Heat-related deaths; Lesser-known Philly history sites; Weekly gun violence brief

#BILLYPENNGRAM OF THE DAY

Painted windows
(Photo by @chappellmelvin)

Philadelphia heat-related death toll jumps to 7 fatalities in July

Philly had one of the hottest July Fourth weekends on record as it hosted thousands of visitors for World Cup matches and America’s 250th birthday.

The city Department of Public Health and Medical Examiner’s Office originally reported four heat-related deaths since July 1, but updated that figure to 7 on Tuesday. Continue reading…

A view of Independence Mall looking south from the National Constitution Center on July 1, 2026. (Emma Lee/WHYY)

South Philly’s Italian bakeries offer treats, century-old heritage

Philadelphia saw a huge wave of Italian immigration from the 1880s through the 1920s, and more than a century later still has about 105,000 residents who claim Italian ancestry, the second highest figure among U.S. cities after New York.

That historic legacy lives on as evidenced by hoagie rolls, tomato pie, ricotta-filled cannolis and pignoli cookies are among the many offerings at Isgro, Termini, and several other shops. Continue reading…

Cannoli from Termini Brothers. (Billy Penn file photo)

RECAP: What else happened?

$ = paywalled

• State College borough council passes ordinance that bars employees from helping ICE. [Capital-Star]

• Temple University and Rutgers New Brunswick are seeing a rise in international students despite Trump immigration policies. [WHYY]

• Haitian families in Philadelphia fear deportation as TPS protections end: “We live in fear.” [CBS3]

• Property values in Kensington went up more than any other Philly neighborhood this year. [Inq$]

• Beyond Independence Hall: A few lesser known Philly history sites to visit. [Billy Penn]

• From fried chicken to stationery: What’s opening soon in West Philly. [West Philly Local]

MAYOR WATCH

Mayor Parker has no public events scheduled for Wednesday.

Parker’s office declined to say if the city will be refunded for Christina Aguilera’s canceled July 4th concert set.

Weekly brief on gun violence prevention (with PCGVR)

We publish this report each week in partnership with the Philadelphia Center for Gun Violence Reporting.

Why the DOJ is investigating Philadelphia after police stripped gun permits from a Black Panthers‑inspired group. [The Conversation]
The Association of Health Care Journalists has a new primer on ghost guns. [AHCJ]
Hundreds of Pennsylvania residents possess a federal license to manufacture firearms, yet relatively few actually produce any guns. [Violence Policy Center]
Countries such as the UK, New Zealand, Canada and Australia have enacted significant gun control laws. What makes the U.S. the exception? What risks and responsibilities come with the Second Amendment? Is the current system the most effective, or should we consider alternatives? Discuss gun rights, realities, risks and responsibilities at the next Bridging Blocks community event at Parkway Central Library on July 14. [WHYY.org]

By the numbers in Philadelphia

19: Shooting victims recorded from June 28 to July 4, with 2 fatalities, according to city data. During the previous week, 27 shooting victims were recorded, including 11 fatalities. [Source: nickhand.dev]
90: Year-to-date homicides, down 26% vs. last year’s pace; down 69% vs. five years ago. [Philly Police]

⚽ World Cup Daily Recap ⚽

Start Here:
World Cup events guide
Billy Penn’s FIFA World Cup Guide

Things To Know:

FIFA fan fest organizers reveal steps to cut down lines for free DIY World Cup charm bracelets
‘ICE Out’ protest art in Philly ramps up amid World Cup spotlight
‘I’m melting’: Soccer fans braved the heat at FIFA Fan Fest on July 4
Soccer enthusiasts in Philly can access Lemon Hill fan fest and other sites via trails.
Infectious diseases can spread in a crowd, and experts are set to scrutinize wastewater, hospital visits, even social media for any signs that an outbreak might be brewing.

ON THE CALENDAR

Jazz in Cedar Park (Thursday),
Chinatown leaders from NYC, Boston and D.C. convene in Philly (Saturday),
Celebrate Mantua (Saturday),
And More!

See the **FULL LIST** of this week’s events calendar at BillyPenn.com!