Philadelphia public schools will not return to in-class instruction until further notice, according to today’s announcement by the School District. The decision was made based on the most recent updates from the Philadelphia Department of Public Health (PDPH). There has been an upsurge in COVID-19 cases in the city in the past few weeks (740 new cases were reported on Nov. 5 – the highest daily increase since the beginning of the pandemic).

Last month, the School District announced a hybrid learning plan that would allow public school students from kindergarten through 2nd grade to return to classrooms two days a week across the city beginning Nov. 30. However, this plan has now been postponed indefinitely.  Continue Reading

While the presidential election has been the focus of most media in the last several days, here are the results for local politicians.

Overall, 709,767 ballots were cast in the Nov. 3 election in Philadelphia (62.85 percent of all registered voters), according to unofficial results provided by the Office of the Philadelphia City Commissioners. 356,125 ballots were cast at the polls and 353,642 ballots were cast by mail (so far). As of this morning, mail-in ballots are still being counted in the city and it may take a few more days to finish processing them.  Continue Reading

The Philadelphia Police Department has released police bodycam video and 911 calls from last month’s fatal shooting of 27-year-old West Philadelphia resident Walter Wallace Jr. by two police officers, which prompted days of protests and civil unrest in the city.

The graphic video includes footage of the moment the police officers arrived at Wallace’s residence at 61st and Locust, Wallace exiting his house and walking outside, apparently holding a knife, the moment of the shooting and the aftermath when bystanders rushed to help Wallace. A woman can be seen trying to intervene and someone can be heard screaming “He’s mental!” before he was shot. The full video is available here.

Wallace’s family said earlier that he was going through a mental health crisis when 911 calls were made on Monday afternoon, Oct. 19, asking for help because he was reportedly assaulting his parents. The calls were placed by Wallace’s relatives and a concerned neighbor. Continue Reading

The 2020 General Election voter turnout was high in the Philadelphia area, including in West Philly. Dozens of polling places were open in West Philadelphia for in-person voting and long lines were reported shortly after 7 a.m. on Tuesday at many voting locations in the area:

We’re visiting polling sites across West/Southwest Philly all day today. First up: Mt. Olivet Church on N. 41st.

Lines were already long but we came with masks and hand sanitizer to hand out. pic.twitter.com/LNmeBGwW53

— Councilmember Jamie Gauthier (@CouncilmemberJG) November 3, 2020

Lines considerably decreased by 9 a.m. and voting went quite smoothly.  Continue Reading

It’s General Election Eve and here are a few things to keep in mind about the big day tomorrow.

Those who haven’t voted early can vote in person tomorrow. There are dozens of polling places around West Philadelphia; to find your polling place, go here. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Your ID is not required to vote unless you are voting for the first time or have recently moved. As long as you are in line by 8 p.m., you can vote.

Please note that these polling places are not for dropping off your mail or absentee ballot. You can still drop it off at one of the City’s Satellite Election offices created to help with mail-in voting (there are two offices in West Philly). You can also request a new mail ballot if yours hasn’t arrived yet, then fill it out and return it. These offices will stay open through Election Day. Their hours are 11:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m., but they will accept dropped off ballots until 8 p.m. on Tuesday. Continue Reading

Philadelphia’s Share Food Program will be hosting several special food distributions in West Philly this Saturday, Oct. 31:

Frontline Dads
410 N. 34th St.
11 a.m. — 1 p.m.

New Testament Church
935 S. 53rd St.
11 a.m. — 1 p.m.

On A Mission
433 N. 64th St.
12 noon until food runs out

60th Ward Emergency Food Relief
5149 Locust St.
12 noon until food runs out

To find additional food resources, residents can access the Find Food interactive maps at www.sharefoodprogram.org/find-food.