#BILLYPENNGRAM OF THE DAY
Landscape view at Laurel Hill
(Photo by @jim50tim)
PPA finally unveils renovated Filbert Street bus station
Three years after closing, the former Greyhound bus station prepares to reopen after $5 million in renovations from the city, adding shiny floors, bathrooms and a seating area for 189 passengers. This Friday, May 1 will mark the official return of intercity buses to 10th and Filbert, ending the controversial practice of curbside pickup/dropoff.
The saga continues in the long term, though, as Philly weighs three options — near 30th Street Station, near Logan Square and near the current terminal — for a permanent bus terminal after this 10-year lease is up. Continue reading…
A lush, floral mural in the heart of the Gayborhood celebrates five queer Philadelphians
Philadelphians headed to Voyeur Nightclub on Saturday — and not for late-night mischief. Instead, they went midday to the heart of Philly’s Gayborhood to partake in something quieter: the making of one of the city’s newest murals, a bright, floral tribute to five local LGBTQ+ leaders.
Each advocate — Gloria Casarez, Michael S. Hinson Jr., Tyrone Smith, Nizah Morris and Dawn Munro — are depicted with a different flower symbolizing their legacy. Continue reading…
RECAP: What else happened?
$ = paywalled
• Pennsylvania has spent $1.4 million updating its voter registration system — but won’t provide progress reports. [Votebeat]
• Racial health gaps persist in Pennsylvania, N.J. and Delaware as Medicaid cuts loom, report finds. [WHYY]
• Philadelphia City Council is moving to expand loading zones across Center City, even as a lawsuit stalls plans for protected bike lanes on Spruce and Pine streets. [Billy Penn]
• The Phillies fired Rob Thomson and elevated bench coach Don Mattingly to interim manager after the Phillies lost 11 of 12 games and began the day tied for last place in the majors. [AP/CBS3]
• Indego bikes are coming to Germantown, with early plans showing nine stations primarily on the west side of the neighborhood, spanning from Wayne Junction to Tulpehocken Ave. [Germantown Info Hub]
• South Philly’s Skinny Joe’s Cheesesteaks, owned by Joey Merlino, is opening its first Jersey Shore location in Wildwood this summer. [NBC10]
MAYOR WATCH
Mayor Parker has no public events scheduled for Wednesday.
Weekly brief on gun violence prevention (with PCGVR)
We publish this report each week in partnership with the Philadelphia Center for Gun Violence Reporting.
- State barriers limit access to compensation for gun violence survivors, a report from Everytown for Gun Safety says. [Capital-Star]
- Philadelphia has made progress on tackling gun violence and poverty, but has stagnated in economic growth, according to Pew’s 2026 State of the City report. [Inq$$/Pew]
- Eric Marsh Sr. has been named director of The Philadelphia Center for Gun Violence Reporting, succeeding founder Jim MacMillan. [PCGVR.org]
- Philly ‘Peacekeepers’ to get unique professional development in a new program. [Billy Penn]
By the numbers in Philadelphia
- 13: Shooting victims recorded from April 18 to April 25, with 4 fatalities, according to city data. During the previous week, 10 shooting victims were recorded, including 3 fatalities. [Source: nickhand.dev]
- 39: Year-to-date homicides, down 37% vs. last year’s pace; down 76% vs. five years ago. [Philly Police]
BILLY PENN GUIDES
🌱 Spring in Philly guide
❤️ Mother’s Day in Philly guide
🎤 Philly Record Store Guide
⚽ Billy Penn’s FIFA World Cup Guide
🛍️ Thrifty in Philly guide
📚 Book lovers’ guide to Philly
🍹 Non-alcoholic Philly
😋 Dining in Philly
🏃🏽 Philly Runners Guide
ON THE CALENDAR
🗓️ For the **FULL LIST** of this week’s events calendar, visit BillyPenn.com!
An operatic Midsummer Night’s Dream (Thursday & Saturday), poetry reading (Thursday), Circus Scrap Night (Friday) and more this week!
