Opening the book on betting operation

It was a multimillion-dollar operation run by one of the biggest bookmakers in Philadelphia.It included wiseguys and wannabes, gamblers and hustlers and, most surprising, a suspected hit man and the brother of his alleged victim.

Over 20 months, it generated more than $60 million in bets on professional and college sports.

…In the affidavit, Nicodemo is identified as a “prime suspect” in the unsolved gangland murder of John “Johnny Gongs” Casasanto. Casasanto was gunned down in his South Philadelphia rowhouse on Nov. 22, 2003.

Casasanto’s brother, Stephen, 37, is another defendant in the Borgata case, charged with money laundering and promoting gambling.

According to FBI information cited in the affidavit, “Nicodemo was inducted in the Philadelphia LCN (La Cosa Nostra) Family . . . shortly after the contract murder of . . . John Casasanto.”

Traditionally, participating in a murder is a requirement for formal initiation into a Cosa Nostra family.

Anchors Stensland and Mendte lead a wild life

In what TV anchor Dawn Stensland calls a “Jethro and Elly May” experience, she and her husband, anchor Larry Mendte, helped save a newborn raccoon over the weekend.

Phila. researchers bring sight to the blind

In case you ever wondered about which direction you should flee the city like rats off of a sinking ship during a catastrophic event, here you go:

http://oem.readyphiladelphia.org/evacuation

Segway Officers Nab One-Legged City Hall Bomb Threat Suspect [NBC 10]

Police had said earlier that they were looking for a man with one leg using crutches and wearing Army fatigues. The man who was arrested did not appear to be wearing Army fatigues.

Three officers on Segways made the arrest. Philadelphia police recently began testing four of the personal transportation devices for use around the city.

500 Manhole Covers Stolen From City Streets In Past Year [NBC 10]

About 500 thefts in the last year has[sic] cost the water department and customers $50,000. That includes money spent for manhole cover locks.

“It’ll stop them. Once we lock them down, they can’t get them up,” the department employee said.

Police said thieves are trying to sell the covers at scrap metal yards. The market is high for this heavy metal.

“They’re worth 12 cents a pound, roughly,” scrap yard owner David Richman said.

Nutter defiantly signs five gun laws [Inquirer]

The five laws - called everything from unconstitutional to criminal by critics - do the following:

Limit handgun purchases to one a month.

Require lost or stolen firearms to be reported to police within 24 hours.

Prohibit individuals under protection-from-abuse orders from possessing guns if ordered by the court.

Allow removal of firearms from “persons posing a risk of imminent personal injury” to themselves or others.

Outlaw the possession and sale of certain assault weapons.

Nutter said he would begin to enforce the laws immediately, with the exception of the one-gun-a-month requirement, which takes effect in six months.

:: On the next season of The Real World, Philadelphia’s representative will be a stripper. [Inquirer]

:: Classy radio station comes up with classy contest to celebrate the Flyers’ playoff berth in a classy manner, by having female listeners undress in very classy ways with Flyers gear. Classily. [Hottest Flyers Fan @ WMMR, via Philebrity]

Guardian Angels get support, but no free fares, in Philadelphia [Inquirer]

With the following photo, which originally was to be shot in the Poconos, until the album title changed to “8th Street” at the last minute-

Open Letter To Joey Vento: WE’RE LIVID! [Philebrity]

Geno’s Steaks proprietor Joey Vento is annoyed because the city wants him to take down his sign stating that you cannot order at his establishment unless you speak English.

Unfortunately, conservative commentator Michael Smerconish hails from here so he has an opinion over at the Daily News.

East Falls School Mural Ruined By Racist Graffiti [cbs3.com]

The vandalism at the Thomas Mifflin School in the city’s East Falls neighborhood was discovered Wednesday morning. School district spokesman Vincent Thompson says the faces of the black children on a mural depicting diversity were marked out. Also, swastikas and other racist markings were painted on the outside walls.

Also on the page, right above the story-

Let civilians direct traffic, city’s transit chief proposes [Inquirer]

Philadelphia should replace traffic police with trained civilians to reduce gridlock and to free up police for more important duties, the city’s new transportation chief said yesterday.

Rina Cutler, deputy mayor for transportation and utilities, acknowledged the police officers’ union and some state lawmakers would probably fight such a move.