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After controversy and a lawsuit, Philly stands by voting machines

Three years ago, Philadelphia bought new voting machines to comply with a statewide standard requiring a paper trail.

  • Called the ExpressVote XL, the machines ran into a bunch of tech issues in 2019 and became the subject of an ongoing lawsuit. But they’ve worked just fine in three elections since.

For Democracy Day, Lizzy McLellan Ravitch looks at what other Pa. counties use, and recounts the local controversies around the machines, heist included.

A City Commissioners staffer demonstrates the ExpressVote XL voting machine at Reading Terminal Market in 2019 Credit: Matt Rourke / AP Photo

Your guide to Jollibee, from ‘ChickenJoy’ to amazing hand pies

Philly’s first-ever Jollibee is now open on Bustleton Avenue, and the Filipino chain is making good on its cult-favorite reputation.

  • Known for its fried chicken, the bee-themed restaurant originally started in Manilla as an ice cream parlor. Now, Jollibee has grown a fanbase so obsessive people camp out at openings.

BP contributor Walden Green checked it  out, and recommends ordering the “ChickenJoy” bucket with extra peach mango pies.

Jollibee’s ChickenJoy bucket is filled with lightly battered, crispy crust drumsticks and thighs Credit: Walden Green for Billy Penn

RECAP: What else happened?

$ = paywalled

MAYOR WATCH

Mayor Kenney is one of the speakers at the graduation ceremony for Philly Police Academy Class No. 396, held at the Temple University Performing Arts Center on North Broad (10 a.m.).

ON THE CALENDAR

? Brian Baumgartner, aka Kevin from “The Office,” visits the Barnes & Noble at Drexel to autograph copies of new cookbook “Seriously Good Chili.” (10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 17)

? Heads up on free admission at the Academy of Natural Sciences in honor of STEM org Women in Natural Sciences’ 40th anniversary. (10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 17 and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 18)

? Learn the basics of crafting bespoke floral arrangements at Kensington garden center Close at Hand. Tickets cost $75, but they get you herbs and flowers to take home, a vase, and fancy floral beverages. (11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 18)