The brutal 1998 murder of University of Wyoming student Matthew Shepard put LGBT issues in the national spotlight. Here in Philadelphia, the 2014 beating of a gay couple brought the issues closer to home — and served as [continue reading…]
For nearly 30 years, Mayfair residents have been urging the Philadelphia Police Department and the City of Philadelphia to split the 15th Police District. Largely owing to a collaboration between Donny Smith (above), president of [continue reading…]
The Police Athletic League of Philadelphia was created in 1947 by a police sergeant who wanted to create a baseball team made up of neighborhood kids who wanted to play. Since then, PAL has worked [continue reading…]
The Oxford Circle Police Athletic League is part of a nonprofit organization that seeks to build relationships between police officers and children within the neighborhood. Its goal is to keep kids off the street and to give [continue reading…]
Frank Milillo grew up playing on the streets of South Philadelphia. Now, as the commanding officer of the 3rd Police District, he watches over them. Milillo’s district stretches south of Lombard Street and east of Broad [continue reading…]
Walking through Hunting Park today, it’s hard to believe that not so long ago it was a much less desirable place to be. Underfunded, the park was largely in disarray and disuse until the Fairmount [continue reading…]
After a 20-year-old waitress named Sabina O’Donnell was beaten, raped and strangled in Northern Liberties five years ago, Lawrence Whitaker, chief instructor of at Urban Defense on 6th Street near Fairmount Avenue, knew he needed to do [continue reading…]
George Todt looked at Archbishop Ryan High School’s rear grounds as he reflected on Pope John Paul II’s Oct. 3, 1979 visit to Philadelphia. John Paul II had come to a city where 1 million [continue reading…]
Maryann Trombetta’s efforts aren’t always noticed. In fact, Port Richmond’s town watch, named The Eyes and Ears of Port Richmond, often operates without the knowledge of the community it serves. Until, that is, its annual Christmas [continue reading…]
Philadelphia Police Capt. Dan O’Connor characterizes Port Richmond as a neighborhood in transition. It’s a section of Philadelphia that houses some generations-old families that have never left. Other residents have arrived from quickly gentrifying areas [continue reading…]
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