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  • It’s hot, hot, hot in Philadelphia, with a third-straight 100-degree day possible Saturday

    It’s hot, hot, hot in Philadelphia, with a third-straight 100-degree day possible Saturday

    No question, it’s hot, hot, hot. But the city fell short of setting a record-high temperature on Friday for that date.

    Another record, however, appears likely: A new warmest low temperature for July 3. The record is 77 degrees, hit three times, most recently in 2002. The low on Friday as of nearly 8 p.m. was 82 degrees, which would be a record-setter.

    But there was still the potential for storms to knock that record down before the day is out.

    “We are still in the running for our new record warmest low temperature,” said Patrick O’Hara, meteorologist at the National Weather Service office at Mount Holly.

    The record high temperature for a July 3 stands at 104 degrees, set in 1966. As of about 4 p.m., the temperature had reached 102, the National Weather Service said.

    Near-record heat around 100 degrees is forecast in Philly this week, with July 4th storms p

    The Atlantic City Airport, however, hit 105 degrees, setting a new record there, O’Hara said.

    The temperature on Saturday is expected to reach a high of 100, O’Hara said. The record for that date is 103.

    Just because Philadelphia didn’t break a high-temperature record doesn’t mean the heat hasn’t had a big impact. The Wawa’s Salute to Independence Semiquincentennial Parade, scheduled for Friday, was canceled due to heat concerns.

    Storms also posed a risk. A severe thunderstorm watch was issued for the entire region on Friday, and on Saturday, the risk looked even greater.

    “Any storm could be strong to severe,” said Ray Martin, meteorologist at the National Weather Service office in Mount Holly.

    The risk on Friday was more to the north and west of the city, said Matt Benz, senior meteorologist with AccuWeather.

    On Saturday, Benz said there was about a 65% chance of thunderstorms in the evening when Philadelphia’s July Fourth concert is scheduled to be underway on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway.

    “At this point, it’s difficult to promise dry weather for fireworks,” he said.

    Philadelphia, where fireworks aren’t scheduled to start until close to 12 a.m., might have the best shot of not being impacted by weather, he said.

    “As we get close to midnight, we might start to dry out,” he said.

    Concern about lightning strikes could be more widespread than storms, Benz said.

    Meanwhile, AccuWeather said Philadelphia was forecast to only drop to 83 degrees overnight Friday into Saturday, which would tie the city’s all-time record for a high minimum temperature.

    The good news is both SEPTA and Peco reported no major weather-related problems Friday afternoon.

    Regional Rail trains were traveling 10 miles slower to alleviate stress on the overhead wire and tracks, which can be impacted by the heat, said Andrew Busch, spokesperson for SEPTA. The slower speed has led to some delays.

    Peco recommends that customers keep their thermostats between 75 and 78 during the day and shades drawn, said spokesperson Izamarie Camacho. All unnecessary lights and devices also should be turned off, Camacho said.

    Visitors in Philadelphia shade themselves from the sun, July 3, 2026.

    Local hospitals contacted didn’t report an uptick in heat-related illnesses or injuries. Temple University Hospital’s main campus had five heat-related cases on Friday as of 4:30 p.m., according to a spokesperson. No other information about the cases or whether it was an increase from prior days was available.

    The Philadelphia Fire Department has seen “a marked increase in calls” over the last few days, said Rachel Cunningham, communications director. There were more than 1,000 calls on Wednesday and Thursday, but the department didn’t have a breakdown on how many were heat-related.

    The number of calls on Friday was not available.

    The number of people seen at the department’s medic tents at Lemon Hill, where the FIFA World Cup Fan Festival is occurring, and Lincoln Financial Field, where the games are held, has remained relatively low. Just four people came in on Thursday, with two becoming patients and no one requiring transport to a hospital, Cunningham said. On Wednesday, five people came in, one becoming a patient and no one requiring transport. And on Tuesday, 14 people came in, with five becoming patients and two requiring transport to a hospital.

    The coolest spot in the region looks to be the Jersey Shore, Benz said. The Atlantic City boardwalk was 82 degrees at about 3 p.m. Friday.

    “You almost have to be touching the water to feel that kind of temperature,” he said.

    A sea dip is one sure way to get cool — ocean water temperatures are in the low 60s, he said.

    But for those celebrating the holiday in Philadelphia, Benz said “stay hydrated, take it easy, enjoy the Fourth, and keep an eye on the sky.”

  • To celebrate the nation’s 250th birthday, of course Philadelphia brought out the Ben Franklins for a look-alike contest

    To celebrate the nation’s 250th birthday, of course Philadelphia brought out the Ben Franklins for a look-alike contest

    At the Benjamin Franklin look-alike contest at Independence Hall, which was supposed to end early, the crowd enthusiastically shouted, “One more Ben, one more Ben.” Latecomers — men and women dressed like the famed Founding Father — walked through the crowd to the front.

