celldeal57-blog

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‘Sunday Night Football’ Ratings Fall To Season Low As Chiefs Top Bengals

What a difference a week can make for the Kansas City Chiefs and what a difference it can make for too.

Last week, the then unbeaten Chiefs came up short against their likely AFC title rivals the New England Patriots, with the Tom Brady-led crew scratching out a 43-40 win and rising ratings. Last night, the Chiefs took on and took down the Cincinnati Bengals 45-10.

Snaring the Chiefs’ sixth win of the season so far, a jaw-dropping part of last night’s came from running back Kareem Hunt who was literally up, up and away with multiple touchdowns:

Proving to the recently boasting NFL that ratings are an ultimately fickle affair, and that what was going up can also come crashing down, the league and NBC’s primetime flagship stumbled hard from last week and last year. Free of primetime MLB and NBA rivals, showcasing lesser-market teams and coming off a packed NFL day that nearly saw fisticuffs between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Carolina Panthers over national anthem protests, the Chiefs-Bengals game drew a 11.0/19 in metered market ratings.

With the largest SNF blowout in three years, last night’s game fell 25% in the early metrics from the Chiefs-Patriots battle of October 14. That’s a season low for SNF so far, down 11% from the previous low of the Week 4 game between the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers.

Compared to last season’s Week 7, the Patriots’ 23-7 victory over the Atlanta Falcons on October 23, 2017, last night’s SNF dropped 13% in metered market numbers. Last year’s game also faced the Season 8 debut of The Walking Dead on cable.

The Chiefs-Patriots SNF matchup October 14 went on to pull in a 7.0/26 rating among adults 18-49 and 21.11 million viewers overall in the final numbers.

Meanwhile, over on CBS yesterday afternoon, an all big-market doubleheader featured the Dallas Cowboys vs. the Washington Redskins and the Los Angeles Rams taking on the San Francisco 49ers scored a season best so for with a 14.4/28 in metered market results.

We’ll update later with final numbers for last night’s SNF, as well as how NCIS: Los Angeles, The Alec Baldwin Show and the rest of the Big 4 did. And, of course, the World Series between the Dodgers and the Boston Red Sox takes to the bases Tuesday on the almost New Fox, and, if last year is any indication, that’s going to get this town really rockin’.

Meanwhile, here’s an SNF stat: Last night’s game peaked in the second-quarter time slot of 9:30-9:45 PM ET with a 12.6/21 as the Chiefs jumped to a 24-7 lead.

Also, here are the top local markets for last night’s SNF:

1. Kansas City 47.9/67 2. Cincinnati 28.1/4 3. Dayton 18.6/31 4. New Orleans 17.8/26 5. Denver 15.5/27 6. Norfolk 14.8/23 7. Pittsburgh 14.6/23 8. Columbus 13.9/24 9. Indianapolis 13.8/23 10. (tie) San Diego 13.0/23; Richmond 13.0/21

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Source: https://sports.yahoo.com/monday-night-football-ratings-fall-150206250.html?src=rss

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Police: Officers Shoot 2 Pit Bulls Attacking Woman And Her Dog In Philly

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PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – Philadelphia police are investigating after they say two officers shot two pit bulls allegedly attacking a woman and her dog on Monday night.

It happened around 7:22 p.m. on the 1900 block of Goodnaw Street.

The pit bulls are still alive at this time.

Authorities say the woman suffered injuries to her hand. It’s unclear if her dog was hurt in the attack.

Police are continuing their investigation.

It’s unknown at this time what sparked the attack.

Source: https://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2019/01/07/police-officers-shoot-2-pit-bulls-attacking-woman-and-her-dog-in-philly/

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Suspect In David Ortiz Shooting Also Wanted For Attempted Homicide In Reading, Pennsylvania, Officials Say

READING, Pa. (CBS/AP) — A suspect wanted in the shooting of former Boston Red Sox slugger David Ortiz is also wanted in connection to an attempted murder in Reading. Police say Luis Rivas-Clase, also known as “The Surgeon,” was involved in the shooting of a man on the 900 block of North Front Street in Reading in April 2018.

The victim told police at the time that Rivas-Clase threatened to have him killed days before the shooting.

Authorities in the Dominican Republic say Rivas-Clase is still wanted in Ortiz’s shooting.

