And it was an eventful one for our photographers and videographers who captured images that gave visual life to The Inquirer’s journalism and told stories in ways that transcend words. (For proof, see those racing hot dogs.)
They were on the scenes after two high-profile shootings that, combined, left five peopledead and18 others wounded, and for the march that poignantly drew attention to the tragic killing of Kada Scott.
In the months after the Eagles’ convincing Super Bowl victory, and the cheers in Chinatown when the 76ers decided they would rebuild in South Philly instead of moving, the region showed its resilience among challenges.
Dramatic decreases in homicides continued in Philly — 208 through Dec. 10, down from 527 through the same date in 2021. The city workers’ strike was over ineight days. The one in 1986 lasted three weeks.
SEPTA kept rolling despite fires, threatened drastic cuts, a possible strike, and serious railcar shortage.
Our visual staff was there for it all, and that won’t change in 2026.
— Anthony R. Wood
Saturnalian captain Thomas Dougherty dances on Second Street in Philadelphia during the Mummers after-party on New Year’s Day.Under the watchful eye of the eagle statue at the Wanamaker Building on Jan. 10, Bob Koherr, 64, and Walter Batt, 62, of Center City, embrace, remembering the time they spent together there.Lloyd Morgan (right) and a friend carry a cutout of President Donald Trump on a surfboard through Washington on Jan. 19, the day before Trump’s second inauguration.Saquon Barkley celebrates as he nears the end zone on a 78-yard touchdown run during the fourth quarter of the Eagles’ playoff game against the Los Angeles Rams on Jan. 19. The Eagles eked out a 28-22 win.Eagles players lift the Lombardi Trophy after their 40-22 Super Bowl LIX victory over the Kansas City Chiefs on Feb. 9 in New Orleans.Saquon Barkley leaps into the end zone for one of his three touchdowns against the Washington Commanders in the NFC championship game at Lincoln Financial Field on Jan. 26. The Eagles won 55-23 to clinch their second Super Bowl appearance in three seasons.Family and friends skate on the ice rink that Fox Chase resident David Bara built in his backyard last winter. “There aren’t many people in Philly who are crazy enough to do what I do,” Bara said.Jada Pichardo produced Pennsauken’s first state wrestling title when the senior won the 126-pound division at the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association championships in March.Emergency workers battle a fire at the 7200 block of Calvert Street in Northeast Philadelphia after a medical jet crashed nearby on Jan. 31.National Transportation Safety Board officials walk through debris from the medical jet crash along Cottman Avenue near Roosevelt Boulevard.Marisol Nelson was among the hundreds of thousands of Eagles fans who lined Philly streets on Feb. 14 for the Birds’ Super Bowl victory parade.A sea of fans greets Eagles team buses as they coast along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway during the Super Bowl victory parade.St. Joseph’s guard Laura Ziegler (center) celebrates with teammates after hitting the game-winning shot against Richmond in the Atlantic 10 tournament semifinals in March.Actor and rapper Will Smith, with mother Caroline Bright, attends a street renaming ceremony in West Philadelphia in March. The city renamed the 2000 block of North 59th Street “Will Smith Way.”Gabby Thomas poses for photos with fans after racing in the women’s 100 meters during the Grand Slam Track meet at Franklin Field on June 1.
City workers and volunteers move dumped tires toward garbage trucks during the Philly Spring Cleanup at Tacony Creek Park in April.Visitors tour Lucy the Elephant in April. The historic six-story structure has been a Margate, N.J., landmark for more than a century. Celal Emanet (center), with son Muhammed (right) and family friend Mustafa Tug, waits for his wife, Emine, to be released from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement center in Elizabeth, N.J., on March 12. The Emanets were arrested at their Jersey Kebab restaurant in Haddon Township two weeks earlier.Fulya Labernas (left) takes a picture of her 1-year-old son, Ibrahim, and her cousin, Neslihan Kalkan, outside Jersey Kebab on March 30. Celal and Emine Emanet prepared a feast to thank community members who rallied and raised money on their behalf after they were arrested by ICE agents.Andrew Ahl of the Reptile and Amphibian Department at the Philadelphia Zoo holds a Western Santa Cruz Galapagos tortoise that hatched in April.Montgomery County seniors in their 70s, 80s, and 90s cross Egypt Road from their continuing care retirement community in Audubon to protest the Trump administration on May 1. Members of the Camden High Marching Band attend a college signing day celebration at Rutgers Camden on May 2. Front row from left: Jazmynne Houston and Shaleah Navarro. Second row from left: Marjhani Land, Shalynn Mitchell, and Jaida Mitchell.Spectators watch the action during the Truist Championship at the Philadelphia Cricket Club’s Wissahickon Course on May 8. A roller blader passes the “Weaver’s Knot: Sheet Bend” artwork along the Delaware River Waterfront on May 12. Spectators people-watch outside Rim Cafe during the annual South 9th Street Italian Market Festival on May 18 in Philadelphia. From left: Joe Mirarchi, Howie Brown, William Gambino, and a person who didn’t want to give his name.On June 2, Saquon Barkley stopped by to help out at Geno’s Steaks, which was dubbed “Steakquon’s,” in celebration of the Eagles running back’s “Madden NFL 26” video game cover announcement.The aftermath of a large fire that engulfed multiple SEPTA buses at the Roberts Yard SEPTA Railroad Facility in Nicetown on June 5. Officials said 40 buses in the lot were damaged.Independence National Historical Park staff members fired muskets on June 6 during Revolutionary War weapons training. The training on reproduction flintlock muskets took place on the lawn south of Carpenter’s Hall in Philadelphia.Women dressed in colonial garb march in the “No Kings” political demonstration protesting the Trump administration on June 14 in Philadelphia.Wydad fans celebrate a goal as their team plays Juventus in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup Group G match at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia on June 22. Juventus won 4-1.Justin and Erica Vidal, of Galloway, N.J., enjoy ice cream cones in their 1967 Dodge Dart convertible with sons Alessio, 2 months; Nino, 2; and Alexander, 5, at Kustard Korner in Egg Harbor City.The Jewell and Alisio families celebrate the Fourth of July weekend with a block party on Roseberry Street in Philadelphia on July 5.Angel Luis Rosado with Athena Contracting Inc. works to clear garbage at a dump site at Caldera and Red Lion