In other Thursday news

• Politicos
  
  
  
  • A CityPaper piece looks at the grim game of ballot position, following Ellen Green-Ceisler through the crowded race for Court of Common Pleas as an example, and also details other indignities heaped upon these candidates.
    
    
  • The Inquirer notes row-office elections being held this year, including the hot race for Sheriff (about which we have given our opinion here).
    
    
  • The CityPaper's Polnote describes the argumentative 1st District Council race, particularly Anastasio's attempts to tie DiCicco closer to Fumo and his allies.
    
    
  • US Rep. Gerlach in a kerfluffle over misreported numbers on FEC filings. A hefty fine results from errors that don't appear to have benefitted anyone...
  
  
• Casinos
  
  
  
  • Anti-casino activists charge confusion of interests in the Gaming Board's decision to sue PHiladelphia to block its casino-related ballot measure.
    
    
  • An Inquirer editorial advises the Board and the courts to let the people have their say before rushing to decry the (unheard) outcome and its repurcussions.
  
  
• Other news
  
  
  
  • The state House Speaker's Commission on Legislative Reform submitted their recommendations to lawmakers yesterday, including taking the composition of the Ethics Board out of the hands of party leaders.
    
    
  • A bill expected in Philadelphia City Council today, to set a "prevailing wage" for employees of developers who get a tax-abatement or other city support -- for example, security guards in future large buildings like the Comcast Center would get a hefty pay hike under this plan, which already has five sponsors.
    
    
  • More discussion about whether to have a constitutional convention to overhaul PA law. I just can't tell how serious this idea really is, or likely to go ahead.
    
    
  • AAJane notes some bills in the PA House that appear aimed at protecting the rights of mothers to feed their children.
    
    
  • Finally, the CityPaper offers a profile of the director of the Acadamy of Natural Sciences in Phila, and how he got here.