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  • Horoscopes: Monday, Jan. 5, 2026

    ARIES (March 21-April 19). Your success formula couldn’t be simpler: Stick close to people who live the way you want to live, and you’ll pick up their magic by osmosis. The vibes mesh, the momentum builds, and everyone gets a lift.

    TAURUS (April 20-May 20). When is confidence too much? When it makes people certain without demanding any evidence — or ignoring evidence to the contrary — of the assertion. It is better to be underconfident than to be certain of something that isn’t true.

    GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Welcome it all — even the stuff you wouldn’t choose. It’s how you stay in conversation with reality instead of wrestling it. Resistance narrows your view; acceptance opens it. Bonus: Acceptance feels a lot better, too.

    CANCER (June 22-July 22). You might be tempted to act out of spite. Check the emotional price tag. Spite is expensive. You pay twice: once in energy, once in fallout. Choose something that feels good now and later. It’s more powerful to play the long game.

    LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). You can tell your taste is changing because new things suddenly appeal to you. You’re willing to be a little adventurous with a fresh pursuit, and it’s thrilling to feel the pull of something you didn’t even know existed until now.

    VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). When someone confuses you, don’t try to parse the details, because the answer won’t be there. Instead of zooming in, step back. Relationships will only reveal their logic at a distance. What are the human needs driving the action?

    LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Are the minutes and hours you’ve spent in fantasyland a waste? Your creativity is boundless. A little fantasy is fun. A lot of fantasy leads to unreasonable ideas and stratospheric possibilities that no one else would come up with.

    SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). The schedule is tight, but your vibe doesn’t have to be. Keep your pace even and your pulse low. The rule of cool? Everything looks cooler in slow motion. Even if you feel a bit hectic on the inside, don’t rush.

    SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). When you say yes, things begin to happen. You’ll end up in plans you never would have dreamed up alone, and they’ll carry you into unexpected adventures. But that’s all later. For today, all you have to do is say yes.

    CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). History is full of examples of people doing things that made no sense on paper. So the fact that a goal is unreasonable doesn’t automatically make it unattainable, which you will prove with today’s astonishing outcome.

    AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). You may have a bit of help, but you’re the one keeping everything on track today, which is why you feel a bit of pressure. You’re leading from within the ranks, and though you’re not the figurehead this time, none of it would get done without you.

    PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). The orange seed looks like the lemon seed, and both resemble the grapefruit seed. You can’t tell the fruit from the seed, and today’s project is similarly mysterious. These are early days. You won’t know the color of it until things ripen.

    TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (Jan. 5). Welcome to your Year of Sublime Competence. You’ll handle life with style and move through life with less friction and more serendipity. Plans come together easily, schedules cooperate, and you find exactly who or what you need. More highlights: unexpected bonuses or gifts, a viral moment that brings doors knocking and adventures with people who get you completely. Libra and Aries adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 27, 5, 6, 12 and 8.

  • True change in Venezuela requires more than Maduro’s exit

    True change in Venezuela requires more than Maduro’s exit

    As events continue to unfold in my native Venezuela, many members of the expat community are experiencing a complex mix of emotions: relief, hope, concern, and caution.

    For many Venezuelans, the removal of Nicolás Maduro represents a long-awaited moment of accountability. His rule, following that of Hugo Chávez, was marked by repression, corruption, and the systematic destruction of a once-prosperous nation.

    Millions were forced into exile, a quarter of the population fled the country, families were separated, and basic human rights were violated. The end of that chapter brings real relief.

    But relief alone does not guarantee confidence in what comes next.

    The announcement during President Donald Trump’s news conference that Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez has assumed control is deeply troubling to most Venezuelans.

    Venezuelan Vice President and Oil Minister Delcy Rodríguez gives a news conference at the Miraflores presidential palace in Caracas, Venezuela, in March.

    Rodríguez has been one of the architects of the system that caused Venezuela’s humanitarian, economic, and institutional collapse. She is not a neutral caretaker, but part of the inner circle that enabled abuses and dismantled democratic institutions. Replacing one figure while leaving the rest of the structure intact is not meaningful change.

    It is also important to be clear about Venezuela’s resources. Venezuela’s oil belongs to the Venezuelan people.

    While it is legitimate for the United States to seek restitution for assets unlawfully expropriated during Chávez’s presidency, including those taken from companies such as ExxonMobil and ConocoPhillips, any resolution must respect Venezuelan sovereignty and ensure future revenues benefit the population, not another authoritarian elite.

    Venezuela’s opposition leader Edmundo González, who has been recognized by several governments, including the U.S., as Venezuela’s president-elect, waves a Venezuelan flag during a meeting with supporters in Panama City in January 2025.

    Most importantly, Venezuela has already chosen change. In July 2024, voters chose to send Edmundo González to the Miraflores Palace — Venezuela’s White House — in a historic election. Despite efforts by the democratic opposition to expose and counter electoral manipulation, the regime-controlled National Electoral Council ignored the will of the people. That denial of a democratic mandate lies at the heart of today’s crisis.

    What Venezuelans at home and abroad are asking for is not chaos or vengeance, but a protected and legitimate transition — one that respects the 2024 election results and seats González as president. Without safeguards, accountability, and international oversight, Venezuela risks repeating a painful cycle or sliding into further instability.

