Yo, Philly in the News

• The Inquirer takes a look at local folks and aid organizations trying to send help to China in the wake of the earthquake.
• All U.S. and Pennsylvania flags at state facilities will be flown at half-staff today for Peace Officers Memorial Day. And since it was Governor Rendell who gave the order there shouldn't be any complaints...
• "The Philadelphia Orchestra leaves Monday for a three-week tour of China, Japan and Korea."
• Eric DeShawn Floyd and Levon T. Warner , the two men accused in the May 3rd bank robbery that led to the killing of Sgt. Stephen Liczbinski, will go before a Philadelphia judge this morning to determine if they should be tried on murder and related charges.
• Here's an odd, amusing, and rather disturbing story: last week, a box from Taiwan arrived in a postal facility in Mohnton, about 50 miles northwest of Philadelphia. The contents were labeled as toys, gifts and jellies, but the postmaster began to suspect there was something alive in there after postal workers heard scratching coming from inside. The package was sent to Philadelphia, where it was X-rayed and opened by customs agents, who then seized the more than two dozen potentially harmful giant beetles that were found inside. An agency agriculture specialist said in a statement: "The specimens were some of the largest of their kind, and some of the largest I've ever seen, averaging 5 to 6 inches in diameter. They are highly destructive insect pests that can cause extensive damage to fruit and vegetable crops, trees, shrubs and turf grasses."
• The new zoning map of Bryn Mawr that was unanimously approved by Lower Merion commissioners last night takes the town one step closer to a long-envisioned revitalization of the downtown area.
• "New Jersey Governor Jim McGreevey tried to persuade a Union County divorce judge yesterday that he is too poor to pay alimony to his estranged wife." Excuse us while we scoff. Scoff! Scoff!

Image Credit: Flickr user spacejaq