Credit: CBS3

An alleged gunman and five accomplices have been detained in the shooting of Ortiz, Dominican officials said Wednesday, while providing no information about why a group of young men would try to kill their country’s most beloved sports hero.

‘I Noticed A Smell’: Philadelphia Couple Says They Became Violently Ill At Same Dominican Republic Resort Where 3 Americans Died

Four other suspects were also being pursued in the shooting, which witnesses said was carried out by two men on a motorcycle, assisted by two other groups of people in cars.

“At this moment, they are being interrogated and we will continue deepening the investigation to get to the truth about what happened,” Chief Prosecutor Jean Alain Rodríguez said.

“Nobody involved in this unfortunate episode will escape justice, neither those who carried it out nor the mastermind,” he said.

The national police director, Maj. Gen. Ney Aldrin Bautista Almonte, said the coordinator of the attack was offered 400,000 Dominican pesos, or about $7,800, to orchestrate the shooting. He said the alleged coordinator was also among those in custody.

Rodríguez and Bautista declined to give a motive for the shooting at a popular Santo Domingo bar Sunday night or say who had hired the attackers.

They promised, however, that all those who targeted Ortiz in the baseball-crazy Caribbean country would be brought to justice.

“We recognize the symbolism that David Ortiz represents, and we promise that this case will be cleared up completely,” Bautista said.

US State Department Launches Investigation After 3 Americans Die At Same Dominican Republic Resort

Ortiz is one of the most beloved figures in sports history in the Dominican Republic and Boston, a fearsome power hitter with a ready smile. The slugger known as Big Papi led the Red Sox to three World Series championships, was a 10-time All-Star and hit 541 home runs.

The Red Sox retired his number, 34, in 2017 — a year after he retired — and Boston renamed a bridge and a stretch of road outside Fenway Park in his honor. He maintains a home in Weston, on the outskirts of Boston.

Ortiz galvanized the city in the aftermath of the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing that left three people dead, bellowing through a megaphone at Fenway Park: “This is our (expletive) city!”

While Ortiz lived in Boston, he visited the Dominican Republic at least six times a year, where he crossed paths with a wide variety of figures from the country’s legitimate and illegal business worlds, according to friends.

Ortiz studiously avoided mixing with shady characters, but a law-enforcement official said on condition of anonymity that officials were investigating whether Ortiz may have formed some relationship or acquaintance during a trip here that, without his knowledge, set off the chain of events leading to his shooting.

Among the suspects in custody was the alleged shooter, identified by authorities as Rolfy Ferreyra, aka Sandy, a skinny, tattooed 25-year-old who officials said had confessed to the shooting.

In a statement, officials said the weapon used, a Browning Hi Power semi-automatic pistol, had been handed to suspect Oliver Moises Mirabal Acosta, then to suspect Porfirio Allende Dechamps Vasquez, AKA The Kid, who buried it in the garden of his home.

Both men have been arrested and the gun has been recovered.

Also under arrest were Joel Rodríguez de la Cruz, aka Squiddy; Reynaldo Rodríguez Valenzuela, aka The Chinaman; and the suspected driver of the motorcycle, Eddy Vladimir Feliz García, aka The Package.

Many were caught in the same clothes they were seen wearing on surveillance video, Bautista said.

Dominican Republic Resort Alleges ‘Weak Points’ In Delaware Woman’s Story Of Being Savagely Attacked While Vacationing At Hotel

The four suspects still at large were identified as Rivas-Clase, as well as a woman known as The Venezuelan, or Red, and two other men, prosecutors said in a statement.

Meanwhile, in Boston, Ortiz’s wife said in statement that the former Red Sox slugger was able to sit up and take some steps as he recuperates in the intensive care unit at Massachusetts General Hospital.

“His condition is guarded, and he will remain in the ICU for the coming days, but he is making good progress toward recovery,” Tiffany Ortiz said in the statement.

Prosecutors said security camera footage showed two men on the motorcycle talking with other people in a gray Hyundai Accent and in another Hyundai in a nearby street before the shooting.

One of the suspects, Mirabal Acosta, was seen driving the Accent before mounting a motorcycle driven by the 25-year-old Feliz García, the prosecutors said in a court document.