    For Venezuelans in the U.S., the recent election was not just a political event but a pivotal moment | Opinion

    Many Venezuelans are also concerned by statements suggesting the United States would “run Venezuela” during a transition. International pressure and support matter, but prolonged foreign administration raises serious questions about sovereignty and accountability.

    Venezuela’s recovery must be led by Venezuelans chosen by their people.

    We welcome the possibility of change, but remain vigilant. Venezuela has suffered too much to endure another false transition. Our hope is for peace, unity, and a democratic future that finally honors the will and dignity of its people.

    Emilio Buitrago is the cofounder and former president of Casa de Venezuela Philadelphia, where he continues to serve as an advisory board member. An engineer and project manager, he also serves as an advisory board member of the Venezuelan American Caucus.

  • Sixers come out of road trip with momentum — and continuity — after beating Knicks at Madison Square Garden

    Sixers come out of road trip with momentum — and continuity — after beating Knicks at Madison Square Garden

    NEW YORK — Nick Nurse asked the assembled media to check their notes. But the 76ers coach could not recall the last time his team rolled out the same starting lineup for three consecutive games.

    “That might be a record for us in the last 18 months,” he said. “… I really don’t remember that happening for a long time.”

    This newfound continuity occurred within a tiny sample size of the 82-game regular-season grind. But the Sixers are beginning to see results, including a 130-119 victory over the New York Knicks on Saturday night at Madison Square Garden.

    The win capped a holiday-season road trip that began 0-2 before reversing into three consecutive victories. It was the second time in 16 games that the Sixers topped the Knicks — a legitimate NBA Finals contender — on their home court. And it put the 19-14 Sixers five games over .500 for the first time this season, perhaps providing a glimpse of what this team can become in a fascinating Eastern Conference pecking order.

    The Sixers’ success is dependent on Joel Embiid’s ability to make others better

    “The biggest difference is we just feel better as a unit,” said veteran forward Paul George, who finished Saturday with a balanced 15 points, eight rebounds, and six assists. “We trust in the process of this team. … It’s safe to say everybody in this locker room is starting to enjoy the game. We’re starting to enjoy being out on that floor, playing on both ends. And I think we’re just jelling.

    “It’s translating. Everything that we’ve been trying to connect with is translating on the court.”

    Injuries, scheduled rest days, and illness had limited the Sixers’ trio of max-contract players (George, Tyrese Maxey, and Joel Embiid) to 125 minutes over six games before Saturday, with a net rating of plus-7.2. That group combined with standout rookie VJ Edgecombe had gotten even less time together: 74 minutes over five games, with a net rating of minus-1.1.

    Yet against the Knicks, Nurse estimated his team logged about 40 minutes of “making the absolute right decision on offense.”

    Joel Embiid has been mostly available and productive during the Sixers’ recent stretch.

    Embiid recorded an efficient 26 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists in his first game in this building since the 2024 first-round playoff series. He reiterated that New York City is his “favorite place in the entire world,” yet needled Knicks supporters for being “quiet, but I guess that’s what happens when you’re losing the whole game.”

    A noteworthy sign of the former MVP’s physical progress, following multiple surgeries on his left knee and an issue with his right one: He dunked for the first time this season.

    “I wish it had been one off the backboard,” said Embiid, another playful jab after he executed such a move inside the Garden during the 2024 playoffs. “That’s the next step.”

    George, who battled numerous health issues in a disappointing first season as a Sixer, also spoke about feeling satisfaction while continuing to hit his own mental checkpoints that are morphing into production. He knocked down two key corner three-pointers in the second half, then collected a timely offensive rebound and dish to Quentin Grimes for an underneath finish to help quash New York’s final rally attempt.

    Maxey, meanwhile, amassed 36 points, eight rebounds, and four assists. He shot 14-of-22 from the floor and 6-of-9 from three-point range, looking precisely like the dude who unleashed a masterful playoff performance here in 2024 and not the one who went 0-for-10 from beyond the arc while trying to play through an injured finger last season.

    And then there’s Edgecombe, who had already been referenced to by Nurse as part of the Sixers’ “Big Four” before the rookie’s second consecutive dazzler inside basketball’s Mecca.

    He finished with 26 points on 10-of-16 shooting from the floor, fearlessly launching open three-pointers and finding space to drive while Embiid and Maxey’s lethal two-man game attracted defensive attention. He wowed onlookers with an athletic sequence when he blocked Knicks wing Mikal Bridges in one corner, then beat everybody down the floor for a transition dunk. And he flashed his beyond-his-years basketball IQ by stealing a late inbounds pass, calling timeout while falling to the floor, and, after the break, faking a pass before getting to the rim for another slam.

    “He plays like a 10-year vet with his composure,” Nurse said. “Just kind of keeps making plays and does a little bit of everything.”

    Added Edgecombe: “At the end of the day, I’m just hooping, man. … I’m just happy to see Joel and Tyrese and PG on the floor. I’m super happy, man. It’s like a little kid in me, playing alongside the superstars that I was watching.”

    The Sixers had already handled injury absences significantly better than last season, when championship aspirations instantly crashed into a 24-58 disaster. Maxey vowed at media day that they would play with the same intensity and style no matter who was on the floor for that particular game. They leaned into their guard-heavy roster by pushing the pace.

    Nick Nurse has applauded the work of his “Big Four” while expressing caution over the meaning of the 76ers’ winning stretch.

