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  • William Way LGBT Community Center will permanently close its historic Center City building in December. Services will continue elsewhere.

    William Way LGBT Community Center will permanently close its historic Center City building in December. Services will continue elsewhere.

    One of Philadelphia’s oldest hubs for the LGBTQ+ community will shut its doors in less than a month, as the half-century-old organization transforms its programming and moves on from its aging Spruce Street building.

    The William Way LGBT Community Center will permanently close its 1315 Spruce St. headquarters on Dec. 18, the William Way board announced Monday. This will end the tenure of “a vital gathering space for trans and gender-diverse individuals” across the region and beyond, officials said; however, William Way intends to continue its services, research, and archival efforts elsewhere.

    “While the building may be closing, our commitment to the community remains unwavering,” said Laura Ryan, cochair of William Way’s board. “Our board, staff, and community partners are actively finalizing plans that will guide the center’s next chapter, and we look forward to sharing those details as soon as we can.”

    The property was listed for sale earlier this year, but it was not known if there was a new owner at this time, a William Way spokesperson said.

    Attendees of Philadelphia’s Pride celebrations run under a large Pride flag outside of the William Way LGBT Community Center in Philadelphia, Pa. On Dec. 18, 2025, the center will permanently close its Center City building.

    This decision follows years of redevelopment plans and failed fundraising efforts for the 175-year-old building that has served as the LGBTQ+ center’s hub since 1997. The center briefly closed for inspection and emergency repairs last fall, reopening a portion of the building in January 2025.

    As of the board’s recent estimates, and after failing to raise enough capital for repairs, the aging pre-Civil War-era building still needs at least $3.5 million in immediate repairs, the board announced earlier this year.

    “Our community deserves a space that is not only safe and affirming, but fully accessible and equipped to support our future,” William Way’s chief operating officer, Darius McLean, said in June. “The decision to move was not made lightly. It reflects our commitment to delivering programs with dignity and excellence, for today and future generations.”

    Jason Landau Goodman, who is not with the group, takes a photo for the Philadelphia Young Democrats, made up of the Penn Dems and Temple College Democrats as they attend a forum for mayoral candidates at the William Way LGBT Community Center Monday night.

    Moving forward, William Way will operate less as a physical center for services than as a foundation spreading these programs across the city. “The heart of William Way has never been its walls. It’s the people, the programs, and the unwavering commitment to creating a space where LGBTQIA+ individuals are seen, valued, and safe,” said board cochair Dave Huting.

    William Way officials confirmed no programs will be discontinued in the transition.

    Some of its most vital programs will be continuing through the nearby Church of St. Luke and the Epiphany at 330 S. 13th St., around the corner from the William Way center. Starting Jan. 5, 2026, all of the center’s empowerment programs, including the elder initiative, peer counseling, and trans programs, will operate out of St. Luke’s.

    The center’s arts programs will live on through programming at partner organizations and other off-site locations through 2026. For instance, in January and February, Arleen Olshan’s Dead Dykes & Some Gay Men exhibition will be on display at the iMPeRFeCT Gallery in Germantown.

    Alexi Chacon, 25, of Los Angeles, then Archives Intern at the William Way LGBT Community Center, poses for a portrait in Philadelphia, Pa., on Tuesday, May 31, 2022.

    The John J. Wilcox Jr. Archives and Library is one of the most important relocation efforts being undertaken, as the center needs to ensure its vast collection of LGBTQ+ history is preserved and ready for its “future home.” Officials for William Way said they have not finalized its new location. Until Dec. 18, the library will remain open for on-site browsing and returns. No materials can be checked out from this point on.

    There will be a few final celebrations to enjoy at the William Way center before its Gayborhood building is closed and transferred to any new buyer. On Thanksgiving Day, from noon to 2 p.m., William Way is hosting a Giving Thanks Dinner and tree-decorating event, featuring an LGBTQ+ sit-down meal and decorating the center’s holiday tree.

    On Dec. 5, from 6 to 9 p.m., the center will host “One Last Dance,” a celebratory evening honoring the many community members, milestones, and memories of the time-honored institution.

    Correction: This article has been updated to note when William Way started using the 1315 Spruce St. building. It was in 1997.

