Boston at night captured by BostonCityWalk Hillary Clinton is the new Condoleezza Rice. [NYTimes] Chuck Turner is the new Dianne Wilkerson. [Globe] Blue is the new green. [NYTimes] Code of Silence is the new Departed. Maybe? [Somerville Journal] Make way for the limping economy. [NYTimes] More horses are being given up to the MSPCA, and abandonment of other animals is also rising. [Globe]......

Dianne Wilkerson, the state senator suspected of accepting bribes from constituents, resigned from her position today, following yesterday's indictment on charges of attempted extortion. Sonia Chang-Diaz will take over the job in January. The Herald reports that Dianne is boxing up her possessions—no word on how much money is among them.......

According to the Globe, state senator Dianne Wilkerson's longtime political pal Ron Wilburn may have been the "cooperating witness" (CW) behind the FBI operation against Wilkerson. The FBI isn't revealing its sources, but Wilkerson aides claim--and FBI footage seems to confirm--that Wilburn is the man who bribed Wilkerson to get him a liquor license. The Globe calls Wilburn a "gentlemanly" entrepreneur and a significant figure in the minority community. He was a friend of Bertram......

Somerville catches Obama Fever, since the President-elect spent his Harvard Law days in Winter Hill. [Boston Herald] Dianne Wilkerson's resignation will presumably occur before Sonia Chang-Díaz is sworn in. [Boston Globe] Obama's Southie auntie might have gone into hiding. [Boston Herald] How will cops measure an ounce of pot? How many running dogs does it take to make a race? [Somerville Journal] A techie loses personal info of more than 8,000 clients of a......

Crayon electoral map photographed by our own sushiesque In case you haven't heard (in which case you must not have the internet, so you're not reading this, anyway), That One will be our new president in 75 days (and the Dems won the House and Senate). As the Bush Administration tries to see how much damage it can do in that time, regular folks prepare for a change. Last night, in addition to acorn......

Gothamist was mesmerized by the trailer for Empire, a movie about biking in NYC with a flagrant disregard for traffic laws, safety and basic common sense.Phillyist couldn't really talk about anything but their World Series-winning Phillies. The curse has been reversed!LAist got annoyed at the Sarah Palin effigy in West Hollywood. It was eventually taken down, but then a Barack Obama one was put up in Redondo Beach.Chicagoist spent the week preparing for Barack......

Dianne Wilkerson's dramatic saga continues, but her reelection campaign doesn't. After clergy members and minority leaders called for the accused senator to resign, she has (according to the Globe) at least canceled her reelection campaign, but not officially resigned from the senate. Wilkerson says she'll make that decision on November 5. Already bested by Sonia Chang-Diaz in an election and a recount, Wilkerson had been planning to continue her write-in reelection campaign despite recent charges......

The State Senate voted unanimously today to censure State Senator Dianne Wilkerson after she was arrested on Tuesday for allegedly accepting $23,500 in bribes. The case, which has scattered subpoenas across Beacon Hill, had gone from embarrassing to farcical when Wilkerson vowed to continue her campaign to retain her seat, a notion to which the Senate finally put paid, one hopes. "Do I look angry?" asked Senate President Therese Murray. "Yes I am." [Globe]......

If you can't keep track of the cast surrounding State Senator Dianne Wilkerson's arrest on federal bribery charges and subsequent decision to continue the sticker campaign to retain her seat, you are not alone. Bostonist's head has been swimming for days. Not to worry. Bloggers with clearer heads have pieced the whole thing together for us. For the dramatis personæ involved in the bribery scandal itself, check out Universal Hub's handy list of informed speculations.......

Moody's predicts that Massachusetts may lose 7200 jobs in the financial sector due to the recent economic struggles. This follows up Fidelity's news that they'll lay off about 4000 folks (not all in Mass.). It's hard to look on the bright side of the economic crisis, but cheer up--at least Dianne Wilkerson has given us all an idea for a great non-mattress money-stashing location.......

UPDATE: Wilkerson's statement is now public. She blames US Attorney Michael J. Sullivan for his timing. Despite pending federal charges, State Sentaor Dianne Wilkerson will continue her sticker campaign to retain her seat. The most infamous stuffed shirt in Boston is currently out on a $50,000 bond while awaiting a Federal corruption trial for allegedly accepting $23,500 in bribes. Wilkerson might have been listening to her mother too closely before making her decision. Ethel Johnson,......

Massachusetts state senator Dianne Wilkerson was released on a $50,000 bond today after being arrested on charges of extortion. No word on how much, if any, of that bond was paid in bra money. The Herald shows Wilkerson sipping water after her court appearance; apparently arrest can be just as nerve-wracking as (allegedly) accepting bribes. Wilkerson did not enter a plea at today's hearing, and has another court date in Worcester on November 17. Stay......

The Globe prints the soon-to-be-notorious FBI Government Exhibit "D," an image of Dianne Wilkerson allegedly stuffing her bra with cash. Update: Here is full text of the FBI complaint. Universal Hub has a fantastic play-by-play for those who can't be bothered to read all 33 pages.......

State Senator Dianne Wilkerson, who has suffered a volley of ethics charges over the past year, was arrested this morning by FBI agents, numerous sources are now reporting. According to the Globe, Wilkerson faces charges that she accepted more than $23,000 in bribes from undercover agents during a series of meetings. In one ignoble instance, she was recorded stuffing $1,000 cash into her bra at fancy bistro No. 9 Park, authorities say. Wilkerson, an attorney,......

The federal bailout of the financial industry fails to pass the House. Wall Street and the nation gulp loudly. [NY Times] The Alleged Criminal Formerly Known as Clark Rockefeller was held on a breathtaking $50 million bail; his lawyer offered a breathtaking lesson in tortured logic while denying a kidnapping charge. [USA Today] Sonia Chang-Diaz wins the recount in the contested state Senate primary, but incumbent Dianne Wilkerson will still run to keep her......

-- Yesterday was "OneWebDay" to celebrate the Internet? At least we didn't have buy a card for anyone. [OneWebDay] -- In case you were wondering why all those kids in colored shirts with iPods started shooting each other in front of the Aquarium on Saturday, Chris has your answer. [The Chronicles of Chris] -- Here are 456 reasons to say "thanks to the fans" for the consecutive sellout record. Some are lame, many are redundant;......