Utley Suspended for Controversial Slide
New York Mets shortstop Ruben Tejada (right) collides with Los Angeles Dodgers second baseman Chase Utley (left) at second base during the seventh inning in game two of the NLDS at Dodger Stadium. | Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Good morning, Philadelphia. Here’s what you need to know today:
The Dodgers’ Chase Utley has been suspended two games for a controversial slide that broke the leg of Mets’ shortstop Ruben Tejada.
He left town at midseason in a trade, but you’d think Chase Utley was still a member of the Phillies, given how much support he received from Philadelphia fans over the weekend after the slide that broke Tejada’s leg. Nationally, a debate raged over whether Utley played dirty or just hard, but Philly consensus seemed solidly on Utley’s side.
Major League Baseball disagrees, announcing that Utley will be suspended Games 3 and 4 of the National League Divisional Series. He’ll appeal, AP reports. “A two-game suspension for a legal baseball play is outrageous and completely unacceptable. Chase did what all players are taught to do in this situation — break up the double play,” his agent said.
The Inquirer is trying to get Seth Williams’ PAC to turn loose financial records. Kathleen Kane may have to settle the issue.
After an August report that a federal grand jury is examining District Attorney Seth Williams campaign spending, the Inquirer is trying to do the same: It’s seeking financial records from the Friends of Seth Williams PAC from the years 2012, 2013, and 2014. So far, though, no dice — no reports, even though the Board of Elections has reportedly ordered the PAC to furnish the records to the Inky.
Here’s where it gets messy: The Board of Elections is now asking for Attorney General Kathleen Kane to intervene and pry loose the records. But Kane and Williams have been locked in at-times ugly political rivalry that has triggered scandals — leaked grand jury charges for her, “Porngate” for him — in each of their offices. Kane’s office promises to play it straight: “We’ll review this one and respond if what we believe is an appropriate manner,” a Kane spokesman says.
Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown wants apartment builders to top their buildings with green vegetation.
Doing so helps stormwater management and can save on heating and cooling bills in a building, NewsWorks reports, but all that greenery can cost a developer an extra $100,000 to add. The councilwoman’s solution: Let developers add additional apartments to a building to make up the difference in rent. No word on when Council might consider the proposal.
Bill Cosby gave seven hours of deposition testimony Friday in a sexual assault civil case.
“It was the first time Cosby, 78, testified under oath since dozens of women came forward over the past year with accusations of sexual misconduct, some of which date back to the 1960s,” Reuters reports. The testimony came in a lawsuit brought by Judy Huth, who claims abused her when she was 15, in the 1970s. Cosby has never been charged with a crime, and has maintained his innocence of the allegations.
Today is Columbus Day. You might not have the day off, but a lot of people do.
“In Philadelphia, free library locations, public schools and municipal courts closed in observance of the holiday honoring Christopher Columbus’ arrival in the Americas,” NBC 10 reports “Curbside trash and recycling collection was pushed back one day throughout the week in the city.” Most federal agencies and services, including mail delivery, are also off today.
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