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  • Trump-promoted Freedom Fuel gas stations are opening around Philly. Here’s what we know.

    Trump-promoted Freedom Fuel gas stations are opening around Philly. Here’s what we know.

    Philadelphia-area drivers can now fill up their tanks with less-expensive gasoline promoted by President Donald Trump’s administration, but details on the entire enterprise remain scarce.

    The White House on Tuesday announced the opening of the first Freedom Fuel gas station in Upper Dublin Township, at a former Sunoco station.

    In the undated video, drivers happily filled their tanks for $3.47 a gallon, which the White House said was to honor “our 47th President.” That’s cheaper than the least-expensive gas at nearby stations, according to prices posted by GasBuddy.

    The Freedom Fuel station in Dresher is near a McDonald’s and across the street from a shopping plaza. But what sets it apart from other nearby gas stations is the assortment of American flags planted across its footprint — and the cheaper gas.

    While a nearby Citgo station, about five minutes away, prices regular gas at $3.79 a gallon, and a Gulf offers it at $3.85, Freedom Fuel offers it at $3.47 a gallon.

    For many patrons stopping by Tuesday afternoon, the branding was new — and secondary to savings.

    The Freedom Fuel Network gas station at 1400 Dreshertown Road in Dresher.

    Jessiah Brice, 25, said the Freedom Fuel station was convenient because it is near her job. She had noticed the new branding after the July Fourth holiday and had no idea what it was about, but she welcomed the idea regardless of the affiliation with Trump.

    “Gas should be cheaper,” she said. “My only issue is: How is it $3.47 here and $5 by me?”

    Another gas buyer, who declined to give her name out of privacy concerns, said she had heard of Trump’s efforts to bring cheaper gas to people but had not connected it to her local gas station.

    “What’s not to love?” said another patron, before driving away with a full tank.

    Seyer Hamidi, 36, stumbled upon the station after picking up his car, which he likes to fill up with premium gas, from the mechanic. He, too, welcomed the idea.

    “Gas is going to be high whether you’re a Republican or Democrat,” the Republican said, noting the cheaper gas was a step in the right direction.

    A lot remains unclear, including the names of the participating businesses and how they are able to sell gasoline cheaper than nearby competitors.

    A White House spokesperson confirmed that a website for the Freedom Fuel Network, which showed 25 locations across the Philadelphia region and South Jersey, was accurate. The White House did not confirm that all 25 locations are open and did not provide information about the company.

    The list includes stations in Elmwood Park, Bustleton, and Hunting Park, but it was unclear if every location on the Freedom Fuel website was open.

    A White House spokesperson said the Freedom Fuel Network was a private company and not a government program, adding that the company was not purchasing gasoline at a discount and that the administration has not provided funding. The spokesperson said the business was simply making gas more affordable for drivers in Pennsylvania and New Jersey but did not elaborate.

    The company behind the Freedom Fuel Network did not respond to a request for comment.

    The fuel pumps at the Freedom Fuel Network gas station at 1400 Dreshertown Road in Dresher.

    Beyond that, not much information was available beyond the White House social media post and a statement made by Trump, who wrote on his Truth Social account last week that a “very smart retailer” located throughout the Northeast was “stepping up” to offer a discount at the pump.

    Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, crunched the numbers and said there was no profitable way for Freedom Fuel stations to sell gas so cheaply.

    “Stations selling at this price, it’s not sustainable,” De Haan said. “Generally, when losses happen, somebody’s got to pay for it.”

    De Haan had no insight on who owns the stations or what deals they might have made to purchase gas, but did confirm many of the stations exist in GasBuddy’s database, though the names were “vastly different.”

    Gas prices have been dropping in recent weeks after peaking in May. Prices soared after the United States attacked Iran and the Strait of Hormuz — a key shipping lane — was shut down.

    The average cost of a gallon of gas in Philadelphia on Tuesday was $3.95, according to AAA. That was up nearly 20% from this time last year, when the cost of a gallon of gas averaged $3.31.

  • Frontier fills Spirit Airlines’ void left at Philadelphia airport with new flight

    Frontier fills Spirit Airlines’ void left at Philadelphia airport with new flight

    Frontier Airlines has begun new nonstop daily service between Philadelphia International Airport and Detroit, taking over a route formerly operated by discount carrier Spirit Airlines.

