Yo, Philly in the News

• Phillyist’s friend, Mayor Michael Nutter, will announce some new steps today that are expected to close a $1B gap in the city’s budget. Among the expected steps is the closing of 11 of 54 library branches.
• One suspect remains at large and another man is in custody following an attempted bank robbery in Deptford, NJ, yesterday. The missing suspect is described as a “black man wearing a black shirt and jeans.” The two were initially stopped as their getaway car crashed into a police cruiser.
• The preliminary hearing for Andrea Kelly, the mother charged with starving her daughter, continues this morning in Philadelphia.
• As Sen. Vincent Fumo’s trial continues, the errors of his ways keep coming to light. A key point to his defense was rejected by John J. Contino, the executive director of the State Ethics Commission.
• With the presidential race complete, New Jersey turns its focus to the gubernatorial race between incumbent Governor John Corzine and Chris Christie. Although nothing is certain, as there’s an outside chance that Gov. Corzine will be selected for a cabinet post for President-Elect Barack Obama.
• A stained-glass rendering of Padre Pio was stolen along with a 2005 F150 Econoline van (the stained-glass was inside) from a hotel parking lot near the Philadelphia International Airport. The artwork has an estimated value of $100,000 and took the artist more than a year to create.

Image Credit: Flickr user Tony the Misfit