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Category: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Local News

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  • TSA tests handheld language translation devices at Philadelphia airport

    TSA tests handheld language translation devices at Philadelphia airport

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    The U.S. Transportation Security Administration is using Philadelphia International Airport as a test site for new handheld devices that translate statements from TSA officers for people who aren’t proficient with English.

    The TSA said the devices are intended to make interactions with travelers who do not speak English easier and help them understand what officers are asking of them.

    The devices are smaller than cell phones and contain libraries of 83 languages. An officer speaks into it and what was said gets translated into the language spoken by the passengers. The electronic translator can reproduce speech from a TSA officer as audio and as text displayed on the device’s screen, making it useful for communicating with people who are deaf, hearing impaired or blind, too.

    “We hope that this will turn out to be a valuable tool for our officers to provide guidance to passengers who might not speak English,” said Gerardo Spero, TSA’s federal security director at Philadelphia International Airport.

    TSA has begun using five of the devices at the airport — in terminals A-East and A-West, and at the busiest checkpoints in terminals B, D and E.

    The federal agency said officers have encountered benefits and technical challenges. One of the problems is that colloquial terms, like “pat-down,” cannot be translated in every language, so officers have been advised find different words to explain what they need to do.

    TSA officers can store up to 10,000 pre-programmed translations to handle typical interactions that help speed up the process. The devices also distinguish among dialects of the same language. With Spanish, for example, the translators are programmed to understand dialects spoken in Spain, Argentina, Colombia and the United States.

    The TSA said it views the technology as a “game-changer” for assisting people who aren’t fluent in English. Travelers at Philadelphia airport already have among the shortest wait times — at just over 9 minutes — at security points among the nation’s 31 busiest airports, according to a study released last year.

    “The field testing of these units is one step that we are taking to improve our communication with a broader traveling population,” said Jose Bonilla, TSA’s executive director of traveler engagement.

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    Michael Tanenbaum

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  • 44 pre-K students were returning from zoo during deadly school bus crash in Austin, officials say

    44 pre-K students were returning from zoo during deadly school bus crash in Austin, officials say

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    AUSTIN, Texas — Dozens of pre-kindergarteners were coming back from a field trip when their school bus was involved in a deadly crash on Friday in the Texas Hill Country, according to officials.

    The Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Service said the crash happened at 2:17 p.m. on State Highway 21 near the Travis/Bastrop County line, about 50 miles east of downtown Austin.

    The EMS posted about the crash on X, formerly known as Twitter, saying crews responded to a crash involving at least 40 people.

    In a news release, Hays CISD confirmed that 44 students and 11 adults were on the school bus during the major crash.

    The district said that the bus was carrying prekindergarten students from Tom Green Elementary School who were returning from a field trip to the Bastrop Zoo.

    “Parents of students on the bus have been notified directly from the campus. The district is in the process of conducting reunification. Hays CISD transportation staff, counselors, safety and security personnel, and other administrators have all joined first responders either at the accident scene or at the reunification location,” the district said.

    The Texas Department of Public Safety told ABC News that the “very serious accident” involved the school bus, another vehicle with passengers, and a concrete truck.

    Officials said helicopters took four patients to St. David’s South Austin Medical Center, and three others were driven to the hospital.

    Sources told ABC News that at least two people were killed.

    Details about the crash were not immediately provided including the cause, the victims’ ages, or conditions.

    Bastrop County is included in the Austin-Round Rock, Texas, metropolitan statistical area.

    This is a breaking news story. Check back with this article for updates.

    Copyright © 2024 KTRK-TV. All Rights Reserved.

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    KTRK

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  • Salveson Stetson Group closing its doors after 27 years as one of region's top executive search firms

    Salveson Stetson Group closing its doors after 27 years as one of region's top executive search firms

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    All employees had their non-compete agreements voided and can immediately pursue jobs in the search field.

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    Jeff Blumenthal

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  • Idorsia gets FDA approval for high blood pressure drug Tryvio

    Idorsia gets FDA approval for high blood pressure drug Tryvio

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    Idorsia, which already markets an insomnia drug, expects to launch the hypertension treatment during the second half of 2024.

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    John George

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  • Rittenhouse Square penthouse sells for $1.3M below asking price

    Rittenhouse Square penthouse sells for $1.3M below asking price

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    Despite the reduced rate, the listing agent sees it as part of a positive trend driving interest in higher end condos in Center City.

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    Lisa Dukart

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  • U.K. man gets 37 years for fatally poisoning couple with fentanyl, rewriting their will

    U.K. man gets 37 years for fatally poisoning couple with fentanyl, rewriting their will

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    A British man has been sentenced to 37 years in prison after poisoning a husband and wife with fentanyl and reworking their will to seize control of their business. 

     The sentence for Luke D’Wit is “among the most significant sentences ever secured” after an investigation by Essex Police Department officers, the department said in a news release.

    D’Wit, 34, first met Carol Baxter in 2014, when they were introduced by a mutual friend. D’Wit then began working as an IT consultant for the Baxters’ business, which sold specialty curved bathmats. 

    Over nearly 10 years, D’Wit created “more than 20 personas” which he used to communicate with Carol Baxter and her daughter Ellie, the police news release said. One of those fake personas was as a doctor who was experienced in dealing with Hashimoto’s disease, an autoimmune disease that Baxter had been diagnosed with. 