Roads on July 8 during the second week of AFSCME District Council 33’s strike.Mayor Cherelle L. Parker walks from her City Hall office on July 9 to speak hours after her administration struck a tentative contract agreement with AFSCME District Council 33 leaders, ending a strike. With her are Chief Deputy Mayor Sinceré Harris (from left), Chief of Staff Tiffany W. Thurman, and Chief Deputy Mayor Vanessa Garrett Harley.A wild turkey found itself stuck in traffic with many others after a crash on the northbound side of the North-South Freeway (I-76) in Gloucester City, N.J., on July 11.Phillies starter Ranger Suárez unraveled in the second inning of a game on July 20 against the Los Angeles Angels. The blur was created in-camera using a slow shutter speed and panning with the movement.Eagles players Nakobe Dean (from left), Jalen Hurts, Moro Ojomo, and Jordan Davis relax on the field after training camp practice on July 26.Willa Allen, the widow of Dick Allen, waves to the crowd as she rides in the Hall of Fame Legends Parade with her family on July 26 in Cooperstown, N.Y. Dick Allen, Dave Parker, CC Sabathia, Ichiro Suzuki, and Billy Wagner were among those inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.Union forward Mikael Uhre (second from left) celebrates his second half go-ahead goal with his teammates against the Colorado Rapids at Subaru Park in Chester, Pa., on July 26.James Burton, 59, of West Oak Lane (from left), Raymond Johnson, 62, of West Oak Lane, and Mike Johnson, 58, of Newport, Del., sit at the bay door watching a downpour at Ray’s Auto in Germantown on July 31.Closer Jhoan Duran makes his Phillies debut against the Detroit Tigers on Aug. 1 at Citizens Bank Park. The Phillies win 5-4.Ari from Philly (back to camera) gets decorated by “the glitter guy” on Aug. 23 before the start of the 2025 Philly Naked Bike Ride at Lemon Hill.Philadelphia schools Superintendent Tony B. Watlington Sr. (left) and Mayor Cherelle L. Parker greet a student at Edward T. Steel School on Aug. 25, the first day of school.A rider carries his plants on the 66 bus at the SEPTA Frankford Transportation Center on Aug. 25. Frustration and confusion were being seen at Center City transit hubs amid SEPTA cuts.Steve Jamison, owner of Blue Sole Shoes at 1805 Chestnut St., on Aug. 26. After a vandal damaged the store’s window with a brick, Jamison cut a boot in half and glued each half on opposite sides of the window to create a “lighter situation” while he waited for new glass to be installed.Audenried players Myhaj Oliphant (26) and Jaylin Simms rest while head coach Roy-Al Edwards (far right) talks with another coach during halftime at Chichester High, in Boothwyn on Aug. 28. Chichester got the win 36-16.Phillies catcher Rafael Marchan tags out Atlanta Braves first baseman Matt Olson at home plate in the fifth inning on Aug. 29 in Philadelphia. Phillies win 2-1.A guest views Alexander Calder’s sculpture “Tripes” (1974) in the Vestige Garden, at Calder Gardens during a preview on Sept. 15.People gather for a prayer vigil for Charlie Kirk at Fluehr Park in Northeast Philadelphia on Sept. 17. Kirk was killed on Sept. 10 during a speaking engagement at Utah Valley University.Michael Coard, an attorney and leader of Avenging the Ancestors Coalition, speaks with a megaphone prior to a silent protest on Sept. 19, near the President’s House. “What can’t occur is slavery being censored in this historical place. We must show the harm,” Coard said. During the rally, the group led a nine-minute tribute to the nine enslaved people that George Washington brought to the Philadelphia residence.Defensive tackle Byron Young celebrates with fans a blocked a field goal sealed the team’s 33-26 comeback win over the Rams on Sept. 21 in Philadelphia.Hurricane Imelda brought conditions for an aurora sunset seen behind the Philadelphia skyline, captured from the Camden Waterfront on Sept. 30.Josh and Tabitha Filomeno, of Northern Liberties, enjoy the weather with their daughter, Joia, 5 months, along Kelly Drive on Oct. 3.Motorcyclists compete on the sand during the Race of Gentlemen in Wildwood on Oct. 5.Tanelsa Franklin-Phillips and moviegoers wait outside the Film Society Center on Oct. 5.Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder Teoscar Hernández (left) slides safely by Philadelphia Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto to score in the seventh inning of Game 2 of the NLDS at Citizens Bank Park on Oct. 6.The Dodgers’ Max Muncy celebrates after Phillies pitcher Orion Kerkering’s errant throw home allowed the winning run in the 11th inning of Game 4 of NLDS on Oct. 9 in Los Angeles. Dodgers won 2-1, ending the season for the Phillies.Friends Dennis Donnelly (left) and Jack Sharkey of Northeast Philadelphia are soaked as the surf crashes over the North Wildwood seawall during a nor’easter Oct. 12. Donnelly said they were in Wildwood to retrieve his jet ski so it wouldn’t get damaged by the storm.Flyers captain Sean Couturier leaps over Florida Panthers goaltender Daniil Tarasov during the first period of the Flyers’ home opener on Oct. 13, in Philadelphia. The Flyers won 5-2 over the defending Stanley Cup champs.Sixers guard Tyrese Maxey and forward Trendon Watford were all smiles after their 110-108 victory over James Harden and the Clippers on Nov. 17 in Philadelphia.Kada Scott’s mother, Kim Matthews (center right), holds a sign featuring her daughter while releasing balloons at a Domestic Violence Awareness walk at the Philadelphia Art Museum on Oct. 26.
Mark Worker said his two-bedroom, one-bathroom house in Queen Village has “so much character” and is “close to everything,” with “a true neighborhood feel.”
Probably built in the late 1800s as part of a cluster of homes to house workers for an adjacent factory, it was augmented in the early 2000s by an extension in the rear.
Worker, a software account manager, bought it in 2022 when he was single, but he soon married, and now he and his wife are moving to London for his work.
The dining area.
The house is 1,092 square feet and sits on a tree-lined street in the heart of Queen Village.
It has hardwood floors throughout, all new windows, updated plumbing, a new HVAC system, and a new roof.
The interior has been freshly painted and the bedroom windows let in abundant natural light.
The primary bedroom. The windows let in abundant natural light.
The primary bedroom is on the second floor. A second bedroom, on the third floor, was used as a nursery by previous occupants.
“The third floor is really the best part of the house,” Worker said. It has an open floor plan and is being used as a living room and office, although Worker previously used it as a bedroom.
The third floor is being used as the living room.
The deck, just off the third-floor room, was carefully landscaped, with a picnic table and a variety of plants.