    But although the Sixers have been “making it work” with such lineup inconsistency, Maxey said, “it’s difficult with guys in, guys out” while Embiid and George slowly reacclimated.

    After the Sixers surrendered a late lead in Chicago to open this trip, then got blasted by the defending-champion Oklahoma City Thunder, Maxey said there was no massive off-court reset. They hung out in the team’s Memphis hotel, the “same stuff we always do.” They finally won a game when Maxey, Embiid, and George all played, topping the Grizzlies on Edgecombe’s overtime winner. Two days later, they won again in Dallas.

    Before Saturday’s matchup, Nurse touched on how he could continue experimenting with personnel combinations and the actions that originate from them. George now feels the growing rhythm in defensive positioning, offensive spacing, and in how teammates communicate within the game. Nurse added there even is “a little bit more to explore” between Embiid and Maxey’s already-proven two-man connection, and in how teammates complement it.

    “The first couple games, we didn’t know what to run,” Maxey added. “We didn’t know, ‘Hey, how we going to get this person the ball?’ [or] ‘How we going to do that?’ … That’s the biggest thing: knowing what to run, when to run it.”

    Added Embiid: “Everybody understands that, at some point, it will be your time. But until then, just do your job. It’s not necessarily that everybody knows their role. We’re just playing basketball, and we like each other. No one cares about taking a step back for the other.”

    Kelly Oubre Jr. could be returning soon to provide the Sixers another valuable piece.

    And the Sixers still do not have their full rotation available. Nurse said Saturday that starting wing Kelly Oubre Jr., who arguably was playing the best basketball of his career before missing more than a month with a knee injury, and versatile forward Trendon Watford, who has missed 16 games with a strained adductor muscle in his thigh, are ready for five-on-five action at the Sixers’ next practice.

    Until then, the Sixers will next host the depleted Denver Nuggets and woeful Washington Wizards before another challenging road trip to Orlando and back-to-back games in Toronto. After that, the Sixers play nine of 10 games to finish January at home.

    When asked about this finally-getting-healthier team’s ceiling, Nurse pumped the brakes. The Sixers are still digging out of last season’s disappointment as 2025-26 gets closer to its midpoint. But more roster continuity means more wrinkles in offensive sets. And more counters to opponents’ game plans. And more defensive schemes.

    A fourth consecutive game with this group — already unofficially dubbed a Big Four — would be another long-awaited step toward all that.

    “We see how good we can be when we’re jelling and everyone’s touching the rock,” said Edgecombe, echoing George. “Everyone’s playing hard. Everyone’s bought into their role and what they have to do.”

  • Eagles shouldn’t sweat potential playoff matchup vs. exposed 49ers (but Rams and Packers remain as possibilities)

    Eagles shouldn’t sweat potential playoff matchup vs. exposed 49ers (but Rams and Packers remain as possibilities)

    These aren’t the Niners of old. They aren’t even the Niners of two years ago.

    That’s good news for the Eagles, who moved one step closer to facing San Francisco in the opening round of the playoffs after the 49ers fell to the Seahawks, 13-3, on Saturday night. Seattle’s victory in the first batch of Week 18 games brought the NFC playoff picture into clearer focus. The Seahawks have clinched the No. 1 overall seed, thus earning themselves an opening round bye and a home game in the divisional round against the lowest-seeded team to survive. That team will not be the Eagles, who cannot face Seattle until the NFC championship game.

    Complete NFL playoff picture after Saturday’s games

    This was the outcome Birds fans should have been rooting for on Saturday night. Had the 49ers won, the Eagles would be standing on the precipice of an opening-round matchup against the Seahawks or the Rams, the two most impressive teams in the NFC during the regular season. The only other scenario would have required them to beat the Commanders and the Bears to lose to the Lions, thereby giving the Eagles the No. 2 seed and an opening round matchup against the seventh-seeded Packers. (That scenario remains on the table entering play on Sunday.)

    The Eagles could still face the Rams, who outplayed them in the regular season before the Eagles pulled out a 33-26 win on Jordan Davis’ blocked field-goal return for a touchdown at the buzzer. In order to avoid them, they need the Rams to beat the Cardinals today, thereby clinching the No. 5 seed and knocking San Francisco down to No. 6. A Rams loss to the Cardinals would mean an Eagles-Rams rematch at Lincoln Financial Field next weekend. Keep in mind, the Cardinals have lost eight straight games and 13 of 14 since a 2-0 start.

    To recap the three scenarios in play:

    Scenario 1: If the Eagles win and Bears lose, the Eagles get the No. 2 seed and an opening-round game against the Packers.

    If the Eagles lose OR the Bears win, then the Eagles get the No. 3 seed and …

    Scenario 2: If the Rams beat the Cardinals, the Eagles face the 49ers.

    Scenario 3: If the Cardinals beat the Rams, the Eagles face the Rams.

    The 49ers are the clear preference over the Rams. San Francisco has been ravaged by injuries on the defensive side of the ball, with all-world linebacker Fred Warner and defensive end Nick Bosa both lost for the season. The Niners suffered two more injuries Saturday night, in fact, with linebackers Dee Winters and Tatum Bethune both leaving and not returning.

    Middle linebacker Fred Warner is among the key 49ers who are injured with the playoffs set to begin.

