South Philadelphia power broker Vince Fumo goes on trial today in Federal Court. Jury selection is expected to last about a week, opening statements likely will begin on Sept. 15 and the trial could continue well into December. Why the long trial? A 139 count indictment that essentially says the Pennsylvania state senator used other people’s money for his own self-interest.

In Trenton, a similar trial gets underway. Jury selection for South Jersey power broker Wayne Bryant begins. The state senator is accused of holding three no-show jobs that nearly tripled his public pension. He faces pension-fraud charges for misrepresenting how much work he did in two of those jobs.

Ok, this next one has no connection to Philadelphia but I have to mention it. Jury selection for O.J. Simpson’s begins this morning as well. O.J. is accused of getting way out of hand trying get back some of his sports memorabilia.

Don’t forget to regularly check our Community Calender for important dates involving newsworthy trials.