“In one of the videos it was possible to observe both the accused and the shooter planning the commission of the incident,” the prosecutors said.

The document also revealed ineptitude, saying the motorcycle driver was captured after he skidded and fell off his bike as the pair tried to flee. Enraged fans captured García and beat him bloody before handing him over to police.

Group Of Teens Fracture Man’s Jaw During Attack In Old City, Philadelphia Police Say

Mirabal Acosta was captured Tuesday night in the town of Mao in the northern Dominican Republic.

García’s lawyer said his client, who has been charged with being an accomplice to attempted murder, is an innocent motorcycle taxi driver who had no idea his passenger was going to commit a crime.

“He didn’t know what they were going to do. He’s a fan of David’s,” the attorney, Deivi Solano, said Tuesday.

Ortiz’s father and a sister live in Santo Domingo and the 43-year-old former Red Sox great was active on the social scene here, hitting nightspots with friends who included TV personalities and Dominican reggaeton musicians.

Beloved in his hometown, Ortiz traveled the dangerous streets of the Dominican capital with little or no security, trusting his fans to protect him, according to friends.

The Dominican Republic is one of the world’s most dangerous countries. The murder rate stands at 12.5 killings per 100,000 people, placing the Dominican Republic in the top 10% to 15% of the most violent countries, according to the U.S. State Department.

(©Copyright 2019 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

Source: https://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2019/06/12/suspect-david-ortiz-shooting-luis-rivas-clase-also-wanted-for-attempted-homicide-in-reading-pennsylvania-officials-say/

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New National Building Evokes Its Predecessor

New National Building Evokes Its Predecessor - OCF Realty

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Source: http://www.ocfrealty.com/naked-philly/old-city/new-national-building-evokes-predecessor

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Report: Eagles Pay Nick Foles $1M Bonus After QB Missed Incentive by 4 Snaps

David Banks/Associated Press

In a good-faith gesture by the Philadelphia Eagles, quarterback Nick Foles received a $1 million incentive bonus he originally missed out on.

Per ESPN's Field Yates, "The Eagles have paid QB Nick Foles a $1M signing bonus to account for the incentive he missed out on by just four snaps earned by Philly making the playoffs and Foles playing 33 percent of the snaps."

Foles finished with 357 snaps, which was 32.69 percent of the team's total.

After winning Super Bowl LII MVP last season, Foles restructured his contract in Philadelphia for 2018 to include a $2 million signing bonus and certain performance-based incentives.

The deal also included a mutual option worth $20 million next season, though head coach Doug Pederson has already said Carson Wentz will be Philadelphia's starter in 2019.

Per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, the Eagles believe they will be able to trade Foles before free agency begins in March.

Of note, Wentz's 2018 season was bookended by injuries. He missed the first two games recovering from a torn ACL that kept him out for Philadelphia's playoff run in 2017. The 26-year-old finished this season on the sidelines with a stress fracture in his back. 

Foles went 4-1 in five regular-season starts, throwing for 1,413 yards and completing 72.3 percent of his passes. Including the playoffs, he threw for nine touchdowns in the Eagles' last four games.

Source: https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2816545-report-eagles-pay-nick-foles-1m-bonus-after-qb-missed-incentive-by-4-snaps

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23 Excellent Things To Do In Philly, October 9-14

It’s going to be a super-fun week in Philly, with a slew of food and drink fests, massive concerts and the opening of one of this year’s most hotly anticipated new attractions.

That’s right: Cherry Street Pier — the new indoor-outdoor waterfront attraction that functions as a park, exhibition space, market, garden and more — officially opens to the public on Friday! After years of vacancy, Municipal Pier 9’s 55,000 square feet reopens as a year-round communal space hosting artists, merchants, dining, businesses and performances.

For the pier’s opening this weekend (and the following two weekends), the attraction and neighboring Race Street Pier house a range of creative works, installations, events and programming focusing on subcultural themes and art forms for Festival for the People, a new arts festival curated by Philadelphia Contemporary.

Speaking of openings, two new exhibitions debut this week: The Art of Rube Goldberg (Friday) at the National Museum of American Jewish History and Vikings: Beyond the Legend (Saturday) at The Franklin Institute.

