PhillyNow

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 [...]

The Kermit Gosnell Case: Verdicts

Tara Murtha — Tue, 14 May 2013 19:26:00 +0000

On the tenth day of deliberations, a jury of Dr. Kermit Gosnell’s peers—including eight African-Americans—rejected the defense’s premise that the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s case against Gosnell was a “racist, elitist prosecution.” At 2:45pm yesterday, Sheriff Jewell Williams walked into the courtroom donning a small sheriff’s star on his blazer lapel. Several more sheriffs entered soon after, [...]

Bills to Eliminate Philadelphia Traffic Court Flying Through Legislature

Randy LoBasso — Tue, 14 May 2013 18:24:16 +0000

The Philadelphia Traffic Court has had its share of problems over the last few years. In January, nine judges or former judges were charged with fixing tickets for friends and political allies by the U.S. attorney’s office. The feds alleged “a widespread culture of giving breaks on traffic citations to friends, family, the politically-connected and [...]

PhillyNow Calendar: Civic Events, May 13-17

Randy LoBasso — Mon, 13 May 2013 12:00:42 +0000

You like bicycles? Sure you do! This week, there are two bicycle-heavy events meant to increase two-wheeled awareness. Wednesday night will be the annual “Ride of Silence,” in which bicyclists ride around the city with a police escort to remember those riders killed on the road. And Friday is “Bike to Work” day. Recent numbers [...]

Cheri Honkala is Marching to U.S. Chamber of Commerce Next Weekend—From Philly

Randy LoBasso — Fri, 10 May 2013 14:51:52 +0000

Her former campaign is knee-deep in a federal audit by the Federal Election Commission, but former vice presidential candidate and veteran Philadelphia economic activist Cheri Honkala is headed to D.C. this weekend. On foot. “We’re marching to the Chamber of Commerce,” she says. “We’re marching to the real power.” Honkala tells Philadelphia Weekly that her march alongside [...]

Poll Shows Corbett’s Priorities in Wrong Place, For Real

Randy LoBasso — Thu, 09 May 2013 20:30:21 +0000

Remember liquor privatization? Turns out the public has turned against Corbett on that, too.

Nutter to Sign LGBT Rights Bill

Randy LoBasso — Thu, 09 May 2013 18:25:21 +0000

At 3pm today, Mayor Nutter will sign a bill that will make Philadelphia the most LGBT-friendly city in the country, according to a press release. The legislation, sponsored by Councilman Jim Kenney, will provide the first “Life Partner and Transgender Health Tax Credits” in the country, offering tax incentives for private companies to provide benefits to [...]