    It wasn’t a catwalk, per se, but the Franklin stroll.

    Kiya Burgess, 25, was crowned the victor of the Franklin free-for-all.

    Elena Jackendoff, 32, a student at Johns Hopkins University studying public health, organized the event.

    “You have to make the event you want to see in the world,” she said.

    She organized the lookalike on a lark, making the flyers after her last final exam and pasting them across the city. She expected to see a few of her friends, not hundreds of people.

    Many of the Franklins — like Kara Peterschmidt, 25; Kyra Feinauer, 25; and Lauren Zwetzig, 24 — didn’t even have to go out to buy a costume. The friend group had hosted a Constitution-themed housewarming a while back and came dressed in the same white wigs and tops.

    Asked about the truest Ben Franklin expression, Peterschmidt said, “It’s definitely a mog.”

    One of the contestants shows off their legs.
    Each contestant had to say why they were the best Ben Franklin.
    Gene Backus (left) and Maria D’Agostino (right) of Anchorage, Alaska take a selfie with Ben Franklin (Gabriel Meyer) of Levittown.
    Contestants pose for the cameras.
    Contestants are all smiles in the Ben Franklin lookalike contest.
    Footwear worn by some of the contestants.
    Contestants explain why they were the best Ben Franklin.
    The crowd cheers for the contestants.
    Mitchell Kramer holds up the arm of contest winner Kiya Burgess of Philadelphia.
  • Former Sixer Andre Drummond reportedly to sign one-year deal with New York Knicks

    Former Sixer Andre Drummond reportedly to sign one-year deal with New York Knicks

    Andre Drummond will not return to the 76ers, instead agreeing to a one-year, $3.9 million contract with the New York Knicks, ESPN reported Friday night.

    Drummond’s departure became likely when the Sixers on Wednesday morning agreed to sign 7-footer Ariel Hukporti, who had been the third-team center on the Knicks’ championship team, to a one-year, $3.4 million contract. Hukporti will compete with Adem Bona, whose $2.3 million salary for 2026-27 becomes guaranteed on Tuesday, for the backup role behind Joel Embiid.

    Andre Drummond’s role with the Sixers varied wildly and largely was tied to the health of Joel Embiid.

    Drummond professionally handled a fluctuating role in 2025-26. For the bulk of the season, he was the starting center in the games Embiid did not play — and was out of the rotation when Embiid was available. During the playoffs, though, Drummond recaptured the role as Embiid’s backup while postseason first-timer Bona struggled. Drummond averaged 6.4 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 1.3 assists in 63 regular-season games in 2025-26.

    The 32-year-old Drummond joins a Knicks team that needed center depth after backup Mitchell Robinson also reportedly departed for the Boston Celtics. He still is a stout rebounder and big-bodied presence, and his corner three-point shooting has elevated from fun novelty to legitimate offensive weapon. But he is not the most mobile, making him a liability on defense.

    Resetting the Sixers’ roster after their blockbuster trade for Jaylen Brown and free-agency moves

    The Sixers, meanwhile, have revamped their roster by acquiring All-NBA wing Jaylen Brown in a blockbuster trade with the Celtics. Defensive forward Dean Wade and scoring guard Anfernee Simons also have agreed to sign with the Sixers as free agents. The team also selected Alabama guard Labaron Philon Jr. in the first round of the NBA draft last week.

    Quentin Grimes and Kelly Oubre Jr. also have departed the Sixers, reportedly agreeing to contracts with the Los Angeles Lakers and Indiana Pacers, respectively, on Wednesday. Veteran guard Kyle Lowry also reportedly will retire as a Toronto Raptor next week. Reserve forward Trendon Watford, whose team option was declined by the Sixers Monday, has not yet committed to signing with a team.

  • Democrat Bob Harvie sends cease-and-desist letter to Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, claiming defamation in campaign ads

    Democrat Bob Harvie sends cease-and-desist letter to Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, claiming defamation in campaign ads

    The Democratic nominee for a crucial swing seat in Pennsylvania is accusing the Republican incumbent of making categorically false and defamatory statements, the latest move as escalating attack ads circulate in the Bucks County district.

    Attorneys representing Bob Harvie sent a cease-and-desist letter to U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, a five-term Republican incumbent facing a competitive reelection, and his campaign for a “series of defamatory allegations” that, they say, misleadingly portray Harvie’s role in an FBI investigation.

    A lawyer representing Fitzpatrick and his campaign confirmed receipt of the letter but did not respond to additional requests for comment.