  • Flyers takeaways: Sam Ersson a rare bright spot in a listless offensive showing vs. the Lightning

    Flyers takeaways: Sam Ersson a rare bright spot in a listless offensive showing vs. the Lightning

    TAMPA, Fla. — After a six-goal outburst on Saturday night against a division opponent, the Flyers put up a goose egg Monday for the first time this season.

    Here are three things to know from the 3-0 shutout loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning:

    Flyers shut out for the first time this season in 3-0 loss at the Tampa Bay Lightning

    Sam Ersson played well

    Tending goal for the first time in 10 days, and after goalie Dan Vladař had started three straight, Sam Ersson got back between the pipes on Monday. If you look at the stats, you’ll see he allowed two goals on 17 shots, and produced another sub-.900 save percentage outing.

    But peer beyond the box score and you’ll see a goalie who played his game.

    The Swedish netminder has always been strong at tracking pucks and playing angles. Just 93 seconds into the game, and on the first shot he faced, Ersson made a save on a tricky tipped shot by Dominic James. He kicked out the left pad to rob him on a rebound shot from the slot later in the period. Ersson later tracked the puck well after Jake Guentzel threw it on net from the right wing.

    In the third period, he stopped Brandon Hagel — who easily was the Lightning’s best player in the game — as he danced through the defense and fired a shot off Ersson’s shoulder. And late in the game, as the Flyers started to press, he stopped James again on a two-on-one.

    Ersson likes to see a high volume of shots. This game did not have that, and, to be fair, neither have most of his games this season. Ersson has the lowest shots against per 60 minutes in the NHL (20.9) while not getting much run support. He ranks second in the league, behind Nashville’s Juuse Saros, with the fewest goals for (2.18) among goalies who have played at least seven games.

    “I can’t make them manufacture shots,” Ersson said. “They get chances. I know the puck is going to come my way. I think I’ve got to do some stuff different on those goals, from my perspective, and do a better job [and] come up with some saves in those situations.”

    The goals he allowed came on a tipped shot by Hagel in the first period, when it looked like there was a double screen, and another in the second by Anthony Cirelli, who was left alone in front for an easy redirect off the rush.

    Flyers coach Rick Tocchet prefers his team to keep opponents’ shots to the outside, but the Lightning clearly had a game plan to drive to the middle of the ice in the offensive zone. Ersson saved all nine mid-danger chances but allowed two goals on five high-danger chances.

    Diving in

    Coach Rick Tocchet thought Ersson played well and didn’t lay any of the blame on his shoulders. He didn’t lay any of the blame on his defensemen, either.

    “It was too many odd-man rushes. That’s not on the D. The second period, we had eight odd-man rushes, that’s on the forwards. So that’s not on the D,” Tocchet said. “We have to have some guys commit to being above [the puck]. You have those types of talented players on the ice, you have to be above. You stand up when you have numbers; we didn’t have numbers because a couple of guys were diving in.”

    The speedy Lightning, despite a rash of injuries, have players like Hagel, Nikita Kucherov, Guentzel, and Cirelli, who can make you pay.

    Flyers defenseman Emil Andrae, who has been playing well, had a tough game Monday in Tampa, Fla.

    “They came with speed right from the gate and definitely pushed us back a little bit, for sure,” said defenseman Jamie Drysdale, who was on the ice for all three Lightning goals and was out there with defensive partner Emil Andrae for the first two. “A few odd-man rushes here and there, and, yeah, they played faster than us, and they were the better team tonight.”

    Tocchet mentioned two terms: “stay above” and “diving in.” In layman’s terms, his forwards were not playing smart defensively and were attacking at the wrong moments.

    On the first goal, the forwards just got stuck not skating. Hagel easily went around Bobby Brink in the neutral zone as he tried to attack after being at a complete stop. Cirelli’s goal came after the three forwards got trapped deep in the offensive zone, with Sean Couturier “diving in” on Hagel, who made a cross-ice pass to Kucherov at center ice before getting it back as he drove down the right side.

    “I’ll take the blame for this one; our line wasn’t good without the puck,” Couturier said. “They had some odd-man rushes on us. But other than that, I thought the other lines were going.

    “It was a tight check game, not much going on both sides. Those are the games that you’ve got to find a way to win, and sometimes they go your way and sometimes they don’t.”

