Friday deluge

Whooh, my head is spacey, so you take your own risks in listening to anything I say. But at least I'm doing my coughing at work! (wait, is that an improvement?) Bunch of news caught my eye today:

• Political races
  
  
  
  • Bush was in NE Pennsylvania to help Don Sherwood. With what, the coattails of his 35% approval rating?! Chris Carney contines to look strong there.
    
    
  • Tom Gannon is looking a little defensive in his state House race as well, with Brian Lenz providing a strong alternative.
    
    
  • The Inquirer has a profile of Lois Murphy in her race against Jim Gerlach, another one with some ugly mudslinging by the incumbent. Is there anybody who finds it fun to watch political ads these days? Meantime, the Allentown paper has endorsed Murphy.
    
    
  • They also have a piece on Chris Smith and Carol Gay, opponents in the 4th district, about which race I previously knew nothing.
    
    
  • The Inquirer endorses Allyson Schwartz in her race.
    
    
  • Rick Santorum is raising eyebrows by refusing to follow through on a pledge to release his tax returns; Bob Casey did so on Wednesday. Is he a millionare, and still asking for help from his parents?
    
    
  • The FBI investigation of Curt Weldon is raising questions about the House Ethics Board and how much weight should be given to its (undermotivated) findings.
    
    
  • Gar Josephs makes little of the speculation surrounding Frank Rizzo, Jr.'s interest in the Philadelphia mayor's race, saying he goes through the ceremony of considering and then opting out of a run every time.
  
  
• City Council happenings
  
  
  
  • A committee approved a bill to define the word "candidate" for application of city campaign contribution laws. Unfortunately, it still uses submission of nominating petitions (or formal public announcement) as the standard, which doesn't help with shenanigans like we're seeing this year. More on this story here.
  
  
• Other news
  
  
  
  • Two pieces about education today: one talking about empowering principals to help turn around their low-performing schools; a second looks at a Johns Hopkins survey of dropouts and how they might be reconnected to their schools and communities.
    
    
  • Did the slots/zoning opponents actually win? tentative optimism all 'round...
    
    
  • e-Robin announces a nonpartisan phone bank effort aimed at single women -- it's an easy way to put in some time.
    
    
  • Looks like the Inquirer/Daily News honeymoon with publisher Tierney is over, as memos come around threatening personnel cuts and talking about combining some functions at the two papers.
    (via Philadelphia Will Do)
    
    
  • Tulin offers a mind-boggling events calendar of fundraisers, festivals, and other goings-on in the political realm.