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Free SEPTA rides for Wawa employees and more

Staff at Penn Medicine, Drexel, and Wawa get to ride SEPTA free starting May 1, thanks to discounted passes bought by their employers.

  • Announced yesterday, the SEPTA Key Advantage program is intended to boost public transit ridership, WHYY reports, by allowing organizations to bulk purchase fare cards for their employees.

The pilot with the three introductory partners will last six months, during which workers’ unlimited Key cards will be automatically reloaded.

A Philly photographer is in Ukraine, documenting resilience

When Philadelphia photographer Mike Logsdon traveled to Ukraine at the beginning of this month, he found something he recognized: resilience.

  • Logsdon wanted to put a human face on the news about the Russian invasion, using his experience documenting chaotic situations around the globe to draw attention to the people affected.

The most striking thing has been seeing families split apart. But he’s also been inspired. Here are 10 images he selected, with captions that tell their stories.

RECAP: What else happened?

$ = paywalled 

Weekly brief on gun violence prevention (with PCGVR)

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

  • Gillian Naro, a doctor working when Jefferson University Hospital faced an active shooter, discusses the experience. “I am different now in a way that I cannot explain.” [Trace]
  • More than 300 businesses, homeowners, and renters in West Philadelphia will get free video cameras installed via a new state-grant-funded program called Project Safe Corridors. [CBS3]
  • “Sometimes I do get scared but … you just have to get used to it,” said a 10-year-old in a video segment on how violence impacts children’s mental health. [NBC10]
  • Philly police blamed social media for some of the rise in violent acts, saying young people are doing things for bragging rights. A local schoolteacher has noticed the same trend. [WHYY/Citizen]
  • Chalkbeat is asking Philadelphia teachers, parents, and students to share how they have been affected by gun violence. [Google Forms]
  • Members of Mothers in Charge and Philly Truce are joining next Friday’s free virtual panel on “Shifting the Narrative in Gun Violence Reporting.” [Eventbrite]

By the numbers in Philadelphia

  • 44: Shooting victims recorded last week, vs. 35 the week prior [PPD Google Drive]
  • 455: Shooting victims this year, up 2% from last year [PCGVR]
  • 112: Year-to-date homicides, up 2% from last year [Philly Police]

MAYOR WATCH

Guess what? Nothing on the mayor’s public schedule today.

ON THE CALENDAR

? Tonight! Join us for news and history trivia about the city you love. Our monthly Philly Quizzo night is back at Jose Pistola’s in Center City. Free RSVP, happy hour specials, win a $50 gift card if you get the top score. Don’t miss the bonus music trivia round. (6:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 23)

? Port Richmond celebrates its 175th anniversary with a local Monopoly tournament and Easter egg hunt. Free Stock’s pound cake for the first 300 people. (2 to 6 p.m. Saturday, March 26)

? Billy Penn partner event: Deputy editor Beatrice Forman helps moderate “Shift the Narrative: A Media Panel on Community-Centered Gun Violence Reporting,” presented by PCGVR, PABJ, Young Chances Foundation, and Philly Truce. (1 to 2 p.m. Friday, April 1)