Philadelphia local news, sports, jobs, cars, homes

Tag: topic-link-auto

  • Her Bella Vista apartment has a second-story tree view and brings nature inside

    Her Bella Vista apartment has a second-story tree view and brings nature inside

    Last spring, Katie Kring-Schreifels noticed two mourning doves fluttering in the maple tree outside her bedroom window. With the help of binoculars, over the course of several weeks she watched as the birds made a nest in the crook of two branches, then two eggs appeared in the nest, then fledglings hatched, and finally the baby birds grew up and flew away.

    Kring-Schreifels wasn’t surveying birds from a house in a bucolic suburb. She was watching from her second-floor apartment in a brick rowhouse in Bella Vista.

    Wanting to share the urban wildlife’s saga, Kring-Schreifels alerted her upstairs and downstairs neighbors to the nesting doves so they could watch, too.

    The Temple graduate loves city living, shopping at the Italian Market two blocks away, and taking courses at Fleisher Art Memorial down the street.

    The apartment is painted in a pale yellow, with live plants throughout the living space.

    Having grown up in Elkins Park, she values nature and has found ways to bring it into her one-bedroom rental. Her walls are painted pale sunshine yellow, for instance, and a flock of paper bluebirds is suspended from string, creating the illusion that they’re flying across a living room window.

    Kring-Schreifels’ mother, Julie, found the birds at a craft show. Julie, an artist, also created the framed collage with red poppies. And her prints of a fanciful salmon and a raven were purchased on a family trip to Vancouver.

    A map of London combining drawings of birds and foxes with street names was acquired by Kring-Schreifels when she spent a college semester abroad.

    Paper birds hang in the living room window.
    A green and bronze dragonfly is attached to a repurposed headboard on the patio.

    The beige pullout couch and coffee table in the living room came from Wayfair. The green chair, globe lamp, and the beige, cream, and black rug were purchased from Ikea, one of her favorite shopping destinations. “I love Scandinavian design,” she said, “It’s simple and warm.”

    In warm weather, marigolds and other annuals fill pots on the balcony, which is furnished with a blue storage cabinet from Target, blue chairs from Ikea, and a black metal table from her aunt, Mindy Kring. A brass sunburst headboard has been repurposed as a resting place for a green and bronze dragonfly found at the flea market on Head House Square.

    Inside, on an accent wall painted taupe, hangs a multihued Geologic Shaded-Relief Map of Pennsylvania. Kring-Schreifels finds ancient rock croppings fascinating. “I wish I had been a geology major,” she said.

    A geological map of Pennsylvania, a gift from a friend, hangs near the kitchen.

    Instead she was a public relations and art history major and now works as an executive assistant for a promotional products producer.

    Plants and books fill shelves over a dining nook furnished with a white table and red chairs from Ikea.

    The kitchen, with pale pine cabinetry and stainless steel appliances, including an apartment-size dishwasher, and the apartment’s oak flooring were installed after Kring-Schreifels’ landlord, Nate Carabello, bought the house in 2005.

    The dining area features a white table and red chairs from Ikea.
    The property owner was able to salvage the black-and-white tile in the bathroom.

    It had been boarded up for 30 years, he said, and a tree was growing in the middle of the then-roofless house. The brick rowhouse probably had been built in the early 1900s and enlarged in the 1920s, said Carabello, who lives nearby.

    The reglazed white fixtures and black-and-white tile in the bathroom were the only items from the 1920s he was able to salvage.

    In the bedroom, Kring-Schreifels’ favorite find is the coral, green, and cream-colored fan above her bed, which she purchased on Facebook Marketplace for $30. The fan’s colors are picked up in the small armchair from the Habitat for Humanity ReStore and in the William Morris-inspired floral patterned rug from eBay.

    A fan over the bed, which Kring-Schreifels found on Facebook Marketplace.

    The iron bed came from Amazon. The gold drapes, green-and-white bedding, and tan blanket came from a nearby Target. The leather trunk with brass fittings belonged to Kring-Schreifels’ great-grandmother.

    Shades covering storage spaces above two closets were hung by Kring-Schreifels’ father, Jeff, who also provides transportation when his daughter, who has no car, wants her purchases hauled home.

    Under the bedroom window hangs a photo of a seascape with roiling blue waves. On the windowsill next to an ethereal print called Evening in Paris are binoculars awaiting the return of mourning birds next spring.

    The bedroom is decorated with eclectic items, including a leather trunk that belonged to Kring-Schreifels’ great-grandmother.

