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New Philly property assessments bring big tax hikes for some

The Kensington neighborhood saw the largest jump in its average property values — 15.3%.

Real Estate

<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Property tax reassessments" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/philadelphia/2026/03/25/real-estate-reassessments-property-taxes" data-vars-content-id="0814d8de-9ee0-4464-94f0-6fb4cbcf2398" data-vars-headline="New Philly property assessments bring big tax hikes for some" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/philadelphia/2026/03/25/real-estate-reassessments-property-taxes" target="_self">Property tax reassessments</a> are back in Philly this year and, for many, that means higher bills — just don&#x27;t call it a tax hike.Why it matters: Even without raising the property tax rate, the city can collect more revenue as reassessments reflect rising property values.

Canadian wildfire smoke puts Philly under "Code Red" air quality alert

Health officials are monitoring conditions to determine when the alert can be lifted.

Climate

Smoke from raging Canadian wildfires is <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="drifting into the Northeast" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2026/07/14/wildfire-smoke-boston-yellow-sky-air-quality-massachusetts-canadian-wednesday-forecast" data-vars-content-id="6c697525-f665-4a58-9e30-5cbd3f378be2" data-vars-headline="Canadian wildfire smoke puts Philly under &quot;Code Red&quot; air quality alert" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2026/07/14/wildfire-smoke-boston-yellow-sky-air-quality-massachusetts-canadian-wednesday-forecast" target="_self">drifting into the Northeast</a>, putting Philadelphia under a &quot;Code Red&quot; air quality alert.Why it matters: Health officials are urging residents to limit time outdoors because poor air quality poses serious health risks, especially for older adults and people with underlying respiratory conditions.

Trump admin replaces President's House slavery exhibit panels overnight

It's part of the Trump administration's push to eliminate what it calls "improper ideology" from national parks nationwide.

News

Trump administration-approved educational panels are now greeting visitors at Philadelphia&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="President&#x27;s House" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/philadelphia/2026/02/19/trump-slavery-exhibit-independence-national-historic-park-restored" data-vars-content-id="fc42542e-aace-44be-9943-7b1b4ab4c9be" data-vars-headline="Trump admin replaces President&#x27;s House slavery exhibit panels overnight" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/philadelphia/2026/02/19/trump-slavery-exhibit-independence-national-historic-park-restored" target="_self">President&#x27;s House</a> slavery exhibit after months of legal fights over the site&#x27;s interpretation of history.Why it matters: The Trump administration has remade one of the nation&#x27;s most visited historical sites.

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.

Spot special 250th anniversary street furniture across Philly

The city is going all in this year for America's birthday.

Culture

Philly is sprucing up its public spaces with new street furniture inspired by <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="America&#x27;s 250th anniversary" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/philadelphia/2026/02/26/philly-is-betting-620m-on-250th-celebration" data-vars-content-id="89f376d0-b2cf-4560-9e04-81ede81565cd" data-vars-headline="Spot special 250th anniversary street furniture across Philly" 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/philly-is-betting-620m-on-250th-celebration" target="_self">America&#x27;s 250th anniversary</a>.Why it matters: Call it a birthday gift — one that brings benches and bike racks to neighborhoods that need them.

Package theft declines in Philadelphia

In Philly, porch theft led to an estimated $450 million in losses last year.

Holidays

Mail package theft across Philadelphia has been trending downward recently, but still accounts for staggering financial losses.Why it matters: The peak <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="holiday" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/philadelphia/2025/12/09/holiday-market-guide" data-vars-content-id="556fd3d7-bcbb-4ee7-b02b-95868da3a0b8" data-vars-headline="Package theft declines in Philadelphia" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/philadelphia/2025/12/09/holiday-market-guide" target="_self">holiday</a> season is upon us, bringing a surge in deliveries and more chances for porch pirates to strike.

Philly installs Phlush public potty in Clark Park

It's got a baby-changing table, free menstrual products and naloxone.

A new <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Philly Phlush" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/philadelphia/2023/07/13/philadelphia-public-bathrooms" data-vars-content-id="1f53238b-0a8d-4152-a6ff-d5b2239a7b63" data-vars-headline="Philly installs Phlush public potty in Clark Park" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/philadelphia/2023/07/13/philadelphia-public-bathrooms" target="_self">Philly Phlush</a> has arrived in West Philadelphia&#x27;s Clark Park. Why it matters: We all gotta go, but public potties are still hard to come by in the city.

