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Two Philadelphia museums cancel popular summer camps

The programs were a one-of-a-kind Philly experience.

Culture

The Academy of Natural Sciences and Penn Museum have unexpectedly nixed their longtime summer camp programs.Why it matters: The programs were a one-of-a-kind Philly experience for a generation of kids — offering fun, reliable spaces to play and learn among world-class museum collections while school was out.

Philly DA drops shooting case against well-known attorney

It's a surprising twist to the criminal case against Leonard Keith Hill, founder of Hill & Associates law firm.

News

Prosecutors have dismissed charges against a prominent Philadelphia attorney in connection with a<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text=" 2023 shooting" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/philadelphia/2024/05/09/philly-attorney-charged-in-shooting" data-vars-content-id="14c90e08-b1f3-41c9-a929-ba6310d3d6bf" data-vars-headline="Philly DA drops shooting case against well-known attorney" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/philadelphia/2024/05/09/philly-attorney-charged-in-shooting" target="_self"> 2023 shooting</a> near a Center City cigar bar.Why it matters: The dismissal marks an unexpected turn in a nearly three-year case against Leonard Keith Hill, founder of<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text=" Hill &amp; Associates" data-vars-click-url="https://www.hilljustice.com/" data-vars-content-id="14c90e08-b1f3-41c9-a929-ba6310d3d6bf" data-vars-headline="Philly DA drops shooting case against well-known attorney" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.hilljustice.com/" target="_blank"> Hill &amp; Associates</a>, that drew scrutiny after a judge rejected an earlier plea deal as too lenient.

Philadelphia seafood spot wins James Beard Foundation award

The coveted accolade is a gold stamp of approval from the culinary industry's biggest name.

Food and Drink

<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Oyster House" data-vars-click-url="https://oysterhousephilly.com" data-vars-content-id="3d5ade0d-52d1-4aaf-a208-6562f3320bb6" data-vars-headline="Philadelphia seafood spot wins James Beard Foundation award" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://oysterhousephilly.com" target="_blank">Oyster House</a> in Center City nabbed a James Beard America&#x27;s Classic Award.Why it matters: The coveted accolade is a gold stamp of approval from the culinary industry&#x27;s biggest name.

Funding shortfall pushes Chinatown Stitch start to at least 2029

Philadelphia hopes to secure $12.5 from a separate federal funding stream to advance the project to final design.

Construction of the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Chinatown Stitch project" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/philadelphia/2025/07/30/chinatown-stitch-project-federal-funding-future" data-vars-content-id="dc54c0c1-7ce7-4cd2-9be4-4ddb330de06e" data-vars-headline="Funding shortfall pushes Chinatown Stitch start to at least 2029" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/philadelphia/2025/07/30/chinatown-stitch-project-federal-funding-future" target="_self">Chinatown Stitch project</a> is being pushed back until at least 2029 as city and state officials scramble to secure new funding to get the project across the finish line.Why it matters: The delay became all but inevitable after the project lost federal funding last year under cuts included in President Trump&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="&quot;big beautiful bill,&quot;" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/philadelphia/2025/05/02/chinatown-stitch-federal-funding-cuts" data-vars-content-id="dc54c0c1-7ce7-4cd2-9be4-4ddb330de06e" data-vars-headline="Funding shortfall pushes Chinatown Stitch start to at least 2029" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/philadelphia/2025/05/02/chinatown-stitch-federal-funding-cuts" target="_self">&quot;big beautiful bill,&quot;</a> leaving local leaders to fill a major budget gap.

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.