Wednesday headlines (loosely grouped)

• Shifting allegiance
  
  
  
  • Phila. Bar slams judge in rape case: Teresa Carr Deni had its support for a third term. Then she reduced a charge to theft of a prostitute's services.
    
    
  • Jill Porter | Phila. Bar rips judge who nixed rape of hooker
  
  
• Fumo out of fire?
  
  
  
  • Judge delays Fumo's trial beyond primary -- benefits of picking a busy lawyer, I guess!
    
    
  • Fumo's trial delayed again
  
  
• A lively GOP race for minority seats on City Council
  
  
• Mystery benefactors
  
  
  
  • Unsolicited ad touts Lally-Green: The Pa. Supreme Court candidate says she knows nothing about the out-of-state sponsor.
    
    
  • Group's ads called 'slap' at Pa. voters
    
    
  • AAJane: Maureen Lally-Green on PCN
  
  
• Crunch time for Delco GOP
  
  
• Nutter launches a get-out-the-vote ad
  
  
• PW: Taking Stock: Philly’s Exchange is up for sale. Bet you didn’t even know we had one.
  
  
• PW: Full Court Press: The Daily Pennsylvanian digs into a campus mystery.
  
  
• PW: Flat Fancy: A few upper-crust Philadelphians will pay anything for luxury. Who the hell are these people?
  
  
• Endorsements:
  
  
  
  • DN: MICHAEL NUTTER FOR MAYOR
    
    
  • Inky: For Pa. Superior Court
  
  
• A SHAPE-UP PLAN FOR COUNCIL
  
  
• YPP: City workers' contract, the BPT, and other priorities: what's best for the city’s economy?
  
  
• YPP: Considering voting for David Oh?

Tuesday roundup

• Around the politicians:
  
  • Commissioner: 'Stop-and-frisk' risks unrest -- the best sentence here is this one:

    Departing Police Commissioner Sylvester M. Johnson said the presumptive mayor's promise to invoke the more aggressive law enforcement strategy would undermine the community rapport that Johnson feels he has developed in six years on the job.

    "community rapport"?? Does Johnson have any sense of how widely reviled he is?
    
    
  • Drexel cramming to ace debate preps -- putting engineering know-how to use in preparing for the logistics of a hoarde of press, etc., accompanying tonight's Democratic Presidential debate.
    
    
  • For some, Bush visit comes at a bad time: GOP leaders are fretting over the president's fund-raising trip. Democrats hope his unpopularity in the region will help them.
    
    
  • Plugging tirelessly toward high court -- Seamus McCaffrey's run for Supreme Court (to be one of few from this part of the state).
    
    
  • Va. group's $ behind high court candidate: Maureen Lally-Green is beneficiary -- a bit of a mystery behind another Supreme Court run.
    
    
  • Editorial | County Elections -- Inquirer recommendations in the suburban Commissioner races.
  
  
• Strange gaming development
  
  
  
  • Casino operator may bypass state: SugarHouse says a 1907 law lets it seek approval from city officials rather than state lawmakers. I thought they were suing in order to bypass the city...?!
    
    
  • A new tack for SugarHouse: Seeks OK from city Commerce Dept.
  
  
• Pa. Senate closer to broadening open-records law
  
  
• Parking execs called to task: Rendell: Explain those 6-fig salaries
  
  
• 2 loan plans in play for Pa. homeowners -- cheap refinancing for a fraction of those being crushed by subprime loans.
  
  
• Tom Ferrick Jr. | A lot is riding on SEPTA cash: Users want more and better service.
  
  
• Sandra Shea | RIVERFRONT PLANNING: YOU'RE INVITED!
  
  
• Albert: Rendell's Healthcare Plan: Town Hall at WHYY
  
  
• YPP: Electing a Woman Mayor in 2015
  
  
• America's Hometown: A Transit Customer Advocate? (New Jersey has one -- why not here?)

Monday highlights: Two yays and two sighs

• Grumpy local bits
  
  
  
  • Developers' ties to a councilman test finance law: Nearly 25% of Jack Kelly's primary campaign funding was from entities tied to two brothers. This may be legal, but it's certainly not within the intent or spirit of the law, which gives Kelly some bad press just as his challenger, David Oh, is nipping at his heels.
    
