Statue debates reignite amid plans to upgrade Welcome Park
Proposed changes to Philly’s Welcome Park at 2nd and Walnut include new benches, exhibit panels, and an “expanded interpretation of the Native American history of Philadelphia” — as well as the removal of a statue of Pennsylvania founder William Penn and a model of the original Slate Roof House that once stood on the site.
As news of the plan spread online, so too did criticism. Some call it a “stupid move,” while others went further, saying it’s a “communist” move to remove the statue. Continue reading…
Philly’s Sapphira Cristál dazzled at ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ premiere
Sapphira Cristál, a classically trained opera singer, composer, and drag queen, is the first-ever Philly representative on MTV’s “RuPaul’s Drag Race.” The local premiere event was a spectacle of glitter, glam and talent from Cristál and her friends.
BP freelancer Solmaira Valerio takes us into the crowd at the hometown event where the drag queen’s fans and family showed their support while enjoying a live show. Continue reading…
RECAP: What else happened?
$ = paywalled
• Prepare for strong winds and heavy rain across the Philly region on Tuesday, weather experts warn. [WHYY]
• New SEPTA Regional Rail schedules went into effect this weekend as the transit agency continues to overhaul its branding, upgrade payment systems, and streamline its service. [NBC10/Billy Penn x 2]
• The stretch of South Broad Street in the Navy Yard has reopened after 18 months of construction to fix deteriorating walls that left it vulnerable to flooding. [PhillyVoice]
• Penn Med and Jefferson join Main Line Health in bringing back mandatory masking as respiratory infections spread in the region. [6ABC]
• Jalen Hurts says the right middle finger on his throwing hand simply “popped out” in another blow to the Eagles, which lost its game against the Giants Sunday night. [KYW]
MAYOR WATCH
Mayor Parker has no public events scheduled today. She spoke with WHYY’s Amanda Fitzpatrick about her plans for improving Philly schools, including year-round schooling.
ON THE CALENDAR
🌳 Should a pedestrian plaza be installed at 43rd and Spruce streets? Residents can learn more about the proposal at a public meeting. (7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 9)
🎨 Community crafting for all ages comes to open studio time at Craft Coven on the Cherry Street Pier. $5 donations welcome. (5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 11)
👫🏽 The overarching theme for the 29th annual King Day of Service on January 15 is the 60th anniversary of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. In that vein, this year’s list of volunteer events and public service activities includes projects addressing needs related to gun violence impact and health equity issues.
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