The home has an unfinished basement for storage, and a dedicated outdoor space in the rear.
The roof deck, which is landscaped with a picnic table and a variety of plants.
Commuting is easy with ready access to public transportation, I-95, and other major highways.
Adjacent landmarks include South Street and Head House Square.
The house is listed by Jay Edwards of OCF Realty for $519,995.
NEW YORK — In dimly lit Italian restaurants, boisterous Irish pubs, and the vintage sprawling ballroom atop Rockefeller Center, candidates running for Congress in Philadelphia spent a busy weekendin New Yorktrying to woo donors and supporters.
State Sen. Sharif Street, Ala Stanford, and State Rep. Morgan Cephas, all seeking to replace retiring U.S. Rep. Dwight Evans in one of the nation’s most Democratic districts, made the rounds, as Pennsylvania’s political elite gathered in Manhattan for the annual Pennsylvania Society dinner — and a parade of related events.
Stanford held a somewhat star-studded fundraiser Thursday evening, hosted, according to a posted listing for the private event, by Hamilton actor Leslie Odom Jr., (who did not attend but lent his name). Other hosts included Holly Hatcher-Frazier, an educator and original cast member on the TV show Dance Moms, and Lauren Bush, the niece of former President George W. Bush and co-founder of FEED Projects, a fashion brand which donates a portion of its proceeds to alleviating childhood hunger.
“What I’m hearing is people want a different type of solution,” Stanford said in an interview at a breakfast held by the University of Pennsylvania on Saturday. “Innovative, reaching across the aisle, collaborative, not afraid to stand up to authority,” she added.
A lot of eyes are on the pediatric surgeon and founder of a community health center, to see how she translates a career that involved fundraising for nonprofits into funding her first campaign.
She was endorsed by Evans upon launching her bid to succeed him in the 3rd Congressional District.
She’s built her campaign around her experience in the medical community and the biggest buzz of the weekend may have been her response to a minor medical incident. An older woman fell down some steps exiting a reception hosted by House Speaker Joanna McClinton(D., Philadelphia).
Stanford “triaged” the situation, according to Democrats in attendance, instructingPennsylvania Supreme Court Justice Kevin Dougherty and his son State Rep. Sean Doughertyto lift the woman onto some chairs so she could evaluate her. The woman ended up being fine and was able to walk home from the restaurant.
“We got a lot of people that can vote in the district here, we want their votes,” he said in an interview at a rooftop reception hosted by Independence Blue Cross. “We got a lot of people who can write checks here, we want their checks.”
State Rep. Ben Waxman, a longtime friend and colleague of Cephas, is in talks with donors to organize a super PAC to support the fellow Philadelphia Democrat’s campaign, according to a source familiar with the plans. The PAC would likely be run by longtime Philadelphia strategist Brandon Evans, who worked for both former Mayor Jim Kenney and District Attorney Larry Krasner.
The PAC has a goal of raising $250,000 to spend on digital, mail, and field, according to the source.
Not spotted at Pennsylvania Society weekend was StateRep. Chris Rabb, who is running as an anti-establishment progressive.
“That’s not really my thing,” he said in a text message, of the glitzy Manhattan affair.
Declared candidates in the Democratic primary for Philadelphia’s 3rd Congressional District, clockwise from upper left: State Sen. Sharif Street, State Rep. Chris Rabb, Ala Stanford, and State Rep. Morgan Cephas. The seat, currently held by retiring U.S. Rep. Dwight Evans, represents a large portion of Philadelphia and is the most Democratic district in the state.
The state of the race
Street released an internal poll last week that showed him narrowly beating Rabb with Stanford and Cephas following behind.
Several candidates running in the crowded race, which is up to about a dozen candidates, were not included in the poll and did not attend Pennsylvania Society.
“I believe our standing is strong,” Stanford said when asked about the poll. “I believe that there are many endorsements and people donate lots of money. But ultimately every individual has one vote. And that is the equalizer.”
One question will be whether Street, the son of former Mayor John Street, ties up most or all of the Democratic establishment support.
Several state representatives and ward leaders, like State Rep. Danilo Burgos, have already endorsed him — little surprise given his background running the party. But other elected officials, including City Councilmember and ward leader Katherine Gilmore Richardson, said they are waiting for their ward’s official vetting process to get underway.
Street said when it comes to his colleagues, “I think by the time we get to Election Day, most of my colleagues will be for me.”
John Brady, political director of the Pennsylvania Democratic Party, said 60% of Philadelphia wards have endorsed Street. He said the City Committee is waiting for more of the remaining wards, including the progressive and independent wards, to complete their processes so the full committee can move forward with their endorsement process in February.
“Look, two months from now is the first week of February, that’s plenty of time for them to complete their processes.” The concern, Brady said, is if the party waits too long, an endorsement may not carry weight.
While the City Committee wants to firm up an endorsement, some elected Democrats at Pennsylvania Society said they were struggling with whom to back — several said they really liked Cephas but felt wary of political backlash if they didn’t back Street and he won the nomination.
While Rabb has carved out a clear lane as the progressive, some of the city’s most progressive elected lawmakers have not lined up behind him yet. City Councilmember Jamie Gauthier, who represents West Philadelphia, said this weekend she is not yet ready to endorse and Working Families Party member Kendra Brooks, also on City Council, said the Working Families Party would go through a formal process in January (the progressive group often gets involved in Democratic races).
While Evans is backing Stanford, Philly’s other Democratic members of Congress have yet to weigh in.U.S. Rep. Brendan Boyle said he might not endorse in the primary. U.S. Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon, at an event on Friday night, said she’s worked with both Cephas and Stanford and has “great respect for both of them.”
Mayor Cherelle L. Parker has said she will endorse in the primary and her vetting process starts in January.
“For me, I’m really looking at Philadelphia’s agenda, you know, safe, clean, green, economic opportunity for all and how will you leverage your seat at the table to deliver for the 3rd Congressional District?” she said.
“What do you advocate for and champion as a legislator? What’s your personal passion and then you have to leverage tangible results.”
A proposal in City Council aims to amend the so-called resign-to-run rule that requires elected city officials to give up their seats if they want to run for another office.
Philadelphia voters have already rejected a similar plan twice, once in 2007 and again in 2014. A third attempt stalled out in Council in 2020.
Councilmember Isaiah Thomas, who proposed eliminating the rule last year, is back with a modified measure that would allow city officeholders to keep their seats while running for a state or federal office. They would still have to resign to run for another city office, such as mayor.
