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Briefly... CITY/REGION

Shows contempt, gets 2 years A Philadelphia man who thumbed his nose at a federal judge was sentenced to two years in a federal prison yesterday. Joseph Allen, 30, already serving a four-year sentence for conspiracy, armed bank robbery and weapons offenses, had been ordered by U.S. District Judge Berle M. Schiller in June 2007 to testify for the government during the trial of Kevin Jenkins.

Shows contempt, gets 2 years

A Philadelphia man who thumbed his nose at a federal judge was sentenced to two years in a federal prison yesterday. Joseph Allen, 30, already serving a four-year sentence for conspiracy, armed bank robbery and weapons offenses, had been ordered by U.S. District Judge Berle M. Schiller in June 2007 to testify for the government during the trial of Kevin Jenkins.

But Allen, who had a cooperation plea agreement in his own case, refused to testify against Jenkins, a close friend, and was charged with criminal contempt last August. He pleaded guilty last December. Allen was supposed to be released to a halfway house in August.

Blackwell: Ax city-job fee?

City Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell introduced legislation yesterday that would ask voters in a ballot question if they want to roll back a $35 fee the city started charging in 2004 for filling out applications for city jobs.

Blackwell said that more than 7,500 people applied in April for city laborer jobs, bringing in more than $263,000 in application fees. "If you hire 100 people, what about the others?" she asked.

Call for stamp to honor Wilt

City Council approved a resolution yesterday calling on the U.S. Postal Service to honor basketball legend Wilt Chamberlain by creating a stamp with his image. Chamberlain's sister, Selina Gross, and his longtime friend Sonny Hill, of the city's famed Sonny Hill League, thanked Council on behalf of the Overbrook High School alumnus, who died in 1999.

"This is a very honored day," Hill told the Council. "We should be doing more things like this. We should be recognizing our past. We should recognize our history."

Nonviolence campaign kick-off

The City Wide Youth Leadership Agency is holding its annual summer nonviolence campaign kick-off tomorrow from 1 to 7 p.m. at the miniature golf course at 10th Street and Cecil B. Moore Avenue, North Philadelphia.

Executive director William Mackey said that youths are encouraged to come to sign up for employment, join in the talent show or participate in the cook-off contest. There will be food, games and a flea market. Pre-registration: 215-765-5504. Or, register at the event.

Health program graduation

Thirty-four Olney High School students will graduate today in ceremonies at St. Christopher's Hospital for Children as part of the Health Tech mentoring program, which takes deserving students from some of the highest-crime neighborhoods in the city and gives them the opportunity to work with health professionals.

The graduation rate for the students in the program is 98 percent. Graduates of the program have gone on to work in the health and medical fields, and a handful is preparing for medical school.

- Staff and wire reports