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Newsletter

PA Sens. react to Obamacare vote; Northeast Philly’s historical sites; Free pet adoptions

Newsletter for Friday, Jul 28 2017

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PA Sens reactions to Obamacare repeal vote are VERY different

In the wee hours of Friday morning, the U.S. Senate voted down the "skinny" repeal of Obamacare, as the GOP lost the vote 49-51. Every Democrat voted no, as did Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Susan Collins of Maine and John McCain of Arizona. PA Sen. Bob Casey called the repeal a "terrible bill for the middle class" and said that's why it was rejected, urging "for us to work together on commonsense solutions that will make our health care system more affordable and bring down costs." Sen. Pat Toomey said, "I am disappointed with this setback on efforts to fix our broken health care system. Congress must not give up on repealing and replacing the failed health care law." Read Toomey's full statement here.

Big schedule changes to XPoNential Music Festival due to rain

WXPN is making major changes to its XPoNential Music Festival schedule due to expected heavy rains. The public radio station's three-day festival starts today on the Camden waterfront, and some of the times and performance locations have been changed. Here's everything you need to know about the schedule and what you're allowed to bring into BB&T Pavilion. 

Why Jeff Sessions' civil asset forfeiture policies won't impact PA much

Attorney General Jeff Sessions is reversing Obama-era regulations related to controversial asset forfeiture practices, but his moves likely can’t touch Pennsylvania thanks to legislation signed into law less than a month ago. The Department of Justice is bringing back a process sometimes called “adoptive forfeiture” in which state and local law enforcement agencies can seize assets from individuals — even without first bringing criminal charges — and then transfer them to the federal government’s control. Get the details here and find out why Pennsylvania doesn't have too much to worry about.

5 Northeast Philly sites have been nominated for historical designation

An African-American cemetery established while the colonies were at war with the British empire, the former mansion of elite mill owners and three other properties in Northeast Philadelphia have been nominated for historical designation. It's the result of decades of work by just one guy — Northwood Civic Association President Joe Menkevich. He told the Northeast Times one of the applications alone took a decade to finalize. Check out all the property info. 

Featured Event

See a musical play inside the Art Museum and talk conservation

Arts group Orbiter 3 somehow convinced the museum powers that be to let them perform a short excerpt from their show Peaceable Kingdom inside the special WILD exhibition currently on display. The tie-in is there: The play is about wild animals struggling to live together. After the performance, which includes song, head upstairs to chat about the overlap between environmental and art conservation.

Where: Philadelphia Museum of Art at 2600 Ben Franklin Pkwy. 19130

When: July 28, 2017 at 6:15 p.m.

How much: Free with museum admission ($20)


Find out more

Billy Penn Likes

Eagles camp got rolling, but without a former first-rounder

As training camp got started, the Eagles opted to trade starting offensive lineman Allen Barbre, with head coach Doug Pederson telling reporters Thursday he did it to give some of the younger guys on the roster the chance to play, and give Barbre a chance to hook on elsewhere. He said glowing things about his former starter. Less glowing things were said, however, about Marcus Smith. The former first-round pick was cut this week, so we looked at the Eagles' recent history in the first round. How many busts have there been, and are any as big a bust as Smith?

Free adoptions at ACCT this weekend

The kennels are full at the Animal Care & Control Team center on Hunting Park Avenue that the organization is waiving adoption fees until July 30. Things are so dire at ACCT the staff is very concerned about overcrowding. "We need people to open their homes to a dog in need. And we need people to avoid surrendering at all costs," an update on ACCT's Facebook page reads. ACCT is open until 8 p.m. today and until 5 p.m. on weekends.

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