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Briefly... CITY/REGION

He pleads in Bunning case Bruce Shore, 51, of Northeast Philadelphia, pleaded not guilty in federal court in Kentucky yesterday to a charge that he sent harassing e-mails to U.S. Sen. Jim Bunning, the former Phillies pitcher.

He pleads in Bunning case

Bruce Shore, 51, of Northeast Philadelphia, pleaded not guilty in federal court in Kentucky yesterday to a charge that he sent harassing e-mails to U.S. Sen. Jim Bunning, the former Phillies pitcher.

The e-mails, sent Feb. 26, stem from a period when Bunning, who is retiring this year, held up a vote on extending unemployment benefits for people who have been out of work.

Shore and a girlfriend were part of what became known as a "Bonnie and Clyde" team that pleaded guilty to 35 burglaries in suburban Philadelphia in the 1990s, according to online court records. Shore got out of prison in 1995 and has been jobless since 2007.

Buckled beam disrupts funeral

About 250 people attending a funeral at a North Philadelphia church ran in fear yesterday, when a support beam buckled, leading some to believe the floor was collapsing, according to the fire department.

The incident occurred about 10 a.m. at the Second Baptist Church of Nicetown on Germantown Avenue near Butler Street. No injuries were reported.

Drug deal turns deadly

A 30-year-old man was shot and killed when a drug deal went awry in West Philadelphia last night.

Police said the victim, whose name was not released, arrived with another man on Baltimore Avenue near 54th Street shortly after 9 p.m. to deliver a package to a person on the block.

Two other men apparently ambushed the pair and opened fire. Police said the victim was wounded in the head and arm and died at the scene. The other man shot at the killers, who fled the scene. No arrests were made. Tipsters can contact the Homicide Unit at 215-686-3334 or 3335.

Man found shot in burning car

A 58-year-old man was found shot in the head Thursday night, after being pulled from a burning car by rescuers, police said yesterday.

Police found the unconscious man trapped inside an overturned Toyota 4Runner near Westmoreland and 34th streets, police said. Medics found that he had been shot in the back of his head, and had gunshot wounds to the face and foot, police said.

The man, whose name was withheld by police, was pronounced dead at 11:49 p.m. at Temple University Hospital.Homicide detectives were interviewing a man last night about the shooting, but it was unclear if he was a suspect or a witness, police said.

Extradited to face sex charge

Kenneth Schneider, 45, a philanthropist from Philadelphia charged with traveling to Russia to have sex with a young dancer, was extradited from Cyprus and is back in the United States to face trial.

Prosecutors say he had sex with a 12-year-old boy while helping out at the Moscow State Academy of Choreography in 1998 and later brought the boy back to Philadelphia.

Killer's death warrant signed

Gov. Rendell has signed a death warrant for Jermont Cox, 39, who was convicted of a 1992 murder in the city in retaliation for a drug-related robbery and carjacking.

Cox was sentenced to death in 1995 after killing Terence "T" Stewart. He is scheduled to die on July 22.

Big bucks to improve airport

Officials at Philadelphia International Airport are planning more than a half-billion dollars in renovations.

Airport officials are asking City Council for approval to borrow $535 million for upgrades including security and baggage handling.

Aviation director Mark Gale said $135 million would go for a new central hub in Terminal F, which opened in 2001. The remaining money would be used for other changes, including a relocated security checkpoint serving two terminals.

- Staff and wire reports