Thursday tsunami

Can't possibly do all of this justice, other than by organizing it a bit...

• Mayoral bits
  
  
  
  • Inquirer profile: Tom Knox, portraying him as a whiz with numbers, but with an abrasive personal style that might not translate well to the political realm. A telling line: "Knox's unpolished image is actually carefully crafted."
    
    
  • Meanwhile, Knox defends himself from yesterday's assault: Knox defends hiring of felon at his Md. HMO.
    
    
  • Mary Patel asks, Who's in bed with Tom Knox? -- more speculations that Doc and Local 98 may be lining up.
    
    
  • Perhaps more intriguing: Political group takes aim at Knox -- a 527 dedicated to digging around in his past. More on this development here.
    
    
  • I've belatedly found a newish feature at the CityPaper, "The Bottom Line," which gives a paragraph summary of each candidate's position on the theme issue of the week: installments include the environment, housing, public safety, and education. They get some expert to evaluate the differences at the end of each roundup.
    
    
  • A new group is challenging candidates to sign a pledge committing to a fair election system.
  
  
• Casino news
  
  
  
  • Ballot referendum in deadline danger -- justices won't move up hearings, so it may not be possible to get legally required advance advertising of the ballot measure.
    
    
  • Goode: Riverwalk should get license -- diversity arguments thrown into the mix.
  
  
• Other news
  
  
  
  • State legislators suggesting taking over the airport as a regional resource. Might want to talk to Fattah first... More on the story here.
    
    
  • To save $9 million, district could cut 100 more jobs -- 100 fewer teachers in the fal?!?
    
    
  • The Metro notes job prospects from an expanded port, touted by would-be developers of same.
    
    
  • Sheriff Green opts out of a debate with Untermeyer, perhaps realizing that the challenger has most of the arguments on his side.
    
    
  • YPP makes an endorsement in the 5th District Council race. NN made the same choice.
    
    
  • The Metro offers a quick chat with Bill Green, At-Large candidate. He talks about integrity, but word on the street has him paying committeepeople for support between now and the election. Let him prove himself on the ground before expecting an in.
    
    
  • Speaking of which, the CityPaper asks If a candidate has little institutional support, how does he build and/or buy a get-out-the-vote operation on election day?
    
    
  • An Inquirer columnist shows the poor service face that SEPTA offers potential riders.
    
    
  • More on the maternity ward crisis on the horizon.
    
    
  • DN editorial in support of a stronger Inspector General.