The Why Archive

Calls to "defund the police" range from major reallocations of resources to abolishing forces entirely. What could that look like? And what do Philadelphians want?

Why did the Frank Rizzo statue become a symbol of police brutality? The Why examines his record and his legacy on policing in Philadelphia.

The reasons why Camden, N.J. dissolved and rebuilt its police department are very different from why activists are now calling for similar moves across the country.

Civil unrest, a pandemic, widespread mail-in balloting, and new voting machines combined to make last week's Pa. primary a more unusual test run for November than expected.

As the Philly restrictions, doctors are starting to reschedule routine visits. Here's why many of the changes they've made in response to the COVID-19 pandemic will stick.

A group of white men carrying baseball bats assaulted at least three people in Fishtown. Why did police allow them to assemble past curfew while telling protesters go home?

WHYY reporters chronicle how protests, looting and the police response have escalated in Philly, taking us deep into what they've seen, heard and experienced on the ground.

After protests, looting and a heavy police response rocked West Philly Sunday night, City Councilwoman Jamie Gauthier was able to calm tensions with just one phone call.

Now that the city has moved past the initial surge of the coronavirus pandemic, how has Philly's Health Dept. done at keeping the number of cases down?

Scientists are racing to develop a COVID-19 vaccine, but a Philly expert says it takes years to do safely and outlines the risks of rushing the process.

At 139, Lucy the Elephant is still a hit. Here's the story of how the six-story wooden pachyderm came to be and avoided demolition to become a Jersey Shore icon.

Some leaders are pushing for Philly to formally apologize for the MOVE bombing 35 years ago. It that were to happen, what would an apology — and forgiveness — look like?

At least half the COVID-19 deaths in Pa., N.J. and Del. have been among nursing home residents. So why are some facilities knowingly letting in patients with the virus?

N.J. beaches will be open just in time for Memorial Day weekend. But how could a socially-distanced Jersey Shore change the close culture beach-goers love?

As Congress debates whether to extend benefits, here's a deeper look at why the unemployment system isn't working for many of the nearly 2 million Pa. residents out of work.