    The service began Sunday, the airline said, adding that it is offering a special introductory one-way fare of $79 between the two cities.

    Frontier and other budget airlines such as Allegiant Air have moved to fill gaps in service since Spirit, a pioneer of cheap fares, ran out of cash and shut down May 2.

    “We are pleased to grow our service at PHL, ensuring low-cost travel options remain available for consumers,” Josh Flyr, vice president of network and operations design at Frontier, said in a statement.

    The airline is touting other new products, including UpFront Plus seating, an option with extra leg and elbow room in the first two rows of the aircraft, the airline said. UpFront Plus customers are guaranteed an empty middle seat.

    Frontier carried about 3.1 million passengers into and out of PHL during 2025, ranking second after American, the airport’s dominant carrier, with over 20 million passengers last year.

    It operates primarily from 17 gates in Terminal E.

    The promotional $79 tickets must be bought before 11:59 p.m. July 12. They apply to select nonstop flights for travel between Aug. 3 and Sept. 2, according to Frontier.

    Spirit Airlines had been in chapter 11 bankruptcy and was seeking a $500 million federal bailout to keep going. No deal was reached, so it closed and liquidated its fleet of planes. Spirit had high debt and was struggling under the weight of rising costs, especially of fuel.

  • Philly police ID officer and man he fatally shot outside St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children

    Philly police ID officer and man he fatally shot outside St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children

    Philadelphia police on Monday identified both the officer and the 32-year-old man he fatally shot last week during a confrontation outside St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children.

    Joseph Smithers allegedly pulled a Smith and Wesson handgun from his waistband at a bus stop on Erie Avenue when he was shot multiple times by Officer Azieme Lindsey, the police department said.

    “He did not fire his weapon,” Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel said Thursday evening about Smithers.

    A 29-year-old woman, identified last week by Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel as Smithers’ girlfriend, sustained a graze wound to her neck. She was taken to Temple University Hospital to be treated. Bethel said Thursday evening that she was in good condition.

    Lindsey and a second responding officer both had body-worn cameras that were activated during the encounter, the department said Monday.

    Lindsey, 28, was placed on administrative duty while the shooting was being investigated by the police department and the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office.

    Just after 10:20 a.m. Thursday, two police officers responded to the area of St. Christopher’s after being dispatched for a report of a person with a weapon, the department said Monday.

    It was later determined that the original 911 caller, described as a family member, had contacted police out of concern that Smithers was experiencing a mental health crisis and was suicidal, the department said.

    It was also later determined that around the time of the 911 call from the family member, Smithers had been told by security that he was not allowed in the hospital because he had been asked to leave the day before and was no longer permitted on the property, the department said.

    No explanation has been given for why Smithers was asked to leave on Wednesday, but Bethel said last week that Smithers was there because his son was at the hospital.

    Smithers was “left without incident” when hospital security turned him away on Thursday, the department said.

    “The hospital was at no time under threat,” Bethel said Thursday evening.

    When Lindsey and the second officer — who were in full uniform and in a marked police vehicle — arrived at the hospital, they were met by a security officer who directed them to the nearby bus stop where Smithers was last seen, the department said.

    As Lindsay exited the patrol vehicle, Smithers allegedly began moving backward while also pulling the gun, the department said. Lindsay then fired, striking Smithers multiple times.

    Smithers was transported to Temple hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 10:44 a.m. Thursday.

    The department said the handgun was legally possessed by Smithers, who had a permit to carry a concealed firearm.

  • CEO of Welcome America is leaving the organization after the city took over Philly’s Fourth of July show

    CEO of Welcome America is leaving the organization after the city took over Philly’s Fourth of July show

    The president and CEO of Welcome America Inc. has resigned. While the reasons were unclear for the departure, Monday’s announcement followed the city’s decision to take over Philly’s Fourth of July concert and fireworks from the group that has been involved with organizing the event since 1993.

    In a statement, Michael DelBene said this year’s celebration of America’s 250th birthday — interrupted by a storm that pushed back the fireworks finale to the early hours of Sunday morning — “was a spectacular accomplishment. … I am humbled by what we have accomplished together, and excited about what lies ahead for the organization.”

