? Want this daily digest emailed to you? Sign up for the free Billy Penn newsletter and it’ll land in your inbox every morning.
After late-night debates, constitutional amendments advance
As they pushed through the budget, lawmakers in the state House and Senate also passed bills advancing five contentious constitutional amendments.
- Declaring abortion is not a protected right is one proposed change. The others: require voter ID; require election audits; expand the General Assembly’s power to reject regulations; join gov and lt. gov on one ticket.
These would all need another floor vote next session, but could go to voters as soon as spring 2023. House Democrats vociferously objected to the late-night moves, but the Republican majority overruled.
Does Philly really have the world’s largest mobile Ferris wheel?
The pop-up park at The Oval this year touts the slogan “Philadelphia’s largest outdoor urban oasis.” Also big: the Ferris wheel.
- Called “The Grand Wheel,” the ride is 108 feet tall, which is impressive. But press releases identified it as the “largest mobile Ferris wheel in the world.”
Emily White looked into that, and — despite the great views it offers of the Art Museum and skyline — found the claim isn’t anywhere close to true.
RECAP: What else happened?
$ = paywalled
- PICA, the state authority that approves Philadelphia’s five-year spending plans, got a 25-year-extension to provide what local officials say is welcome financial oversight. [WHYY]
- The Philadelphia Historical Commission officially voted Friday to designate a stretch of Christian Street as Black Doctors Row. It was home to many Black doctors, teachers, and small business owners in the early 1900s. [Tribune$]
- PHL Airport says the $24 million in bathroom bucks it’s getting from the federal infrastructure bill will fund 30 restroom renovations, two totally new restrooms, some lactation rooms, animal relief areas, and increased accessibility. [Axios]
- After the owners were charged with tax fraud, Original Tony Luke’s on Oregon Avenue is changing its name to “Tony’s and Nick’s Steaks” to reduce confusion with the unaffiliated Tony Luke’s franchise. [WHYY/PhillyVoice]
- Philly is “definitely on a list” of potential cities to host a future WNBA franchise, per Commissioner (and Philadelphia-area native) Cathy Engelbert. Philadelphians already have plenty of ideas for what the team could be called. [NBCs Philly/Billy Penn]
- Phillies players Bohm, Realmuto, Nola, and Gibson won’t travel to the upcoming series in Toronto because they’re not fully vaccinated against COVID. “I’m not going to let Canada tell me what I do and don’t put in my body,” said the Phillies starting catcher. [NBCS Philly/Phillies Nation]
MAYOR WATCH
Mayor Kenney, whose father was a firefighter, speaks at the graduation ceremony for 76 new members of the Philadelphia Fire Department (10 a.m.).
ON THE CALENDAR
? BP Quizzo is at Hawthornes this month! Our pub trivia night about all things Philadelphia lands at the Bella Vista beer cafe. Happy hour specials and prizes await. RSVP for free to join us. (6:30 p.m. Thursday, July 21)
? Partner event: City & State’s Diversity Summit invites small biz owners to connect with key agencies, reps, and contractors to get in on the lucrative government procurement process. RSVP here to attend. (10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday, July 14)
? The Philly POPS brings a Christmas in July concert to the Comcast Center plaza, where a youth giveaway of 150 bikes will accompany the free show. (10 a.m. Friday, July 15)
? Popular brass-heavy band Snacktime hosts a release party for their first-ever album, “Sounds From The Street: LIVE!” The Brooklyn Bowl party is $15 in advance or $20 at the door. (8 p.m. Friday, July 15)