Claudia VargasWhat I DoThere is always a paper trail. Claudia is there to piece together documents, data and people to tell the stories some may want hidden.(215) 854-5520From Pa. science fairs to coronavirus response coordinator: Deborah Birx’s path to the White HouseShe excelled at Carlisle High School in Cumberland County, graduating after her junior year and putting herself on an accelerated path to medical school. Now she is at President Trump’s side at news conferences.Claudia Vargas and Ellie Rushing March 30, 2020Link copied to clipboardPhilly epidemiologist says his planned departure leaves ‘no gaps’ in coronavirus responseRaynard Washington's exit had been expected since last month, was not related to the coronavirus pandemic, and “has not hampered our work in any way,” a city spokesperson said.Claudia Vargas and Laura McCrystal March 17, 2020Link copied to clipboardPhilly sold thousands of properties for $1 each. Buyers flipped them for $54 million.Of the 2,314 properties the city has sold for $1 since 2000, according to an Inquirer analysis, about 800 have been since resold for $54 million.Claudia Vargas and Dylan Purcell Feb. 20, 2020Link copied to clipboardPhilly’s notorious ‘courtesy’ tows infuriate drivers, waste police resourcesIt’s an antiquated system that can be comically inefficient, plagued by vague and conflicting policies and shoddy recordkeeping.Claudia Vargas, William Bender, and Nathaniel Lash Jan. 22, 2020Link copied to clipboardWeeks before South Philly explosion, street was dug up In the weeks before the fire and explosion, neighbors had been dealing with partial road closures and near-constant digging on the block as workers tried to repair some defective water pipes.Claudia Vargas Dec. 24, 2019Link copied to clipboardMore than 500 Philadelphians accused of domestic abuse were ordered to turn in their weapons, but only 62 have done so.Since the law took effect in April, 574 accused domestic abusers in Philadelphia were ordered to hand over their weapons, but only 62 of them complied.Claudia Vargas Dec. 6, 2019Link copied to clipboardLiberty Medal awarded to former Supreme Court Justice Anthony KennedyKennedy, who retired in 2018 from the court, was honored for his efforts to educate Americans about the Constitution through civic education and civil dialogue.Claudia Vargas Oct. 28, 2019Link copied to clipboardBabies, immigrants enabled Philly to narrowly avoid population decline in 2019, Census estimates showThe Philadelphia suburbs are growing faster than the city, new data indicate.Claudia Vargas and Dylan Purcell March 26, 2020Link copied to clipboardFree breakfast and lunch begins, but not many students in North Philly bitePhilly schools have made 30,000 meals available for students to pick up each day for breakfast and lunch. On Monday, there was more supply than demand — community activists cited language barriers.Claudia Vargas and Maddie Hanna March 16, 2020Link copied to clipboardNew Philly archbishop wore flannel, escaped the nuns for dinner, and other stories from his time at St. William Parishioners at the church in Philadelphia’s Lawncrest section recalled incoming Archbishop Nelson J. Pérez as a personable and kind pastor who led their church through a major transition period in the 2000s.Claudia Vargas Jan. 27, 2020Link copied to clipboardRepublicans ‘got greedy’ in drawing Pa. congressional maps, new documents sayA trove of documents recently released by the daughter of a deceased GOP strategist includes some clues about what Republicans were thinking almost a decade ago when they redrew Pennsylvania’s congressional maps in a way that was later ruled unconstitutional.Claudia Vargas Jan. 8, 2020Link copied to clipboardJoseph M. Segel, 88, founder of QVC and Franklin Mint, diesMr. Segel started his first business at age 12, ran four before he graduated college, and never stopped trying new ideas even if his concepts sometimes failed. His most recent business venture, HairRx, was launched in 2017.Claudia Vargas Dec. 22, 2019Link copied to clipboard2,000 crashes & $4.8 million later: Philly’s trash truck drivers are wreaking havoc on city streetsPhiladelphia requires that trash truck drivers with two preventable accidents in a month, or four in a year, be demoted or dismissed. But the city hasn’t done that in years.Claudia Vargas Nov. 14, 2019Link copied to clipboardNew Jersey shuts down amusement park ride linked to death of 10-year-old girl; records show only one inspection this yearA viewing also is set for Friday night for Hailey McMullen, the young girl fatally injured at a Cumberland County fair last weekend.Claudia Vargas and Joseph A. Gambardello Oct. 18, 2019Link copied to clipboardMore than half of Philly government workers are on duty during the coronavirus crisisMayor Jim Kenney's