Child labor violation arise? Philly teens often need to work
Pa. officials say they’ve received a “surge” of reports of alleged child labor violations this year, and Philly companies that’ve paid penalties range from a bowling alley to a discount retail chain. But they’re nearly all for minor citations — and when Meir Rinde investigated, business owners pointed to the state’s complex and cumbersome worker tracking system.
They advocate for the system to be modernized, and to take into account some teens’ urgent need to work. In Philadelphia, nearly a third of under-18 residents live below the federal poverty line. Continue reading…
Permanent shelter + affordable housing coming to 4th and Race
Officials broke ground yesterday on a new mixed-use development in Old City that’ll include 34 units of supportive housing for people facing chronic homelessness. The $20 million project, created in partnership with nonprofit developer Community Ventures, expands and makes permanent the shelter and services already offered by property owner Old First Reformed UCC, one of Philly’s oldest congregations.
Fun side note: Instead of demolishing a 1760 rowhome at the site, the whole thing is being relocated 48 feet south, per the city, and will be renovated and restored.
RECAP: What else happened?
$ = paywalled
• Pennsylvania comes in 31st of 35 states in academic performance of charter school students, according to a study called the first-ever such national ranking. Pa. also had the largest gap between white and Black charter student scores. [Capital-Star/Education Next]
• The SEPTA Transit Police union pushed back its midnight deadline and are holding off on a threatened strike after agency officials promised a new offer this morning. [6ABC]
• A local Moms for Liberty coordinator was booted as Republican ward leader after party officials learned of his registered sex offender status. Philly M4L chapter head Sheila Armstrong, who participated in the national conference earlier this year, said she was surprised and concerned at the revelation. [Inquirer$/Billy Penn]
• Many were surprised when the Philadelphia Insectarium and Butterfly Pavilion abruptly shut down over the summer, but turns out trouble had been brewing for years, from lax training to under-resourced animal care. [WHYY]
• In the late 1800s, a Philadelphia inventor gave one of the first demonstrations of a projected moving picture — and that was just part of his legacy. [Billy Penn]
• In maybe the most Philly win of the year, the Eagles came from behind and used the Brotherly Shove for a key touchdown to take out the Chiefs 21-17 in a gritty, rain-soaked game billed as a rematch of last season’s Super Bowl . [Eagles/Billy Penn/AP]
MAJOR WATCH
Mayor Kenney joins Rebuild officials to break ground on an $8.5 million upgrade to Blanche A. Nixon Library in Cobbs Creek (1 pm). He then heads over to the Delaware River waterfront to help kick off the 30th season of the Independence Blue Cross RiverRink (3:45 pm).