There are plenty of food and drink events to fill up at this week as well, including the Chinatown Yè Shì Night Market (Thursday), Taste of Ardmore (Thursday), Bloktoberfest (Saturday) and the Kennett Brewfest (Saturday).

Also this week, a harvest festival at Bartram’s Garden (Sunday) excites with activities like cider pressing, horseback riding, pumpkin carving and hayrides, while Reading Terminal Market transforms into an urban farm for a harvest festival (Saturday) of its own.

Check out all of our picks for this week in Philly, below.

Source: https://www.uwishunu.com/2018/10/things-to-do-this-week-philadelphia-october-9-14-2018/

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The Linc - Eagles rank last in touchdown passes longer than 15 yards

Let’s get to the Philadelphia Eagles links ...

NFL evaluators make picks on Week 8’s best games - ESPN In$ider The Eagles have their own issues. Much focus is on the cornerback spot, and rightfully so. But their Total QBR is down from an elite 78.1 at this point last season to a league-average 57.3 so far, while their defense has actually improved its QBR allowed, from 52.5 through seven games last season to 46.7 so far in 2018. Based on ESPN’s expected-points efficiency metrics, the offense and special teams have fallen off much more this season than the defense has fallen off. Looking more closely, this Eagles team isn’t getting the long touchdown passes that helped turn games last season. The 2018 team has two touchdown passes longer than 15 yards, tied for last in the league with Oakland, Tennessee, Baltimore, Buffalo and Houston. Philly had seven at this point last season. ”This is a tough call, but I will take Philly,” another insider said. “Too many things going on with Jacksonville right now.”

NFL Trade Rumors: Eagles exploring cornerback options - BGN With the Giants clearly in fire sale mode, I don’t doubt that Jenkins is available. But I don’t think the 30-year-old corner makes sense for the Eagles. Jenkins would cost nearly $7 million in cap space for the rest of the 2018 season before carrying a $14.75 million figure in 2019. Conley makes much more sense for the Eagles. The 2017 first-round pick is only 23 years old. He’s inexpensive and under contract through at least 2020, prior to his fifth-year option potentially being activated for 2021. Conley has fallen out of favor with the Raiders as he’s been benched for former Eagles corner Daryl Worley.

The Kist & Solak Show #33: Jaguars’ Offense Preview, Ben’s Nuclear Trade - BGN Radio Join Michael Kist and Benjamin Solak as they go over a wild trade option that Ben concocted.. does it make any sense? Also, can the Eagles’ defense rebound after allowing 21 straight points to the Panthers by shoring things up against an anemic Jaguars’ offense?

A look at Carson Wentz’s 29 career fumbles - PhillyVoice The other significant issue with Wentz is that he has 29 fumbles in 34 career games. That’s a lot. #Analysis. Because quarterbacks are often credited with fumbles that aren’t always necessarily their fault, I thought it would be useful to take a peek back at all 29 to see what they looked like.

Present, But Not Permanent - Iggles Blitz We don’t know how things are going to play out this year. The Eagles could get hot and win five games in a row. They would get the attention of the rest of the league. The team could continue to win one, lose one and hover around .500. I don’t see this team falling apart and finishing 6-10 or something like that. Anything is possible I suppose, but I think there would have to be even more injuries. This team has Carson Wentz, one of the best QBs in the league. Wentz is playing at a high level. You aren’t going to win without good QB play unless you have a spectacularly good defense or a lot of fluke plays going your way (see the 2017 Bills). The Eagles still have plenty of other talent. The OL is good. Jeffery and Ertz are terrific pass catchers. Cox, Graham and Bennett give them a trio of very talented pass rushers. Bradham and Hicks are talented LBs. Jenkins is still a good safety.

Debrief: Things we know (and things we don’t) after Week 7 - NFL.com It’s cliche to say that NFL games come down to a single play or two, but it’s a cliche because it’s true. I don’t think any differently about the Panthers and Eagles after Sunday’s game. They look like two roughly even, rugged NFC teams with defined strengths who have the goods to improve their weaknesses and make a playoff run with a little fortune. Similarly, little separated the Bucs and Browns, the Chargers and Titans, the Saints and Ravens and the Cowboys and Redskins on Sunday, but there will be grand postgame conclusions and meaning drawn, blame and credit assigned until we do it again next week. There is something unsatisfying and uncomfortable about recognizing what a massive, perhaps dominant role randomness plays every NFL Sunday in determining the latest standings. It’s as if we want this sport that we invest so much time in to make more sense than it really does, to apply some order after the fact where it doesn’t. I choose to embrace the chaos, accept that many teams are roughly equal, and try to separate the trends with staying power from the things we can’t possibly know ahead of time. Which is most everything.

