Too many junkyard fires; Shapiro’s closed calendar; Paying students to learn tech | Morning roundup

An accounting of Philly’s many junkyard fires over the past year

Even for jaded Philly residents familiar with the billowing black plumes and smoky odor of junkyard fires, this past week was a bit much. Not one, but two scrapyards burned. Despite an L&I initiative to ramp up inspections, Meir Rinde reports, there’ve been at least half a dozen over the past 12 months.

Your kid’s next favorite PBS show was produced here in Philly

Parents who tune into a new kids show this month might notice some familiar items: they were sourced from Kensington’s Thunderbird Salvage. Debuting June 12, “Albie’s Elevator” is the first-ever children’s series created in house at WHYY, Jordan Levy reports — and it features a ton of Philadelphia artists. 

RECAP: What else happened?

$ = paywalled

• Unlike his predecessor, Gov. Shapiro will not be sharing his daily calendar with the public. A spokesperson says his “public schedule” will remain open to the press. [Spotlight PA]

• The family of Chris Fitzgerald, the Temple police officer killed in February, is suing the family of his accused teen assailant for wrongful death and negligence. [Billy Penn CBS3]

• Project HOME is teaming up with Philly’s hospitals to launch an initiative offering people experiencing homelessness and opioid addiction a path to supportive housing — aiming to serve 300 people annually. [WHYY’s PlanPhilly]

• A new podcast on community-owned real estate features the executive director of the Kensington Corridor Trust, which is redeveloping three blocks in the neighborhood. [Next City]

• Launchpad — a new tech-focused CTE program — will pay 45 Philly students as they complete college courses, a boot camp to bolster their portfolio, and eventually transition to a guaranteed job in the tech industry. [The 74]

• The former Roxy Theater near 20th and Sansom is set to be partially demolished on June 9, to be replaced with a five-story “boutique hotel mixed with an apartment building.” [Inquirer$]

MAYOR WATCH: June 2, 2023

Nothing public today for Mayor Kenney. At yesterday’s Unity Cup soccer tournament drawing, he shouted out the start of Immigrant Heritage Month — there is one other related city event listed so far.

ON THE CALENDAR

🎶 Tix are still available for the Roots Picnic, which takes over the Mann Center in Fairmount Park with two days of hip hop and R&B stars like Lauryn Hill, Usher, Lil Uzi Vert, City Girls, Busta Rhymes and lots more. (Saturday and Sunday, June 3-4)

🥕 The first Northern Liberties Farmers Market sets up behind the Piazza with over a dozen vendors offering produce, dairy, beer, cheese, and chocolate. (10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, June 3)

☀️ Solar energy comes alive at the Junior Solar Sprint, which brings 5th through 8th grade students from 25 schools to design, build and race model solar cars. (9:45 a.m. Saturday, June 3) 

🫶 Disability Pride Week features everything from karaoke and cartoons to a comedy-filled laughing lunch, parade, and festival. (Monday-Sunday, June 5-11) 

💰 What can Philly learn from the bankruptcy of Detroit? A free screening of “Gradually, Then Suddenly” at the Comcast Technology Center offers a chance to learn how it happened, followed by a Q&A with Jim Gardner. (6 to 9 p.m. Monday, June 5)