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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 Purple" air quality alert

Trash pickup has been suspended and pools are closed Friday.

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 Purple&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 Purple&quot; air quality alert.Why it matters: Health officials are urging residents to stay indoors due to increased 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.

Philadelphia libraries are having a standout year

The Free Library of Philadelphia is experiencing a renaissance this year, with visitor numbers rising sharply.Why it matters: Who says <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="reading is dead" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/06/08/ai-america-literacy?utm_source=newsletter&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=newsletter_axioslocal_philadelphia&amp;stream=top" data-vars-content-id="6b7e1764-fbd3-429d-b3a8-9cc202eec333" data-vars-headline="Philadelphia libraries are having a standout year" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/06/08/ai-america-literacy?utm_source=newsletter&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=newsletter_axioslocal_philadelphia&amp;stream=top" target="_self">reading is dead</a>?

Which Philly neighborhoods are seeing more crime

A new Pew report shows crime was down 21% in Point Breeze but up 20% in Spring Garden.

Public Safety

Philadelphia homicides hit a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="historic low" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/philadelphia/2026/03/11/how-philly-reversed-its-pandemic-era-homicide-surge" data-vars-content-id="32341f65-5008-4228-98a6-39aa4fcd47f4" data-vars-headline="Which Philly neighborhoods are seeing more crime" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/philadelphia/2026/03/11/how-philly-reversed-its-pandemic-era-homicide-surge" target="_self">historic low</a> last year, but nonviolent crimes increased in some neighborhoods, per a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="new Pew report" data-vars-click-url="https://www.pew.org/en/research-and-analysis/fact-sheets/2026/06/community-safety-in-philadelphias-point-breeze-and-spring-garden-neighborhoods" data-vars-content-id="32341f65-5008-4228-98a6-39aa4fcd47f4" data-vars-headline="Which Philly neighborhoods are seeing more crime" 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/fact-sheets/2026/06/community-safety-in-philadelphias-point-breeze-and-spring-garden-neighborhoods" target="_blank">new Pew report</a>. The big picture: The city&#x27;s violent and nonviolent crimes are concentrated in different places, suggesting different neighborhoods require different public safety strategies.

Philly police staff up and debut translation body cams for World Cup

Police are rolling out new body cam technology that can translate languages out loud.

Philadelphia police are gearing up for what its chief says could be one of the biggest deployments in its history in the coming days.Why it matters: City officials have been preparing for years to ensure public safety around the FIFA <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="World Cup" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/12/08/fifa-world-cup-philadelphia-schedule-lincoln-financial-field" data-vars-content-id="083a655d-a997-4072-8a83-4729fc1c9e26" data-vars-headline="Philly police staff up and debut translation body cams for World Cup" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/12/08/fifa-world-cup-philadelphia-schedule-lincoln-financial-field" target="_self">World Cup</a>, and their massive emergency operations plans are finally being put into action.

Philly-area prison could reshape how America treats prisoners

The "Little Scandinavia" unit is being expanded to other Pennsylvania prisons.

Pennsylvania is emerging as a proving ground for preparing people in prison to rejoin society, per a new <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="report" data-vars-click-url="https://www.brennancenter.org/media/15371/download/2026_01_prison_reform_final.pdf?inline=1" data-vars-content-id="b87041ca-9c79-4b8a-a95a-bb04f38655a5" data-vars-headline="Philly-area prison could reshape how America treats prisoners" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.brennancenter.org/media/15371/download/2026_01_prison_reform_final.pdf?inline=1" target="_blank">report</a> from the Brennan Center for Justice.Why it matters: Early results from a Philly-area pilot — the &quot;Little Scandinavia&quot; community-style living unit that launched in 2022 in Chester — show sharply lower instances of violence.<ul><li>The program paves the way for other states to adopt rehabilitation-focused models of incarceration.</li></ul>

How Philly's sheriff put the city in Trump's immigration crosshairs

Bilal has received death threats over her comments and now has extra security.