    Posing as Andrea Bowden, D’Wit made medical suggestions that Carol Baxter followed. These health directions “led to a continued deterioration in her health,” the news release said. D’Wit also posed as fictitious patients of the made-up doctor and even sent voice memos where he affected a female voice to convince Carol Baxter he was a woman named Jenny. These interactions “manipulated and controlled Carol Baxter in the two years before her death” and and allowed D’Wit to exert the “ultimate form of control,” said Lord Justice Lavender, the presiding judge on the case. 

    screen-shot-2024-03-22-at-11-51-00-am.png
    Carol and Stephen Baxter.

    Essex Police


    The couple frequently interacted with D’Wit before their deaths. He visited their home often, the BBC reported. Ellie Baxter told the BBC her parents were “irritated” by these visits. 

    D’Wit last visited the couple on April 7, 2023. Ellie Baxter found her parents dead on April 9 – Easter Sunday. Police found no injuries or obvious causes of death, and carbon monoxide poisoning was quickly ruled out. Toxicology reports showed that both Carol and Stephen Baxter had “died as a result of lethal doses of fentanyl,” the news release said. This spurred police to launch a murder investigation, which turned up the connection to D’Wit. 

    During the course of the investigation, a search of the Baxter home led to the discovery of fentanyl patches and a fake will that left the couple’s company to D’Wit. A different will had been left with the couple’s lawyers. Police also found that a camera had been set up inside the Baxter home to watch them as they died.

    D’Wit was arrested in July and charged with two counts of murder. When he was arrested, police discovered more fentanyl patches in his home as well as a bag of metal tacks and pill casings. Police believe those pills were previously given to Carol Baxter, who had once been admitted to the hospital and found to have tacks in her stomach. 

    screen-shot-2024-03-22-at-11-50-52-am.png
    Luke D’Wit.

    Essex Police


    D’Wit first told the court that he had worked with Stephen Baxter to develop the false personas, but that story fell apart under cross-examination, police said in the news release. Each message from a false persona was traced back to devices in D’Wit’s possession. 

    Lavender called the efforts “macabre” and based on a “significant degree of planning.” Lydia George, the detective inspector who led the investigation into the murders, called D’Wit’s actions those of a “pathological liar.” 

    “Today, though, is not about Luke D’Wit. And it’s not about Essex Police. It’s about Carol and Stephen and it’s about their family,” George said, after the sentencing was announced. “We know nothing will bring Carol and Stephen back. We know nothing can give the family back their loving mother, sister and grandmother or their generous father, brother, son and grandfather. However, I truly hope this sentence is of some comfort to the family as they move forward.” 

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  • New Food and Drink Options Coming to Citizens Bank Park

    New Food and Drink Options Coming to Citizens Bank Park

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    Attention Phillies fans! Citizens Bank Park is getting some new food and drink options for you to purchase during the games.

    Aramark, the food and beverage provider for Citizens Bank Park announced the new concession options.

    New menu items include:

    • Loaded Funnel Cake Fry Sundae: Fresh funnel cake fries topped with a homemade strawberry compote, vanilla soft serve, and whipped cream. (Coca-Cola Corner, Section 142)
    • Bratwurst Sandwich: Grilled brat topped with spicy mustard and beer-braised onions on a Liscio Bakery roll; served with house ranch chips and a pickle spear. (Pass and Stow)
    • Schwarburger 2.0: Kyle’s favorite burger creation will now be featured all season long. The burger is topped with American cheese, pepper bacon, fried egg, crispy onions, and signature sauce. (Coca-Cola Corner, Section 142)
    • Wing Flavor of the Month: Open the season with the Flamin’ Pickleback followed by featured sauces that will rotate throughout the year. (PJ Whelihan’s, Section 147)
    • Gluten-Free Brownie: Chocolate brownie, chewy marshmallow, and Herr’s® Fire Roasted Sweet Corn Popcorn. (Gluten-Free Kiosk, Section 122)
    • On-Field Ice Cream Caps: New souvenirs for your favorite Richman’s soft serve ice cream or Dippin’ Dots™ served throughout Citizens Bank Park. (Sections 106, 108, 110, 128, 137, 139, 204, 206, 318, 321, 323, 330 and The Yard)
    • Fastball Freeze: New spiked frozen cocktail. (Sections 113 and 147)
    • Non-alcoholic frozen slush puppies: Cherry and Blue Raspberry (Section 139)
    • Manco & Manco Pizza has new locations in the Hall of Fame Club and on the Upper Deck (Sections 212 and 321)

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    Jessica Yakubovsky

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  • NFC East 2024 free agency grades: Dallas Cowboys edition

    NFC East 2024 free agency grades: Dallas Cowboys edition

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    Heading into the 2023 season, the favorites to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl were the Philadelphia Eagles, the San Francisco 49ers, and the Dallas Cowboys. As usual, the Cowboys had a good record during the regular season, going 12-5, winning the NFC East. And, well, as usual, they were a quick out in the playoffs, getting blown out at home in the wildcard round by the Green Bay Packers.