Sorry, councilman, but there’s no such thing as being a little bit pregnant. Many of the same good government reasons that require resigning to run for another office still hold.
Namely, running for office is a full-time job. The fundraising, campaign stops, debates, and town halls that take place during the day, nights, and weekends leave little time for officials to do the six-figure day job they were elected to do.
Depending on the office, running for a statewide or federal seat could also require additional travel across the state that would further distract from serving the constituents the official was elected to represent.
There would also be the temptation to use taxpayer-funded city resources — including the car, office, and staff — to help with the campaign. That is in addition to the taxpayer-funded salary and benefits elected city officials would collect while campaigning for a higher office.
Lastly, the elected official could also leverage their position against other candidates to benefit themselves or donors.
City Councilmember Isaiah Thomas said he would like to see the “resign-to-run” rule eliminated, but for now he was trying to strike a compromise.
The arguments for allowing an elected official to remain in office while campaigning for another job just don’t hold up.
The main argument is that it will allow more competition. For example, Thomas said some of his Council colleagues may have entered the race to replace retiring U.S. Rep. Dwight Evans — a five-term Democrat from the 3rd District — if they did not have to resign.
But even under the current rule, there is no lack of competition for Evans’ seat. Eleven people have already announced their candidacy, and the primary is not until May 19.
The diverse field already has a number of excellent candidates, including several who have never run for office before. Voters will have plenty of good options.
Thomas argued voters would benefit if the field included Council members. “There could be even more great candidates,” he said in an interview.
Thomas said city officials faced an uneven playing field, since state and federal elected officials do not have to resign to run for another office. That is true.
Three of the congressional candidates hold state elected office. But the better reform is to require state and federal elected officials to resign to run for another office.
As the saying goes, two wrongs don’t make a right.
Voters are already fed up with professional politicians. It is even more annoying when an official gets reelected and months later launches a bid for another office.
Even with the current rule, there is no lack of competition for retiring U.S. Rep. Dwight Evans’ seat, Paul Davies writes. Eleven candidates so far are vying to succeed the five-term Democrat from the 3rd District.
That scenario may soon play out with Gov. Josh Shapiro. He faces reelection in November, and many assume he will run for president in 2028. That means if Shapiro is reelected governor, he could spend much of the first half of his second term campaigning in Iowa, New Hampshire, and beyond.
After then-New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie launched his first bid for president, he would go on to spend 262 full or partial days out of the state in 2015. He traveled with a security detail that included New Jersey state troopers driving black SUVs with the state’s license plates, costing taxpayers more than $600,000.
Likewise, when then-U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio (R., Fla.) ran for president in the same election cycle, he missed 50% of the votes in the Senate.
Thomas conceded it would be difficult to balance city duties while running for an office that would require campaigning across the state. But he said city officials running for a congressional seat in Philadelphia while holding office would “not miss a beat.”
That may be true since Council doesn’t meet in the summer. But that’s an argument for making Council a part-time job, especially since they can, and some do, hold second jobs.
Philadelphia’s resign-to-run rule was added to the Home Rule Charter in 1951. At the time, the Committee of Seventy, a nonpartisan organization established in 1904 to combat corruption, strongly supported the rule.
After then-New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie launched his first bid for president, he would go on to spend 262 full or partial days out of the state in 2015, Paul Davies writes.
Any measure that prevents corruption still seems like a good idea. But surprisingly, the good-government group’s position has “evolved,” Lauren Cristella, the head of the Committee of Seventy, said in a statement.
The organization “reluctantly” supported the repeal of the rule in 2014, citing the need for more competition.
But Philadelphia voters rejected the effort. Just as they did in 2007.
This time, the Committee of Seventy said it would only support ending the resign-to-run rule if it was part of a broader reform package that includes term limits and “stronger safeguards for ethical, transparent government.”
The Committee of Seventy said the proposed change in its current form only serves the “political interests, but not the public interest.”
Rest assured, if the resign-to-run rule were modified to allow city officials to run for state and federal office, it would just be a matter of time before Council tried to repeal it altogether.
Even Thomas said he would like to see the rule eliminated, but for now, he was trying to strike a compromise.
Philadelphia has long been criticized as being “corrupt and contented.” But reforms like resign-to-run and the city’s strict campaign finance regulations passed a decade ago are models of good government.
Indeed, only a couple of cities and states have a resign-to-run rule. Philadelphia should champion its position as a good-government leader.
Harrisburg — which has no such measure and some of the worst campaign finance rules — would benefit from following the city’s lead.
Approximately 3.4 million state agency letters intended for Pennsylvania residents — including some detailing whether they are eligible for health benefits or food assistance, or need to renew them — were not delivered to residents from Nov. 3 through Dec. 3, officials said Friday.
Late last week, Pennsylvania state officials discovered that a month’s worth of mail had never been sent to residents by a government-contracted vendor, resulting in a pileup of millions of unsent state communications. Once the issue was discovered, the state fired the vendor, Harrisburg-based Capitol Presort Services, and hired another vendor for a $1 million emergency contract to work through the backlog.
Now, the state says 1.7 million letters sent by DHS, which oversees the care of Pennsylvania’s most vulnerable residents and the delivery of critical public benefits, were not delivered because of the vendor issue, said spokesperson Brandon Cwalina.
Residents may not have received letters detailing whether they need to renew their health benefits or if they are required to submit additional information to continue receiving SNAP food assistance, Cwalina confirmed. Administrative hearing notices — which could determine someone’s eligibility for public benefits, appeals about alleged elder abuse, or approvals of new foster homes — as well as child abuse clearances were also among the affected mail, he said.
Cwalina said the contents of some of the letters were also communicated to some intended recipients virtually, if they had opted to receive email or text notifications. Child abuse clearances are available online.
SNAP cutoffs, which are administered by DHS, were set to begin under the federal government’s new work requirements in December and must be appealed within 15 days. The federal government has said it will not count the month of November as part of its three-month timeline to implement SNAP cutoffs, so eligibility didn’t “occur during the period affected by the mail delay,” Cwalina added.
It remains unclear whether any Pennsylvania residents lost access to their benefits due to the vendor issue that went unnoticed for a month, or if they are at risk of missing deadlines to maintain their benefits. It’s also still unclear how many DHS hearings had to be rescheduled — and the impact of those delays on the care of Pennsylvania’s most at-risk residents.