    Is your house a Haven? Nominate your home by email (and send some digital photographs) at properties@inquirer.com.

  • Hot neighborhoods and big swings: Analyzing Philly’s 2026 dining forecast

    Hot neighborhoods and big swings: Analyzing Philly’s 2026 dining forecast

    A statement like “more than 100 new restaurants are on the way to the Philadelphia region in 2026” may seem dramatic, as if we’re living in a Semiquincentennial-fueled boom time.

    But that’s how it has been during the last few years as out-of-town groups and expansion-minded local restaurateurs sign leases in a town that seems to enjoy dining out, whether at fast-casual spots or fancier restaurants.

    The math maths, and the region’s roster is growing. My census last January found in excess of 110 projected 2025 openings, and by the end of the year, I counted 86 closings, including the 11 Pennsylvania and New Jersey locations of Iron Hill Brewery.

    More than 100 new restaurants and bars opening in Philly and suburbs in 2026

    At this point, I don’t see the area’s 250th celebrations driving too many new groundbreaking restaurant deals. The timeline of big-budget restaurants — like Borromini (last year’s big splash) and Mr. Edison (this year’s) — is equivalent to the gestation period of an elephant. (Another example: Burtons Grill & Bar, which signed a lease last year for Barn Plaza in Doylestown, is targeting a 2027 opening.)

    A rendering of Mr. Edison, Jeffrey Chodorow’s first Philadelphia restaurant, with a bartop carousel at left. The restaurant is due to open in the Bellevue in spring 2026.

    What is apparent this year is a solid collection of culinary entrepreneurs committing capital — nothing too extravagant. Ellen Yin and Teddy Sourias both have projects coming downtown (both unnamed as yet), Greg Vernick is close to opening his first venture outside of Center City, and chef Christopher Kearse is overhauling Varga Bar’s space with design-firm partners PS & Daughters. Michael Schulson — whose last opening was Dear Daphni in December 2024 — also says he’s planning three more restaurants for 2026.

    Where the growth is

    The Kensington-Fishtown corridor

    The city’s most active development zone remains Kensington-Fishtown, buoyed by new construction and adaptive reuse — and landlord incentives. Just like previous years, the incoming projects (like Emilia and Adda, both signed long ago) signal sustained interest from serious operators. Barcelona Wine Bar recently signed on for a second Philadelphia location, on Lee Street near Pizzeria Beddia and Hiroki. Corner bars (Ponder Bar, ILU) and fast-casual concepts (7th Street Burger, Slider & Co.) are positioned to meet everyday demand.

    Washington Square West and Queen Village

    Washington Square West and Queen Village have long boasted a French-leaning dining cluster (the Good King Tavern, Le Caveau, Mabu Kitchen, Sofi Corner Cafe). Now come three more: Soufiane at the Morris, Side Eye, and Known Associates (from Forsythia’s Kearse).

    The exterior of Side Eye on Monday, Dec. 15, 2025, in Philadelphia. Side Eye is located at 623 S. Sixth St.

    University City

    As University City’s life-sciences footprint grows north of Market Street, food and beverage have followed. The Triad at 38th and Lancaster will house DiDi, Kabobeesh with Karak Cha House, and Shibam Coffee, creating a dense, international hub tied to student and office traffic, adding to current occupants including Han Dynasty, Two Locals, and Corio.

    Chestnut Hill

    Northwest Philadelphia’s toniest neighborhood has drawn the classy concepts Lovat Square (wine shop/tasting room) and Blue Warbler (all-day cafe/bar). I also hear that Fiesta Pizza is returning, so it’s not completely bougie.

    Main Line and South Jersey

    The Main Line (Ardmore, Bryn Mawr, Wayne, Narberth, Devon) continues to see growth mainly from locals like Bart’s Bagels, Gouldsburger’s, and Love & Honey Fried Chicken, while Merchantville, Collingswood, Haddon Township, and Marlton remain reliable for both chef-driven and neighborhood concepts. When a restaurant closes in those towns, a replacement is usually close behind.

    Haddon Avenue in Collingswood.

    What’s trending

    Fast-casual keeps scaling

    Burgers, fried chicken, halal concepts, and kiosks continue to proliferate. New York imports like Harlem Shake and 7th Street Burger are joining the locals.

    Coffee is still surging

    Philly’s first M.O.T.W. Coffee is opening in Center City, with Cake & Joe also on deck. Haraz Coffee House is expanding into the suburbs, while Happy Bear Coffee and Thank You Thank You are multiplying.

