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Philly man fought nearly 5 decades to overturn murder conviction

Michael White's conviction was overturned twice, most recently in 2022.

News

Rocky Balboa is back for another round

Sylvester Stallone's visit coincides with Philadelphia's official declaration of Rocky Day.

How Philadelphia's holiday tree gets to City Hall

Getting the city's long-time tradition ready is a feat of logistics and willpower.

Pennsylvania simplifies mail-in voting

Officials say the changes were needed in a state where elections are won by slim margins.

New COVID vaccines are coming to Philadelphia

The new round of vaccines will be available for anyone ages six months or older.

COVID

Updated <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="COVID vaccines were recommended" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/09/12/cdc-advisors-endorse-updated-covid-vaccines" data-vars-content-id="999e4c1e-ad07-42cd-950b-9484f7360cf8" data-vars-headline="New COVID vaccines are coming to Philadelphia" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/09/12/cdc-advisors-endorse-updated-covid-vaccines" target="_self">COVID vaccines were recommended</a> this week by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and should be available soon in Philadelphia.Why it matters: The new round of vaccines for anyone ages six months or older arrives after a rise in <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="COVID hospitalizations were rising" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/philadelphia/2023/08/22/covid-variants-pennsylvania" data-vars-content-id="999e4c1e-ad07-42cd-950b-9484f7360cf8" data-vars-headline="New COVID vaccines are coming to Philadelphia" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/philadelphia/2023/08/22/covid-variants-pennsylvania" target="_self">COVID hospitalizations were rising</a> in the city and across Pennsylvania this summer.

Illustration of a syringe and glass medicine bottle with a post-it note attached that says "to do"

How to check if at-home COVID tests are valid after Philly recall

Start with the lot number, but also check expiration dates.

Philadelphia is recalling thousands of counterfeit at-home <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="COVID" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/health/coronavirus" data-vars-content-id="be93a51b-5f45-47d1-a01c-a827d98a160e" data-vars-headline="How to check if at-home COVID tests are valid after Philly recall" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/health/coronavirus" target="_self">COVID</a> tests as the city prepares for a potential spike in cases this fall and winter.Why it matters: People may be rummaging through closets and cupboards for old tests amid <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="a late summer COVID-19 wave" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/09/01/covid-cases-uptick-summer-2023-new-variant" data-vars-content-id="be93a51b-5f45-47d1-a01c-a827d98a160e" data-vars-headline="How to check if at-home COVID tests are valid after Philly recall" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/09/01/covid-cases-uptick-summer-2023-new-variant" target="_self">a late summer COVID-19 wave</a> — and as <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="insurance coverage" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/05/08/covid-test-insurance-public-health-emergency" data-vars-content-id="be93a51b-5f45-47d1-a01c-a827d98a160e" data-vars-headline="How to check if at-home COVID tests are valid after Philly recall" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/05/08/covid-test-insurance-public-health-emergency" target="_self">insurance coverage</a> and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="federal assistance" data-vars-click-url="https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2023/05/09/fact-sheet-end-of-the-covid-19-public-health-emergency.html" data-vars-content-id="be93a51b-5f45-47d1-a01c-a827d98a160e" data-vars-headline="How to check if at-home COVID tests are valid after Philly recall" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2023/05/09/fact-sheet-end-of-the-covid-19-public-health-emergency.html" target="_blank">federal assistance</a> for them has lapsed or changed, Axios&#x27; Shauneen Miranda writes.

Illustration of clock with a q-tip for the hour hand

Flu and COVID cases climbing in Philadelphia

Flu cases are <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="on the rise" data-vars-click-url="https://hip.phila.gov/data-reports-statistics/influenza/" data-vars-content-id="41c3e901-bfb3-493f-8e23-c833385fe65e" data-vars-headline="Flu and COVID cases climbing in Philadelphia" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://hip.phila.gov/data-reports-statistics/influenza/" target="_blank">on the rise</a> in Philadelphia as Americans across the country experience the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="worst influenza outbreak" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2022/12/05/flu-outbreak-decade-hospltalizations" data-vars-content-id="41c3e901-bfb3-493f-8e23-c833385fe65e" data-vars-headline="Flu and COVID cases climbing in Philadelphia" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2022/12/05/flu-outbreak-decade-hospltalizations" target="_self">worst influenza outbreak</a> in more than a decade.Why it matters: City health officials say flu vaccination rates among residents are lower than previous years, leading to more severe cases as hospitals deal with high rates of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="COVID-19" data-vars-click-url="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/us/philadelphia-pennsylvania-covid-cases.html" data-vars-content-id="41c3e901-bfb3-493f-8e23-c833385fe65e" data-vars-headline="Flu and COVID cases climbing in Philadelphia" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/us/philadelphia-pennsylvania-covid-cases.html" target="_blank">COVID-19</a> and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

Pandemic shaved minutes off Philadelphia commutes

More people working from home and fewer commuting by car has reshaped the traditional back-and-forth.

The daily commute in Philly shrank during the pandemic.What&#x27;s happening: The average one-way commute in Philly was 3.2 minutes shorter in 2021 compared to 2019, per the latest U.S. Census data.

Penn researchers explore how COVID misinformation hampers child vax rates

Misinformation about the safety of all vaccines, but especially the COVID-19 jab, is responsible for the "dramatic discrepancy" in child and adult rates, researchers say.