    
  • Report: Philadelphia Parking Authority bloated with patronage. This Sunday story serves as the culmination of a series running all week that indicates that the PPA has been raking in the money, but giving little or none to the city/schools, instead growing its own beauracracy at a stiff pace. Another successful state take-over!
  
  
• Happy bits
  
  
  
  • This is promising news: two of Donna Reed Miller's opponents have come up with an objective way to determine which of them should withdraw (so that they don't repeat the spring primary result of dividing the field to give Miller a victory with only a third of votes cast): they've signed an agreement that whichever of them gets 2/3 of the major local newspaper endorsements will get to stay in the race. It will still be an uphill battle for an "independent Democrat" to beat a party nominee, but at least this would put it into the realm of the imaginable.
    
    
  • It's been a while since I highlighted some great local photos, but Phillyskyline has a wonderful tour through West Philadelphia ("streetcar suburb"), which highlights the large, porch-ringed old houses that make that part of the city unique. (It appears to be from spring, so dotted with forsythia and the like.) A nice visual snack.

Last week V: Casinos and fear

• Casino feist
  
  
  
  • SugarHouse sues city to get casino built: The intent, said its lawyer, was "to force those guys to do what they're legally obligated to do." Already proving their good citizenship!
    
    
  • Casino files suit on zoning: SugarHouse anxious to start building
  
  
• Of fear and intimidation
  
  
  
  • Displaying symbols of intimidation could bring jail time: A City Council bill would prohibit displaying nooses, swastikas, and other tokens of hatred. Interesting approach to a complicated issue.
    
    
  • Pa. won't release list of polling places: Pa. Officials, Fearing Terrorism, Conceal List of Polling Places -- idiotic approach to public service!!

Last week IV: Cops, judges, and schools

• City Council is considering the stop-and-frisk idea
  
  
  
  • Council airs 'stop and frisk' views: The Nutter crime-fighting proposal got its first public-safety hearing.
    
    
  • Brass: Cops already stopping & frisking (surprise!)
  
  
• Lots of judges on the ballot, and nervous
  
  
  
  • High court candidates face pay-raise fallout: Three of four hopefuls, meeting in a Phila. forum, also addressed high campaign costs.
    
    
  • CityPaper: When Pigs Drive: PACleanSweep is back with a bus.
  
  
• School District developments
  
  
  
  • SRC holds off on charters, buys Kensington school land
    
    
  • SRC won't commit to Masch (as budget director)
    
    
  • Action on charter schools delayed
    
    
  • More teachers needed for Phila. schools: The district has 112 openings - 40 more than it did this time last year.
    
    
  • Schools: Hire CEO or $ chief first?

Last week III: Politicians and election thoughts

• Who's in the news?
  
  
  
  • State Republicans: Bonus inquiry spreads to GOP
    
    
  • Carol Campbell: Short-term councilwoman making her mark -- note that she's behind two ballot measures this fall, which the Committee of Seventy opposes.
    
    
  • Rick Santorum: Santorum To Pen 'Inquirer' Column I Won't Read (PhillyWillDo)
    
    
  • David Oh: Costume Party: In the scramble for an at-large GOP council seat, David Oh plays the role of Democrat. (CityPaper)
  
  
• Thoughts on local politics from Marc Stier
  
  
  
  • The Judicial Candidates
    
    
  • Needed In Philadelphia: The No-Deal
  
  
• Inquirer endorsements thus far for Nov. 6:
  
  
  
  • Editorial | For Philadelphia Mayor
    
    
  • Editorial | For District Council
    
    
  • Editorial | For Council At-Large
    
    
  • Editorial | For Pa. Supreme Court (one of the more important races)
    
    
  • Editorial | For N.J. Senate

There will be more endorsements, but they disappear, so thought I'd link now. They'll probably summarize just before election day (a week from tomorrow!).

Last week II: Tuesday soccer and surveillance

• Soccor stadium in Delaware County?
  
  
  
  • Funding, warning on soccer stadium: Delco officials announced a $30 million commitment to the Chester site. The project hinges on state aid.
    
    
  • Delco lining up on soccer plan
  
  
• More cameras at more intersections soon to come
  
  
  
  • More police cameras to go up: The surveillance program will start in W. Phila. next month and focus on crime-plagued public areas.
    
