#BILLYPENNGRAM OF THE DAY
Shadow and light on Mills Covered Bridge
(Photo by @phrankied)
District Attorney Larry Krasner could prosecute ICE agents — and anybody could sue them — for wearing masks on the job or refusing to produce their badges, under a bill City Council debated Monday.
But Charlie Ellison, executive director of the Office of Immigrant Affair, said most of the seven proposals contained “legally problematic” language, including the mask ban, and said city lawyers were still reviewing the latest amendments to their language. Continue reading…
Philadelphia is getting a new arts festival this Pride season.
The Philly Pride Arts Festival, or Philly PrideAF (we see what they did there), is running throughout June with LGBTQ+ musicians, choirs, opera singers, drag artists and actors coming together to put on a lineup of queer programming. Continue reading…
RECAP: What else happened?
$ = paywalled
• Did Pa. governor candidate and current state treasurer Stacy Garrity need to register as a lobbyist? Her work for a defense contractor raises questions. Meanwhile, Garrity visited Mar-a-Lago as she struggles to compete with Shapiro on fundraising.
[WHYY/Spotlight PA]
• ‘Fingerprint of climate change’: April heat wave could break a record in Philadelphia — a daily record on Wednesday set in 1941 and tie a record on Thursday set in 2002. [WHYY]
• Uber launches campaign against Philly’s proposed $1 rideshare tax, saying riders will bear the cost of Mayor Parker’s proposal to direct $1 from every ride to the school district. [WHYY]
• A new billboard on Philadelphia’s I-95 corridor says it’s OK to be fat. It was paid for by local author Emma Copley Eisenberg’s portion of an anti-AI lawsuit. [WHYY]
• Iranians in Philadelphia grapple with war’s toll as ceasefire brings little clarity on Iran’s future. [WHYY]
• Speed cameras have been activated on a stretch of Route 13 in Northeast Philly. A 60-day warning period began Monday. Starting June 12, tickets will be mailed with fines ranging from $100 to $150. [PhillyVoice]
• The former Franklin Mills mall might be transformed into a major mixed-used development — including a youth sports complex with potential waterpark, hotels, restaurants and housing. [BizJournal$]
MAYOR WATCH
Mayor Parker joins city officials and the Philadelphia Historic District 250th Committee to announce plans for the third annual Red, White, & Blue To-Do celebration set for July 2, 2026, honoring the day the Second Continental Congress voted for independence.
Yesterday, Parker helped host the first ‘One Philly, One Future’ Budget Town Hall to engage residents on the proposed Fiscal Year 2027 Operating Budget and Five-Year Plan.
ON THE CALENDAR
🌱 Billy Penn’s Spring in Philly guide
⚽ Billy Penn’s FIFA World Cup Guide
🛍️ Thrifty in Philly guide
📚 Book lovers’ guide to Philly
🍹 Non-alcoholic Philly
🏃🏽 Philly Runners Guide
For the **FULL LIST** of this week’s events calendar, visit BillyPenn.com!
Thursday, April 16: Printmaking By The People Exhibition Opening
An exhibition of hundreds of posters created by Philadelphians who were asked to share their visions of “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” At Parkway Central Library. (5:30 to 7:30 p.m.)
Thursday, April 16: The Raven Society: A Jane Austen Garden Party
Join The Raven Society for a night of revelry inspired by the wit and whimsy of Jane Austen on the rooftop terrace of Parkway Central Library, featuring light fare, delightful refreshments, and spirited conversation. $60 tickets. (6 to 8 p.m.)
Thursday, April 16: Confluence Film Festival Night 3
This night is programmed by BlackStar Projects and starts at 5:30 p.m. with a pre-screening social in Dino Hall. At 6:30 p.m. is the screening and Q&A of “Seeds,” is a portrait of centennial farmers in the American South. $10 tickets.
https://platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js
About the Author
Discover more from USA NEWS
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
