Philadelphia
Philadelphia School Board passes resolution to promote city voter registration efforts
Students, organization leaders, and elected officials spoke on the Student Voter Education and Registration Resolution, which will make sure that all students have access to civic engagement and voter registration education.
Nearly 100 people protest Penn’s role in evictions of University City Townhomes residents
The protest was hosted by the Coalition to Save the UC Townhomes, a group composed of Penn faculty and students, the Black Bottom tribe, housing justice organizers, and West Philadelphia community members.
Pa. unveiled a new state congressional map. Here’s what Penn political leaders have to say.
The court chose a map submitted by a group of citizens and proposed by the Democratic plaintiffs that used the "least-change" approach to maintain the same, general representation as the previous map.
Members of the Paul Robeson High School community are calling for renovations
Parents, staff, and students of the Robeson High School community gathered at district headquarters on Tuesday to fight for renovations for the school.
Penn and Temple partner to launch program aiming to increase diversity among principals
The program aims to promote diversity among principals and assistant principals in the School District of Philadelphia and specifically targets existing educators within the school district.
Philadelphia may become first U.S. city to run its own municipal bank
The goal of establishing the PPFA is to address racial and economic disparities and aid small businesses.
Penn to jointly operate one of Philadelphia's two upcoming guaranteed income pilots
The University of Pennsylvania and Philadelphia’s Housing Development Corporation will jointly operate one of the initiatives, which will focus on housing and be launched in the spring.
SEPTA to alter service and schedule due to overcrowding and understaffing
Seventeen bus routes will undergo slight frequency reductions, and those resources will be shifted to other routes with greater ridership.
Philly Fighting COVID CEO reaches settlement with Pennsylvania Attorney General
The settlement between Shapiro and Andrei Doroshin, CEO of PFC and former Drexel University graduate student, banned Doroshin from involvement in charity, government, or health-related work in Pennsylvania for the next 10 years.
School District of Philadelphia updates masking guidance to recommend double-masking
According to the new guidelines which took effect on Monday, Feb. 7, students, faculty, and staff should instead use a three-ply surgical mask, KN95 mask, or N95 respirators
Philadelphia has seen a slower pandemic recovery relative to the national economy
The report, titled "How the Pandemic Has Affected Philadelphia’s Economy and Jobs," investigated how COVID-19 impacted Philadelphia's employment rates and demographics.
USPS mails rapid COVID-19 tests to West Philadelphia residents via federal initiative
President Biden promised to mail 500 million free, at-home rapid COVID-19 tests to Americans. Since Jan. 18, individuals have been able to request up to four tests per household online.
Local coalition hosts teach-in to combat gentrification of University City Townhomes
The event was hosted at W.E.B. DuBois College House by Police Free Penn in collaboration with the Coalition to Save the UC Townhomes.
Developers plan to build high-tech office and lab building at 38th and Chestnut Streets
The 13-floor, 310,000-square-foot high-rise office building is set for construction from early 2023 to 2025.
Despite decrease in COVID-19 cases, Philadelphia will not lift restrictions for months
According to Philadelphia Health Commissioner Cheryl Bettigole, most Philadelphians have not yet received the booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine which is necessary to combat the Omicron variant.
Division of Public Safety updates safety guidelines as Philadelphia carjacking rate triples
More than 129 carjacking incidents have been logged in Philadelphia since the year's start, up from 43 during the same time frame in 2021, according to DPS.
New Philadelphia guaranteed income experiment to distribute payments to low-income individuals
As part of the initiative, up to 60 people in need will receive $500 per month for at least a year starting as early as March 2022.
Penn’s $4M investment in Lea Elementary renews West Philadelphia gentrification concerns
The memorandum of agreement between the two institutions was confirmed at a Jan. 27 School District of Philadelphia board meeting with no dissenting votes.
Dean of Temple University's College of Education plans to steps down
In an email sent to Temple staff, Anderson announced his plans to take a sabbatical before working on a new research program exploring "college access and inclusion," The Philadelphia Inquirer reported.