    The 49ers are still dangerous. They showed that with their 42-38 shootout win over the Bears in Week 17. But they also showed Saturday night that they can struggle against a top-tier defense. San Francisco gained just 173 yards and posted nine first downs against the Seahawks. A big variable is All-Pro tackle Trent Williams, who missed Saturday’s game with a hamstring injury after being questionable to play.

    The 49ers were no match for the Seahawks’ power running game, allowing 180 yards on the ground. It was the sixth time this season they allowed an opponent to gain at least 360 yards of total offense.

    The Eagles certainly wouldn’t be looking past a playoff game against the 49ers. But it was and is the best of the likeliest options.

  • 💡 Philly’s 2026 wish list | Morning Newsletter

    💡 Philly’s 2026 wish list | Morning Newsletter

    Welcome to a chilly and partly sunny Sunday.

    It’s the first weekend of 2026, marking the start of a busy year ahead for the city of Philadelphia. Before everything — and everyone — gets here, we asked readers to share ways they think the city could improve. After more than 600 submissions, Inquirer columnist Stephanie Farr presents your wishes.

    We’re also following developments, and state and local reactions, after the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro early Saturday.

    Read on for these stories and more.

    — Paola Pérez (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

    If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here.

    Big ideas for a big year

    Philly is preparing to welcome the world for the nation’s Semiquincentennial and a handful of major sports events in 2026, like the FIFA World Cup.

    At the request of Stephanie Farr, readers sent in suggestions for things the city should create, destroy, or fix in advance.

    Some dreams were lofty — it’s unlikely we can “turn Regional Rail into a German-style S-Bahn by next year,” as Farr noted — while others aim to turn up the fun, aesthetics, and educational entertainment.

    Here’s a preview of what you came up with:

    💡 On the simpler side, restaurants could offer meals for $17.76, and the William Penn statue would be illuminated atop City Hall at night;

    💡 Fun activities include a tour and music festival highlighting The Sound of Philadelphia artists, or transforming Headhouse Square into a “European-style plaza”; and

    💡 Off-the-wall-ideas mention an “Epcot Village” that could show off our diverse food-and-drink scene, and an official SEPTA cheesesteak joint.

    See the full list compiled by Farr.

    Attack on Venezuela

    The United States captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, in a military operation early Saturday. They face criminal charges in connection with an indictment by the U.S. Justice Department accusing them of a narco-terrorism conspiracy.

    President Donald Trump, who called the strike a success, said the U.S. would temporarily “run the country” and sell its oil abroad.

    Philadelphia reacts: The Venezuelan community expressed a mix of hope and concern for the future, and a cohort of area politicians denounced Trump’s actions.

    Escalating pressure: Here’s a timeline of the buildup and strikes on Venezuela leading to Maduro’s capture.

    Closed airspace: The Federal Aviation Administration temporarily banned U.S. airlines from flying near Venezuela, Puerto Rico, and other parts of the Caribbean through Sunday.

    Visit Inquirer.com for the latest updates.

    What you should know today

    ❓Pop quiz

    This Philly-based restaurant chain continues to expand nationally, with 71 existing locations across the country and plans for 18 more in 2026.

    A) Goldie

    B) Honeygrow

    C) Taco Heart

    D) Federal Donuts

    Think you got it right? Test your local news know-how and check your answer in our weekly quiz.

    🧩 Unscramble the anagram

    Hint: Host on 92.5 XTU, Philadelphia’s country music station

    AI CHECK MILLION

    Email us if you know the answer. We’ll select a reader at random to shout out here.

    Cheers to Charlene M. Wiltshire who correctly guessed Saturday’s answer: Wynn Thomas. Once a theater kid from West Philly, the Hollywood production designer has won an overdue Oscar at 72.

    ❤️‍🩹 Photo of the day

    Leslie Jackson, director of operations, works with Ray the Nubian goat, who lost a leg due to a parasitic infection.

    This is Ray, a 7-year-old goat at the East Germantown nonprofit Philly Goat Project who helps bring comfort to people. After experiencing a rough 2025, Ray needs assistance moving about. Loving volunteers and a wheelchair are helping make that possible.

    🎶 Today’s track goes like this: “Our love is rhythm and charm, it resonates / In every space, it fills the place.” Legendary singer Jill Scott (aka “Jilly from Philly”) is out with a new single as an offering from her first new album in more than a decade.

    👋🏽 That’s all for now. Take care, and have a great day.

  • The Sixers’ success is dependent on Joel Embiid’s ability to make others better

    The Sixers’ success is dependent on Joel Embiid’s ability to make others better

    When the 76ers walk onto the court, they almost always have the best scorers in Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid.

    But the Sixers’ best chance to win comes from the effort and aggressiveness of their less-heralded players. If they move the quickest to a loose ball, if they fight the hardest for rebounds, if they work the hardest on defense, maybe it’ll be enough.

    Sixers’ Joel Embiid says he’s feeling more like himself

    And it’s up to Maxey and Embiid to keep others involved on offense by willingly making necessary passes.

    That’s what is happening during the Sixers’ three-game winning streak.

    They had five double-figure scorers in Saturday’s 130-119 victory over the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden.

    But the Sixers started the winning streak off with six double-digit scorers in Tuesday’s 139-136 overtime victory over the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum. And the Sixers followed that with five double-figure scorers in their New Year’s Day 123-108 victory over the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center.

    Embiid had 34 points, 10 rebounds, eight assists, and two blocks against the Grizzlies, while Maxey had 34 points and 12 assists. The standout point guard came back with 34 points, 10 assists, two steals, and two blocks against the Mavs, while Embiid added 22 points and six assists.

