Friday's two top stories

Just to me:

1. Blackwell gets out of way of Youth Study Center, scores perks along the way:
   
   
   
   • West Phila. to get Youth Study Center

     A $12 million community center in West Philadelphia will clear the way for a permanent home for the city's youth detention facility nearby and remove a looming obstacle from the Barnes Foundation's planned move to Center City, officials announced yesterday.

   • At last, a deal is reached on Youth Center
     
     
   • Opinion: MIXED MESSAGE
   
   
2. SEPTA sets a course for smart cards -- it may be some years in coming, but perhaps a user-friendly system might yet emerge... (also note some whiffs of collaboration with PATCO on a compatible card!) Dan at YPP looks at this in the context of wider regional transit expansion here.