Yo, Philly in the News

• The last of the Amish schoolgirls still in the hospital after the shooting in October was able to return this week to enjoy her classmates' annual Christmas party, and she should be released from the hospital today. After the shooting, she was only able to speak in the Pennsylvania German dialect, and has only gradually regained the ability to speak English.
• One of the folks who won a casino license on Wednesday was so pleased he actually cried a little, but many people in Philly are not so happy. Various activists and politicians promise protests and legal reprisals. If Philly ever finally does get its casinos, it will do it kicking and screaming.
• Bill Cosby came home to Philly and held a free "call-out" session at the Met at Broad and Poplar last night. It's one of a series of gatherings he's been holding across the country where he urges parents and the community to take responsibility for their problems and do something about them.
• Michael Nutter wants weekly televised - or radio broadcasted - debates amongst the Philly mayoral candidates in the months leading up to the 2007 Democratic primary. He figures: "If you start in the second week of January, you could have upwards of 20, 30, 40 debates." Math is hard.
• Well, everyone can stop their jibber jabber about Thomas Eakins' "The Gross Clinic," because as of yesterday it is officially going to stay in Philly. The fundraising drive pulled together enough money to match the price Jefferson had originally gotten for it.
• It's looking like that recount of the votes in Chester County is just about over, and the result will be the same as the original count: Democrat Barbara McIlvaine Smith is the winner, giving the Dems control of the state House.

Image Credit: Flickr user AndrewNZ