The Week in Philly from KYW Newsradio

Senator Bernie Sanders came to Philadelphia City Hall this week to speak out against the current administration in a rally that drew a crowd of thousands. Plus, people are enraptured by “Conclave” playing out in real life - a Villanova expert joins us to look ahead at the gathering to choose a new pope. And Philadelphia City Council debates the merits of mobile services that provide medical help a...

It was a historic visit, just the second ever to Philadelphia by the pontiff, and in the days since Pope Francis’ passing, memories of his time here in September 2015 are being cherished that much more fondly. A pair of KYW Newsradio alumni who covered the event look back and ahead as the Vatican prepares to choose Francis’ successor. Plus, as Delaware County braces for the imminent closure of two...

While the details and circumstances surrounding the arson attack on Governor Josh Shapiro and his family at the governor’s mansion in Harrisburg continue to get sorted out, the incident itself remains jarring and alarming. Through the eyes of a reporter who covered the scene on the ground, we take a look at what we know and don’t know about the crime. Plus, Mayor Parker’s ambitious affordable hous...

SEPTA is planning for the worst: severe cuts and fare increases if it doesn’t get the $168 million increase included in Governor Shapiro’s budget proposal. City Council checked in on the police department’s drone program, Kensington Wellness Court, and more in this week’s budget hearings. And concerns about ICE caused one of the city’s biggest celebrations of Mexican culture to be cancelled. Brian...

President Trump’s tariff rollout sent shockwaves through the global economy, with the automobile industry emerging as one of the faces of the upheaval. How are local dealerships and prospective buyers bracing for the ripple effects? And over at the Philadelphia Zoo, more history was made. You’ve got to hear the story of the remarkable hatching of four critically endangered Western Galapagos tortoi...

The Parker administration pitched its budget. Now, it’s up to Philadelphia City Council to parse through it. What do they think of the mayor’s plan? Plus, from West Philadelphia to Hollywood and back, Will Smith comes home for a prestigious honor while he continues to reemerge from a controversial incident that stained his once-golden reputation. And how about the Phillies? On the heels of a humbl...

As repair on a fuel pipeline leak begins in Bucks County, residents are concerned for their health and the environment. Construction on the Market Street bridge over the Schuylkill River will mean major traffic headaches in 2026. And we say farewell to the longest tenured Eagles player, Brandon Graham, who just announced his retirement. Matt Leon and KYW Newsradio’s reporters recap that and more o...

Housing, housing, housing. If there’s anything Mayor Charelle Parker wants you to know about her $6.7 billion budget proposal, it’s that the main goal is to deliver on her campaign promise of expanding Philadelphia’s affordable housing options. But is City Council onboard with all the implications? Plus, find out when and why New Jersey residents can expect a massive spike in their utility bills,...

Philadelphia is home to one of the largest Ukrainian populations in the United States. How did the community respond and rally in the aftermath of the explosive White House exchange between President Trump, Vice President Vance, and President Zelenskyy? We also get an expert’s take on the potential local ramifications of Trump’s tariff policies. Plus, three years after sponsoring a bill designed t...

In the early days of President Trump’s second term, the Philadelphia region is feeling the effects of his aggressive policy push. Broad-stroked attempts to slash the federal workforce, freeze state funding, and eliminate DEI initiatives have all carried local consequences. What are they, and how are affected populations and communities fighting back? KYW Newsradio’s Matt Leon examines these storie...

A four-alarm fire set a historic, century-old manufacturing factory in Montgomery County ablaze, with flames burning for multiple days. How did firefighters and first responders get the incident under control? What threat does it pose to residents? KYW Newsradio’s Matt Leon dives into this story and other big headlines making news in the Philadelphia region this week, like the local trickledown ef...

Since the Eagles ended the Kansas City Chiefs’ streak and became the 2025 Super Bowl Champions, the city has been celebrating all week - from pole climbing on Sunday night to the parade on Friday. We recap the big game and hear from fans. Plus, for Black History Month: some history and a spotlight on people making an impact today in Philadelphia’s communities of color. Tan France from “Queer Eye”...

