City Cast Philly

On November 7, Philadelphians will select the city’s 100th mayor. This week, we're hearing from both candidates to get to know them better and help you make your choice. On today's episode, host Trenae Nuri chats with Republican candidate David Oh about his record, plans, and his favorite spots in Philly. Visit David Oh’s campaign website here. Read more news coverage about the candidate: David Oh...

If you've watched a Philadelphia Eagles game this season, you may have seen quarterback Jalen Hurts surging through a pile of players to advance the ball a yard or two, or even score a touchdown. That critical game play has been dubbed the ‘Brotherly Shove’ or ‘Tush Push.’ This month, the Eagles filed a trademark application to have the exclusive rights to sell shirts and other apparel with the ph...

When leaders at the University of Pennsylvania and Rutgers University released statements about violent attacks in Israel and Gaza, they got mixed reviews. While some students, faculty, and alumni welcomed their words, others protested or threatened to cancel their donations. Host Trenae Nuri speaks with Karin Fischer, senior writer at The Chronicle of Higher Education, about the backlash to these...

It’s the Friday News Roundup! Host Trenae Nuri talks with Chris Brennan, political reporter at The Philadelphia Inquirer and O.J. Spivey, sports correspondent at The Philadelphia Tribune. They discuss what happened at the only debate between Philadelphia mayoral candidates Cherelle Parker and David Oh, how to cope with the Phillies' loss by getting excited about Eagles season, and Wawa pizza.  Our...

Did you know candy corn was most likely invented in Philly? And that bubble gum, specifically Dubble Bubble, definitely was? In honor of Halloween, host Trenae Nuri and City Cast Philly’s food contributor Dave Wez (@feedtingtimetv) unwrap the stories of iconic candies that have roots in our region, and then grade them. If you liked this episode, check out our earlier guide ranking other Philly-mad...

On some Philly blocks, there's a tree in front of every home. On others, there are no trees, only concrete. Philly recently won $12 million from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to expand tree cover in the city. This money will go toward the city's new tree plan, a 10-year roadmap for making Philly greener, cooler, and healthier. Host Trenae Nuri speaks with Kristine Gonnella, managing director...

If you don’t have a Halloween costume picked out yet, don’t worry. Host Trenae Nuri, lead producer Laura Benshoff, and producer Abby Fritz are here to help you find the perfect last-minute getup, Philly-style. From Wally, the emotional support alligator, to U.S. Senator John Fetterman, we've got DIY-able ideas you can pull off at your next party! Want some more Philly news? Then make sure to sign...

School closure turmoil is not new in Philly, but what happened recently at the Math, Civics and Sciences Charter School in Callowhill is unusual. Students and parents got a shock when the school’s founder, Veronica Joyner, announced she was retiring and shutting down the school at the end of the academic year. Students walked out in protest, and parents are scrambling to find new placements for th...

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 Alan Yu, science reporter at WHYY. They discuss how law enforcement finally cracked a multimillion dollar catalytic converter theft ring, and share updates from the Mütter Museum’s first community feedback meeting. Plus, why one Philly docto...

Visitors to Philly often go see the Rocky statue, the Liberty Bell and, of course, go eat a cheesesteak. But these destinations can feel a little bit cliched when there is so much more to explore in our city. Back in July, host Trenae Nuri talked with Dylan Thuras, co-founder of Atlas Obscura, a website devoted to finding the most remarkable places around the world, about what he recommends you sh...

Back in 2019, massive explosions shut down Philadelphia Energy Solutions, what had been the largest and oldest oil refinery on the East Coast. Now, there’s plans to build a business hub for e-commerce and life sciences on this spot, creating as many as 19,000 jobs. But accessing this 1,300 acre plant can be difficult. Host Trenae Nuri speaks with Inga Saffron, architecture columnist at The Philade...

From wonton to French onion, ramen to matzoh ball, it’s soup season! Host Trenae Nuri chats with City Cast Philly food contributor Dave Wesolowski (@feedingtimetv) about his top favorite soups you’ve got to order and eat this fall. Plus, we'll be putting the list and a couple of bonus recommendations in our morning newsletter, Hey Philly. Be sure to check it out! We’re also on Twitter and Instagra...