administration hopes to recoup much of the cost of paying essential personnel 50% extra from the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Public Assistance program following the crisis.Sean Collins Walsh, Laura McCrystal, and Claudia Vargas March 19, 2020Link copied to clipboardPhilly gave away 2,300 properties for $1 each. Now it is owed nearly $900,000 in back taxes.As Philadelphia’s population shrunk and property values declined, the city gave away houses and lots for $1. Today, hundreds of thousands in taxes are overdue.Claudia Vargas, Chris A. Williams, and Dylan Purcell March 3, 2020Link copied to clipboardFans in Philadelphia and Lower Merion mourn ‘one of the greats of all time’From Lower Merion High School to the Wells Fargo Center and the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the native son's death triggered waves of shock and grief.Kristen A. Graham, Claudia Vargas, and Ellie Rushing Jan. 27, 2020Link copied to clipboardDanielle Outlaw’s long journey to Philadelphia police commissionerThe nearly 20 years she spent in Oakland’s police department, and several with the Portland Police Bureau, show Outlaw, 43, to be a study in contrasts.David Gambacorta, Allison Steele, and Claudia Vargas Dec. 31, 2019Link copied to clipboardMan bludgeoned to death in South Philly near collapse siteA 39-year-old man was struck with a blunt object and killed Saturday evening.Claudia Vargas Dec. 22, 2019Link copied to clipboardMan shot dead in city’s Holmesburg sectionPolice believe the victim to be between 25 and 30 years old. No weapons were recovered at the scene and no arrests have been made, according to police.Claudia Vargas Oct. 28, 2019Link copied to clipboardSee more stories
From Pa. science fairs to coronavirus response coordinator: Deborah Birx’s path to the White HouseShe excelled at Carlisle High School in Cumberland County, graduating after her junior year and putting herself on an accelerated path to medical school. Now she is at President Trump’s side at news conferences.Claudia Vargas and Ellie Rushing March 30, 2020Link copied to clipboard
From Pa. science fairs to coronavirus response coordinator: Deborah Birx’s path to the White HouseShe excelled at Carlisle High School in Cumberland County, graduating after her junior year and putting herself on an accelerated path to medical school. Now she is at President Trump’s side at news conferences.Claudia Vargas and Ellie Rushing March 30, 2020Link copied to clipboard
Philly epidemiologist says his planned departure leaves ‘no gaps’ in coronavirus responseRaynard Washington's exit had been expected since last month, was not related to the coronavirus pandemic, and “has not hampered our work in any way,” a city spokesperson said.Claudia Vargas and Laura McCrystal March 17, 2020Link copied to clipboard
Philly epidemiologist says his planned departure leaves ‘no gaps’ in coronavirus responseRaynard Washington's exit had been expected since last month, was not related to the coronavirus pandemic, and “has not hampered our work in any way,” a city spokesperson said.Claudia Vargas and Laura McCrystal March 17, 2020Link copied to clipboard
Philly sold thousands of properties for $1 each. Buyers flipped them for $54 million.Of the 2,314 properties the city has sold for $1 since 2000, according to an Inquirer analysis, about 800 have been since resold for $54 million.Claudia Vargas and Dylan Purcell Feb. 20, 2020Link copied to clipboard
Philly sold thousands of properties for $1 each. Buyers flipped them for $54 million.Of the 2,314 properties the city has sold for $1 since 2000, according to an Inquirer analysis, about 800 have been since resold for $54 million.Claudia Vargas and Dylan Purcell Feb. 20, 2020Link copied to clipboard
Philly’s notorious ‘courtesy’ tows infuriate drivers, waste police resourcesIt’s an antiquated system that can be comically inefficient, plagued by vague and conflicting policies and shoddy recordkeeping.Claudia Vargas, William Bender, and Nathaniel Lash Jan. 22, 2020Link copied to clipboard
Philly’s notorious ‘courtesy’ tows infuriate drivers, waste police resourcesIt’s an antiquated system that can be comically inefficient, plagued by vague and conflicting policies and shoddy recordkeeping.Claudia Vargas, William Bender, and Nathaniel Lash Jan. 22, 2020Link copied to clipboard
Weeks before South Philly explosion, street was dug up In the weeks before the fire and explosion, neighbors had been dealing with partial road closures and near-constant digging on the block as workers tried to repair some defective water pipes.Claudia Vargas Dec. 24, 2019Link copied to clipboard
Weeks before South Philly explosion, street was dug up In the weeks before the fire and explosion, neighbors had been dealing with partial road closures and near-constant digging on the block as workers tried to repair some defective water pipes.Claudia Vargas Dec. 24, 2019Link copied to clipboard