    The advertisements purport that Harvie, a Bucks County commissioner, is currently under criminal investigation for stealing taxpayer money, assertions his campaign said falsely stem from a federal case that appeared to have quieted after the grand jury met in Philadelphia in 2022. The probe was about problems related to contracts, unions, and a Pennsylvania school district.

    Harvie is not and never was under investigation, his lawyers said, nor was he the subject of the federal case, but mailers and television spots continue to blur the lines.

    The election fights are ramping up as both men compete to win Pennsylvania’s 1st Congressional district in November, and with it, decide fate over which party controls the U.S. House. It’s one of four seats in the commonwealth being targeted by both political parties during the high-stakes midterm elections. Fitzpatrick has represented the area since 2017.

    Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R., Pa.) speaks to reporters on June 3 after the House passed an Iran war powers resolution.

    Harvie’s attorneys sent Fitzpatrick and his campaign the letter Thursday shortly after 5 p.m. and gave the campaign 24 hours to respond.

    “Brian Fitzpatrick’s lies are intended to deceive the voters and that’s a disgrace to this district,” Harvie said in a statement.

    Further action will depend on whether and how Fitzpatrick and his campaign proceeds, Harvie’s campaign said.

    Defending America PAC, a political action committee that supports Fitzpatrick, has also used similar language in social media posts, news releases, and video content that said Harvie is the subject of an FBI investigation. Harvie’s campaign sent Defending America PAC a cease-and-desist letter Thursday, too, around 9 a.m.

    In a statement, Chris Pack, president of the PAC, said further legal action from Harvie would be an effort “to chill protected political speech.”

    What happened with the FBI investigation?

    The FBI in 2020 interviewed several people with connections to Falls Township and the Pennsbury School District, LevittownNow reported in September 2022.

    Harvie and several other officials were among those who testified before a grand jury in the probe, which has not been active since 2022, the campaign said. But Harvie and his lawyers in the letter maintain he “is not now and has never been the subject of any criminal investigation” or stealing money from taxpayers to throw himself a party.

    Political advertisements, paid for by the Fitzpatrick campaign, suggest otherwise.

    In a television spot that has aired on three cable systems that run across the district since June 30, a man is seen asking, “Commissioner Harvie, why did you steal taxpayer money to throw yourself a party” while the words “BOB HARVIE UNDER FBI INVESTIGATION” are displayed on screen. His campaign committee, Brian Fitzpatrick for All of Us, paid for the ads.

    The letter also accuses Fitzpatrick, a former FBI agent himself, of “actual malice,” which would require proof in court that he made the advertisements with knowledge that the allegations were false or with reckless disregard to whether they were false or not.

    When similar charges were made in 2023 in a race for county commissioner, Harvie denied the claims as false.

    “There comes a line where you cannot straight up lie about folks,” said Dan McCormick, Harvie’s campaign manager.

    What other action could be taken?

    Harvie’s campaign could file a lawsuit claiming Fitzpatrick has defamed him, but that would involve likely months of subpoenas, depositions, and evidence gathering before the case potentially goes to a judge or jury — a process that could extend past November’s election.

    The Federal Election Commission, an independent agency in the U.S. government, oversees federal elections and campaign finance, but defamation is under the jurisdiction of courts, not the commission.

    The television stations that have aired the advertisements have also been alerted to the defamation claims, Harvie’s campaign said. The Federal Communications Commission, another independent U.S. agency, monitors communications by radio, television, wire, satellite, and cable. However, it also does not investigate or resolve defamation claims.

    It’s not uncommon for campaigns to trade cease-and-desist letters as elections heat up, and some are outright ignored.

    How much money has been spent on the campaign?

    A competitive U.S. House seat has drawn state and national attention, resources, and lots of dollars.

    Fitzpatrick entered April with $7 million already stored in the bank, allowing him to spend early on ads against Harvie — even before the Democrat won his May primary. Some of Fitzpatrick’s money went to attacking Harvie in his race against Lucia Simonelli, a grassroots candidate and climate policy expert.

    In total, Fitzpatrick has already spent $2.81 million from Jan. 1, 2025, to April 29, 2026, according to campaign finance reports — with roughly four months left to go before the campaign. During the entire 2024 campaign cycle, he spent $3.47 million.

    In addition to the FBI investigation ads, other TV hits and mailers have framed Harvie as a “career politician” who “voted to give himself a raise” and voted to count faulty mail ballots during a U.S. Senate recount, in violation of a state Supreme Court ruling.

    Prior to beginning his tenure as commissioner in 2020, Harvie was on the Falls Township Board of Supervisors for 17 years, and spent 12 of those as chair. As chair of the Bucks County Board of Commissioners in 2022, Harvie approved an annual 1% increase in salaries for commissioners and several other local offices.