    And on Saturday, Maxey had 36 points, eight rebounds, two blocks, and a steal, while Embiid finished with 26 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists to knock off the Knicks (23-12) for the second time this season.

    Sixers center Joel Embiid has to keep VJ Edgecombe involved moving forward.

    Following Thursday’s game, Embiid noted that he was getting back to the dominant player he had been before being derailed by left knee injuries over the past two seasons. Before the injuries, the 2023 league MVP and seven-time All-Star felt like he could score 40 or 50 points every night.

    “I can be more aggressive, but I feel like I’m also smarter,” Embiid said.

    The 7-foot-2 center is starting to do what the team needs instead of looking for his own shot. Concentrating on scoring in previous games this season led to the ball becoming stagnant. As a result, his teammates, primarily VJ Edgecombe, became less impactful.

    Sometimes, the rookie guard rarely touched the ball while Embiid hoisted up shots. But against Memphis, Edgecombe, the No. 3 pick in this summer’s draft, scored 13 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter and sank the game-winning three-pointer with 1.7 seconds left in overtime.

    Sixers’ Blue x White scrimmage showcases Joel Embiid’s health and a provocative two-big lineup

    He followed that with 23 points on 9-for-14 shooting to go with a game-high four steals against the Mavs. And on Saturday, Edgecombe jump-started the Sixers’ rout by scoring 18 of his 26 points in the first half.

    The shooting guard has shown off his shooting progress over the past three games, in which he’s made 14 of 25 three-pointers. Previously, Edgecombe was vastly underutilized offensively when Embiid.

    The Sixers also have benefited from staggering Maxey and Embiid, allowing both to be aggressive. The tactic also allows for the offense to run through each player during specific stretches. They’ve also been successful utilizing a twin towers lineup featuring Embiid and Adem Bona at times. In that lineup, Embiid slides to power forward.

    In this pairing, the Sixers incorporate drives to the basket that end with dump-offs to Bona. They also have high-percentage scoring plays, in which Embiid receives the ball at the elbow and dishes it to Bona underneath the basket. Another option is for Embiid to drive the lane and fire to wide-open three-point shooters in the corner.

    Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaren Jackson Jr. (8) is defended by Sixers post players Joel Embiid (21) and forward Adem Bona (30) on Tuesday.

    Bona’s presence helps provide rebounding and rim protection. Meanwhile, Embiid gets to display his shooting and passing skills.

    And for them to continue to win, his passing skills must be on full display. Maxey, who’s the league’s third-leading scorer at 31.0 points per game, can shoulder the load.

    Edgecombe, Paul George, and Quentin Grimes can also help in that category. While he’s going to get his points, Embiid’s focus should be on assisting teammates to get easier shots and making sure there’s constant ball movement.

    At this moment, it would provide the Sixers with opportunities to compete with the league’s elite squads.

    No matter how prolific a scorer Embiid can be, the team’s success is dependent on his ability to create opportunities for others.

  • Bucks County agrees to pay nearly $1 million to a woman who was pepper-sprayed and restrained in jail

    Bucks County agrees to pay nearly $1 million to a woman who was pepper-sprayed and restrained in jail

    Bucks County has agreed to pay $950,000 to a woman with a serious mental illness who was pepper-sprayed and left strapped for hours in a chair while at Bucks County Correctional Facility over five years ago.

    Kimberly Stringer’s parents hope the settlement draws attention to the country’s ongoing mental health crisis, and the need for alternatives to arresting and jailing people who need psychiatric care.

    Martha and Paul Stringer of Lower Makefield Township sued Bucks County prison guards and officials in 2022, asserting that their daughter’s civil rights were violated while she was jailed for 64 days during the spring and summer of 2020.

    Martha Stringer has since become an advocate for programs to keep people with serious mental illnesses out of jails. She said that, along with the settlement, the county agreed to work to implement one such program. Known as assisted outpatient treatment, it involves regular court appearances and close supervision for people with a history of hospitalizations who struggle to follow treatment plans.

    “My only hope would be that this story resonates beyond Bucks County,” because county jails all around the country are frequently where people with mental health issues end up, she said.

    By April 2020, her 27-year old daughter already had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder with psychotic features and had been involuntarily committed twice, Martha Stringer said.

    “She was well known, particularly in Falls Township, where she was arrested,” Martha Stringer said.

    It was then, while in the midst of a rapidly worsening mental health crisis, that Kimberly Stringer struck and threatened her neighbor, according to the Stringers’ attorney, David Inscho. She was arrested and taken to Bucks County Correctional Facility, where, as a pretrial detainee, she was pepper-sprayed twice by prison guards, Inscho said.

    Stringer was also placed in a “restraint chair,” which prohibits movement, several times, for as long as four hours, Inscho said. At no point did she pose a threat to guards, and her inability to comply with orders was because she was “in a state of catatonia.”

    “In that state she was not able to process and comply with the rules of that correctional facility — and that led to uses of force” by prison guards, Inscho said.

    The settlement agreement between the Stringers and Bucks County, which was reached Dec. 17, includes a requirement that video footage of the incidents recorded by prison guards be destroyed. The agreement notes one remaining copy of the videos may be kept in a password-protected file for 10 years and then deleted.

    Bucks County Commissioner Diane Ellis-Marseglia during a meeting on May 21, 2024.