An unlikely Philadelphia elected official has thrust the city into the national conversation about an ICE agent&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="fatal shooting" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2026/01/07/ice-agent-shooting-south-minneapolis" data-vars-content-id="1855902f-15c2-4821-a96f-c8e04a1b0d3f" data-vars-headline="How Philly&#x27;s sheriff put the city in Trump&#x27;s immigration crosshairs" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2026/01/07/ice-agent-shooting-south-minneapolis" target="_self">fatal shooting</a> of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Renee Nicole Good" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2026/01/07/ice-shooting-victim-identified-renee-nicole-good-minneapolis" data-vars-content-id="1855902f-15c2-4821-a96f-c8e04a1b0d3f" data-vars-headline="How Philly&#x27;s sheriff put the city in Trump&#x27;s immigration crosshairs" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2026/01/07/ice-shooting-victim-identified-renee-nicole-good-minneapolis" target="_self">Renee Nicole Good</a> in Minneapolis.Why it matters: Sheriff Rochelle Bilal&#x27;s comments have put her — and possibly Philly — in the crosshairs of the Trump administration&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="immigration crackdown" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/12/23/trump-ice-green-card-interviews-immigration" data-vars-content-id="1855902f-15c2-4821-a96f-c8e04a1b0d3f" data-vars-headline="How Philly&#x27;s sheriff put the city in Trump&#x27;s immigration crosshairs" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/12/23/trump-ice-green-card-interviews-immigration" target="_self">immigration crackdown</a>, which the city&#x27;s top leaders have desperately sought to avoid over the past year.<ul><li>The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Parker" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/philadelphia/2025/06/11/cherelle-parker-los-angeles-protests-trump" data-vars-content-id="1855902f-15c2-4821-a96f-c8e04a1b0d3f" data-vars-headline="How Philly&#x27;s sheriff put the city in Trump&#x27;s immigration crosshairs" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/philadelphia/2025/06/11/cherelle-parker-los-angeles-protests-trump" target="_self">Parker</a> administration has <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="avoided" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/philadelphia/2024/12/10/mass-deportations-sanctuary-city-cherelle-parker" data-vars-content-id="1855902f-15c2-4821-a96f-c8e04a1b0d3f" data-vars-headline="How Philly&#x27;s sheriff put the city in Trump&#x27;s immigration crosshairs" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/philadelphia/2024/12/10/mass-deportations-sanctuary-city-cherelle-parker" target="_self">avoided</a> directly criticizing the Trump administration and taken steps that some advocates view as conciliatory, like rebranding Philly from a &quot;sanctuary city&quot; to a &quot;<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="welcoming city" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/philadelphia/2025/06/02/sanctuary-cities-list-philly-trump-federal-funding" data-vars-content-id="1855902f-15c2-4821-a96f-c8e04a1b0d3f" data-vars-headline="How Philly&#x27;s sheriff put the city in Trump&#x27;s immigration crosshairs" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/philadelphia/2025/06/02/sanctuary-cities-list-philly-trump-federal-funding" target="_self">welcoming city</a>&quot; and eliminating <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="diversity benchmarks" data-vars-click-url="https://www.inquirer.com/politics/philadelphia/parker-administration-minority-contracting-women-20251113.html" data-vars-content-id="1855902f-15c2-4821-a96f-c8e04a1b0d3f" data-vars-headline="How Philly&#x27;s sheriff put the city in Trump&#x27;s immigration crosshairs" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.inquirer.com/politics/philadelphia/parker-administration-minority-contracting-women-20251113.html" target="_blank">diversity benchmarks</a> in awarding public contracts. </li></ul>

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.

MileUp diversion program gives Philly students a run at redemption

The running program gives Philly youth facing misdemeanor or felony charges an opportunity to have their charges dropped.

Rack up the miles, keep the smiles. That&#x27;s a mantra that Philadelphia youth in the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="MileUp" data-vars-click-url="https://studentsrunphilly.org/mile-up/" data-vars-content-id="9f092f80-f68f-42c5-8776-28aaa96affa5" data-vars-headline="MileUp diversion program gives Philly students a run at redemption" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://studentsrunphilly.org/mile-up/" target="_blank">MileUp</a> program remind themselves of every Tuesday and Thursday night.Why it matters: About 15 students are running for their futures.<ul><li>The restorative justice program gives Philly youth facing misdemeanor or felony charges an opportunity to have their charges dropped and expunged from their records. Plus, a community to stay active.</li></ul>

Romance scams cost Pennsylvanians millions in 2024

Pennsylvania's spike in fraud follows a national trend.

