by his brother Brian P. Beppel and his wife, Laurie; niece Ashley Elliott; nephew Brian R. Beppel; aunts and uncles, Eileen Quade, Bill Beppel, Tom Dennison and JoyceAnn Dennison.

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2025 U.S. Income, Poverty and Health Insurance

The U.S. Census Bureau announced that real median household income was $87,460 in 2025, the highest on record dating back to 1967.

The official poverty rate fell 0.5 percentage points to 10.2% in 2025. The following 2025 findings were not statistically different from 2024: the Supplemental Poverty Measure (SPM) rate in 2025 was 13.1% and in 2025, 26.7 million people (7.9%) were uninsured for the entire year, according to the 2026 Current Population Survey Annual Social and Economic Supplement (CPS ASEC).

These findings come from three Census Bureau reports, “Income in the United States: 2025,” “Poverty in the United States: 2025” and “Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2025.”

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Pennsylvania Man Arrested on Felony Child Sex Assault Charges

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is America’s frontline: the nation’s largest law enforcement organization and the world’s first unified border management agency. The 70,000+ men and women of CBP protect America on the ground, in the air, and on the seas. We enforce safe, lawful travel and trade and ensure our country’s economic prosperity. We enhance the nation’s security through innovation, intelligence, collaboration, and trust.

PHILADELPHIA – U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers arrested a Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, man on Saturday at Philadelphia International Airport who was wanted on multiple felony sex crimes, including rape of a child.

CBP officers arrested Dev Poudel, 50, after he arrived on a flight from Doha, Qatar, and turned him over to Upper Allen Township, Pennsylvania, Police Department detectives.