Yo, Philly in the News

• On the anniversary of 9/11, the Inquirer considers the Flight 93 memorial in Shanksville (John McCain will speak there today), and takes a look at how schools in the area observe the date.
• Pennsylvania's smoking ban goes into effect today.
• A 74-year-old grandmother of six was struck by a SEPTA bus Monday at Broad and Oregon. She died yesterday of her injuries. Only hours before her death, a man in a wheelchair was struck and seriously injured by another SEPTA bus on 8th Street near Girard Avenue. The accidents are still being investigated, but both victims had the right of way when they were hit.
• The Inquirer gives us the details on yesterday's official announcement of the proposal to build the Foxwoods Casino in the Gallery. The residents of Chinatown are not so happy about the idea.
• John McCain made an appearance at the Down Home Diner at the Reading Terminal Market yesterday. Obama supporters tried to drown him out by chanting their candidate's name nearby. Governor Rendell also disputed some of McCain's statements, speaking on a conference call with reporters, and just outside the Market, on the corner of 12th and Arch (more on that later). Meanwhile, the Inquirer points out that Lancaster is in the election spotlight for the first time in a long time.
• Forbes recently released its annual rankings of NFL franchises, and the Eagles came in at seventh, valued at $1.116 billion. Last year, they were ranked fifth, at $1.052 billion.
• The suspect in last week's subway hammer attack has had numerous encounters with the law, and has been having mental health problems, according to some members of his family.
• In response to a Daily News article about the declining number of black teachers, Mayor Nutter and school district leaders yesterday said efforts must be increased to recruit and retain more qualified black teachers. Also, Schools Superintendent Arlene Ackerman said a 30-year-old racial-balancing policy that caps the number of black educators who can teach at each school is outdated, and will be changed. The School Reform Commission and Philadelphia School District have other disturbing numbers to contend with, too: a huge achievement gap.
• Expect lane closures on I-95 in Philadelphia tonight.
• Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey has notified subscribers that it is terminating contracts with Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and the University of Pennsylvania Health System. That means subscribers would be charged out-of-network fees for using those facilities.

Image Credit: Flickr user Phanatic