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Gut-wrecking stomach illness hits Pennsylvania

The illness is caused by a microscopic parasite spreading through contaminated food or water.

Health

The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="gut-wrecking parasite" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/07/07/cyclosporiasis-stomach-bug-cases-symptoms-outbreak" data-vars-content-id="5fd2b916-4054-46db-bf43-dffc9e5e78f7" data-vars-headline="Gut-wrecking stomach illness hits Pennsylvania" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/07/07/cyclosporiasis-stomach-bug-cases-symptoms-outbreak" target="_self">gut-wrecking parasite</a> surging in the U.S. is also spreading in Pennsylvania. The big picture: The gastrointestinal illness — called cyclosporiasis — is caused by a microscopic parasite spreading through contaminated food.

Walk across the Ben Franklin Bridge this weekend

The Delaware River Port Authority is shutting down all lanes of traffic on Saturday for anyone looking to get their daily steps in.

Things to Do

If you&#x27;re looking for another 250th bucket list experience, block off your schedule because you can saunter across the Benjamin Franklin Bridge this weekend.Why it matters: Meek Mill has <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="house parties" data-vars-click-url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKFzPv9vnB8" data-vars-content-id="194c771d-1557-41f7-8391-d6a845956200" data-vars-headline="Walk across the Ben Franklin Bridge this weekend" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKFzPv9vnB8" target="_blank">house parties</a>, Philly has <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="block parties" data-vars-click-url="https://www.instagram.com/reels/DaZfelPtPZJ/" data-vars-content-id="194c771d-1557-41f7-8391-d6a845956200" data-vars-headline="Walk across the Ben Franklin Bridge this weekend" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.instagram.com/reels/DaZfelPtPZJ/" target="_blank">block parties</a>, and the Delaware River Port Authority has walking parties.

Star Wars to mark 50 years with new exhibit debuting in Philly

"Star Wars: The Experience" opens Feb. 13 at the Franklin Institute.

News

No longer far, far away, the Star Wars galaxy is coming to Philly.Why it matters: The 18,000-square-foot &quot;Star Wars: The Experience&quot; exhibit is lightsaber-rattling fun for fans of one of the greatest film franchises.

Meet the North Philly artist behind MLB All-Star's Liberty Bell

Andre Chaney spent more than 70 hours hours in the studio designing and painting a 4-foot replica of the Liberty Bell.

Culture

When baseball needed something unmistakably Philly for the All-Star Game, city artist Andre Chaney answered the bell — the Liberty Bell, that is.Why it matters: Chaney&#x27;s hand-painted Liberty Bell is an ode to the Phillies that will show up starting this weekend at Citizens Bank Park.

How a Philly student became an MLB All-Star correspondent

Isabella Gonzalez is one of several Philly-area students taking part in the All-Star Game festivities.

Sports

Before every school concert, Isabella Gonzalez worried she&#x27;d freeze in front of the crowd. Now, she quiets her nerves the same way a veteran hitter settles into the batter&#x27;s box: trusting her preparation.Why it matters: The 12-year-old Philadelphia elementary school student will stand shoulder-to-shoulder with veteran sports reporters and interview some of baseball&#x27;s biggest stars during Monday&#x27;s MLB All-Star Media Day.

Philly students use World Cup to work toward summer learning goals

Breakthrough of Greater Philadelphia's summer program has used the tournament to teach middle-schoolers about the world.

Education

The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="World Cup is over" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/philadelphia/2026/07/08/world-cup-food-banks-donations-philly" data-vars-content-id="fa07ac03-40b2-4049-ac39-9cdd7e51ca5c" data-vars-headline="Philly students use World Cup to work toward summer learning goals" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/philadelphia/2026/07/08/world-cup-food-banks-donations-philly" target="_self">World Cup is over</a> in Philadelphia, but it&#x27;s still alive in city classrooms.Why it matters: School may be out for the summer, but one local enrichment program is using soccer to introduce students to the cultures, cuisines, fashions and traditions of countries still competing for the World Cup.

Where America's builders are built

William & Mary helped shape America's past — and continues preparing its future leaders.  Find out more →

Partners

As America reflects on its 250th anniversary, the milestone has special resonance in Philadelphia, a city where the nation&#x27;s founding story is part of the streetscape.<ul><li>But the moment is more than a commemoration of the past. It&#x27;s a chance to ask what kind of nation we hope to become — and who will help build it.</li></ul>The story: Before some of the nation&#x27;s early leaders gathered in Philadelphia to shape a republic, William &amp; Mary, the Alma Mater of the Nation, was helping prepare the builders who would carry those ideas forward.<ul><li>That gives the university a singular place in America&#x27;s founding story. Its history provides credibility, but its mission remains focused on tomorrow.</li></ul>

Limit student screen time in Philly schools, readers say

Student screen time and the content they're accessing during school hours has become a growing issue — but not in Philly yet.

It&#x27;s time to address student screen time in Philly schools, dozens of Axios Philadelphia readers say.By the numbers: 90% of the 30 people who responded to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="our unofficial poll" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/philadelphia/2026/06/29/schools-screen-time-chromebooks-philly-schools" data-vars-content-id="f49d8013-1bc6-418b-8bff-39030627d53a" data-vars-headline="Limit student screen time in Philly schools, readers say" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/philadelphia/2026/06/29/schools-screen-time-chromebooks-philly-schools" target="_self">our unofficial poll</a> say Philly educators should reduce student screen time in the classroom.

Parents can't access Philly students' Chromebook browsing history

As schools increasingly rely on devices, more parents want visibility into how they're used — and who has access to that data.

