Yo, Philly in the News

• A fire broke out in City Hall shortly after 4:30AM on Saturday in a judge's chambers. The chambers were being remodeled and were not occupied. It's possible that an electrical problem was the cause. There were no injuries, although three other offices sustained smoke and water damage.
• Latrice Bryant, chief legislative aide to Philadelphia City Councilman W. Wilson Goode Jr., issued a letter of apology to Goode yesterday for holding up signs during a recent City Council meeting accusing Fox29, and reporter Jeff Cole, of being racist. She has not, however, apologized to Cole or Fox29, and in fact she may be planning to sue them.
• The usual summary of weekend violence: First, a police sergeant was interviewing someone early yesterday after responding to a large fight on the Spirit of Philadelphia when he was jumped from behind by a member of the crowd. Neither he nor the attacker were injured, although the attacker was arrested. Meanwhile, three people were killed, and more were injured, in a series of violent attacks around the city.
• Kevin McCray, 47, of the 800 block of Holly Street was arrested Saturday night on charges that he robbed eleven Center City shops in recent weeks, the most recent after police circulated his photograph. McCray has a criminal career spanning more than 20 years.
• Jury selection begins today in the long-delayed trial of the Fort Dix Five.
• The post office on Market Street across from 30th Street Station closed for good on Friday after 73 years. The IRS is going to make the building its Philadelphia headquarters beginning in 2010. Meanwhile, a new post office opened this morning at 30th and Chestnut streets.
• Last night the Eagles played, but at the moment we'd rather talk about some fun news that got announced during the game: hometown hero Bruce Springsteen will be playing the halftime show at the Super Bowl this year. And hey, how about those Phillies! The times for Games 1, 2 and 3 of the National League division series between the Phils and the Brewers have been announced.
• The Fraternal Order of Police is declaring war against light-sentence judges.
• Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin, along with her 14-year-old daughter, Willow, spent about 45 minutes Sunday meeting with a group of military mothers at Di Bruno Bros. in Center City. As usual, reporters were kept at a distance during the visit.

Image Credit: Flickr user twinkletoez