Actor Patrick Swayze passed away yesterday after a battle with cancer. We’re thinking of watching Road House today in his honor.

Erie gets a mention in this USA Today story about testing for toxic substances at schools. You may remember that the paper ran tests of air quality near schools. They report:

The EPA also says it likely will offer guidance about whether certain industries should be sited near existing schools, an issue that continues to trouble activists in Erie, Pa.; Corpus Christi, Texas; and Middletown, Ohio, where industries that release toxic chemicals want to build near schools.

There may be 2 cases of swine flu at Penn State Behrend. Two students there have tested positive for Type A flu. One student was sent home and the other remained at her home where she had been tested. It may take a few days for official results to come back.

If you’re keeping score at home, we still don’t have a state budget. Despite there being a compromise plan that was announced last week. Gov. Rendell has said he will not sign it.

David Beard—editor of the Boston Globe’s online presence, Boston.com—will discuss “10 Thoughts on the Future of Journalism” on Monday, Sept. 21, at 4:30 p.m. at Allegheny College. The presentation, to be held in the Grounds for Change coffeehouse on the 2nd floor of the Henderson Campus Center, is free and open to the public.

Sports

The Bills dropped a heartbreaker to New England last night 25-24. They had the game wrapped up, being up 5 with under 2 minutes to play. I’m not even a Bills fan and it hurt.

The Gannon men’s golf team dropped two spots on the final day and finished tied for 10th out of 15 teams Monday afternoon at the Hal Hansen Invitational hosted by Clarion University at the Clarion Oaks Golf Course.

Events

Mercyhurst College will host a screening of the acclaimed documentary “Pray the Devil Back to Hell” on Monday, Sept. 28, at 7 p.m. in the Mary D’Angelo Performing Arts Center. Erie is among hundreds of communities around the world that will view the film this fall during the Global Peace Tour, a celebration of the United Nations’ International Day of Peace.