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How Philly will benefit from new federal infrastructure funds

President Biden yesterday signed the Inflation Reduction Act, which means millions more in infrastructure funding for Philadelphia.

• From PHL Airport to safer streets, some initiatives already got boosted in this year’s city budget thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Not all money is yet in hand, because some of the grants are competitive.

With these two acts in place, Jordan Levy runs through five big projects in Philly that are in line for federal funds.

Cult favorite Raising Cane’s opens second Philly location

North Philly has no shortage of fried chicken chains, but the newest addition — which hails from Louisiana but now has more than 500 locations — is different.

• Raising Cane’s serves only chicken fingers. No wings, no drumsticks, just fingers made from tenderloins that are brined 24 hrs, then fried fresh instead of frozen.

It makes for a popular destination, as proven by the buzzing interior of the new outpost just off Temple’s campus on Cecil B. Moore.

RECAP: What else happened?

$ = paywalled

• A video by Senate candidate Oz attempting to showcase the rising price of groceries went viral, leading to a fundraising boon for competitor Fetterman. We rounded up where to get great crudité in Philly — tequila optional. [@umichvoter/The Hill/Billy Penn]
• PGW customers were outraged when they got springtime monthly bills topping $200. Now the city-owned utility is looking to cap its “weather normalization” adjustment. [WHYY/Inquirer$]
• SEPTA is expanding some Regional Rail schedules this weekend, adding earlier trips to Center City in advance of a possible fall rush. PATCO, on the other hand, is running less often during rush hour because too many trains need repairs. [WHYY/CBS3]
• Philly Mag released its annual Worst of Philly awards. On the short list: The memeable Jawn Morgan ads, Herr’s lackluster odes to Philly, and Vogue’s attempt at understanding our city. [PhillyMag$/Billy Penn x 3]
• Ben Simmons and the Sixers reached a settlement over the $20 million in pay withheld from Simmons for not playing, but both sides agreed to stay quiet about the settlement amount. [ESPN x 2]

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. 

• Pa. could get millions in federal money if it adopts red flag laws, which allow courts to order people at risk of committing violence to give up firearms. [PolitiFact/WHYY]
• Federal and local officials met behind closed doors last week to address gun violence. It didn’t surface new solutions, but quarterly meetings are planned going forward. [Axios/Inquirer$]
• The inaugural Credible Messenger Film Festival takes place Aug. 28 and 30 in the Cope House at Awbury Arboretum in Germantown. [PCGVR]
• “We Are Here” is an art exhibit in Philadelphia City Hall featuring portraits of people who’ve lost loved ones to gun violence. [WHYY]
• We’ve cited Gun Violence Archive stats here and in our reporting. Here’s how a tiny non-profit with no full-time employees became the foremost tracker of U.S. shootings. [CNN]

By the numbers in Philadelphia

• 47: Shooting victims recorded last week so far, vs. 57 the week prior. [City Controller via @PCGVR]
• 1,479: Shooting victims this year, up 1% from last year [PCGVR]
• 345: Year-to-date homicides, 2% ahead of last year’s pace and up 72% vs. five years ago [Philly Police]

MAYOR WATCH

Mayor Kenney joins the virtual biweekly briefing on the city’s gun violence response (1 p.m.), which will have a focus on back-to-school safety. You can listen live on WURD Radio 900 AM/96.1 FM or watch on Facebook.

ON THE CALENDAR