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

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

    Tyrese Maxey dropped one spot in the second round of NBA All-Star fan voting returns released Tuesday. The 76ers point guard now ranks third among Eastern Conference players and fifth overall.

    Meanwhile, Joel Embiid remains 17th among players in the East.

    Maxey had been fourth overall and second in the conference when the first returns dropped on Dec. 29. However, he was supplanted by New York Knicks point guard and former Villanova standout Jalen Brunson.

    Los Angeles Lakers point guard Luka Dončić is the league’s top vote-getter with 2,229,811 votes, and Milwaukee Bucks forward and two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo is second overall. He leads the East with 2,092,284 votes. Brunson has 1,916,497 votes, followed by Maxey at 1,908,978.

    Sixers guard Tyrese Maxey is Eastern Conference player of the week for second time this season

    Fans account for 50% of the vote to determine the 10 starters for the All-Star Game, which will be played Feb. 15 at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, Calif. A media panel and NBA players each account for 25% of the vote. This season, All-Stars are being selected regardless of position.

    Voting will conclude at 11:59 p.m. on Jan. 14. NBC and Peacock will reveal the All-Star starters on Jan. 19. Coaches will select All-Star reserves at a later date.

    Under a new format, two teams of U.S. players and one team of international players (the World team) will compete in a round-robin tournament featuring four 12-minute games.

    It’s not surprising that Maxey has a solid chance to be voted an All-Star starter.

    An All-Star reserve in 2023, he entered Tuesday third in the league in scoring (31.0 points per game), fourth in steals (1.8), and 12th in assists (7.0). He’s also fourth in made three-pointers (120). And the sixth-year veteran has scored at least 30 points in 17 of his 32 games.

    Maxey’s season highlight was a career-high 54 points, to go with nine assists, five rebounds, three steals, and three blocks in a 123-114 overtime victory over the Bucks. He joined Hall of Famer Wilt Chamberlain (March 18, 1968) as the only two players in franchise history to produce at least 50 points and nine assists in a game.

    How good is Tyrese Maxey? He’s now in a class with Sixers great Allen Iverson and other NBA elites.

    Detroit Pistons point guard Cade Cunningham (1,752,801) and Cleveland Cavaliers shooting guard Donovan Mitchell (1,530,237) round out the East’s top five vote-getters.

    The West’s top five vote-getters are Dončić, Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokić (1,998,560), Golden State Warriors point guard Stephen Curry (1,844,903), Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (1,554,468), and San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1,321,985).

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

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

    Dan Vladař remembers watching the highlights of the Czech Republic’s only Olympic gold medal in men’s ice hockey. It was how he fell in love with the sport.

    Growing up in Prague, the goalie was less than a year old when Dominik Hašek and former Flyers like Jaromír Jágr and the late Roman Čechmánek helped their country win at the 1998 Nagano Olympics.

    Now the 28-year-old Flyers goalie will get a chance to follow in their footsteps. On Tuesday, Vladař was named to the Czechia, formerly known as the Czech Republic, team for the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics.

    Reevaluating the Flyers-Ducks trades involving Cutter Gauthier, Trevor Zegras, and Jamie Drysdale

    “I wouldn’t say it was a goal, but it was maybe in the back of my head somewhere,” he said Monday before the announcement. “Obviously, especially coming here as a new guy, I didn’t really have time to think about it that way.

    “I was just trying to establish myself on this team and get to know everybody and focus on myself and the team here.”

    Vladař joked that if his phone didn’t ring, he’d go somewhere warm during the two-week NHL break. But how could Czechia leave him off the roster after the season he is having?

    Through 24 games, Vladař is 15-6-3 with a 2.39 goals-against average and a .910 save percentage. His 24 starts are five off his career high, set last season when he backed up Dustin Wolf in Calgary. And his 15 wins are already his all-time best.

    “I feel great. Still hungry, as everybody else is in this locker room,” he said about his season with the Flyers. “So, obviously, I’m glad for the opportunity and trying to take advantage of it every day. Body feels great. Head feels really good, too. So everything’s good.”

    Flyers goaltender Dan Vladař is tied for eighth in the NHL with a .910 save percentage.

    Everything is better than good. Vladař has looked sensational in net with his tracking and ability to read plays. He will put up a bad game here or there, but they have been few and far between as the Flyers have lost only once in regulation following a loss.

    He’s also been one of the NHL’s top goalies.

    Vladař’s save percentage ranks him tied for eighth in the league among goalies with 20 appearances, and his GAA is the fifth best. He could challenge to be Czechia’s starting goalie, too, as his numbers are better than those of Karel Vejmelka (.896, 2.70), who plays for Utah, and projected starter Lukáš Dostál (.887, 3.18), who might be in the opposite crease when the Flyers host the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday (7 p.m., NBCSP).

    “I think he worked on his game this summer because he went with a skating coach, and I think he wanted to work on some stuff like the next play, the rebound,” coach Rick Tocchet said before the season resumed after the holiday break. “And I noticed him this year, he’s in position for the second rebound. … I think Vladdy’s worked on that, and I think he’s really done a great job when it comes to that second save, being in position and not being out of position.”

