Pennsylvania remains among dozens of states with weak civil forfeiture protections, although Philadelphia has made some reforms to curtail widespread abuses, per the Institute for Justice.

Why it matters: Civil forfeiture — a process that allows law enforcement to seize homes, cars and, most often, cash suspected of being tied to criminal activity — remains big business nationwide, accounting for more than $82 billion in property seized since 2000, per IJ's latest Policing for Profit report.

• Five states — including neighboring New Jersey — accounted for nearly half of the roughly $300 million combined worth that was seized by states in 2023.

The big picture: People struggle to navigate a Byzantine legal system — often without a lawyer — making it difficult to challenge forfeitures and reclaim property, even when they're not involved in a crime.

• Seized proceeds nationwide often benefit law enforcement agencies, going to plug budget holes, pay for their salaries and fund the purchase of high-end vehicles, travel.
• Complex, multistep processes and shifting deadlines can confuse property owners, meaning many cases never go before a judge.

Driving the news: IJ assessed each state's forfeiture practices across several factors and assigned Pennsylvania an overall grade of D-, placing it among three dozen states, plus the federal government, that received a D+ or lower.

• Between 2000 and 2023, Pennsylvania has taken in about $585 million in state and federal forfeiture funds, even though it has banned so-called "adoptions" — a process in which state or local authorities hand cases over to federal agencies to bypass stricter state forfeiture laws.

Zoom in: Philadelphia was once ground zero for similar types of abuses outlined in the report, with only about a quarter of cases that IJ studied involving people who were convicted of a crime, yet still had their property taken away.

• The city is now a shining example of how a commitment to reform can improve the system, IJ senior attorney Robert Frommer tells Axios.
• The institute brought a class-action lawsuit challenging Philadelphia's so-called "forfeiture machine," a case that led to a $3 million settlement compensating residents impacted by the city's forfeiture system, along with several reforms.
• Those changes included ending hearings in which prosecutors effectively acted as judges in deciding whether residents could get their property back, Frommer says.

What they're saying: The improvements "took Philadelphia from being one of the worst cities in the nation for civil forfeiture to, if not the best, definitely I'd give it at least a 'B,'" Frommer says.

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Philly's James Beard story features a familiar face: Royal Sushi & Izakaya's Jesse Ito is once again a finalist for Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic.

Why it matters: The Beards are the restaurant industry's Oscars, and Ito's repeat recognition underscores his staying power and Philly's status as a top food city.

Driving the news: This is Ito's sixth time as a finalist, a run that's included him being up for the same best chef honor last year ... and the year before ... and, well, you get the picture.

• Not that he's counting, anymore, telling Billy Penn last year he stopped having expectations.
• Ito is in a slugfest, competing against other Philly heavyweights for the Mid-Atlantic's best chef: Amanda Shulman of Her Place Supper Club and Honeysuckle's Omar Tate and Cybille St. Aude-Tate.

Who else made the list:

• 🍽️ Kalaya — Outstanding Restaurant
• 🆕 Emmett — Best New Restaurant
• 🍸 The Lovers Bar at Friday Saturday Sunday — Outstanding Bar
• 🧁 Justine MacNeil of Fiore — Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker

More finalists

A federal judge approved the Trump administration's request for UPenn to turn over information about people affiliated with Jewish organizations on campus as part of a discrimination investigation at the school. The university plans to appeal. (Inquirer)

⚖️ Former union boss John Dougherty could get out of prison early. A judge will decide later this month whether he can finish his six-year bribery and embezzlement sentence on house arrest to care for his sick wife. (Inquirer)

🍧 We know it's April Fool's, but this is no joke. The Franklin Fountain is offering up a menu of experimental ice cream flavors, including one inspired by charcuterie. They're first-come, first-served. (NBC10)

⛽ It's a case of bad gas. Drivers who filled up at a North Philly gas station say their cars later stalled, sending them to mechanics for repairs. (NBC10)

Nearly two-thirds of Americans now use AI regularly and want stronger oversight, but are conflicted on how far regulation should go, according to a new national survey from AI governance nonprofit Fathom shared exclusively with Axios.

Why it matters: Americans are growing more comfortable with AI as Washington struggles to regulate it, but people still want guarantees on safety and job security.

By the numbers: Nearly two-thirds of Americans use AI weekly or more, per the survey.

• 40% of respondents say they're excited about AI, while 23% say they're concerned. Another 35% feel both.
• 90% say it's important that AI products for kids should be verified as "safe" before they're used.

People also say they want policymakers to deliver guardrails while also keeping the U.S. dominant in AI.

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Calling all soccer fan holdouts: This is your last chance to score tickets to this year's World Cup games in Philly.

Why it matters: FIFA expects attendance at this year's tourney to eclipse its all-time record of 3.4 million, which was set in 1994.

Driving the news: Last-minute tickets go on sale today at 11am, part of FIFA's fourth and final phased tranche of sales.

Catch up quick: Philly is hosting five matches from June 14 to June 27, featuring soccer powerhouses like Brazil and France, plus a Round of 16 match on July 4.

The intrigue: Interest in the tourney has been through the roof, with more than 500 million ticket requests during the Random Selection Draw phase, FIFA says.

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