More than 500 Philadelphians accused of domestic abuse were ordered to turn in their weapons, but only 62 have done so.Since the law took effect in April, 574 accused domestic abusers in Philadelphia were ordered to hand over their weapons, but only 62 of them complied.Claudia Vargas Dec. 6, 2019Link copied to clipboard
More than 500 Philadelphians accused of domestic abuse were ordered to turn in their weapons, but only 62 have done so.Since the law took effect in April, 574 accused domestic abusers in Philadelphia were ordered to hand over their weapons, but only 62 of them complied.Claudia Vargas Dec. 6, 2019Link copied to clipboard
Liberty Medal awarded to former Supreme Court Justice Anthony KennedyKennedy, who retired in 2018 from the court, was honored for his efforts to educate Americans about the Constitution through civic education and civil dialogue.Claudia Vargas Oct. 28, 2019Link copied to clipboard
Liberty Medal awarded to former Supreme Court Justice Anthony KennedyKennedy, who retired in 2018 from the court, was honored for his efforts to educate Americans about the Constitution through civic education and civil dialogue.Claudia Vargas Oct. 28, 2019Link copied to clipboard
Babies, immigrants enabled Philly to narrowly avoid population decline in 2019, Census estimates showThe Philadelphia suburbs are growing faster than the city, new data indicate.Claudia Vargas and Dylan Purcell March 26, 2020Link copied to clipboard
Babies, immigrants enabled Philly to narrowly avoid population decline in 2019, Census estimates showThe Philadelphia suburbs are growing faster than the city, new data indicate.Claudia Vargas and Dylan Purcell March 26, 2020Link copied to clipboard
Free breakfast and lunch begins, but not many students in North Philly bitePhilly schools have made 30,000 meals available for students to pick up each day for breakfast and lunch. On Monday, there was more supply than demand — community activists cited language barriers.Claudia Vargas and Maddie Hanna March 16, 2020Link copied to clipboard
Free breakfast and lunch begins, but not many students in North Philly bitePhilly schools have made 30,000 meals available for students to pick up each day for breakfast and lunch. On Monday, there was more supply than demand — community activists cited language barriers.Claudia Vargas and Maddie Hanna March 16, 2020Link copied to clipboard
New Philly archbishop wore flannel, escaped the nuns for dinner, and other stories from his time at St. William Parishioners at the church in Philadelphia’s Lawncrest section recalled incoming Archbishop Nelson J. Pérez as a personable and kind pastor who led their church through a major transition period in the 2000s.Claudia Vargas Jan. 27, 2020Link copied to clipboard
New Philly archbishop wore flannel, escaped the nuns for dinner, and other stories from his time at St. William Parishioners at the church in Philadelphia’s Lawncrest section recalled incoming Archbishop Nelson J. Pérez as a personable and kind pastor who led their church through a major transition period in the 2000s.Claudia Vargas Jan. 27, 2020Link copied to clipboard
Republicans ‘got greedy’ in drawing Pa. congressional maps, new documents sayA trove of documents recently released by the daughter of a deceased GOP strategist includes some clues about what Republicans were thinking almost a decade ago when they redrew Pennsylvania’s congressional maps in a way that was later ruled unconstitutional.Claudia Vargas Jan. 8, 2020Link copied to clipboard
Republicans ‘got greedy’ in drawing Pa. congressional maps, new documents sayA trove of documents recently released by the daughter of a deceased GOP strategist includes some clues about what Republicans were thinking almost a decade ago when they redrew Pennsylvania’s congressional maps in a way that was later ruled unconstitutional.Claudia Vargas Jan. 8, 2020Link copied to clipboard
Joseph M. Segel, 88, founder of QVC and Franklin Mint, diesMr. Segel started his first business at age 12, ran four before he graduated college, and never stopped trying new ideas even if his concepts sometimes failed. His most recent business venture, HairRx, was launched in 2017.Claudia Vargas Dec. 22, 2019Link copied to clipboard
Joseph M. Segel, 88, founder of QVC and Franklin Mint, diesMr. Segel started his first business at age 12, ran four before he graduated college, and never stopped trying new ideas even if his concepts sometimes failed. His most recent business venture, HairRx, was launched in 2017.Claudia Vargas Dec. 22, 2019Link copied to clipboard
