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Stephen A. Smith is a straight shooter. NABJ says he's gone astray

The former Inquirer columnist is feuding with a group that helped mold him into the journalist he is.

News

Stephen A. Smith is committed to having the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="first take" data-vars-click-url="https://www.espn.com/watch/catalog/59fe7218-3b48-4543-8f24-7bafd3956f03/first-take" data-vars-content-id="fe5ab7e1-5b20-4fdb-a450-3a3fc3cd8154" data-vars-headline="Stephen A. Smith is a straight shooter. NABJ says he&#x27;s gone astray" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.espn.com/watch/catalog/59fe7218-3b48-4543-8f24-7bafd3956f03/first-take" target="_blank">first take</a> and the last take.Why it matters: Smith is feuding with the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="National Association of Black Journalists" data-vars-click-url="https://thehill.com/blogs/in-the-know/6035210-stephen-a-smith-nabj-award/" data-vars-content-id="fe5ab7e1-5b20-4fdb-a450-3a3fc3cd8154" data-vars-headline="Stephen A. Smith is a straight shooter. NABJ says he&#x27;s gone astray" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://thehill.com/blogs/in-the-know/6035210-stephen-a-smith-nabj-award/" target="_blank">National Association of Black Journalists</a> — a group he credits with <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="helping shape him into the journalist he&#x27;s become" data-vars-click-url="https://youtu.be/BITy6WSbniQ?si=Gk_SRVIjU8JXFIa9&amp;t=249" data-vars-content-id="fe5ab7e1-5b20-4fdb-a450-3a3fc3cd8154" data-vars-headline="Stephen A. Smith is a straight shooter. NABJ says he&#x27;s gone astray" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://youtu.be/BITy6WSbniQ?si=Gk_SRVIjU8JXFIa9&amp;t=249" target="_blank">helping shape him into the journalist he&#x27;s become</a> — over its claim that he has a &quot;recurring public pattern&quot; of disrespecting &quot;prominent Black women across politics, sports and media.&quot;

500+ teachers left Philly district schools last year

Teacher turnover has a ripple effect, negatively affecting school climate, teacher quality and student outcomes.

Education

<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Teacher turnover" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/philadelphia/2023/09/11/public-schools-teacher-resignations-retirements-data" data-vars-content-id="aef3c9c4-bdef-41c6-8bda-497f4872b2dd" data-vars-headline="500+ teachers left Philly district schools last year" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/philadelphia/2023/09/11/public-schools-teacher-resignations-retirements-data" target="_self">Teacher turnover</a> in Philadelphia district schools rose last year for the first time since 2022.Why it matters: Losing teachers can hurt <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="school climate" data-vars-click-url="https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1213629.pdf" data-vars-content-id="aef3c9c4-bdef-41c6-8bda-497f4872b2dd" data-vars-headline="500+ teachers left Philly district schools last year" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1213629.pdf" target="_blank">school climate</a>, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="teacher quality" data-vars-click-url="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/2332858420905812" data-vars-content-id="aef3c9c4-bdef-41c6-8bda-497f4872b2dd" data-vars-headline="500+ teachers left Philly district schools last year" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/2332858420905812" target="_blank">teacher quality</a> and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="student outcomes" data-vars-click-url="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.3102/0002831212463813" data-vars-content-id="aef3c9c4-bdef-41c6-8bda-497f4872b2dd" data-vars-headline="500+ teachers left Philly district schools last year" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.3102/0002831212463813" target="_blank">student outcomes</a> while driving up <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="staffing costs" data-vars-click-url="https://www.jstor.org/stable/40704404" data-vars-content-id="aef3c9c4-bdef-41c6-8bda-497f4872b2dd" data-vars-headline="500+ teachers left Philly district schools last year" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/40704404" target="_blank">staffing costs</a> for districts.

She lost $1 million gambling. More Pennsylvania women are seeking help

Experts fear online gambling could be the country's next great addiction epidemic.

Health

Carla Brandoff has spent much of her career making deals. At the height of her gambling addiction, she was especially good at making them with herself.<ul><li>She could explain away almost every warning sign on the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Gamblers Anonymous checklist" data-vars-click-url="https://gamblersanonymous.org/20-questions/" data-vars-content-id="e4f012ec-a3b4-4103-8b65-038a21446f14" data-vars-headline="She lost $1 million gambling. More Pennsylvania women are seeking help" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://gamblersanonymous.org/20-questions/" target="_blank">Gamblers Anonymous checklist</a> — until she reached question No. 13.</li></ul>&quot;Did gambling make you careless of the welfare of yourself or your family?&quot;Why it matters: As online gambling has exploded in popularity, some experts fear the U.S. is flirting with another addiction epidemic rivaling those fueled by tobacco and opioids.

