Cold morning on the Ben Franklin (Instagram/@yard_phauna)

Younger voters agree Philly needs change, differ on solutions

Younger and older voters agree Philadelphia is “on the wrong track,” but the two groups have diverging views on how to fix things, per a new poll.

  • Additional funding for police was called “extremely” or “very important” in decreasing crime by significantly more older voters, for example, while more younger voters favored funding for schools as a solution.

Commissioned by the Lenfest Institute as part of Every Voice, Every Vote, the survey asked voters about a range of top issues, Jeremy Styron reports for BP.→ How generations see things differently

Philadelphia skyline, looking east from the Schuylkill River (Mark Henninger/Imagic Digital)

Philadelphia Insectarium & Butterfly Pavilion files for bankruptcy

If you haven’t been to Holmesburg to walk among exotic butterflies, visit soon: Northeast Philly’s infamous insectarium is teetering on the brink of closure.

  • Reports of a $40,000 “bug heist” in 2018 thrust the unique science museum into the spotlight — it was featured in a docuseries  — but turns out the alleged theft may have been a symptom of internal strife.

After losing a related court battle last week, the insectarium has filed for bankruptcy and is launching an emergency fundraising campaign, per NBC10.

The Philadelphia Insectarium & Butterfly Pavilion on Frankford Avenue in Northeast Philly. (Kimberly Paynter/WHYY)

RECAP: What else happened?

$ = paywalled

Cherry blossoms at the Art Museum (Mark Henninger/Imagic Digital)

Weekly brief on gun violence prevention (with PCGVR)

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

By the numbers in Philadelphia

  • 25: Shooting victims recorded last week, vs. 22 the week prior. [City Controller via @PCGVR]
  • 309: Shooting victims this year so far, down 26% vs. this time last year. [PCGVR]
  • 87: Year-to-date homicides, down 15% vs. last year’s pace; up 43% vs. five years ago [Philly Police]

MAYOR WATCH

Mayor Kenney joins Pastor Carl Day on the anti-violence advocate’s Instagram Live chat series (12 p.m.). 

ON THE CALENDAR

🌮 BP Quizzo: Join Billy Penn for a night of local trivia with Taco Tuesday deals! We’ll be at Pistolas Del Sur on East Passyunk, handing out prizes for high scores and best team name. Free with RSVP. (6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 21)

🪜 Women’s networking group The Walnut Club hosts a conversation about how to be a changemaker in modern society, over cocktails at the Ethical Society on Rittenhouse Square. Tickets start at $20. (6 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, March 16)

🎸 Skip the shamrocks and go for old school rock ‘n’ roll at The Trestle Inn’s happy hour dance party featuring tunes by the Rolling Stones. (6 to 9 p.m. Friday, March 17)

Catch up on the previous week

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