Yo, Philly in the News

• The NJ Supreme Court has decided that homosexuals should have the same rights as heterosexuals (what a novel idea!) and has given state lawmakers 180 days to rewrite the law to include either gay marriage, or some sort of civil union. In other words, there may soon be a closer option for local gay couples who want to solidify their unions. Awesome. Equality is a good thing. (Via Libby)
• Sunday night a New Jersey state trooper spotted an SUV moving at a high rate of speed and swerving between lanes. The trooper finally got the guy to stop as he was crossing the Walt Whitman. The driver hopped out of the car - and flung himself off the bridge. A search has been conducted for the man, but as of this writing, it has been unsuccessful. Very strange stuff. Since when is facing a possible traffic ticket more frightening than jumping off a bridge??
• Another shameful story about a father getting violently angry at a kids' sports event. In this case, it was at a pee-wee football game in Northeast Philly. A Dad felt his son wasn't getting to play enough and his disagreement with the coach led to punches being thrown and a gun coming out. Thankfully, no one was seriously hurt.
• This weekend, Friday through Sunday, Philly parents and their sixth- and seventh-graders can comparison-shop for a good public high school at the High School Expo. Click through for more details.
• Senator Rick Santorum has pulled most of his TV ads off the major broadcast networks. Does he fear the wrath of Phillyist readers? Or is he just running low on cash?
• Local newspapers the Daily News and the Philadelphia Inquirer are not out of the woods yet. A mediator has been called in to handle union contract negotiations, and layoffs are a possibility. We wish them luck, and hope the negotiations come to a speedy and satisfactory end.

Image Credit: Flickr user boulderguy