    Fitzpatrick and the National Republican Congressional Committee have placed a joint ad buy starting Tuesday. This type of purchase was made more possible after the Supreme Court case, announced this week, that allows coordinated campaigns and direct campaigns to work more in tandem.

    Harvie, though, has his own stash of cash. He’s raised $1.45 million, according to campaign finance reports, and has released ads that connect Fitzpatrick to President Donald Trump’s agenda — even as the lawmaker has voted against Trump on numerous issues and earned his ire. The next financial disclosure will be released July 15, and Harvie’s campaign said it has now raised about $2 million.

    National Democrats have also thrown resources behind him, and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has listed Harvie on its “Red to Blue” list as a key seat to flip.

    “This is a defining moment in this campaign: After nearly a decade in D.C., Fitzpatrick has been caught with egg on his face by resorting to the very kind of gutter politics that he pretends to stand against,” said DCCC spokesperson Eli Cousin.

    Harvie was one of four swing-districts Democratic candidates Gov. Josh Shapiro supported ahead of the May primary, as he looks to elevate the party in fall and help win control of Congress.

    Staff writer Fallon Roth contributed to this article.

  • The Roots and Philadelphia Boys Choir will perform at FIFA World Cup July 4th celebration

    The Roots and Philadelphia Boys Choir will perform at FIFA World Cup July 4th celebration

    Those attending the FIFA World Cup game at Philadelphia Stadium on July Fourth will be treated to more than just soccer.

    The Roots and the Philadelphia Boys Choir are among those who will perform at the event, marking both Independence Day and the 250th anniversary of the nation, according to a spokesperson for FIFA.

    Before the match, Tony Award-winner Idina Menzel will sing the national anthem, while the Philadelphia Boys Choir & Chorale will offer “America the Beautiful.” The Roots, a Grammy Award-winning hip-hop band founded in Philadelphia, also will perform.

    Miss Pennsylvania Stephanie Skinner will be on hand to join the celebration, and the VFA-11 and VFA-81 squadrons from Naval Air Station Oceana in Virginia Beach, Va., will do a flyover.

    At halftime, Grammy Award-winner DJ Jazzy Jeff will entertain the crowd.

    The Roots and DJ Jazzy Jeff are also slated to play the One Philly: Unity Concert for America on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway on Saturday night, which will be broadcast on NBC10.

  • Folarin Balogun has already moved on from his red card, and backs the USMNT to do the same

    Folarin Balogun has already moved on from his red card, and backs the USMNT to do the same

    SEATTLE — Folarin Balogun still isn’t happy about the red card he was given in Wednesday’s U.S. World Cup win, but he isn’t lingering on it.

    “I feel calm right now, I feel OK,” the striker said at Friday’s practice, his first time speaking with the media since the ejection. “We’re going to go out to practice, and always, being on the practice fields just helps me to take my mind off things. So, yeah, for me, you know, it’s another day.”

    FIFA’s rules don’t allow appeals of red cards, and the nature of the incident meant an appeal very likely would not have won despite Balogun’s lack of intent. At least there won’t be any additional suspension, which U.S. Soccer and FIFA confirmed Friday.

    “If you played the game, you would understand, there’s scenarios that you simply can’t avoid, and it has to be taken into context when it’s being reviewed,” Balogun said. “I felt it wasn’t on this occasion. I think, as you all saw, there’s nowhere else to put your leg — it’s going to be unavoidable.”

    He acknowledged the wide range of opinions out there, and concluded that “a yellow card would have been fair. It’s something that’s happened, so we have to move forward, and I have to accept it, but the most important thing is just to focus on the bigger picture, which is Belgium.”

    Balogun also admitted he had “a roller coaster” of emotions in the wake of the incident, but he returned to the goal of staying calm in a heated moment.

    Malik Tillman’s heroics helped the USMNT survive Folarin Balogun’s red card and make World Cup history

    “I’ve been upset, I’ve been happy — it’s been surreal, to be honest,” he said of a game where he also scored the opening goal. “But for me, I think it was just important to stay calm. I never want to react out of anger and out of emotion. There’s still lots of people we’re inspiring, little kids, boys and girls who are watching, and we have to show them the correct way to handle things, even when you think it’s unjust.”

    After the final whistle Wednesday, Balogun returned to the field to shake hands with Brazilian referee Raphael Claus. That was a nice gesture of sportsmanship, and one Balogun said he tries to make after every game he plays.

    Flo Balogun on the field with his USMNT teammates after the match and shook the hands of all referees. Didn’t linger or seem to protest.

