Philadelphia
Viewfinder: Protests Erupt Over Philadelphia Cops' Alleged Racist Facebook Posts
Demonstrators gather in the council chamber to protest at Philadelphia City Hall on June 20th, 2019, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
How Cities Can Save Money by Providing Lawyers for Tenants Facing Eviction
The city of Philadelphia has launched a pilot program that provides legal services for low-income tenants in housing court—and it's already seeing results.
The Hazards Beneath Us
A new book explores how, for decades, businesses of all sizes have been burying hazardous waste all over cities.
To Combat 'Sanctuary Cities' the Department of Justice Has Opted for Shame and Blame
In response to a lack of success in the legal sphere, the DOJ has sought out stories of immigrant crime in an attempt to influence sanctuary cities like Philadelphia.
Philadelphia Will Not Renew Its Data-Sharing Agreement With ICE
The end of the contract comes amid concerns that customs enforcement was using the information to target law-abiding undocumented immigrants.
Can Racial Bias Ever Be Removed From Criminal Justice Algorithms?
A recent vote over a proposed tool to predict the risk that a person would pose a threat to public safety in Pennsylvania stirred a debate over its unintended consequences.
Inherent Bias: Who Is Actually 'Welcome' at a Starbucks?
Starbucks doesn't need to close its stores for bias trainings. It needs to change its entire design so that it doesn't merely reflect the character of host neighborhoods, especially if that character is racist.
Philadelphia Announces It Will Decriminalize Marijuana
Though the office will no longer charge possession, those who are caught selling or delivering marijuana will still be charged.
Re-Conceptualizing Sacred Spaces
Churches are centers for community gatherings, but as less people remain affiliated to specific religions they need to adapt to continue connecting people.
Pennsylvania Supreme Court to Hear Case on Soda Tax
In 2016, Philadelphia became the first major city in the U.S. to pass a soda tax.
Philadelphia Clears the Way for Supervised Injection
Philadelphia has the highest opioid-overdose death rate of any American city.
Philadelphia Sues Jeff Sessions Over Anti-Sanctuary City Measures
Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and the state of California have already filed similar suits.
Overheard: The Conversation, in Context
"Only a small percent actually ventured out to slit our collective throats with their votes."
Thousands of Registered Voters Potentially Disenfranchised in Pennsylvania
A new report finds as many as 26,000 Pennsylvania residents who had submitted voter registration applications on time may have been unable to vote or may have seen their ballot discounted.
The Number of Librarians in Philly Continues to Dwindle
Public schools in Philadelphia have suffered a 94 percent drop in the number of full-time librarians between 1991 and 2015.
Democracy Is Not Built on a Convention Stage
How local leaders are pushing for progress at the Democratic National Convention.
Eastern State Penitentiary and the Critique of Mass Incarceration
Inside the former prison-turned-museum and its new exhibit about the perils and inequities of mass incarceration in America.
The Continued Decline of the Alt-Weekly
What the death of the iconic City Paper means to Philadelphia.
A Superficial Solution for Crime That Actually Works
Philadelphia is forcing property owners to fix up abandoned buildings to fight crime, and it's actually working.
The 30 Top Thinkers Under 30: The Stand-Up Comedy Fan Who Says We Shouldn’t Be So Focused on the Future
We canvassed the world of the social and behavioral sciences, looking for rising stars whose careers promise to make a lasting mark. We'll be profiling the top 30 throughout the month of April.
This Week in Hate Speech
A round-up of news and research on hateful speech, and efforts to silence it.
How Paid Sick Leave Became a Major Issue for the Left
Mandatory paid sick leave is a government policy position that requires businesses of a certain size to give their employees a certain amount of time off. It has also sparked a fight that's made and broken political careers.
Philadelphia's Librarian Dilemma
The City of Brotherly Love is losing librarians, despite scores of studies proving their value. What gives?