    Vladař joins Rasmus Ristolainen (Finland), Travis Sanheim (Canada), and Rodrigo Ābols, who was one of Latvia’s original six players named. Tocchet will be an assistant on Jon Cooper’s staff for Canada.

    The netminder last played for Czechia at the 2025 IIHF men’s World Championship, posting a 3-0-0 record in four games with a 1.09 goals-against average and a .951 save percentage; Vladař relieved Vejmelka in the Czechs’ quarterfinal loss to Sweden.

    It was the first time he suited up for his country since 2017 at the World Juniors. In 2014, he was the backup to Vítek Vaněček as the Czechs lost to the United States in the gold-medal game at World Juniors. That same year, he started the gold-medal game against Canada at the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament, giving up four goals, with one scored by his current teammate Travis Konecny.

    Czechia is expected to compete for a medal in Milan, and boasts NHL stars like David Pastrňák (Boston Bruins), Martin Nečas (Colorado Avalanche), and Tomáš Hertl (Vegas Golden Knights). Former Flyers Radko Gudas (Anaheim Ducks) and Lukáš Sedlák (HC Dynamo Pardubice) will also suit up for the Czechs. The tournament begins on Feb. 11 and will run through the gold-medal game on Feb. 22.

    Breakaway

    After clearing waivers on Tuesday, Egor Zamula agreed to a one-year contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets through the end of the season. The former Flyers defenseman, who was traded to Pittsburgh last week but refused to report to its American Hockey League affiliate, was placed on waivers Monday by the Penguins for the purpose of contract termination. Puckpedia lists the deal at $1 million. Zamula, 25, will reunite with former teammate and fellow Russian Ivan Provorov with the Blue Jackets. Ivan Fedotov is also in the Columbus organization but is currently in the AHL with Cleveland.

  • City Controller Christy Brady promises to examine Mayor Cherelle Parker’s H.O.M.E. plan and Philly’s port in new term

    City Controller Christy Brady promises to examine Mayor Cherelle Parker’s H.O.M.E. plan and Philly’s port in new term

    After being sworn in to her first full four-year term, City Controller Christy Brady on Monday vowed to examine spending related to Mayor Cherelle L. Parker’s signature housing program and to probe whether Philadelphia is maximizing economic opportunities at its waterfront and port.

    “In my next term, I will be expanding my oversight of the mayor’s housing program to ensure every dollar borrowed is used as intended and is properly accounted for,” Brady said of Parker’s Housing Opportunities Made Easy, or H.O.M.E., initiative during a swearing-in ceremony at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts.

    “And with our waterfront and ports being one of our strongest economic assets, we will be focusing on efforts to ensure they can deliver the greatest financial impact,” Brady said.

    The Port of Philadelphia, or PhilaPort, recently launched an ambitious expansion plan, but its terminal operator Holt Logistics has faced questions about whether it has prioritized profits over maximizing growth.

    Holt denies that it has engaged in anticompetitive conduct, and a company spokesperson said growth is “vitally important to the future of our business and our region.”

    “Holt Logistics has been a key driver of the Port’s growth over the last decade, as witnessed by the fact that in the last month alone, two new lines of business have chosen to call Philadelphia, largely because of the service they receive,” spokesperson Kevin Feeley said.

    Additionally, Brady promised to help prevent fraud in city spending related to this year’s Semiquincentennial festivities. (Parker has pledged to dole out $100 million, focusing on neighborhood-based programming across the city, for major events in 2026, including the nation’s 250th birthday.)

    And in her capacity as chair of the Philadelphia Gas Commission, Brady said she would “conduct a thorough review of PGW’s operations.”

    DA Larry Krasner takes more shots at Trump as he’s sworn in to third term amid major drop in crime

    Brady also sits on the city Board of Pensions and Retirement and said she would “collaborate with [City] Council to adjust benefit structures.”

    The controller’s office audits city agencies and investigates allegations of fraud, waste, and abuse.

    Brady was appointed by former Mayor Jim Kenney to serve as acting controller in late 2022 when Rebecca Rhynhart resigned to run for mayor. Brady in 2023 won a special election to serve the remaining two years of Rhynhart’s term.

    Seeking her first four-year term, Brady ran unopposed in the May 2024 Democratic primary and easily defeated Republican Ari Patrinos in the November general election. She was sworn in Monday with District Attorney Larry Krasner, who is beginning his third term, and city judges who were on the ballot last year.

    All of Philly’s judges were reelected to the bench, including those not recommended by the city’s bar association

    Philadelphia Common Pleas Court Judge Natasha Taylor-Smith introduced Brady and administered her oath of office.

    Many past controllers have had less-than-friendly relationships with the mayors they served alongside, a natural dynamic for an office tasked with investigating the executive branch. The post has also served as a springboard for many politicians with higher aspirations.