    A “one on one” espresso and coffee at the Thank You Thank You Coffee shop.

    Bakeries and bagels rebound

    Bagel shops (Bart’s Bagels, PopUp Bagels, Penny’s Bagels) are moving from pop-ups and delivery into permanent homes. Pretzel Day Pretzels follows that same arc, while the homegrown Wild Yeast Bakehouse is part of a new wave of boutique sourdough operations.

    More, more, more

    Amma’s South Indian Cuisine will head to Bucks County for its fifth location, while Chinatown standout EMei expects two expansions. Additional growth is coming from Dim Sum House by Jane G’s, Dim Sum Factory, Amina’s Felicia Wilson and Darryl Harmon (Table 8460 by Amina, Amina Ocean), 13th Street Kitchen’s Michael Pasquarello (Piccolina), and the partners at Libertee Grounds (Lucky Duck).

    The Ghee Roast Dosa at Amma’s on Chestnut Street in Philadelphia on Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024.

    Philadelphia’s bar scene remains active. Expected arrivals include a mix of highbrow (Liquorette, Bar Caviar, ILU), casual drop-ins (Lillian’s, O’Morrey’s), and fun (Claude’s Comedy Club & Bar).

    High-end dining is also expanding: Friday Saturday Sunday is adding space, while Bucks County will see its first rooftop venue with Main Sip Rooftop. Meanwhile, established operators are relocating or upgrading — Crust Vegan Bakery is moving to East Falls, Flakely is going full retail in Bryn Mawr, Kabobeesh is shifting within University City, and Luna Cafe is relocating within Olde Kensington.

  • Letters to the Editor | Jan. 7, 2026

    Letters to the Editor | Jan. 7, 2026

    True intention

    Why doesn’t Donald Trump direct his boat strike/invasion show toward Colombia, Bolivia, and Peru, where most of the cocaine is manufactured, or China and Mexico, where the majority of fentanyl comes from, if his intention to rid the U.S. of illegal drugs killing Americans were true?

    K. Mayes, Philadelphia

    . . .

    Donald Trump’s “special military operation” in Venezuela puts him squarely in the same category as Russia’s Vladimir Putin, who used the same phrase to describe his invasion of Ukraine, and China’s Xi Jinping. It was all about oil from the beginning. Bombing boats in the name of “narco-terrorism” was just a cover and a distraction. And he intends to “run” Venezuela? Trump has injected himself and the United States into a big mess in which I don’t believe he has any idea how to actually “run” the country, or any idea of the enormous cost involved. This adventure is simply another episode of self-glorification and probably self-enrichment somewhere down the line, as well. It’s all about himself as usual, not for the good of the United States and our people or our standing in the world. This is hardly making America great again.

    Elsbeth Wrigley, Wyndmoor

    . . .

    Your recent editorial on Donald Trump’s illegal invasion raises many valid objections to our president’s headlong rush to remove Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro without any advice or consent from Congress, let alone the United Nations. I never voted for Trump, and I agree in general with most of your points about where we are with Venezuela. But I was gravely disappointed in your statement that “[f]ormer President George W. Bush at least sold a phony story about weapons of mass destruction to get Congress to go along with his reckless invasion of Iraq.”

    Authorities with more expertise on the Iraq War than The Inquirer Editorial Board beg to differ. I refer you to a 2015 op-ed from the Wall Street Journal headlined, “The Dangerous Lie That Bush Lied.” It was written by Laurence H. Silberman, who served as cochairman of the Commission on the Intelligence Capabilities of the United States Regarding Weapons of Mass Destruction, a bipartisan body. The gist of what Judge Silberman and others have written is that the motivations for the invasion were much broader than WMDs, and that Mr. Bush’s decision was unduly colored by woefully inadequate intelligence. Hindsight is always 20/20.

    While your concerns about how the invasion of Venezuela might affect Ukraine and even Taiwan are also worth stating, the Editorial Board needs to remember that even the noninterventionist Biden administration had put a substantial price on the head of Mr. Maduro. So there is little doubt he is just as bad a character as Mr. Trump portrays him to be. Thus, in the end, though we have probably (to paraphrase former Secretary of State Colin Powell) bought something because we broke it, the invasion may, after a long struggle, advance democracy in the Western Hemisphere.

    John Baxter, Toano, Va.

