City Cast Philly

It’s the Friday News Roundup! Host Trenae Nuri is joined by Rodrigo Torrejón, criminal justice and law enforcement reporter for The Philadelphia Inquirer, and Aliya Schneider, politics and governing reporter for The Philadelphia Inquirer. They discuss the reopening of Macy’s after two security guards were stabbed inside and City Council's move to ban ski masks in many public places. And, how to sp...

On Sunday, Pro-Palestinian marchers made a stop outside of the Israeli-style falafel restaurant Goldie in the Rittenhouse Square neighborhood. Their chants of “Goldie, Goldie, you can't hide, we charge you with genocide” were shared widely on social media. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro called the incident a “blatant act of antisemitism,” and scores of other elected officials also criticized t...

The Philadelphia Reparations Task Force is seeking members to study the impact of the institution of slavery on local residents, and to make recommendations for how the city can make amends. Host Trenae Nuri talks with Rashaun Williams and Breanna Moore, co-chairs of the Task Force and of the Philadelphia chapter of the National Coalition of Blacks for Reparations in America (N’COBRA PHL), about w...

Docked across the street from the Ikea in South Philly is a giant rusty ship called the SS United States. It was once a luxurious ocean liner, carrying movie stars and former U.S. presidents across the Atlantic Ocean. Think the Titanic — but bigger. However, since 1996 it’s been languishing in Philly. Host Trenae Nuri speaks with Ximena Conde, breaking news and general assignment reporter for The...

Many teens work to help their families, or have some spending money. But there’s been a recent surge in complaints about child labor law violations in Pennsylvania, for infractions like giving young workers excessively long shifts or failing to give required breaks. In Philly, major companies like Five Below and Honeygrow are among the businesses hit with fines for breaking the law. Host Trenae Nu...

It’s the Friday News Roundup! Today’s topics include Philly’s next police commissioner, a new city holiday honoring Rocky Balboa, and how a local artist is honoring Philly sports stars. Host Trenae Nuri speaks with Anna Orso, City Hall reporter for The Philadelphia Inquirer, and Beatrice Forman, general assignment reporter for The Philadelphia Inquirer. Our Friday episodes are powered by great loc...

We’re kicking off a new monthly episode where we share some of the coolest places to go and things to do in the city. Starting with December! The City Cast Philly team is here to share our recommendations for our favorite winter activities, ways to get creative, and places to take friends and family. Listen to the end to learn what our pick-of-the-month is! Activities Ice-skating at the RiverRink...

At least a half-dozen local Starbucks, and seven independent cafes or restaurants in Philly, have taken steps to unionize in the last couple of years. But recently, some local cafes where workers have formed unions have either closed down, or workers have voted to reject the union they joined. Host Trenae Nuri talks with Lizzy McLellan Ravitch, workforce reporter at The Philadelphia Inquirer, abou...

Philly has a piping hot tea scene! Delicious versions of this internationally-loved beverage can be found around the city, from hole-in-the-wall spots in Chinatown to the Mary Cassatt Tea Room at The Rittenhouse Hotel. Get the scoop on these and other standout places to order tea from host Trenae Nuri and City Cast Philly food contributor Dave Wez.  Correction: Our guest misstated the name of one...

There are fewer than 100 newsstands left in Philly. Thanks to a bill recently signed by Mayor Jim Kenney, these old-school street kiosks — known for selling newspapers and cigarettes — are now allowed to expand their retail offerings. Host Trenae Nuri talks with Jordan Levy, general assignment reporter at Billy Penn, about whether adding flowers and sports apparel will be enough to help keep these...

Air travel during the holiday season is already stressful. On top of that, Philadelphia International Airport has a reputation for poor customer satisfaction. Earlier this year, it came in last place among similarly-sized airports in customer surveys conducted by the data analytics company J.D. Power. But is PHL really that bad? In this episode from October, the City Cast Philly team discusses the...

From a special Cirque du Soleil performance to the annual light show at Macy's, Philly has no shortage of events to get you in a festive mood this season. Host Trenae Nuri speaks with City Cast Philly arts and culture contributor, Charles Tyson Jr., about the perfect holiday entertainment itinerary. Want some more Philly news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter Hey Philly. We’re...

This holiday season, don’t throw out your leftovers! Instead, reduce how much food you toss by making a pumpkin pie milkshake or a Thanksgiving pizza. Host Trenae Nuri talks about reimagining food waste with Rachel Sherman, pastry chef and project manager of the Drexel Food Lab, and DeAndra Forde, Drexel University doctoral student and registered dietitian. Check out their recipe for strawberry-to...