    Sean Couturier (bottom left in white) tried to create a turnover by “diving in,” but it was too much with Bobby Brink and Matvei Michkov already deep in the offensive zone.

    Chances were there

    Truth be told, according to Natural Stat Trick, the line of Couturier, Brink, and Matvei Michkov was the Flyers’ best when it came to trying to get them on the board. The trio generated 13 shot attempts to eight for the Lightning and created eight scoring chances compared to five against. The only problem was that the Lightning scored on two of them.

    Couturier led the line in scoring chances created with five, while Tyson Foerster, who skated with Travis Konecny and Noah Cates, had six individual chances. One of his chances was on a two-on-one with Konecny, but unlike his quick strike on Saturday against the New Jersey Devils, he waited a second, and Andrei Vasilevskiy made the save.

    In the second period, the Flyers and Lightning traded chances, with the Flyers winning the chance battle, 14-9, in the third. Drysdale had several good looks Monday, and in the second period, he skated down the middle of the ice to fire a shot that Vasilevskiy saved. And although he was credited with one shot on goal and two missed shots, Michkov set up chances and had a shot on goal straight down the gullet.

    Flyers prospect Jett Luchanko traded to Ontario Hockey League favorite Brantford

    The problem? “The Big Cat” saw everything all the way and didn’t have to move much. To beat the Russian netminder, you need bodies in front and to make him move.

    “There were plays to be made, we just didn’t make them,” Tocchet said.

    “We’ll learn; we’ll build,” Drysdale said. “We’ll be better and come back against Florida and play a good game.” The Flyers take on the Panthers on Wednesday in Sunrise, Fla. (7 p.m., NBCSP).

    Nesbitt suspended

    Flyers prospect Jack Nesbitt has been suspended three games by the Ontario Hockey League after receiving a match penalty on Nov. 22 against Saginaw. The match penalty came after he was called for roughing, after throwing a punch in a scrum. Nesbitt has 19 points in 18 games, including eight on the power play, for Windsor. The Spitfires are the top team in the OHL’s Western Conference (17-5-2-1).

    The Flyers created too few chances in Monday’s 3-0 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning.
  • U.S. states sue over Trump’s $3 billion cut to homelessness program

    U.S. states sue over Trump’s $3 billion cut to homelessness program

    A group of U.S. states filed a lawsuit on Tuesday to compel President Donald Trump’s administration to reinstate more than $3 billion in grant funding used to provide permanent housing and other services to homeless people.

    The 20 mostly Democratic-led states and Washington, D.C., said changes the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced to its Continuum of Care program this month violate federal law and are illegally targeted at LGBTQ people and other communities that are not aligned with the Trump administration’s policy priorities, in the lawsuit in Rhode Island federal court.

    Trump is changing the way aid goes to cities. Philly stands to lose tens of millions of dollars for housing.

    The lawsuit seeks to block the funding cuts and new conditions HUD has placed on receiving the grants.

    Program created in 1987

    New York Attorney General Letitia James, a Democrat, said in a statement that communities across the country depend on the program to provide housing and other resources to their most vulnerable members.

    “These funds help keep tens of thousands of people from sleeping on the streets every night,” James said.

    The states that joined New York in the lawsuit include California, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Arizona and Kentucky.

    “For decades, these housing programs have helped vulnerable people — families, seniors, veterans, people with disabilities, and LGTBQ+ Pennsylvanians — have access to safe, affordable housing,” Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said in a statement released Tuesday. “Now, the Trump Administration is trying to abruptly dismantle the very system Congress created to fight homelessness. Pennsylvanians depend on this funding and the Trump Administration’s decision will force people out of their homes, defund organizations doing critical work, and leave state taxpayers on the hook. I’m taking action to ensure the federal government keeps its promise — because no Pennsylvanian should be thrown back into homelessness because of political games in Washington.”

    Congress created the Continuum of Care program in 1987 to provide resources for states, local governments and nonprofits to deliver support services to homeless people, with a focus on veterans, families, and people with disabilities.