    Rhynhart, for instance, repeatedly clashed with Kenney by publishing critical reports on city accounting practices and a lack of accountability in spending on anti-violence groups. She touted those probes to brand herself as a reformer while running in the 2023 mayor‘s race, finishing second behind Parker in the Democratic primary.

    Brady’s background and leadership style are different. She has spent three decades rising through the ranks in the controller’s office and was deputy controller in charge of the audit division before being appointed to the top job. And since becoming controller, she has made a point of working collaboratively with Parker’s administration.

    Dignitaries and elected officers before start of 2026 Inaugural Ceremony at the Kimmel Center Performing Arts on Monday.

    On the campaign trail last year, Brady said she adopted that approach to ensure that her office’s relationship with the administration wouldn’t deteriorate to the point where the city ignored the findings and recommendations included in the controller‘s reports.

    “As promised, I hit the ground running. We’ve achieved far more than many thought was possible,” Brady said. “A key to that success has been collaboration with Mayor Parker and Council President [Kenyatta] Johnson to ensure that our recommendations resulting from the findings in each report, review, and audit that we issue are implemented.”

    Parker acknowledged their collaboration in her remarks during Monday’s ceremony.

    “Controller Brady, thank you for not being wrapped up in politics and staying focused on the work of the controller’s office,” Parker said. “You do it by communicating with our office. No ‘gotcha’ moments.”

    In her relatively short political career, Brady has received strong support from influential groups in local politics, especially the building trades unions and the Democratic City Committee. On Monday, she gave shout-outs to numerous politicos, including former U.S. Rep. Bob Brady, who chairs the city’s Democratic Party and is not related to her.

    “I want to thank the people who have made this possible, including my friends in labor, Congressman Bob Brady, my friends in the Democratic Party, the business community, and all the voters who put their trust in me,” Christy Brady said.

    Her term ends in January 2030.

  • Philadelphia-area blood banks call for donations as shortages loom

    Philadelphia-area blood banks call for donations as shortages loom

    Blood banks across the Philadelphia region say donations are urgently needed this week as they brace for anticipated post-holiday blood shortages.

    New Jersey Blood Services, whose coverage area includes South Jersey, declared a blood emergency on Tuesday, stating they had less than a two-day supply for the more than 200 hospitals they serve across New Jersey, New York, and Connecticut.

    The American Red Cross of Southeastern Pennsylvania separately said Philadelphia and South Jersey, as well as the nation at large, are on the cusp of a blood shortage.

    January is a difficult time for blood donations — so much so that President Richard Nixon signed a proclamation in 1969 declaring it “National Blood Donor Month.”

    This year, a trifecta of seasonal illness, severe weather, and holiday disruptions has resulted in a significant decline in donations, said Chelsey Smith, a spokesperson for New Jersey Blood Services.

    Flu cases surged in recent weeks. Meanwhile, Christmas and New Year’s Day both fell midweek, on days when the organization normally sees high collection. Blood donation levels dropped to almost 40% below what is needed to meet hospital demand.

    “We essentially experienced a mere total loss of midweek collections for two straight weeks, and that adds up very quickly,” Smith said.

    The most urgent needs are for red blood cells and platelets.

    The group urges people to donate at least once per season, emphasizing that blood is a perishable product. Red blood cells only last about 42 days after a donation. Platelets, which are especially critical for cancer patients going through chemotherapy, have a shelf life of just five to seven days.

    “When those donations drop, it directly impacts our blood supply, and hospitals usually feel the effects of that pretty quickly,” Smith said.

    Blood shortages are becoming more frequent

    Blood shortages and emergencies have become more common following the pandemic, Smith said.

    Fewer young people are donating, for starters, which she attributes to the loss of school collections during the height of COVID-19.

    “We weren’t able to go into high schools and instill those lifelong values of donating blood when they’re young,” she said.

    More people are also working from home, a challenge for the New Jersey organization that used to rely heavily on corporate workplace blood drives.

    New Jersey Blood Services declared a blood emergency last summer as well.

    “Pre-COVID, blood emergencies were not quite as common. Post-COVID, they’re almost routine,” Smith said.

    The American Red Cross also saw a lower number of people donate over the holidays than anticipated, according to Alana Mauger, a spokesperson for the Southeastern Pennsylvania chapter.

    Organizers released calls this week for donations in hopes of preventing a shortage, which they’re on the cusp of.

    The group also partnered with the National Football League this month to offer a chance at winning a trip to Super Bowl LX to those who donate.

    Saquon Barkley is participating in the campaign, sharing his own experiences as a blood donor.

    “It only takes about an hour and once you realize in that short amount of time how much help it can bring — it’s a beautiful thing,” the Eagles running back said in a Monday news release.

    New Jersey’s acting health commissioner, Jeff Brown, urged donors not to wait to donate.

    “Schedule an appointment today or visit a walk-in center this week. Your donation can save a life,” he said in a statement.

    For information on donating to the American Red Cross, go to: redcross.org/local/pennsylvania/southeastern-pennsylvania.html

    For New Jersey Blood Services, which is a division of New York Blood Center Enterprises, go to: nybc.org/donate-blood/donation-locations/

  • ‘It’s time’: Trump Store in Bucks County closing due to declining sales

    ‘It’s time’: Trump Store in Bucks County closing due to declining sales

    One Trump supporter’s journey from a mall kiosk to a Bucks County strip mall is coming to an end this month.