Another 1.6 million letters from the state Department of Transportation were not delivered last month, including driver’s license and vehicle registration renewal invitations, driver’s license camera cards, vehicle registration cards, and address card updates, said Paul Vezzetti, a spokesperson for the Department of General Services.
Driver’s license suspensions were not impacted by the stalled mail. Vehicle registration and license renewal registrations are sent three months in advance, so anyone who was due to receive one at the start of November will have until February to submit it, Vezzetti said earlier this week.
All of the unsent letters from PennDot and DHS were successfully mailed by a new vendor this week and should reach residents within a few days, Vezzetti said.
Three seismic developments occurred over the past three Eagles games, all losses. Seismic, because the developments involved the Eagles’ best current defender, the best receiver in club history, and perhaps the best player in the history of the franchise.
First, in an apparent response to complaints about his role in the offense, the Eagles began force-feeding wide receiver A.J. Brown. He was targeted 35 times in the three games in question. He’d been targeted 37 times in the five previous games.
Second, right tackle Lane Johnson, who might be the greatest Eagle in history, injured his foot. The Eagles win 66% of the time when Johnson plays, while their winning percentage without him is 34%, and falling.
Third, defensive tackle Jalen Carter was either hurting or absent. Carter missed the loss Monday night against the Chargers after undergoing a procedure on his shoulders, which had rendered him virtually useless in the two previous games.
Nothing can be done to remedy the conditions of Johnson or Carter. Johnson issued a cryptic Twitter/X message after Monday night’s game that indicated his return might come sooner than later, and he wasn’t put on injured reserve, but he’s going to miss Sunday’s game against the visiting Raiders. Carter isn’t on IR either, but he’s out, too.
Which leaves A.J.
He was getting fewer and fewer looks. The ball just wasn’t finding him. He wanted the ball more. Hell, I wanted him to get the ball more. After all, with due respect to the golden oldies and one year of Terrell Owens, the Eagles have never had a receiver quite like him.
But getting it to him has spelled disaster.
Me, Me, Me
After the Eagles beat Tampa Bay in Game 4, Brown, who had two catches for 7 yards, posted a passage of scripture that indicated he was being ignored: “If you’re not welcomed, not listened to, quietly withdraw. Don’t make a scene. Shrug your shoulders and be on your way.”
Three games later, after a win at Minnesota, Brown posted, “Using me but not using me.” He had four catches for 121 yards and two touchdowns.
A week later, after a win in Green Bay, Brown was seen on a livestream playing a video game with a friend and saying the offense was a “(bleep)-show” and that he was “struggling” after catching two passes for 13 yards.
Brown might have been indiscrete, but he wasn’t wrong: He needs to be included, if not featured, in order for the Eagles’ offense to function properly. What the past three games proved is that he does not need to be featured in order for the football team to win.
A day after the “(bleep)-show” scandal, very publicly, on the sideline at practice, owner Jeffrey Lurie convinced Brown to stop publicly humiliating the team. Brown has gone silent.
He also has been targeted a whopping 46 times. The first 11 times came against the Lions, a game the Eagles won.
That was also the last time the Eagles had a healthy Lane Johnson and Jalen Carter.
Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown has been targeted 35 times over the past three games, up from 37 in his previous five.
Correlation equaling causation?
How do the issues fit together?
Well, while the Eagles beat the Lions, they scored only 16 points — not exactly an offensive feast. They won not because Brown was targeted 11 times but because Carter had his second-best game of the season and the defense surrendered just nine points. The Birds scored just 10 in Green Bay the week before, but Carter & Co. limited the Packers to seven.
The offense wasn’t humming, but neither was it hurting the cause, in large part because the offensive line remained viable.
Before Johnson was injured, Hurts had committed three turnovers in 10 games. The team was 8-2.
Since Johnson’s injury, Hurts has seven turnovers in three games. The team is 0-3.
The defense has been pretty good in the past three games, but just before Carter wore down it had again developed into the type of elite unit that led the Eagles to their second Super Bowl win.
The defense has not been good enough to compensate for Hurts, who is playing the worst football of his career.
But is it because he’s trying to force the ball to A.J. Brown?
What about us?
Before Brown’s bellyaching got him more looks, bookend receiver DeVonta Smith was on pace for a career-high 1,241 receiving yards. That pace has been cut in half in the past four games.
Asked Friday why his inclusion and production had slowed, Smith paused, then replied:
“Um … ” five seconds passed as he looked into the distance and mused: ” … I don’t know. I don’t have an answer for that.”
No one can accuse Smith of being indiscrete.
Similarly, tight end Dallas Geodert was on pace for 72 catches, 13 more than his career best, and in a contract year, to boot. His pace has slowed by about 25%.
First-time playcaller Kevin Patullo runs an offense that is both predictable and flavorless.
Meanwhile, after projecting to fewer than 900 yards for 2025, Brown now has a chance for a fourth consecutive 1,000-yard season.
There are plenty of issues with the Eagles’ offense.
The biggest problem: The offensive line, due to rampant injury and aggregate fatigue, has declined from being the league’s best to being the league average.
Another problem: First-year offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo, who has never before called plays, runs an offense that is both predictable and flavorless.
The most recent problem: Hurts has become hesitant unless he’s throwing to Brown, usually on the first read.
All three of those problems get diminished the minute Lane Johnson returns. All three of those problems matter less if Jalen Carter is on the field.
But the only thing the Eagles can do Sunday is let the ball find A.J. when the ball finds A.J.
In another broadside against the board of the Philadelphia Art Museum, ousted director and CEO Sasha Suda has once again portrayed her difficulties at the museum as a struggle for modernizing an institution in the face of the status quo. A new court filing from Suda, filed on Thursday night, argues for a trial with jury rather than settling the dispute with the museum through arbitration.
The opposition brief, a response to the museum’s petition last month stating that the matter should be resolved in arbitration, says that Suda’s employment contract contained “an explicit exception” to the arbitration called for by the museum.
“The Court should therefore deny the museum’s motion and retain jurisdiction over this case — as the parties’ agreement and Pennsylvania law require,” states Thursday’s filing in Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas.
Suda, 45, was fired Nov. 4 for what the museum said was cause. Less than a week later, she filed a lawsuit against the museum claiming she was dismissed without a “valid basis.”
Suda’s lawyer, Luke Nikas, did not immediately comment on the matter Friday. The Art Museum had no comment on the new filing, an Art Museum spokesperson said.
Suda was dismissed after an investigation determined that she “misappropriated funds from the museum and lied to cover up her theft,” the museum alleged in a November court filing in response to her lawsuit.