    The program has long been based on the “housing first” approach to combating homelessness, which prioritizes placing people into permanent housing without preconditions such as sobriety and employment. Along with housing, the grants fund childcare, job training, mental health counseling and transportation services. The Trump administration has criticized the housing-first approach, and HUD this month said it was overhauling the grant program to focus on transitional housing initiatives with work requirements and other conditions. HUD has also barred grant recipients from using the funding for activities that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion, elective abortions, or “gender ideology,” or interfere with the administration’s immigration enforcement agenda. Trump, a Republican, has also urged states and cities to clear out homeless encampments and direct people to substance abuse and mental health treatment facilities.

    The changes could cause more than 170,000 people to lose their housing, according to the states’ lawsuit. The states claim the Trump administration cannot impose its own conditions on funds that Congress said should be distributed based solely on need. (Reporting by Daniel Wiessner in Albany, New York, Editing by Alexia Garamfalvi and Rod Nickel)

  • Joel Embiid, Paul George to miss Sixers’ NBA Cup matchup with Orlando Magic

    Joel Embiid, Paul George to miss Sixers’ NBA Cup matchup with Orlando Magic

    The 76ers will be without Joel Embiid and Paul George when they face the Orlando Magic in Tuesday night’s NBA Cup game at Xfinity Mobile Arena.

    The perennial All-Stars were scratched from the game on Tuesday afternoon.

    George is sidelined with a sprained right ankle. Meanwhile, Embiid will miss his eighth consecutive game because of knee injuries. The 2023 MVP was listed as questionable on Monday evening and Tuesday morning.

    So what happened?

    “Just not quite there yet [to play],” coach Nick Nurse said of Embiid before the game. “I mean, you guys know that we said yesterday that he practiced fully, and he participated in most, well, I don’t know, parts of the shootaround today, but just not quite there.”

    Tyrese Maxey more concerned about his friend’s health than having Joel Embiid back on the court

    If Embiid’s still not quite ready, why did the Sixers list him as questionable?

    “I guess I would say there was a chance he would be ready,” Nurse said. “I think that’s what we have to do. It was trending towards he was going to play.”

    This contest will mark the seventh straight game Embiid has missed as the team manages the soreness in his right knee. He also missed the Sixers’ 111-108 home loss to the Detroit Pistons on Nov. 9 because he doesn’t play on back-to-back nights to rest his left knee.

    Embiid, who has no structural damage to his right knee, had been listed as day to day. The 7-foot-2, 280-pounder has already missed 10 of the Sixers’ 16 games because of knee ailments. He is averaging 19.7 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.5 blocks in 23.3 minutes.

    Sixers center Joel Embiid watches his teammates play the Orlando Magic on Oct. 27.

    George injured his ankle in Sunday’s 127-117 loss to the Miami Heat. The nine-time All-Star had 10 points and five assists in his third game of the season. He missed the first 12 as he recovered from a left knee injury.

    Nurse was asked if there was any additional information on George’s ankle that caused him to be downgraded from probable to out.

    “Nope,” he said. “Just that it is reported soreness in the ankle after the game the other night. He has not been in anything since then, and we’re just trying to keep following up with that and see where he is.”

    The 6-8, 220-pounder is averaging 13.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and one block in 22.0 minutes.

    Nurse said the Sixers have yet to determine whether George will miss an extended period of time with the injury.

    “I think we’re in the process of checking in to see what exactly is wrong and what the extent of it is,” he said. “We’ll, obviously, give you that when we have it.”

    Two other starters, Kelly Oubre Jr. (sprained left knee) and VJ Edgecombe (left calf strain), and reserve center Adem Bona (sprained right ankle) will remain sidelined for Tuesday’s game.

    Tyrese Maxey’s impact extends far beyond basketball. Philly is blessed to have him.

    As a result, Tyrese Maxey and Dominick Barlow, who started the first two games in place of George, are the Sixers’ only available starters from the opening day lineup.

    The Sixers (9-7) are hoping to secure their first cup victory. They’re 0-2 in East Group B after a 114-105 loss to the Pistons on Nov. 14 at Little Caesars Arena. The Magic (10-8, 2-0) are tied with the Pistons for first place in the group.

  • A 3-year-old was starved and beaten to death. Lawsuit accuses Philadelphia FIGHT of failing to report ongoing abuse.

