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How to Philly: Registering to vote, no election headache needed
Just over a million Philadelphians are registered to vote as of the start of this month: approximately 1,060,00 people, per state records.
- That number seems big — it’s about 85% of eligible residents — but it’s actually fewer than were registered at this time in 2020, when the city hit a record high as a big presidential contest loomed.
Know someone who needs to register? Moved to a new address? Want to change party affiliation? Jordan Levy runs down everything you need to know.
How a car got stuck upside-down in a Fishtown construction site
A physics-defying crash that didn’t appear to cause major injury left a car end-up in a Fishtown building foundation.
- Leaning against a square of below-ground masonry in new construction, the car looked like a downed spacecraft. It garnered lots of speculation on how it might’ve gotten there.
According to a video posted online, a car rushing south on Frankford spun out after being hit by another easing out from Oxford Street — where there’s no stop sign or crosswalk to speak of.

RECAP: What else happened?
$ = paywalled
- Nearly a half-century after experiments ceased, the City of Philadelphia formally apologized for the Penn-led experiments on mostly Black inmates in the Holmesburg prison. [Phila Gov/ 34th Street]
- Pennsylvania’s mail voting law is unclear on the actions counties can take regarding improperly submitted mail ballots, which will likely lead to a bunch of litigation. [Spotlight PA]
- Mehmet Oz and John Fetterman’s sole Senate debate comes a week before the November election — and well after mail voting starts in Pennsylvania. Will that matter? [Inquirer$]
- Public health nonprofit Prevention Point says it has collected more used syringes than distributed clean ones in the last year- that’s a first in three decades of operations, suggesting an increase in drug use. [WHYY]
- Charles Fuller, the Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright of “A Soldier’s Story” and Philly native, died on Monday at age 83. [NYT$]
- “Volumes” is a month-long installation at the Icebox, a Kensington art gallery, where a series of guest drummers will perform to control a light show. [WHYY]
- If your autumnal soul has recently yearned to be in a pumpkin patch, here are a few nearby options to consider. [Axios]
MAYOR WATCH
Nothing on today’s public schedule for Mayor JFK.
ON THE CALENDAR
? Front Street hosts the first Fishtown Music and Arts Festival, aka a “block party for music people” with performances from Snacktime and plenty of DJs — plus so many Kismet bagels. Tix are $20. (12 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 8)
? Kensington’s Palmer Doggie Depot hosts Howl-o-ween, a free puppy costume party with pumpkin picking and giveaways from Riverwards Produce and Stateside Vodka. (2 to 5 p.m Saturday, Oct. 8)
? Want to make your own button pins? RSVP for a free workshop at North Broad gallery Space 1026 — bring magazines, comic books, or printed out images to transform. (1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 8)
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