Briefly... CITY/REGION

Catholic H.S. scholars

Cardinal Justin Rigali, archbishop of Philadelphia, and Mary Rochford, superintendent of schools, will be joined by 21 high school students from the Archdiocese today in announcing the total number of college scholarships earned by the Class of 2010. During the program at the Archdiocese Office Center auditorium at 222 N. 17th St., each student will disclose the number of college scholarships earned at his/her school.

Probation in worker fraud

Patricia Gillin, 60, of Downingtown, was sentenced in federal court yesterday to three years' probation for her role in a conspiracy that shuttled undocumented workers through the immigration system to obtain temporary work visas.

U.S. District Judge Berle M. Schiller ordered her to serve the first four months of probation under house arrest and also fined her $50,000.

Gillin pleaded guilty in December. Authorities said she worked for Michael Glah, who owned a West Chester-based company that recruited workers from outside the United Sattes for their clients and then helped obtain the work visas. Glah is to be sentenced Aug. 23.

Guilty/mentally ill plea

Joseph Giongo, 45, pleaded guilty but mentally ill yesterday in county court in the beating and stomping death of his wife in their Conshohocken home shortly before Christmas 2007.

Giongo attacked his wife, Bernardette, during an argument over a takeout-food order. The slaying occurred in the kitchen of their home as their 7-year-old son looked on. Judge Kent Albright accepted the third-degree-murder plea and will impose sentence at a later date.

Biden at fundraiser for his son

Vice President Joe Biden attended a fundraiser last night at the Water Works Restaurant near the Art Museum for his son, Beau, who is seeking re-election as Delaware's attorney general.

Beau Biden is recuperating at home after suffering a mild stroke two weeks ago.

The elder Biden said that although doctors would not let his son attend the event, the two went to a golf driving range yesterday morning.

Teen driving rules amended

The state Senate yesterday voted 33-14 to amend a bill banning teens with junior driver's licenses from using cell phones or sending text messages. The amendment makes violations a secondary offense, so offenders could be ticketed only if they were pulled over for some other reason.

Rep. Josh Shapiro, D-Montgomery, a co-sponsor of the bill, said that, by amending the bill, the Senate "ensured that people would continue to die on Pennsylvania's roadways."

Tax-amnesty take at $51M

Halfway through the tax-amnesty period, the state has fielded about 29,000 applicants that together amount to nearly $51 million in overdue taxes.

One corporate taxpayer sent a payment for $1.2 million. Officials said a surge in applications is expected in the weeks before the period ends June 18.

Under the program, the Revenue Department is waiving penalties and half the interest. The state expects to collect about $190 million.

- Staff and wire reports