NFL Week 8 NFL Network Philadelphia Eagles @ Jacksonville Jaguars Preview - PFF The Eagles defense has allowed 509 passing yards from hurry-up offenses this year, the most among defenses. The Jags would be wise to use that to their advantage as they go up against the Eagles in London.

Eagles at a disadvantage in London - NBCSP The Jaguars have done this trip a bunch. This will be their sixth time playing at Wembley Stadium. The Jags are 3-2 in that stadium but have won their last three straight there, including a blowout 44-7 win over the Ravens last September. In those three games, the Jags have forced eight turnovers while giving up just one of their own. Pederson credited an advanced team the Eagles send across the pond back when the schedule came out this spring. A lot of work has gone on behind the scenes to prepare them for this trip. It’s not like a bunch of other teams haven’t gone before, but the Eagles needed to figure out how they were going to handle it. In many respects, the Jaguars have an advantage. Many of their players have done it all before and they know what to expect. The Eagles are just hoping their preparation will make Sunday’s game as normal as possible. Then, they just have to get out there and play better.

Any Given Sunday: Panthers over Eagles - Football Outsiders Where have the Philadelphia Eagles gone wrong as an offense? It’s a weird question to ask as you see another hyper-efficient Carson Wentz start hit the books. Wentz has 227 passing DYAR in just five starts. More to the point, the traditional statistics look even gaudier than that. Wentz is completing 70 percent of his passes, has thrown 10 touchdowns and just one interception, and he’s got a top-10 adjusted net yards per attempt figure. And yet, since he came back, the Eagles are 2-3 and have scored more than 23 points once. Part of the problem has actually been Philadelphia’s rushing offense. Those Le’Veon Bell and LeSean McCoy rumors? They weren’t planted just because Jay Ajayi went down. Philadelphia has struggled to generate much in the rushing game since Wentz has come back. In Weeks 1 and 2, non-quarterback rushers combined for 25 DYAR. Since Week 3, they’ve generated -13 DYAR, and even that undersells how bad they’ve been a bit. If you limit it to just the last month of the season, the Eagles don’t have a single runner with a positive rushing DYAR, and that total number drops to -51 DYAR.

The Bortlesfly Effect Is the Key to the Football Universe - The Ringer Jacksonville has repeatedly chosen to stick with Blake Bortles at QB, no matter how poorly he’s played. This decision has shaped the fate of the Jaguars’ franchise—and perhaps so much more.

Should the Jaguars change starting left tackles? - Big Cat Country The Jacksonville Jaguars signed former first round pick and New York Giants offensive tackle Ereck Flowers two weeks ago and he’s yet to play for the team. The Jaguars, who placed their first two left tackles on season ending injured reserve, have been operating with Josh Walker at left tackle.

Review: Should Cody Kessler be starting for the Jaguars instead of Blake Bortles? - SB Nation Blake Bortles is still the starter for the Jacksonville Jaguars. He’s had three straight horrible games that ruined a 3-1 start and dropped the Jaguars below .500, but coach Doug Marrone still says Bortles under center gives the team “the best opportunity to win.” That may end up being true when the Jaguars travel to London to face the Eagles in Week 8, but it definitely wasn’t the case in Week 7. When Bortles left the field, Cody Kessler took over and the Jaguars offense finally looked halfway competent again.

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Source: https://www.bleedinggreennation.com/2018/10/25/18022352/eagles-news-philadelphia-ranks-last-touchdown-passes-longer-than-15-yards-big-plays-trade-nfl

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Thousands Turn Out For 40th Broad Street Run Despite Soggy Weather

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — Despite the soaking weather, the Broad Street Run went off without a hitch Sunday. About 40,000 runners from across the country hit the pavement for the annual Blue Cross Broad Street Run. Every stretch and early-morning run led to this moment for the participants.