    A 3-year-old was starved and beaten to death. Lawsuit accuses Philadelphia FIGHT of failing to report ongoing abuse.

    Three-year-old Hope Jones weighed 24.5 pounds, less than 99% of children her height and age, just a month before she died in July 2022.

    The child was starved and beaten up by her foster parent, a distant relative from Southwest Philadelphia who pleaded no contest to third-degree murder over Hope’s death.

    A child welfare agency, Northeast Treatment Centers, paid $6.5 million to settle a lawsuit accusing it of failing to supervise Hope’s care. And in a rare move, one of their social workers was charged criminally but later cleared of wrongdoing in trial.

    A new federal lawsuit is pointing a finger in another direction. It accuses medical providers from Philadelphia FIGHT, a community health nonprofit based in Center City, of failing to investigate or report abuse despite a series of red flags from Hope’s wellness checks.

    The lawsuit, filed Friday in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, is against the United States because FIGHT is a federally qualified health center and thus receives funding and operates with requirements from the government.

    Philadelphia’s U.S. Attorney’s Office declined to comment. FIGHT did not respond to a request for comment.

    The lawsuit is not only the latest legal fallout from Hope’s death, but the latest in litigation brought after children who were part of the city’s child welfare system have been harmed.

    This fall, child welfare agencies were sued over the death of 20-month-old Syvir Hill, who was allegedly drowned by another child in a bath unsupervised, and that of 11-year-old Nayshaun Williams, who died of an asthma attack after a school nurse repeatedly raised concerns that he was not receiving adequate medical treatment.

    Toddler’s death in the bathtub of a Philly foster home prompts lawsuit

    The city and its affiliated agencies were sued nearly 70 times between 2012 and 2024 after kids in their care were killed, sexually abused, or injured, an Inquirer/Resolve Philly investigation found. And at least 50 of these lawsuits led to settlements or verdicts of $1 million or more.

    Two agencies declined to extend their contract with the city last year, citing litigation insurance costs.

    The new lawsuit on behalf of Hope’s biological family extends the circle of litigants to include medical providers.

    “It’s another group of professionals that failed Hope,” said Sherrell Dandy, one of the Kline & Specter attorneys representing the family.

    Child welfare services were involved in Hope’s life from her first days on Earth, according to the complaint. Her mother and the infant tested positive for marijuana after the delivery, and the Philadelphia Department of Human Services placed the infant under its care.

    Hope became a FIGHT patient, and her first few visits as a baby went well, the lawsuit says. She was “well-developed and well-nourished,” the complaint says, and had a “good appetite.”

    Hope’s weight reached the 98th percentile at her 15-month wellness visit, in the summer of 2020, but she fell off the growth chart steadily after the following November when she was placed in foster care with a distant relative, the complaint says. Hope failed to meet developmental milestones and lost teeth, a couple times without explanation and another time following an alleged fall.

    The child’s medical records note that she developed an abnormal gait, ate her own feces, and was eating extremely fast followed by periodically vomiting, the suit says.

    The FIGHT physicians did refer Hope to an orthopedic specialist because of her gait, but the lawsuit says that they failed to recognize it as “clinical indicators of severe weight loss and underlying caloric deprivation, starvation, and neglect.”

    Hope’s weight fell to the single digits as summer 2022 approach. She was rushed to the hospital that July and was pronounced dead. The Philadelphia Medical Examiner’s Office determined that her cause of death was multiple blunt impact injuries, and the manner of death was homicide.

    “The hallmark for health is growth,” said Nadeem Bezar, another Kline & Specter attorney. “During those visits there were alarming things that were never followed up on.”

    A previous version of the lawsuit was filed against FIGHT in federal court in February. A judge dismissed that case in March because Hope’s estate had other administrative remedies to pursue before filing a lawsuit, and said that the appropriate defendant would be the United States. The new lawsuit says that all administrative remedies were exhausted and the government is the only defendant.

  • Rainy weather is coming ahead of a cold, windy Thanksgiving

    Rainy weather is coming ahead of a cold, windy Thanksgiving

    If you’re heading to grandma’s house ahead of Thanksgiving this week, you might want to pack an umbrella — but other than that, it looks like relatively smooth sailing for Turkey Day.