    DelBene had held the role since 2019. In a post to his LinkedIn account on Monday evening, DelBene said he was stepping down, and “as for what’s next? I don’t know yet. And I find that completely exhilarating!”

    Fireworks fill the sky at the One Philly: Unity Concert for America on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway early Sunday morning.

    Welcome America is a public-private partnership that receives city and state funding as well as corporate sponsorships. Mayor Cherelle L. Parker and Councilmember Mark Squilla are board members.

    It was uncertain when Welcome America plans to name its next president and CEO. DelBene was the organization’s longest serving CEO, and the only one whose tenure spanned multiple mayoral administrations. DelBene has had a busy summer — he also has been working as an executive producer with FIFA World Cup 26 Philadelphia, overseeing the Fan Festival in Lemon Hill and other parts of the fan experience.

    Despite planning Welcome America’s days of programming leading up to the nation’s 250th celebration, DelBene was not involved in the final signature event. This year, Parker’s administration took control of the city’s free concert on July Fourth from Welcoming America, rebranded it as the “One Philly: Unity Concert for America” in reference to her “One Philly: A United City” slogan, and spent significantly more taxpayer dollars in the process.

    Will Smith performs at the One Philly: Unity Concert for America.

    The city hired ESM Productions to put on the 250th anniversary fireworks show and concert for $15.5 million, which cost Welcome America only about $3 million to produce last year.

    ESM’s pay was almost triple Welcome America’s $6.6 million budget in 2024, of which $5.3 million came from government grants, according to its federal nonprofit disclosure.

    Despite a lengthy storm delay, Philly’s Fourth of July celebration went forward with performances from Will Smith, the Roots, and Meek Mill, and a fireworks show that technically began and ended on July 5 — coincidentally just a few minutes shy of 2:50 a.m.

  • Northeast Philly mosque damaged in arson attack, authorities say

    Northeast Philly mosque damaged in arson attack, authorities say

    A Northeast Philadelphia mosque was damaged in an arson attack early Sunday morning, authorities said, rattling the city’s Islamic community.

    The attack took place around 2 a.m. at the Northeast Philadelphia Islamic Center in the city’s Castor Gardens neighborhood, according to police.

    Fire crews responded to the mosque, located on the 1400 block of Tyson Avenue, and extinguished a blaze in the building’s enclosed front porch that morning.

    The mosque was unoccupied and no one was injured, police said.

    Fire marshals soon determined that the fire had been set intentionally. They are investigating the incident alongside the police department, which had not identified a suspect in the case as of Monday afternoon.

    Meanwhile, local Islamic leaders are hoping members of the public will come forward with information about the attack, as they urge law enforcement to investigate whether the perpetrator was motivated by religious bias or hate.

    “Our mosque is more than a place of worship,” said Masukul Islam Khan, the mosque’s president. “It is a welcoming community center that has served families, neighbors, and people of all backgrounds for many years.”

    “Any act of violence or hatred directed at a house of worship is an attack on the values of safety, religious freedom, and unity that our city cherishes,” he added.

    The local chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, or CAIR, is offering a $2,500 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of anyone involved with the attack.

    CAIR on Monday released a video taken in the aftermath of the blaze that shows the mosque’s porch damaged, covered in ash and soot.

    The group also released surveillance footage that shows a man wearing a black hooded sweatshirt approaching the mosque, located outside the frame, before quickly walking away.

    “An attack on any house of worship is an attack on the constitutional promise of religious freedom that belongs to every American,” said Ahmet Tekelioglu, executive director of CAIR. “It’s additionally saddening that this attack came just as the nation commemorated the 250th year of its founding.”

    The Northeast Philadelphia Islamic Center was established in 2004 and has grown from a small place of worship to a bustling community where hundreds attend weekly prayers gatherings.

    The arson comes as the mosque’s leadership seeks to construct a new, $2.8 million facility on a neighboring lot to accommodate an increase in membership.

    In 2025, CAIR’s national office released a report documenting more than 8,600 anti-Muslim bias complaints from that year, the highest amount since the organization began tracking such information in 1996.