    [image or embed]

    — Tom Bogert (@tombogert.bsky.social) July 1, 2026 at 7:08 PM

    “Even though you can feel like something unjust has happened to you, it’s not an excuse to be disrespectful, or to not do the right thing,” he said. “The most important thing for me is to give the correct example to people watching. I’m aware that the World Cup might be the first time a lot of American viewers are tuning in, so it’s important just to show people, whether things happen to you good or bad, just to continue to be yourself.”

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    For now, he will be the team’s biggest fan, hoping that Ricardo Pepi or Haji Wright can step in and help the Americans topple Belgium in Monday’s round of 16 contest — the biggest game in U.S. men’s soccer history (8 p.m., Fox29, Telemundo 62).

    “Just to support the boys, support the team,” Balogun said. “I love seeing how engaged the country is in our journey, and what we’re doing. So I think my role is just to continue to support everybody, to keep morale high.”

    Folarin Balogun (left) working out at Friday’s U.S. practice.

    A baseball diversion

    The U.S. team was to be honored at Friday night’s Seattle Mariners game, with manager Mauricio Pochettino throwing out the first pitch.

    With that in mind, one of the first warmup exercises at U.S. practice was a round of long toss among some of the players. Tim Ream, Matt Turner, Weston McKennie, and Alejandro Zendejas passed around balls and gloves provided by the University of Washington’s baseball program, whose stadium is next door to the soccer field where the Americans trained.

    Watching the World Cup ‘got him out of bed in the morning.’ Now, this 9-year-old is going to a game.

    Texas natives McKennie and Zendejas hammed it up a bit for the cameras, the former doing his best Nolan Ryan impression with windups and throws to the latter. Zendejas tried his luck at a catcher-style crouch for a while, then thought better of it and took the rest on one knee.

    Pochettino also got some practice in Friday morning, with Turner offering some tips on technique.

    Mauricio Pochettino (center) practices throwing a baseball during the United States men’s national soccer team’s practice at the University of Washington.

    Balogun was born in New York but grew up in London, so he likely knows more about cricket than America’s bat-and-ball sport. But he certainly relished the invitation to take in this country’s pastime, and the chance for a little fun in a serious week.

    “I think that sort of stuff can only happen in America,” he said. ” I’m very, very proud — this is a very unique experience for me, being in the World Cup in your home nation. And yeah, I think you’re seeing, we’ve been able to be so focused, but at the same time have so many things we can do to distract ourselves, and to take our mind off the high-pressure environment.”

    Weston McKennie winds up to throw a pitch.
  • Did Philly just leak some of MLB’s All-Stars? Not necessarily.

    Did Philly just leak some of MLB’s All-Stars? Not necessarily.

    Did Philadelphia just get a spoiler on the MLB All-Star selections?

    On Friday, banners boasting some of baseball’s biggest stars were spotted by The Inquirer around town. The banners, first noted by user @gerawaycar on X, appear to be in place for the MLB All-Star Game, which is July 14 at Citizens Bank Park. Many banners are clustered near Market Street, leading up to City Hall.

    The Minnesota Twins’ Byron Buxton is getting a banner, too.

    The only issue? The MLB has not yet announced the game’s rosters.

    The league is scheduled to name starters and reserves on Saturday (7:30 p.m., Fox29). If the banners do correspond with the league’s selections, Philadelphians got a sneak peak. The Inquirer has reached out to the city of Philadelphia for comment.

    Bryce Harper wants compromise (and no salary cap) to keep sport thriving

    The banners also could just be promotional material. In 2019, Phillies star Bryce Harper was featured prominently on multiple banners Cleveland, which was hosting that year, despite not being selected to participate.

    Bryce Harper and Mookie Betts signs ahead of the 2019 All-Star Game in Cleveland. Harper was not named to that year’s National League roster.

    In 2021, when the game was in Colorado, a sign was spotted featuring Harper alongside Chicago White Sox catcher Yermin Mercedes and Colorado Rockies outfielder Charlie Blackmon.

    Players that are featured on Philadelphia’s banners include the Washington Nationals’ James Wood, New York Yankees’ Cam Schlittler, Atlanta Braves’ Chris Sale, the Athletics’ Shea Langeliers, Pittsburgh Pirates’ Paul Skenes, and Minnesota Twins’ Byron Buxton.

    Other banners also have been spotted on social media. Players that were spotted include the Phillies’ Cristopher Sánchez and Kyle Schwarber, Milwaukee Brewers’ Jacob Misiorowski, Atlanta Braves’ Matt Olson, Los Angeles Angels’ Mike Trout, Mets’ Juan Soto, Chicago Cubs’ Pete Crow-Armstrong, Los Angeles Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani, St. Louis Cardinals’ Jordan Walker, Cleveland Guardians’ Cade Smith, Toronto Blue Jays’ Louis Varland, Houston Astros’ Yordan Alvarez, San Diego Padres’ Mason Miller, Arizona Diamondbacks’ Corbin Carroll, Kansas City Royals’ Bobby Witt Jr., and Athletics’ Nick Kurtz.