    At the Senior Bowl in January, Jerry Jones promised that the Cowboys would be “all in” to win a Super Bowl in 2024. Their free agency actions have not exactly backed up those words, as they lost a slew of notable players, and barely added anyone.

    Players gained

    • LB Eric Kendricks: Kendricks is a nine-year veteran who has eight straight seasons with 100-plus tackles. He played his first eight seasons in Minnesota before signing with the Chargers last season. In 2023, he had 117 tackles (7 for loss), 3.5 sacks, 6 pass breakups, a forced fumble, and 7 QB hits. While not the same player he was at the peak of his career when he was a first-team All-Pro in 2019, Kendricks is still a good starting linebacker who will help Mike Zimmer install his new defense in Dallas.

    Players retained

    • CB Jourdan Lewis: Lewis was competing for a roster spot last offseason, but eventually became the CB3 after Trevon Diggs was lost for the season. He was one of the weaknesses of the Cowboys’ defense in 2023, in my opinion, and he had some rough moments in their playoff loss to the Packers.

    • RB Rico Dowdle: Dowdle has been the Cowboys’ preseason workhorse over the last few years, but in 2023 he finally got some carries that mattered. He had 89 rushes for 361 yards (4.1 YPC) and 2 TDs as the backup to Tony Pollard. If the season started today (it doesn’t), Dowdle would be the team’s No. 1 back, but they’ll almost certainly add another player to be the primary ball-carrier.

    • CB/ST C.J. Goodwin: Special teams guy.

    • LS Trent Sieg: Long snapper Trent Sieg is a long snapper.

    Players lost

    • LT Tyron Smith: Smith had a rare healthy season in 2023, at least by his standards. After missing 13 games in 2022, 6 games in 2021, and 14 games in 2020, Smith only missed four games in 2023, and he played well. He signed a one-year deal with the Jets. It will be interesting to see if the Cowboys move LG Tyler Smith out to LT or if they’ll keep him at LG and draft a LT early to start as a rookie. Either way, the Cowboys are highly likely to experience a dropoff in play on the left side of their line.

    • C Tyler Biadasz: Biadasz has been the the Cowboys’ starting center for the last three seasons, but he’s just kind of a guy. He agreed to a three-year deal with the Commanders for just under $30 million. He’s now the eighth-highest paid center in the NFL, and while he’s certainly not in the top quarter of league’s centers in terms of talent, he was a solid enough starter and the Cowboys will now have to replace him.

    • RB Tony Pollard: Pollard got franchise tagged last year, and he turned in a disappointing season as the lead back, averaging 3.99 yards per carry and 5.7 yards per catch. He signed a three-year, $21.75 million deal with the Titans. The Cowboys were right not to try to retain Pollard at that number, but they also have a bare cupboard at running back. They’ll very likely bargain shop at RB over the next couple of weeks. 

    • DE Dorance Armstrong: Armstrong has been part of the Cowboys’ defensive line rotation for six years. He didn’t do much during his first three seasons in the NFL, but he has 21 sacks over the last three seasons. He agreed to a three-year deal worth $33 million with the Commanders. There was no way the Cowboys were matching that.

    • LB Leighton Vander Esch: The Cowboys released Vander Esch with a failed physical designation. He retired a few days later. Vander Esch was a good player when he was on the field, most notably as a rookie in 2018, when he had 140 tackles, 7 pass breakups, and 2 INTs on his way to being named second-team All-Pro. However, he had significant durability issues as a result of a series of neck injuries. He missed 7 games in 2019, 6 games in 2020, 3 games in 2022, and 12 games in 2023.

    • WR Michael Gallup: Gallup had a promising start to his career when he had 507 receiving yards as a rookie in 2018, 1107 yards in 2019, and 843 yards in 2020. Those first three seasons Gallup averaged 15.6 yards per reception. However, in his fourth season he tore an ACL, and has not been the same player since. In 2022 and 2023, he averaged 27.2 receiving yards per game, and just 11.5 yards per reception. The Cowboys released Gallup, who will count for $8.7 million in dead money in 2025.

    • DT Johnathan Hankins: Hankins started 14 games for the Cowboys in 2023. He had 27 tackles and 3 sacks. He signed with the Seahawks.

    • DE Dante Fowler: Fowler had 10 sacks over the last two seasons as a situational pass rusher for the Cowboys. He signed a one-year deal with the Commanders for a little over $3 million.

    • DT Neville Gallimore: The Cowboys thought they had a steal when they selected Gallimore in the third round of the 2020 draft, but he was mostly a disappointment. He’s now a Dolphin.

    • CB Noah Igbinoghene: Igbinoghene was a Dolphins first-round bust who signed with the Cowboys last season, and played in five games. He became the fourth non-impact Cowboys player to sign with the Commanders.

    Still free agents, but likely moving on

    • CB Stephon Gilmore: Gilmore played well for the Cowboys last season at the age of 33. The Cowboys lost Trevon Diggs for the season with a torn ACL, and DaRon Bland stepped up in his place, becoming a star player. With Diggs and Bland returning, Gilmore will probably cost too much to bring back as a CB3.

    • S Jayron Kearse: Kearse was a starting safety who has become good in coverage on the back end, but with Donovan Wilson and Malik Hooker at safety, Kearse will likely sign elsewhere.

