Lisa Thompson of the Erie Times-News has more about Martin Allen’s acquittal on murder charges here.

Someone claiming to be a juror on the case posted a comment on our news post yesterday. The female “juror” says this:

did it occur to anyone that the motorcycler was legally drunk too? did it occur he might be alive if he were wearing a helmet?

First a question – are the names of people who have served on a jury public record? We aren’t going to out this person, we just want to make sure she or he really did serve on the jury.

At this point, it looks like we’ll never have a state budget approved. Which means that our taxes are about to go through the roof and services will be cut. Awesome. Despite all that, Governor Edward G. Rendell has announced the investment of $355 million in 111 green infrastructure, drinking water and wastewater projects in 47 counties. Locally, the Erie County Conservation District received a $1.6 million grant to stabilize more than 100,000 square feet of road base on seven roads in the county where sediment runoff contaminates local streams and wetlands during wet weather.

Rep. Kathy Dahlkemper has published an op-ed piece on TheHill.com about House Bill 3092 and 3144, which aim to cut obesity rate and related illnesses. You can read it here.

$44.2 million was wagered last week at Presque Isle Downs. With $40.5 million given back as winnings, $1.8 million goes to the state and the casino keeps $1.5 million. That figure is larger then the same week last year.

The National Automobile License Plate Collector’s Association (ALPCA) held their annual convention in Erie June 23-27 at the Bayfront Convention Center, Sheraton Erie Bayfront Hotel and the Avalon Hotel. Approximately 1,000 people participated including attendees, family members, guests and curious onlookers. But it almost didn’t happen. The 2009 ALPCA convention was originally booked for Monroeville PA. An unforeseen conflict forced the group to re-bid the convention, putting Erie back in the race. Through some successful creative thinking, VisitErie and the Bayfront Convention Center accommodated the convention’s unique space requirements and further sweetened the deal by adding free convention services which included staffed registration tables and welcome baskets. Erie won the re-bid and became the new host City for the ALPCA 2009 national convention.

Gannon University’s School of Education has received approval to offer two new certification programs designed to help the University meet Pennsylvania’s Chapter 49 requirements for prospective teachers. With the approval, granted by the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE), Gannon in the upcoming fall 2009 semester will offer both Early Childhood Grades PK-4 and Middle Level Grades 4-8 certificates. Within the middle-level program, Gannon will offer single and dual concentrations in English, mathematics, science, and social studies.

More Erie Headlines

Sports

The Seawolves beat Akron again 5-2 last night. The same teams play tonight at 7:05 p.m. and Thursday at 12:05 p.m. Take the day off and catch a game.

Events

Darius Rucker (you know his better as Hootie of Blowfish fame) will play at the Warner Theatre on November 6. No word on tickets yet. Personally, I think this is his best work yet.