Editorial cartoons
Editorial cartoon: Philly school fundraiser
Cartoonist Dre Reed on the local education budget gap.
💌 Love Philly? Sign up for the free Billy Penn email newsletter to get everything you need to know about Philadelphia, every day.
With five-year projections showing an estimated deficit of more than $700 million, the School District of Philadelphia is scrambling to make ends meet. The district cannot levy taxes, and instead must depend on city, state and federal governments, which have been hit hard by economic depression connected to the pandemic.
School layoffs are on the list of possibilities to help close this year’s $57 million budget gap, according to district officials. Last decade, the state-run School Reform Commission raised money by selling off school buildings. That practice didn’t completely end when Philly schools returned to local control — it happened as recently as 2019.
Three decades ago, Philly’s medical examiner sent 26 human brains to a Penn professor without consent
Despite vows to implement new policies, little appears to have been reformed.
Friends and family honor the life of Dominique Rem’mie Fells with a big West Philly block party
Instead of a vigil, this year’s event is a celebration.
The Phillies pitcher who married a movie star’s daughter and was nominated for a Pulitzer
Born in 1942, Larry Colton had a fascinating life.
How vaccination rate in Philly varies by race/ethnicity and age
Case counts in Philadelphia more than tripled over the latter half of July — and 99% are in people who haven't gotten both doses of the vaccine.
Best pizza in Philly? Tyrese Maxey picks Giovani’s in Center City
The rising Sixers star gave the underrated sports bar a shoutout on Instagram.
The story of Laura Foreman, reporter whose affair inspired The Inquirer’s ethics policy and proved a double standard in journalism
“I don’t care if my reporters are sleeping with elephants, as long as they aren’t covering the circus.”
Philadelphia: Still no vaccine requirements for city workers, same with SEPTA and school district
The Kenney administration continues to avoid a mandate.
Ya Fav Trashman and partners dump litter at Mayor Kenney’s feet to highlight city trash failures
The former sanitation worker is calling for the Streets Commissioner to resign, and also launching a cleanup app called Glitter.
Paradigm Gallery in bidding war for Queen Village home before someone else scoops it up
Support has been pouring in for the community mainstay, which has been in the neighborhood for a decade.
It’s true, Philly sports fan favorite Crabfries are now sold at Yankee Stadium
Chickie’s & Pete’s opened the Bronx ballpark concession stand this spring after two years in talks.
One century ago, Philadelphia was ground zero in the battle to define free speech
As World War I raged, the local Socialist Party came under fire — and sparked a challenge to the Espionage Act.
1,000-year storm? In 1982, Northeast Philly saw even more intense rainfall than last week
“Thousand-year” means a weather event has a 0.1% chance of occurring annually — but with climate change, flood frequency is growing.
Picking up pennies on Philly streets, and turning them into philanthropy
Lisa Phillips uses her knack for finding loose change to help wipe out medical debt.
Would a gun violence emergency help Philadelphia? Advocates just want action, whatever you call it
Semantics aside, the city still hasn’t set a timeline for distributing its new anti-violence grants.
Reinventing Philly’s Pride Parade: What happens next?
A new group is working to create a celebration that’s affordable, representative, and inclusive — without police.
Thousands of Philly foster youth are still waiting for pandemic relief money
The $1.1 million in federal funding is being distributed via $200 gift cards.
Cars will return to MLK Drive early August, with slimmed down traffic pattern
The Fairmount Park roadway is reopening to auto traffic after 16 months.
Users upset as costs force Free Library to drop free movie streaming service
Kanopy and Hoopla funds will be redirected to physical branches.
Three popular Philly bars are closing for a week to give workers paid vacation
Standard Tap, Johnny Brenda’s and The International join a small list of independent restaurants where staff get summer PTO.
35 years before ‘Hamilton,’ this legendary DJ was using rap to teach history in Philly middle schools
The "Ace from Outer Space" worked locally at WDAS — when he wasn't cutting records, running for office, or helping educate kids.