    Illegal invasion

    Without the consent of Congress, the invasion of Venezuela was both illegal and unconstitutional. Without a follow-up plan, it was also incredibly reckless. It clearly was not about drugs or democracy, but about wealth, power, and greed. It was about oil. This disaster not only negatively affects the U.S. but has the potential to change the world order. It gives other countries permission to do the same. Do we want China to take over Taiwan? Do we want to legitimize Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine? I think not. Now, more than ever, we need Congress to step up to the plate and put a stop to this insanity. And it is the job of We the People to make sure that happens. Each and every voice needs to be heard. We are in a mess.

    Anne B. Zehner, Palm City, Fla.

    Abortion protesters

    Having observed the behaviors of protesters at Planned Parenthood’s location at 11th and Locust Streets over the past year, I would encourage the people and/or organizations that pay or otherwise support some or all of the repeat protesters to evaluate their performance and outcomes. Weekday protesters are usually a small number of older men whose dress and loud manner are difficult to ignore. They approach most patients with a brochure and candy, and most often call out loudly to not kill the baby, followed by offers to “help.” Their appearance and boisterous behaviors appear counterproductive. The Planned Parenthood facility provides a variety of healthcare services, so not every woman who arrives is seeking an abortion. I have yet to observe a single woman turn away from an appointment. We should respect the right of the protesters to express their beliefs. But if they hope to influence patients, they could be more respectful. Supporters of the protesters should more carefully monitor conduct and results.

    L. David Wise, Philadelphia

    Protect clean water

    As children learn in grade school, “We all live downstream.” That premise is at the heart of the federal Clean Water Act. If you want clean water for fishing, swimming, and drinking, you need to protect from pollution not just lakes and rivers, but the upstream waters that feed them. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin is currently pushing new, polluter-friendly rules that would exclude 80% of the nation’s headwater streams and wetlands from pollution protection. The proposal would go beyond recent U.S. Supreme Court decision-making in narrowing the scope of federally protected waters. Even in Pennsylvania, with its own state-level protections, this cutback in the Clean Water Act would make it harder for an already stretched state Department of Environmental Protection to hold the line against more pollution dumping. Americans must tell the EPA to abandon this assault on our nation’s waters.

    Robin Mann, Rosemont

    The troops are coming?

    A recent article in The Inquirer poses an intriguing question: Why has Philly, an overwhelmingly Democratic city, so far been spared the federal troop deployments President Donald Trump has inflicted on several other Democratic-led cities?

    To the list of possibilities explored in the article, I’d add one more: the central role of Philadelphia in the ongoing celebrations of our nation’s 250th birthday. President Trump, ever hungry for the media spotlight, has sought to make himself a focus of these celebrations. (A “fact sheet” on the official White House website is titled, “President Donald J. Trump previews plans for the Grandest Celebration of America’s Birthday.”)

    Even though the U.S. Supreme Court ruled against Trump’s National Guard deployment in Chicago, the president has suggested that troops could return “in a much different and stronger form.”

    If so — and if they show up in Philly — how will it play across the nation, and to the increasing number of Americans disenchanted with the president, if federal troops occupy the city where our grand experiment in democracy began? Does the Trump administration really want viral videos of National Guard troops carrying weapons, or anonymous masked immigration agents bundling people into unmarked vans, with Independence Hall as a backdrop?

    Shobhana Kanal, Bala Cynwyd

    Safeguard digital environment

    As a pediatrician, I see every day how social media is shaping our children’s and adolescents’ lives long before their brains are ready to handle it. My patients tell me about sleepless nights, bullying that doesn’t end when the school day does, and algorithmic “rabbit holes” that amplify their anxiety and depression. I see the toll in headaches, weight changes, panic attacks, and exhaustion. These aren’t isolated cases; they’re part of a public health crisis affecting young people across Pennsylvania.

    Families and doctors can provide support, but we can’t prescribe much for an algorithm or a billion-dollar company taking advantage of kids. Other states have already passed Kids Code legislation that requires tech platforms to design their products with children’s well-being in mind. Pennsylvania can and should do the same.

    Our kids deserve digital environments that are as carefully protected as the homes, classrooms, playgrounds, and pediatric clinics where they spend the rest of their lives. Lawmakers must step up and pass a Kids Code now.

    Joey Whelihan, Philadelphia

    Join the conversation: Send letters to letters@inquirer.com. Limit length to 150 words and include home address and day and evening phone number. Letters run in The Inquirer six days a week on the editorial pages and online.

  • Dear Abby | Couple’s long relationship reaches tipping point

    DEAR ABBY: My boyfriend and I have been together for 18 years. Everyone we know thinks we are married, but we never got it on paper. He has always been less empathetic than I would like, and there’s a lot of stuff I either had to accept or move on. He never buys me gifts (no matter how much I’ve told him it bothers me), and it has been a struggle for him to even hug me when I’m sad.

