Chiefs

The chief executive officer of a North Philadelphia charter school that is fighting to remain open testified during a Philadelphia School District hearing Friday that the school met the state's academic benchmarks for 2012. Bekir Duz of the Truebright Science Academy Charter School testified during a two-hour hearing at the district's headquarters that focused on whether the school's operating charter should be renewed. Duz also said his school had a curriculum and offered an Advanced Placement biology course in the 2011-12 academic year.

NEW YORK - Andy Reid's first pick with the Eagles in 1999 was second overall, and it was greeted with a barrage of boos at Madison Square Garden from Eagles fans yearning for Ricky Williams instead of Donovan McNabb. Entering his 15th season as a head coach and his first with the Kansas City Chiefs, Reid used his first selection - first overall - to take Central Michigan offensive tackle Eric Fisher. The draft has since moved a few blocks uptown to Radio City Music Hall, and the response was overwhelmingly ambivalent compared to what McNabb endured.

Spring is in the air. Just look at all the new chief financial officers sprouting at area companies. Nutrisystem Inc. , the Fort Washington weight-loss company, hired Michael P. Monahan , who will join as of May 22. Monahan has been CFO of PetroChoice Holdings Inc. , a distributor of petroleum-based lubricants based in Bristol. Monahan, who will replace David Clark , had previously worked at Nutrisystem as its vice president of finance from 2006 to 2009. Safeguard Scientifics Inc. was also in need of a CFO, having promoted Stephen T. Zarrilli from that role to president and chief executive officer in November.

The federal aviation administrator, Michael Huerta, has defended his decision to furlough about 10 percent of U.S. air-traffic controllers, telling lawmakers Wednesday that he had no choice under governmentwide budget cuts and that airline passengers would not be harmed. "It will have no effect on safety," Huerta told members of the House Appropriations subcommittee that oversees the agency's budget, "but what will suffer is efficiency. " Huerta's testimony came on the fourth day of flight delays after the forced days off began, helping reignite a feud over which political party deserves blame for fiscal policies that began after Republicans took over the House in 2011.

SCRANTON - A northeastern Pennsylvania police chief was arrested yesterday on witness-intimidation and obstruction charges after authorities say he had sex with an alleged victim in a criminal case and told her not to tell anyone. According to court documents, Scott Township Police Chief James Romano, 42, had sex last month with a 20-year-old woman who was an alleged victim of a former band teacher who was accused of having sex with students. Romano was one of the arresting officers in that case.

One in a series of articles getting you ready for the U.S. Open at Merion, June 13-16.   THE MOST influential person at this June's U.S. Open might not be three-time winner Tiger Woods or reigning Masters champion Adam Scott. Or USGA executive director Mike Davis, who is responsible for setting up Merion's East Course for, as the championship's website states, golf's toughest test. Or even NBC's Johnny Miller, whose jab-like observations figure to ruffle some egos. No, the one holding the keys at America's sixth-ranked course, which is hosting this flagship event for the first time in 32 years, is Matt Shaffer, director of golf course operations at the Ardmore institution.

TRENTON - Hours after telling lawmakers that fired basketball coach Mike Rice was "not entitled to any severance," Rutgers University president Robert L. Barchi said Thursday night that Rice would receive $475,000 to settle the remaining two years of his contract. Rice was fired April 3 after a video went public showing him verbally and physically abusing players. Rutgers and Rice's representatives began negotiations two days later, a school spokesman said. "Tonight's agreement is in the best interests of the university, and I am pleased this issue has been resolved," Barchi said in a statement.

The Montgomery County commissioners ousted elections chief Joseph R. Passarella with little explanation Wednesday, one month before a primary election. For more than a decade, Democrats have criticized Passarella's office as ineffectual - a perception that apparently led to his ouster this week. "This is part of an ongoing effort to look at every aspect of county government and make sure that we have the best leadership in those posts and that they're operating as effectively and efficiently as possible," said Chairman Josh Shapiro, who leads the county's first Democratic administration in more than 150 years.

TRENTON - Hours after telling lawmakers that fired basketball coach Mike Rice was "not entitled to any severance," Rutgers University president Robert L. Barchi said Thursday night that Rice would receive $475,000 to settle the remaining two years of his contract. Rice was fired April 3 after a video went public showing him verbally and physically abusing players. Rutgers and Rice's representatives began negotiations two days later, a school spokesman said. "Tonight's agreement is in the best interests of the university, and I am pleased this issue has been resolved," Barchi said in a statement.