    
  • 250 more eyes on crime: Surveillance cameras ordered
  
  
• Elmer Smith | Hold the bubbly on jobs training -- lack of benchmarks makes it hard to tell whether the building trades are making room for more school district graduates than before...

Things that went on last week I: 10,000 men

Lots of stories, as apparently a big rally last weekend launched the 10,000 Men anti-crime initiative, followed by some neighborhood orientation sessions...

• Thousands of men pledge to patrol for peace: 'We can make a major difference'
  
  
• A LEGION RESPONDS: Grass-roots anti-crime effort launches
  
  
• They came because . . .
  
  
• Stu Bykofsky | '10,000' goes on the offensive
  
  
• 10,000 reasons to declare their appeal a success
  
  
• Annette John-Hall | Antiviolence man-up shatters stereotypes
  
  
• 10,000 Men, the second act: After Sunday's huge rally, a few hundred came to an orientation yesterday in W. Phila.
  
  
• TROOPS REPORT

That so many answered the call is a testimony to the combination of frustration and hope that haunt the issue of neighborhood violence. I wish this effort well.

Interruptus continuus

That is, continued presence of contractors, with associated needs to live as though camping, get up early every day, sometimes do late-night prep work, and take day time slices to oversee the chaos, is keeping me from worrying about such things as the gentle waves of local news. I'm making heaps of bookmarks, but will probably have to post only the highlights, and later, when I'm able to see/think straight again . . . (meh)

Addendum: Apparently there's a mayoral race

Polite, low-profile, blah blah...

• Taubenberger launches first punch: The GOP underdog candidate criticized Michael Nutter's support for property reassessment. He said it would hurt "the little guy."
  Also, Mayor foes feud over property- tax reform
  
  
• A forum on Phila.'s environment (from MOnday)
  Also, A clean fight on environment: Mayoral candidates still spar softly
  
  
• In long & civil campaign, a short & civil debate -- first (short!) TV debate airs tomorrow night.

Brain-fried Friday headlines

• Pa. Guard expecting major call: It could involve 4,000 troops, the most sent overseas since Korea.
  
  
• State tells district: No data, no money: The school district failed to complete a finance report on time. Pa.'s education chief is holding up $20 million in aid. -- it makes you so proud!
  
  
• Pa. sets post-rape rules for hospitals -- must be offered emergency contraception.
  
  
• City Council displays two faces in meetings with Street, Nutter: It showed hostility to Street but cordiality to Nutter. The issue both times was the budget.
  
  
• Lease's timing adds to dispute over I-80 tolls
  
  
• Open-records law proposal gets raft of negative reviews (barely out of committee)
  
  
• Phila., Delco teachers win Milken Education Awards: Two local educators are the only Pa. winners of a national prize.
  
  
• They hope 10,000 Men Volunteers can take a bite out of city crime: Other cities are watching, organizers say
  
  
• Hey! We're not just fat - we're ugly, too -- Philadelphians, that is. What happened to hip and trendy?
  
  
• Elmer Smith | Is rally cry worthy? Without a doubt
  
  
• Editorial | The Fumo Mansion
  
  
• Opinion: THE UNSPOKEN TAX TRUTH WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT: BROKEN PROPERTY TAX SYSTEM HELPS MANY, BUT HARMS MORE
  
  
• Letters | THE HOPES & ASPIRATIONS OF 10,000 MEN
  
  
• Opinion: SHOW UP, WEAR BLACK, BECOME ONE OF 10,000
  
  
• YPP (Ray Murphy): The Future of Philadelphia’s Economy and Michael Nutter
  
  
• Albert: Great Expectations Civic Leader Forum I

Belated Thursday downpour

Record number of tabs for this day. Will see if some filter out by theme...

• SCHIP veto puts 2 under pressure (Saxton and Pitts)
  
  
• City hikes Boy Scouts' rent by $199,999 over gay ban -- wow, where has this story been all this time?
  
  
• N.J. National Guard faces a big, earlier deployment
  
  
• Pa. Senate acts to ban bonuses for legislative aides: The unanimous vote came after a grand jury probe. The House will act next, but Rendell has expressed concern.
  