    The tale of the tape

    Players gained  Players retained  Players lost  Probably gone 
    LB Eric Kendricks CB Jourdan Lewis LT Tyron Smith CB Stephon Gilmore 
      RB Rico Dowdle  C Tyler Biadasz  S Jayron Kearse 
      CB C.J. Goodwin  RB Tony Pollard   
      LS Trent Sieg  DE Dorance Armstrong   
        LB Leighton Vander Esch   
        WR Michael Gallup   
        DT Johnathan Hankins   
        DE Dante Fowler   
        DT Neville Gallimore   
        CB Noah Igbinoghene   

    Analysis/Grade

    The Cowboys knew that they were going to be one of the most cap-constrained teams in the NFL this offseason, especially with CeeDee Lamb and Micah Parsons soon to not be playing on their rookie contracts any longer. That had to have made their one-and-done playoff performance all the more devastating. As expected, they lost a number of key players so far this offseason. Their starting lineup on offense currently looks like this: 

    • QB: Dak Prescott
    • RB: Rico Dowdle
    • WR: CeeDee Lamb
    • WR: Brandin Cooks
    • WR: Jalen Tolbert
    • TE: Jake Ferguson
    • LT Tyler Smith
    • LG: T.J. Bass
    • C: Brock Hoffman
    • RG: Zack Martin
    • RT: Terence Steele

    That offensive line is looking verrrry shaky. Martin is on the downside of his career, Steele stunk in 2023, Smith may be moving from LG to LT, and Bass/Hoffman are a pair of undrafted guys with a combined 564 career snaps played.

    Spoiler: The Cowboys are going to take an offensive lineman in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, and probably another one on Day 2.

    Defensively, the Cowboys’ starting lineup is still fine enough, but they lost a lot of role players and depth.

    While losing a bunch of players was probably an unavoidable inevitability, there is also no evidence of a creative plan to replace them yet, and they only have three picks in the first four rounds of the draft.

    Grade: C-.

    Follow Jimmy & PhillyVoice on Twitter: @JimmyKempski | thePhillyVoice

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    Jimmy Kempski

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  • Bucks County teen sentenced for killing girl, asking friend on Instagram to help cover up her death

    Bucks County teen sentenced for killing girl, asking friend on Instagram to help cover up her death

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    A Bucks County teenager was sentenced for shooting and killing a girl and then asking a friend on Instagram to help cover up her death.

    Ash Cooper, formerly known as Joshua Cooper, pleaded guilty on Thursday to third-degree murder, possession of an instrument of crime and tampering with or fabricating physical evidence in connection to the November 2022 killing of 12-year-old Morgan Connors.

    Cooper, 18, was sentenced to 15 to 40 years in state prison and a consecutive sentence of seven years of probation. Cooper was also ordered to follow all the rules and recommendations of adult probation and parole and undergo psychological and psychiatric evaluations.

    The death of Morgan Connors

    On Nov. 25, 2022, at 4:11 p.m., police responded to a 911 call reporting a possible homicide at the Top of the Ridge Trailer Park on Gibson Road in Bensalem, Pennsylvania. A witness told investigators they were on an Instagram video chat with a friend, later identified as Cooper. During the chat, Cooper told a friend they had just accidentally killed someone and flipped the video image, showing the legs and feet of someone covered in blood.

    Cooper then asked the friend for help with cleaning up the scene and disposing of the victim’s body.

    When police arrived at Gibson Road, they spotted a teen running out of the back of the trailer. They then entered the trailer and found Connors’ body on the bathroom floor. The girl was suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. Police also said there were signs that someone tried to clean up the crime scene.

    The responding officers later spotted Cooper in the area of the trailer park and took him into custody.

    During an interview after the arrest, Cooper told detectives that they got the gun while cleaning and organizing his father’s safe, investigators said. The teen accessed the safe while replacing the batteries that their dad had removed, making the safe’s combination lock inoperable.

    While Cooper was sentenced, Chief Deputy District Attorney Kristin McElroy read an impact statement from Connors’ grandfather who described the “intense pain and heartbreak” of losing his granddaughter.

    “The human heart is not built for such heartbreak,” the letter stated.

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    David Chang

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  • Guggenheim says it ‘did not authorize’ Beyoncé ‘Cowboy Carter’ promo display

    Guggenheim says it ‘did not authorize’ Beyoncé ‘Cowboy Carter’ promo display

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    (The Hill) — New York City’s Guggenheim Museum said it did not authorize an advertisement for Beyoncé’s new album, “Cowboy Carter,” which was projected onto the building Wednesday.

    The iconic museum’s circular architecture featured projections with the phrases “This ain’t a country album. This is a ‘Beyoncé’ album,” alongside the album’s title and release date.

    Multiple New York City museums were plastered with advertisements for the album, including the Whitney Museum, the New Museum and the Museum of Art and Design. 

    In a statement to ARTNews, the Guggenheim acknowledged that the projections were without its knowledge or consent.

    The museum “was not informed about and did not authorize this activation,” a spokesperson said. “However, we invite the public—including Beyoncé and her devoted fans—to visit the museum May 16–20 when we present projections by artist Jenny Holzer on the facade of our iconic building to celebrate the opening of her major exhibition.” 

    The 32-time Grammy award-winner’s much-anticipated country record is set to hit streaming platforms next week.

