Community news: Local stories from Philly, Delaware & NJ

Volunteers working with a city Tree Tenders group plant trees in Hunting Park. (City of Philadelphia)

PlanPhilly

Philly debuts community-driven plan to beat rising temperatures

City creates first-ever community heat relief plan in Hunting Park. Planting trees is one of the recommendations, but it takes more than that.

7 years ago

City Council President Darrell Clarke said Wednesday he plans to introduce a bill in September to ban guns, knives, and other deadly weapons at city parks, recreation centers, and playgrounds. Violators would be fined up to $2,000 dollars, face up 90 days in prison, or both. (Aaron Moselle/WHYY)

Philadelphia

Politics

Public Safety

Philly lawmakers want to ban guns from city playgrounds, rec centers — but face long odds

Pennsylvania’s preemption laws prohibit municipalities like Philadelphia from passing their own gun-control measures.

7 years ago

Pennsylvania state Sen. Anthony Williams questions a witness during a hearing on the PES refinery fire at the University of Pennsylvania. (Emma Lee/WHYY)

Energy

Environment

Philadelphia

PES refinery fire highlights need for better air monitoring, experts tell Pa. lawmakers

Scientists and regulators appeared before state lawmakers to discuss environmental impacts of June’s blaze at Philadelphia Energy Solutions.

7 years ago

Philadelphia

Visual Arts

Billy Penn

30-year mural to ‘stop the violence’ gets resurrected in South Philly

The developer who destroyed the art helped pay to get it painted anew.

7 years ago

Windward Beach in Brick, N.J. (Google Maps)

Down the Shore

Swimming temporarily banned at 2 N.J. beaches due to fecal bacteria

After swimming advisories were issued Tuesday for five New Jersey beaches, state officials closed two Ocean County beaches on Wednesday due to unacceptable bacteria levels.

7 years ago

A discarded television lies in a vacant lot off Pershing Street near the PATCO rail tracks. Activists (from left) Vedra Chandler, Meishka Mitchell and Noreen Scott Garrity, are working to stop the practice of illegal dumping on Camden lots. (Emma Lee/WHYY)

Environment

New Jersey

Camden asks artists to transform illegal dumping sites

The City of Camden plans to turn illegal dumping sites into public art spaces near major transportation corridors in hopes to change people’s perceptions of the city.

7 years ago

Listen 1:44

Leafy Pine Street in Center City is contrasted with treeless North 5th Street in Hunting Park.

PlanPhilly

Philly’s low-income neighborhoods have fewer trees and the city’s free tree program isn’t helping

A new analysis shows where the city has street trees, revealing a gap between well-off neighborhoods and those with higher rates of poverty.

7 years ago

Developer Steven Brown, who said his intention had always been to preserve the mural, said the building was on the verge of collapse and impossible to save. He has promised to replace it. (Annette John-Hall/WHYY)

The Why

Philadelphia

Saving a cherished mural — and Philly’s civic well-being

A cherished Philly mural was on the verge of demolition. An outraged community help save it. A tale of happens when public art collides with new development.

Air Date: July 24, 2019

Listen 13:12

Business

Energy

Environment

U.S. bankruptcy judge approves $65 million loan for PES refinery

Philadelphia Energy Solutions says the goal after reorganization is to rebuild and continue to operate its South Philadelphia refinery complex.

7 years ago

Fecal bacteria leads to swimming advisories at 5 N.J. beaches

Five New Jersey beaches are under swimming advisories issued Tuesday afternoon due to exceeding the allowable bacteria threshold, state officials said.

7 years ago