Thursday news roundup

Hmmm, it's Friday now, you say? piffle.

• Foes raise stakes on I-80 tolls Northern PA residents up in arms -- might the transit funding deal fall through this late in the game??
  
  
• Official: Schools' safety in peril: A planned $8 million cut in Phila.'s disciplinary schools budget will be harmful, an advocate tells the SRC.
  
  
• Judge denies bail request for Barnes

  Municipal Court Judge James DeLeon ordered that Barnes, 71, be held in the medical unit of Graterford Prison, where he is being detained, because of his history of heart troubles.
  
  "The fear is he will not make it to trial," said Barnes' public defender, Bobby Hoof, adding Barnes recently had been "roughed up" in the general prison population.

  See my rant about this here.
  
  
• Guards vote to join union -- Independence Mall security voiced serious conserns about their (private) employer, from lack of sick days to raincoats that fell apart on the job. [More here.] The guards will join SEIU, and Rep. Brady will look into whether their employer should be barred from future government contracts.
  
  In related news, the CityPaper has a substantial profile of SEIU 32BJ in their new issue. The union has been the local embodiment of the recent national trend toward unionizing those in the service industry, such as janitors and security guards.
  
  
• Protesters upset casino hearing: Chairwoman adjourns session after trying to quiet group 19 times. (Protesters were angry that public input was barred from this event.)
  
  
• University men get assertive - in the fight against rape -- what a fantastic idea/program! kudos to all involved.
  
  
• CP: Sneak Attack: Blindsided by Youth Study Center plan, Fallsers brace for Street brawl. Mayor Street has thus far declined to meet with community members, which could make the Zoning Board meeting into a major confrontation.
  
  
• CP: Six, the Hard Way: A bill looks to drastically change beer sales in Pennsylvania. But are we ready for it?
  
  
• Nutter event: Watch Michael's Recent Video Webchat
  
  
• Water Works project on target
  
  
• Nevels' resignation is official -- head of the School Reform Commission
  
  
• CP: The Felling of the Hoagie City Billboard: The big billboard was everyone's poster child for urban blight.
  
  
• 'Uphill battle' for a Pa. helmet law (If you ask me, those who choose not to wear helmets should be required to sign away their rights to taxpayer-sponsored life-support should they be flattened on the road.)
  
  
• Presumptive Councilman Curtis Jones writes a letter encouraging a state bill to protect Philadelphia seniors from the effects of property tax reassessments (or, um, the state bill should encorage City Council to pass such protections. or something).
  
  
• DN opinion: A NEW DAY FOR PRISONS? 'DAY REPORTING' PROGRAM DESERVES FAIR SHOT
  
  
• YPP: Mayor Street's Legacy to Philadelphia -- Philly for Change encourages the Mayor to make a last push on some top issues
  
  
• AAJane: New Information Resource: TownWatcher -- find out what your burg council or regional committees are talking about