Weekend ReadsMayor Parker touted her accomplishments and outlined a plan for homelessness during her State of the City speechThe homelessness plan was a reminder that — despite progress on public safety and a coming year that promises tourism and growth — some of the city’s longest-term ills remain unresolved.Anna Orso and Sean Collins Walsh The likely first public menorah was lit on Independence Mall on this week in Philly historyTommy Rowan Inside the chaotic, magical world of a Philly-area Santa at Christmastime Erin McCarthy and Ariana Perez-Castells City Council bill would ban housing from former Hahnemann University Hospital areaJake Blumgart Some of Philly’s most vulnerable residents say they lost medical care without notice after millions of Pa. state agency letters went unsentGillian McGoldrick AdvertisementAfter decade of delay, Philadelphia Housing Authority will bring affordable housing to Center CityPHA moved out of its Chestnut Street headquarters almost 20 years ago. Jake Blumgart Botched arrest by Sheriff’s Office for probation violation preceded fatal North Philly crashExperts on fugitive tracking and apprehension say the confrontation with Joseph Cini is a textbook example of what not to do. He was wanted on a probation violation from a 2018 case. William Bender and Ryan W. Briggs CHOP faces threat as Trump administration proposes rules to stop gender-affirming care for minorsThe sweeping measure proposes cutting off federal Medicaid and Medicare funding from hospitals that provide gender-affirming care to children, among other new restrictions.Fallon Roth and Wendy Ruderman A state board has plans to improve college affordability and increase the number of people who complete degreesHelping financially struggling colleges, increasing college degree attainment, and addressing costs are among the areas addressed in the Pennsylvania State Board of Higher Education's 10-year plan. Susan Snyder Temple pledges to boost police patrol officers by 58% over five years following staffing study A study on police staffing levels suggested Temple is understaffed. President John Fry has pledged to add officers over the next five years and make hiring a priority.Susan Snyder These are the buildings to watch in Philly in 2026Philly’s biggest development projects of 2026 could bring more than 2,500 new homes and apartments; 1,800 parking spaces; and 118,000 square feet of storage space.Jake Blumgart A hidden alley could become a key walking path in Old City for 2026The city is starting construction on what officials call the Commerce Connector, a pedestrian path designed to guide visitors from the Independence Visitors’ Center to Carpenters Hall.Frank Kummer A Cobbs Creek man taped basketball broadcasts for five decades. His grieving family wants to find a home for his life’s work.From 1986-2024, Billy Gordon recorded thousands of basketball games onto VHS tapes. He died in 2025 and his family wants to pass them on to someone who appreciates them.Alex Coffey Radnor school board is considering charter’s plan to open on Valley Forge Military Academy campusThe Valley Forge Public Service Academy Charter School is seeking to open in September on the grounds of the military academy, which is closing.Aliya Schneider It’s an open secret that some charter schools push out kids with behavioral problems, Philly principals sayPrincipals say students offloaded from charters to Philadelphia School District schools are often "counseled out," while they can't remove students from traditional public schools for those reasons.Kristen A. Graham SS United States set to sink, despite 11th-hour efforts to interveneThe ship's new owners are 80% done with the prep required to turn the vessel into an artificial reef in Florida, but a New York coalition opposed to the idea is still hoping it can stop the sinking. Ximena Conde Why Philadelphia loses promising biotech firms to Boston, San Francisco, and San DiegoPhiladelphia has lagged in biotech R&D jobs despite University of Pennsylvania scientists playing a leading role in developing major areas of medical innovation like cell and gene therapy and mRNA.Harold Brubaker Palantir CEO Alex Karp was raised in a liberal household outside Philly. Now he’s a top Trump administration contractorAlex Karp grew up in the Philadelphia suburbs and attended Central High School. Now he's the CEO of Palantir, which has received millions in government contracts, and is an outspoken defender of TrumpFallon Roth Northeast Philly gets another new school: The $88 million Thomas Holme will open in JanuaryThe new Holme, on Academy Road, will house 800 students in January. It's the district's seventh new school building in 10 years.Kristen A. Graham and Mike Newall Montco school in shadow of toxic landfill finds PFAS in its waterThe well of Gilbertsville Elementary School near Boyertown Landfill has tested positive for human-made polyfluoroalkyl substances.Frank Kummer See more storiesAdvertisement