    These last few years have been harder than usual. I have blown up like a freaking balloon from emotional eating, and our relationship is falling apart. We haven’t had sex in six months (who knows when before that), and it’s taken a toll on me. I keep wondering if it’s me.

    He used to at least give me massages, and I’d feel closeness through that intimacy, but now it feels like we are strangers. I know we have a lot of stressful stuff going on, but where’s the love? How do I talk to him about this?

    — STRANGER IN LOVE

    DEAR STRANGER: Choose a time when you and your partner are calm and as stress-free as possible. Open the conversation by saying you don’t think HE is happy and ask him why. Couples don’t “not get around” to getting married. There are usually explanations for it. Those reasons should have been dealt with years ago.

    Once he’s done expressing what he thinks about your relationship, it will be time to tell him how lonely, isolated and unhappy you have become. If you are both willing to work on making it better, you have a chance for a better future with him. However, if he runs true to form, then it is time to cut your losses before you starve to death from lack of affection, which is likely the reason for all of your emotional eating.

    ** ** **

    DEAR ABBY: My ex-girlfriend just can’t get a clue. She continues trying to get me back and even goes so far as to stalk me. I blocked her phone number, but it has become exhausting. How do I tell her I don’t love her anymore and really no longer even like her? I can’t stand her, her family or her friends. She gaslit me for years. Our entire relationship was built on a lie. I’m so much happier without her in my life, but she just won’t go away. Any advice on how to deal with this crazy person would be great.

    — SO OVER HER IN FLORIDA

    DEAR SO OVER HER: Continue to avoid your ex, and if you see her, do not acknowledge her. If she approaches you, tell her you are done and to leave you alone. Do not respond to her calls, emails or texts, and if she mails you anything, write “return to sender” on the package or envelope.

    Tell your friends that she is stalking you and her behavior is creepy, and then continue dating and resume your social life. If she acts out or damages your property, report her to the authorities. The most effective way to get rid of her is to resume the life you had before you met her and don’t look back.

  • Horoscopes: Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026

    ARIES (March 21-April 19). Your recollection may not be 100% factual, but that’s just the nature of memory in general. At least your recollections will be kind and positive, so happy stories will get better over time and sad stories will lose their sting.

    TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Daunting tasks need doing. They look complicated, heavy or painfully boring, but they’re usually quicker than they appear, and the psychic lift afterward is delicious. Jump in, get it done and enjoy the freedom that follows.

    GEMINI (May 21-June 21). If a choice feels impossible, zoom out. Instead of, “Which one is right?” try, “Which one would future-me thank me for?” Decisions get easier when you let identity lead. Your future self has better taste than you think.

    CANCER (June 22-July 22). Sometimes you just don’t trust others to give you the right help, or you fear the hidden costs. Sometimes you simply like doing things alone. You’re like a creature whose needs shift with the seasons, and the right care will come.

    LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Some of the choices are too big, too hot, too cold, and suddenly, you’re in the Goldilocks challenge of doing what’s just right. What Goldilocks didn’t get right was falling asleep on the job. Don’t get too comfortable, and you’ll be fine.

    VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Although no one else can stop you, you’ll be wise to stop yourself every so often. Take breaks! Good, healthy pacing allows you to avoid the burnout that could prevent you from collecting your prize at the finish line.

    LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Your thoughts will move in straight lines, and everything else will support your purposefulness. It’s all getting straight to the point now. People will literally step aside because no one dares get between you and your target.

    SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). You’re hungry for glamour and bright, creative minds to riff with. If the world isn’t serving it up, curate your own scene. Throw a gathering, join one or even start a little salon. The vibe you’re after is waiting to be conjured.

    SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). There’s a prize for winning, but honestly, it’s not the only reward. It may not even be the best reward, as life has a way of doling out “participation prizes” that are more valuable than the big trophy.

    CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Ideas will click into place, blueprint-style, giving you a future you’re excited about. The vibe is “totally doable.” Wrap one project and the support for the next pops up automatically, like the system is refreshing itself for you.

    AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). You’ll be made aware that you’re not where you want to be in terms of performance. Maybe it’s good enough for the others on your team, but you think you can do better, so it’s not good enough for you. Keep putting in the practice. You’ll get there.

    PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). You contain multitudes, but multitudes can’t be taken in all at once. Offer one thread of yourself today. It invites people in instead of leaving them unsure where to begin.

    TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (Jan. 7). Celebrate your Year of Bold Receiving. You’ve given so much; now life gives back. Supporters show up, networks widen, and an exciting opportunity arrives because someone can’t stop singing your praises. Love energizes you. Money matters stabilize and then improve. More highlights: a bucket-list event, confidence in your voice and a mentor who truly sees your potential. Cancer and Leo adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 7, 18, 20, 34 and 48.

  • Trevor Zegras scores twice against his old team in the Flyers’ 5-2 win over the Ducks

    Trevor Zegras scores twice against his old team in the Flyers’ 5-2 win over the Ducks

    Ed Snider would be proud.

    The crowd brought it. The Flyers brought it.

    On what would have been the founder and late owner’s 93rd birthday, in front of a sellout crowd at Xfinity Mobile Arena, and with the faithful amped up, the Flyers dominated the Anaheim Ducks 5-2. It was their second straight win and fifth in the past seven games.

    In between boos and words not safe for print, former Flyers prospect Cutter Gauthier struck first for the Ducks with a power-play goal, celebrating with a “mark it” reaction. But the Flyers answered with four straight goals.

    Flyers’ Bobby Brink, Jamie Drysdale exit Ducks game early with injuries

    Trevor Zegras, who was acquired from the Ducks in June and has been off to a red-hot start with his new club, scored twice past goalie Lukáš Dostál in the first period — each from the same spot.

    The first came at even strength, when Christian Dvorak, who signed a five-year extension on Monday, kept a bouncing puck in at the Ducks’ blue line. He carried it down and sent a no-look pass to Zegras between the bottom of the right circle and the goal line. The New York native sent a one-timer past Dostál from the sharp angle.

    On the celebration, he “hung up the phone” on the Ducks. He said on NBCSP’s postgame show, “That’s how quick the phone call was before.”

    Just over four minutes later, Zegras did it from almost the exact spot on a Flyers power play to give the home team a 2-1 lead. On this goal, it was Cam York who skated down and sent a no-look pass over to Zegras for the one-timer from the bottom of the right circle for his 17th goal of the season.

    Zegras now has four games with two goals this season and 11 in his career. He has never had a hat trick.

    Early in the second period, York got the puck at the point, and after walking the line a few steps, he put it on net. The puck appeared to be deflected on the way in, but York was awarded his third goal of the season.

    Travis Sanheim pushed it to 4-1 after Noah Cates won a faceoff deep in the Ducks’ end back to him. The defenseman stepped into the puck and fired it home.

    Anaheim’s Alex Killorn scored a power-play goal to cut it to 4-2 early in the third period, but Nikita Grebenkin added an empty-netter with 1 minute, 14 seconds left in the game.

    And the Flyers dominated the game despite a decimated bench.

    Goalie Dan Vladař earns Czechia Olympic nod amid breakout season with the Flyers

    Already without Matvei Michkov, who is day to day with a lower-body injury, the Flyers lost two more players in the game.

    Bobby Brink left the game and did not return after a blindside hit by Jansen Harkins just 2:38 into the first period. Off the rush, Brink received a pass from Nikita Grebenkin and was skating toward the net when Harkins cut across the slot and clipped Brink.

    Noah Cates went right after Harkins, and the two dropped the gloves. According to Hockeyfights.com, it is Cates’ first pro hockey fight. The site says he had one fight with Omaha of the United States Hockey League in 2018, dropping the gloves with Paul Cotter, who now plays for the New Jersey Devils. Cates said postgame he “wouldn’t consider that [USHL one] a fight,” and he doesn’t think he got a five-minute major.

    In the second period, Jamie Drysdale was curling high in the offensive zone without the puck. Anaheim forward Ross Johnston was skating into the zone and appeared to stick out his right arm as Drysdale skated by. The puck was deep in the Ducks’ zone.

    Drysdale, who was acquired in the deal for Gauthier almost two years ago to the day, lay on the ice and did not move for a considerable amount of time. The stretcher came out, and the doctors came out of the stands, but Drysdale sat up and skated off the ice with help.

    But he did not return, and Johnston was handed a five-minute major for interference and a game misconduct. The play by Johnston came after Garnet Hathaway drilled Olen Zellweger — cleanly — in the offensive zone.

    Flyers’ Noah Cates (right) shown during the second period of Tuesday’s game against Anaheim.