    Forecasters at the National Weather Service station in Mount Holly predict a period of rainy weather ahead of the holiday, with a warm, wet Tuesday and Wednesday giving way to a dry, breezy Thursday. The weekend, meanwhile, looks to be colder, with some potential rainfall Sunday, but no severe weather appears to be on tap, weather service meteorologist Nick Guzzo said.

    “It looks to be just some rain and a possible isolated rumble of thunder,” Guzzo said.

    Showers are expected to arrive in the Philadelphia region Tuesday afternoon, bringing periodic bouts of rain that will stick around through Wednesday, producing around a half-inch of rain, the weather service estimates. Forecasters do not expect any severe weather, but local rainfall totals could hit up to an inch in some areas, and some thunder in the morning is possible.

    Along with the wet weather comes a warm front resulting in milder temperatures likely nearing 60 degrees that will continue through Wednesday evening.

    By late Wednesday, forecasters predict, a cold front is likely to move in, dropping temperatures and drying out the rain. By Thanksgiving morning, high temperatures are expected to reach only the 40s, with breezy weather throughout the day that will likely bring wind chills in the 30s.

    Thursday’s windy weather could bring gusts around 30 mph, Guzzo said. Representatives for Philadelphia’s Thanksgiving Day parade said they were keeping a close eye on the weather and anticipate the balloons will fly.

    “But should the weather not cooperate, we have contingency plans in place,” said Mike Monsell, spokesperson for parade sponsor 6abc.

    Balloons in Philly’s Thanksgiving parade were last grounded due to high winds in 2019 — though wind gusts that year reached high speeds of up to 50 mph. Before that, the parade’s balloons had not been grounded since 1997, when similarly high winds kicked up on Thanksgiving Day.

    Friday and Saturday are expected to bring a preview of winter weather with morning lows in the upper 20s — roughly 4 to 6 degrees below average for this time of year. That is thanks to the cold front moving through the area, Guzzo said, which will keep highs in the low to mid-40s.

    As for weekend rain, Saturday looks dry, but as milder conditions take hold, there is a slight chance of rain Sunday to close out the weekend.

  • HBO crime drama ‘Task’ receives $49.8 million tax credit to film in Pa.

    HBO crime drama ‘Task’ receives $49.8 million tax credit to film in Pa.

    The HBO crime thriller Task will return to Pennsylvania along with star Mark Ruffalo for a second season, thanks in part to generous support from the state.

    On Monday, the Pennsylvania Film Office announced that Task will receive a record $49.8 million tax credit, the largest amount the state has granted to a single production.

    The effort is expected to bring about 3,700 jobs to Pennsylvania as HBO estimates investing $194.1 million into the state economy, including hiring local crews and paying for hotel accommodations.

    The first season, which filmed in and around Philadelphia, hired 777 Pennsylvanians as local crew, cast members, and background players for 177 days, bringing $230 million to the region, as reported by the Greater Philadelphia Film Office earlier this month.

    Task comes from Mare of Easttown creator Brad Ingelsby, the writer from Berwyn who has developed a reputation for putting Delco (and Philly) crime stories on national television. Last week, HBO announced the popular show would return for a second season, which is expected to film primarily in Southeastern Pennsylvania.

    The tax credit is part of Gov. Josh Shapiro’s efforts to bring more TV and film productions to Pennsylvania.

    “This is the largest tax credit we’ve ever awarded to one show, and we’re proud to support another returning series by homegrown storyteller Brad Ingelsby through the Film Production Tax Credit Program,” said Pennsylvania Film Commissioner Gino Anthony Pesi in a statement.

    “The Shapiro administration understands that supporting productions like Task have a powerful impact on Pennsylvania’s creative economy through the creation of thousands of direct and indirect jobs, while also giving new opportunities to local businesses in the southeastern region.”

    “Task” showrunner Brad Ingelsby and star Mark Ruffalo on set.

    Ingelsby has been committed to “investing in authenticity” through not only writing film and TV scripts that are based in the Philadelphia region, but pushing for his productions to shoot on location as much as possible.

    “There is value in shooting something where it’s set — it will bring something to the production, to the characters, to the emotion that you just can’t emulate somewhere else,” Ingelsby told The Inquirer in September.

