Philadelphia

Axios Philadelphia

VISUAL: Data: Brown School of Public Health; Map: Thomas Oide/Axios

Vaccines could have prevented nearly half of Pennsylvania's more than 28,000 COVID-19 deaths between January 2021 and last month, based on a new analysis of public health data from Brown University's School of Public Health. 

Driving the news: Researchers crafted a model illustrating what could have happened if 100% of American adults were fully vaccinated and boosted once the shots became available.

The study used real-world data from the CDC and the New York Times, while considering variables like supply and vaccine effectiveness over time. 

The big picture: Researchers estimate that vaccines could have prevented roughly 319,000 COVID deaths across the country, Axios' Tina Reed reports.

Meanwhile, the U.S. COVID death toll officially surpassed 1 million people this week, according to Johns Hopkins University data.

Zoom in: More than 28,207 Pennsylvania residents have died since vaccines were released, according to state data. 

An estimated 69% of Pennsylvania residents are fully vaccinated, according to the New York Times tracker.

Philly's vaccination rate for ages 12 and older is 76%, according to city data. For children ages 5-11, less than a third are fully vaccinated. 

What they're saying: "At a time when many in the U.S. have given up on vaccinations, these numbers are a stark reminder of the effectiveness of vaccines in fighting this pandemic," co-author Stefanie Friedhoff said in the analysis.

Nearly half of Pennsylvania's COVID deaths were preventable, per analysis

More than 28,00 residents have died since vaccines were released.

Pennsylvania

Vaccines could have prevented nearly half of Pennsylvania&#x27;s more than 28,000 COVID-19 deaths between January 2021 and last month, based on a new <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="analysis of public health data" data-vars-click-url="https://globalepidemics.org/vaccinations/" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://globalepidemics.org/vaccinations/" target="_blank">analysis of public health data</a> from Brown University&#x27;s School of Public Health. Driving the news: Researchers crafted a model illustrating what could have happened if 100% of American adults were fully vaccinated and boosted once the shots became available.

COVID

Data: Bounce; Note: Security check data is as of March 10 and includes all departing passengers. Passport control data takes an average from March 8, 2021, to March 7 and includes all arriving international passengers; Chart: Simran Parwani/Axios

Waiting at the Philadelphia airport can take awhile, but it's certainly not the worst in the nation, according to data per Bounce, a luggage storage company. 

By the numbers: PHL's 27-minute average wait is among some of the shortest TSA wait times, compared to the 39 U.S. international airports analyzed. 

Zoom out: Denver International Airport, Chicago Midway and Boston Logan all have similar wait times.

Raleigh puts everyone to shame with a 16-minute wait.

Yes, but: At least we're not JFK International Airport in New York or Miami International Airport (around 45 minutes)!

Charted: airport wait times

Waiting at the Philadelphia airport can take awhile, but it's certainly not the worst in the nation.

Air travel

Waiting at the Philadelphia airport can take awhile, but it&#x27;s certainly not the worst in the nation, according to data per <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Bounce" data-vars-click-url="https://usebounce.com/blog/airport-wait-times?utm_source=newsletter&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=sendto_localnewslettertest&amp;stream=top" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://usebounce.com/blog/airport-wait-times?utm_source=newsletter&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=sendto_localnewslettertest&amp;stream=top" target="_blank">Bounce</a>, a luggage storage company. By the numbers: PHL&#x27;s 27-minute average wait is among some of the shortest TSA wait times, compared to the 39 U.S. international airports analyzed.

News

A new fantasy-themed bar is decked out and ready for its debut in Philadelphia next week. 

The Cauldron Magical Pub will soon bring your classic drinks of choice — but with a magic wand, fire and spells — to the Gayborhood.

What's happening: The new bar from South Jersey native Matthew Courtland and his co-founder David Duckworth will be the second to open in the U.S., after the New York City location.

There are four others in London and Edinburgh, Scotland.

How it works: The bar provides you with two options, a walk-in cocktail bar and the main event. 

Expect molecular mixology at the walk-in bar, plus fantasy-themed food.

The main event is a $39.99 ticketed adventure in which customers can make their own "magical potion" cocktails for an hour and 40 minutes. The pub provides you with a robe and a wand to assist in the process.

Details: Potion cocktails include the Transfiguration Toniq, a spin on a lavender martini, and the Lost Thyme, a rum, thyme and lemon juice-based cocktail made in a cauldron. 

The magical pub's take on a strawberry daiquiri but with a fiery twist. Photo: Taylor Allen/Axios

The big picture: The queer-founded company behind the bar is also planning to host more events for the LGBTQ+ community at the new spot.

"Queer people connect with fantasy because there's themes of not being understood by mainstream society but then finding acceptance in another place where you belong," Duckworth told Axios.

The New York City location hosts a weekly drag bingo.

The inside of the The Cauldron Magical Pub. Photo: Taylor Allen/Axios 

The bar only sells tickets in three-month intervals and has already sold 2,000 pre-sale tickets. 

What they're saying: "We want to bring magic across the world and make dreams come true," Duckworth said.

One of the larger decorations at The Cauldron Magical Pub includes this magical typewriter. Photo: Taylor Allen/Axios 

1 cool thing: All of the locations encourage patrons to bring in their favorite fantasy books so they can be donated to underserved schools. 

The owners are working on finding a partnership to do the same in Philly. 