2,000 crashes & $4.8 million later: Philly’s trash truck drivers are wreaking havoc on city streetsPhiladelphia requires that trash truck drivers with two preventable accidents in a month, or four in a year, be demoted or dismissed. But the city hasn’t done that in years.Claudia Vargas Nov. 14, 2019Link copied to clipboard
2,000 crashes & $4.8 million later: Philly’s trash truck drivers are wreaking havoc on city streetsPhiladelphia requires that trash truck drivers with two preventable accidents in a month, or four in a year, be demoted or dismissed. But the city hasn’t done that in years.Claudia Vargas Nov. 14, 2019Link copied to clipboard
New Jersey shuts down amusement park ride linked to death of 10-year-old girl; records show only one inspection this yearA viewing also is set for Friday night for Hailey McMullen, the young girl fatally injured at a Cumberland County fair last weekend.Claudia Vargas and Joseph A. Gambardello Oct. 18, 2019Link copied to clipboard
New Jersey shuts down amusement park ride linked to death of 10-year-old girl; records show only one inspection this yearA viewing also is set for Friday night for Hailey McMullen, the young girl fatally injured at a Cumberland County fair last weekend.Claudia Vargas and Joseph A. Gambardello Oct. 18, 2019Link copied to clipboard
More than half of Philly government workers are on duty during the coronavirus crisisMayor Jim Kenney's administration hopes to recoup much of the cost of paying essential personnel 50% extra from the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Public Assistance program following the crisis.Sean Collins Walsh, Laura McCrystal, and Claudia Vargas March 19, 2020Link copied to clipboard
More than half of Philly government workers are on duty during the coronavirus crisisMayor Jim Kenney's administration hopes to recoup much of the cost of paying essential personnel 50% extra from the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Public Assistance program following the crisis.Sean Collins Walsh, Laura McCrystal, and Claudia Vargas March 19, 2020Link copied to clipboard
Philly gave away 2,300 properties for $1 each. Now it is owed nearly $900,000 in back taxes.As Philadelphia’s population shrunk and property values declined, the city gave away houses and lots for $1. Today, hundreds of thousands in taxes are overdue.Claudia Vargas, Chris A. Williams, and Dylan Purcell March 3, 2020Link copied to clipboard
Philly gave away 2,300 properties for $1 each. Now it is owed nearly $900,000 in back taxes.As Philadelphia’s population shrunk and property values declined, the city gave away houses and lots for $1. Today, hundreds of thousands in taxes are overdue.Claudia Vargas, Chris A. Williams, and Dylan Purcell March 3, 2020Link copied to clipboard
Fans in Philadelphia and Lower Merion mourn ‘one of the greats of all time’From Lower Merion High School to the Wells Fargo Center and the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the native son's death triggered waves of shock and grief.Kristen A. Graham, Claudia Vargas, and Ellie Rushing Jan. 27, 2020Link copied to clipboard
Fans in Philadelphia and Lower Merion mourn ‘one of the greats of all time’From Lower Merion High School to the Wells Fargo Center and the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the native son's death triggered waves of shock and grief.Kristen A. Graham, Claudia Vargas, and Ellie Rushing Jan. 27, 2020Link copied to clipboard
Danielle Outlaw’s long journey to Philadelphia police commissionerThe nearly 20 years she spent in Oakland’s police department, and several with the Portland Police Bureau, show Outlaw, 43, to be a study in contrasts.David Gambacorta, Allison Steele, and Claudia Vargas Dec. 31, 2019Link copied to clipboard
Danielle Outlaw’s long journey to Philadelphia police commissionerThe nearly 20 years she spent in Oakland’s police department, and several with the Portland Police Bureau, show Outlaw, 43, to be a study in contrasts.David Gambacorta, Allison Steele, and Claudia Vargas Dec. 31, 2019Link copied to clipboard
Man bludgeoned to death in South Philly near collapse siteA 39-year-old man was struck with a blunt object and killed Saturday evening.Claudia Vargas Dec. 22, 2019Link copied to clipboard
Man bludgeoned to death in South Philly near collapse siteA 39-year-old man was struck with a blunt object and killed Saturday evening.Claudia Vargas Dec. 22, 2019Link copied to clipboard
Man shot dead in city’s Holmesburg sectionPolice believe the victim to be between 25 and 30 years old. No weapons were recovered at the scene and no arrests have been made, according to police.Claudia Vargas Oct. 28, 2019Link copied to clipboard
Man shot dead in city’s Holmesburg sectionPolice believe the victim to be between 25 and 30 years old. No weapons were recovered at the scene and no arrests have been made, according to police.Claudia Vargas Oct. 28, 2019Link copied to clipboard