    Projections at the other three museums also included the album cover, Beyoncé riding horseback in a rodeo outfit.

    The Guggenheim acknowledged the projections in an Instagram story post early Thursday, adding a bee emoji to a fan’s post about them. The fan speculated that the projection was connected to the museum’s ongoing display titled “Going Dark,” which centers on Black artists.

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    Nick Robertson

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  • Woman adopts senior dog who spent over 700 days in shelter

    Woman adopts senior dog who spent over 700 days in shelter

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    A Texas woman has adopted a senior dog who spent over 700 days at an animal shelter.

    Jeanette Finch-Walton, 74, adopted a 10-year-old Carolina dog mix from Austin Pets Alive! in Austin, Texas.

    Jeanette Finch-Walton adopted a 10-year-old dog named Velcro from an Austin, Texas animal shelter Austin Pets Alive!

    Austin Pets Alive!

    According to Austin Pets Alive!, Finch-Walton asked for a “low-energy” senior dog she could spoil, and the shelter staff matched her with Beluga, who has arthritis and some additional special needs. The two met in February and Finch-Walton began the process to adopt the canine through the shelter’s foster-to-adopt program.

    Despite Beluga’s need for extra attention and care, he was perfect for Finch-Walton, who has since renamed Beluga to Velcro because he is constantly by her side.

    Velcro is a 10-year-old Carolina dog mix who spent over 700 days in Austin Pets Alive! animal shelter.

    Velcro is a 10-year-old Carolina dog mix who spent over 700 days in Austin Pets Alive! animal shelter.

    Austin Pets Alive!

    Finch-Walton told Austin Pets Alive! she hopes her story about adopting Velcro will inspire others to consider adopting dogs with special needs and older dogs.

    “They deserve love and they give as much love as they get,” she said in a statement shared by the shelter. “They respond to love just as well, if not more than younger dogs. Velcro has adopted me, I didn’t adopt him, he adopted me. He has chosen me, I’m his mom and my roommate is his auntie.”

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    GMA

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  • Jefferson Health to tap more retired nurses as it expands mentoring program amid staffing shortages

    Jefferson Health to tap more retired nurses as it expands mentoring program amid staffing shortages

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    The program targets retired nurses interested in helping those new to the profession hone their skills.

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    John George

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  • Philly Today: Phillies Give Huge Boost to Sports Complex

    Philly Today: Phillies Give Huge Boost to Sports Complex

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    Plus, using a tow truck to steal cars is actually a pretty good idea.

    What the South Philadelphia Sports Complex could eventually look like if Comcast Spectacor and the Phillies get their way (rendering courtesy the Phillies)

    Check phillymag.com each morning Monday through Thursday for the latest edition of Philly Today. And if you have a news tip for our hardworking Philly Mag reporters, please direct it here. You can also use that form to send us reader mail. We love reader mail!

    South Philly Sports Complex Gets Huge Boost from Phillies

    A few weeks ago, I told you about some huge ideas the folks who operate the South Philadelphia Sports Complex have for the area, as the battle over the proposed Sixers stadium in Center City rages on. Those ideas include everything from a 5,000-seat concert venue to a hotel to apartment and office buildings to a pedestrian connection to FDR Park.

    On Thursday — coincidentally, the 20th anniversary of the implosion of Veterans Stadium — those ideas came one step closer to reality thanks to the Phillies, who play their season opener next week. The Phillies announced that the team is partnering with Comcast Spectacor (the company behind the Wells Fargo Center, XFinity Live, the Flyers, etc.) on that vision for the future of the complex.

    “The two companies will be partnering to seek approvals and the necessary development rights from the City of Philadelphia for phase two and will work closely with the local community as plans progress,” the Phillies said in a statement.

    “When I think about what makes Philadelphia unique, it’s our incredible fan base and tight-knit community,” added Phillies CEO John Middleton. “This project focuses on expanding that community and bringing in more residents, workers and visitors. With the creation of new spaces and experiences, Philadelphians and visitors will have more opportunities to celebrate the passion and pride we have for our city and our teams.”

    Okay, but we’re still a little upset over the elimination of Dollar Dog Night. We’re Philly. We hold grudges.

    Speaking of Veterans Stadium

    On the anniversary of its implosion, we decided to take a look back at the good, the bad and the ugly that was the Vet. We heard from a fan who survived season tickets in the 700 Level. We talked to a member of the Phillies Hot Pants Patrol. And we remembered a time where you could actually see a concert there — not just any concert, but Madonna — for just $21. You can read our full remembrance of Veterans Stadium here.

    Local Talent

    Philly drag queen extraordinaire Sapphira Cristal is still killing it on RuPaul’s Drag Race. The smart money has her winning, just as the smart money had Da’Vine Joy Randolph winning the Oscar. And look what happened there. If you want to see Sapphira in the flesh instead of on your TV, she’s hosting a viewing party of the latest episode at the TLA on Friday night.

    By the Numbers

    0: Days expected to breach 60 degrees in the next seven days. Didn’t somebody say it was spring?

    7: Cars a Philly man is accused of stealing with his tow truck — a tow truck police returned to him after he used it to steal a car in 2022. How nice of them.