Inside Philly's new magic bar, the Cauldron Magical Pub

Enjoy cocktails with a magic wand, fire and spells.

"The bubbling shot of death" featuring lemon juice, sugar syrup, Midori and Bimber vodka. Photo: Taylor Allen/Axios 

A new fantasy-themed bar is decked out and ready for its debut in Philadelphia next week. <ul><li>The Cauldron Magical Pub will soon bring your classic drinks of choice — but with a magic wand, fire and spells — to the Gayborhood.</li></ul>

Food and Drink

Things to Do

National

Pennsylvania's hotly-contested Republican primary for U.S. Senate is too close to call as of Wednesday morning, with just thousands of ballots left to be counted.

What's happening: Celebrity TV doctor Mehmet Oz, who's backed by former President Donald Trump, is holding onto a razor-thin lead over former hedge fund CEO Dave McCormick.

Kathy Barnette, an "ultra-MAGA" candidate, appears to have come in third place, as her campaign fizzled out following a sudden rise in the polls ahead of Tuesday's election.

State of play: The election may not be called for days. Printing errors on thousands of mailed ballots in Republican-leaning Lancaster County will delay the counting of those votes, according to the Associated Press.

Plus: It could go to a recount, should the margin between the top two candidates be half a percentage point or less, per state law.

Details: Pennsylvania law says a recount must be scheduled by the third Wednesday after Election Day.

In this case, that process would have to start by June 1 and be completed by June 7, per the Philadelphia Inquirer.

By the numbers: The contest to replace retiring Republican Sen. Pat Toomey has become one of the most expensive U.S. Senate races in the nation, with millions of dollars contributed from across the country.

Oz funneled at least $12 million of his own wealth into his campaign, and McCormick spent at least $11 million, according to Federal Election Commission filings.

Between the lines: If Oz secures the Republican ticket, it could indicate the continued power of Trump's endorsement in this year's midterm cycle.

Oz would become the first Muslim elected to the Senate.

What to watch: The winner will face off against Lt. Gov. John Fetterman, who won the Democratic nomination, in November.

Philadelphia Alerts

A daily look at the most significant and interesting stories affecting Philadelphia. Written by local reporters.

Axios Philadelphia Thought Bubble

Oz and McCormick neck-and-neck in Pennsylvania's GOP Senate primary

Kathy Barnette appears to have come in third place.

Mehmet Oz and Dave McCormick. Photos: Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images

Politics & Policy

Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro, who ran unopposed in the state's Democratic gubernatorial primary, won his party's nomination Tuesday, per AP. 

Driving the news: The two-term attorney general wrote on Twitter shortly after polls closed Tuesday that he's "humbled and honored" to be the Democratic nominee for Pennsylvania governor.

"No matter which dangerous extremist we're against this November, the stakes are too damn high for anything but a victory," he wrote.

The big picture: A leaked U.S. Supreme Court draft opinion this month signaling that justices could overturn Roe v. Wade has put a handful of midterm races into the national spotlight, including Pennsylvania's gubernatorial campaigns.

Gov. Tom Wolf, a Democrat, is term-limited, and with a Republican-controlled legislature, the future of abortion access in the state could come down to the governor's race.

Shapiro is the only Pennsylvania gubernatorial candidate who has vowed to protect abortion rights.

Background: Shapiro, who lives in Abington Township, served in the state House of Representatives from 2005-2012. He was also a Montgomery County commissioner. 

Shapiro received endorsements and fundraising before he formally announced his candidacy in October. 

Josh Shapiro wins Democratic primary for Pennsylvania governor

Shapiro said he's "humbled and honored" to be the Democratic nominee.

Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro speiaks during the press conference. At the Council on Chemical Abuse (COCA) RISE Center in Reading, PA Tuesday morning April 13, 2021

Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro speiaks during the press conference. Photo: Ben Hasty/MediaNews Group/Reading Eagle via Getty Images

Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro, who ran unopposed in the state&#x27;s Democratic gubernatorial primary, won his party&#x27;s nomination Tuesday, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="per AP" data-vars-click-url="https://apnews.com/article/2022-primaries-live-updates-19c7bcc65aa2e4adb4699b2bbed940dd" data-vars-content-id="870b0205-db5f-4c95-8c4b-60f32b81309f" data-vars-headline="Josh Shapiro wins Democratic primary for Pennsylvania governor" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-primaries-live-updates-19c7bcc65aa2e4adb4699b2bbed940dd" target="_blank">per AP</a>. Driving the news: The two-term attorney general <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="wrote on Twitter" data-vars-click-url="https://twitter.com/JoshShapiroPA/status/1526715448968073216" data-vars-content-id="870b0205-db5f-4c95-8c4b-60f32b81309f" data-vars-headline="Josh Shapiro wins Democratic primary for Pennsylvania governor" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://twitter.com/JoshShapiroPA/status/1526715448968073216" target="_blank">wrote on Twitter</a> shortly after polls closed Tuesday that he&#x27;s &quot;humbled and honored&quot; to be the Democratic nominee for Pennsylvania governor.

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Stories

Charted: airport wait times

Inside Philly's new magic bar, the Cauldron Magical Pub

Nearly half of Pennsylvania's COVID deaths were preventable, per analysis

Oz and McCormick neck-and-neck in Pennsylvania's GOP Senate primary

Josh Shapiro wins Democratic primary for Pennsylvania governor