“Damaged, traumatized and broken” allege lawsuits against Pa. juvenile detention centers for institutionalized child abuse
Scores of children experienced institutionalized sexual abuse at various juvenile detention and residential treatment facilities across Pa., according to a slew of lawsuits filed Wednesday.
Each of the 67 plaintiffs, all of whom are now adults, are seeking damages for the trauma they say staff inflicted upon them over two decades.
The complaints implicate the Carson Valley Children’s Aid, Delaware County Juvenile Detention Center, Devereux, Northwestern Academy, Presbyterian Children’s Village, St. Gabriel’s Hall and VisionQuest, for what a lawyer connected to the suits described as “systemic, institutionalized sexual abuse.” Continue reading…
Meet the West Philly man who rented a billboard to find a date
Sick of swiping on the dating apps? So is Dave from West Philly, who decided to try putting himself on a billboard above 34th and Wharton to meet new people.
How did this billboard come about? Was someone playing a prank on poor Dave? Was this a case of somebody cracking after one bad date too many?
“I thought maybe on the off chance someone did think I was cute, they would hit me up,” he told BP’s Nick Kariuki. “So if I get one date out of this, then it’s already like eons beyond worth it, beyond just the funny joke I wanted to do to entertain myself and my friends.” Continue reading…
RECAP: What else happened?
$ = paywalled
• Pennsylvania will offer the IRS’s free electronic tax-filing system Direct File to taxpayers next tax season, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Gov. Josh Shapiro announced. [CBS3]
• Mayor Cherelle Parker’s administration is ending a $3.7 million contract early with long-standing mental health services provider West Philadelphia Community Mental Health Consortium. [Axios]
• A 43-year-old man was on his way to prayer services at a North Philadelphia mosque Tuesday when he was shot and killed in an “execution-style” homicide, police said. [PhillyVoice]
• A Philadelphian helped pave the long road that led to breakdancing appearing in the Paris games. [WHYY]
• A sold-out crowd enjoyed a soccer match at the Linc between Premier League powers Arsenal and Liverpool. BP’s Nick Kariuki was there. [Billy Penn]
• The Phillies are playing poor fundamental baseball, but John Stolnis says it’s not time to panic yet as the team has done this before. [Hittin’ Season]
• A new outdoor sculpture is encouraging passersby to walk all over it and get a massage at the same time. “The Weight of Our Living” is the first in a new rotation of temporary sculptures to activate the Parkway. [WHYY]
MAYOR WATCH
Mayor Parker speaks at Parks & Rec’s Camp Philly kick-off in South Philly, celebrating the provision of full-tuition scholarships to send Philly youth to a week-long sleepaway camp in the Poconos. (10 a.m.)
ON THE CALENDAR
🏃🏽 Thursday, August 1: Happy Hour Run
Kick off the Philly 10K month with a monthly happy hour run. Bring ID and meet at Philadelphia Runner in Center City. (6 p.m.)
👭🏽 Friday, August 2: Sistah Soul Series at Cherry Street Pier
A free live musical vibe each month featuring local independent vocal artists spanning diverse musical genres. Free. (7 to 10 p.m.)
🌮 Saturday to Sunday, August 3-4: Philly Taco Festival
Come hungry for this seventh annual celebration with a variety of tacos, margaritas, games, and taco-themed fun, all while being entertained by live bands on stage at Xfinity Live!, authentic Mariachi music, and more. Tickets start at $25; pay-as-you-go tacos. (2 to 8 p.m. each day)
Sunday, August 4: 2nd Street Festival
Now one of Philly’s largest street fests, this Northern Liberties event returns to bring food, drink, and fun to several blocks of North 2nd Street! (12 to 10 p.m.)
Catch up on the previous week
Receive Billy Penn’s free daily roundup in your inbox every morning. Sign up here!