    “The videos were difficult to watch,” Inscho said. “It was clear that Kim was in a mental health crisis. The tools available to the guards were clearly not the tools Kim needed.”

    Bucks County Commissioner Diane Ellis-Marseglia said she believes prison guards were trying to keep Stringer safe, but she shouldn’t have been in jail to begin with.

    “She and the millions of Americans who likewise struggle with mental illness deserve access to high-quality, intensive treatment, with intervention that begins long before they are misdirected to the criminal justice system,” Ellis-Marseglia said in a statement.

    Ellis-Marseglia said that Bucks County has made strides in helping people with serious mental illness. In 2023, the board of commissioners voted unanimously to fund a behavioral health center in Doylestown, the Lenape Valley Foundation’s Bright Path Center, Ellis-Marseglia noted. Last August, commissioners voted to add $5 million more to fund the facility, a county spokesperson said.

    Bucks County in 2023 also voted to build a Diversion Assessment Restoration and Treatment Center at the jail, which is set to open this year, the spokesperson said, and in 2021, it added a separate housing area for women and a mental health unit in the jail.

    “These programs and facilities will help bridge critical gaps in mental health services and move us in the direction of improving the mental health treatment environment,” Ellis-Marseglia said.

    Martha Stringer, parent of Kim Stringer, at her home in Yardley. When Kim Stringer was having an acute psychotic episode, local police charged her with harassment and placed her in the Bucks County jail. Her parents sued in 2022, and have become advocates for prison reform after their daughter’s mistreatment.

    The Stringers applauded these changes, which they attributed in part to the public outcry over their daughter’s mistreatment. Their daughter’s story became public after several inmates notified the media of Kimberly Stringer’s condition in jail; days later, the county relocated her to a state mental institution.

    Still, Martha Stringer said, most of Bucks County’s new interventions are for people who have already been arrested.

    “And that’s where we’re going to come to the table with Bucks, to see if we can implement assisted outpatient treatment,” Martha Stringer said.

    The money from the settlement will go into a special needs trust that the parents set up years ago, Paul Stringer said. The trust has strict rules on what money can be spent on, and is designed to provide for their daughter even after he and his wife, both in their 60s, have died.

    “She’s doing quite well,” Paul Stringer said. “But she requires, probably, a lifetime of supports.”

    Their now-33-year-old daughter is living in Brooke Glen Behavioral Hospital under a long-term involuntary commitment, Martha Stringer said. Their hope is that she’ll be able to move to a less-restrictive setting and gain more independence, while still getting the support she needs.

    “These past five years, she’s missed a lot,” Martha Stringer said. “She’s missed her sister’s wedding. Recently she’s become an aunt. She’s missed a lot. We struggled with that.”

    One thing that’s given some comfort, she added, is that people often reach out for advice on how they can help their children, who are in similar situations.

    “I learned so much the hard way, that I felt like, if I could give families a better understanding of what we learned, then I could help them.”

  • Shopping secondhand for kids’ stuff is getting more popular in Philly

    Shopping secondhand for kids’ stuff is getting more popular in Philly

    When Jennifer Kinka was pregnant with her first child, she stood in the aisle of Babies R Us with a registry sheet, looking over the wall of plastic consumables the company deemed required for having a baby. What she saw was waste.

    “I was just like, this is crazy that there’s no system for this,” Kinka said. “There’s no problem-solving around how this is happening and how we could do this better.”

    After a few more years, her second pregnancy, and a small inheritance from the loss of her terminally ill parents, Kinka was able to implement her solution: The Nesting House, a kids’ consignment shop based in Mount Airy that she founded 15 years ago.

    Shoppers across Philadelphia, including parents buying for their children, are increasingly forgoing new items in favor of secondhand and lightly used in an effort to save money and live more sustainably.

    Chris Baeza, associate program director of Fashion Industry & Merchandising at Drexel University, asks her students each semester who shops in the secondhand market. While five years ago she might have had a single student raise a hand, now it’s nearly all of them.

    The global secondhand apparel market grew by 15% in 2024, according to online consignment store ThredUp’s annual report, and it’s expected to continue growing each year. ThredUp estimates that the resale apparel market is growing 2.7 times faster than the overall apparel market.

    For Abby Sewell, a South Philadelphia mom of two, secondhand clothing and furniture was a mainstay of her childhood, when she spent weekends trash picking and combing through yard sales to find reusable items. Her father is artist Leo Sewell, who built a replica of the Statue of Liberty’s arm and torch at the Please Touch Museum.

    “I just know how much there is out in the world,” said Sewell, who also describes herself as an environmentalist. “There’s just so much kids clothes that it kills me to buy something new when I know there’s like 50 pairs of 2T leggings in someone’s basement.”

    A dramatic shift toward secondhand not only coincided with the proliferation of social media but followed the 2013 Rana Plaza factory collapse in Dhaka, Bangladesh, that killed more than 1,000 people. People began to wonder how their clothing was being made, and the conditions laborers were under, Baeza said.

    Used baby shoes on display at the Nesting House.

    Next came the broader revelation of textile waste — pictures and video of clothing from the United States washing up on the shores of African countries — which plays into the interest in the secondhand market, she said.

    “This was stuff that we just throw away, or we put in a drop box [thinking] it’s going to a good cause,” Baeza said. “They’re actually packing stuff up, and it’s a commodity they’re selling abroad.”

