Yo, Philly in the News

• Ben Franklin and Betsy Ross are getting married! We're freaking out!! (Via Sarah)
• The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Building at 16th and Callowhill Streets was evacuated yesterday morning when a white, powdery substance was found in a third-floor office. The substance turned out to be foot powder. D'oh. (Via Sarah)
• An accident on the westbound Pennsylvania Turnpike between the Mid-County and Valley Forge interchanges led to the death of the driver of a FedEx tractor-trailer, and to the closing of the road. As of around 8AM, the road seemed unlikely to reopen soon, since the tractor-trailer was still connected to a crumpled Dodge pickup.
• Everyone agrees that the crumbling South Street Bridge needs to be torn down and replaced - and indeed the first part of that process is scheduled to take place as early as August - but not everyone agrees on what the new bridge should be like. The Daily News provides some interesting history about the bridge. And in other area bridge news, the Delaware River Port Authority announced yesterday that it's launching a study aimed at easing the morning congestion on the Philadelphia side for drivers who use the Ben Franklin Bridge.
• Gas prices are getting worse, and the Inquirer has asked local folks the tricks they're using to alleviate the problem.
• The primary race continues. Michelle Obama was campaigning in the Philly suburbs yesterday for her husband. Barack received some good news yesterday, too, as the Black Clergy of Philadelphia and Vicinity Inc. announced that its membership voted unanimously to endorse him for the Democratic presidential nomination. But the Obama campaign also got in trouble with Governor Rendell, Mayor Nutter, and some top Clinton aides for referring to the PA primary as "only one of ten remaining contests." Finally, John McCain is campaigning in Springfield, Delaware County today.
• But the presidential primary isn't the only political race coming up soon for Pennsylvania. With Fumo out of the state Senate race, it's looking like his supporters are going to migrate to attorney Lawrence Farnese. Meanwhile, the Committee of Seventy wants to put around 150 volunteers into the two legislative districts where primary Election Day battles are likely to be most heated. Zack Stalberg, president of the Seventy, said: "Anne is no sweet little thing, Doc is Doc and Fumo's hand will still be in this somewhere." Heh heh heh. Word.

Image Credit: Flickr user HansMoleman