    The “Trump Store,” a Bensalem spot for merchandise and knickknacks celebrating President Donald Trump, is closing its doors after six years in business. The store’s final day is Jan. 31.

    Mike Domanico, who co-owns the store with his wife, Monica, remains an ardent supporter of the president. But business is business, and Domanico said sales have declined since Trump returned to the White House, forcing the “tough decision” to shut down.

    “Business has slowed down some because there’s not really much action going on with Trump,” Domanico said. “It’s time.”

    There were other factors. The store’s lease is up in February, and Domanico wants to devote more of his time to a booming side business selling gun show merchandise.

    Domanico said Trump’s tariffs on imported goods haven’t impacted his business at all.

    “Any of the stuff I buy is priced the same as it was before all the tariffs took effect,” Domanico said.

    Michael Domanico and his wife, Monica, seen here in 2020 during the grand opening of their Trump Store in Benaslem.

    The store began its closeout sale on Tuesday, Jan. 6, exactly five years to the day when Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol in an unsuccessful attempt to overturn the 2020 election results. Everything’s on sale, from shirts featuring the president as an Eagles player to hats promoting a fictitious 2028 reelection campaign barred by the U.S. Constitution.

    Domanico, who founded his T-shirt business, Sik-Nastee, in 2017, began selling Trump merchandise at a kiosk in the Neshaminy Mall in November 2019.

    After the holidays, Domanico ditched the Biden merchandise he was forced to sell by the mall’s management company and opened his first Trump Store in a strip mall alongside a Hispanic bakery and a travel agent. The store remained open during COVID closures by selling Trump face masks, allowing it to operate as a “life-sustaining business.”

    Domanico opened a sister Trump Store in Chalfont in July 2022, but closed it last year due to issues with the landlord and some vandalism. He has two full-time employees helping him run the store.

    In his six years selling Trump merchandise, Domanico said the only tough year was after the 2020 election. Following his second impeachment, Trump appeared to lose support from most Republicans, and sales at the store slowed.

    “I stuck with it because I knew he was going to run again, and it worked out very well,” Domanico said.

    Trump Store manager Lisa von Deylen, seen here replenishing the store’s inventory in May 2024.

    Sales grew during the final years of Joe Biden’s tenure, fueled by Trump becoming the first former president indicted for a crime. “Free Trump” shirts became a particularly hot seller, and the store saw a spike in sales when the president’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Fla., was raided by FBI agents.

    The store’s closing comes just a few months after Democrats swept every countywide race in off-year elections in Bucks County. It’s a dramatic political shift compared to just last year, when Trump became the first Republican presidential candidate since 1988 to win the swing county.

    While many Bucks County residents appear to have soured on the president and his policies, Domanico isn’t among them.

    “I think his second term has been great,” Domanico said. “I know the liberal media turns everything around, making it look bad, but he’s doing some great stuff. I love it.”

  • Sheetz president and CEO dies, but the convenience store rivalry is eternal

    Sheetz president and CEO dies, but the convenience store rivalry is eternal

    The namesake behind Wawa’s biggest rival, Sheetz, has died.

    Stephen G. Sheetz, the man responsible for taking a family-owned convenience store in Altoona, Pa., and transforming it into a multibillion-dollar empire, was 77. The company announced his death in a statement Monday, citing respiratory complications after having been hospitalized with pneumonia.

    And while Wawa fans may be suspicious of how the chain’s fried food, or coffee, or even gasoline stacks up against their supreme leader’s, there’s no denying Sheetz’s legacy and vision.

    Sheetz served as the chain’s CEO and president from 1984 to 1995, overseeing its expansion. After that, he was chairman of the board for another 18 years.

    The former president was just 12 when he began working at the original Sheetz Kwik Shopper, founded by his brother, Bob Sheetz. He graduated from Altoona Area High School in 1965 and from Pennsylvania State University four years later.

    Penn State named Steve and his wife, Nancy Sheetz, as its 2010 philanthropists of the year, following their donation of $2.5 million to the school’s Altoona campus. It was the campus’ largest donation in its 70-year history. The couple tacked on another half a million that year, funding the establishment of an entrepreneurial center and a Sheetz Fellows program.

    “I try to provide a positive influence,” Steve Sheetz said at the time in a university statement. “I really hope that students in the program will be better prepared for the world they’re about to enter, whether it’s business or another profession.”

    As supervisor and director of operations at the chain, he oversaw the expansion of Sheetz convenience stores, with the intention of opening a new location every year, according to the company’s website. Over the next 14 years, Sheetz would grow to 100 locations.

    “Above all, Uncle Steve was the center of our family,” Sheetz president and CEO Travis Sheetz said in a statement. “We are so deeply grateful for his leadership, vision, and steadfast commitment to our employees, customers, and communities.”

