Massachusetts: Tim Cahill

--John Tobin tells me that he will not run for the state senate seat being vacated by Marian Walsh. He also ruled out a stab at an at-large seat. "I am running for re-election in my district," he says emphatically. So far, it looks like rep. Michael Rush has the way cleared to graduate to the upper chamber, but there are still potential candidates in the suburban parts of the district making up their minds. An intriguing rumor making the rounds is that former Allston-Brighton district councilorJerry McDermot, who now lives in Westwood, might be giving it a look.

--Interesting gender gap in that Suffolk U/Ch.

WBZ reports that lots of bars in Massachusetts have gambling machines that are being run like mini-casinos, cash payouts and all.  WBZ's I-Team followed around undercover agents working out of the Treasurer's office (grainy video footage and all) as they played the machines and got handed wads of cash when they won.

Now, these bars obviously should not be running illegal gambling operations.  But I enjoyed this part of the story -- I've edited it just a little bit to make a point.  (The struck-out text is in the original story; the underlined bits are my additions.)

This isn't just about a small businessman trying to make some extra cash.

Say goodbye to your loved ones, mateys, and hoist the Jolly Roger: we're headin' out to sea on the good ship "Swaptions." The Commonwealth is about to assume liability for the Turnpike's potential $363-470 million contribution to the bonus pool at Swiss bank UBS. State House News Service reports:
The Senate on Wednesday gave preliminary approval to House-passed legislation reinstating the state's credit backing behind a risky turnpike authority debt financing deal that is costing the agency $25 million this year and could force a one-time payment to the firm UBS of $363 million.

The bill is scheduled for full debate Thursday, as lawmakers look to take a step they hope will avert the payment, which UBS will be entitled to demand should Standard and Poor's further lower the credit rating of turnpike insurer Ambac Assurance Corporation.

--As I wrote at the time, Menino -- still known here as Mayor McChicken, since he still hasn't declared his candidacy for re-election -- really put a lot on the line with his wage-freeze proposal; I thought it was politically brilliant as long as he got the unions to agree to it. That hasn't really gone so well, which leaves him open to charges of: Where was your Plan B? Did you really put all the city's eggs in Stutman, Kelly and Nee's basket?

--Queen Elizabeth II is giving Ted Kennedy an honorary knighthood, according to the Washington Post, which somehow reported it without a single Camelot reference.