    A banner depicting the Washington Nationals’ James Wood is seen near 15th Street and JFK Boulevard.
  • Flyers tender record offer sheet to Ducks center Leo Carlsson that would cost Philly four first-round picks

    Flyers tender record offer sheet to Ducks center Leo Carlsson that would cost Philly four first-round picks

    It is the dawn of a new era in the NHL, and the Flyers are officially among the trailblazers.

    A few short hours after watching the next generation wrap up development camp with a spirited and competitive three-on-three tournament, Danny Brière and the Flyers announced they are major players for today’s stars with the signing of budding star Leo Carlsson to an offer sheet.

    The offer is a five-year contract worth an average annual value of $18 million. According to a league source, it is front-loaded with a heavy signing bonus. It would make Carlsson the highest-paid player in terms of AAV in the NHL and would walk him directly to unrestricted free agency.

    Pat Verbeek and the Anaheim Ducks have seven days to match the offer. If they don’t, according to the team’s press release, the Flyers would have to transfer their own first-round draft pick in each of the next four seasons as compensation. However, according to PuckPedia, it is four in the next five years.

    Carlsson, a restricted free agent, is coming off his entry-level contract, and the two teams could also elect to work out a trade for the Swedish center ahead of Anaheim’s deadline. It should be noted that if the Ducks match the contract, they cannot trade Carlsson for one year.

    Carlsson, 21, is a 6-foot-3, 208-pound center and is coming off a breakout season. There is the critique that the deal is an overpayment, but he is exactly the type of young No. 1 center the Flyers have been craving for years. Ironically, the last 1C was Claude Giroux, who is in talks with the Flyers, although it sounds like that potential reunion is contingent on what happens with Carlsson.

    Anaheim Ducks center Leo Carlsson (91) is widely considered one of the top young players in the NHL.

    The Swede has size, speed, playmaking ability, and a lethal shot. Selected with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2023 NHL draft, Carlsson had 29 goals, 38 assists, and 67 points in 70 games this past season, despite missing time from mid-January to the Olympic break with a Morel-Lavallée lesion in his left thigh. According to Physiopedia, this is “due to shearing forces which separate the skin and subcutaneous tissue from the deep fascia.”

    Four of his goals and 18 of his points last season came on the power play. He added another four goals and 11 points in 12 playoff games, his first postseason experience. Across 201 career games, he has 141 points (61 goals and 80 assists) with a 14.7 shooting percentage, while he has won 41% of the career faceoffs he has taken — although it was 34.8% his first year.

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    Carlsson is a former teammate of Trevor Zegras and Jamie Drysdale — both of whom are restricted free agents and due new contracts. Zegras and Drysdale’s new deals are expected to account for something in the neighborhood of $15 million combined.

    According to PuckPedia, the Flyers have a smidge over $29 million in cap space before Carlsson’s proposed deal. If Anaheim does not match, that leaves $11 million in cap space for the Flyers — technically, because the PuckPedia numbers have Nolan Foote ($850,000), Jett Luchanko ($941,667), Carl Grundström ($1 million), and Oliver Bonk ($909,166) in the NHL. It is also burying David Jiříček’s salary in the minors, but all signs point to Jiříček — who is no longer waiver-exempt — and his $1.5 million cap hit being in the NHL.

    Adding the first four names and subtracting Jiříček and Carlsson, that leaves just over $13 million between Drysdale and Zegras, with the expectation that fellow restricted free agents Nikita Grebenkin and Hunter McDonald would also be in the minors. If Anaheim doesn’t match the offer sheet, the Flyers would likely have to move a contract or two out to accommodate Carlsson’s massive deal.

    Former Flyers right wing Cam Atkinson (left) and Anaheim Ducks center Leo Carlsson battle for the puck during a game in 2023.

    The offer sheet also leaves Anaheim in a pickle, as the Ducks still have to sign restricted free agents Cutter Gauthier, Pavel Mintyukov, and Tyson Hinds. Next summer, Tim Washe is up for a new deal, and in two years, budding star Beckett Sennecke should also get a monster deal.

    Brière and Verbeek have some history. They came into their GM roles roughly the same time — Brière in May 2023 and Verbeek in February 2022 — and have already made two major deals. In January 2024, Gauthier was sent to the Ducks for Drysdale and a 2025 second-round pick that became Jack Murtagh. Last June, the Flyers acquired Zegras for Ryan Poehling, a 2025 second-rounder and a 2026 fourth-round pick. Because of these trades, it is a good sign that the Ducks would not be retaliatory and try to offer sheet Zegras or Drysdale.