Sunday’s weather was not ideal for a run, but the event serves as a platform for runners to honor those who have survived cancer and those who lost the battle.

“My mother and my grandfather passed away from cancer in the past couple of years, so I just wanted to find a way to support,” one runner said.

Walnut Street Theatre To Undergo $39 Million Expansion Scheduled To Begin In Spring 2020

The course from Fisher Avenue to the Navy Yard was just one more obstacle runners that survived cancer had to beat.

“I’m trying to bring awareness to all cancers but especially ovarian because not much knowledge on it,” said cancer survivor Kathy Fitzsimmons.

All of the proceeds benefit the American Cancer Society for research, medical expenses and lodging for patients and caregivers.

“That’s access to care, prevention and screening. Help for anyone who needs it,” said the greater Philadelphia’s American Cancer Society’s Executive Director Paula Green.

Every cheer along the way during the 10-mile run served as motivation to those affected by cancer one way or another.

“If I can do this, I can do anything,” Alison Dunn-Wilson said.

This year’s run featured a repeat winner.

Daniel Kemoi crossed the finish line first for the second consecutive year.

Kemoi’s official time was 47 minutes and 25 seconds.

Source: https://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2019/05/05/broad-street-run-draws-thousands/

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‘Be Courageous, Be Yourself’: Philadelphia Pride Parade Party Mixed With Politics On 50th Anniversary Of Stonewall Riots

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – The City of Philadelphia celebrated pride in grand fashion on Sunday. The LGBTQ+ community and its allies came out in force in Center City for a parade and festival.

As they say, the first pride was a riot. That was exactly 50 years ago at Stonewall in New York.

The historic riots accelerated the LGBTQ+ movement in the United States.

Sunday’s parade in Philadelphia was a party, mixed with politics and a special thanks to those who paved the way.

The Philadelphia Pride Parade whistled, floated and gloated down Market Street in stunning fashion.

“Beyond words, it’s fantastic to see so many people come out and support us, to see so much love in the community,” Lady E, a parade participant, said. “It’s wonderful.”

Philadelphia Celebrates LGBTQ Pride Month With Events Throughout June

Amelia Powell handed out Mom Hugs to those who needed or wanted one.

“I’m from Philadelphia, I’ve grew up all over the country, I’ve lived in New Orleans and Chicago,” Powell said, “and Philly for most of the last couple of years, 80% of my friends are in need of hugs because not everybody gets accepted the way they should.”

It’s a nationwide effort to huge those who haven’t yet been accepted by their families.

“If their parents won’t accept them,” Powell said, “I will and I’m happy to go to their wedding and walk them down the isle or anything they need.”

This year’s pride takes on even added significance as it’s the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots that took place in Greenwich Village, New York, in June 1969.

“They started a path, a path that says you have a right to love who you love, be who you are, that’s part of what it means to be an American,” Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf said. “We are in deep debt to them, what they started 50 years ago. Here in Pennsylvania, we still have work to do.”

Mayor Jim Kenney attacked President Donald Trump, saying rights fought by the LGBTQ+ community are in jeopardy.

Free Library Of Philadelphia Hosts ‘Drag Queen Story Time’ To Celebrate Pride Month

“This crackpot in the White House and his homophobic vice president are trying to turn back the clock to the days before the 60s,” Kenney said. “Be vigilant, be courageous, be yourself, we see you.”

Back on Market Street, Greyson Hardy, of Marlton, New Jersey, turns 13 years old this week.

Draped in a pride flag, Hardy watched the procession with his father, John Hardy.

“It’s been really cool to see so many different people,” Greyson said. “In Marlton, I don’t see that much, so it’s been really cool to see.”

“It makes your understand he’s part of a bigger community, there’s time he says he feels isolated at home, to come out here to see how many different people involved and how much love is involved and the support within the community, it’s really a beautiful thing,” John said.

CBS3’s Dan Koob reports.

Source: https://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2019/06/09/philadelphia-pride-parade-stonewall-riots-anniversary/

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Ron Hextall Fired as Flyers GM After Three-Plus Seasons

Matt Rourke/Associated Press

The Philadelphia Flyers announced the firing of general manager Ron Hextall on Monday after three-plus seasons.

