PhillyNow

The DeCoatsworth story: a man’s descent or a system’s failure?

Tara Murtha — Wed, 22 May 2013 17:23:43 +0000

Richard DeCoatsworth, a 27-year-old Philadelphia ex-police officer once called a hero after surviving a bullet to the face during a routine traffic stop, was arrested this weekend on suspicion of drugging and raping two women he held captive at gunpoint. His bail is set at $60 million. According to the Philadelphia Daily News, a second current [...]

None of you voted yesterday, but here’s what happened

Randy LoBasso — Wed, 22 May 2013 13:00:25 +0000

Yesterday’s election was one for the ages. Because it’s been ages since so many of you stayed home. “I’m afraid we may see the lowest turnout in many, many years,” wrote Committee of Seventy vice president and policy director Ellen Kaplan in last night’s final media update from the good government group, sent out at 8:40pm. That [...]

Philly promoter attacked amid rash of NYC anti-gay violence

Tara Murtha — Tue, 21 May 2013 19:20:37 +0000

Dan Contarino, former promoter of the popular “Shaft” party at Shampoo nightclub, was assaulted in New York City last night, marking the sixth reported incident of apparently anti-gay violence in Manhattan this month. Contarino posted a public update on Facebook this morning, including a photo of his brutally godawful black eye and swollen face: “THANKS FOR [...]

PhillyNow Primer: May 21, 2013 Primary Elections

Randy LoBasso — Tue, 21 May 2013 10:30:05 +0000

If you’re reading this the same day it’s published (Tuesday, May 21, 2013), then you’re in luck. Because today is Election Day in Philadelphia and you get a chance to vote for the future of your city—in an off off-year no less! Republicans and Democrats are holding primaries. And in some cases, they’re important. The most [...]

Gun-rights activist among several arrested at the Smoke Down Prohibition event

Randy LoBasso — Mon, 20 May 2013 14:06:49 +0000

This weekend’s Smoke Down Prohibition demonstration at Independence Mall ended in arrests when federal park rangers and Philadelphia police officers descended upon the protest at 4:20 p.m., breaking it up and handcuffing several activists who lit up joints on the federal grounds. The event was organized by PhillyNORML and comedy troupe the Panic Hour, the fifth [...]

PhillyNow Calendar: civic events, May 20-25

Randy LoBasso — Mon, 20 May 2013 12:30:36 +0000

There’s something I was supposed to do this week. Something important. It involves me going to a place and picking people to represent me. …Something… News flash: Election Day is Tuesday and you should give a shit. There’s a vacancy for the Judge of Superior Court, the City Controller, District Attorney, Judge of the Court [...]

Students march down Broad Street for school funding

Randy LoBasso — Fri, 17 May 2013 20:53:26 +0000

Thousands of students poured off SEPTA buses and emerged from the Spring Garden stop on the Broad Street Line today to rally at the School District Building in Philadelphia. They were there to protest the ongoing school district budget cuts and to put pressure on both the Philadelphia government and the state government to fund [...]

Philly students to walk out, protest at noon today

Randy LoBasso — Fri, 17 May 2013 15:34:27 +0000

Philadelphia students, organized by the Philadelphia Student Union, Youth United for Change and other youth and adult-led groups, are walking out of their schools at noon today to protest budget cuts to the school district. “Schools are going to be operating on a bare bones budget that would call for, basically, the removal of all programs [...]

Philly marijuana advocates pushing for full legalization

Randy LoBasso — Thu, 16 May 2013 14:33:44 +0000

In their most recent “Politically Uncorrected” column, G. Terry Madonna and Michael L. Young reflect on the most recent Franklin and Marshall polling of Pennsylvania voters by calling marijuana legalization “arguably the litmus test of whether one is culturally conservative or liberal.” They continue to note that while recreational marijuana is still opposed by a [...]

Sen. Hughes wants a vote on Medicaid—and the public is with him

Randy LoBasso — Wed, 15 May 2013 12:30:23 +0000

Since Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett openly rejected adding 500,000 Pennsylvanians without health insurance to the state’s Medicaid rolls during his 2013 budget address, state Sen. Vincent Hughes (D-Philadelphia) has made reversing that decision a front-and-center issue. And yesterday, he issued what’s called a discharge petition to get his bill regarding the health law to a [...]