The Daily Numbers: 573,792 dollars, the amount prosecutors sayd bookkeeper Carol Ackley ripped off from the Ridley School District.


48,000 annual salary for former County Council boss Andy Reilly in his new gig representing the district attorney’s office in any civil matters.


2.29 per gallon, what we were paying for gas just one year ago. Price at the Wawa today? $2.91.


671 million bucks being paid by regional drug giant Merck & Co. to settle claims that it overcharged on four popular drugs.


6 people killed in a rampage in a St. Louis, Mo., suburb when a man opened fire during a meeting of borough council. Police say the suspect believed the town was harassing him.


800 million bucks, how much experts say is bet illegally on sports events in New Jersey. The Assembly has OK’d a measure that would allow voters to decide if casinos can offer legal sports betting.


43, age of a female teacher’s aide in Burlington County, N.J., charged with having sexual relations with a male student.


10 bank heists in Philadelphia being blamed on the ‘Bomber Bandit.’ Police say he enters banks with a device he claims is a bomb and demands money.


1,000,000 dollars in damages caused by series of arson fires to 7 barns in Berks and Montgomery counties. A volunteer firefighter has pleaded guilty in the spree.


150 paintballs fired at a Fayette County church in a graffiti rampge. The name of the town where it occurred? Normalville. Go figure.


3 soldiers killed when an IED exploded in Iraq. The dead include Sgt. Timothy R. Van Orman, of Port Matilda, Pa.


29 percent boost in sales reported by Urban Outfitters. Someone out there is making money.


1 Value City store, at the Tri-State Mall in Claymont, closing its doors.


100 million dollars in tax breaks for two casinos planned for the Philadelphia waterfront that are now under fire by a new city councilman.


1 and done for the Upper Darby girls, who lost in the PIAA District 1 playoffs last night, 51-48, to Downingtown West.


20 wins against 30 losses for the Sixers, who drubbed the Shaq-less Miami Heat last night.


600,000 dollars for utility infielder Eric Bruntlett, who the Phils picked up in the Brad Lidge deal. That’s peanuts for pro athletes today. So where do we sign up.


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Call me a Phanatic: A look at the ups and downs of being a Philadelphia sports fan.
The Eagles slapped a franchise label on L.J. Smith, meaning he likely will be their tight end next year. What’s the over-under on the number of times he gets cartwheeled and coughs the ball up?
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I Don’t Get It: All this hot air about steroids in baseball that is being huffed and puffed about in D.C. Who cares? Don’t they have anything better to do?


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Today’s Upper: Gas prices are coming down. I’ll take it. Of course, they’re still a lot higher than this time next year. And why do I think they’ll start going up again right around the Memorial Day weekend?


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Quote Box: “It was a very clever scheme concealed by her for a number of years. We were shocked and saddened by it.”

-- Ridley Schools Superintendent Nick Ignatuk, on the scam perpetrated on the district by a longtime employee who ripped off more than $570,000.