Former CBS3 anchor Larry Mendte is scheduled for a plea hearing at 9:30AM this morning at the federal courthouse at Sixth and Market Streets, where he is expected to plead guilty to hacking into the personal e-mail of onetime colleague Alycia Lane. Lawrence Scott Ward, 65, a former marketing professor at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School, is already serving a 15-year sentence in federal prison for trafficking in child porn, but yesterday new......

Torontoist featured video of an absolutely insane series of explosions at a propane facility in the north end of the city last weekend.Despite an eventful week at the Olympics, Phillyist focused on local, Philadelphia teams.Seattlest, freshly aware of their "Junior High Readability Level," implemented a new weekly feature spotlighting a local they’re totes crushing on. First up, a guy they met at the Seattle Tattoo Expo.LAist reported on a protest by bicyclists in Santa......

Hey, Greensgrow, a North Philly urban farm, got profiled in a New York Times article! Go them! (Via Dexter) A plan made public yesterday reveals the city prisons commissioner's strategies to reduce prison overcrowding, fight recidivism, and improve prison-staff morale. Meanwhile, an as yet unreleased study of the Philadelphia prison system reveals that recidivism has less to do with prison overcrowding than first-time offenders. "A member of the Eagles Pep Band will be walking 90......

Today, from 9AM through 5PM, Media Mobilizing Project and local broadband activists are urging Philadelphians to call Mayor Michael Nutter to demand that the city step in to save the Wireless Philadelphia network. If you want to give it a shot, the numbers are (215) 686-3000 or (215) 686-2250. The Delaware River Port Authority is conducting two public meetings about its planned efforts to ease congestion on the Philadelphia side of the Ben Franklin Bridge.......

Photograph of the Reverend Al Sharpton by Armchair Messiah on Flickr Gothamist watched a series of civil disobedience events, protesting the Sean Bell shooting verdict, unfold across the city--over 200 people, including the Reverend Al Sharpton, were arrested. Somewhat related, on behalf of a black freelance reporter for the NY Post, the NYCLU sued the city and NYPD for racial profiling.Phillyist took a look at how city employees are bankrupting Philadelphia. Not that they......

Photo credit: Mat Honan Shanghaiist covered anti-China Olympic torch relay protests in London, Paris and San Francisco.Gothamist marveled as the NY State Assembly killed NYC's controversial congestion pricing plan without even holding a vote.SFist reported live on the only U.S. leg of the Olympic torch relay, which was a disaster for Mayor Gavin Newsom. DCist was tickled to see that Heroes star Hayden Panettiere filmed a short PSA to support voting rights and statehood......

We bring you the buzz from the 215 blogosphere this week. The Illadelph called for a bar to up the awesomeness level at Franklin Square. Beer and mini golf? We're so there. And actually, it just might happen, though not until next summer. Foobooz posted a recession specials guide highlighting the best cheap eats around town. From happy hours with free or discounted food to specials broken out by day of the week and price......

Photo credit: sushiesque/Flickr Bostonist attended the Anime Boston convention and took some glorious pictures of anime fans showing off their costumes at the mall, much to the delight of civilians.Seattlest took a trip on Virgin America Airlines and lived to tell the tale of its awesomeness.Londonist experienced a total lack of surprise at the chaos, crisis, and near-collapse of famous English reserve at the opening of the hotly opposed new airport terminal T5 at......

LAist initially met the coolest police officer at the Anonymous protest, and then later caught thousands of UCLA students celebrating spring break in their undies....

Fun around town, for $10 or less: Mercy Blue: Mercy Blue, Somerset Project, Countervision and The Siren Thesis at the Khyber (56 S. 2nd), 8PM. $6 Nouveau Riche: Nouveau Riche, Tu Phace, and Patty Crash at Silk City (435 Spring Garden), 9PM. $5 Exercise Your Rights: Planning and instructional meeting for protesting the Republican National Convention in Minneapolis at LAVA Space (4134 Lancaster), 7PM. Free Organic Chemistry: The Schuylkill Center goes dowtown to celebrate an......