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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.

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.

Philly among final 3 cities in contention for the DNC in 2028 

The selection is a nod to the cities' political power and a signal they're vital to Democrats' road back to the White House.

Politics

Philadelphia, Boston and Denver are the finalists to host the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="2028 Democratic National Convention" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/philadelphia/2026/03/06/dnc-convention-and-a-possible-shapiro-moment" data-vars-content-id="680488b7-20f5-42d4-b85f-92657dd8b443" data-vars-headline="Philly among final 3 cities in contention for the DNC in 2028 " data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/philadelphia/2026/03/06/dnc-convention-and-a-possible-shapiro-moment" target="_self">2028 Democratic National Convention</a>, the party revealed Thursday.Why it matters: The party&#x27;s selection is a nod to the cities&#x27; political power and a signal they&#x27;re vital to Democrats&#x27; road back to the White House.

SEPTA's bus redesign finally arrives

The majority of the changes roll out on Sunday and will shake up more than two dozen routes across the city.

Transit

SEPTA&#x27;s bus overhaul gets going this weekend after years of fits and starts.Why it matters: The agency is selling the system&#x27;s first redesign in roughly 60 years as a way to improve service, enhance reliability and attract new riders.

Philly kids have plenty of sway over back-to-school spending

A new Deloitte survey finds Philly parents say they are heavily influenced by their kids' wish lists.

Philly parents are back-to-school bargain hunters, but their kids often persuade them to splurge on those must-have new kicks or fun tech toys, per a new Deloitte survey.Why it matters: Philly parents consistently spend much more on back-to-school shopping than the national average, the consulting firm found — driven partly by unplanned purchases they&#x27;ll make while hunting for deals.

This Philly-area grad is taking a glizzy gap year

Norah Martin landed the best entry-level job: driving the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile across the country.

Penn State graduate Norah Martin has one of the most coveted entry-level jobs in America.Why it matters: Hot diggity dog. She pinches herself at the thought of spending the next year driving the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile across the country.

Don't swim in the Delaware River around Philly

Swimming in contaminated water is a surefire way to get yourself a stomach illness, eye infection or skin rash.

Culture

The Delaware River may look tempting during a hot Philly summer, but a new study emphasizes that swimmers are better off heading upstream.Why it matters: Swimming in contaminated water can cause stomach illnesses, eye infections and skin rashes.

Philly Gen Zers don't want to leave. They just don't see a future here

Philly is losing more of its younger working professionals right as Gen Zers are projected to take over the nation's "prime" workforce

Philadelphia Gen Zers are conflicted about the city: They don&#x27;t want to leave, but many feel they must move elsewhere for more career opportunities, per a new <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Pew Charitable Trusts report" data-vars-click-url="https://www.pew.org/en/research-and-analysis/reports/2026/08/gen-z-likes-philadelphia-but-feels-frustrated-by-low-pay-limited-jobs" data-vars-content-id="0f935109-ae44-47a6-99bd-fd686794201b" data-vars-headline="Philly Gen Zers don&#x27;t want to leave. They just don&#x27;t see a future here" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.pew.org/en/research-and-analysis/reports/2026/08/gen-z-likes-philadelphia-but-feels-frustrated-by-low-pay-limited-jobs" target="_blank">Pew Charitable Trusts report</a>.Why it matters: Philly is having a harder time retaining younger working professionals as they advance in their careers, just as Pew projects Gen Z will soon make up most of the nation&#x27;s &quot;prime-age&quot; workforce.

Philly nonprofit breaks Guinness World Record

The milestone is another flex for the group's founder, Drexel alum Evan Ehlers.

Business

Philly nonprofit <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Sharing Excess" data-vars-click-url="https://www.sharingexcess.com/about#our-story" data-vars-content-id="1f9b8c57-4c61-478a-8e06-17b948d39c1f" data-vars-headline="Philly nonprofit breaks Guinness World Record" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.sharingexcess.com/about#our-story" target="_blank">Sharing Excess</a> helped set a new Guinness World Record for donating more than 543,000 pounds of fresh produce during a Canadian food rescue event last weekend.Why it matters: It&#x27;s another flex for the group&#x27;s founder, Drexel alum Evan Ehlers, who started the nonprofit in 2018 to help solve food security in <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="one of the nation&#x27;s poorest cities" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/philadelphia/2025/09/11/philly-poorest-city-poverty-rate-decline" data-vars-content-id="1f9b8c57-4c61-478a-8e06-17b948d39c1f" data-vars-headline="Philly nonprofit breaks Guinness World Record" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/philadelphia/2025/09/11/philly-poorest-city-poverty-rate-decline" target="_self">one of the nation&#x27;s poorest cities</a>.

NBA sends a message with Sixers-Knicks opening night matchup

Old rivals. Madison Square Garden. Day 1 of the LeJawn Era.

Sports

Hey, NBA, tell us something without telling us something: The LeBron James-led Sixers will open the season on the road against the reigning champion New York Knicks.Why it matters: Old rivals. Madison Square Garden. Day 1 of the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="LeJawn Era." data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/philadelphia/2026/07/27/lejawn-takes-over-philly" data-vars-content-id="b681ed96-d231-4f07-a272-e85e8fb86e00" data-vars-headline="NBA sends a message with Sixers-Knicks opening night matchup" 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">LeJawn Era.</a> Enough said.

Philly police have towed 3,100+ abandoned autos so far this year

Abandoned autos remain one of Philly's most persistent and most griped-about problems.

Public Safety

Philadelphia police have removed thousands of abandoned vehicles from city streets so far this year, but thousands more complaints remain unresolved.Why it matters: Abandoned autos remain one of Philly&#x27;s most persistent and most griped-about problems.

News 🗞

SEPTA's bus redesign finally arrives

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

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

Philly kids have plenty of sway over back-to-school spending

This Philly-area grad is taking a glizzy gap year