Last weekend, a medical transport jet crashed in Northeast Philadelphia near Roosevelt Mall, killing seven people and injuring 24. We share what we know about the crash, and how the city is helping the neighborhood recover. Plus, Governor Shapiro lays out his 2025 goals in his annual budget address, Philly celebrates Black History Month, and we get amped up for the Eagles to take on the Chiefs in...

First of all - go birds! The Eagles clinched the NFC Championship and will take on the Kansas City Chiefs once again in the Super Bowl. We talk about the championship game last weekend and what the big matchup could look like next weekend. Plus, ICE raids were reported in the city this week, but several Quaker groups are suing against President Trump’s action to allow ICE into “sensitive spaces”....

President Trump has signed a slew of executive orders since he took office on Monday, from removing federal recognition of non-binary gender identities to withdrawing from the Paris Climate Agreement. A Swarthmore College professor breaks down one of Trump’s biggest actions: attempting to end birthright citizenship. We also hear how city and state officials have been reacting to the new Trump admi...

After two years of debating, Philadelphia City Council finally agreed to let the 76ers move forward with a Center City arena - only for the Sixers to change their minds and decide to build in the same spot in South Philly. How did this happen, and what does it mean for Chinatown and Market East? Plus, a Philly native living in L.A. shares his experience with the wildfires, a Penn professor gives h...

Instead of zipping down Belmont Plateau, Philadelphia public school students might instead find themselves zooming into virtual classrooms in the event inclement weather interrupts in-person learning for the remainder of the academic year. And if you ever wondered what atmospheric conditions trigger a polar vortex the likes of which hit the region this past week, we’ve got an expert meteorologist...

By the time November came around, Pennsylvanians - especially those in the Philadelphia area - could probably recite certain political ads by heart. That’s how much money was being poured into advertising in the crucial swing state leading up to the 2024 election. In the finale of The Week in Philly ’s two-part “year-in-review” series, we examine the factors that transformed PA from blue to red. P...

2024 has been a whirlwind year. In Philadelphia, a new 76ers arena in Center City was approved after a long fight. Mayor Parker made a big push to clean up Kensington. Saquon Barkley exploded on the field with the Eagles. Wrestlemania took over the city, and the Kelce family took over just about all forms of entertainment. This week and next, we’re taking some time to look back on the biggest news...

Protesters tried their best to stop a City Council vote on the 76ers arena proposal, but despite the disruption, all the measures needed to move the project forward passed. Meanwhile, Sang Kee Peking Duck House in Chinatown shut down indefinitely because of a dangerous, damaged steam pipe. The 76ers just can’t catch a break this season. And how to recycle your Christmas tree…by feeding it to goats...

After Luigi Mangione was arrested in Altoona, PA for the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, we learned that Mangione has connections to Philadelphia. We talk about how this crime and the aftermath have exposed flaws in American health care. After many delays, a preliminary vote has paved the way for a new 76ers arena in Center City. And Pennsylvania’s Teacher of the Year, who’s from H...

It’s the holiday season, and Philadelphia has shopping options for everyone - even procrastinators! But first, we hear the latest on the 76ers arena proposal, which has more support lately, but has faced some delays. Plus a mistake involving a list of students who opted out of a sex ed program makes a mess in Cherry Hill, and Philadelphia celebrates RockyFest. Matt Leon and KYW Newsradio’s reporte...

Caviar bumps? Yep, Center City’s got a kiosk for that. Between avoiding a potentially crippling strike to getting a game-changing funding boost from Harrisburg, SEPTA had itself one major week. Before Leslie Richards, the transportation system’s general manager, steps down, she reflects on her tenure in an exclusive interview. Plus, more on how recent rain will impact the ripple effects of the reg...

Public transportation commuters throughout the Philadelphia area have been in a state of limbo for the past week, as SEPTA and its thousands of bus, train, and trolley operators continue contract talks. Why is SEPTA “hopeful” a resolution can be reached without a strike? What should riders do if the mass transit company’s multiple unions follow through on their threat of a coordinated walkout? Mat...

Donald Trump’s victory in the presidential election was decisive, and Pennsylvania is a big reason why. Not only did Trump win the commonwealth himself, he funneled strong Republican turnout to key down-ballot races as well. Why did PA flip red, after voters elected a Democratic governor and U.S. Senator just two years ago? What could a second Trump presidency mean for Philadelphia and the support...