Reason Morning Links: Cities Back in Vogue, Sen. Al Franken, Vicodin Ban Looming

Radley Balko | July 1, 2009

• Say hello to the newly instated Senator Stuart Smalley.

• FDA panel recommends a ban on seven prescription painkillers, including Percocet and Vicodin.

• Surprise! Just-passed House energy bill larded with corporate welfare and pork projects.

• Census data show that cities are making a comeback, at the expense of suburbs.

• States hit hardest by the recession seeing a smaller proportional share of stimulus spending.