STATE
Greenert will speak at Shippensburg
SHIPPENSBURG — Butler native Jonathan Greenert, chief of naval operations for the U.S. Navy, will speak Saturday in central Pennsylvania.
Greenert will be the commencement speaker for the American Legion Keystone Boys State Program at Shippensburg University. Greenert participated in the program when he was 17.
It is a summer education program that focuses on participation and personal experience in a model state, complete with governing bodies and elected public officials. About 240 boys who will be going into their senior year of high school next year will graduate from the program.
Greenert graduated from Butler High School in 1971 and became the chief of naval operations in 2011.
He is retiring at the end of the summer.
Wolf forms new political committee
HARRISBURG — Gov. Tom Wolf has formed a new political action committee to advance his agenda and raise money for candidates. Mike Mikus, who heads the Democratic governor’s “Rebuild Pennsylvania” committee, said it launched its website on Monday.
Mikus said Wolf contributed some of his own money to form the committee but declined to say how much. He said the committee will promote the governor’s agenda on social media websites and contribute money to candidates who support his programs.
Man faces decades in prison for scam
PHILADELPHIA — A man who pretended to be Philadelphia’s district attorney faces up to 33 years in prison for scamming a World War II veteran out of $95,000.
A judge handed down the sentence against 49-year-old Shelton Thomas on Monday. Thomas pleaded guilty in February.
Thomas began cutting the 93-year-old victim’s lawn in 2011. He concocted a story that he illegally dumped grass clippings and other trash and needed money for court costs.
Prosecutors say Thomas posed as District Attorney Seth Williams in calls to the victim to persuade him to give money. The man eventually gave Thomas his life savings and maxed out his credit cards.
Cheesesteak shop removes flag sticker
PHILADELPHIA — A famed south Philadelphia cheesesteak shop has taken down a Confederate flag-themed sticker after a resident complained.
Phil Dahl said he complained about the sticker at Geno’s Steaks after U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham called on South Carolina to remove the flag from its statehouse in the wake of a shooting that killed nine people at a historic black church in Charleston.
The shop has been the subject of controversy in the past. A sign on the window demanding customers order in English has garnered criticism.
From staff and wire sources
