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Newsletter for Sept. 30, 2014
INSTAGRAM OF THE DAY
Looking up at 30th Street Station, from Instagram user gluvman129.
PENN STUDENT DEATH: SIGNS OF SUICIDE, BUT HOMICIDE DETECTIVES ON THE CASE
The death of a 20-year-old University of Pennsylvania sophomore was reported in the Daily Pennsylvanian as an apparent suicide, which would have been at least the university’s fifth in the last year. But The Inquirer‘s Robert Moran reports that police are investigating the case as a homicide, looking through Amanda Hu‘s apartment in the 4000 block of Sansom Street after neighbors said they heard banging and yelling earlier in the day. Hu, who came to Penn from a suburb of Charlotte, N.C., was named one of her hometown newspaper’s 10 Seniors of the Year.
FORMER SPORTSCASTER DON TOLLEFSON PLEADS GUILTY IN CHARITY SCAM
Citing a 45-year history of drug, alcohol and mental health issues, longtime Philly sportscaster Don Tollefson pleaded guilty Monday to scamming more than $300,000 from 200 or so people who thought they were getting tickets to Super Bowl or Eagles games. Instead, they got screwed. Tollefson faces up to 37 years in prison; while it’s his first offense, he’ll still likely spend some time behind bars.
VOLUNTEERS PULLED 116 SHOPPING CARTS FROM THE SCHUYLKILL
More than 50 volunteers worked with the Central Delaware Advocacy Group and United By Blue this weekend. Their target for cleanup: A stretch of trail between Pier 53 near Columbus Boulevard and Washington Avenue and Pier 70 in South Philly. The haul-away: Some 6,000 tons of trash, and 116 shopping carts. It’s all in advance of the revamp of Pier 68, which is set to become a $1.7 million waterfront park.
TO DO: WATCH THE NYT’S NICK KRISTOF ON A BIG SCREEN (FROM ONE ROOM OVER)
WHAT: New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof talks about his new book, A Path Appears: Enriching the Lives of Others. But you’ll have to buy a ticket for the simulcast; it’s sold out.
WHERE: The Free Library of Philadelphia’s Central Branch, 1901 Vine St.
WHEN: Noon
HOW MUCH: $15; $7 with student ID
DETAILS HERE
PLANPHILLY: CITY HALL IS LIKE BEING TRAPPED IN AN MC ESCHER PAINTING
Three experts helping design navigable urban spaces are led into Philly’s legendarily impenetrable. Hilarity ensues.
WHERE PHILLY’S MANDATORY AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY CLASS FALLS SHORT
Every student in the city’s public schools system is required to take African-American History (AFAM for short). The New Republic looks at the course and asks attendees why its students rarely tackle high-interest cases like the Ferguson police shooting or the Trayvon Martin case.