    Today, with over 800 locations across six states and about 25,000 employees, the business remains largely family-run.

    Offering a hodgepodge of fast food, including burgers, hot dogs, and mozzarella sticks, the chain has its super fans, just like Philly’s own Wawa phanatics.

    They call themselves “Sheetz Freakz.” And they start them young.

    Take Dylan LaMotte of Lynchburg, Va.

    In 2020, then-8-year-old Dylan went viral for his mom’s video of him wearing a shirt that said “Youngest Sheetz Freak” and pitching ideas for the chain’s menu.

    Steve Sheetz himself flew to Lynchburg to surprise Dylan and gift him $5,000 toward his daily order of fries and a slushie. In other instances over the years, the company has rewarded other superfans with hefty donations to their charities of choice.

    Perhaps worse than the Eagles-Steelers contention, the Wawa vs. Sheetz clash is considered among “the most heated food rivalry in the country.” There’s even a documentary in the works. In its simplest terms, it’s a question of taste, regional devotion, and loyalty.

    In 2020, The Inquirer tapped Pennsylvanians Sen. John Fetterman (who was lieutenant governor at the time) and U.S. Rep. Brendan F. Boyle to weigh in on the debate.

    Boyle, who is team Wawa, helped cut the ribbon on Wawa’s first D.C. location. He joked that it was the “Philly Embassy in Washington.”

    “Sure enough, as I approached the D.C. Wawa right after the game, the crowd of people wearing Eagles jerseys was out the door. The Philly diaspora had had the same thought I did. We flocked to our ‘embassy’ to celebrate,” he said.

    Fetterman, who is pro-Sheetz, said, “Whether I’m Jeeping it home from Harrisburg, or on the road asking yinz and youse about legalizing cannabis, the warm red glow of a Sheetz awning beckons with red beet eggs, a hunk of cheese, and the rich cavalcade of the entire family of Duke’s smoked shorty sausages.” He added, “It is a given that Sheetz is far superior.”

    At the end of the day, the rivalry isn’t going anywhere. But you can still respect the man behind the mystique.

    “Steve’s guidance shaped nearly every aspect of our family business,” said Joe Sheetz, chairman of the Sheetz board of directors. “He was a mentor for every leader who has followed him, and his vision, wisdom, and entrepreneurial spirit will be missed deeply by everyone at Sheetz.”

    Altoona Mayor Matt Pacifico also released a statement, saying “Steve had a genuine, tangible love for the City of Altoona, as shown by his contributions, actions and initiatives. We send our sincere sympathy to Steve’s family during this difficult time, as well as immense gratitude for his lasting contributions to our City and its residents, that will be his legacy for years to come.”

    In addition to his wife, Nancy, Steve Sheetz is survived by two daughters, Megan Sheetz and Nicole Sheetz Frith; seven grandchildren; and six of his seven siblings, including his brother Bob Sheetz.

  • South Jersey’s Isabeau Levito looks to vault herself onto the Olympic team at this week’s U.S. Figure Skating Championships

    South Jersey’s Isabeau Levito looks to vault herself onto the Olympic team at this week’s U.S. Figure Skating Championships

    By the end of this week — when the 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Championships come to a close in St. Louis — South Jersey figure skater Isabeau Levito will know if she has done enough to score a place on the team going to the Winter Olympics next month in Milan, Italy.

    Milan is the hometown of her mother, Chiara Garberi, and where her grandmother and uncle still live. Her aunt and a cousin, who is “a very younger sister, kind of,” live about 40 minutes from Milan.

    So while the Olympics are the goal for all of the top competitors, this year’s Games are especially meaningful for Levito, 18. She vacations there often and understands and speaks Italian — although would prefer not to speak it on TV.

    “Or at least have a disclaimer,” joked Levito, who said her grammar is not by the book and she doesn’t know all the idioms. “‘She’s not from here. She knows Italian because her mommy is from here.’”

    Competitors are not always rivals. Just ask top American women’s figure skaters, Isabeau Levito and Amber Glenn.

    But Italy is the thread that has been running through her entire year.

    “That was the focus,” she said.

    Both of her programs are set to Italian music. The short, which she will be skating on Wednesday, is to a compilation of sassy songs from Sophia Loren movies. She will perform the free skate, or long program, on Friday, to “Cinema Paradiso” by Ennio Morricone.

    Both pieces were suggested for her by her longtime head coach and choreographer, Yulia Kuznetsova.

    “Having had me [as a student] since childbirth, she knows me so well,” said Levito, who approves all selections before programs are created.

    Those include triple flip-triple toe loop combinations, a triple flip-double axel sequence, a three-jump combination, and her spins and step sequences, all with a lot of personality shining through.

    One of the last stops for South Jersey’s Isabeau Levito and other Olympic figure skating hopefuls: Philadelphia

    The skater lives and trains in Mount Laurel. Putting together Ikea furniture for the new apartment she shares with her very fluffy cat has been her unofficial cross-training.

    “I think I’m jacked from how much drilling I’ve done,” she said. “And I chose to live on the top floor and there’s no elevator, but there’s not too many floors.”