    While Beaza teaches her students to scrutinize the marketing of sustainable fashion and to understand secondhand may not be the be-all-end-all of building circularity into the industry, she gets the sense they want to be part of what she describes as a renaissance period.

    “They want to be part of the solution, not the problem,” Baeza said.

    Childrens clothes on display outside the Nesting House.

    Sewell prefers to shop thrift and consignment around her neighborhood and frequents stores like Lilypad and 2A. She also goes to annual church sales in the suburbs and uses eBay for more specific items — a specific kind of sleep sack that works for her 1-year-old or an item in a specific color or fabric for her 4-year-old.

    “I’m still shocked to this day when I learn that other parents still are buying mostly new clothes for their children,” Sewell said. “I think I’m on a very different end of the spectrum, and I always have been as a consumer.”

    Lilypad, which began as a play space on Broad Street, expanded to include a small thrift shop in its basement after the COVID-19 pandemic sidelined its twice-yearly City Kids consignment events. The nonprofit sells only donated items at its shop, now located in East Passyunk, to support charging an affordable annual membership to its play space.

    Lilypad board member Maria Hughes said the number of people actively seeking out secondhand clothing for their kids, particularly babies, has increased exponentially over the last several years. The store sees more pregnant people, who don’t want to go through the process of building a registry. Hughes added that there are also more grandparents and grandparents-to-be shopping at Lilypad now.

    “They’re not going to Marshalls and buying the things,” Hughes said. Instead they’re opting for pre-owned items “either at the directive of their children or because they believe now.”

    Kinka said the early days of the Nesting House “felt like it was mission work.”

    Used baby goods and books on display at the Nesting House.

    “Nobody understood what we were doing,” Kinka said. “People would come in very confused. They would oftentimes refer to us as a thrift store.”

    Eventually people saw the store as a sound economic choice: get high-quality children’s clothing at a great price. But she has seen “a huge shift” over the last five years.

    “It’s this current generation,” Kinka said. They’re on board with the concept “before they come. They’re ready for us.”

  • The one really great thing about renting in Philly, according to a Boston transplant

    The one really great thing about renting in Philly, according to a Boston transplant

    The Philadelphia Superiority Complex is an occasional series of highly opinionated takes about why Philadelphia is better than other cities.

    As I began in earnest my search for a Philadelphia apartment recently, I steeled myself for a tradition I assumed to be as East Coast as unnecessary honking and an unhealthy animosity toward outsiders.

    I’m speaking, of course, about the broker fee.

    As a native Midwesterner and perpetual renter who has spent the past decade living in Boston, I’d come to view broker fees as an inescapable part of big-city life.

    For the uninitiated, broker fees are a lot like extortion payments. Here’s how it would go in Boston: A so-called apartment broker — to this day I couldn’t tell you what a broker actually is — meets you at an available apartment, unlocks the door, and stands there while you give yourself a brief tour of the unit. In exchange for this white-glove service, and the privilege of renting the apartment, you pay the broker a one-time, nonrefundable fee typically equal to one month’s rent. In Boston, where the average rent for a one-bedroom apartments sits at around $3,500, this is no small thing.

    Making matters worse, the Boston brokers always seem to be finance-bros-in-training, arriving to these brief showings in Lexuses or BMWs, hair meticulously styled and dressed head to toe in Brooks Brothers.

    How refreshing it has been, then, to discover that broker fees just … don’t actually exist here?

    Not once since I began responding to online apartment postings have I been asked to hand a stranger a $3,500 check in exchange for arranging a two-minute tour. I haven’t yet received a torrent of unwanted text messages from guys named Brock or Beau, demanding to know the earliest possible moment I can schedule a viewing.

    And from what I can gather, I’m not going to.

    As one longtime Philadelphian explained it to me recently, “There is a beauty in Philadelphia that no matter how cool it’s trying to be, it is never desirable enough to warrant something like brokers fees.”

    It’s been a true revelation.

    (In Boston’s defense, Massachusetts legislators recently passed a measure mandating that landlords can no longer require tenants to pay a broker fee. Of course, that doesn’t give me back the thousands of dollars I would’ve otherwise put into my retirement fund or, more likely, Uber Eats and Nerf machine guns.)

    Which is not to say, certainly, that things here are perfect. An increasing number of Philly renters are cost-burdened. And the city recently ranked among the nation’s least affordable for apartment renters, according to one online real estate brokerage firm.

    And as someone who is at the very beginning of the process, I’m sure there will be more disappointment in store.

    I’m preparing for an upcoming weekend of apartment tours in Philly, and I have no illusions about how it’s likely to go. I’m imagining a couple days of drab leasing offices and hidden-fee horrors, one-sided rental agreements and a good ol’-fashioned scam or two.

    Fine.

    If it means not handing a half-month’s salary over to a smug 25-year-old in wingtips, well, then, I’m OK with all of it.

    Good on ya, Philadelphia.

  • How a home renovation can make or break your relationship

    How a home renovation can make or break your relationship

    Jena and Brandon Fisher know they have very different decision-making styles. It was important to keep that in mind when they renovated three full bathrooms in their Wynnewood home — all at the same time.

    When making a decision, “I think about it, I look at my options, and then I decide and move on,” said Jena.

    Conversely, Brandon’s style “is very deliberate,” he said. “I want to know every single option, I want to weigh them, and take time with my decisions.”