Misinformation remains a big reason why only about 30% of American children ages 5-11 are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, UPenn researchers found in a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="new study" data-vars-click-url="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264410X22011549?via%3Dihub" data-vars-content-id="cd2cca56-fe96-4feb-a9dc-0e3f2976c44a" data-vars-headline="Penn researchers explore how COVID misinformation hampers child vax rates" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264410X22011549?via%3Dihub" target="_blank">new study</a>.Why it matters: Health officials have been raising alarm over the potential of low child vaccination rates fueling transmission and carrying the risk of severe illness for some of our nation&#x27;s youngest, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Axios&#x27; Erin Doherty reports" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2022/09/19/children-covid-19-vaaccinations-pandemic-variants" data-vars-content-id="cd2cca56-fe96-4feb-a9dc-0e3f2976c44a" data-vars-headline="Penn researchers explore how COVID misinformation hampers child vax rates" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2022/09/19/children-covid-19-vaaccinations-pandemic-variants" target="_self">Axios&#x27; Erin Doherty reports</a>.

Illustration of a turtle carrying a vial of liquid

How Philly's pandemic recovery lags the nation

Many restaurants have scaled back operation hours to offset rising costs of goods and worker shortages, industry experts say.

Philadelphians saw promising signs of a rebound from the pandemic this summer, but headwinds persist as many of our industries trail the nation and region in recovery.<ul><li>That&#x27;s according to a new <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="report" data-vars-click-url="https://centercityphila.org/research-reports/monitoring-philadelphia-economic-recovery" data-vars-content-id="2477bbc6-b626-409d-827a-62e10a1fc1a2" data-vars-headline="How Philly&#x27;s pandemic recovery lags the nation" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://centercityphila.org/research-reports/monitoring-philadelphia-economic-recovery" target="_blank">report</a> by the Center City District and Central Philadelphia Development Corporation. </li></ul>

Omicron booster doses are coming to Philly

The Food and Drug Administration authorized the updated shots on Wednesday.

The first updated COVID vaccines tailored to be more effective against the Omicron variant have received sign-off from the Food and Drug Administration, and Philly can expect shipments to begin next week. What&#x27;s happening: The FDA on Wednesday <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="authorized" data-vars-click-url="https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/coronavirus-covid-19-update-fda-authorizes-moderna-pfizer-biontech-bivalent-covid-19-vaccines-use" data-vars-content-id="e4891d64-ffc4-4e8e-a37f-aceea2626231" data-vars-headline="Omicron booster doses are coming to Philly" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/coronavirus-covid-19-update-fda-authorizes-moderna-pfizer-biontech-bivalent-covid-19-vaccines-use" target="_blank">authorized</a> Pfizer and Moderna&#x27;s updated versions of the vaccines, which will ideally provide more targeted protection against the dominant BA.5 strain that&#x27;s currently circulating.

Illustration of a person's arm with multiple bandaids on it. 

FEMA distributes $142M for COVID-19 funerals

Philly received the most funding in the state at $15.8 million.

FEMA has doled out more than $142.6 million in funeral assistance to Pennsylvanians for COVID-related deaths through Aug. 11, according to the federal agency. How it works: FEMA pays <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="up to $9,000" data-vars-click-url="https://link.axios.com/click/28733858.55/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZmVtYS5nb3YvZGlzYXN0ZXIvY29yb25hdmlydXMvZWNvbm9taWMvZnVuZXJhbC1hc3Npc3RhbmNlP3V0bV9zb3VyY2U9bmV3c2xldHRlciZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9jYW1wYWlnbj1zZW5kdG9fbG9jYWxuZXdzbGV0dGVydGVzdCZzdHJlYW09dG9w/613bb99cb4152b573124203fB21cf44f7" data-vars-content-id="53ce6bae-7a34-43b9-b023-bbbaadf4f047" data-vars-headline="FEMA distributes $142M for COVID-19 funerals" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://link.axios.com/click/28733858.55/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZmVtYS5nb3YvZGlzYXN0ZXIvY29yb25hdmlydXMvZWNvbm9taWMvZnVuZXJhbC1hc3Npc3RhbmNlP3V0bV9zb3VyY2U9bmV3c2xldHRlciZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9jYW1wYWlnbj1zZW5kdG9fbG9jYWxuZXdzbGV0dGVydGVzdCZzdHJlYW09dG9w/613bb99cb4152b573124203fB21cf44f7" target="_blank">up to $9,000</a> to reimburse funeral expenses associated with a death attributed to COVID-19.

Illustration of a hand at a vigil holding a candle wrapped in a $100 bill.

District schools to start year with face mask mandate

The mandate will last the first two weeks of school.

Students and staff in district schools must wear face masks when classes resume later this month. <ul><li>Yes, but: Only for two weeks. </li></ul>

Illustration of magnets on a school locker in the shape of a contact tracing chart.

Unvaxxed city employees get the boot

The Kenney administration is firing 83 city employees over its COVID-19 vaccine mandate, while thousands of others have won exemptions.

The Kenney administration is firing 83 city employees over its COVID-19 vaccine mandate, while thousands of others have won exemptions. Why it matters: The terminations, announced on Tuesday, mark the end of the city&#x27;s effort to fully enforce its vaccine mandate, which was announced in December 2021 but delayed several times due to pushback from <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="police" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/philadelphia/2022/01/18/philadelphia-vaccine-mandate-city-employees-delay" data-vars-content-id="452e7581-1917-469a-9517-7f3c63d65d9f" data-vars-headline="Unvaxxed city employees get the boot" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/philadelphia/2022/01/18/philadelphia-vaccine-mandate-city-employees-delay" target="_self">police</a> and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="firefighters" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/philadelphia/2022/02/14/philadelphia-firefighters-union-vaccine-mandate-lawsuit" data-vars-content-id="452e7581-1917-469a-9517-7f3c63d65d9f" data-vars-headline="Unvaxxed city employees get the boot" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/philadelphia/2022/02/14/philadelphia-firefighters-union-vaccine-mandate-lawsuit" target="_self">firefighters</a> unions.

Illustration of a rope barrier with a vaccination card hanging from the rope section. 

COVID 🦠