The fastest-growing areas in the Philadelphia region

Pennsylvania as a whole has seen modest population growth in recent years, signaling bigger challenges ahead.

The Philadelphia region accounted for more than half of Pennsylvania&#x27;s population growth between 2019 and 2023, per recent U.S. census data.The big picture: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Pennsylvania" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/philadelphia/2024/10/04/pennsylvania-moving-out-of-state-migration" data-vars-content-id="90feb9be-4cb0-4916-b632-b6778cddcc72" data-vars-headline="The fastest-growing areas in the Philadelphia region" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/philadelphia/2024/10/04/pennsylvania-moving-out-of-state-migration" target="_self">Pennsylvania</a> has seen a modest population increase in recent years, signaling bigger challenges ahead for the state.

Swann Memorial Fountain turns 100

The massive fountain on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway was first turned on in 1924.

Neighborhoods

Philadelphia&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Swann Memorial Fountain" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/philadelphia/2023/07/25/philadelphia-art-museum-calder-gardens" data-vars-content-id="6361fcc7-9f40-46c9-bc3d-378ff64dd452" data-vars-headline="Swann Memorial Fountain turns 100" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/philadelphia/2023/07/25/philadelphia-art-museum-calder-gardens" target="_self">Swann Memorial Fountain</a> in Logan Square turns 100 years old this month.Why it matters: The popular fountain is a must-see for tourists and becomes an unofficial (and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="illegal" data-vars-click-url="https://billypenn.com/2018/07/11/no-youre-not-allowed-to-swim-in-swann-memorial-fountain/" data-vars-content-id="6361fcc7-9f40-46c9-bc3d-378ff64dd452" data-vars-headline="Swann Memorial Fountain turns 100" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://billypenn.com/2018/07/11/no-youre-not-allowed-to-swim-in-swann-memorial-fountain/" target="_blank">illegal</a>) swimming hole on sweltering summer days.

Philadelphia City Hall shines with new colorful lights

The two-year project cost nearly $7 million.

<figure><img alt="The new, colorful lights illuminate Philadelphia&#x27;s City Hall" height="720" id="17b70d49-cb35-4bac-98ac-3ccb39180250" src="https://images.axios.com/niFZB1bBL0QkM5uZfUvVOPEOr9k=/filters:no_upscale()/2024/06/26/1719421974903.gif" width="1280"/><figcaption>Courtesy of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Brett Gross" data-vars-click-url="https://www.etsy.com/shop/BGROPHOTO" data-vars-content-id="a2cc25bb-bd4d-48d3-ae95-a61d7cb73bd9" data-vars-headline="Philadelphia City Hall shines with new colorful lights" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/BGROPHOTO" target="_blank">Brett Gross</a>/<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="@bgrophoto" data-vars-click-url="https://www.instagram.com/bgrophoto/" data-vars-content-id="a2cc25bb-bd4d-48d3-ae95-a61d7cb73bd9" data-vars-headline="Philadelphia City Hall shines with new colorful lights" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.instagram.com/bgrophoto/" target="_blank">@bgrophoto</a> and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="@elevated.angles" data-vars-click-url="https://www.instagram.com/elevated.angles/" data-vars-content-id="a2cc25bb-bd4d-48d3-ae95-a61d7cb73bd9" data-vars-headline="Philadelphia City Hall shines with new colorful lights" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.instagram.com/elevated.angles/" target="_blank">@elevated.angles</a></figcaption></figure>Philly&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="City Hall" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/philadelphia/2023/11/30/philly-holiday-tree-city-hall-lighting-ceremony" data-vars-content-id="a2cc25bb-bd4d-48d3-ae95-a61d7cb73bd9" data-vars-headline="Philadelphia City Hall shines with new colorful lights" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/philadelphia/2023/11/30/philly-holiday-tree-city-hall-lighting-ceremony" target="_self">City Hall</a> is getting lit up like never before.Driving the news: The Center City District unveiled new lighting fixtures Wednesday that illuminate the facade of the 123-year-old building.

A choropleth map of Pennsylvania counties showing population change from 2018 to 2023. Overall, population in the state increased by 1.5%. Pike County grew by 8%, the biggest increase in the state. Forest County decreased the most, by 8%.

Change in population, 2014-2018 to 2019-2023

Data: U.S. Census Bureau; Map: Axios Visuals

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