Please join us Wednesday at WHYY’s studios for the Billies Awards, Billy Penn’s annual celebration of standout Philadelphians profiled by the city’s hyperlocal news site.

Rittenhouse Square’s new 7000-square-foot dart bar aims to infuse some flash and innovation — and high-end cocktails — into the beloved game.

“The Trump administration is currently breaking every law that they could find,” said Adam Sheridan, one of the thousands of protesters at different events in Center City. “There’s a climate of fear that didn’t exist the first term.”

$22,000 for dumping a couch? $963,000 for a batch of tires and debris? Philadelphia has boosted illegal dumping fines sharply, and is suing accused dumpers in civil court.

"Anyone currently living in the country and earning XP on Duolingo must comply and register with the government or face deportation." theonion.com/dhs-beg...

“It’s prime time for density along Market Street,” said Jessie Lawrence, Philadelphia's planning director. “Everything along Market Street could be big, and it could be high.”

“The journey has just been so incredible and so far beyond anything I’ve imagined,” Murphy said. “That’s why it’s so important to always dream.”

Where did “brotherly shove” come from?

The city’s planning process for Market East seems to be in limbo, and the Sixers’ and Comcast’s intentions for helping redevelop the corridor are still unclear. I talked to some local experts who have practical ideas for how to jumpstart redevelopment along the stagnant corridor in Center City.

Today, Pa. Gov. Josh Shapiro is touting a new agreement to limit electric rate increases, after he sued the regional grid operator. More here: billypenn.com/2025/01/28/p...

From reducing crime to picking up more trash (and moving the Sixers to Center City), we check where things stand with Mayor Parker's ambitious agenda one year in.

Now they need to ban Outlook.

They pushed against Sixers arena, till arena suddenly stopped pushing back. A crazy Sunday in Philly.

Will Trump launch a wave of mass sweeps, detentions, and deportations, and really be able to end temporary protected status, and strip citizenship from some naturalized immigrants? The uncertainty is prompting fear and action among many Philadelphians. billypenn.com/2025/01/06/u...

In Case You Missed It: Work has finally started on the long-planned, pedestrian-friendly revamp of the eastern end of Market Street.

Wissahickon's new elevated path gives pedestrians an alternative to walking in a sometimes traffic-choked road, and offers an observation deck for the stream and the rocky schist hillside.

🍪🍪🍪Thanks in part to a bunch of new cookie shops, the retail scene in Center City is pretty strong, according to Philly's downtown biz association. Building occupancy rates are unlikely to return pre-pandemic levels in the near future, but they say they've reached a healthy "new normal." 🍪🍪🍪

Billy Penn is on Bluesky! Check us out at bsky.app/profile/bill...

“I’ve never seen it from this view, and it really is spectacular,” said Warren Jones, a conservancy board member. “You get a feel for the true length of this ship — 990 feet, it’s a big ship.”

The changes were supposed to start rolling out next summer, but the transit authority is putting them on hold as it prepares to hike fares sharply and plan extensive service cuts.

SEPTA’s COO says its “death spiral” has begun. billypenn.com/2024/11/12/s...

While their contract expired at midnight, leaders of Transit Workers Union Local 234 report that talks are progressing, so members will keep working as negotiations go on.

Billy Penn reporters hit the streets to hear what Philadelphians thought — and how they felt — about Trump's presidential victory.

As the Sixers arena debate rages, councilmanic prerogative takes center stage.

Philly skaters says plaza-style street skating could be doomed in the city with the renovation of "Muni," the plaza across the street from City Hall. https://billypenn.com/2023/07/03/philadelphia-skateboarding-thomas-paine-plaza-muni-your-move/

Billy Penn Streetfighter fundraising video (donations are still being accepted!!) https://mailchi.mp/billypenn/eofy23-email4-4180275?e=31dce783cf