King us. The Sixers are suddenly the NBA's hottest ticket

The LeBron effect is real. The Sixers are the most in-demand team on StubHub.

The Sixers can already claim one preseason accolade: They&#x27;re the NBA&#x27;s hottest ticket on StubHub.Why it matters: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="LeBron James" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/philadelphia/2026/07/27/lejawn-takes-over-philly" data-vars-content-id="0ab94c70-1ae4-4861-925b-4287f6f32f8e" data-vars-headline="King us. The Sixers are suddenly the NBA&#x27;s hottest ticket" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/philadelphia/2026/07/27/lejawn-takes-over-philly" target="_self">LeBron James</a> doesn&#x27;t just move the needle — he&#x27;s the straw that stirs the NBA&#x27;s drink.

Where to donate blood in Philly region amid national supply crisis

A prolonged blood shortage could delay surgeries, trauma care and other treatments that depend on timely blood transfusions.

The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="U.S. blood supply" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/07/28/us-blood-supply-health-red-cross-donate" data-vars-content-id="e8cb3d85-7c2f-44ce-9875-8c6a8a6d8577" data-vars-headline="Where to donate blood in Philly region amid national supply crisis" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/07/28/us-blood-supply-health-red-cross-donate" target="_self">U.S. blood supply</a> has reached crisis levels after falling nearly 25% in June, hitting a four-year summer low, the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="American Red Cross" data-vars-click-url="https://www.redcrossblood.org/local-homepage/location/philadelphia-american-red-cross.html" data-vars-content-id="e8cb3d85-7c2f-44ce-9875-8c6a8a6d8577" data-vars-headline="Where to donate blood in Philly region amid national supply crisis" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.redcrossblood.org/local-homepage/location/philadelphia-american-red-cross.html" target="_blank">American Red Cross</a> said this week.Why it matters: A prolonged blood shortage could delay surgeries, trauma care and other treatments that depend on timely blood transfusions.

Measles cases are surging in Pennsylvania

The virus is rebounding in areas with low vaccine rates.

<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Measles cases" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/07/22/measles-cases-surge-past-last-year" data-vars-content-id="09c17133-e3d3-48f9-bd64-1a6969e42b74" data-vars-headline="Measles cases are surging in Pennsylvania" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/07/22/measles-cases-surge-past-last-year" target="_self">Measles cases</a> are surging in Pennsylvania and across the U.S. to levels not seen in years.Why it matters: The virus is rebounding in communities with lower vaccination rates.

Gut-wrecking stomach illness hits Pennsylvania

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

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.

Philly nonprofit using ex-NFL players to get more men into therapy

The group is looking to raise $150,000 to provide therapy for 100 men.

For decades, former NFL tight end <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Tim Massaquoi" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/philadelphia/2025/07/31/tim-massaquoi-kingsessing-heals-center" data-vars-content-id="459f3d3d-c6bf-4632-b0db-8ddb5e5e5d06" data-vars-headline="Philly nonprofit using ex-NFL players to get more men into therapy" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/philadelphia/2025/07/31/tim-massaquoi-kingsessing-heals-center" target="_self">Tim Massaquoi</a> never needed an alarm. Football dictated his mornings: up before dawn, then hours of stretching and treatment before practice.Why it matters: When a knee injury ended his career after just 11 games, Massaquoi had to build a new morning routine — reading, meditation and exercise — to deal with panic attacks and depression that came with losing an identity that had defined him.

Pennsylvania cancer patients find hope, healing through app

The app pairs patients with peers who understand the toughest parts of treatment and recovery.

Even after losing one of his eyes to uveal cancer, Jeff Abramowitz says he sees more clearly these days.Why it matters: The retired lawyer from rural southwestern Pennsylvania figured his chances of finding someone else with his rare eye cancer were slim — until <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="CancerBuddy" data-vars-click-url="https://bonemarrow.org/cancerbuddy/" data-vars-content-id="a8071ef2-bdf4-45ab-a154-d1065829de77" data-vars-headline="Pennsylvania cancer patients find hope, healing through app" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://bonemarrow.org/cancerbuddy/" target="_blank">CancerBuddy</a> connected him with a man in Oregon.