    She has already checked almost every box toward making it to that biggest of frozen stages in Milan. Unlike other sports, figure skating does not have an Olympic qualifying competition. Instead, an accounting of placements over two years determines who will be chosen for the Olympic and world championship teams.

    This week’s U.S. Figure Skating Championships will be the final event for skaters to make their case to be among the three women, three men, two pairs, and three ice dance teams who can compete at the Olympics. Levito, world champion Alysa Liu, and two-time U.S. champion Amber Glenn are expected to take the women’s spots.

    After fourth-place finish at worlds, South Jersey figure skater Isabeau Levito looks forward to the Olympic season

    Despite missing most of last season because of a stress reaction in her right foot, Levito already has checked off most of the boxes. Even last year, with a training deficit, she came back to finish just off the podium in fourth place at the 2025 World Championships in Boston.

    This season, she placed fourth at the Grand Prix de France, second at Skate Canada, and was the first alternate to the Grand Prix Final.

    Seasons before this one and the last are not factored into the equation, but it cannot be ignored that Levito was the U.S. champion in 2023 and the world silver medalist in 2024.

    The Olympic team will be announced live Sunday afternoon on NBC and Peacock.

    Levito looks calm when she skates, but nerves remain a real factor.

    “I feel like this year, I’ve been very in tune with my body,” she said. I’ll just get intuition of ‘I should not listen to music on the bus [from the hotel to the competition rink] today.’ I kind of trust it. I’ve been very grounded. I’ve been realizing for myself that all the noise, it overwhelms much too much.”

    Instead, she tries to maintain the habits she has established at home.

    “When I’m at the rink and I’m practicing, I don’t really put in my earbuds and listen to music. I just do my floor warmup in silence, and then I get my skates on quickly.”

    Everyone gets nervous before big events, she said, but the bright lights of the competition arena also can give her a migraine and make her vision blurry. It helps to take ibuprofen before getting on the ice.

    “It’s OK, I’m weak,” she said, laughing. “I’m not exactly survival of the fittest.

    “Between that and everything’s very loud [in the arena], and then everyone watching you, and it’s actually competition, and the judges are right there. It’s overwhelming, overstimulating, there’s a lot going on. So I feel like it’s very important to me that I have my solitude and my silence beforehand, rather than just shoving music into my ears and trying to escape where I actually am.”

    In the end, she usually lands near or on top.

    This time the stakes are exceptionally high. But even if she doesn’t win, she just needs to show the officials one more time that her next stop should be the Olympics in Milan.

    How to watch

    Championship women’s short program

    8 p.m. Wednesday on USA Network

    8:24 p.m. on Peacock

    Championship women’s free skate

    8 p.m. Friday on NBC10

    3:57 p.m. (for the skaters who place lower in the short program) and 8:58 p.m. (for the higher-placed skaters) on Peacock.

    Presentation of the Olympic team

    2 p.m. Sunday on NBC10 and Peacock

  • Lenny Dykstra formally charged with drug possession

    Lenny Dykstra formally charged with drug possession

    Former Phillies star Lenny Dykstra has been charged with misdemeanor possession of drugs and drug paraphernalia following a traffic stop just after midnight on New Year’s Day in Northeastern Pennsylvania.

    Matthew Blit, lawyer for Dykstra, said in a statement that the 62-year-old Scranton resident was not arrested or taken into custody at the scene, and was accused of being under the influence.

    Blit said that “the actual driver,” whom he would not name, was taken into custody for suspicion of driving under the influence.

    “Lenny Dykstra was merely a passenger in a vehicle that did not belong to him,” Blit said.

    Blit said the charges against Dykstra “will be swiftly absolved.”

    Thomas Mincer, another lawyer for Dykstra, said in a statement that “we firmly assert that the alleged narcotics in the vehicle did not belong to Lenny.” Dkystra “was not knowingly in possession of or under the influence of any narcotics,” the lawyer said.

    Just after midnight on Jan. 1, Dykstra was a passenger in a 2015 silver GMC Sierra truck in the area of Route 507 and Robinson Road in Greene Township, Pike County, when the vehicle was stopped by the Pennsylvania State Police for a motor vehicle code violation, the state police said in a report.

    “During this investigation, the passenger was found to be in possession of narcotics and narcotic related equipment/paraphernalia,” the state police report said. “Charges to be filed.”

    The state police report identified Dykstra as the “arrestee,” but the court record showing the charges says Dykstra was issued a summons.

    Dykstra has a preliminary hearing in Pike County scheduled for Feb. 3.

    Dykstra played 12 seasons in Major League Baseball in center field, spending the first four with the Mets — including as part of the team that won the 1986 World Series — before being traded to the Phillies during the 1989 season. He retired with the Phillies in 1996.

    Nicknamed the “Dude” and “Nails,” Dykstra was a celebrated member of the 1993 Phillies team that made it to the World Series, but lost to the Toronto Blue Jays.

    After his baseball career, Dykstra ran afoul of the law multiple times. He spent time in prison after pleading guilty in federal court for bankruptcy fraud and pleading no contest to grand theft auto in California.