    “The locations in and around Philadelphia add an invaluable level of authenticity to the series,” said Janet Graham Borba, HBO’s executive vice president of production, in the statement. “Furthermore, the opportunity to bring a production of this caliber to Pennsylvania and provide jobs to its citizens and businesses is extremely gratifying to Brad Ingelsby and all of us at HBO.”

    Shooting with Pennsylvania crews also had an impact on the Task cast: Some actors, including Emilia Jones, who played Maeve Prendergrast, bonded with crew members, who also helped them learn that difficult-to-nail Delco accent.

  • How do you build a wrestling program from scratch? Ask Arcadia.

    How do you build a wrestling program from scratch? Ask Arcadia.

    Last year, Arcadia University transformed a basketball gymnasium on campus into the home of its newest athletic programs: men’s and women’s wrestling.

    “Compared to most wrestling rooms, we have a very open facility,” men’s coach David Stevens said. “We have three full-size wrestling mats and a turf field. We have treadmills, standalone bikes, and a weight room. [Arcadia] did a really good job of supporting us.”

    As the facility was under construction, women’s coach Michael Childs gave prospective members of his 11-athlete squad an up-close look at the progress.

    “I took [recruits] through a construction site with our facility that was being built,” Childs said. “There were certain days that they had to wear hard hats when they went through the building. I could show them pictures on my phone, and the education piece kind of sold itself. … The more difficult part was selling them a vision for the program.”

    What was the first season of Pa.-sanctioned girls’ wrestling like? Let the people involved tell you. | from 2024

    The Knights’ first season is now underway. The teams largely compete against other teams in Division III’s Middle Atlantic Conference.

    Women’s wrestling, in particular, is not only new to Arcadia. It became an NCAA-sponsored championship sport this year.

    “Wrestling is very popular in the state of Pennsylvania and has very passionate fans, but countrywide, it is still a niche sport,” Childs said. “So introducing that to the Arcadia community in general and the administration, it’s been a growing year for us.”

    Focus on ‘family’

    The men’s roster features 32 wrestlers, primarily freshmen. The team leadership comes from a group of older wrestlers who entered the season nationally ranked.

    Senior Caden Frost was ranked No. 15 in the 149-pound weight class, graduate student Logan Flynn (285) was No. 6, and senior Jacob Blair (133) was No. 8.

    Blair and Flynn followed Stevens, their former assistant coach, to Arcadia from Delaware Valley University, while Frost transferred from New England College.

    “It’s a lot of leading by example,” Blair said. “We’re trying to build something here with longevity and make an impact not only this year, but also down the road. We’re trying to create good team camaraderie and spirit because this is something none of us have ever experienced. We’ve never wrestled on a team with 25 freshmen.”

    Arcadia wrestling is in its first season.

    The Knights (1-3) secured their first team win on Nov. 8 over Eastern, 27-20.

    Stevens believes the young roster will grow significantly over the course of the season, which begins in November and culminates with the NCAA championships in March.

    “We tell every recruit that if you join this team, you become part of a family,” Stevens said. “We haven’t had the early success that we expected or that we wanted. But I think that’s what a family does, is that even through the hardships, we don’t give up on each other. We truly believe that we’re going to do something special here in our first year.”

    The three leaders went undefeated in Arcadia’s most recent competition at Misericordia University.

    “We talked about how you either have to buy in now or hop off,” Blair said. “But the fire under these guys is that they truly want to be here and want to be college wrestlers. They know it’s going to take hard work, because it’s a grueling sport, both mentally and physically.”

    Penn State’s wrestling team might be the greatest dynasty in sports

    Tough tests

    While the Arcadia women’s team (0-2) is a MAC member, there are fewer than 100 NCAA women’s wrestling programs nationwide. The limited number means that all programs, regardless of division, will vie for the same national championship.

    In addition to helping freshmen adjust to the rigors of college athletics, Childs must also prepare his team to face some of the country’s top wrestlers.

    “I think that the biggest challenge for us is bringing our student-athletes along to understand what this commitment is,” Childs said. “It’s not just your morning lifts and your daily practices. It’s a lifestyle. We’ll potentially be seeing world team members in competitions, All-Americans, and Olympians. So it’s really exciting, and it’s really challenging.”