It’s the Friday News Roundup! Host Trenae Nuri is joined by Julia Terruso, political reporter at The Philadelphia Inquirer, and Isaac Avilucea, reporter at Axios Philadelphia. They discuss local and statewide voter turnout this general election and how understaffing at 911 call centers in Philly impacts emergency response times. Plus, how Philly is gearing up for holiday shopping this year. Our Fr...

In Germantown, a three-story rowhome serves as both a private residence and the home of The Colored Girls Museum, an institution dedicated to celebrating art about ordinary Black womanhood. Since its founding in 2015, the museum has been written up in national magazines and received high-profile grants. But following an anonymous complaint to 311, its future is uncertain. It turns out the museum v...

Since Philadelphia’s bus depot closed this summer, travelers riding with Greyhound, Peter Pan, and other major carriers have had to wait outside for buses near 6th and Market Streets, alongside curbside companies like Megabus. This area has no dedicated bathrooms, seating, or shelter for passengers. This week, the city is moving the bus stop again, to yet another temporary curbside location in a d...

It seems like every few weeks there’s a new donut spot popping up in Philly. This month, Dottie’s Donuts is opening a fourth location for its vegan treats in Fishtown. So we wanted to break down the best places to try these deep-fried delights. Host Trenae Nuri chats with City Cast Philly food contributor Dave Wez, who shares a dozen recommendations for must-try crullers, fritters, and creme-fille...

More businesses, event spaces, and religious institutions in Philly are hiring armed guards to stand watch. Patrons say the practice makes them feel safer, but critics say that the training required to become a private security guard is nowhere close to what a sworn law enforcement officer receives. Plus, it can be jarring to see someone openly carrying an assault rifle at your local gas station o...

It’s the Friday News Roundup! Host Trenae Nuri is joined by Chris Brennan, political reporter and writer of the Philadelphia Inquirer's Clout column, Marco Cerino, reporter at the Philadelphia Tribune, and Meir Rinde, investigative reporter at Billy Penn. They react to the news that the city is once again moving the bus drop-off/pick-up location for several major carriers. Then, they discuss what’...

The Philadelphia Parking Authority (PPA), best known for doling out parking tickets and periodic corruption scandals, is hoping to cultivate a new image by focusing on quality-of-life issues. Host Trenae Nuri speaks with Rich Lazer, executive director of the PPA, about his first year in that role and his vision for the agency. And, Lazer answers questions from our Hey Philly newsletter readers abo...

Cherelle Parker will be the 100th mayor of Philadelphia. City Cast Philly is in your feed a little later this morning to bring you this and other up-to-date results of the 2023 general election. Host Trenae Nuri, lead producer Laura Benshoff and producer Abby Fritz break down the winners, upsets, and context for the most important local and statewide races this year. Check out the Philadelphia Cit...

This Election Day, we're taking a look back at some of the weirdest local and state laws previous generations of elected officials have put on the books. Did you know it's illegal to make a profit from fortune-telling, or to fish with your bare hands in Pennsylvania? Back in July, host Trenae Nuri spoke with City Cast Pittsburgh host Megan Harris and Harrison Cann, reporter at City & State PA, abo...

Tomorrow is Election Day! If you need to catch up fast, we’ve got your guide to the most important and competitive races on the ballot, from Philadelphia City Council to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. Lead producer Laura Benshoff speaks with Sean Collins Walsh, City Hall reporter at The Philadelphia Inquirer, and Katie Meyer, government editor and reporter at Spotlight PA. Get more detailed infor...

It’s the Friday News Roundup! Host Trenae Nuri talks with Ellie Rushing, criminal justice reporter at The Philadelphia Inquirer, and Conrad Benner, founder of the local arts blog Streets Dept. They discuss problems at Philadelphia’s juvenile jail, the artist selected to design Philly’s Harriet Tubman statue, and the closing of local frozen treat businesses Weckerly's Ice Cream and Lil Pop Shop. Ou...

In our second interview with Philly’s mayoral candidates, host Trenae Nuri speaks with Democrat Cherelle Parker. Hear about Parker's plans if elected, what Philadelphia experiences molded her, and what some of her favorite places in the city are. Read more about Cherelle Parker’s campaign here. And, check out news coverage about the candidate: Who Is Cherelle Parker? Cherelle Parker is proud of he...