Nationals announce Johnson as team's manager

Nationals announce Johnson as team's manager: "General manager Mike Rizzo had to move quickly. He needed a seasoned and successful manager to run the Washington Nationals, a promising team shocked by the abrupt resignation of Jim Riggleman."

Doc & Roll: Rollins' 4-hitter supports Halladay's 10th win as Phillies defeat Athletics

Doc & Roll: Rollins' 4-hitter supports Halladay's 10th win as Phillies defeat Athletics: "NOT LONG after Jimmy Rollins raked Mariners ace Felix Hernandez for three hits last week, his brother, Antwon, called and chastised him."

Nutter & his cabinet forgoing cost-of-living raises, but some elected officials aren't so sure

Nutter & his cabinet forgoing cost-of-living raises, but some elected officials aren't so sure: "Tough financial times might continue in city government, but all local elected officials are up for raises on Thursday.
Mayor Nutter, City Council and other elected officials are eligible for 1.9 percent cost-of-living increases, which are granted annually under a 2003 ordinance."

Philadelphia City Council and School District agree on how to spend new school money

Philadelphia City Council and School District agree on how to spend new school money: "Officials of the Philadelphia School District and members of City Council on Tuesday agreed on how to spend the $53 million proceeds of a forthcoming property-tax increase."

Happy hours to expand in bill sent to Corbett

Happy hours to expand in bill sent to Corbett: "HARRISBURG - Happy hour in Pennsylvania may soon get a lot happier.
Under legislation that received final House passage on Wednesday, bars and restaurants will get more flexibility to schedule the times they sell cheap drinks each week."

N.J. Assembly passes bill calling on public unions to pay more for health care

N.J. Assembly passes bill calling on public unions to pay more for health care: "TRENTON - Boos and screams from union workers broke out in the Statehouse Thursday night after the New Jersey Assembly approved a bill, 46-32, to have government employees pay more for their health and pension benefits."

Pennsylvania budget deal reached

Pennsylvania budget deal reached: "HARRISBURG - The Corbett administration and legislative leaders have struck a tentative deal on a $27.15 billion budget that restores some of the state's dwindling aid to public schools and state-related universities."

Court filing offers a rare view of the Philadelphia Orchestra's finances

Court filing offers a rare view of the Philadelphia Orchestra's finances: "In a snapshot of its finances, the Philadelphia Orchestra Association claimed $16 million in assets and $700,000 in liabilities in a filing attached to its Chapter 11 petition."

At U. Darby Sears, dozens invade & flee with thousands in merchandise

At U. Darby Sears, dozens invade & flee with thousands in merchandise: "DOZENS OF West Philly boys - ranging in age from 11 to 19 - stormed a Sears store in Upper Darby on Thursday as part of a "flash mob" and made off with thousands of dollars' worth of merchandise, police said."

Avlon: Meet the real GOP candiates

Avlon: Meet the real GOP candiates: "There are three ways to run for president these days.

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Obama to meet top lawmakers on debt

Obama to meet top lawmakers on debt: "President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden will meet Monday with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nevada, and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, to discuss 'the status of the negotiations to find common ground on a balanced approach to deficit reduction,' according to a White House statement released Friday.

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JPMorgan's plastic explosives

JPMorgan's plastic explosives: "Do we have a credit-card robosigning scandal on our hands?"

Winklevoss v. Facebook lawsuit lurches on

Winklevoss v. Facebook lawsuit lurches on: "Several billion years from now, scientists predict that the universe may end in heat death. That looks like the only thing that will kill off the Winklevoss twins' legal crusade against Facebook."

Ralph Nader is right about Cisco - The Buzz

Ralph Nader is right about Cisco - The Buzz: "The painful slide in the stock price of Cisco Systems is now big enough news to even rile up consumer advocate and perennial presidential candidate Ralph Nader."

A hell-bent Nutter plans to veto drop

A hell-bent Nutter plans to veto drop: "Mayor Nutter won't give up his quest to drop DROP.
Nutter, who has sought to eliminate the controversial lump-sum retirement perk, yesterday announced that he will veto City Council legislation that would preserve DROP at a lower price tag."

Council OKs $3.5B budget, 3.85% property-tax hike

Council OKs $3.5B budget, 3.85% property-tax hike: "LIKE IT OR NOT, a temporary property-tax hike is on the way for a second year in a row.
City Council concluded its final session before its summer break yesterday by passing a $3.5 billion budget that included a temporary 3.85 percent property-tax increase to collect $37 million for the cash-strapped school district."

Gas prices heading downward - CNN

Gas prices heading downward - CNN: ""

GM set to reclaim No. 1 spot from Toyota

GM set to reclaim No. 1 spot from Toyota: "General Motors is poised to recapture the title of world's largest automaker, a distinction it lost to rival Toyota Motor during global auto sales collapsed in 2008."