Philly school parents can&#x27;t see their child&#x27;s browsing history on district-issued Chromebooks, even though the district can access it in certain situations.Why it matters: As schools increasingly rely on devices, more parents want visibility into how they&#x27;re used — and who has access to that data.

Philly earmarks funds to avoid school cuts. The district says it's not enough

District leaders say hundreds of staff positions will be cut next school year.

Philadelphia school district leaders are moving forward with hundreds of staff cuts next school year despite getting funding to avoid them.Why it matters: Mayor Cherelle Parker has maintained that the positions are critical, including <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="teachers, counselors and climate staff" data-vars-click-url="https://www.phila.gov/2026-04-15-mayor-parker-and-school-superintendent-dr-watlington-outline-how-proposed-50-4-million-in-new-recurring-revenue-would-support-philadelphia-schools-zero-school-based-job-cuts/" data-vars-content-id="b8b5b2fe-b132-4ab8-a567-4cbbc85436f5" data-vars-headline="Philly earmarks funds to avoid school cuts. The district says it&#x27;s not enough" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.phila.gov/2026-04-15-mayor-parker-and-school-superintendent-dr-watlington-outline-how-proposed-50-4-million-in-new-recurring-revenue-would-support-philadelphia-schools-zero-school-based-job-cuts/" target="_blank">teachers, counselors and climate staff</a>. But the district, facing a massive deficit, says those jobs are at risk without recurring funding.

Scoop: Quinta Brunson's field trip fund raises big bucks for Philly schools

The "Abbott Elementary" star has helped raise $154,000 for district schools' field trips.

&quot;Abbott Elementary&quot; star <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Quinta Brunson" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/philadelphia/2025/12/03/1-feel-good-thing-to-go-free-field-trips" data-vars-content-id="85f52927-8822-407e-b809-f0c978247727" data-vars-headline="Scoop: Quinta Brunson&#x27;s field trip fund raises big bucks for Philly schools" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/philadelphia/2025/12/03/1-feel-good-thing-to-go-free-field-trips" target="_self">Quinta Brunson</a> has helped raise $154,000 in recent months to fund field trips for Philadelphia School District students.Why it matters: The quick success of Brunson&#x27;s campaign could offer a blueprint for the district&#x27;s nonprofit fundraising arm going forward.

Confusion swirls around alternative plan to close Philly schools

Philly is getting mixed messaging about what happens if the district doesn't raise $2 billion for its facilities plan.

The School District of Philadelphia needs to raise nearly $2 billion in outside funding to carry out its <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="10-year plan" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/philadelphia/2026/04/20/philly-school-district-closures-facilities-plan-vote" data-vars-content-id="aa6ee450-ceeb-46b3-bbfb-cd170e97452d" data-vars-headline="Confusion swirls around alternative plan to close Philly schools" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/philadelphia/2026/04/20/philly-school-district-closures-facilities-plan-vote" target="_self">10-year plan</a> to modernize some schools and close others.<ul><li>But there appears to be a cheaper alternative if the funding falls short — despite an official insisting a backup plan doesn&#x27;t exist.</li></ul>Why it matters: Philly is getting mixed messaging about what happens if the money doesn&#x27;t come through.

Philly schools plan scales back closures before final vote

The plan's price tag has hit $3 billion, a 7% increase from previous estimates.

Philly school district leaders are closing fewer schools and modernizing more buildings in the final update to their 10-year <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="facilities plan" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/philadelphia/2026/02/12/school-closures-district-facilities-plan-city-hall-legislators" data-vars-content-id="372f12fa-bf5d-4f66-bff8-dffff0d3be9d" data-vars-headline="Philly schools plan scales back closures before final vote" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/philadelphia/2026/02/12/school-closures-district-facilities-plan-city-hall-legislators" target="_self">facilities plan</a>.Why it matters: The Board of Education is expected to vote on the controversial <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="blueprint" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/philadelphia/2026/02/26/school-closure-merge-facilities-plan-update" data-vars-content-id="372f12fa-bf5d-4f66-bff8-dffff0d3be9d" data-vars-headline="Philly schools plan scales back closures before final vote" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/philadelphia/2026/02/26/school-closure-merge-facilities-plan-update" target="_self">blueprint</a> this week — the last big hurdle in a yearslong process.

Cursive handwriting makes a comeback in Pennsylvania

A new mandate specifies that all Pennsylvania students must be taught cursive in public and private schools.

Pennsylvania has enshrined cursive into its school curriculum.Why it matters: Spending valuable class time teaching students to put pen to paper is a growing <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="nationwide" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/des-moines/2024/07/25/cursive-makes-a-comeback" data-vars-content-id="eb4ffba5-a21e-485f-8559-5e8693185315" data-vars-headline="Cursive handwriting makes a comeback in Pennsylvania" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/des-moines/2024/07/25/cursive-makes-a-comeback" target="_self">nationwide</a> <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="trend" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/atlanta/2025/06/25/cursive-writing-returns-to-georgia-classrooms" data-vars-content-id="eb4ffba5-a21e-485f-8559-5e8693185315" data-vars-headline="Cursive handwriting makes a comeback in Pennsylvania" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/atlanta/2025/06/25/cursive-writing-returns-to-georgia-classrooms" target="_self">trend</a>, despite students using computers for more and more assignments.

Education 📚

How a Philly student became an MLB All-Star correspondent

Philly students use World Cup to work toward summer learning goals

Where America's builders are built

Limit student screen time in Philly schools, readers say

Parents can't access Philly students' Chromebook browsing history