#BILLYPENNGRAM OF THE DAY
Behind the scenes at the Fillmore
(Photo by @jrwvk)
School board approves facility plan, allowing the district to close 17 schools
Despite protests, meeting disruptions and threats from most of Philadelphia City Council to block the vote, the city’s Board of Education voted 6-3 to approve the district’s controversial plan to close 17 schools.
Approval of the $3 billion plan to close 17 schools and modernize 169 others came during a contentious meeting Thursday that was interrupted several times by protests led by council members. Continue reading…
Hundreds of EV chargers are coming to Philly streets and lots
Electric vehicle owners in Philadelphia who struggle to find places to charge up will see a host of new options start popping up in the next couple years — including, for some, chargers close to their homes.
The city has picked two companies to install hundreds of chargers with more than 900 ports over 10 years, with the first units to go live next year. Continue reading…
Your guide to the 2026 Broad Street Run
The nation’s biggest 10-mile race is back this Sunday. With more than 40,000 participants and a course that intersects some major roads, there is bound to be a little chaos.
Here’s how (and where) you can watch this Sunday’s race. Continue reading…
RECAP: What else happened?
$ = paywalled
• ‘Splintered, rotting’ electric poles: PECO union asks state regulators to investigate. [WHYY]
• Villanova University 2025 swatting hoax: A juvenile faces federal charges for allegedly being associated with an online cybercriminal group. [WHYY]
• The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission advanced guidance for when energy companies connect high-demand electric users such as data centers. [WHYY]
• The selection committee for the 2028 Democratic National Convention is touring Philadelphia, looking at it as one of five potential cities for the nominating event. [WHYY]
• Temple University is launching a campus in Atlantic City and is expected to welcome its first class of medical students in the fall of 2029. [WHYY]
• An effort in Pennsylvania encourages homeowners to plant native plants that soak up stormwater and attract wildlife. [WHYY]
MAYOR WATCH
Mayor Parker joins city leaders in attending the graduation ceremony for Rebuild Philadelphia Cement Masons & Plasterers Academy. (1 p.m.)
Parker later attends a retirement celebration for Donna Cooper, the departing executive director of Children First. (6 p.m.)
BILLY PENN GUIDES
👟 Broad Street Run weekend guide
🌱 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!
Festivals galore this weekend include Eraserhood Fest (Friday), Wild Horizon family-friendly circus fest (Saturday), South Street Spring (Saturday), Fishtown Music & Arts Fest (Saturday), Manayunk’s Sing Us Home Fest (all weekend), Chestnut Hill Home & Garden Fest (Sunday)!
+ sidewalk sales, walking tours, intimate salons, a haiku competition and more.
