University of Pennsylvania and the Israel-Hamas war
Local reverberations of the Israel-Hamas war have roiled the University of Pennsylvania community. From protests by donors and students to calls for the school’s president to resign, and threats of violence to fights over the difference between political speech and hate speech, it’s been a complex, difficult time at the West Philly Ivy.
How’d we get here and where do things stand? Jordan Levy recaps everything that’s happened in this handy explainer. Continue reading…
Boathouse Row ‘silt island’ adopted by trash-fighting volunteer
If you’ve ever strolled along the path behind the Water Works, you might’ve noticed a small island that juts out into the Schuylkill River. It’s mostly dense trees and underbrush, but turns out it has a name. It’s called the Isle of Jean, thanks to a Philly resident who adopted it.
Its location in front of Boathouse Row makes it a sieve for objects floating downriver, which is what spurred litter-hater Jean Knight to take action — and officially become the islet’s namesake. Continue reading…
RECAP: What else happened?
$ = paywalled
• Redesigned mail ballot envelopes and instruction sheets should debut across Pa. for the 2024 primary, per a new Dept. of State initiative. In this year’s primary, about 3% of mail ballots were rejected statewide. [AP/CBS3]
• Can Harrisburg intervene in municipal politics and fire a city official? The Pa. Supreme Court is now deliberating whether DA Krasner’s impeachment trial, approved last year by House vote, should move forward. [AP/BP 2022]
• The Kenney administration released a progress report on the city’s gun violence prevention programs and law enforcement efforts, showing Philly’s homicide rate is dropping faster than the national average. [Phila Gov/CBS3]
• People who’ve signed up to donate their organs to the Mütter Museum are feeling uncertain amid the ongoing controversy over the institution’s human remains policy. [Inquirer$/WHYY]
• SEPTA merch like sweatpants and pint glasses flew off the shelves on Cyber Monday, thanks to Philly transit fans. The online store launched recently, but you can also snag the items in person at SEPTA HQ. [PhillyVoice/BP 2021]
• Center City’s last IMAX screen is closed for good, as the Franklin Institute officially decided not to reopen the Tuttleman theater after it shuttered in 2020 for the pandemic. [NBC10/Billy Penn]
MAYOR WATCH
It’s still kind of unclear if Mayor Kenney will actually be at the City Hall tree lighting tonight, as his official schedule says he’ll join the festivities, but “will deliver remarks via a prerecorded video” (7 p.m.).
ON THE CALENDAR
🎄 Jingle all the way to the Headhouse Shambles for pop-up Sisterly Love Collective holiday market, Santa meet and greet, and holiday tree lighting. (12 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2)
🎭 Over 90 Philly-area drag performers will perform at a fundraiser showcase in Northern Liberties to support local HIV support organizations. Tickets start at $39. (6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 3)
🎤 Russian feminist protest and activist punk rock group Pussy Riot comes to Ardmore on their international tour. Tickets start at $30. (7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 3)
Catch up on the previous week
Receive Billy Penn’s free daily roundup in your inbox every morning. Sign up here!
