First Lady Michelle Obama will visit West Philly on Thursday, August 9. She is expected to speak at the University of the Sciences’ Bobby Morgan Arena (730 South 43rd Street) at 2 p.m. As of 12:30 p.m. today, tickets (first-come, first-serve) were still available at the Obama West Philadelphia Headquarters, 209 South 52nd Street (between Walnut and Locust). As far as we know, stopping by and picking them up is the only way to get them.
 
 
 

Update: We are getting conflicting reports about the man’s university affiliation, so we have removed that detail until we can clarify.

Police say a recently dismissed professor jumped from the 4th floor of a brownstone apartment building at 4114 Spruce Street in an apparent suicide this morning. Police say the 44-year-old man lived on the 4th floor. He was pronounced dead at 6:49 a.m.

Update (08/06): A three-story residential building at 4238 Chestnut Street was on fire, the Fire Commissioner’s Office confirms. The fire was reported about 4:10 p.m. on Sunday and extinguished by 4:50 p.m. No injuries were reported.

A reader, Mike, reported a fire on Sunday at about 4:00 p.m. on the 4200 Block of Chestnut Street. Mike said that over a dozen fire trucks responded to the fire: “I saw the fire and tried to break in before the fire Dept. arrived. Smoke detectors were sounding and large flames were pouring from the side windows at the rear. But I could not open the door pounding on it with a large piece of lumber (about a  4′ piece of 4×10″). Fire department was on scene within moments and took over.”

It’s not known if anybody was injured in the fire. Stop back for more information.

Photo by Mike Lynch.

The first annual BlackStar Film Festival is being held at the International House in West Philly (3701 Chestnut St.) this weekend. The mission of the new festival is to showcase films not always featured in other festivals by celebrating “the visual and storytelling traditions of the African Diaspora and to showcase independent film and video works by and about black people from around the world.” The four-day festival includes forty films of all genres, including documentaries, music videos, and experimental films along with traditional narratives. Tickets ($8) are available online.

One of the films being featured at the festival is FunkJazz Kafé: Diary of a Decade, a documentary chronicling the evolution of black and popular music told by musicians themselves – old, current and future. Famous faces in the film include: Roy Ayers, Erykah Badu, Jill Scott, George Clinton, Dick Gregory, Chuck D, Dallas Austin, Cee Lo, and many others. The film was written, directed, and produced by Jason Orr. There will be a Q&A session with him after the screening, which is tomorrow (Aug 4) at 8 p.m. Check out the trailer below.

– Kelly Lawler

A 13-year-old boy was arrested Wednesday for his involvement in attempted armed robberies in the area of Chestnut Street between 46th and 47th. Police said the boy tried to rob five people, one person on Monday and four on Tuesday.

Here’s a recap:

Monday, July 30, 9:55 p.m., 46th and Chestnut

A 23-year-old woman was approached by the suspect riding a bicycle. He stopped next to her and told her to give him everything she got. The woman refused and started to walk off. Then the male pointed a handgun at her and again demanded her belongings. The woman, who was carrying a Mac Book Pro and an iPhone4, began yelling for help and then ran east on Chestnut St. While running she fell and suffered multiple cuts to her legs. She was able to run home where she called 911. Nothing was taken.

Tuesday, July 31, 10:26 a.m., Farragut and Market

A 24-year-old man was walking north on Farragut St. toward the El when the suspect approached him and asked him what time it was. The man looked at his phone and told the suspect it was 10:26 a.m. and continued walking. The suspect followed him and was now holding a gun. He told the victim to give him all his money. The victim said he didn’t have any. The suspect walked away. Nothing was taken and no injuries were reported. Continue Reading

2-year-old male orange tabby cat “Nana” was last seen on July 30 near 45th and Larchwood.