Mayor Parker touted her accomplishments and outlined a plan for homelessness during her State of the City speechThe homelessness plan was a reminder that — despite progress on public safety and a coming year that promises tourism and growth — some of the city’s longest-term ills remain unresolved.Anna Orso and Sean Collins Walsh
Mayor Parker touted her accomplishments and outlined a plan for homelessness during her State of the City speechThe homelessness plan was a reminder that — despite progress on public safety and a coming year that promises tourism and growth — some of the city’s longest-term ills remain unresolved.Anna Orso and Sean Collins Walsh
The likely first public menorah was lit on Independence Mall on this week in Philly historyTommy Rowan
The likely first public menorah was lit on Independence Mall on this week in Philly historyTommy Rowan
Inside the chaotic, magical world of a Philly-area Santa at Christmastime Erin McCarthy and Ariana Perez-Castells
Inside the chaotic, magical world of a Philly-area Santa at Christmastime Erin McCarthy and Ariana Perez-Castells
Some of Philly’s most vulnerable residents say they lost medical care without notice after millions of Pa. state agency letters went unsentGillian McGoldrick
Some of Philly’s most vulnerable residents say they lost medical care without notice after millions of Pa. state agency letters went unsentGillian McGoldrick
After decade of delay, Philadelphia Housing Authority will bring affordable housing to Center CityPHA moved out of its Chestnut Street headquarters almost 20 years ago. Jake Blumgart
After decade of delay, Philadelphia Housing Authority will bring affordable housing to Center CityPHA moved out of its Chestnut Street headquarters almost 20 years ago. Jake Blumgart
Botched arrest by Sheriff’s Office for probation violation preceded fatal North Philly crashExperts on fugitive tracking and apprehension say the confrontation with Joseph Cini is a textbook example of what not to do. He was wanted on a probation violation from a 2018 case. William Bender and Ryan W. Briggs
Botched arrest by Sheriff’s Office for probation violation preceded fatal North Philly crashExperts on fugitive tracking and apprehension say the confrontation with Joseph Cini is a textbook example of what not to do. He was wanted on a probation violation from a 2018 case. William Bender and Ryan W. Briggs
CHOP faces threat as Trump administration proposes rules to stop gender-affirming care for minorsThe sweeping measure proposes cutting off federal Medicaid and Medicare funding from hospitals that provide gender-affirming care to children, among other new restrictions.Fallon Roth and Wendy Ruderman
CHOP faces threat as Trump administration proposes rules to stop gender-affirming care for minorsThe sweeping measure proposes cutting off federal Medicaid and Medicare funding from hospitals that provide gender-affirming care to children, among other new restrictions.Fallon Roth and Wendy Ruderman
A state board has plans to improve college affordability and increase the number of people who complete degreesHelping financially struggling colleges, increasing college degree attainment, and addressing costs are among the areas addressed in the Pennsylvania State Board of Higher Education's 10-year plan. Susan Snyder
A state board has plans to improve college affordability and increase the number of people who complete degreesHelping financially struggling colleges, increasing college degree attainment, and addressing costs are among the areas addressed in the Pennsylvania State Board of Higher Education's 10-year plan. Susan Snyder
Temple pledges to boost police patrol officers by 58% over five years following staffing study A study on police staffing levels suggested Temple is understaffed. President John Fry has pledged to add officers over the next five years and make hiring a priority.Susan Snyder
Temple pledges to boost police patrol officers by 58% over five years following staffing study A study on police staffing levels suggested Temple is understaffed. President John Fry has pledged to add officers over the next five years and make hiring a priority.Susan Snyder
These are the buildings to watch in Philly in 2026Philly’s biggest development projects of 2026 could bring more than 2,500 new homes and apartments; 1,800 parking spaces; and 118,000 square feet of storage space.Jake Blumgart
These are the buildings to watch in Philly in 2026Philly’s biggest development projects of 2026 could bring more than 2,500 new homes and apartments; 1,800 parking spaces; and 118,000 square feet of storage space.Jake Blumgart
A hidden alley could become a key walking path in Old City for 2026The city is starting construction on what officials call the Commerce Connector, a pedestrian path designed to guide visitors from the Independence Visitors’ Center to Carpenters Hall.Frank Kummer