Pennsylvanians were bamboozled out of $39.2 million in romance scams last year, per new FTC data.Why it matters: That&#x27;s just a slice of the $285.4 million lost in the Keystone State to fraud in 2024 — up a staggering 21% over the previous year.

Drones, "wellness court": What's ahead in Parker's Kensington crackdown

Mayor <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Cherelle Parker" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/philadelphia/2024/01/02/mayor-cherelle-parker-swear-in" data-vars-content-id="835c0e7b-02b4-41d1-b257-59324822bdf3" data-vars-headline="Drones, &quot;wellness court&quot;: What&#x27;s ahead in Parker&#x27;s Kensington crackdown" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/philadelphia/2024/01/02/mayor-cherelle-parker-swear-in" target="_self">Cherelle Parker</a> is preparing for Year 2 of her <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Kensington crackdown" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/philadelphia/2024/04/12/philadelphia-mayor-cherelle-parker-public-safety-plan-kensington" data-vars-content-id="835c0e7b-02b4-41d1-b257-59324822bdf3" data-vars-headline="Drones, &quot;wellness court&quot;: What&#x27;s ahead in Parker&#x27;s Kensington crackdown" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/philadelphia/2024/04/12/philadelphia-mayor-cherelle-parker-public-safety-plan-kensington" target="_self">Kensington crackdown</a>, which includes drones and expanded resources for people struggling with addiction.The big picture: Parker has made ending open-air drug markets and reviving the neighborhood cornerstones of her agenda since taking office last year.

ICE raid at Philadelphia car wash rattles immigrant communities

President Trump is ramping up his promised immigration crackdown with large-scale deportations across the country.

Politics

A federal immigration raid at a North Philadelphia car wash has put some immigrant communities on edge.The big picture: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="President Trump" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/politics-policy/donald-trump" data-vars-content-id="14a4f601-aaa3-4a02-ab63-c5b3454954f2" data-vars-headline="ICE raid at Philadelphia car wash rattles immigrant communities" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/politics-policy/donald-trump" target="_self">President Trump</a> is ramping up his promised <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="immigration crackdown" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/01/27/immigrant-arrests-ice-raids-trump-administration" data-vars-content-id="14a4f601-aaa3-4a02-ab63-c5b3454954f2" data-vars-headline="ICE raid at Philadelphia car wash rattles immigrant communities" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/01/27/immigrant-arrests-ice-raids-trump-administration" target="_self">immigration crackdown</a> with large-scale deportations across the country.

Life sentences fall in Pennsylvania but are still among highest in nation

More than 5,000 people are serving life sentences without parole in Pennsylvania today.

More than 5,000 people are serving <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="life sentences" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2021/09/05/study-black-offenders-more-federal-life-sentences" data-vars-content-id="4999d73f-43bc-415e-a724-0479c39e162c" data-vars-headline="Life sentences fall in Pennsylvania but are still among highest in nation" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2021/09/05/study-black-offenders-more-federal-life-sentences" target="_self">life sentences</a> without parole (LWOP) in Pennsylvania today — one of the largest populations in the country, per a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="new report" data-vars-click-url="https://www.sentencingproject.org/app/uploads/2025/01/A-Matter-of-Life-The-Scope-and-Impact-of-Life-and-Long-Term-Imprisonment-in-the-United-States.pdf" data-vars-content-id="4999d73f-43bc-415e-a724-0479c39e162c" data-vars-headline="Life sentences fall in Pennsylvania but are still among highest in nation" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.sentencingproject.org/app/uploads/2025/01/A-Matter-of-Life-The-Scope-and-Impact-of-Life-and-Long-Term-Imprisonment-in-the-United-States.pdf" target="_blank">new report</a> from the Sentencing Project.The big picture: The number of people serving LWOP in the U.S. has risen 68% since 2003, according to the criminal justice reform group&#x27;s analysis published Wednesday.