Team president Paul Holmgren issued a statement:

"The Flyers organization has decided to relieve Ron Hextall of his duties as executive vice president and general manager. We thank Ron for his many significant contributions, but it has become clear that we no longer share the same philosophical approach concerning the direction of the team. In light of these differences, we feel it's in the organization's best interests to make a change, effective immediately. I have already begun a process to identify and select our next general manager, which we hope to complete as soon as possible."

Philadelphia is 13th in the Eastern Conference and seventh in the Metropolitan Division, having lost of five of their past six games. The two-time Stanley Cup champions also have the second-worst goal differential in the East.

The Flyers made the playoffs in two of Hextall's first three seasons as GM but were eliminated in the first round each time. The franchise has missed the postseason only four times since 1994-95.

Coach Dave Hakstol voiced his opinion to the media on Hextall's firing:

"It's a tough morning, a tough morning for all of us. Certainly for me, personally. Ron brought me here to do a job, and I'm going to continue to focus and work at doing that job to the best of my abilities. That's what I told the players. We've got a job to do today. Let's go out and do it to the best of our abilities. We're not where we want to be. We have a better hockey team than we're at record-wise. We all got to own that."

Players seemed to be taking the news hard as well.

"I don't know what's going to be the next step, but we can tell that nobody is safe, and it's all about winning," forward Jake Voracek told the media.

Source: https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2807863-ron-hextall-fired-as-flyers-gm-after-three-plus-seasons

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Audit Claims City Botched Latest Property Tax Assessments

City

City Council, which commissioned the review, is calling for a complete overhaul of leadership in the office tasked with overseeing the figures.

City Council president Darrell Clarke is calling for major reform of the city’s Office of Property Assessment. | Photo by Jeff Fusco

City Council is calling for a complete overhaul of leadership in the city agency tasked with overseeing property tax assessments.

The push comes as City Council released on Thursday an audit of the Office of Property Assessment’s 2019 figures, which sparked an uproar among residents when they were released last April.

Overall, the assessments for 2019 increased the median market value of single-family homes by 10.5 percent (from $112,800 to $124,600) and the median tax bill (excluding the homestead exemption) by $165, according to city data analysis by the Inquirer and Daily News. But they also threatened much higher spikes for some individual blocks and homeowners.

The just-released audit of the figures, which was commissioned by City Council and conducted by J.F. Ryan Associates — a property appraisal and management consulting firm based in Newbury, Massachusetts — can be read in its entirety here. In summary, it found that:

The agency’s property assessments were not uniform, resulting in “inaccurate and unfair” property tax bills.

The assessments on one- to four-family homes and commercial and industrial parcels “do not meet industry standards.” The only category that does meet industry standards is condominiums.

The OPA fails to meet 11 of its 18 responsibilities as determined by the City Code. This includes listing on its website how the city calculates individual assessments.

Properties valued under $100,000 are overassessed, and those property owners are “paying more than their fair share in property taxes.”

As of mid-September 2018, the OPA was lagging on completing requests filed by property owners who sought clarification or correction of their assessments in May 2018. The audit praised the actual review process, however.

The findings spurred conflict with Mayor Jim Kenney’s administration, which oversees the OPA. City spokesperson Mike Dunn said the administration welcomes the review but has “serious concerns” with it, including that its conclusions are based on “faulty assumptions” regarding sales data.

He also said that “it would be inappropriate, and frankly unfair, for the OPA team to become political scapegoats in light of the progress they have made” and said that the OPA has hired its own consultant to propose changes. He added that the OPA’s current chief assessment officer, Michael Piper, was approved by City Council in 2014. 

City Council and J.F. Ryan Associates said that under the city’s Actual Value Initiative, which is the property assessment system which Philadelphia adopted in 2013, many properties are being “either unfairly overassessed or underassessed, particularly in gentrifying neighborhoods.”

Under AVI, the city assess properties at 100 percent of market value. Philly.com reports that when the system was implemented, city officials said assessments would be updated every year — but last year was the first time all residential properties were assessed since 2014.

“Council has been sounding alarms about OPA and the City’s inability to collect and maintain accurate data for several consecutive budget cycles,” City Council President Darrell Clarke said in a statement. “The failure to ensure property data are accurate isn’t just about fairness — it’s about ensuring stability in our neighborhoods and earning the trust of residents and business owners.”