Nikas, of Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, at the time called the accusations false. The money in question, $39,000, came in the form of increases to Suda’s compensation, and these increases were “authorized” and “budgeted” cost-of-living increases that were “fully approved” and “disclosed,” a source close to Suda previously stated.
Much of the new filing repeats the narrative laid out in the initial lawsuit filing, detailing Suda’s unhappiness with former board chair Leslie Anne Miller and current board chair Ellen T. Caplan, as well as a recounting of Suda’s accomplishments at the museum.
Suda and Miller experienced ongoing friction, and Miller “told third parties that Suda was untrustworthy, incompetent, a snake, immature, would not last, and that others were ‘drinking the Kool-Aid’ by supporting her,’” the new filing states.
“Those comments from an officer and agent of the Museum violated the Employment Agreement’s Non-Disparagement Clause,” and that violation entitles Suda to “immediate injunctive relief and a temporary order restraining any threatened or further breach, in addition to or in place of the arbitration provisions,” the filing states.
Miller declined to comment on Friday.
Sasha Suda, former director of Philadelphia Art Museum, Jan. 30, 2024.
Suda’s contract stipulates that any changes in her compensation would be determined at the “sole and absolute discretion” of the compensation committee. In its November petition, the museum said that Suda requested, and was denied, a salary increase from the compensation committee on Feb. 8, 2024. She then “awarded herself the salary increase” effective March 1, 2024, followed by a second “unauthorized” increase in July of that year, the petition claims.
In July 2025, according to the museum’s petition, Suda “awarded herself a third unauthorized pay increase, which she once again failed to disclose to the board.”
The new filing includes text messages of praise and encouragement from board member John Alchin. It says that in September 2023, Alchin — identified in the filing as chair of the finance committee — examined a draft report for a compensation subcommittee meeting and requested “schedules of salaries along with proposed/recent salary increases.”
“Suda’s compensation was also reviewed,” the filing states.
“As the board member with the most oversight of Suda’s financials, Alchin expressed no concerns about Suda’s approach to salary schedules or financial governance, which were discussed openly in committee meetings,” the filing states.
It provides a copy of an August 2025 letter from the museum to Suda outlining her annual salary increase, from $749,087 to $771,560. The letter is not signed by a specific person — only the museum’s human resources department — and was cc-ed to “finance.”
The new filing also includes 2023 correspondence from the museum’s CFO, Katherine Harper, to its HR director, Meredith Clayton, “trying to figure out what increase Sasha might be entitled to,” adding that “prior to finalizing, I will check with John Alchin or Leslie to make sure they are comfortable.”
Suda was in the third year of a five-year contract when she was dismissed in the beginning of November.
On Dec. 1, she was succeeded by veteran nonprofit administrator Daniel H. Weiss, former chief of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, who had already been engaged by the museum as a consultant prior to being named director and CEO.
After a spring training workout in February, Kyle Schwarber contemplated the likelihood of the Phillies keeping most of the roster’s core intact through the end of the decade.
“I think we would love to all finish our careers together,” he said. “But who would want to come out and watch a bunch of 40-year-old dudes play baseball? Right?”
Well …
Schwarber will be only 37 when his newly minted five-year, $150 million contract expires in 2030. Bryce Harper will be 38 by then; Trea Turner and Aaron Nola 37; even Cristopher Sánchez will be 34. All will have no-trade rights, if they don’t already.
Maybe they will have World Series rings, too. In that case, the 42,000 fans who pack Citizens Bank Park on random weeknights in June won’t mind watching them ease into baseball old age together. Flags fly forever, you know.
But modern front offices obsess over long-term plans more than trying to win a championship one season at a time. Sustainability is their buzzword. Most whiz-kid general managers would look you in the eye and say that five-year contracts for 33-year-old designated hitters coming off 56-homer seasons are bad business. Don’t even get them started on multiyear deals for 35-year-old catchers who still play 130 games per year.
At 69, Dave Dombrowski is no kid. But five World Series appearances with four franchises and two titles make him a team-building wiz. And although he has hitched the Phillies’ hopes in 2026 and probably 2027 mostly to a handful of thirtysomething superstars, he outlined a second part of the plan that’s essential to success in 2028 and 2029, too.
President of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski is intent on incorporating more young players into the Phillies’ roster.
“I’ve said this all along, and I still believe this: We need to start working our young players into our [roster],” Dombrowski said this week at baseball’s winter meetings in the shadow of Disney World. “We have good young players, and we’ll be better for it. I do think that good organizations can blend young players with veterans.”
Look no further than the sport’s model organization.
Since 2023, the Dodgers have spent more than $1 billion on player salaries, including a record $415 million this year (calculated for the luxury tax, according to Cot’s Baseball Contracts). Yet they had 25 players make their major league debut, including center fielder Andy Pages, infielder Hyeseong Kim, and pitchers Bobby Miller, Gavin Stone, Emmet Sheehan, Jack Dreyer, Roki Sasaki, and World Series MVP Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
Conversely, the Phillies had 12 major league debuts in the last three seasons — fewer than any team, based on Fangraphs research — with setup reliever Orion Kerkering and reserve outfielder Johan Rojas having the most impact.
Dombrowski attributed the low graduation rate from the minor leagues to “a combination of factors,” including a veteran-laden roster that stayed mostly healthy relative to other teams and allowed few opportunities for call-ups.
But it will be different in 2026. It has to be.
Because it’s one thing to reunite Schwarber — and probably free-agent catcher J.T. Realmuto, too — with Harper, Turner, Nola, Sánchez, and Zack Wheeler on one of the majors’ oldest rosters and take a few more whacks at an elusive championship. It’s quite another to realize that long-term success — beyond, say, 2027, when Wheeler intends to retire — is tied to how good Justin Crawford, Andrew Painter, and Aidan Miller end up being.
“We have some really exciting talent that’s going to be coming up, and you’re looking forward to whenever they can step foot in the big-league locker room,” Schwarber said. “You want to make them feel like they’re going to be welcomed right away and feel like there’s going to be a seamless transition for them.”
And even as the Phillies bring back the band, the maturation of their next core will be an equally important 2026 storyline.
Top prospect Justin Crawford is expected to occupy a spot in the Phillies’ outfield on opening day.
A new ‘Daycare’
When the Phillies returned to the postseason in 2022, the lineup included three, sometimes four players who were 25 or younger: Alec Bohm, Bryson Stott, Brandon Marsh, and Matt Vierling.
