Yo, Philly in the News

• Cardinal Justin Rigali was tearing it up at Finnegan's Wake in Northern Liberties last night as part of a national program called Theology on Tap "where Catholic speakers - theologians, mostly - lecture at bars and taverns popular with young Catholics." It's only the third time in the 26-year history of the program that a cardinal has participated, and the first time a bishop of the Philadelphia Archdiocese has done so.
• The nearby city of Hazleton recently passed an ordinance that was meant to crack down on illegal aliens by penalizing businesses that hired them and landlords who rented to them, but yesterday a federal judge threw it out, saying it "was preempted by federal law and violated the plaintiffs' due-process rights." The mayor has already promised to appeal. The ultimate decision could have wide-ranging effect, as 100 other municipalities have since passed similar ordinances that have yet to go into effect, pending the Hazleton ruling.
• Street - amongst others - wants SEPTA to cancel its plan to eliminate transfers (set to begin on Wednesday), but SEPTA says it's too late.
• In local legal news, Maryann Neabor has been found guilty of aggravated manslaughter in the death by antifreeze smoothie of her brother-in-law, and could face up to 30 years in prison. Also, Andy Reid's eldest son pleaded guilty yesterday to drug and traffic charges and will spend at least three days in prison.
• The Villanova University student who says she was raped by three incoming freshman football players has decided for now not to press charges. Meanwhile, the Inquirer has an article on the procedures put in place by local schools to handle sexual assault cases like this one.
• Philadelphia's 1951 Home Rule Charter, a kind of constitution for the city, has seen a lot of amendments lately, and now folks like the Street administration, the Committee of Seventy and Michael Nutter think it might be time for a comprehensive overhaul.

Image Credit: Flickr user Ronenlh