Missing crossing guard has North Philly students scrambling
William Dick Elementary School was without a crossing guard for most of last year, and a December replacement has disappeared.
- Young students are left to cross busy Diamond Street on their own, between cars turning into the four-way intersection. The principal sends out a staffer when she arrives, but it’s not always early enough.
After Billy Penn and the Logan Center raised the issue, the city said a new guard would be assigned — and should be there starting this morning.
→ What we saw outside the school

We tried Jalen Hurts’s signature cheesesteak
After the Eagles won the NFC Championship, their star quarterback headed to FoodChasers’ Kitchen in Elkins Park.
- Jalen Hurts grilled cheesesteaks at the restaurant last summer for a commercial. Ever since, he’s been helping the owners — twin sisters who retired as school principals — follow their dream.
Now featured on the menu, Zachary Moser reports for BP, is the Jalen Special: seasoned steak, fried onions, Cooper Sharp, and mayonnaise.

RECAP: What else happened?
$ = paywalled
- Two more Philadelphia zip codes have been added to the city’s “right to counsel” initiative, which guarantees renters with low incomes free legal representation if they’re facing eviction. [WHYY’s PlanPhilly]
- An MFL train partially derailed late Saturday night as it traveled north out of Old City. There were no injuries, per SEPTA, which is still investigating the cause. [Billy Penn]
- The Philly bus driver who stopped a carjacking by pulling his bus in front of an in-progress attempt will attend the State of the Union address with U.S. Rep. Boyle. [6ABC/NBC10]
- An AAPI business community roundtable in Kensington tomorrow will seek to identify challenges and solutions to increased Asian American voter engagement. [Every Voice, Every Vote]
- The Philadelphia Museum of Art has more movie cameos than any other Pa. landmark, per an analysis of IMDB. The most recent was “Shazam,” which was ostensibly set in Philly but mostly filmed elsewhere. [Hawaiian Islands/BP 2019]
- If you’re in Fairmount, University City, or Brewerytown, Philly startup Muncho will have hot pizza at your door in about 12 minutes. The secret? Pies are baked en route, in the van. [Muncho/Business Insider]
MAYOR WATCH
Nothing public scheduled for Mayor Kenney today. Over the weekend he attended Smith Memorial Playground’s unveiling of this year’s “Leaders & Legends” Black History Month exhibition.
ON THE CALENDAR
⛸️ Take advantage of the cold snap and ice skate for free at the Rothman Rink next to City Hall. Reserve in advance; skate rental is extra. (3:30 to 9 p.m. Mondays and Tuesday throughout February).
📜 Learn how the Marquis de Lafayette influenced George Washington and vice versa at the Historic Gloria Dei Church in Queen Village. $10 admission includes a drink. (7 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 9)
🎭 Crossroads Comedy’s “Study Hall” series mixes lectures with improv, and this edition at Plays & Players Theatre features Harriett’s Bookshop owner Jeannine Cook. Tix are $18. (7 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 11)
Catch up on the previous week
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