Snow. Big whoop. Enjoy your weekend next six months.

Was anyone else glued to their TV or computers yesterday to watch the balloon boy? While I was relieved he never was in that airplane thing, it was still pretty nerve-wracking.

The Takiah Warren story keeps getting sadder. Takiah, 2, died this week at her apartment. Warren’s 5-year-old sister is testifying that Marquice Evans, 19, put a towel over Takiah’s face and proceeded to sit on her. She was found dead by her mother later. What is the matter with people? Seriously. This story keeps getting more tragic. Edit: Corrected age of Mr. Evans to 19, not 29

Chad Hower, 34, is in custody in Bulgaria and will be extradited back to the USA on charges he kidnapped his child and took him out of the country, which is a no-no. Sofia is a pretty name for a capital city.

Remember Dennis Globosky? He ran a diploma mill in Erie called the University of Berkeley, which isn’t real and is not related to the University of California Berkeley. It seems Dennis has not paid civil damages he agreed to pay and a lawsuit has been filed by the attorney general.

It was only a matter of time, but H1N1 has been confirmed in several local school districts. Coughing into your elbow is just strange, so I cough in other people’s elbows. Yesterday was actually hand-washing day or something.

Be sure to tune into 60 Minutes this week to see a new piece about John Kanzius and his cancer treatment. We’ll share it here as soon as its available.

Michael Michaelson of Erie made it into an AP photo and story about people protesting in Cleveland for health care reform. Jeff Jefferson and Rob Robertson were unavailable for comment.

Erie Indemnity Company will host an audio Webcast with the financial community to discuss financial results for the third quarter 2009 on Friday, Oct. 30, 2009, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time.

Sports

The Mercyhurst College field hockey team put together back-to-back wins for the first time since mid-September as the No. 8 Lakers defeated Limestone, 6-0, in front of a rain drenched audience Thursday afternoon at Tullio Field.

The Gannon women’s volleyball team is tabbed fourth in the initial NCAA Division II Atlantic regional rankings released Thursday afternoon.

Events