    Flyers sign agitator Noel Acciari to bolster the team’s bottom six

    Although this is the first offer sheet for Brière, this is not the first in Flyers history. In 2006, they tendered an offer sheet to Ryan Kesler, but the Vancouver Canucks matched. In 2012, with Paul Holmgren at the helm, defenseman Shea Weber was signed to a 14-year, $110 million offer sheet that the Nashville Predators matched. And before the salary-cap era, Chris Gratton was signed to an offer sheet in 1997, and the Tampa Bay Lightning did not match; however, two of the four first-rounders were sent back in a trade for Mikael Renberg and Karl Dykhuis.

  • On the United States’ 250th birthday, the nation is reminded who’s still in charge

    On the United States’ 250th birthday, the nation is reminded who’s still in charge

    For years, I and many others have looked forward to this week in Philadelphia, to be here in the city where our Declaration of Independence was written as our nation marks its 250th anniversary.

    But Mother Nature had other plans: She reminded us that we are not as independent as we’d like to think.

    Amid a 100-degree-plus heatwave, which was forecasted to continue through Saturday, numerous Seminquincentennial events were canceled. Yet locals and visitors persisted — with that consummate underdog Philadelphia spirit — and found small ways to come together to celebrate our ongoing American experiment.

    I first got the feeling things weren’t going to go as planned as I walked the streets while out reporting on the Red, White & Blue To-Do Thursday and noticed something missing — people.

    The crowds along the Red, White & Blue To-Do parade route were light and the audiences at WXPN’s music series — which featured 28 musicians playing at 11 historic venues — were even lighter. I was one of a dozen or so people in attendance at the Arch Street Meeting House for a free performance by the legendary poet and recording artist Ursula Rucker.

    Students from Dance4Life School of the Arts in Delaware perform during the Red, White, & Blue To-Do Pomp & Parade on Thursday.

    Not since the pandemic have I seen the sidewalks of Philadelphia as empty as they were Thursday, especially as the hours passed and the Salute to Service concert with Queen Latifah was canceled on Independence Mall.

    To the smart alecks on my social media feeds who responded to my observation with comments like “It’s 100 degrees! Of course they are empty you raging soup fork” — I know it was hot, spork, I was out there.

    I don’t blame anyone for not going outside in 103 temps, but that doesn’t mean I can’t feel bad for Philly, for those who did brave the heat, and for the visitors who came here to enjoy the festivities.

    And I know it must have been heartbreaking for officials to make the call to cancel Friday’s Salute to Independence Parade, which was to be the country’s largest Semiquincentennial parade featuring more than 240 elements and marching bands from across the country.

    Floats that were to be in the Salute to Independence Parade are pulled through Old City.

    People planned for years for the 250th. It was supposed to be the biggest week here since Pope Francis’ visit in 2015. We weren’t going to flub this Independence Day celebration up like the Bicentennial; Philly was going to bring it this time.

    But this time, it wasn’t our fault. The one factor nobody can control, Mother Nature, decided to control us.

    ‘Rough and gritty experiences’

    In May of 1776 it was so hot in Philadelphia that John Adams wrote to his wife, Abigail: “The Affairs of America, are in so critical a State, such great Events are struggling for Birth, that I must not quit this station at this Time. Yet I dread the melting Heats of a Philadelphia Summer, and know not how my frail Constitution will endure it.“

    Not only did Adams’ frail constitution endure the heat, which dropped to 76 degrees by July 4, 1776, the other Founding Fathers and the people of this fledgling nation braved far worse to declare this country’s independence and create a new and monumental Constitution. Neither the people nor the product were perfect — and they still aren’t today — but they aspired to be something bigger and better.

    The sun sets behind the Philadelphia skyline.

    In Philadelphia, we still believe in things bigger than ourselves. Sure, a large majority of the time it’s the Eagles, but not always.

    We believe in each other. I see it everyday in small interactions between strangers. We believe in truth, even when it’s painful. I saw it as volunteers put up handwritten signs Thursday to replace the ones removed at the President’s House. And we believe we are capable of big things. I saw it in the planning of our 250th events.

    It wasn’t just officials who were invested in the Semiquincentennial, more than 10,000 Philadelphians volunteered to undergo training and be “Phambassadors” for the 250th events and the World Cup. These may be divisive times, but it was clear we, the people, still wanted to come together.

    Even after Friday’s parade was canceled, people persisted and came together in informal gatherings, because that’s what we do. Marching bands, color guards, and dance troupes from across the country held informal pop-up performances at air-conditioned locations across the Historic District and colonial reenactors staged an unscheduled parade near the Liberty Bell.

