School Reform Commission must answer to Nutter, Pennsylvania DEP head comes to Philly

Good morning, Feeders! The National Weather Service says temps will hit 99 degrees today. Pools aren’t open yet, and fire hydrants and fountains are off-limits, so stay inside when you can.

We got an early start this morning with coverage of the efforts to keep Philadelphia’s accelerated schools from closing and a change of plea hearing for former Philadelphia Police inspector Daniel Castro. We’ll have full coverage of both later.

Dave Davies will take a closer look today at the School District of Philadelphia’s response to Mayor Michael Nutter’s demand of the School Reform Commission to open its books. The deadline is today.

Susan Phillips continues her coverage of natural gas drilling today. She caught up with Michael Krancer of Pennsylvania’s Department of Environmental Protection last night, and will head to another panel today at the National Constitution Center.

Early this afternoon, Lizz Fiedler will head to Camden where N.J. Gov. Chris Christie will announce legislation to create private-public partnerships to run some of the state’s schools.

Peter Crimmins is headed to Northeast High School where jazz guitarist and former Tonight Show bandleader Kevin Eubanks will talk to arts students about the importance of creativity. While there, Eubanks will catch up with a former teacher of his, who now teaches at Northeast.

Just how efficient is an energy efficient house? Carolyn Beeler will tour one this afternoon to find out how it works and how it’s keeping cool on this steamy day.

Here’s a list of stories you can read right now on our Northwest Philly pages:

There’s a brick wall of sorts on Lincoln Drive. That’s the effect a change in lane directions has created at Greene Street. Check out the video to see how drivers are responding on the road.

Think you’ve seen historic Germantown? Try it while riding a bike. We accompanied a group along as their two wheels took them through hundreds of years of history.

Some Roxborough students ditched Sunday’s bike race for something more important to them: art. An art show at ROXART Gallery helps bring families to Ridge Avenue and gives students the creative outlet they’re in danger of losing at school.