  
• Phila. orders a judge to fix his properties: He owns two rooming houses found to be in bad repair. The city said they're also overcrowded. (Means)
  
  
• Art, music, class size top district's budget priorities
  Also, Schools going back to basics: Smaller classes, art & music studies emphasized
  
  
• Protest vs. protest boils in W. Chester
  
  
• Poconos slots casino near opening
  Also, Despite probe, Mount Airy casino could open Monday
  
  
• Two Fairmount Park leases spark questions
  
  
• Proof-of-citizenship bill for benefits is debated
  
  
• John Baer | About state politics: You never eat your words
  
  
• Ethics panel limits politicking: It OKs ruling affecting part-timers on several city boards
  
  
• Council eyes another firefighter hazard: Hearing loss
  
  
• Governing Magazine (?!) has a profile of Michael Nutter, campaign, prospects, etc.
  (via America's Hometown)
  
  
• PolNotebook: The Brady Pulpit
  
  
• Opinion: Ideas on easing poverty reflect a sense of its burden on Phila.: Wanted: Jobs and education, user-friendly aid, markets serving the poor.
  
  
• YPP: PA General Assemby, on gun violence: act now. save lives.
  
  
• YPP: Rx4PA: Go get 'em Gov.
  
  
• YPP: CALL TO ACTION: 10,000 MEN
  
  
• YPP: Only in Philadelphia (on city planning)
  
  
• AAJane: Rick Taylor and the Importance of Being Earnest
  
  
• Inga Saffron at Skyline Online has two:
  
  
  
  1. Of Parking, Plans and Planners
     
     
  2. Gloves Off on Waterfront Plan
  
  
• PhillyWillDo: At Least Somebody Here Is Successful: Local Beers Win Awards At Great American Beer Festival
  
  
• Metro: From editor to Congressman? (Larry Platt)
  
  
• Metro: Leading Philadelphia: City Development

Belated Wednesday bits

• I-80 toll plans moving forward
  
  
• 'Superbug' infections escalating: CDC alarmed by spread of drug-resistant staph.
  
  
• Bias alleged in probe of bonuses: A Lehigh Valley prosecutor says Attorney General Tom Corbett is focusing only on Democrats.
  
  
• Center City rally issues call for tough gun laws
  Also, Gun victims protest violence
  
  
• In 'dead' market, Fumo trying to unload Fla. home
  
  
• Council races heating up: Brian O'Neill and Donna Miller facing feisty foes
  
  
• Worst schools face fates: SRC to discuss today what actions needed to boost results
  
  
• PW: Air Apparent: Is Wireless Philadelphia obsolete?
  
  
• PW: Logging the Hours: Awbury Arboretum’s apprenticeship program puts young Philadelphians out on a limb.
  
  
• PW: Well Connected: Drexel plays host to the Internet Public Library.
  
  
• Editorial: Save our cities; they're worth the effort
  
  
• Opinion: STOPPING THE RETURN TO CRIME: FOCUS ON EX-OFFENDERS COULD REDUCE HOMICIDES
  
  
• Letters | MEN ON THE STREET: THE ONLY WAY TO CONNECT
  
  
• Opinion: A better way to pick judges
  
  
• AAJane: Third Quarter Campaign Finance Reports
  
  
• YPP: Stand with us! - The Union Employees of the Hyatt Regency Penn's Landing
  
  
• YPP: A Conversation with Bill Green, IV
  
  
• YPP: Why won't the media cover activism on CHIP?

Belated Tuesday highlights

As promised, getting back to my bookmarks. However, there are a ton of them, so will skip the duller ones...

• City, state: Whose law rules on donors? The Pa. Supreme Court is to decide whether Phila. can set campaign caps.
  Also, Campaign $$ limits argued in high court
  
  
• A move builds to outlaw strikes by Pa. teachers
  
  
• Pa. House ducks vote on shrinking itself: A call for a commission to consider changes to the state constitution was also defeated.
  
  
• Elmer Smith | Butkovitz to seek Parking Authority $ for schools
  
  
• John Baer | Pa. gambling probe: Time to call in feds?
  
  
• Fumo gets a lawyer deadline -- can't delay indefinitely (to get the trial after the election)...
  
  
• Fatimah Ali | THEY'RE FIGHTING STUDY CENTER MOVE
  
  
• AAJane: Montgomery County Commissioner Candidates on “Comment Please”
  
  
• YPP: No means no: Vote NO on retaining rapist-protector Municipal Judge Teresa Carr Deni
  
  
• Metro: Fumo Mansion Cheaper Than it Looks?
  
