The Penn Alexander School (4209 Spruce St.) today was named a National Blue Ribbon School, an award the U.S. Department of Education gives to about 350 schools around the country each year deemed “high performing” or “achievement gap closing.” Both public and private schools are eligible.

Penn Alexander was recognized as an “exemplary achievement gap closing school,” an award that recognizes schools that have consistently improved academic achievement against other schools around the state.

School officials received the award during a ceremony in the school this afternoon.

In its application, Penn Alexander officials wrote that, “Penn Alexander faculty spends a great deal of time developing programming and extracurricular activities to engage and support our diverse community. We believe the growth and achievement outside of the classroom has a direct impact on bridging the gap of student achievement inside the classroom.”

Two other schools in Philadelphia were also awarded the National Blue Ribbon. St. Mary Interparochial School at 5th and Locusts Streets was named an “exemplary high performing school,” as was the Folk Arts-Culture Charter School at 1023 Callowhill St.

Good news for SEPTA customers: A few months after introducing the SEPTA Key Early Adopters program, which allows customers to purchase cards that work as monthly or weekly TransPasses, SEPTA has announced the roll-out of “Quick Trip” – single trip tickets for Market-Frankford and Broad Street lines.

A Quick Trip is a disposable magnetic strip ticket that customers can swipe at new Key turnstiles. A Quick Trip is valid for one-way travel from the station where it is purchased, and must be used on the day it is purchased. Station and date-of-purchase details are printed on the ticket.

The addition of the Quick Trip feature gives riders the option to purchase their fare in the station without worrying about having a token or exact change beforehand.

There is no discount for a Quick Trip – the regular one-way transit cash fare of $2.25 applies. Also, a Quick Trip cannot be used in combination with a transfer. However, SEPTA customers can use their debit and credit cards for single-trip purchases at station kiosks, and riders who use cash will receive change if they don’t have exact fare.  Continue Reading

The 4700 block of Sansom Street, pictured here, and several other blocks remained closed Saturday morning (Photo by West Philly Local).

UPDATE (Sept. 17, 2016, 6:40 p.m.): Two police officers were shot and two civilians were killed, including the suspect, near 51st and Sansom Friday night in what started as an ambush of a police sergeant at about 11:20 p.m., police said.

Others shot included two people outside a bar near 51st and Sansom and two people inside a car nearby, according to police commissioner Richard Ross in an early morning press conference. A 25-year-old woman in the car was also killed, according to police, and the driver was in critical condition.

Police have identified the shooter as Nicholas Glenn, 25, of West Philly.

What Ross called a “completely bizarre situation” began when Glenn fired 18 shots at police Sgt. Sylvia Young as she sat inside her police cruiser at 52nd and Sansom. Young suffered a gunshot wound to the arm. Bullets also hit her protective vest. The suspect then shot four civilians and a University of Pennsylvania Police Department officer. Both police officers were in stable condition, according to police.

Police shot and killed Glenn after a foot pursuit that lasted a couple of blocks. The Penn police officer and other confronted the suspect along 48th Street between Sansom and Walnut and opened fire. The Penn officer was shot in the leg and the suspect was killed, Ross said.

Several blocks around 51st and Sansom were still closed to traffic and pedestrians on Saturday morning as the police investigation continued.

Police flooded into the area after a citywide alert went out requesting assistance. All public transportation was also shut down. Police reopened the search area, from 47th to 53rd Street and Market to Pine at about midnight.

Glenn had a long criminal record and police said they found a note on him in which he expresses animosity toward police.

#BREAKING – Police shut down West Phila – 47th to 53rd, Pine to Market after shooting of Sgt. No one in or out. pic.twitter.com/2yp1aOGhwE

— Action News on 6abc (@6abc) September 17, 2016

There was also shooting along 48th Street between Walnut and Sansom, where police continued the investigation Saturday morning (Photo by West Philly Local).

A 31-year-old woman was shot and wounded Wednesday night, shortly before 9 p.m., during a robbery near 52nd and Filbert, according to police. An unknown male approached the woman while she was standing outside with a group of men and attempted to grab her purse. A struggle ensued during which the suspect pulled out a gun and opened fire at the woman striking her in the left breast and left wrist, according to a police report. She was taken to Presbyterian Hospital and was listed in stable condition.

A police source said that the robbery was not random. She “was definitely targeted,” he said.

After shooting the woman, the suspect ran off with her purse south on 52nd Street and west on Filbert. Police later retrieved the purse in a nearby empty lot.

Many local PNC Bank customers will be disappointed to learn that the bank’s 52nd Street branch is set to close this fall. The branch, which is located at 19 S. 52nd St, will close on October 21 at 3 p.m.:

The bank has two more branches west of the Schuylkill – at 200 S. 40th St. and 3535 Market St. – and numerous ATMs east of 40th St (most of them on Penn’s campus). There is also a PNC bank ATM at 6212 Walnut St. (Photo by Twitter user @ohbadiah)

Police are looking for a man in his 40s who they say robbed J & P Seafood at 48th and Spruce on Thursday night. The robbery happened at 10:30 p.m., according to police when the suspect walked into the shop and asked for an order of shrimp. While talking to the cashier he pulled a shotgun from his jacket, pointed it at her and told her to open the register. He then leaned across the counter and took $363 from the register, according to police. After that he exited the store and fled on foot westbound on Spruce.

Police provided the following description of the suspect: black male, 40’s, light facial hair, wearing dark sunglasses, blue baseball cap, a multicolored windbreaker, blue jean capris, and armed with a shotgun.

Anyone with information about this robbery or suspect can contact Southwest Detective Division at 215-686-3183/3184 or call 911 immediately if you see this person.