    1,000 percent: Increase in users seen by Overplay, an app made by a Philly native and Penn grad, after said grad just made a deal with Mark Cuban on Shark Tank.

    From the Nothin’-Good Sports Desk …

    The Sixers kicked off a four-game road trip to the far West with a game against the Suns that didn’t exactly start out as a score-fest; we were ahead 23-21 at the close of the first quarter. In the second, Phoenix pulled ahead by as much as 15 as Grayson Allen et al. started hitting threes and we went chilly.

    At the half, we were down 60-47, and they got stronger and we got weaker. Allen just kept hitting. We rallied in the last quarter and outscored the Suns, 36-25, but it was too little, too late. I have no highlights for ya. Final score: 115-102. It’s gonna be a long road trip.

    Did the Phillies Play?

    Good question. Taijuan Walker started for us against the Orioles and was yanked two outs into the second; he wound up with seven earned runs. It only got worse from there; the Phils were down 13-4 at the close of the seventh inning and wound up right there. “Atrocious pitching,” Scott Franzke and Kevin Stocker agreed, and it was. They challenge the Rays this afternoon at 1:05. On the plus side — maybe — it’s a week until Opening Day.

    And in College Hoops?

    In NIT action last night, St. Joe’s was up on top-seeded Seton Hall at the half, 40-37, in the Pirates’ house in Jersey, but the home team pulled ahead of the Hawks with just minutes left in the game. The Hawks fought back to a three-point lead with seconds remaining before Seton Hall tied it on a three and a last-second Hawk shot was blocked: overtime! The Pirates prevailed in the end, 75-72, but it was a great game.

    As for Villanova, top-seeded in their bracket, they hosted VCU in a game marred early by ’Cats turnovers. But they kept it close and were only down 31-30 at the break, then skooched into the lead early in the second half. It got ugly at the end, as VCU went in front with an 8-0 run and ’Nova just … faded, in this weird season of theirs. A 70-61 loss.

    And that’s the close of the City 6 college-hoops season.

    How About Soccer News?

    The U.S. Men’s National Team plays Jamaica in a CONCACAF Nations League semifinal at 7 p.m. tonight.

    The Flyers also play.

    All Philly Today sports desk coverage is provided by Sandy Hingston.

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    Victor Fiorillo

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  • Revisit the 2023 March Madness bracket results as the 2024 NCAA tournament kicks off

    Revisit the 2023 March Madness bracket results as the 2024 NCAA tournament kicks off

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    March Madness is upon us and over the next three weeks, dozens of teams will compete to win the 2024 NCAA Division I men’s basketball tournament. Fans have locked in brackets – trying to predict who will make it through all six rounds of the tournament and come out on top. Here’s a look back on what last year’s final bracket looked like.

    Full results for the 2023 March Madness bracket

    University of Connecticut won the 2023 NCAA Division I men’s basketball championship, beating San Diego State. UConn is five for five in title games, winning the tournament five times in the last 25 years and Dan Hurley became the third UConn coach to win a national championship, joining Jim Calhoun and Kevin Ollie.

    Below are the full results of the 2023 tournament. 

    cbs-sports-2023-bracket.jpg

    CBS Sports


    In the final four were UConn, University of Miami, San Diego State and Florida Atlantic University.

    What were the biggest upsets in the 2023 March Madness bracket?

    No. 5 seed Miami got a spot in the Final Four by eliminating No 1. seed Houston, which was the only remaining No. 1 seed in the tournament. Miami won the game 89-75.

    Florida Atlantic was another lower seed team that made it into the Final Four. The No. 9 seed was down 7 points in the second half but ended up turning it around to beat No. 1 seed Kansas State, 79-76.

    No. 5 seed San Diego made its first trip to the Elite Eight – the final eight games of the tournament – by beating No. 1 seed Alabama. 

    Several other teams upset higher seeds, but the biggest upset of them all was Fairleigh Dickinson University’s win over Purdue. FDU made history as the only No. 16 seeds to ever beat a No. 1. But their run in the tournament ended when Florida Atlanta eked them out on their way to the Sweet 16. 

    Other upsets: No. 15 seed Princeton beat No. 7 seed Missouri; No. 7 seed Michigan State beat No. 2 seed Marquette; and No. 8 seed Arkansas beat No. 1 seed Kansas.

    What was the final score for the 2023 NCAA basketball championship game?

    The UConn Huskies beat the San Diego Aztecs in a 76-59 victory at the championship game in Houston on April 3. 

    UConn had won all six NCAA Tournament games by double digits – becoming the fifth team since the bracket expanded in 1985 to do so. Their star forward Adama Sanogo finished with 17 points and 10 rebounds in the final and won Most Outstanding Player. Tristen Newton also brought in 19 points and 10 boards. Sanogo went on to play for the Bulls in the NBA, but Newton is still a Huskie. 

    San Diego State v Connecticut
    Head coach Dan Hurley of the Connecticut Huskies celebrates with his team after defeating the San Diego State Aztecs 76-59 during the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament National Championship game at NRG Stadium on April 03, 2023 in Houston, Texas.

    / Getty Images


    When are 2024 March Madness brackets due?

    Brackets had to be locked in on Thursday, March 21, when the first round of the tournament began. Sixty-four teams will play games on Thursday and Friday. The remaining 32 move on to Saturday and Sunday games. The Sweet 16 play on March 28 and 28, the Elite Eight on March 30 and 31 and the final four will play on April 6.

