#BILLYPENNGRAM OF THE DAY
Abtraction and color in Rittenhouse
(Photo by @therowhousecity)
Republican lawyer sues to block change to Philly election rules
As voters prepare to go to the polls next week, the city is trying to alter election rules in a way that could tighten the grip of local Republican and Democratic leaders over their parties, according to a lawyer who sued to stop the change.
A new policy approved earlier this year would make it harder to elect write-in candidates to ward committees, attorney Matthew Wolfe said. Continue reading…
PGA brings expected $125 million impact to Philly region
The 108th PGA Championship opened in Newtown Square Monday, with Philly-area golf fans getting a first chance to see the world’s best players prepare for the tournament at Aroninmink Golf Club.
Some 200,000 people are expected to show up to see the likes of Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy and Xander Schauffele. Continue reading…
RECAP: What else happened?
$ = paywalled
• Pennsylvania won’t test internet-connected e-pollbooks in the 2026 primary, instead getting them in 2027, after low interest in a pilot program. [Votebeat]
• Years after the COVID-19 pandemic, learning loss has left Pa. schools lagging behind much of the country. [WHYY]
• ‘The system is failing us’: Philadelphia utility customers call on City Council to help rein in bills. [WHYY’s PlanPhilly]
• A new multimedia art exhibit at Fairmount Water Works features installations by 10 local artists that present the history of the Schuylkill River and bring to life the once-obscure underground corridors of the water system. [WHYY]
• The Sixers fired president Daryl Morey and decided to keep Nick Nurse as their coach after the team was swept in the Eastern Conference semifinals. [AP]
• A statue of golf rebel Forrest Fezler stands wearing a pair of Adidas navy blue shorts in Dilworth Park this week as part of an ad campaign tied to the 2026 PGA Championship in Delco.
• A new play, based on the 19th-century Woman’s Medical College of Pennsylvania, centers international students studying in Philadelphia. [WHYY]
MAYOR WATCH
Mayor Parker joins school district leaders at the District HQ to rename the building as the Dr. Constance E. Clayton Education Center. The renaming includes a street sign and mural. (11:30 a.m.)
Tonight, Parker heads to the National Constitution Center for an Eisenhower Fellowships Awards Dinner to honor filmmaker Ken Burns and Claire-Marie Le Guay. (6:30 p.m.)
Parker then crosses Broad Street to the Kimmel Center to join the Philadelphia Music Alliance in welcoming the 2026 class of Walk of Fame inductees. (7 p.m.)
Weekly brief on gun violence prevention (with PCGVR)
We publish this report each week in partnership with the Philadelphia Center for Gun Violence Reporting.
- ‘When am I allowed to be weak?’ Philly mom mourns a second son lost to gun violence. [NBC10]
- Mother’s Day deepens pain and purpose for Philadelphia moms who have lost children to gun violence. [Tribune]
- When police die by suicide, their loved ones often lose benefits. Pennsylvania may change that. [Penn Capital-Star]
- USPS considers allowing people to ship handguns through the mail. [AP]
By the numbers in Philadelphia
- 17: Shooting victims recorded from May 3 to May 9 with 5 fatalities, according to city data. During the previous week, 15 shooting victims were recorded, including 1 fatality. [Source: nickhand.dev]
- 46: Year-to-date homicides, down 38% vs. last year’s pace; down 85% vs. five years ago. [Philly Police]
BILLY PENN GUIDES
🎭 Philly’s comedy scene
🌱 Spring 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 Iron Chef comes to Philly with a new menu (today), West Philly Orchestra pops up at the Portal (Thursday), WHYY and the Mütter Museum talk about a disease outbreak in Philly history (Friday) and more events to check out!