    Breakaways

    Hathaway also threw a huge hit into Ducks defenseman Ian Moore in the third period and dropped the gloves with former Flyers defenseman Radko Gudas. … Forward Nic Deslauriers and defenseman Noah Juulsen were healthy scratches. … Before the game, Flyers Charities presented the Ed Snider Youth Hockey Foundation with a $300,000 donation for assistance with programming and operational support for four Philadelphia ice rinks.

    Up next

    The Flyers host Scott Laughton and the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday (7 p.m., NBCSP).

  • Deer hunter shot with arrow by another hunter in Montgomery County, police say

    Deer hunter shot with arrow by another hunter in Montgomery County, police say

    A 48-year-old man who was deer hunting Tuesday afternoon was shot with an arrow by another hunter in Montgomery County, police said.

    Just before 3:50 p.m., emergency responders were called to the 7700 block of Green Valley Road in the Wyncote section of Cheltenham Township for a report of an injured hunter, police said.

    The injured man was transported to an area trauma center and was expected to survive, police said.

    The hunter who shot the arrow remained at the location, summoned emergency services, and was cooperating with the investigation, police said.

    The Pennsylvania Game Commission assumed primary responsibility for investigating the incident, police said.

    No other information about the hunters was released by police.

  • Sixers’ Kelly Oubre Jr. and Trendon Watford upgraded to questionable vs. Wizards

    Sixers’ Kelly Oubre Jr. and Trendon Watford upgraded to questionable vs. Wizards

    Kelly Oubre Jr. and Trendon Watford were upgraded to questionable for the 76ers’ contest against the Washington Wizards on Wednesday at Xfinity Mobile Arena.

    Joel Embiid also is listed as questionable with left knee injury management and right ankle soreness.

    Sixers’ Tyrese Maxey drops to third in East in All-Star voting; Joel Embiid remains 17th

    Oubre has been sidelined since spraining a left knee ligament against the Detroit Pistons on Nov. 14. Meanwhile, Watford has been out since suffering a strained left thigh muscle vs. the Orlando Magic on Nov. 25.

    Watford was one of the Sixers’ top free-agent additions. The 6-foot-9 point forward provides frontcourt depth while assuming some ballhandling duties.

    The Alabama native is averaging 8.9 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 3.6 assists in 14 games with four starts. He tallied his first career triple-double by finishing with 20 points, 17 rebounds, and 10 assists on Nov. 8 against the Toronto Raptors.

    The Sixers (19-15) expect Oubre to provide a lift when he returns.

    Before his injury, the 6-8 small forward averaged 16.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.1 steals in 12 games. In addition to excelling when the ball was moving, Oubre did a solid job of guarding the opposing team’s best perimeter player.

    Sixers takeaways: Inexcusable effort, costly turnovers, and more from an overtime loss to the Nuggets

    Embiid is averaging 23.4 points, 6.9 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 1.2 blocks in 17 games this season.

    The Wizards (9-25) will be without Kyshawn George (left hip flexor strain), Corey Kispert (left hamstring injury management), and former Villanova standout Cam Whitmore (deep vein thrombosis in his right shoulder).

    Washington won four of its last five games before losing to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday, while the Sixers had a three-game winning streak snapped on Monday. The Wizards host the Magic on Tuesday night.

    Sixers forward Trendon Watford is averaging 8.9 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 3.6 assists in 14 games with four starts.
  • Penn State adds Ikaika Malloe and Tyson Veidt to coaching staff

    Penn State adds Ikaika Malloe and Tyson Veidt to coaching staff

    Penn State announced two more coaching additions to its defensive staff on Tuesday after hiring D’Anton Lynn to be the defensive coordinator last week.

    Ikaika Malloe, who was the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at UCLA the last two seasons, will join the program as the defensive line coach, replacing Deion Barnes, who departed for South Carolina.

    The Nittany Lions also added Cincinnati defensive coordinator Tyson Veidt, who will coach linebackers on Matt Campbell’s staff. Dan Connor, who served as the linebackers coach in 2025, was retained and will be the assistant linebackers coach.

    Reports: Iowa State QB Rocco Becht joining coach Matt Campbell at Penn State

    The hires nearly fill out Campbell’s on-field staff, with the running backs coach spot still vacant after Stan Drayton departed for South Carolina along with Barnes.

    Malloe, 51, will reunite with Lynn after the pair coached together at UCLA in 2023. Before spending four years at UCLA, Malloe had stops at Washington (two stints), Western Illinois, UTEP, Yale, Portland State, and Utah State. He has served as a defensive line coach for the majority of his coaching career and played at Washington as a safety and linebacker.

