Philadelphia

House GOP wants attorney general to investigate Philadelphia DA

Ben Wasserstein

Two weeks after an arrest warrant for Rep. Kevin Boyle, D-Philadelphia, was withdrawn, House Republicans are calling for Attorney General Michelle Henry to investigate Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner.

Gov. Josh Shapiro attends a Philadelphia Union game on Sept. 23, 2023.

Group that doesn’t disclose its donors paid $12K for Shapiro to attend Phillies games, other sporting events

Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PA

The secrecy leaves taxpayers in the dark about who underwrites the outings and what interests they may have in state government policy.

Patrick Cicero, the state’s appointed consumer advocate (left), challenged a decision by the Public Utility Commission, led by Chair Gladys Brown (right).

How a recent court ruling could put the brakes on water and sewer privatization in Pennsylvania

Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PA

Pennsylvania’s Commonwealth Court found a state commission should not have approved the sale of a municipal sewer system to a private company.

Crime and Law Enforcement

Take Note: Philly D.A. Larry Krasner On Reforming The Criminal Justice System From Within

Jenna Spinelle

On this Take Note, we’re going to hear an interview with Philadelphia district attorney Larry Krasner. Before he was elected to be Philadelphia’s chief…

At the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia Thursday, the national anti-death penalty organization Witness to Innocence calls for Pennsylvania to abolish the death penalty.

Crime and Law Enforcement

Exonerated Death-Row Inmates Push Pa. To Abolish Capital Punishment

Witness to Innocence, a national anti-death penalty organization based in Philadelphia, staged an event in the city Thursday calling for Pennsylvania to…

Steve Austin, a facilitator of Philadelphia's participatory defense program, talks about tapping the resources of the community that knows defendants.

Crime and Law Enforcement

In Philadelphia, A Community-Based Program Teaches Defendants How To Help Themselves

Annette John-Hall

It was an early autumn afternoon in 1975 — a moment that Steve Austin wishes he could take back.Recalling that day recently, Austin took a deep breath, as…

Pennsylvania Sen. Stewart Greenleaf, one of the most prominent voices for reforming Pennsylvania's public defense system, in his office in Montgomery County.

Crime and Law Enforcement

Despite Outlier Status, Pa. Lawmakers Don’t Make Public Defense A Priority

Katie Meyer | WHYY

If you hunt hard enough around Harrisburg, it is possible to find lawmakers who are on board with allocating state money for the public defense of the…

Malcolm Kenyatta, who won the Democratic nod for the 181st district in the Pa. Legislature, cheers during the first night of the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia in 2016.

Pa. Statehouse Likely Getting First Openly Gay Lawmaker Of Color

Annette John-Hall

The Pennsylvania Legislature is poised to soon make history as it welcomes its first openly gay lawmaker of color.Malcolm Kenyatta won the Democratic…

Students at an art class in Overbrook High School in Philadelphia in 2016. State Senator Vincent Hughes has cited Overbrook as an example of a school in need of repair.

Education

Pa. Lawmakers Want To Reform School Construction Program, But Funding Remains A Question

Pennsylvania’s system for funding school construction projects is old.How old, you ask?Current statute requires school districts submit their proposals in…

Jovan Weaver, principal of Wister Elementary School.

Education

"Schooled" Podcast Follows Year One At A New Philly Charter School

Emily Reddy

Season two of the Keystone Crossroads podcast “Schooled” looks at one elementary school in Philadelphia that sparked debate when the district turned it…