Archive: April, 2009
Catherine Lucey
Mayor Nutter told reporters this afternoon he was shocked to hear that Phillies announcer Harry Kalas had died.
"It's a very sad day for the Phillies and the entire region," he said. "I grew up only listening and knowing the voice of Harry Kalas for the Phillies for a long, long period of time."
Nutter said Kalas's death -- he collapsed in the press box at Nationals Stadium in Washington, DC -- was "characteristic of Kalas, at work, getting himself ready for a Phillies game."
Nutter said he had met Kalas several times. Last fall Nutter was introduced by Kalas at Citizens Bank Park at the conclusion of the parade to celebrate the Phillies' World Series victory.
Catherine Lucey
We've already received several statements from elected officials about the death of famed Phillies announcer Harry Kalas. Here's what they have to say:
Sen. Arlen Specter: "As the voice of the Philadelphia Phillies, Harry Kalas was everyone's friend in this region. His incisive commentaries will be sorely missed."
Gov. Ed Rendell: “I am shocked and saddened by Harry’s untimely and unexpected passing. He was a Philadelphia institution who made the game for countless fans. The entire professional baseball family is the less with his loss, and I offer my sincere condolences to the Kalas family.”
Chris Brennan
Leon King, the city's former Prisons Commissioner who also spent some time on the staff of City Councilman Frank Rizzo, sent an e-mail Saturday to a wide group of people announcing that he is off the May 19 primary election ballot for a seat on the Court of Common Pleas. King's e-mail said the state Commonwealth Court had approved his petition to remove his name from the ballot. He added that he was "steadfast" in his drive to become a judge but withdrew for the "greater good of the Democratic Party."
PhillyClout can think of only one way a candidate that really wants to be a judge can drop out of the race while helping his political party. That would be a nomination from the governor for an opening on the court. We caught up by phone with King today while he was in Staples buying ink for his computer printer. 'I worked for the city for 17 years," King joked. "I never had to buy a pen."
King was coy when we asked if he got out of the race due to an impending appointment, saying he had not spoken to the governor or any of his staffers about a seat on the court. "I expect in the future that I will be on the court," King said. "I'm certainly qualified for the court. That's where I intend to be."
After the jump, you can read the text of King's e-mail, which was sent to judges and court personnel, City Council members and staffers, mayoral appointees and corporate big-wigs.
Catherine Lucey
There's still time! You have until 6 p.m. today to enter the latest PhillyClout contest. For details on what to do, click here.
Catherine Lucey
Here's a release from the Free Library on their children's book drive:
Free Library Celebrates National Library Week by Kicking Off Children's Book Drive
New initiative allows customers to donate money or purchase books online to benefit community's children
PHILADELPHIA, April 13, 2009 -- Marking the start of National Library Week, the Free Library of Philadelphia kicked off the 10,000 Books for Children drive at the Parkway Central Library on Monday, April 13 with Mayor Michael Nutter, Library President and Director Siobhan Reardon, Executive Director of Friends of the Free Library of Philadelphia Amy Dougherty, Philadelphia 76er Andre Iguodala, and Target Representative Jules Ginaldi, along with a special guest, the Phillie Phanatic!
Due to the economic downturn, the Free Library had to cut its book budget by 25 percent and stopped ordering new books for all Library locations until early July, leaving the Library with a lack of funds to purchase books for more than 60,000 Philadelphia school children who participate in the Library's Summer Reading program. With 10,000 Books for Children, the Free Library asks the community to contribute funds or books for the Summer Reading program, which encourages Philadelphia's children and teens to read throughout the summer and maintain their literacy levels while not in school.
Catherine Lucey
Are they ready for their closeup? John Baer writes that the state Legislature is spending public dollars to update their broadcast facilities.
Fugitive defense lawyer found in Virginia.
Head of the Police Advisory Commission writes an op-ed arguing that there is meaningful police oversight in Philadelphia.
Chris Brennan
PhillyClout was on the scene in Harrisburg Wednesday when the state Gaming Control Board nearly lost control of its meeting to protesters angry that Foxwoods, a casino originally approved for the riverfront in South Philly in 2006, now wants to relocate to 8th and Market streets in Center City.
The Media Mobilizing Project has posted a video of the chaos on YouTube.
Catherine Lucey
It's a quiet down in City Hall today, so we thought we'd brighten your Friday with a new PhillyClout contest!
You know the drill: Email us (luceyc@phillynews.com) the answer to the following question by 6 p.m. Monday. We'll randomly pick a winner from the correct entries. The prize is a shiny red Daily News t-shirt. As always, PhillyClout co-workers and family may not apply.
And the question is:
What fabled Philadelphia department store might soon be housing slot machines?
Catherine Lucey
In the Clout column today: Is the Fumo camp and Local 98 bonding over Tom Knox's gubanatorial run? Maybe not.
The Daily News Ed Board wants Harrisburg to consider a change in the way the state buys Mediaid prescription drugs.
The deficit crippled Northeastern Hospital gets a 30-day reprieve from the Temple Health System to try to come up with a recovery plan.
The Free Library is set to launch a campaign to collect 10,000 books for a summer reading program.
Catherine Lucey
We've got a big announcement today guys. The PhillyClout team has taken over writing the Clout column in the paper. So now, every Friday we'll be bringing you the best of our insider political news and gossip.
So head on over to the Daily News site to check it out.
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David Gambacorta spent a small eternity writing about cops, drug dealers and serial killers. Now he’s writing about power and politics – which sometimes reminds him of the old crime beat. He joined the Daily News in 2005. And yes, he knows you’re not quite sure how to pronounce his last name. E-mail tips to gambacd@phillynews.com
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Jan Ransom, a native New Yorker, joined the Daily News in 2010 after graduating from Howard University. She has since written about the difficulty of filing police complaints, tax deadbeats and life after violent home invasions. She joined the Daily News City Hall Bureau in 2011 and has plunged headfirst into reporting on administration budget battles and City Council shenanigans. E-mail tips to ransomj@phillynews.com
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Sean Collins Walsh is from Bucks County and went to Northwestern University. He joined the Daily News copy desk in 2012 and now covers the Nutter administration. Before that, he interned at papers including The New York Times, The Dallas Morning News and The Seattle Times. E-mail tips to walshSE@phillynews.com
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