    Some high-profile basketball fans have released their brackets – revealing who they think will make it to the final on April 8.

    President Biden has UConn winning for the second straight year, with Houston, North Carolina and Tennessee in the final four. Former President Barack Obama also chose UConn for the tournament champs with Kentucky, Baylor and Purdue in the final four.

    Several other NCAA experts have also weighed in. Experts at SportsLine evaluate lines, teams, coaching styles, offensive trends, defensive trends and opponent tendencies to assess the strength of each team and predict how they will fair in the tournament.

    Note: CBS Essentials, CBS, Paramount+ and Sportsline are all subsidiaries of Paramount. CBS is one of the broadcast homes of the 2024 men’s March Madness tournament.

    How to watch the 2024 NCAA college basketball season without cable

    NCAA college basketball this season will air live on ESPN, ESPN+, CBS, FS1, BTN, and the Pac 12 Network, among others. 

    • The men’s First Four games will air March 19-20, 2024 on TruTV.
    • The rest of men’s March Madness 2024, including the Final Four, will air on CBS and Turner Sports — which means you’ll be able to watch March Madness 2024 on TBS, CBS, TNT and TruTV.  
    • Women’s March Madness 2024, including the Final Four, will air on ESPN and ESPN+.

    Caitlin O’Kane


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    Caitlin O’Kane is a New York City journalist who works on the CBS News social media team as a senior manager of content and production. She writes about a variety of topics and produces “The Uplift,” CBS News’ streaming show that focuses on good news.

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  • Destination NJ: Walk An Alpaca At This Farm In Somerset County, New Jersey

    Destination NJ: Walk An Alpaca At This Farm In Somerset County, New Jersey

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    An alpaca and lavender farm in New Jersey lets families get up close with some adorable and fuzzy creatures.

    PHL17’s Alyssa Cristelli visits Hidden Spring Lavender & Alpaca Farm in Somerset County, NJ. 

    To learn more about how to visit the farm, click here.

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    Alyssa Cristelli

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  • Eagles sign CB Tyler Hall

    Eagles sign CB Tyler Hall

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    According to the NFL transaction report, the Philadelphia Eagles have signed defensive back Tyler Hall.

    The Falcons signed Hall as an undrafted rookie out of Wyoming in 2020. He appeared in 9 games as a rookie, making 6 tackles. In 2021, he played for the Rams, where he appeared in 4 games (no stats), but with no snaps in the regular defense. In 2022 and 2023, Hall played for the Raiders. He had 20 tackles and 4 pass breakups in 2022, and 20 tackles in 2023. It’s perhaps also noteworthy that he averaged 31.7 yards per kick return in college with a pair of return TDs (shown here), but he has not yet been used as a returner in the NFL.

    Hall measured in at 5’8, 183 in 2020 at Wyoming’s pro day, where he ran a 4.41 40. The Raiders listed him last season at 5’10, 190. Hall has played almost exclusively in the slot during his four NFL seasons, and will very likely play there for the Eagles during the spring and summer. He’ll have a chance to make the team out of training camp, but is certainly not guaranteed a roster spot.

    After Avonte Maddox got hurt last season, the Eagles tried to replace him with a half dozen different players in the slot — James Bradberry, Mario Goodrich, Bradley Roby, Josiah Scott, Sydney Brown, and Eli Ricks. All of those guys even started games in the slot, with the exception of Ricks.

    “I’ve got to do a better job of bringing in more guys to be able to play that position,” Howie Roseman said at the NFL Combine.

    The Eagles will likely continue to add players to the mix at the slot corner position.

    Follow Jimmy & PhillyVoice on Twitter: @JimmyKempski | thePhillyVoice

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  • Biden cancels nearly $6 billion in student debt for 78,000 public service workers

    Biden cancels nearly $6 billion in student debt for 78,000 public service workers

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    President Joe Biden announced Thursday that the White House has approved the cancellation of nearly $6 billion in federal student debt for thousands of public service workers.

    The 78,000 eligible public service workers include teachers, nurses and firefighters, according to the White House.

    “These public service workers have dedicated their careers to serving their communities, but because of past administrative failures, never got the relief they were entitled to under the law,” Biden said in a statement touting the move.

    “From day one of my Administration, I promised to fix broken student loan programs and make sure higher education is a ticket to the middle class, not a barrier to opportunity,” Biden continued. “I won’t back down from using every tool at my disposal to deliver student debt relief to more Americans, and build an economy from the middle out and bottom up.”

    It’s the latest student debt cancellation move through Public Service Loan Forgiveness programs, which allow eligible borrowers to have their remaining debt forgiven if they have made a certain number of payments and are working for approved employers.

    In January, the administration canceled about $5 billion in debt for 74,000 public-sector borrowers. The White House has approved nearly $144 billion in federal loan forgiveness for about 4 million borrowers in total, according to the administration.

    Starting next week, the White House will also email about 380,000 borrowers to inform them that they are on track to have student debt canceled within two years.

    Last year, the Supreme Court invalidated Biden’s more far-reaching student loan debt relief plan, arguing that it was unlawful because Congress did not explicitly approve the move.