Philadelphia is building the backbone of next-gen cancer therapies

Philadelphia is becoming a hub for targeted cancer therapies.

Partners

A new Philadelphia manufacturing facility aims to tackle one of precision medicine&#x27;s biggest supply problems: producing enough actinium-225 (Ac-225).Why it&#x27;s important: Researchers are studying the rare radioisotope in human clinical trials for its potential role in targeted alpha therapy (TAT).

Pennie coverage drops amid rising health care premiums

More big spikes in health care costs could be coming.

Pennsylvania&#x27;s Affordable Care Act marketplace has seen health insurance cancellations skyrocket so far this year.The big picture: Spiking insurance premiums, driven in part by recently <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="expired federal subsidies" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/12/17/house-gop-health-bill-obamacare-aca-subsidies" data-vars-content-id="ed0fb365-be56-4bcf-8b14-cccc68f2d7e1" data-vars-headline="Pennie coverage drops amid rising health care premiums" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/12/17/house-gop-health-bill-obamacare-aca-subsidies" target="_self">expired federal subsidies</a>, are pushing enrollment down, as higher costs for <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="energy" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/pittsburgh/2026/04/02/why-electricity-rates-rising-pennsylvania-energy-demand-grid" data-vars-content-id="ed0fb365-be56-4bcf-8b14-cccc68f2d7e1" data-vars-headline="Pennie coverage drops amid rising health care premiums" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/pittsburgh/2026/04/02/why-electricity-rates-rising-pennsylvania-energy-demand-grid" target="_self">energy</a>, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="gas" data-vars-click-url="https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/western-pa-gas-prices-surge-above-4-20-per-gallon-as-iran-war-continues-to-push-oil-costs/" data-vars-content-id="ed0fb365-be56-4bcf-8b14-cccc68f2d7e1" data-vars-headline="Pennie coverage drops amid rising health care premiums" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/western-pa-gas-prices-surge-above-4-20-per-gallon-as-iran-war-continues-to-push-oil-costs/" target="_blank">gas</a> and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="food" data-vars-click-url="https://triblive.com/local/valley-news-dispatch/as-prices-continue-to-rise-western-pa-food-banks-see-climbing-demand/" data-vars-content-id="ed0fb365-be56-4bcf-8b14-cccc68f2d7e1" data-vars-headline="Pennie coverage drops amid rising health care premiums" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://triblive.com/local/valley-news-dispatch/as-prices-continue-to-rise-western-pa-food-banks-see-climbing-demand/" target="_blank">food</a> strain household budgets.

Measles cases on the rise in Pennsylvania

Falling vaccination rates are raising alarms that one of the world's most contagious viruses could make a comeback.

Measles cases are surging in Pennsylvania and on track to eclipse last year&#x27;s total. Why it matters: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Falling vaccination rates" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/philadelphia/2026/01/08/measles-vaccination-rates-in-most-pennsylvania-counties-lag-below-herd-immunity" data-vars-content-id="d3070361-89f8-4f78-a532-bae1975a4dd8" data-vars-headline="Measles cases on the rise in Pennsylvania" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/philadelphia/2026/01/08/measles-vaccination-rates-in-most-pennsylvania-counties-lag-below-herd-immunity" target="_self">Falling vaccination rates</a> are raising alarms that one of the world&#x27;s most contagious viruses could make a comeback and spread rapidly in densely populated cities like Philly.

How to stop problem gambling, according to experts

Manage idle time. Tell someone you trust.

Understanding more about why people gamble is key to overcoming addiction, psychologists say.Why it matters: Gambling addictions can push people into debt and fuel mental health crises. Studies show people with such addictions are at higher <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="risk" data-vars-click-url="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S003335062400283X" data-vars-content-id="7f72f195-5044-409d-b02f-0dde726efdf8" data-vars-headline="How to stop problem gambling, according to experts" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S003335062400283X" target="_blank">risk</a> for depression and suicide.

Health 🩺

She lost $1 million gambling. More Pennsylvania women are seeking help

Where to donate blood in Philly region amid national supply crisis

Measles cases are surging in Pennsylvania

Gut-wrecking stomach illness hits Pennsylvania

Philly nonprofit using ex-NFL players to get more men into therapy