Bobby Allyn covers courts, criminal justice and breaking news for WHYY. Before coming to Philadelphia, he was in Nashville, where he wrote about legal issues and urban change for regional and national newspapers. He spent his last year there as a reporter for Nashville Public Radio. Before that, he was a staff writer covering federal courts for the Tennessean. His stories have been heard on NPR’s Morning Edition, All Things Considered and other shows. Bobby grew up near Wilkes-Barre, a small blue-collar town in Northeastern Pennsylvania. He is a first-generation college graduate who studied philosophy and journalism at American University in Washington. At other points in life, he has lived and worked in Brooklyn, Portland, Ore. and Sweden. He enjoys bike commuting and black coffee.
More from the Contributor
Pa. Lutheran pastor criticized for ‘violent purge of Muslims’ comment after Notre Dame fire
On Easter Sunday, Pastor Carl Johnson confessed he had hoped the Notre Dame fire in Paris was committed by Muslims in order to justify the eradication of Muslims from France.
2 years ago
Listen 1:57
Sen. Casey pushes to end ‘boyfriend loophole’ in domestic abuse bill over NRA objections
Sen. Bob Casey pushes to end ‘boyfriend loophole’ in lapsed law; the NRA fears it will be applied too broadly and could unfairly strip people of their right to own a firearm.
2 years ago
DA Krasner: Philadelphians whose property was wrongly seized should be reimbursed
A $3 million fund will reimburse those whose assets were improperly seized as part of Philadelphia prosecutions.
2 years ago
Cash grab: As asset forfeiture quietly expands across Pa., abuses follow
As counties have scaled up the practice to fund local police, our investigation found that seemingly innocent people are getting caught in the rush for cash.
2 years ago
Listen 6:02
Krasner reverses position, no longer opposes new hearing for Mumia Abu-Jamal
Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner previously tried to block Abu-Jamal’s latest appeal, but now has changed his mind.
2 years ago
Pa. lawmaker cited by national investigation defends role as ‘copycat’ legislator
State Rep. Thomas Murt says those bills represent just 1 percent of all bills he’s ever backed.
2 years ago
Is Philly’s supervised injection site legal? Backers make ‘moral and religious’ defense
Among their arguments: shutting down the proposed injection sites would violate the group’s Judeo-Christian convictions.
2 years ago
Judge in Mumia Abu-Jamal’s case blasts Krasner for trying to block latest appeal
Pennsylvania Supreme Court is weighing whether to take convicted killer Mumia Abu-Jamal’s new appeal and potentially grant him a new trial.
2 years ago
Pa. gun owner among many nationwide fighting to overturn Trump-led ban on bump stocks
Federal officials are asking gun owners to immediately destroy or turn over bump stocks after a nationwide ban took effect this week.
2 years ago
Rendell says Philly group near deal on home for supervised injection site
A real estate developer who wants to remain anonymous has offered a building in the Kensington area to Safehouse, the ex-governor, a member of the board, told a D.C. crowd.
2 years ago
‘Hyperloop’ cargo from Philly to Pittsburgh? Officials say it’s not that far-fetched
State transportation officials are beginning to plan for a future that includes hyperloop trips at near supersonic speeds. Experts say the concept may never become a reality.
2 years ago
Support for legal marijuana defies party politics in Pa. — among residents, not lawmakers
With signals from the Wolf administration, momentum is building for legalizing marijuana in Pennsylvania, but top lawmakers have vowed to block the effort.
2 years ago
Listen 3:55