Fact-based voting

The May 19 election is fast approaching and the ballot propositions (1A-1F) aren't getting any easier to understand. Mark Paul, a senior scholar at the New America Foundation, has put together a video that provides some context on the budget troubles that the proposition aims to solve - or, in Paul's words, "kick ... down the road." (h/t Calbuzz)

McCain's second Hail Mary

As new polls show John McCain slipping, he has announced he will suspend campaigning to focus on the Wall Street bailout and has asked Obama to do the same. He is also seeking to delay Friday's debate.

MediaNews divesting

MediaNews Group has sold eight papers in Connecticut - including the Connecticut Post - to its sometimes business partner Hearst Corp. for an undisclosed price. The money no doubt will be used to shore up MNG finances and help pay down a debt load that has earned the company a CCC rating from Standard & Poor's.

MediaNews bought the Post in 2000 from Thomson with proceeds from the sale of a passel of papers in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.