Philadelphia considers seriously studying reparations
As of yesterday, City Council is considering a task force to “study and develop reparations proposals” for Black Philadelphians descended from people enslaved in the U.S. Advocates hope the task force will have a wide ranging impact, and also shed light on an existing law they say isn’t being followed. What’s the situation? Jordan Levy examines what might happen next.
How Upper Darby’s famed Tower Theater was reborn
Fifty-one years ago, a dying movie theater was revived as a concert hall — and the most notable thing about opening night was the group of women singing backup. In the latest edition of “Headlines of Yore,” Avi Wolfman Arent has the story of the Tower Theater’s transformation into one of the country’s most sought-after rock venues.
RECAP: What else happened?
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• How should Harrisburg fix education funding to comply with the Pa. Supreme Court’s finding of widespread disparities? That question is at the center of this year’s budget negotiations. [WHYY’s “Schooled”/Spotlight PA]
• Tractor-trailers are having rough times navigating the Northeast Philly streets that detour around the I-95 collapse. Power lines snagged by a truck Friday morning caused a pole crash that snarled one of the main side routes. [WHYY/@TimJRadio]
• Drexel has formally merged with Salus University, a Montco health science school with a history in optometry. Both institutions expect the move to boost enrollment and new research. [PhillyVoice]
• The CTE program Bright Solar Futures had to nix hands-on parts of its curriculum after host school Frankford High was closed due to damaged asbestos. [WHYY]
• If teeing off in a major league ballpark is on your bucket list, you’re in luck. The Phillies will host Upper Deck Golf at Citizens Bank Park this fall. [CBS3/Upper Deck]
• Before J.T. Realmuto did it this week, a Phillie hadn’t hit for the cycle in almost 20 years. [Billy Penn]
• Move over, Netflix, the I-95 rebuild livestream is up and running. The internet has plenty of suggestions for what to do while watching — Asha Prihar recaps 10 of the best. [Billy Penn]
MAYOR WATCH
Mayor Kenney joins Councilmember Katherine Gilmore Richardson at the Juvenile Justice Center to announce all the summer programming available for young people in Philadelphia this year (11:30 a.m.).
ON THE CALENDAR
🌈 Just an hour’s Amtrak ride away — and with access to great dairy as the bonus — the 15th annual Lancaster Pride Festival and fundraiser returns with a day of family-friendly fun. (12 to 6 p.m. Saturday, June 17)
🎶The 4th annual Millennial Juneteenth Festival brings a live benefit concert, DJ battle, and Black Business Crawl to Kingsessing. (3 to 8 p.m. Monday, June 19)
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