It’s time for the GM5, where we take a loot back at the top five stories of the prior month.

Without delay, here’s your most read five stories.

Corbett Requests Disaster Assistance for Victims of Philadelphia

HARRISBURG – Gov. Tom Corbett has asked the United States Small Business Administration to declare Philadelphia a disaster area after a devastating fire in a 90-unit apartment building last week left more than 100 people homeless.

“The apartment building was home to students, families and retirees who now have nothing left. In order to help these victims recover from this disaster, I have asked the federal Small Business Administration to make low-interest disaster loans available to help replace lost and damaged property,” Corbett said.  “I urge the SBA to take prompt action on this request.”

SBA officials, along with local and state officials, have conducted damage assessments at the Windermere Court Apartments in West Philadelphia.

To read that story, click here.

PSP: Eleven Dead in New Year’s Automobile Accidents

HARRISBURG – Eleven people were killed and 220 others were injured in the 693 crashes investigated by Pennsylvania State Police during the four-day New Year’s holiday driving period, said Commissioner Frank E. Pawlowski.

“Although the number of fatalities jumped from six to 11 compared to last year’s holiday driving period, crashes decreased by nearly 39 percent and the number of people injured dropped almost 24 percent,” Pawlowski said.

He said 76 of the crashes to which troopers responded from Dec. 30, 2010, through Jan. 2, 2011, were alcohol-related, including four crashes that resulted in a total of five deaths. Six of the 11 people who died in crashes were not wearing seat belts, he said.

Click here for that story.

Morelli OnLion: No Bolden, No Problem

It’s been quite a week for the Penn State football program.

Fresh off rumors about coach Joe Paterno being ill and perhaps mulling retirement, there are several published reports about the future of former starting quarterback Rob Bolden. Bolden’s father spoke with several media outlets about the future of his son.

In today’s edition of Morelli OnLion, we’ll take a closer look at the Bolden situation. We’ll also look back at Penn State’s 37-24 loss to Florida in the Outback Bowl.

Let’s start with the Bolden transfer.

No Bolden? No Problem.

For that story, click here.

PSP Investigating Chester Hill Robbery/Assault

CHESTER HILL – State police in Philipsburg are investigating a robbery and assault that took place over the weekend at Kwik Fill in Chester Hill.

According to police the incident involved two males. They entered Kwik Fill on Jan. 3; one male demanded money and punched a 21-year-old Houtzdale man in the mouth. Another male struck the Houtzdale man on the back of the head with a small club and also demanded money. The two males fled the scene on foot with an undisclosed amount of cash and three packs of menthol Marlboro cigarettes.

Anyone with information on this incident is asked to contact the state police in Philipsburg.

UPDATE: LT Supers Agree to Compromise with Strip Mall Ownership

CLEARFIELD – The ownership of a strip mall and the Lawrence Township Supervisors agreed to a compromise in property taxes.

The township approved the compromise on Tuesday evening. After their meeting, Jim Naddeo, township solicitor, gave some more detail on the issue.

The strip mall ownership, Clearfield-DFC LLC, had appealed their taxation rate on their Big Lots Plaza property. Naddeo said the township was agreeable to reducing the assessed value of structure (1,222,700) by 35 percent of its assessed and market values.

Click here for that story.