  
• Three on healthcare from Marc Stier:
  
  
  
  1. The Progressive Debate over Health Care Reform
     
     
  2. From RxPA to Single Payer
     
     
  3. Problems with Single Payer in PA

Am shaving off the mayoral race stuff for a separate post...

Service interruptus

I have contractors losing my cats down holes in the walls, family camped out in my living room, an inability to sleep at night, and generally no grip on my life this week. Many articles have been bookmarked by me, so perhaps I'll manage a whirlwind round-up later on . . .

Monday headlines

Again, appointments both before and after work.... grump.

• Changing Skyline | Filling a Phila. real estate void: The $800 million Cira South will be helpful, but not perfect. (there's a Phila real estate void?!)
  
  
• Pittsburgh GOP hoping: The Republican candidate tries to capitalize on missteps by the young, unelected mayor.
  
  
• Nutter ally Terry Gillen seems poised to soar
  
  
• This week's lesson: Peaceful resolution: Schools, off to fine start, target violence
  
  
• Brady Panel Explored Need for Voter IDs
  
  
• GOP racheting up campaign in 10th CD (going after newbie Chris Carney)
  
  
• So much for the teachers' vote -- state House GOP wants to ban strikes
  
  
• YPP: John Dougherty and Chaka Fattah Still Aiming at the City's Campaign Finance Law
  
  
• AAJane: Allyson Schwartz, Queen of Green
  
  
• Editorial | Ethics in Harrisburg
  
  
• Opinion: HOW TO MAKE A BETTER MAYOR: PRESS HIM ON HOW TO MAKE A SUSTAINABLE CITY
  
  
• Mark Alan Hughes | SOME OF OUR PROBLEMS ARE JUST UNFIXABLE
  
  
• YPP: Why it matters: NCLB, privatization and our schools

Quick Friday roundup

Getting sleeeepyyyy....

• More fun from New Jersey: Another chapter in A.C. scandal: Latest twist adds to an epic of corruption. Also, Look who owes Atlantic City $363,000
  
  
• Street's $34 million request blocked: Not wanting to "handcuff the next mayor," Council asked why Street sought so much for DHS so late in his term.
  
  
• Water report flags Pa. polluters

  Half the major water-treatment plants and industrial facilities in Pennsylvania discharged more pollutants into waterways than allowed under their Clean Water Act permits at least once in 2005, according to a report released yesterday by the PennEnvironment advocacy group.

  Mmmmm, chemicals.
  
  
• Uppity locals:
  
  
  
  1. Museum site is challenged -- this is the private development in Valley Forge
     
     
  2. Alliance challenging site for Youth Study Center -- planning to challenge the required zoning adjustment (Dan at YPP applauds this development here)
     
     
  3. Letters | SUGARHOUSE: LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION -- they can't pretend that their site doesn't affect Northern Liberties...
  
  
• Elmer Smith | Surrender? No, the papers misunderstand . . . or worse -- defending "10,000 men" effort
  
  Related: Signe has a pithy cartoon opining on the same subject...
  
  
• Clout | Building goodwill, one sfogliatella at a time -- Brady, working his magic in D.C.
  
  
• Editorial | That $700,000 Schools Audit
  
  
• Editorial | Commerce Bank's New Owners -- hoping they maintain their unusual customer focus
  
  
• YPP: Darrell Clarke's Vacant, Overgrown Lots -- with photos of the effects of cutting Johnson out of his neighborhood's upkeep
  
  
• YPP: Tales From the 8th -- Dan U-A describes what he learned about the district, candidates, and challenges during the (also divided) primary. Some day, the incumbent should stop winning with 30% of the vote!
  
  
• YPP: Philly IMC reports on skyrocketing homeless population
  
  
• Albert/Philly: Whole Foods and Plastic Bags
  
  
• AAJane: Resources from the Sunlight Foundation -- more ways to track your representatives' activities

Thursday highlights

This week is just getting away from me. Belated out-takes from the 25 or so articles I bookmarked yesterday...

• Atlantic City mayor steps down: Council President William Marsh takes oath as acting mayor.
  Also, Marsh pledges to restore faith in A.C. -- look for an amusing set of updates on this story in today's news.
  
