5 stories to follow: Aug. 2

It's Friday. Get up to speed before the weekend with a quick look at five stories we're following:

1. Montco to respond to gay marriage lawsuit: Montgomery County Solicitor Ray McGarry will file the county's response this morning to the Corbett administration's lawsuit seeking to stop the register of wills from issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples. The county has issued nearly 50 marriage licenses to gay couples since last week, including one to two former Philadelphia officials.

2. Dead dolphins: Experts are trying to figure out why so many dead dolphins have been washing up on Jersey Shore beaches this summer. Since July 9, 21 dolphins have washed ashore, with the latest found Thursday.

3. Judge to decide on voter ID: The fate of Pennsylvania's controversial voter-identification law is now in the hands of Commonwealth Court Judge Bernard McGinley. Closing arguments in the 12-day trial over the law's constitutionality wrapped up Thursday, though it's not clear when McGinley will issue his ruling.

4. Delaware Bay swim: A New Jersey woman is set to swim across the Delaware Bay this weekend. Meghan Wren will start her 13-mile swim shortly after dawn Saturday.

5. Sports round-up: Fallout continues over the racial slurs Eagles wide receiver Riley Cooper made at a country music concert. It's day 12 of Eagles training camp; the team practices at the NovaCare Complex at 12:30 p.m. The Giants beat the Phillies, 2-1, Thursday night. Next up for the Phils is today's 7:05 p.m. game against the Braves at Citizens Bank Park.