Yo, Philly in the News

• An interesting entry by a blogger describing some conversations overheard on a train involving a local politician and Republican presidential candidate John McCain. (Via Sarah)
• Delaware River Port Authority officials announced yesterday that a $4 million network of cameras with "intelligent" software will be installed along the PATCO rail line and the Benjamin Franklin Bridge starting in April and scheduled to finish up by the end of the year. The cameras are designed to detect intruders or unusual activity in stations, parking lots, platforms and along the rail line.
• One of the items auctioned at Temple University's annual Owl Club fund-raiser on Saturday was a nine-week-old golden retriever puppy, but it turns out that it's illegal in Pennsylvania for anyone other than a licensed kennel to put a dog up for bid. The dog ended up going to Temple basketball coach and former WNBA star Dawn Staley, but he'll be the last pooch to go on the auction bock at Temple.
• A couple of Philadelphia officials were sworn in and began their new jobs yesterday, including city Managing Director Camille Cates Barnett, who promised to set up a 311 phone-information system for Philly by the end of the year.
• A school bus in Northeast Philadelphia hit several cars yesterday afternoon before veering into a gas station and striking a fuel pump. Six children were slightly hurt in the accident.
• The first half of a cyclotron got delivered to the hospital at Penn early this morning; the second half will arrive Wednesday. "When fully operational in July 2009, the equipment will be used to deliver ultra-precise beams of radiation to shrink patient tumors and minimize damage to surrounding tissue. The cyclotron will be the centerpiece of what Penn says will be the largest proton-beam therapy center in the world."
• Downingtown teachers are on strike. "Classes in the Downingtown Area School District have been canceled and teacher picket lines are scheduled to go up at 10:30 this morning after long negotiations Sunday failed to reach agreement."

Image Credit: Flickr user HGruber