    With the Salute to Independence Semiquincentennial Parade cancelled reenactors muster near Independence Hall.

    Just because Mother Nature decided to show her hand and remind us who’s boss — which she is totally within her right to do (thanks so much for not hitting us with an astroid!) — doesn’t mean it was all for nothing. We still had those small moments with each other, and while they’re not as flashy as the big ones, in the whole of existence, they’re still pretty unlikely and special too.

    I had one of those moments during Rucker’s show at the Arch Street Meeting House. It felt like a gift to be part of such a small audience as I listened to her beautifully explore what it means to be a human and a Philadelphian.

    Philly legend and poet Ursula Rucker performs with Miles Orion for a crowd of about a dozen people at the Arch Street Meetinghouse Thursday as part of WXPN’s Red, White & Blue To-Do Music Series.

    [image or embed]

    — Stephanie Farr (@farfarraway.bsky.social) July 2, 2026 at 5:18 PM

    “At the core I love us,” she said. “We show mutual aid. We don’t judge. We have rough and gritty experiences.”

    This heat wave — temperatures were forecast to reach 104 Friday and just short of 100 Saturday, with a 60% chance of storms at night — is one of those rough and gritty experiences Philly will get through. The cancellation of events, while disappointing, is about mutual aid and concern, not just for those who would attend the celebrations, but for those who have to work them too.

    Instead of cursing Mother Nature for ruining our big birthday party, maybe Philly and the country can take heed and make a new declaration that we’ll become a leader in reducing factors that lead to global warming.

    I know, a girl can dream, but respect and deference to the one thing that truly governs us all seems like a pretty self-evident truth.

  • Trump administration gets final legal OK to install own panels at President’s House, city appeals

    Trump administration gets final legal OK to install own panels at President’s House, city appeals

    A Philadelphia-based federal appeals court gave President Donald Trump’s administration the final go-ahead to install its own exhibit at the President’s House.

    The new panels, which historians have criticized for whitewashing George Washington’s role in enslaving nine people, have been manufactured and stand ready to install, the Justice Department told the court.

    The procedural step, which the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit took on an observed federal holiday, followed a Thursday request by Justice Department attorneys to allow the National Park Service to “begin work immediately and install its new exhibits.” The Third Circuit ruled last month that the city has no rights over the President’s House.

    “The President’s House is an important national historical site, and the Government submits that the President’s House exhibits should be fully installed without further delay,” the government’s filing said.

    Only two of 11 new panels mention the people enslaved at the President’s House, which was the exhibit’s original purpose. The exhibits are not factually wrong, historians said, but cast Washington in a more sympathetic light.

    “Slaves living in the President’s House experienced a greater modicum of autonomy than elsewhere in the South such as to explore the city and sometimes even attend the theater, with Washington buying the tickets,” one panel reads.

    The city quickly appealed and asked the Third Circuit court to recall the Friday-morning order, saying it didn’t have time to respond to the Justice Department’s Thursday request.

    And while the federal government asked to install the exhibits “immediately,” the request did not identify a reason for the rush.

    “That is not an emergency,” the city’s filing said, “it is a preference for speed.”

    The court shouldn’t have issued its final approval for changes without waiting the 90 days Philadelphia had to appeal last month’s order, the filing said.

    The city also repeated the argument, which has not found purchase with the appellate judges so far, that allowing the Trump administration to install its own exhibit would cause the city and public irreparable harm.

    The city’s motion does not automatically pause the court’s order.

    But in addition, the city filed a motion for a stay, while the Third Circuit considers the appeal, with District Judge Cynthia M. Rufe, who issued the now-vacated injunction ordering the Trump administration to restore the exhibits it had removed.

    The city and the Department of the Interior did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

    The President’s House has been subject to litigation in federal courts since the Trump administration dismantled the slavery exhibit in January.

    It has been in legal limbo in recent weeks because of litigation in a Boston federal court, where conservation groups sued to stop the Interior Department’s implementation of Trump’s 2025 executive order requiring no national parks displays that “inappropriately disparage Americans past or living.”

    At least 50 exhibits were removed from more than 30 sites nationwide, according to court records. Among them are also mentions of slavery at Independence Hall and the Second National Bank of the United States that the Trump administration quietly removed.

    A federal judge in Boston last month ordered the National Park Service to restore all removed exhibits to parks across the nation. But the Court of Appeals for the First Circuit disagreed and stayed that order Thursday.

    Hours later, Justice Department attorneys asked the Philadelphia-based federal court to clear the final procedural step — and the court obliged before noon Friday.

    The biggest question remaining is whether the Trump administration will attempt to install the panel during this historic July 4 weekend marking the United States’ 250th anniversary.