
Sophia Schmidt covers the environment for WHYY’s PlanPhilly. Before coming to Philadelphia in 2021, Sophia reported on her home state of Delaware for Delaware Public Media and produced interviews for NPR’s “Weekend Edition.” Sophia was a 2021 Metcalf Fellow.
More from the Contributor
City Council grills officials on response to chemical spill that threatened Philly’s drinking water
In a City Council hearing, officials admitted there’s work to be done to prepare Philly’s drinking water system for future threats.
4 months ago
Philly ‘water bar’ back at City Hall to let you taste the tap water
The water bar is an ongoing effort by the Philadelphia Water Department to build trust in the city’s tap water, which officials say meets state and federal standards.
4 months ago
Forecasters predict an ‘above normal’ hurricane season and urge communities to prepare
Even when the Philadelphia area is not hit directly by a hurricane, it can still be devastated by a storm’s remnants.
4 months ago
‘We know what to do’: Philly superintendent reveals 5-year strategic plan for schools
The plan aims to be a five-year roadmap to safer schools, higher student achievement, and cost-effective operations.
4 months ago
Traveling from the Philly area Memorial Day weekend? Expect traffic
AAA predicts close to half a million residents of the Philadelphia area will travel this Memorial Day weekend — the most since before the pandemic.
4 months ago
90 spraygrounds open this weekend to keep Philadelphians cool
Outdoor water features known as spraygrounds are considered one way to help residents of all ages stay cool during increasingly hot summers.
4 months ago
Water shutoffs resume in Philly May 31, but new categories of residents are exempt
Households with children, seniors, or people with disabilities are protected from non-payment based shutoffs when they resume May 31.
4 months ago
Philadelphia changed how it regulates toxic air pollution. Here are 3 things to know
The city limits toxic air pollutants like lead and formaldehyde. A policy revision expands the list, but critics say it doesn't go far enough.
4 months ago
Listen 1:03New green job training prepares future Philly workers for climate transition
Trainees will learn to install heat pumps, which could cut climate pollution, lower energy bills, and keep families cool during increasingly hot summers, proponents say.
4 months ago
How EPA’s proposed power plant rules could impact Pennsylvania
The proposal comes as the dangerous impacts of human-caused climate change become increasingly clear.
4 months ago
Power plants among the largest industrial climate polluters in Pennsylvania
In a new report, environmental advocates crunched EPA data to call out Pennsylvania’s “dirty dozen.”
5 months ago
Listen 1:23Philly’s tap water has a trust problem. Did the recent contamination scare make it worse?
Before a chemical spill threatened to contaminate Philly’s water, 42% of residents drank bottled water. The long-term impact of the incident on trust is “yet to be felt.”
5 months ago