Democratic Party leaders land in Philadelphia today to evaluate the city's pitch for hosting their national convention in 2028.

Why it matters: Philly is under pressure to stand out from rival cities competing for the high-profile event that brings national attention and thousands of visitors.

State of play: DNC chairperson Ken Martin and other party brass will conduct a site visit in Philly through Friday.

• Party officials will assess the logistical and operational aspects of the city's bid, and whether Philly's got the facilities and infrastructure to put on the massive event.
• The visit includes stops at Xfinity Mobile Arena and the Pennsylvania Convention Center.

Also under consideration:

• Philly's history of hosting large-scale events
• Fundraising ability
• Whether the city can recruit volunteers needed to support the convention's operations

Zoom out: The other finalist cities — Atlanta, Boston, Chicago and Denver — will also get site visits.

Between the lines: It'll all come down to Martin and Alex Hornbrook, the executive director of the 2024 Democratic National Convention, who are overseeing the selection process.

• DNC vice chairperson Malcolm Kenyatta, who is also a state representative from North Philly, is also expected to join the site visit.

Context: Philly is a finalist for a reason.

• The city has hosted the DNC three times, most recently in 2016, along with other massive events (like Pope Francis' visit in 2015).
• Philly is one of Democrats' largest and most important cities in a critical swing state. (Case in point: Kamala Harris wrapped up her 2024 presidential campaign here.)
• Plus: There's Gov. Shapiro, a rising star in the party who could run for president in 2028.

What they're saying: "Pennsylvania remains a crucial state for Democrats in 2026 and beyond," Martin told Axios in a statement.

• A spokesperson for Pick Pennsylvania, the nonprofit leading the city's bid, did not respond to Axios' request for comment.

The call came with little surprise. The Phillies fired manager Rob Thomson yesterday, hours before a home game against the Giants.

Why it matters: The $315 million roster has stumbled to a 9-19 start — the franchise's worst in decades.

State of play: Bench coach Don Mattingly will lead the team as interim manager through this season.

• Thomson was on contract through the 2027 season.

Context: The Phillies' abysmal start included 10 straight loses this month.

• When Thomson was fired, the Phillies held the worst record in baseball, tied with the New York Mets.

Yes, but: Despite never winning a title, Thomson had success in Philly.

• He leaves with the highest winning percentage of any Phillies manager since 1900 (.568).
• He led the team to four consecutive playoff appearances and a World Series berth in 2022.

The intrigue: Speculation was growing that the Phillies were interested in Alex Cora, who was fired last weekend by the Boston Red Sox.

• USA Today reports that the Phillies offered the top job to Cora, but he rejected it.

The bottom line: Time will tell if a new manager can turn the team's fortunes around or if the roster's ceiling is no better than last place.

🏆 The seven winners of this year's Lindback Awards for distinguished leadership include Michelle Burns of Randolph Technical High School and Vance McNear of Edwin Forrest Elementary.

• The award comes with a $20,000 prize to be used at their schools. (KYW)

🏀 The Sixers staved off elimination last night with a 113-97 win over the Celtics. The first-round playoff series comes back to Philly on Thursday, with the 76ers trailing 3-2. (NBC Sports)

🔍 Federal regulators said yesterday they're launching a review of ABC's TV broadcast licenses, which includes 6ABC in the Philly region.

• The review comes shortly after President Trump and first lady Melania Trump condemned ABC for a joke made by its late-night host Jimmy Kimmel. (Axios)

Philadelphia's newest (interim) bus terminal will open in Center City on Friday.

Why it matters: It's a relief for travelers who've had to arrive and depart from improvised, outdoor bus stops without amenities for years.

Driving the news: The bus terminal at 1001 Filbert Street features a dedicated indoor space with bathrooms and nearly 200 seats for travelers, officials unveiled Tuesday.

• Plus: 13,000 square feet of public space, a private lactation pod and vending machines.
• Greyhound, FlixBus and Peter Pan Lines will service the terminal.

Context: The city and Philadelphia Parking Authority teamed up on the $5 million project.

• The location is in the former site of the Greyhouse Bus Terminal, which closed in 2023.
• The new terminal arrives just in time for the influx of visitors coming to town for World Cup matches and America's 250th birthday events.

The big picture: The city is still in search of a permanent intercity bus station.

Worth noting: Some bus routes may continue out of the city's other interim stop at Schuylkill Avenue and Walnut Street, per the Inquirer.

• Plus: Some curbside service may also remain on 11th Street between Filbert and Arch Streets, the outlet noted.

If you're ready to level up your outdoor game, consider adding a bat box to your space.

Why it matters: Hosting bats takes patience and some strategic setup, but once your winged guests are settled, the benefits abound.

The big picture: Bats are under threat globally due to habitat loss. Giving them a safe place to roost helps protect these nocturnal MVPs — key pollinators that also spread seeds and devour pesky insects like mosquitoes, wasps and flies.

• Pennsylvania is home to nine bat species — including five that are threatened or endangered.

Fun fact: Big brown bats are Pennsylvania's most common bat.

See tips for setting up your own bat box