Region in brief: Philadelphia transit strike ends

PHILADELPHIA – Gov. Ed Rendell said a transit strike that shut down Philadelphia’s buses, subways and trolleys for nearly a week is over.

The governor announced early today that the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority had reached an agreement with its largest labor union on new contract provisions to end the strike.

About 5,000 Transport Workers Local 234 workers walked off the job early last Tuesday.

Rendell said the system will be back up and running in time for this morning’s commute.

During a brief press conference in downtown Philadelphia, the governor said SEPTA and the union had settled an earlier disagreement regarding a pension fund audit and made some changes in health care and dental benefits.

Union president Willie Brown said he thinks members will approve the contract.

Suspect in slaying of women caught

EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – Investigators on Sunday captured a man they believe opened fire on a car parked at a gas station, killing three women, including an acquaintance of the suspect, state investigators said. Several children inside the bullet-riddled vehicle escaped harm.

All the wounded in Saturday night’s shooting were shot several times, mostly in the torso, and died later at a hospital, Illinois State Police Lt. James Morrisey said.

Police in neighboring St. Louis arrested the suspect Sunday night at an apartment after an intensive search for the car he supposedly drove to and from the shooting, Morrisey said.

The suspect’s name was not released because charges had not been filed.

Morrisey said the women and children were sitting in a car about 9:30 p.m. Saturday on the convenience store’s lot when the suspect drove up, exchanged words briefly with at least one of the women and began firing with a handgun.