    Taylor McCue, a junior, is the only non-freshman on the Arcadia women’s wrestling roster.

    Junior Taylor McCue is the only non-freshman on the women’s roster. From goal-setting meetings to decorating the locker room before competitions, the team is establishing its identity.

    “The best thing that I can do for the success and growth of this program is to surround it with good people, and that’s what I’m trying to do,” Childs said. “We had our first tri-meet a couple weeks ago on our floor. After our event, we had a parent social, and over a hundred people were there. It was pretty cool to see.”

    Freshman Molly Lubenow (right) in action for Arcadia.

    A sport on the rise

    Arcadia’s addition of a women’s wrestling program follows the rapid expansion of the sport nationwide. According to the NCAA, 17 schools began offering women’s wrestling programs in 2024-25 alongside its promotion to a championship sport.

    The inaugural NCAA women’s wrestling championship will take place this spring.

    This Souderton freshman is an elite wrestler. But first, she had to grapple with a life-threatening condition. | from 2024

    Both Arcadia programs see themselves as leading the growth of wrestling. They also aim to bring national attention to the small university through success in Division III.

    “Why I’m grateful to be at Arcadia is the support they give us,” Stevens said. “High school and even college programs are usually focused on other sports that more people are familiar with. But here at Arcadia, we feel like they’re really investing in us and giving us a great opportunity. This is a place that I want to continue to grow.”

  • U.S. consumer confidence deteriorates in November

    U.S. consumer confidence deteriorates in November

    WASHINGTON — U.S. consumer confidence sagged in November as households worried about jobs and their financial situation, likely in part because of the recently ended government shutdown.

    The Conference Board said on Tuesday its consumer confidence index dropped to 88.7 this month from an upwardly revised 95.5 in October.

    Economists polled by Reuters had forecast the index edging down to 93.4 from the previously reported 94.6 in October.

    “Consumers’ write-in responses pertaining to factors affecting the economy continued to be led by references to prices and inflation, tariffs and trade, and politics, with increased mentions of the federal government shutdown,” said Dana Peterson, chief economist at the Conference Board.

    “Mentions of the labor market eased somewhat but still stood out among all other frequent themes not already cited. The overall tone from November write-ins was slightly more negative than in October.”

  • The FBI is seeking interviews with congressional Democrats who warned the military about illegal orders, official says

    The FBI is seeking interviews with congressional Democrats who warned the military about illegal orders, official says

    WASHINGTON – The FBI has requested interviews with six Democrats from the U.S. Congress who told members of the military they must refuse any illegal orders, a Justice Department official told Reuters on Tuesday.

    The move, reported earlier by Fox News, comes a day after the Pentagon threatened to recall Senator Mark Kelly, a Navy veteran and one of the six lawmakers, to active duty potentially to face military charges over what Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth described as “seditious” acts on social media.

    Pentagon threatens to prosecute Senator Mark Kelly by recalling him to Navy service

    The other lawmakers, who made the comments in a video released last week, include Senator Elissa Slotkin, a former CIA analyst and Iraq war veteran, and Representatives Jason Crow, Maggie Goodlander, Chris Deluzio and Chrissy Houlahan, all military veterans.

    The legislators created the video amid concerns from Democrats — echoed privately by some U.S. military commanders — that the Trump administration is violating the law by ordering strikes on vessels purportedly carrying suspected drug traffickers in Latin American waters.

    The Pentagon has argued the strikes are justified because the drug smugglers are considered terrorists.

    Trump renews call to jail Democrats, including two from Pa., after calling their video statement ‘punishable by death’

    Trump accused Democratic lawmakers of sedition

    President Donald Trump accused the six Democrats of sedition, saying in a social media post that the crime was punishable by death.

    His administration has shattered longstanding norms by using law enforcement, including the Justice Department, to pursue his perceived enemies.

    Trump accuses Democratic vets in Congress of sedition ‘punishable by death,’ including two lawmakers from Pa.

    The Justice Department official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the interviews were to determine “if there’s any wrongdoing and then go from there.”

    The FBI did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

    In a statement on Monday, Kelly dismissed the Pentagon’s threat as an intimidation tactic.

    Chrissy Houlahan and another Pa. Democrat report bomb threats at their district offices