    This story first appeared on NBCNews.com. More from NBC News:

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  • Tennessee fisherman reeled in a big one. It turned out to be an alligator

    Tennessee fisherman reeled in a big one. It turned out to be an alligator

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    MAYNARDVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A fisherman at a lake in northeast Tennessee caught a surprise at the end of his line when he pulled up a 3- to 4-foot long alligator.

    The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency said their Union County wildlife officer Rick Roberts got a call from the angler on Monday describing the unusual catch at Norris Lake.

    When Roberts arrived, the angler had pinned the alligator to the ground behind its head and told Roberts he caught it on a swim bait.

    In this photo provided by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, an alligator was caught by an angler in Norris Lake in Union County, Tenn., on Monday, March 18, 2024. (Rick Roberts/Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency via AP)

    Alligators are not native to that part of Tennessee and are considered Class 1 wildlife species, which are those that are inherently dangerous to humans and may only be possessed by permitted exhibitors or commercial propagators.

    Matthew Cameron, regional communications coordinator for TWRA, said the alligator was taken to Little Ponderosa Zoo and Rescue, an exotic animal rescue facility in Clinton, Tennessee.

    “While the origin of the alligator is unclear, it is evident that it was being illegally held in captivity and possibly released into Norris Lake,” Cameron said in an email.

    Cameron said the zoo doesn’t normally house alligators, so the operators are looking for a permanent home for the alligator.

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  • Firefighters battling 3-alarm blaze in Royersford, Pa.

    Firefighters battling 3-alarm blaze in Royersford, Pa.

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    Wednesday, March 20, 2024 11:26PM

    ROYERSFORD, Pennsylvania (WPVI) — Firefighters are battling a three-alarm blaze in Royersford, Pennsylvania.

    The call came in around 5:43 p.m. Wednesday for a fire at a residence on 2nd Avenue.

    Officials say the flames have spread to multiple homes.

    Crews are still working to get the blaze under control.

    The cause is still under investigation.

    No injuries have been reported.

    Copyright © 2024 WPVI-TV. All Rights Reserved.

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  • Philly Today: The Noisy Scourge of Pickleball Hits the Main Line

    Philly Today: The Noisy Scourge of Pickleball Hits the Main Line

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    News

    Plus, Philly loses a longtime independent music venue.

    Pickleball courts like this one are causing some problems in Lower Merion. (Getty Images)

    Check phillymag.com each morning Monday through Thursday for the latest edition of Philly Today. And if you have a news tip for our hardworking Philly Mag reporters, please direct it here. You can also use that form to send us reader mail. We love reader mail!

    The Noisy Scourge of Pickleball Hits the Main Line

    When I first heard about pickleball, I never thought I’d be writing about a pickleball controversy in my lifetime. Feels a little bit like writing about a curling scandal, a bowling brouhaha.

    But controversies over the noise that pickleball brings with it are actually now pretty widespread. And this noisy pickleball controversy has found its way out onto the Main Line.

    Lower Merion Township is installing pickleball courts at quiet neighborhood parks. And some neighbors are none too happy about this. I live in West Philly and would love to be able to include pickleball among my list of Top 20 quality-of-life complaints.

    Meanwhile, if you’re not somebody who has a viscerally negative reaction to the evil sound of the pickleball, we’ve got all the pickleball you can handle right here.

    Local Talent

    Normally, I use this Local Talent space to showcase, well, local talent. But today, I’m posting a brief in memoriam for the Grape Room in Manayunk, one of the few Philly music venues where up-and-coming artists could get a shot. The Grape Room, which has gone by other names in the past (including the one I still call it: the Grape Street Pub), has immediately ceased operations, canceling all upcoming shows. Not much intel on the closure beyond just this Instagram post from the venue.

    By the Numbers

    280: SEPTA stations this Temple student plans to visit in an effort to rank them. Gotta have goals!

    20,770: Signatures on petition to bring Dollar Dog Night back to Citizens Bank Park. People really like their overly salty, hyper-processed meat products, it turns out.

    0: Primary elections our friends in Delaware will hold this year. Why bother, they figured.

    Where Are You Eating This Weekend?

    Might I suggest you go where our James Beard semi-finalists like to eat? After all, who better to know all the best spots than the best chefs in town?

    And From the Score-More Sports Desk …

    You say you like exciting baseball games? Big-hitting baseball games? You would not have enjoyed the pitchers’ duel that the Phils and the Tigers put on last night.

    Ranger Suárez went five full innings and gave up only one hit.

    We at least got four hits off Detroit starter Jack Flaherty in his five innings; Tiger centerfielder Parker Meadows had the only three hits for the other side. Tonight we go up against the Orioles at 6:05.

    Do the Sixers play?

    Indeed they do, kicking off a three-game road trip with a bout against the Suns at 10 p.m.

    And in College Hoops?

    In NIT action tonight, which is all we’ve got for the guys this year, St. Joe’s plays at Seton Hall at 7 p.m., and the Villanova Wildcats host VCU at 9. Interestingly and rather peculiarly, the Hawks and ’Cats women both face those same opponents in their respective tournaments tomorrow night, with both games starting at 7.

    The Flyers also played.

    All Philly Today sports coverage is provided by Sandy Hingston.

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