Policing the hot topic at Chinatown listening session
At a meeting last night, a group of Chinatown residents, business owners, and community development leaders discussed gun violence and public safety.
- Crafting questions for Philly’s mayoral contenders was the goal of the meeting, organized by WHYY, CeaseFirePA, and Billy Penn in advance of our candidate forum, which will be streamed live on March 1.
The conversation ranged from stop and frisk to education access, Jordan Levy reports, with some noting it might take decades to truly turn things around.
Disney takes over the Franklin Institute with 100 years of ‘magic’
A tale as old as time — well, at least a hundred years — opens tomorrow at the Franklin Institute.
- Disney100 makes its world premiere at the Philly science museum this weekend, using artwork, props, movie footage, and interactive elements to take visitors inside the company’s long history.
Asha Prihar has a preview of what to look for, from early sketches of Mickey and Minnie to an 11-ft. model of the Nautilus to Cinderella’s glass slipper.
RECAP: What else happened?
$ = paywalled
- Gov. Shapiro announced he would continue Wolf’s moratorium on executions, and called on the General Assembly to abolish the death penalty in Pa. [@GovernorShapiro/WHYY]
- Acknowledging a diagnosis of post-stroke depression, Sen. Fetterman on Monday checked into Walter Reed medical center. The move to seek help drew praise from all corners — from Democratic colleagues to Republican Sen. Cruz. [City & State/AP/Fox News]
- A Q&A with striking Temple grad students: What’s at stake, and the university’s “unprecedented” move to cancel health benefits and tuition remission. [Billy Penn]
- Prices in Philly’s housing market are up 2% year-over-year and 25% to 30% vs. pre-COVID. Sales dropped sharply last quarter, however, as rising mortgage interest rates gave buyers second thoughts. [Lindy Institute/WHYY’s PlanPhilly]
- At least two Speedway gas stations in the Philly region have started playing loud opera music, prompting complaints from neighbors. The trend started in Austin as a way to discourage loitering by unhoused people. [Philly Mag$/6ABC/KVUE]
- RIP famed baseball broadcaster Tim McCarver, 81, who played nine years with Philadelphia before becoming the color commentator who narrated the Phillies’ 2008-era glory. [PhillyVoice]
MAYOR WATCH
Nothing public for Philly’s 99th mayor today. Yesterday Kenney did end up joining Shapiro for the governor’s announcement about refusing to sign any death warrants, which he made at Mosaic Community Church in West Philly.
ON THE CALENDAR
🍺 Billy Penn Quizzo: Our monthly trivia night is back! We’re at Attic Brewing in Germantown this month, with three rounds of questions, happy hour specials, and great prizes for the winners. Free RSVP here. (6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 28)
🍩 Get a jump on celebrating Fastnacht Day, aka the German Mardi Gras, at a party at the German Society’s retro ratskeller on Spring Garden. $15 tickets include one drink. (8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 18)
🪘 Presidents Day brings special activities for kids at the Weitzman Jewish Museum on Independence Mall, like music, crafts, and performances. (10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, Feb. 20)
Catch up on the previous week
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