Authorities said that Pravilov took a 14-year-old Ukrainian boy to his Philadelphia apartment this month for sexual purposes. The boy was staying with a family in Wilmington, Del.
Trial set in sex assault
Courtney Wilson, a Northeast resident arrested in December for allegedly sexually assaulting girls from 1997 to 2005, yesterday was ordered to stand trial, following a preliminary hearing.
Wilson, 56, of Brighton Street near Oxford Avenue, Burholme, is charged with rape and related offenses, and is being held on more than $2 million bail.
While a member of the Remnant Church of God 7th Day, in Cedarbrook, Wilson befriended the girls and their families, and eventually began bringing the children to church and school activities, police said.
The victims, now in their 20s, recently told police that Wilson had assaulted them in their homes, his home, cars and hotel rooms.
Mechanic killed
A 50-year-old mechanic was killed Wednesday night when a truck fell on him after a jack that was supporting the vehicle slipped at the United Parcel Service warehouse on Oregon Avenue in South Philadelphia, police said.
Medics pronounced the man dead at 9:52 p.m., police said. His name was not released, and police provided no other details.
Aloha, Flower Show
"Hawaii: Islands of Aloha" will be the theme of this year's Flower Show, March 4-11, at the Pennsylvania Convention Center.
Organizers said yesterday that the annual extravaganza will feature a 25-foot waterfall and thousands of orchids and other tropical plants.
They said that garden exhibits would depict Hawaii cowboy culture, a beach wedding and a fancy surfers' retreat. Hawaiian musicians and dancers also will perform.
The event, sponsored by the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, is billed as the world's largest indoor flower show. It's also the nation's oldest, dating from 1829. About 265,000 visitors attended last year.
DELAWARE
Wage-bill contest
The Delaware Senate yesterday narrowly approved a bill raising the minimum wage by a dollar, a move that would leave Delaware among a minority of states with minimum wages higher than the federal minimum.
The measure passed the Democrat-led Senate on a 12-to-9 vote, mostly along party lines, and now goes to the House, also controlled by Democrats.
The bill would increase the minimum from $7.25 an hour - the federal minimum wage - to $8.25 in two steps over the next two years.
Opponents said an increase would impose hardships on business owners trying to make ends meet and could lead to layoffs.
- Staff and wire reports