North Face parent to buy Timberland

North Face parent to buy Timberland: "Apparel company VF Corp. has signed a deal to buy The Timberland Co. for more than $2 billion, the companies said Monday."

Wendy's to sell off Arby's

Wendy's to sell off Arby's: "The company that owns both Wendy's and Arby's is ditching the roast beef chain to focus on reinventing Wendy's."

Ford F-150 buyers shell out for smaller engines

Ford F-150 buyers shell out for smaller engines: "Last month, for the first time in 26 years, more Ford F-150 pickup buyers opted for V6 engines rather than the more traditional V8."

Michael Dell's identity crisis

Michael Dell's identity crisis: "Dell Inc. isn't the No. 1 PC maker anymore, and to hear Michael Dell, the company's founder and chief executive, tell it, that doesn't much matter. Dell is a diversified technology company, offering everything from servers to systems integration. And, he insists, its future has never been brighter. 'Dell has an earnings growth story. Dell is expanding margins. Dell is acquisitive. Dell has strong cash flow,' he tells Fortune in an interview at the company's Round Rock, Texas, offices. 'Dell is on the offensive,' says Dell."

Pandora: The money-losing music machine

Pandora: The money-losing music machine: "There is a fundamental problem with Pandora Media's business model: the more its product is used, the more money it loses. That's the opposite of what makes a company viable in the long term. Nevertheless, the online music service is asking public shareholders to finance its growth so it can draw more listeners, increase usage and ... lose more money, presumably."

The bookie and the Biq Squeeze

The bookie and the Biq Squeeze: "ROCCO MANISCALCO had reason to wear a bulletproof vest. Two reasons, actually.
The South Philly auto-body-shop owner was a bookie on the side, and he was tangling with a trio of drug dealers who refused to pay on a $60,000 sports bet, according to his family. They were threatening violence if he didn't back off."

New permits for tobacco sellers?

New permits for tobacco sellers?: "Tobacco retailers are fuming after City Council passed a bill yesterday requiring them to obtain permits to sell tobacco and other products containing nicotine."

Tattle: Alec Baldwin for Big Apple mayor?

Tattle: Alec Baldwin for Big Apple mayor?: "JACK DONAGHY may be able to handle Liz Lemon, but can he handle New York?
Alec Baldwin, the veteran actor and would-be politician who plays Donaghy on "30 Rock," is thinking about running for mayor of the Big Apple."

Mom blames Nicolas Cage for son's troubles

Mom blames Nicolas Cage for son's troubles: "Nicolas Cage's son is scheduled to be released from a Los Angeles hospital this weekend where he was treated while on a psychiatric hold after a violent incident outside a Hollywood restaurant Tuesday.

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'Super 8' is No. 1 with $37 mil

'Super 8' is No. 1 with $37 mil: "It might be a stretch to call its opening 'super,' but the sci-fi flick 'Super 8' enjoyed a solid start with $37 million this weekend, according to studio estimates. The $50 million movie, which was directed by J.J. Abrams and produced by Steven Spielberg, fell just a bit short of other recent original sci-fi flicks such as 'District 9' ($37.4 million) and the Abrams-produced 'Cloverfield' ($40.1 million), but performed better than this year's Battle: Los Angeles' ($35.6 million). With a story that's set in 1979 and a tone that emulates Spielberg's own pictures during that era, the well-reviewed film particularly appealed to older moviegoers. According to Paramount, a whopping 71 percent of 'Super 8's' audience was at least 25 years old. IMAX theaters accounted for 12 percent of the PG-13 film's gross, and CinemaScore moviegoers gave it an overall 'B+' rating, which could bode well for its staying power. By comparison, 'Cloverfield' received a 'C' grade from CinemaScore audiences, and then plummeted 68 percent in its second weekend.

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Chip Change Coming to PCs?

Chip Change Coming to PCs?: "

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New deal gives Philadelphia more say over schools

New deal gives Philadelphia more say over schools: "In a City Hall ceremony packed with dignitaries, Mayor Nutter and officials of the School District of Philadelphia signed an "education accountability" agreement Thursday that gives the city more say in how the district conducts business."

Weiner taking leave; calls grow for resignation

Weiner taking leave; calls grow for resignation: "WASHINGTON - Embattled Rep. Anthony Weiner said Saturday he was taking a short leave of absence and seeking professional treatment, as a host of frustrated Democratic leaders called on him to leave office, saying the "sordid affair" had become a distraction for the party."

Campbell corporate executive fights community obesity

Campbell corporate executive fights community obesity: "The 10th grader curiously eyed the well-coiffed Campbell Soup Co. executive standing in her classroom.
"I'm an unhealthy person, and I want to lose weight," blurted India Harris, a 15-year-old at MetEast High School in Camden."