Layla A. Jones

Reporter

Layla A. Jones (she/her) is a general assignment reporter for WHYY's Billy Penn. She's previously worked as a communications director for Councilwoman Cindy Bass, as a political reporter for the Philadelphia Tribune, and as an arts and entertainment web producer at the Inquirer.

She has a journalism degree from Temple University, back when Klein College was called the School of Communications and Theater. Layla's written everything from breaking news to feature-length artists profiles, but has a special focus on covering Black life, culture and politics.

Jig-Bee Flower Farm decorated ballot drop boxes during the November 2020 election

Election 2021

Here’s what to do if you applied for a Philly mail ballot, but didn’t get it

Don’t worry, you have options.

A group of dirt bike riders on North Broad Street in May 2020

New legislation would let police confiscate more dirt bikes from Philly streets

Riding has long been part of city culture, but the vehicles aren’t street legal.

How to celebrate AAPI Heritage month in Philadelphia

Food pop-ups, fundraisers, rallies, discussions, and art exhibits across the city.

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Election 2021

Procrastinator’s guide to the May 2021 primary election in Philadelphia

A cheat sheet for being informed when you vote.

Protesters demonstrated this week outside Penn Museum over the handling of the recently revealed MOVE remains

MOVE victim remains

UPenn hires lawyer who led 1985 MOVE commission to investigate handling of remains

Carl E. Singley works at Tucker Law Group, considered the region’s largest Black-owned firm.

Community activist Isaac Gardner, shown here leading a march in October 2020, runs Unsolved Murders in Philly, one of the organizations in the new program

Philly creates new ‘network’ for grassroots criminal justice reform with $200k grant program

Gun violence continue to rise, but the city’s biweekly briefings may already be having a positive effect.

MOVE victim remains

Students at Penn and Princeton are horrified over mistreatment of MOVE children’s remains

University researchers were cavalier about studying the bones of Delisha and Tree Africa, and there’s still no clarity on where they currently are.

Mustafa Rashed with wife Cynthia Mauger and their sons Miles and Mathias

George Floyd protests

Make space, don’t sugarcoat, empower pride: How to talk to your kids about the Chauvin verdict

Philly parents and therapists on the delicate balance of explaining racism to children.

The complete guide to every reference, joke, and obscure history lesson on the Philly iceberg

Writer Cameron Jones combined his own research with feedback from social media to create the viral meme.

8 year-old King Lewis hangs with Maleek Jackson at his boxing gym in Northern Liberties

Northern Liberties gym owner who grew up in the streets is giving Philly kids an alternative

Maleek Jackson's path to entrepreneurship hasn't been easy.

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