    The home renovation project they started planning in late December 2024 involved taking each bathroom — one for Jena, one for Brandon, and one for their kids Audrey, 15, and Charlie, 11 — down to the studs. The bathrooms were out of commission for about 3½ months, with the work staggered slightly to ensure they always had a working toilet and shower.

    Jena took the lead on her bathroom and, true to her personality, she made quick decisions. Brandon’s was more of a slog, with Jena pushing him for answers.

    A photo of Brandon Fisher’s bathroom after the renovations were complete. He was resistant to the project, he says, but he loved the result.

    “My bathroom was in bad shape but it took 10 years of me saying we didn’t need to do it yet,” he recalled, until finally the plumbing started leaking and the grout was crumbling.

    Recognizing their differing styles, the Fishers managed to complete their projects with minor stress, which happened mostly when she had to push him to meet deadlines. They are both thrilled with the finished bathrooms.

    Half of couples who undertake home renovations find the process fulfilling, according to the 2025 U.S. Houzz Remodeling and Relationships Report.

    But 4% said they considered separating or divorcing during renovations, Houzz reported. That share jumps to 12% for couples together five years or less, compared with 2% for couples in relationships of 30 years or more.

    Common sources of conflict include staying on budget; deciding on products, materials, or finishes; and agreeing on the project’s scope or design, the study found.

    Planning ahead is key

    To keep the process positive, set expectations before the project starts and keep communicating throughout, said Anna Nicholaides, owner of Philadelphia Couples Therapy in Center City. Understanding how your partner makes decisions and what causes each of you stress can help guide you.

    “A renovation is a stressor, and the list of things that can trigger people during a renovation is very long,” she said.

    Perhaps you or your spouse is triggered by disruptions to your routine or having strangers coming in your home. And timelines may be exceeded, which can be difficult if your house is constantly filled with dust or if you need to extend the amount of time you must be out of your home.

    Renovations can be riddled with anxieties, starting with budget concerns. Agree on a budget, and divide your project into affordable stages. For example, perhaps you can change the kitchen cabinets this year and wait until next year to replace the countertops.

    If possible, divide responsibilities. For example, if you care deeply about the layout of the kitchen but your spouse is more concerned with the brand of appliances, divvy up those tasks.

    “Maybe one person is highly focused on beauty and the other person is focused on how things work,” Nicholaides said.

    Taking on unforeseen challenges

    As builders, Tim Ernst and Jake Taylor of Ernst Brothers have helped clients navigate many building and renovation projects. But when it came to their own venture, they got a taste of the challenges their customers face.

    In 2014, the couple bought the old Moose Lodge in Doylestown, gutted it to the studs, and created two 4,500-square-foot condos, one above the other, each with three bedrooms and three bathrooms. Taylor and Ernst live in the top unit, featuring 10½-foot ceilings and 7-foot windows.

    The living room of Jake Taylor and Tim Ernst’s home.

    “There’s got to be division of labor,” said Taylor, managing partner for the Spring House-based building company. He took charge of the financial matters and deadlines while Ernst managed the construction.

    The pair agreed on the budget, scope, and timeline, but as with most projects, there were unforeseen obstacles. Originally built in 1916, the building had water coming through the foundation. They also discovered grading issues, and that their neighbor’s deck was partially built on Taylor and Ernst’s property.

    “When you’re building, you’re selecting different finishes and tile and plumbing fixtures, and deciding to put in heated floors or not,” said Taylor. “But our biggest challenges weren’t things that were nice to have. They were things you have to fix or you’ll have a major problem.”

    No matter how complete your plan is, it’s difficult to understand all of the nuances on paper, added Ernst.

    “You have to see it in real life at times,” said Ernst, who serves as the building company’s principal project manager. “It’s inevitable that you’re going to want to make changes.”

    The added costs in both dollars and time to fix those unforeseen problems meant making sacrifices elsewhere. Though the couple wanted a heated bathroom floor, it was ultimately cut from the budget.

    The bathroom with tub and shower at the home of Jake Taylor and Tim Ernst. They ultimately had to forego plans for a heated floor due to budget constraints.

    Include a mediator

    To help settle disagreements on design elements, Ernst and Taylor brought in John Levitties, principal at JAGR Projects in Glenside.

    “Not only are you getting someone who is professionally trained, but they can also play referee between you and your spouse and offer a sounding board,” Taylor said.

    Amy Cuker, owner of down 2 earth interior design in Elkins Park, who worked with the Fishers, often plays that role for clients.

    “Design isn’t just about taste, it’s also about meeting functional outcomes, proportion, color theory, and other foundational areas of knowledge the design is based on,” Cuker said. “I will reference back to those things when I’m trying to convince a hesitant partner. Sometimes they want that third voice in the room.”

    In her initial meeting with a couple, she will talk to them about function and aesthetics to understand their goals.

    She has them create an inspiration album with pictures of rooms or pieces with the feel they want for their space.

    “If she likes modern and he likes traditional, here are a few images that are comfortable enough for both of them,” Cuker said. “It gets us quickly to a place of understanding where the middle ground is.”

    She finds the biggest challenges come with gaps in budget, neatness, and how much change each partner wants.

    In the end, most couples learn more about themselves and their partners through the process, and most are happy with the finished product. That is certainly true for the Fishers.

    “I resisted it up to the end and now I would probably live in my bathroom,” said Brandon.