Teammates and coaches dubbed them “Phillies Daycare.”
Although Bohm, Stott, and Marsh became solid contributors after Rob Thomson took over as manager (Vierling got traded to the Tigers for lefty reliever Gregory Soto), they’re mostly supporting actors rather than leading men in the Phillies’ ensemble. And as they outgrew their moniker — “They’re not the ‘Daycare’ anymore,” Harper finally declared last spring — there wasn’t another class coming behind them.
“Well, we traded quite a few players that could have been contributing members,” Dombrowski said, citing Vierling specifically. “We traded them for more veteran type of players to help us win at that particular time.”
Dombrowski also noted that five of the Phillies’ last six first-round picks — including Mick Abel (2020), Painter (2021), Crawford (2022), and Miller (2023) — were drafted out of high school, which typically means a longer path through the minors.
And when the Phillies did punch the accelerator and gave Painter a chance to make the team out of spring training as a 19-year-old in 2023, he tore a ligament in his right elbow, had Tommy John surgery, and missed two seasons.
The Phillies planned to call up Painter midway through this past season. But he struggled to regain his preinjury command, common for pitchers in the first year back from surgery. Painter stayed in triple A, and finished with a 5.40 ERA in 106⅔ innings.
“Honestly, some of the expectations we put on players is unfair,” minor league director Luke Murton told The Inquirer’s Phillies Extra podcast. “A guy that’s just coming back from Tommy John that pitched over 100 innings, was healthy, and at a level he’d never been at, I was very pleased, very satisfied.
“I think he accomplished a ton this year. Next year he’s looking forward to accomplishing more.”
Painter stands a good chance to crack the season-opening rotation, especially if Wheeler needs more time after thoracic outlet decompression surgery. And the Phillies expect Painter’s long-awaited arrival in the majors to help lessen the anticipated loss of Ranger Suárez in free agency.
Dombrowski has all but guaranteed Crawford’s spot in the opening-day lineup, either in center field or left. The Phillies came close this summer to calling up the 21-year-old but elected to leave him in triple A to win a batting title, especially after acquiring veteran center fielder Harrison Bader at the trade deadline.
“I really believe that [Crawford] could have played for us at some point,” Dombrowski said. “But then you also do what you think is best for the player and for us in that time period. You’re trying to win a championship. And it didn’t hurt him to go out and continue to play [in triple A].
“But now, all of a sudden, you’re in a position where you’ve got Crawford and you’ve got Painter knocking on the door. Miller’s close; [outfielder Gabriel] Rincones is close. [Otto] Kemp came up for us last year, and we like Kemp a lot. There’s others that we like. It’s exciting.”
Also, necessary.
The Phillies could fast-track Aidan Miller to the majors in 2026 if he can make a smooth transition to third base.
‘Close your eyes and let ‘em play’
Including Schwarber’s new deal, the Phillies have roughly $285 million in 2026 payroll commitments, calculated for the luxury tax. Bringing back Realmuto would likely push the total past $300 million.
And still, there are holes in the outfield and bullpen.
The Phillies have explored trading from the major league roster to create payroll flexibility, according to sources. Moving Bohm, entering his free-agent walk year, would clear approximately $10.3 million based on MLB Trade Rumors’ salary arbitration projections.
In that case, the Phillies could look inward to find Bohm’s replacement at third base. One possibility: Kemp, who made his major league debut this year and has drawn effusive praise from Dombrowski throughout the offseason.
“He’s a good hitter. The ball jumps off his bat,” Dombrowski said. “He’s a threat when he comes to the plate. He can play different positions. And he’s a tough son of a gun. He’s a championship-type player. What he played through last year, injury-wise, I don’t think that there’s many people that would have done that.”
Indeed, Kemp continued to play despite fracturing his left kneecap in June and finished with eight homers and a 92 OPS-plus. He had knee surgery and a minor procedure on his left shoulder after the season. The Phillies expect him to be ready for spring training.
Before long, third base could belong to Miller. Murton said the touted 21-year-old shortstop will move to third in spring training. Miller spent the last week of the season in triple A and could return for only a pit stop after finishing with 14 homers, 59 stolen bases, and an .825 OPS between two levels.
Could he follow Crawford and Painter as a major league debutant in 2026?
“You never know,” Murton said. “He’s a very talented player. Don’t want to put too much on him too soon. He’ll be a big-league spring-training invite. You bring him in and see what we’ve got.”
The timing lines up. As Harper posts Instagram videos of his elective blood-oxygenation treatments, the Phillies can finally inject fresh blood into the roster, acclimatizing Crawford, Painter, and eventually Miller while the old guard is still elite and bearing most of the pressure.
“We just need them performing to their best abilities,” Schwarber said. “We don’t need anyone feeling like they need to step out and be Superman. We don’t need them worrying about, ‘How does Schwarber, how does Trea Turner, how does Bryce Harper, how does whoever think about what I’m doing?’”
Said Thomson: “I always think, when you bring a young guy up, close your eyes and let him play. No matter what happens, he gets two, three months, whatever you want to give him, and don’t even talk. Just let him go. The guys that we have at the upper level of our system are performers, and eventually they’re going to perform.”
It’s not just overdue. It’s imperative to keeping the Phillies’ roster from going stale.
The semiquincentennial year in Philadelphia is set to start off with a bang.
The city’s celebration of the 250th anniversary of America will begin on New Year’s Eve with a free concert in front of the Philadelphia Art Museum steps.
The lineup includes LL Cool J, DJ Jazzy Jeff, bassist and bandleader Adam Blackstone, and Los Angeles rock band Dorothy. Technician the DJ, who has toured with the likes of the L.O.X. and Ghostface Killah, is also on the bill.
Afterwards — at midnight — there will be fireworks.
“Philadelphia is thrilled to welcome everyone to our vibrant city as we celebrate New Year’s Eve and kick off the 250th anniversary of our nation’s independence,” Mayor Cherelle L. Parker said in a statement.
“This free concert and fireworks showcases the incredible spirit of our community and the cultural legacy that Philadelphia embodies … Join us for Philly’s first ever New Year’s Eve outdoor concert as we kick off 2026 in America’s Birthplace — this is truly the place to start our celebration of this historic anniversary!,” she said.
Jeffrey Allen Townes, better known as DJ Jazzy Jeff, poses for a photo in the recording studio section of his home in Bear, Del. in 2023. He’ll perform on New Year’s Eve on the Ben Franklin Parkway as part of the free concert and fireworks dispaly.
