Leftovers: Smelling A Rat

• A bunch of union people blocked Broad Street during rush hour this morning because some company that doesn’t want to use their labor cartel and wants to use cheaper, crappier contractors instead was having a meeting at the Union League. But they did decide to bring out a giant inflatable rat, which I can only assume was also a moonbounce, so all is well. [CBS 3]

• Police were questioning a robbery suspect so the suspect’s brother ran the two plainclothes officers over with his car, one of whom is in critical condition with a broken leg. You know, I want to know what drove (har, har) that man to think, “Hmm, my brother is being investigated for robbery. How can I solve his problem? Oh, I know! I’ll run over two cops with my car!” [NBC 10]

• Ryan Howard isn’t just big on the field; He’s a star in the baseball card world as well. [Beerleaguer]

• Ikea has begun to charge anickel for every plastic bag customers use “to carry their booty of Glasklar dishes and Bibbi Snurr blankets.” Thanks, Associated Press writer Joann Loviglio. I owe you a drink for that line. [AP/Camden Courier-Post]

• Not content to change the world one keystroke at a time on the Daily Pennsylvanian’s blog, Stephen Morse is now moving on to 34th Street, where he will continue to fight the good fight of telling black people they don’t care about Darfur enough and infuriating ex-34th Street managing editors. Godspeed, Stephen. [The Spin]

• Pat Burrell sucks, writes Bill Conlin, but we can’t blame him for the Phillies’ April swoon the past two years. Oh! [Daily News]

• And Metro now has a blog about the mayor’s race, in case the Daily News‘ and the Inquirer’s weren’t good enough for you. We’re looking your way, Weekly Press! [Fight for Room 215]