School funding is ‘unconstitutional’; Dems win back Pa. House; Weekly gun violence brief | Morning roundup

Education advocates celebrate landmark school funding decision

A Commonwealth Court judge found Tuesday that the way Pennsylvania distributes money for education is “outdated” and unconstitutional.

• Nearly a decade in the making, the landmark decision agreed with the plaintiffs — six school districts, parents, and advocacy groups — that the system disadvantages students in “low-wealth school districts.”

IIt could be appealed, but if the decision stands, could have major implications for Philadelphia, the state’s largest school district and one of the poorest.

→ What the judge said

Philly Jelloman preps 4,000 jello shots for the Super Bowl

Thanks to the Eagles, it’s been far from a normal February for Paul Vile — also known as the Jelloman.

• Famous on the music fest circuit, Vile usually spends his winters at his union bricklayer job. But then he went crowd-surfing during the NFC Championship celebrations, launching jello shots into the crowd.

The stunt understandably went viral, so the Jelloman is in high demand. Asha Prihar caught up with him to find out how he’s prepping for Super Bowl week.

→ How he’ll make 4,000 jello shots

RECAP: What else happened?

$ = paywalled

• As expected, Democrats won all three special elections for open Pa. House seats, returning them to a 102-101 majority. It’s unclear if Rep. McClinton — who would be the first Black woman in the position — will regain the speaker’s gavel from Rep. Rozzi, who ascended last month as a compromise. [Spotlight PA/BP 2022/AP]
   
• The majority of Philly rec centers lack a regularly updated social media presence, which kids and teens say leads them to miss out on potential after-school activities. [Billy Penn]
   
• With a $10 million endowment from the Windgate Foundation, Old City’s four-decade-old Center for Art in Wood has officially become the Museum for Art in Wood. [Phindie]
   
• Who makes the region’s best hoagies? This list of 25 spots ranges from corner delis like Cosmi’s to the high-end hoagie tasting room at Pizzeria Beddia. No mention of our recent fave, Mancuso & Son. [Philly Mag$/BP 2019/Billy Penn]
   
• When prospective jurors arrived at the Philadelphia courthouse this week, they were given three options for answering roll call: “Here,” “Present” — and “Go Birds.” [Billy Penn] 

Weekly brief on gun violence prevention (with PCGVR)

We publish this report each week in partnership with the Philadelphia Center for Gun Violence Reporting. 

• The Inquirer’s in-depth look at how the ubiquitous “if it bleeds, it leads” Eyewitness News style originated in Philadelphia has been optioned and will become a scripted TV series. [Inquirer$/YouTube/Variety]
   
• “If I would want the whole city to see me on the news, I would want it to be for something positive.” A thread of quotes from the recent PCGVR study in which shooting survivors describe the harmful effects of traditional TV reporting. [@PCGVR/Billy Penn]
   
• Philadelphia saw more shootings involving children last year than NYC, which has over 5x as many people. One student said some teens don’t understand the potential consequences of their actions. [Flourish/WHYY]
   
• The city should invest more money in trauma-informed therapy as an anti-violence initiative, said Councilmember Kenyatta Johnson after a Monday panel of government and community leaders. [Capital-Star]  
   
• As part of the Eagles’ “Fan of Change” anti-violence initiative, and to mark National Gun Violence Survivors Week, the team shared a video featuring spoken-word poet Ja’Nell Hall-Ragin, who lost her brother. [Eagles/@Eagles]

By the numbers in Philadelphia

• 25: Shooting victims recorded last week, vs. 25 the week prior. [City Controller via @PCGVR]
• 162: Shooting victims this year so far, down 29% vs. this time last year. [PCGVR]
• 41: Year-to-date homicides, down 18% vs. last year’s pace and but up 70% vs. five years ago [Philly Police]

MAYOR WATCH

Today is the last Chamber of Commerce Mayoral Luncheon for Kenney, who speaks to the city’s business leaders at the Marriott Downtown (12 p.m.). Evening brings the mayor to 3201 Cuthbert St. for a groundbreaking for more biolab space, an 11-story project on the Drexel campus (5:45 p.m.). 

ON THE CALENDAR

🪄 Harry Potter trivia and wizard-themed drag performances? Fairmount game room and bar Thirsty Dice packs it all into one event. Tickets are $20. (7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 10)

💐 Shop for love from local women makers at Rex at the Royal’s Galentine’s Day market on South Street West, with vendors offering jewelry, candles, ceramics, tea, and more. (10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 11)