  • The iconic Melrose Diner sign is for sale

    The iconic Melrose Diner sign is for sale

    Anyone who ever hovered over a plate of waffles and bacon or a slice of apple pie with vanilla sauce at South Philly’s Melrose Diner will likely recall the restaurant’s iconic aesthetic — red and yellow, stainless steel and neon, a sizable coffee cup-slash-analog-clock.

    Call it 24-hour-diner chic.

    The diner, which opened at the intersection of 15th Street, West Passyunk Avenue, and Snyder Avenue in 1956, was demolished in 2023 to pave the way for a new six-story apartment building.

    Now, its iconic signage can be yours, apparently. If you’re willing to pony up a sizable offer.

    A Facebook Marketplace posting Monday night listed photos of various signs from the diner for sale.

    “The Famous Melrose Diner,” reads the posting. “[Four] pieces of signage. Very heavy and totally cool. Sold as a set. Must pick up. Serious inquiries only please. Example, Olgas Diner sold for $12000.”

    The condition is listed as “Used — Good.”

    In a 2023 interview with The Inquirer, diner owner Michael Petrogiannis said he planned to put the old signage into storage, with the goal of incorporating it into a new Melrose location in the future.

    Petrogiannis also joked that he’d be willing to sell the sign and other memorabilia from the diner for $1 million. “But then I’m making a new one, exactly the same thing,” he added.

    He couldn’t immediately be reached for comment Tuesday about the signs’ sale.

    For close to a century, the Melrose Diner was a staple of the city’s food scene, serving up pork rolls and cheesecake to families and late-night crowds. Upon its shuttering, patrons fondly recalled their memories of the place — from chance celebrity encounters to Christmas traditions to the occasional run-in with a mobster.

    The diner was founded in 1935 by Dick Kubach, a German immigrant, before it was eventually sold to Petrogiannis by Kubach’s son in 2007.

  • A full week of Bowie loving, plus shows benefiting World Cafe Live workers and PAWS

    A full week of Bowie loving, plus shows benefiting World Cafe Live workers and PAWS

    Most touring bands are still on a winter break this early in January, but that doesn’t mean the live music business shuts down. This week in Philly music is a mostly local affair, packed with hometown talent and worthwhile benefit shows, as well as R&B, country, and indie rock acts that are on the road.

    Plus, Philly Loves Bowie Week is in full swing.

    Wednesday, Jan. 7

    David Bowie: Side by Side

    David Bowie was born on Jan. 8, 1947 and died 10 years ago on January 10. 48 Record Bar in Old City will host its third annual free Philly Loves Bowie Week listening party, with DJ EBG III spinning full album sides by the artist who famously recorded 1974’s Young Americans at Sigma Sound Studios. 7 p.m., 48 Record Bar, 48 S. Second St., 48RecordBar.com

    Thursday, Jan. 8

    El DeBarge

    Eldra “El” DeBarge scored 1980s R&Bs hits like “Rhythm of the Night” and “Who’s Holding Donna Now?” with his family band DeBarge before going on to score solo hits such as “Who’s Johnny” and “Real Love.” 8 p.m., City Winery Philadelphia, 990 Filbert St., citywinery.com/philadelphia

    Lowercoaster / Dear Season / Sharing Contest

    These three Philly bands all identify as emo, with the subtlest of them being Sharing Contest, the trio of singer-guitarist Alex Fichera fronting the rhythm section of Sam Ansa and Jordan Colucci. 7 p.m., Kung Fu Necktie, 1248 N. Front St., kungfunecktie.com

    Bowie Quizzo / Bowieoke

    Patti Brett, the owner of Doobie’s Bar and one of the original Sigma Kids, hosts Bowie Quizzo at Ray’s Happy Birthday Bar in South Philly, with DJ Robert Drake spinning and John Stanley of John’s Dollar Bin fame serving drinks. And Sara Sherr’s Sing Your Life Karaoke goes all Bowie at MilkBoy. Both events are free. 8 p.m., Ray’s Happy Birthday Bar, 1200 E. Passyunk Ave., thehappybirthdaybar.com, and 8 p.m., MilkBoy, 1100 Chestnut St., milkboyphilly.com

    Dale Watson and His Lone Stars play Sellersville Theater in Bucks County on Friday and Elkton Music Hall in Elkton, Md. on Saturday.

    Friday, Jan. 9

    Dale Watson and His Lone Stars

    Alabama-born Texas-based hardcore country singer Dale Watson has two area gigs this weekend: Friday at the Sellersville Theater in Bucks County and one at Elkton Music Hall on Saturday. 2023’s Starvation Box is the most recent album by the “Feelin’ Haggard” singer-guitarist, who teamed with Montgomery County cowboy Ray Benson on 2017’s Dale & Ray. 8 p.m., Sellersville Theater, 24 W. Temple Ave., Sellersville, st94.com and 8 p.m., Saturday, Elkton Music Hall, Elkton, Md., elktonmusichall.com

    Eric Slick. The Philadelphia-raised songwriter and Dr. Dog drummer is playing Johnny Brenda’s on Friday with Dominic Angelella in a “Hardcore Friends” show.

