Connecticut

Joseph Bell, who was Communications Director for Rep. Rob Simmons from 2001-07, has temporarily replaced Andrew Powaleny as Sean Sullivan’s Communications Director (Powaleny is going to DC for an internship–in the middle of a campaign–and intends to return August 5th. I take him at his word). The difference in tone is immediately apparent:

Today Sean Sullivan, Republican congressional candidate for Connecticut’s Second District, said America needs a comprehensive energy policy that would focus on three components: Making responsible use of domestic energy sources, conservation and more expedient development of alternative sources of energy.

(Read the full post about ‘Sullivan Advances Energy Plan’…)

If anyone is interested in the DNC’s Rules and Bylaws committee meeting, the Washington Post’s Chris Cillizza is live-blogging it on his blog The Fix (which is a daily read for me).

Update: Final verdict, half strength each. Despite the chants of “Denver, Denver” by Clinton supporters, it looks like the primary campaign is finally coming to a close.

CLEVELAND — A coroner has ruled that R&B singer Sean Levert died of natural causes following a jail medical emergency in Cleveland. The 39-year-old Levert died March 31 at a hospital after he was taken from the Cuyahoga County jail. He was serving one year and 10 months for failure to pay $89,025 in child support. County Coroner Frank Miller said that Levert died from complications of sarcoidosis, an inflammatory disease. Miller ruled out foul play or trauma. Attorneys for Levert’s widow said sheriff’s department records they reviewed show he wasn’t given his anti-anxiety medication while in jail or seen by a doctor, which might have prevented his death. (Read the full post about ‘Sean Levert Died Of Natural Causes, Coroner Says’…)

PALO ALTO, Calif. — Patrick Swayze, 55, star of “Ghost,” “Dirty Dancing” and numerous other films, said in a statement this week to People magazine that he is responding well to his chemotherapy treatment at Stanford University.”Lisa and I have been back and forth from New Mexico enjoying the arrival of spring and new baby calves,” he wrote in a statement. “This past weekend we spent a fun time with friends in Reno for Lisa’s birthday. In the meantime I am continuing treatment at Stanford and the great news is, I continue to respond well.”News broke in March that Swayze had been diagnosed with a painful and deadly form of pancreatic cancer.”This took everyone by surprise,” said J.D. (Read the full post about ‘Swayze Says He’s Responding Well To Chemo’…)

NEW ORLEANS — Police are searching for a dump-truck driver who they said dropped a load of wet clay, causing a 22-car wreck inside the Harvey Tunnel, and then fled, WDSU-TV reported.Twenty-four people, including a pregnant woman, were injured in the crash, which occurred about 1 p.m. Friday.State troopers said the pregnant woman walked out of the tunnel and then went into labor.It isn’t known if the baby has been delivered, and the woman’s condition is unknown.Officials said none of the other injuries was serious. (Read the full post about ‘Trucker Blamed For 22-Car Crash In La.’…)

HELENA, Mont. — Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton said she expects her marathon Democratic race against Sen. Barack Obama to be resolved next week. In a conference call with Montana reporters, Clinton said Friday: “I think that after the final primaries, people are going to start making up their minds. I think that is the natural progression that one would expect.” Montana and South Dakota hold the final primaries Tuesday. Clinton said superdelegates will have to decide who is the stronger candidate in the fall. (Read the full post about ‘Clinton: Race To Be Resolved Next Week’…)

GREEN BAY, Wis. — The Green Bay Packers won’t be keeping Brett Favre’s locker as a shrine to their legendary quarterback.In fact, they’re not keeping it at all. One day after the future of Favre’s former dressing space became a matter of national debate, the team said it will take the locker out following the mandatory minicamp in June and give it to Favre. A new cherry wood replacement locker will then be installed at the entrance of the locker room in time for training camp at the end of July. “Obviously, I didn’t realize it was going to get this kind of attention,” Packers general manager Ted Thompson told the Wisconsin State Journal on Thursday afternoon. (Read the full post about ‘Favre To Get Old Locker From Packers’…)

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — An infestation of rats and mice has led to the partial shutdown of a movie theater in Sacramento, KCRA-TV reported.The Sacramento County Environmental Management Department ordered the closure of two of three snack bars in the Century Stadium 14 complex on Thursday, while theater operators voluntarily closed two screens to deal with the rodent problem.Twelve other screens remained open at the complex.Authorities said the infestation has been a problem in recent months. (Read the full post about ‘Rats, Mice Cause Calif. Theater’s Partial Closure’…)

Richard Blumenthal’s ruling that insurers couldn’t re-negotiate contracts, and that the state can’t add in municipal employees into the same pool as state workers, was initially thought to be helpful to the Democrats’ cause. Well, not exactly:

Instead of helping Democrats persuade the governor to open the state’s health insurance plan to municipalities, nonprofit groups and small businesses, an opinion issued by the attorney general has spurred more concerns.

“We’re no more convinced today it is a good idea than we were a couple of days ago,” said Jeffrey Beckham, spokesman for the budget office of Republican Gov. M.

(Read the full post about ‘Thanks for Nothing’…)

LILONGWE, Malawi — A judge has approved Madonna’s adoption of a Malawian boy she met in an orphanage in 2006. The pop star wasn’t in court for today’s ruling. Madonna and her husband, Guy Ritchie, have been caring for the child, David Banda, in London. David turns 3 in November. David’s mother died when he was 1 month old. His father has said he believed he couldn’t care for him alone, and that placing him in an orphanage was the best way to ensure David’s survival.The father has said he didn’t object to the adoption. (Read the full post about ‘Malawi Court Finalizes Madonna’s Adoption Case’…)