  
• Idea: No school taxes for elderly: Perzel thinks it's folly to spread around the casino tax breaks to all Pa. homeowners.
  
  
• Fumo's 27-room house awaits a buyer (12,000 square feet!)
  Also, Fumo puts his mansion up for sale (indoor shooting range!?)
  
  
• CityPaper: Betting the House: How bad is the subprime crisis in Philly?
  
  
• CityPaper: Fight of the Conquered: An odd brand of politics has Eighth District council challengers scrambling for their political lives. (More divided opposition to Donna Reed Miller, sigh.)
  
  
• Opinion: NINE CONCERNS WE HAVE ABOUT '10,000 MEN': GOOD INTENTIONS, BUT MANY QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW IT WILL WORK
  
  
• YPP: A Conversation with David Oh -- now we need some answers from Kelly...

Wednesday headlines

• SEPTA's latest rate headache: Refunds
  
  
• Report: Flaws risk wrong execution: The American Bar Association urged changes in the Pa. system to better guard against putting an innocent person to death.
  
  Related: John Baer | In Pa., we can't even kill people properly
  
  
• Democrats gain ground on sprawl: In Chester County, the minority party is building steam by accusing Republicans of not doing enough to save land.
  
  
• 2 Phila. judges' roles as landlords probed: Willis W. Berry Jr. and Rayford A. Means are the subjects of a state board review. (thank goodness!)
  
  
• Plan to list food data is stalled in Council panel
  Also, Should the city, like Mom, tell you what's good to eat? -- I dunno, but I'd sure like to see more anti-poverty, job-creation, and crime-fighting efforts before we waste more time on transfats and menu labelling!
  
  Related (at PhillyWillDo): Big Cake Lobby Gets To Joan Krajewski
  
  
• Rendell says casinos stay; neighbors vow to fight on (this is about alternate locations)
  
  
• Nutter calls on federal leaders to fight crime
  Also, Democratic trio calls on Bush to restore COPS
  
  
• Vignola considers run against Fumo -- give voters another dusty machine candidate to choose from?
  
  
• Candidates spar on and off radio (Montgomery County Commissioners battle)
  
  
• Delco Dems go on the attack: See chance to cut into GOP power in county council race
  
  
• High rate of shootings by Philly cops
  
  
• PW: On the Right Track: The people who live and work under the El are too often lost in the shadows. David Kessler is bringing them into the light.
  
  
• PW: Green Screen: The city holds its own YouTube debate Monday night
  
  
• Editorial | The Casino Probe: Let justice play out
  
  
• Letters | One Reader's View: Welcome the casinos
  
  
• Opinion: A NEW ERA OF 'BOMBING' BUILDINGS?: IT TOOK DECADES TO CLEAN CITY OF GRAFFITI; IS IT MAKING A COMEBACK?
  
  
• Phil Goldsmith | SHAKEDOWN IN WEST PHILLY (Blackwell and the juvenile facility she once welcomed)
  
  
• Opinion: Court tackles nuisance rentals

Tuesday headlines

• Legality of some Pa. marriages is questioned -- online ordinations in trouble?
  
  
• A mad dash to influence Pa. energy plans
  
  
• Bread & Roses to hail 30 who've made a mark
  
  
• American Bar Association says Pa. Death Penalty is Flawed
  
  
• AAJane: Josh Shapiro at the PA Press Club Luncheon
  
  
• Skyline: Front Street's Domino Scenario
  
  
• John Baer | Electing judges: Yet another field ripe for reform in Pa.
  
  
• Opinion: OWL NESTS
  
  
• Opinion: TAKE HANDCUFFS OFF COMMISH: ABILITY TO PICK HIS LEADERSHIP TEAM'S A MUST
  
  
• Letters | Stand firm, Jannie!
  
  
• YPP: Philly Home Care Agencies--Failing to Keep Their Promise

Monday quickie

Morning and evening obligations for a couple of days mean that blogging may be light for much of this week...

• Blame begins in costly schools report
  
  
• Guv & board circling over control of Convention Center
  
  
• Opinion: Convention Center progress
  
  
• Ethics Board wrestles errant PAC, so far winning points but not match
  
  
• St. Joe's fundraising about to pay off with far larger campus
  
  
• Daniel Rubin | Postal boxes getting rarer (underused boxes getting pulled up!)
  