  • Five arrested during Philly Fourth celebrations as protesters attempted to burn American flag

    Five arrested during Philly Fourth celebrations as protesters attempted to burn American flag

    Five people were arrested ahead of Philadelphia’s July Fourth celebration after protesters attempted to set an American flag on fire, according to police.

    A small group of protesters gathered outside Washington Square around 6 p.m. Saturday, with signs calling for “No celebrations of empire” and proclaiming “All empires fall.”

    According to video of the incident, what began as a peaceful protest unraveled as an unidentified woman attempted to light an American flag on fire.

    “During the protest, one of the individuals in the group placed an American flag on the sidewalk and doused it with a large amount of an accelerant,” a Philadelphia police spokesperson said in a statement.

    Burning an American flag is considered a protected form of free speech, upheld by the Supreme Court. But burning a flag on a public street in Philadelphia is generally prohibited due to the city’s strict safety rules on setting fires.

    After police intervened to prevent the flag from being lit on fire, a few protesters yelled obscenities at police and refused to leave the area, despite repeated calls from officers.

    “The group was given multiple warnings to disperse from the area and refused, leading to five arrests,” police said.

    The five individuals, who were not from Philadelphia and ranged in age from 18 to 25, were charged with failing to disperse and have since been released.

    There were no injuries reported, police said, and the remaining protesters gathered in a peaceful march through Center City following the incident, ending at the Wanamaker Building.

    Despite extreme heat and frustration stemming from weather delays, crowds were peaceful during the city’s celebration of the country’s 250th anniversary.

    Police said there were no arrests on the Parkway or outside Lincoln Financial Field, which hosted Philly’s final World Cup match Saturday. There were also no arrests stemming from other protests that happened across the city Saturday.

  • ‘I’m on this roller coaster’: Philly teachers and school staff are stuck in limbo despite promises to save hundreds of jobs

    ‘I’m on this roller coaster’: Philly teachers and school staff are stuck in limbo despite promises to save hundreds of jobs

    When a deal was struck to save 340 classroom-based jobs in the Philadelphia School District, Mayor Cherelle L. Parker and Superintendent Tony B. Watlington Sr. declared it “Christmas in June.”

    It’s July now, but manystaffers still don’t have clarity on exactly who’s allowed to come back to positions that were almost cut and how that affects vacancies system-wide.

    “It’s a mess, and it’s getting messier,” said Alison Andrawos, a teacher at Potter-Thomas Elementary in North Philadelphia who accepted a job in another district after learning this spring that her position would be cut and still doesn’t know whether it will be restored.

    Monique Braxton, the school district spokesperson, said the system is “moving forward with restoring the approximately 340 school-based positions approved in the revised budget,” but that staffing the positions is separate from restoring them.

    “We have been meeting with our union partners on implementation and are now working with principals on school staffing,” Braxton said in a statement. “All approved positions will be restored in the district’s budget system by Wednesday, July 9.”

    The complex process is causing additional uncertainty for teachers and staff members and prolonging an already tumultuous hiring season as the district deals with fallout from 17 forthcoming school closings and the back-and-forth over millions in cuts stemming from a $300 million district budget deficit.

    Watlington this spring directed school principals to build their 2026-27 budgets factoring in the cuts, including about $50 million in school-based trims and the elimination of 340 classroom jobs. Parker then proposed a $1-per-trip rideshare tax she said would cancel the classroom cuts, but City Council balked, and for a time, the position losses appeared inevitable.

    After a breakthrough with city officials on June 10 — after the district’s deadline to pass its 2026-27 spending plan — officials triumphantly said the cuts were off the table.

    But restoring the positions was always going to be complicated.

    Schools’ hiring timeline means that many of the teachers, counselors, and climate staff who were told they were going to be force-transferred because of the cuts sought and found new jobs over the past few months, either inside the district or elsewhere. Now, those workers either must rescind their acceptance of those new jobs or say “no thanks” to returning. Either way, that creates new vacancies in July, months after most schools have filled jobs and when many people are on vacation.

    “We haven’t heard whether our positions are going to be reinstated, we don’t know what positions are available, and we don’t know what we’re doing in a few short weeks,” said Andrawos, an English as a second language specialist who began teaching in Philadelphia schools in 1997.