Seven years ago, Philadelphia signed onto a plan called Vision Zero, a commitment to eliminate traffic deaths in the city. But 124 people died on our roads last year, dozens more than the average death toll when we started this plan. Host Trenae Nuri speaks with freelance reporter Ben Seal about which parts of Vision Zero are working, and why the city is still falling far short of its goal. Read B...

It’s the Friday news roundup! We hear about how Philly’s downtown is coming back post-pandemic, another labor battle brewing at Temple University, and why ACCT Philly wants your help clearing out their animal shelters. Lead producer Laura Benshoff is joined by Sidney Rochnik, assistant news editor at Temple News, Kristen Mosbrucker-Garza, business reporter at WHYY, and Sarah Barnett, executive dir...

If you follow the news, our city can seem like a bad place to grow up. There are tons of headlines about the toll of gun violence, or how young people have fewer safe places they can go to just be kids. But there are local groups working every day to change that narrative. Host Trenae Nuri speaks with Shawna Smith, founder and owner of A Chance At Life Inc., and Prentice Boone, founder of the Juni...

The Mütter is Philly’s iconic medical history museum. More than 100,000 visitors come every year to see displays like Albert Einstein's brain or an enormous human colon. But these exhibits involve real remains, many obtained years ago through grave robbing or other shady practices. Now, the museum is taking a new look at whether their display is ethical. Reexamining the collection, however, has sp...

Philadelphia International Airport was recently named the worst large airport in North America, based on customer surveys by the data analytics firm J.D. Power. But is it really that bad? In this episode, the City Cast Philly team discusses the pros and cons of flying from PHL, your other local airport options, and our hacks for your next trip out of Philadelphia. Want some more Philly news? Then...

It’s the Friday news roundup! Dive into the Nobel Prize-winning research that made the University of Pennsylvania over a billion dollars, what's driving an increase in fatal drug overdose in Philly, and what’s next in the Phillies' postseason run. Lead producer Laura Benshoff speaks with Marco Cerino, staff writer at the Philadelphia Tribune, Abraham Gutman, health reporter at the Philadelphia Inq...

When COVID shook up how we all live and work, Philly’s big office towers emptied out. Some workers have returned, but Center City is still hurting for people. Now, an office building at 17th and Market is slated to be turned into nearly 300 new apartments, the biggest office-to-housing conversion since the pandemic. Lead producer Laura Benshoff talks with Jake Blumgart, commercial real estate repo...

The Phillies have once again made it to the playoffs, facing the Miami Marlins in a three-game Wild Card series this week. If you're lucky enough to get tickets to one of these home games, we have your guide to making the most of them. Back in June, host Trenae Nuri spoke with O.J. Spivey, Philadelphia Tribune sports contributor, about how to have a home run experience at Citizens Bank Park. Schwa...

South Philly’s iconic Melrose Diner was demolished last month to make way for an apartment building. The plan is to reopen a smaller version of Melrose in the same spot. But, other local landmarks haven't been so lucky, and have gone out of business or reduced their hours as dining habits and the city change. Host Trenae Nuri talks with Philadelphia Inquirer reporter Beatrice Forman about what mad...

The Citizens Police Oversight Commission was created in 2021 to be an independent oversight organization, investigating allegations of police misconduct and trying to build trust between police officers and city residents. Now, an Axios Philadelphia investigation has found that two CPOC commissioners invoiced the group for thousands in expenses that might not be allowed under Philadelphia law. Lea...

It’s the Friday news roundup! We’re talking about a municipal judge’s decision to dismiss murder charges against former Philadelphia Police Officer Mark Dial, less than two months after he shot and killed 27-year-old Eddie Irizarry. We’ll also get into how social media fueled looting at local liquor stores and retail shops this week, as well as why Philly cares so much about whether Taylor Swift i...

For the first time in 60 years, SEPTA is overhauling its bus routes. The final plan, which took six years to make, is known as the "Bus Revolution." Some routes are getting faster, some shorter, and others are getting axed altogether. Host Trenae Nuri chats with Thomas Fitzgerald, transportation reporter for The Philadelphia Inquirer, about how the transit agency made these calls, and what they me...

For years, active shooter drills in Philly schools taught students and teachers to barricade themselves in classrooms. Now, the School District of Philadelphia is implementing a new training known as ALICE - Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, and Evacuate. The idea is to give students and their teachers more ways to respond under pressure. But one of those options, countering, involves trying to di...