The Why Archive

Do Philly voters even know there's a mayoral primary going on? Why is the campaign so quiet, even as outside groups pour money into the race?

Pa. House Speaker Turzai says he's protecting the special-needs community. Pro-choice advocates say he's chipping away at abortion rights.

Black males in Philadelphia have a lower life expectancy than everybody else. Why does this disparity exist and how should we work to close the gap?

A WHYY investigation found Philly was ticketing people for not moving their cars during street sweeping — even though streets weren't being swept. What's happened since?

The spotted lanternfly is an invasive species from Asia that recently showed up in New Jersey, Delaware, and Pennsylvania, and poses big problems for farmers.

A Republican Pennsylvania state Rep. has been under fire after her prayer opening a recent voting session. A look into the constitutional debate over religious invocations.

Archaeologists say the remains of at least 491 people were found on a construction site in Old City. Could there be more forgotten burial grounds waiting to be unearthed?

Some expectant mothers of color are looking to midwives as alternatives to hospital deliveries. But those looking for familiar faces in Philly may be hard-pressed to find one.

PFAS, a class of toxic chemicals, are found in lots of everyday products from pizza boxes to dental floss. Why don't scientists know if they're safe?

A deadly house fire at an illegal rooming house in North Philadelphia last March had city officials calling for reform. But one year later, nothing has changed.

Forty years after the country's worst nuclear accident, Three Mile Island could close. That's sparked a debate about the risks and benefits of this carbon-free energy source.

N.J. boxer Rubin 'Hurricane' Carter was convicted in 1966 of murdering three people. His conviction was later overturned. Why we still don't know exactly what happened.

Five African-American women were kicked off of Grandview Golf Course in York County, Pa. last spring. Now four of them are running for public office.

Buprenorphine and other medication-assisted treatments could be crucial to treating those suffering from opioid addiction in Philadelphia. So why can it be so hard to get?

The answer raises further questions about the effect of politics on the criminal justice system and whether a tool designed to give hope is working.