    ‘I’m pretty sure I’m going to be leaving’

    Andrawos said she didn’t want to leave the city, but amid the worry of the past few months, she felt she had to explore jobs outside the district. Andrawos has been offered a position at a Delaware County school that comes with a raise and a shorter commute.

    “I’m pretty sure I’m going to be leaving the School District of Philadelphia because of this,” Andrawos said.

    She said the decision is tough — she’s forged real bonds with her students’ families, and has been fielding messages saying they hope she stays at Potter-Thomas.

    It’s not clear whether Andrawos’ position at Potter-Thomas, in North Philadelphia, will be restored because of the complicated way budgets are built, and the latitude principals have to shift positions based on school need and their own judgment calls.

    Philly school district, city officials reached a deal to save 340 jobs last month. Affected workers are still in limbo.

    Jobs are filled in city schools two ways — first, by a process called site selection, where principals hire any candidate they choose for open positions. Once the site selection window closes, district staff without positions choose from among open jobs in seniority order. Site selection closed weeks ago; force transfers without jobs have had their hiring sessions pushed back multiple times so far, and are still waiting.

    Jane Roh, a spokesperson for the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers, said the union notified members June 19 that all positions cut due to the deficit would be restored; the PFT was told that district notifications to affected employees would immediately follow. So far, that has not happened.

    That leaves staff sweating and frustrated by a lack of answers, some said.

    A roller coaster

    One K-8 teacher, who asked that his name be withheld because he feared repercussions, was on the force transfer list because of budget cuts. With no notice that’s being walked back, he’s left with the possibility of having to get emergency certified to teach in another subject area, which would mean taking more courses.

    The uncertainty is tough, and the answer to every question posed to the district and the union so far has been, we don’t know yet.

    “For this whole summer, where teachers are supposed to have the space to reflect and rest and plan, we can’t do that to any degree,” the K-8 teacher said.

    A teacher at a district high school, who also asked to remain anonymous because her employment situation is not settled, is in a similar boat. When her position was cut because of the deficit, she site selected into a job at another district high school.

    The process has been frustrating, she said. She once got an email saying her transfer was canceled, but that turned out to be incorrect, though she never got official notice from the district about its error and had to make calls herself to figure it out.

    When Parker and Watlington made their good-news announcement, she had no idea what to make of it. She still doesn’t, the teacher said.

    “I’m on this roller coaster; I literally don’t know which school I’m going to work at in the fall,” said the high school teacher, who would be teaching different classes, depending on where she lands. “I want to prepare for the upcoming school year, and that’s impossible if you don’t know what you’re teaching.”

    Staff at Olney High, the district school perhaps most affected by budget cuts, have been pressuring the district, publicly and in private, to halt the losses planned for their school — Olney had been slated to give up 17 staffers.

    How some Philly students included a protest against looming budget cuts in their graduation ceremony

    The school had been overstaffed four years ago as it navigated a complicated, unprecedented transition from a charter school back to a district school. It has soared, adding programs and opportunities and building a strong school culture; the community fears weathering steep staff cuts would jeopardize its progress.

    Sarah Apt, a longtime Olney teacher active in the pushback against cuts, said Wednesday that the school was told it’s getting back three of its 17 staffers.

    “We’re happy about that, but still fighting for more,” said Apt.

    Among those still in limbo is Eric Baker, an Olney English teacher who’s been struggling with the back and forth, and the possible implications for the school he’s come to love — the school recruited students for a college prep track that’s potentially losing most of its teachers, including Baker.

    “Because of this uncertainty, I’ve had to interview other places. I don’t know where I’m going to go. I would rather have the certainty of knowing where I’m going to work than having to deal with this,” said Baker. “It’s been frustrating.”

  • Philly’s delayed late-night fireworks were prompted by safety and weather concerns, city says

    Philly’s delayed late-night fireworks were prompted by safety and weather concerns, city says

    Philadelphia’s late-night fireworks display was prompted by concerns over safety and a poor long-range weather outlook, city officials said Sunday morning, as work crews were busy cleaning up Philadelphia’s Benjamin Franklin Parkway from the July Fourth celebration.