A hidden alley could become a key walking path in Old City for 2026The city is starting construction on what officials call the Commerce Connector, a pedestrian path designed to guide visitors from the Independence Visitors’ Center to Carpenters Hall.Frank Kummer
A Cobbs Creek man taped basketball broadcasts for five decades. His grieving family wants to find a home for his life’s work.From 1986-2024, Billy Gordon recorded thousands of basketball games onto VHS tapes. He died in 2025 and his family wants to pass them on to someone who appreciates them.Alex Coffey
A Cobbs Creek man taped basketball broadcasts for five decades. His grieving family wants to find a home for his life’s work.From 1986-2024, Billy Gordon recorded thousands of basketball games onto VHS tapes. He died in 2025 and his family wants to pass them on to someone who appreciates them.Alex Coffey
Radnor school board is considering charter’s plan to open on Valley Forge Military Academy campusThe Valley Forge Public Service Academy Charter School is seeking to open in September on the grounds of the military academy, which is closing.Aliya Schneider
Radnor school board is considering charter’s plan to open on Valley Forge Military Academy campusThe Valley Forge Public Service Academy Charter School is seeking to open in September on the grounds of the military academy, which is closing.Aliya Schneider
It’s an open secret that some charter schools push out kids with behavioral problems, Philly principals sayPrincipals say students offloaded from charters to Philadelphia School District schools are often "counseled out," while they can't remove students from traditional public schools for those reasons.Kristen A. Graham
It’s an open secret that some charter schools push out kids with behavioral problems, Philly principals sayPrincipals say students offloaded from charters to Philadelphia School District schools are often "counseled out," while they can't remove students from traditional public schools for those reasons.Kristen A. Graham
SS United States set to sink, despite 11th-hour efforts to interveneThe ship's new owners are 80% done with the prep required to turn the vessel into an artificial reef in Florida, but a New York coalition opposed to the idea is still hoping it can stop the sinking. Ximena Conde
SS United States set to sink, despite 11th-hour efforts to interveneThe ship's new owners are 80% done with the prep required to turn the vessel into an artificial reef in Florida, but a New York coalition opposed to the idea is still hoping it can stop the sinking. Ximena Conde
Why Philadelphia loses promising biotech firms to Boston, San Francisco, and San DiegoPhiladelphia has lagged in biotech R&D jobs despite University of Pennsylvania scientists playing a leading role in developing major areas of medical innovation like cell and gene therapy and mRNA.Harold Brubaker
Why Philadelphia loses promising biotech firms to Boston, San Francisco, and San DiegoPhiladelphia has lagged in biotech R&D jobs despite University of Pennsylvania scientists playing a leading role in developing major areas of medical innovation like cell and gene therapy and mRNA.Harold Brubaker
Palantir CEO Alex Karp was raised in a liberal household outside Philly. Now he’s a top Trump administration contractorAlex Karp grew up in the Philadelphia suburbs and attended Central High School. Now he's the CEO of Palantir, which has received millions in government contracts, and is an outspoken defender of TrumpFallon Roth
Palantir CEO Alex Karp was raised in a liberal household outside Philly. Now he’s a top Trump administration contractorAlex Karp grew up in the Philadelphia suburbs and attended Central High School. Now he's the CEO of Palantir, which has received millions in government contracts, and is an outspoken defender of TrumpFallon Roth
Northeast Philly gets another new school: The $88 million Thomas Holme will open in JanuaryThe new Holme, on Academy Road, will house 800 students in January. It's the district's seventh new school building in 10 years.Kristen A. Graham and Mike Newall
Northeast Philly gets another new school: The $88 million Thomas Holme will open in JanuaryThe new Holme, on Academy Road, will house 800 students in January. It's the district's seventh new school building in 10 years.Kristen A. Graham and Mike Newall
Montco school in shadow of toxic landfill finds PFAS in its waterThe well of Gilbertsville Elementary School near Boyertown Landfill has tested positive for human-made polyfluoroalkyl substances.Frank Kummer
Montco school in shadow of toxic landfill finds PFAS in its waterThe well of Gilbertsville Elementary School near Boyertown Landfill has tested positive for human-made polyfluoroalkyl substances.Frank Kummer