    Malloe has coached first-rounders like Vita Vea and Joe Tryon-Shoyinka at Washington and Laiatu Latu at UCLA.

    Penn State coach Matt Campbell, above, worked with new defensive coordinator Tyson Veidt when both were at Toledo and Iowa State.

    Veidt will reunite with Campbell after spending the last two seasons at Cincinnati. Before that, Veidt worked under Campbell at Toledo and Iowa State. He spent the 2014 and 2015 seasons at Toledo as the linebackers coach and followed Campbell to Iowa State for eight seasons as the assistant head coach and linebackers coach.

    According to CBS Sports, Penn State is working to hire Northwestern defensive line coach Christian Smith to work alongside Malloe on the defensive line, though his hiring has yet to be announced.

  • Gov. Josh Shapiro, Pa. Democratic lawmakers criticize Trump’s Jan. 6 rioter pardons on anniversary of Capitol attack

    Gov. Josh Shapiro, Pa. Democratic lawmakers criticize Trump’s Jan. 6 rioter pardons on anniversary of Capitol attack

    Five years after rioters stormed the U.S. Capitol, Gov. Josh Shapiro and other Pennsylvania Democrats on Tuesday marked the anniversary of the Jan. 6, 2021, attack by sharply criticizing President Donald Trump.

    Trump, who was impeached for inciting the riot in the final days of his first administration, pardoned nearly every Jan. 6 defendant and commuted sentences for a handful of violent offenders as one of his first actions upon returning to office last year.

    “Law enforcement officers literally gave their lives to protect our country and our democracy — yet one of the first things Donald Trump did when he took office was pardon people who were convicted of assaulting police officers,” Shapiro said in a post on X Tuesday morning.

    “The President may not respect our law enforcement officers’ courage and commitment to service — but here in Pennsylvania, we remember the sacrifices they make and will always have their backs.”

    President Donald Trump has pardoned nearly every Jan. 6 defendant, paving the way for some to be released from prison

    Shapiro played a key role as state attorney general in defending the 2020 election results in Pennsylvania in the weeks leading up to the attack, which took place the same day that Congress was certifying former President Joe Biden’s victory.

    His comments Tuesday came as he’s preparing to announce his reelection bid for governor. As Shapiro has built a national profile as a potential Democratic presidential contender in 2028, he has repeatedly criticized Trump and presented himself as an alternative vision of leadership.

    The president has continued to falsely claim he won Pennsylvania in 2020, including at his rally in Mount Pocono last month, even after he won the White House again in 2024.

    Trump has downplayed the events of Jan. 6, and on Tuesday the White House unveiled a webpage dedicated to the events, falsely describing the riot as a peaceful protest and blaming Capitol Police for the violence that unfolded.

    How Donald Trump won Pennsylvania and the presidency
    Pennsylvania Senate Democrats hold an event in the state Capitol Tuesday to commemorate the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.

    Shapiro was one of several Democrats who marked the anniversary of the attack for the first time since Trump returned to office.

    State Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta, of Philadelphia, introduced a resolution alongside other House Democrats to designate Jan. 6 as the “Democracy Observance Day for Education, Remembrance, and Vigilance.”

    And Pennsylvania Senate Democrats held an event in the state Capitol Tuesday.

    State Sen. Art Haywood, who represents parts of Montgomery County and Philadelphia, described the events of Jan. 6, 2021, as an “attempted coup” orchestrated by Trump.

    He recounted the events in minute-by-minute detail drawing from what has been reported about the day, from Trump’s direction to rally-goers to go to the Capitol to former Vice President Mike Pence’s evacuation from the Senate chambers and rioters’ success breaking into offices.

    State Sen. Jay Costa, of Pittsburgh, said Tuesday’s anniversary event was aimed at drawing attention to the “lawlessness” of the day. Trump’s decision to pardon those involved, he said, was a “slap in the face” to law enforcement.

    Scores of Pennsylvanians were charged with taking part in the Jan. 6 attack, some of whom were convicted of committing acts of violence at the Capitol. In addition to the sweeping pardons eliminating the criminal cases of more than 1,500 people, the president also commuted the sentences of 14 people — including Philadelphia native Zach Rehl, the leader of the local far-right Proud Boys chapter who was convicted of seditious conspiracy and sentenced to 15 years in prison.

    Costa contended that other incidents of political violence in the years that have followed could be traced back to Jan. 6.

    “We cannot pick and choose, as our president has done, when we think about what we’re going to do and say about our law enforcement officers,” he said. “We need to stand with them all the time.”