    A massive Liberty Bell display still hung over the stage near the Philadelphia Art Museum, where hours earlier Meek Mill, Will Smith, and backing band the Roots were the last to perform at the One Philly: Unity Concert for America. Gone were the fireworks and revelers, but the white tents, chain-link fencing, and long rows of porta-potties were reminders of a concert that lasted until nearly 2:45 a.m.

    It wasn’t supposed to go that long. But a summer storm around 9 p.m. rolled in with intense wind gusts, rain, and lightning, leading the city to evacuate the Parkway.

    The city didn’t have an official number, but estimated that “thousands” of concertgoers returned, just after midnight, to get the party started again. So did the performers, with the exception of Christina Aguilera.

    Items from last night’s festivities on the Ben Franklin Parkway wait to be picked up in Philadelphia on Sunday, July 5, 2026.

    Mayor Cherelle L. Parker said she trusted the experts and welcomed people back to the concert venue once it was safe.

    “I want to thank the Roots and all of their incredible guests for their relentless energy and for delivering an incredibly inspiring performance worthy of America’s 250th birthday,” Parker said in a Sunday news release.

    The decision to proceed with the fireworks was made by city experts, led by Managing Director Adam K. Thiel, and the mayor was informed, said Parker spokesperson Joe Grace.

    The weather forecast factored into the decision, Grace said. The city will be under a flood watch starting at 2 p.m., and rain and storms are likely over the next 10 days, so postponing the fireworks to another day did not make sense, he said.

    “Once fireworks are loaded, they cannot be safely unloaded,” Grace said. “From a safety and operational standpoint, completing the fireworks display was the right decision.”

    Some detractors of the late fireworks display turned to online forums to complain about the noise.

    “Ok so I wasn’t dreaming. I was actually awakened by an officially sanctioned fireworks display at 2:30 a.m.,” one Reddit user wrote.

    Comment
    by
    u/southphillydadbar from discussion

    in
    philadelphia

    Mykola Kosyk of Fairmount said it was disappointing that the city waited until nearly 3 a.m. — far too late for children — for a show that lasted only about 10 minutes.

    “It was the worst fireworks display ever,” Kosyk said. He called it a “basic display” that wasn’t on par with the historical significance of the Semiquincentennial.

    Kosyk says he collects fireworks memorabilia dating back to the 1800s, and he and his wife travel the state visiting fireworks displays. He said the company putting on the show, Pyrotecnico, is “well-renowned,” and he blamed the city for not planning a better show.

    As the smoke from the fireworks show settled around 3 a.m., the city’s Department of Sanitation sent out approximately 100 laborers and 50 trucks to clean up the Ben Franklin Parkway and the surrounding area, the city said in the news release.

    By morning, much of the mess was gone. Security magnetometers sat in a pile, ready to be picked up and taken away, while dozens of staff from Imperial Events Services worked to keep runners and curious onlookers out of what was supposed to be a secure area.

    “The joggers are mad at us,” said one staffer, as his team found a gap in the fence that allowed people into the closed-off area.

    Workers dismantle the stage from last night’s concert along the Ben Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia on Sunday, July 5, 2026.

    One visitor was disappointed that the stage breakdown temporarily blocked the front of the Art Museum.

    “We want to see the Rocky steps, but we can’t,” said Angelika Gamez, who flew in from Bogota, Colombia, for the France-Paraguay soccer match Saturday.

    Still, Gamez said her visit to Philly was amazing, weather aside.

    “It was very hot. In Colombia, we don’t have seasons like this.”

  • Peco contract negotiations continue as union members remain on strike

    Peco contract negotiations continue as union members remain on strike

    Peco and its striking unionized workers continued contract negotiations on Sunday, the second day of a strike that occurred as the region was affected by power outages caused by severe storms.

    A dozen striking workers were picketing at Peco’s Philadelphia office on the 2300 block of Market Street, as the company and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 614 continued talks.

    The two sides have differed over wages and benefits, with the union seeking to have all of its roughly 1,500 members covered by pensions — 600 of them currently are not.

    It is the first strike in the company’s history.

    Peco has said its contingency plan should prevent customers from experiencing delays or interruptions in service. The company has also said that its contract offer is competitive and fair for employees and customers, adding that it has also offered improved retirement benefits.