  
• Editorial | Crime in Philadelphia (down on the 10,000 men effort)
  
  
• Editorial | Wi-Fi in Philadelphia
  
  
• From Sunday's Inky: Zoning can shape the city
  
  
• YPP:
  
  
  
  1. Darrell Clark’s vendetta against Haile Johnston (from Friday)
     
     
  2. Darrell Clarke Screws His (and My) District for Spite
     
     
  3. We Do Not Endorse David Oh -- but how does he stack up against the other R's?
     
     
  4. Rx4PA: The public's wide and deep support for healthcare reform and insurance for all!!!
     
     
  5. And they'd like to give us more 'hermetic waterfront towers'
  
  
• America's Hometown tells us that PA is #4 in apple production nationwide. huh!

Friday headlines

(Hoping to have more garnish sometime soon...)

• Alert: Voter Registration Deadline is Tuesday if you want a vote in November. See the link for info.
  
  
• Student-loan chief quits under fire
  
  
• $500,000 school report unreleased -- another one, this time from a mayoral commission.
  
  
• High court in Pa. steps into grand jury probe (of would-be Poconos casino operator)
  
  
• New Pa. ethics rules for staffers -- ahem, I thought we just had new rules this term...
  
  
• Blackwell defends stand against youth center [derisive noise]
  
  
• Utility issues warning on its water (Norristown area)
  
  
• Ridge slams Pa. group seeking judges' ouster (Clean Sweep, that is)
  
  
• PICA: Appeal arbitration $ to firefighters
  
  
• O'Neill wants Council to discuss 'stop & frisk' Worried about getting stopped, is he?
  
  
• Sound and Fury = more from AAJane on the state of the Montgomery County Commissioners race.
  
  
• Jazz legend Marsalis plays fundraiser for charter school
  
  
• Jill Porter | Saving lives can put social workers at risk
  
  
• Clout | Oh, say, can you see . . . everywhere? (on David Oh's campaign for City Council)
  
  
• YPP: Talk About It: The Next School CEO
  
  
• Pennsyltucky Politics: Bob Casey goes all Santorum on Iran (or, at least, he emerges to give a foreign policy speech)
  
  
• Keystone Politics: Report: Health care in crisis -- statewide.

Thursday headlines (with snark)

Groggy now...

• House vote on contraception measure delayed -- rape victims left to suffer again.
  
  
• Long-serving judge to retire -- will work on "defending judicial independence"
  
  
• Pa. Turnpike chief limits I-80 toll use

  Joseph G. Brimmeier, chief executive officer of the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, said a clause would be written into a lease with the state Department of Transportation, directing that all money raised from I-80 be spent on highway projects around the state.

  Just in case you wondered who runs this state...
  
  
• Break in beer bottleneck? I'll believe it when I see it.
  
  
• Police will form unit for casinos: It will handle increased traffic on the riverfront as well as crimes related to the slots parlors. But once they come, the city streets will run with gold...
  
  
• Wal-Mart told to pay Pa. workers $62 million Good sentences make good neighbors.
  
  
• Pa. suburbs are ablaze with political combat
  
  
• Candidates for mayor meet for decorous debate You know it's a yawner when the biggest disagreement is over Geno's...
  
  
• THE DILEMMA: INSIDER OR OUTSIDER?: It'll be next mayor's biggest appointment. Police chief, that is -- good rundown here of the factors that must be considered.
  
  
• Volunteers for patrols stepping up Start me with ten who are stout-hearted men, and I'll soon give you ten thousand more....
  
  
• CityPaper: Can the "farm-to-school" movement gain traction in Philly? It's hard to handle fresh produce in bulk quantities. But certainly every little bit helps.
  
  
• Editorial | Banking Development Districts
  
  
• Opinion: Ethics must be emphasized: The next mayor should bolster current standards and be on guard against new forms of pay-to-play.
  
  
• Letters | Jannie's wrong on Study Center -- with a plug for limiting the power of local Councilfolk.
  
  
• CP opinion: Phone Home: Councilman Clarke's revenge inflicts collateral damage on a fragile community.
  
  
• America'sHometown: Michael Nutter in Pittsburgh (link to interview video)
  
  
• Sam Katz Likes David Oh -- oh, sure, back the sane outsider over the crazy longterm GOP insiders! it's like fish in a barrel!

