--Everyone needs money, so it's not a surprise that Mayor Menino wants to increase fines for illegal parking in the city: "The largest increase will be for parking in a fire lane, which would rise from $40 to $100 under the mayor’s plan. Parking in front of a handicapped ramp would go from $50 to $100, while parking in front of a hydrant would rise from $75 to $100." [Boston Herald]

--Former House speaker Tom Finneran, now a WRKO host, must really want to be a lobbyist. After dancing with the idea in the past, he's signed up to represent the Liquor Liability Joint Underwriting Association of Massachusetts. And there's no sign of his stepping down as a radio host. Does this mean the LLJUAM (phew!) will have the mike? [Media Nation]

--Harvard isn't the only loaded local university. Tufts received the largest gift in its history--$136 million. [Tufts Daily]

--Meanwhile, Lesley University received $136 million from the same source as Tufts, which triples the school's current endowment. [Boston Globe]

--The owner of Johnny D.'s in Somerville, Tina DeLellis, has passed away. Johnny D.'s will be closed until April 13. [Somerville Journal]

--Earlier this week, we heard about death by blogging. Now it's death by hamster. A woman filed suit claiming her husband died after a liver transplant at Mass General because the donor may have contracted a disease from a hamster she bought at PetSmart. [WBZ]

--Solar panels are coming to Fenway Park in May. [Boston Globe]

Image of a happy birdie by pappatom from photos tagged "Bostonist" on Flickr.