    Bargaining was expected to continue through Sunday, according to Melissa McCleery, a union spokesperson.

    Peco’s latest offer, according to Larry Anastasi, president and business manager of IBEW Local 614, would give call center workers a lower wage increase than the rest of the union members. According to the union, 98% of call center workers are women.

    “We will not accept a contract that undercuts the women of our union,” Anastasi said in a statement.

    The company’s current offer, the union said, would bring an average annual wage increase of 3.5% for non-call center workers, between 2027 and 2031. Call center workers would receive 3% annual wage increases in the same time frame.

    To Anastasi, that is unacceptable.

    “Any deal that leaves the call center behind is a deal that will not be signed,” he said in a statement. “PECO’s proposal is an attempt to drive a wedge between our members and that’s not going to work.”

    The company rejected the union’s characterization of its offer.

    “To suggest that PECO would undercut the women of our union is ridiculous,” said a company spokesperson in a statement. “PECO values the contributions of all represented employees, including our customer care professionals, and we reject any suggestion that our goal during negotiations was to diminish the importance of any employee group.”

    The company said that its customer service workers’ average hourly pay is $45.12, well above regional benchmarks of $23.80 for customer consultants and $30.91 for specialized consultants.

    The striking workers in Philadelphia spent a long day in the sun on Sunday, bringing water bottles, coolers, and lawn chairs. They arrived on Market Street as early as 6 a.m., the union said.

    Pulling a megaphone he said he found in his children’s room, union member Tom Jarozynski yelled: “Peco, can you hear us?”

    As cars drove by beeping in support, Jarozynski continued: “What do we want?”

    “A contract,” the crowd replied.

    “When do we want it?”

    “Now.”

    On Saturday, the company said that federal mediation had been offered for the talks. Peco said it had accepted the offer for mediation, but the union did not. An IBEW spokesperson said union negotiators were busy bargaining and not available to answer questions about mediation.

    The union said workers plan to picket at different Peco locations until a contract is reached.

  • The Big Boy locomotive display in Philadelphia was shuttered early due to the heat

    The Big Boy locomotive display in Philadelphia was shuttered early due to the heat

    Philadelphia’s heatwave has claimed another casualty: the Big Boy.

    Union Pacific’s Big Boy No. 4014 — the world’s largest operating steam locomotive — closed early to the public Sunday afternoon, due to the oppressive heat, according to a Facebook bulletin.

    The Navy Yard had been bustling Sunday with fans clad with wide brim hats lathered in sunscreen, hoping to snag a view of the Big Boy. The locomotive was scheduled to be on display until 3 p.m.

    How to see the world’s largest steam locomotive, called Big Boy, in Philly

    But by 1:30 p.m., when the temperature neared 90, police were turning the train enthusiasts around.

    “They’re not even letting people get close,” a dejected man in red, white, and blue grumbled to others headed in the direction of the locomotive.

    A spokesperson for Union Pacific, Robynn Tysver, said the difficult decision was made as crews began running out of bottled water for the estimated 65,000 visitors — more than double Saturday’s crowd, Tysver said.

    “We just had to make this call for safety,” she said.

    The Big Boy arrived at Intrepid Avenue and League Island Boulevard for July Fourth, as part of Union Pacific’s coast-to-coast tour commemorating the Semiquincentennial. The Port of Philadelphia also hosted a public viewing on Independence Day, when the temperature eclipsed 100 degrees.

    As of 2 p.m. Sunday, conditions were slightly cooler, but the region remained under a heat advisory.

    Reactions to the Big Boy’s reduced hours on social media were mixed: “This decision is regrettable and puzzling,” one person commented on the Facebook announcement.

    Spectators await the arrival of Union Pacific’s Big Boy No. 4014 at Reading Outer Station on Thursday, July 2, 2026, in Reading, Pa.

    “It was hotter yesterday and you stayed open makes no sense,” noted another.

    Others were more understanding: “Safety first for guests and especially crew,” a user wrote.

    The Big Boy is scheduled to depart Philly on Monday morning and head back West.

    It’s expected to be on display in Altoona’s Railroaders Memorial Museum July 9-10.