For LL Cool J, the New Year’s Eve concert will be a makeup show.
The “Mama Said Knock You Out” and “I Can’t Live Without My Radio” rapper, actor, and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee was scheduled to play on the Parkway along with Jazmine Sullivan as part of the city’s July 4 celebration this year, but canceled in solidarity with striking municipal workers.
“Philly, don’t call it a comeback,” he said in a statement. “We’ve got unfinished business. Shout out to the Mayor for the invitation! Meet me on the Oval this New Year’s Eve as we bring in 2026 — live.”
Blackstone, who won a best musical theater album Grammy last year for his work on Alicia Keys’ Hell’s Kitchen, plans to debut “Brotherly Love,” a song he’s written with Curtis Mayfield’s cousin Cedric Mayfield, at the New Year’s Eve show.
Gates for the free concert open at 6 p.m., and the music starts at 8 p.m.
Think you know your news? There’s only one way to find out. Welcome back to our weekly News Quiz — a quick way to see if your reading habits are sinking in and to put your local news knowledge to the test.
Question 1 of 10
Bar Caviar, a new restaurant focusing on caviar and champagne, is coming to the Dwight D Hotel near Rittenhouse Square. The champagne selection is a collector’s catalogue with rare and exceptional bottles and glasses. One showstopper, Salon, is ultrarare and will cost roughly how much per pour?
CorrectIncorrect. XX% of other readers got this question right.
Salon is only produced in exceptional years from a single village and a single grape. Bar Caviar plans to offer it by the glass, at an estimated $600 per pour. Nonvintage options will start at $15.
Question 2 of 10
In honor of America’s 250th anniversary, 20 Philadelphia neighborhoods are getting a replica of this item, each painted in a different style by local artists.
CorrectIncorrect. XX% of other readers got this question right.
Twenty large replica Liberty Bells will decorate Philly neighborhoods for the national milestone. Designed by 16 local artists selected through Mural Arts Philadelphia — and planned for commercial corridors and public parks everywhere from Chinatown and South Philly to West Philly and Wynnefield — the painted bells depict the histories, heroes, cultures, and traditions of Philly neighborhoods.
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This week brought some conversation regarding the fate of the Rocky statue located at the top of the Philadelphia Art Museum’s steps (for now, it’s not moving). In total, how many official Rocky statues are in Philly?
CorrectIncorrect. XX% of other readers got this question right.
Philadelphia has three Rocky statues made by sculptor A. Thomas Schomberg. The original, at the foot of the museum’s steps, is owned by the city and has sat there since 2006. Sylvester Stallone commissioned that statue for Rocky II and later gave it to the city. The second was set at the top of the steps last December as part of the city’s inaugural RockyFest. The third is located at Philadelphia International Airport, where it was unveiled late last month in Terminal A-West.
Question 4 of 10
World Cafe Live remains open for now, but a potential eviction is looming. What institution owns the building where the venue’s currently located?
CorrectIncorrect. XX% of other readers got this question right.
Penn owns the building at 3025 Walnut St. that houses World Cafe Live’s 650-capacity Music Hall and 220-capacity Lounge. It is also home to the university’s radio station, WXPN-FM (88.5), which is a separate business. According to public documents obtained by The Inquirer, as early as July, Penn’s real estate office sent organizers notice that they had defaulted on their lease and owed the university $1.29 million for rent and utility payments dating back to April 2022.
Question 5 of 10
Rachel Billebault, once known around the world as Harlow, is regarded as the city’s most famous transgender woman. Today out of the spotlight, she mostly keeps to herself in Northeast Philly. But every now and then, the 77-year-old will get dressed up and head to this Gayborhood favorite:
CorrectIncorrect. XX% of other readers got this question right.
At 77, Billebault is still stylish, refusing to step out without a fully made-up face and perfectly coiffed hair. If she’s going out, she heads to Knock, the Gayborhood piano bar, owned by her dear friend Bill Wood and run by an attentive staff who dote on her. A Francesco Scavullo portrait of her remains permanently ensconced on the piano.
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Question 6 of 10
The largest U.S. outpost of the popular Vietnamese coffee brand Trung Nguyên Legend is open in South Philly. It features this architectural detail:
CorrectIncorrect. XX% of other readers got this question right.
The 5,000-square-foot cafe boasts two floors and a year-round roof deck, where customers can sip on citrusy espresso tonics, frothy Vietnamese egg coffees, or strong phin pour-overs, paired with a small array of European pastries (macarons, eclairs, mille-feuille) delivered daily from an off-site bakery.
Question 7 of 10
The new U.S. Mint coins commemorating America’s 250th anniversary include portrayals of three Philly landmarks, the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, and:
CorrectIncorrect. XX% of other readers got this question right.
Three separate quarter designs include images of Independence Hall, where the Declaration of Independence was signed; the Liberty Bell, housed and managed by the National Park Service in Philadelphia; and a Continental Army soldier at Valley Forge commemorating the Revolutionary War.
Question 8 of 10
The original Fresh Prince, Will Smith, makes a cameo in the final scene of Bel-Air, Peacock’s reimagining of the 1990s hit The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. He advises “younger Will” that sometimes he’ll mess things up, but he’ll learn from those mistakes. Then he adds this piece of sage advice:
CorrectIncorrect. XX% of other readers got this question right.
“Eat a cheesesteak,” the older Smith said with a laugh. “Not every day because cholesterol is real.” Smith told ET that the series’ final scene almost didn’t happen. “I almost played the father,” Smith said, of the role of Lou played by Marlon Wayans. “It just felt like it might be a little too meta, a little too weird.”
Question 9 of 10
The Phillies and Kyle Schwarber have agreed to a contract, the team announced on Tuesday night. How much was it for?
CorrectIncorrect. XX% of other readers got this question right.
The Phillies and Schwarber agreed to a five-year contract. A source told The Inquirer that the deal totals $150 million. The contract will take Schwarber, who turns 33 in March, through his age-37 season.
Question 10 of 10
West Philly rapper Bul Bey has had his music featured on Abbott Elementary twice. The artist said it’s all because he sent an “awkward” message to the show’s music supervisor on this platform:
CorrectIncorrect. XX% of other readers got this question right.
Back in February 2022, Richardson sent an introductory message on LinkedIn to Abbott Elementary music supervisor, Kier Lehman. Among the tens of tracks Richardson pulled from his catalog to include in that message, the 2014 single, “Where I’m From,” managed to strike a chord with Lehman.
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