Wednesday bits

• School kerfluffle: apparently the School Reform Commission commissioned a pricey advisory report on management and finances of the District, only to shelve it (or at least the preliminary report) unconsidered.
  
  
  
  1. Inky: District report a study in disarray: Consultants painted a bleak organizational picture - in a report that largely went unnoticed.
     
     
  2. DN: School panel scraps study costing $470G (Note that the Inky said 700G!)
  
  
• Bill: Hospitals must offer Plan B in rapes -- this seems like a long-shot in Harrisburg, not least because the politics of the pro-life movement always trumps the science showing that Plan B prevents conception, rather than ending pregnancies...
  
  
• Casino bits
  
  
  
  1. Casino firms must pay fees despite delays
     
     
  2. Casino foes have their say before board
  
  
• Democrats target Saxton over insurance for children -- really, anybody opposing this deserves repurcussions!
  
  
• Street's son, law firm out of River City plan
  
  
• PW: Diving for Answers: L&I strikes again, with the usual random demands and bank-breaking requests. They may be quick off the mark for folks with connections, but they're almost impossible to reach, let alone use, for anybody else...
  
  
• New Jersey news:
  
  
  
  1. A.C. mayor goes AWOL: He is facing questions about his service in Vietnam and hasn't been seen for a week.
     
     
  2. Report: $13.6 billion needed to fix deficient state bridges -- major hikes in tolls also suggested...
  
  
• AAJane notes some local officials doing military service, in Reserved Officials
  
  
• Editorial | Health Department's Disarray
  
  
• Opinion: PLASTIC BAN
  
  
• Opinion: EVANS RAISES INTEREST OF BANKS: BILL WOULD LURE MORE TO LOW-INCOME AREAS
  
  
• Opinion: Fumocracy for judges (suspicious of the effects of appointments)
  
  
• YPP: Why do these Philadelphia Democrats Have a Problem With Gay Kids? (votes against a bill to protect foster kids)

Tuesday deluge

• Rendell gives insuring all a new push
  
  
• Corzine sues U.S. over cuts in insurance (SCHIP program)
  
  
• Interest to lease turnpike is broad: Gov. Rendell has revived the idea. Thirty-four firms from the U.S. and abroad have offered qualifications.
  
  
• Rep. Hutchinson Seeks to Repeal Act 44, I-80 Tolls
  
  
• In S. Phila., Giuliani talks, greets and eats and
  Rudy stops by Philly for a cheesesteak & conversation (in English)
  
  
• Gaming bureau defends ability to vet applicants
  
  
• Specter: 77, & still strategizing to run in the next election
  
  
• Specter goes AWOL from veterans' panel
  
  
• Teachers added, shuffled
  
  
• AAJane: Casey, McGinty, Murphy, and Pelosi Press Conference
  
  
• Ronnie Polaneczky | Funding spat snags arts center
  
  
• Letters | Retention of Pa. judges
  
  
• Opinion: 100 KIDS BEING HELD HOSTAGE ON THE PARKWAY
  
  
• Opinion: Move now on health insurance
  
  
• Letters | COUNCILMAN TAKES ISSUE ON REASSESSMENTS (DiCicco warns against putting faith in Full Valuation to come)
  
  
• Santorum planning a run for PA Governor?
  
  
• Marc Stier has resurfaced: he has a new gig, organizing around healthcare; he offers a rundown of Rendell's The Elements of Rx for PA. Separately, he also critiques self-defeating behavior in city transit in SEPTA To City: Stick It.

Monday trickle

(In addition to, of course, a heaping pile of baseball celebration and an inexplicable series about one little girl's health battles...)

• Temple bets on home buyers: The university has a $500,000 program to help its workers become homeowners in surrounding neighborhoods. (North Philly and Tioga)
  
  
• Small town smells something rotten -- the US DOE found toxic substances in the soil of this Pittsburgh suburb, but apparently never bothered to tell anybody locally... (ah, that rich legacy of our mining past.)
  
  
• Free Library now equals free wireless -- will the lure of websurfing introduce some to the joys of browsing the stacks?
  
  
• Editorial | SEPTA's Ticketing System -- time for a modern, ride-friendly fare system. (Smart cards, anyone?)
  
  
• YPP: Gun Violence in Philadelphia -- how to decrease the casual and thoughtless use of guns?