    Dominic Angelella and Eric Slick

    These two Philly multi-instrumentalists both have long resumes backing other musicians. Angelella just finished a tour playing bass with Lucy Dacus. Slick is Dr. Dog’s drummer. Together as Lithuania, the duo has released two albums, 2015’s Hardcore Friends and 2017’s White Reindeer. At Johnny Brenda’s, they’ll be playing songs from those, as well as music from Angelella’s band Drgn King. The Tisburys and Twin Princess are also on the bill. 8 p.m., Johnny Brenda’s, 1201 Frankford Ave., johnnybrendas.com

    Labrador

    The Pat King-fronted self-described “maximum alt-country” band’s album My Version of Desire was one of the best local releases of 2025, starting with the outstanding title song. The Philly band opens for Jewel Case and Dominy. 7:30 p.m., Kung Fu Necktie, 1248 N. Front St., kungfunecktie.com

    Hazy Cosmic Jive

    The Bowie tribute band will perform the Thin White Duke’s 1976 album Station to Station in its entirety. 8 p.m., Brooklyn Bowl Philadelphia, 1009 Canal St., brooklynbowl.com/philadelphia

    Sound & Vision Happy Hour and Bowie / Prince Night

    There are two Bowie dance parties in the Eraserhood. The Trestle Inn hosts a happy hour with music by DJ Hardbargain and the Slinky Vagabond, plus Go Go from Jennie Jones and Cynthia Rose. And a block away at Underground Arts, that will be followed by a Bowie/Prince dance party with DJ George Purkins. 6 p.m., the Trestle Inn, 339 N. 11th St, thetrestleinn.com and 9 p.m., Underground Arts, 1200 Callowhill St., riotnerdphilly.com

    Kid Davis & the Bullets play 118 North in Wayne on Saturday.

    Saturday, Jan. 10

    Under the El

    Philly rapper Reef the Lost Cauze and DJ Sat One will be featured — along with pioneering graffiti artist Cornbread — at a street art and hip-hop event at Vizion Gallery in Kensington on Saturday afternoon. It’s presented by the organization Recovery Done Simple. 1 p.m., Vizion Gallery, 3312 Kensington Ave., recoverydonesimple.com

    Dog Fest

    Indie promoters 4333 Collective present a canine-themed five-band bill featuring Armbite, Fruit Dawg, Pennydog, Dog Beach, and Haunt Dog. It’s a benefit for the pet shelter people and the good girls and boys at PAWS, the Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society. 6 p.m., Philly Style Pizza, 2010 N. Broad St., 4333Collective.net

    Reef the Lost Cauze at Voltage Lounge in Philadelphia in 2015. He’ll play an “Under The El” show on Saturday afternoon. Tim Blackwell / Philly.com

    A Night of Stardust

    The show that annually closes out Bowie week is celebrating its 10th anniversary. Presented by Greg Shelton, it will feature 30 Bowie songs performed by 14 vocalists, including Richard Bush, Olivia Rubini, and Johnny Showcase. 7 p.m., Union Transfer, 1026 Spring Garden St. utphilly.com

    Kid Davis & the Bullets

    Delaware roots-rockers Kid Davis & the Bullets celebrate the release of their new album Amsterdam at 118 North in Wayne on Saturday. The blues and rockabilly-flavored collection was produced by James Everhart of standout Philly band Cosmic Guilt and features contributions from vocalists Hannah Taylor and Ali Wadsworth. 8 p.m., 118 North, 118 N. Wayne Ave., Wayne, 118NorthWayne.com

    Sadie Dupuis, singer for Speedy Ortiz, performs with the band at World Cafe Live for Free at Noon in Philadelphia in 2023. As Sad13, she’ll perform as part of the World Cafe Live workers benefit on Sunday.

    Sunday, Jan. 11

    World Cafe Live Workers Benefit

    This show featuring Philly acts Carsie Blanton, Ray Dreznor, Izzy True, and Sad13 will directly benefit former and current workers at World Cafe Live. The West Philly venue has had a chaotic year since founder Hal Real stepped down last spring, with many employees losing their jobs and complaining of light paychecks and unfair treatment by the new management team. 7 p.m., Johnny Brenda’s, 1201 N. Frankford Ave., johnnybrendas.com

    Cate Le Bon plays Union Transfer on Tuesday. The Welsh musician’s new album is “Michelangelo, Dying.”

    Tuesday, Jan. 13

    Cate Le Bon

    Welsh art-pop songwriter Cate Le Bon has been a consistently compelling music maker through a 15-year career, with the experimental duo Drinks and through solo albums like 2021’s Pompeii and the new Michelangelo, Dying. She has also produced music by Wilco, Horsegirl, and Kurt Vile, and it wouldn’t shock anyone if the Philly rock star dropped in at her show. Frances Chang opens. 7 p.m. Union Transfer, 1026 Spring Garden St., utphilly.com