Clarke recommended that the city take following actions on Thursday:

Recruit new leadership for OPA, including Chief Assessment Officer and at least three Deputy Assessors, with the assistance of a nationally recognized executive search firm

Contract with a mass appraisal firm or firms to assist with increasing the accuracy of annual assessments, as well as staff training

Contract with a broad appraisal industry experience firm to assist with procuring mass appraisal services and monitoring the performance of the successful bidder or bidders

Aggressively identify and correct potential assessment outliers between now and the March 31, 2019, certification of values for next year

Clarke said he looks “forward to working with my colleagues on Council and with the Kenney Administration to ensure that OPA becomes the efficient and effective office we know it can be.”

Source: https://www.phillymag.com/news/2019/01/04/property-tax-assessments-audit/

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10 Gorgeous Philly-Area Spots for Fall Foliage Hikes, Walks, and Runs

Outdoor adventure

Soak up fall's stunning vistas at these local spots — all within 45 minutes of the city — that are prime spots for view-filled fall foliage hikes.

Check out the fall foliage hikes at Ridley Creek State Park (pictured here) or at one of the other awesome spots on this list. Photograph via Flickr user Michael W. Murphy.

It’s no secret that the colder temperatures fall brings make getting out of your warm beds for morning workouts a whole lot harder. And the whole dark-as-soon-as-you-get-out-of-the-office thing doesn’t make keeping up your fitness routine very easy either. That said, the very last line of defense — erm, workout motivation — is the gorgeous views of fall foliage that seem to make every chilly run, walk, or hike utterly worth it.

Below, you’ll find 10 Philly-area spots boasting fall foliage hikes, walks, and trail runs galore for those days when you need some serious visual stimulation to make your workout happen. Oh, and the bonuses are twofold: 1. These spots are all within 45 minutes of Center City 2. The views at these spots are fabulous fodder for your #fall Instagram content!

John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum

A snap shot of the fall foliage hikes you’ll get at John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tincium. Photograph via Flickr user Jim, the Photographer.

Drive from Philly: 25 minutes

Yes, that funny park just off 95 near the airport is totally worth exploring. Believe it or not, there are 10 miles of tree-lined gravel trails that follow the serpentine waterways, as well as boardwalk crossings that take you out over the water. Bonus: You’ll even get some pretty spectacular views of Center City from this Southwest Philly spot.

Tyler Arboretum

Drive from Philly: About 40 minutes

There are six trails at this tree preserve in Delco, but the longest, at 7.4 miles, is called the Minshall Trail. It takes you through most of the arboretum’s 650 acres, past the remains of the property’s 200-year-old farm, and across a few creeks. To extend your run or walk, you can connect with any of the other well-marked trails in the property. Note: It’s $15 to get into the arboretum.

Delaware Canal Towpath

Drive from Philly: About 40 minutes

The towpaths that edge the Delaware River canal (on both the east and west sides of the river) are a picturesque escape from your usual stomping grounds, especially in the fall. For the easiest access to the trail, park at Washington Crossing State Park, head over the bridge to the west side of the Delaware, and hop onto the canal path. Head north to New Hope, cross over the bridge into Lambertville, and head south. The whole loop is about 15 miles.

Pennypack Park

Pennypack Park (and its MontCo extension) is chock full of fall foliage hikes. Photograph via Flickr user Tom Ipri.

Drive from Philly: 20 minutes

This is probably one of those Philly parks you’ve been meaning to get to forever, but just haven’t yet made the trek. During the fall, the nine-ish-mile trail along the creek is exploding with color. You can extend your run by heading north (note: it’s hillier this way) along the 2.4-mile Pennypack Trail rail-trail extension into Montgomery County.

Ridley Creek State Park

Drive from Philly: About 40 minutes

Another Delco park that’s worth the excursion, this one has 13 miles of wooded trails hiking trails, as well as a paved, five-mile walking and biking path. Whichever you choose, you’ll get your fill of leaf peeping, as you ascend and descend the park’s rolling hills. Check out the trail network here.

Wissahickon Valley Park

Drive from Philly: 25 minutes

Oh, you beautiful Wissahickon, you. This 1800-acre park, which you can access from East Falls up to Chestnut Hill, is a year-round favorite of ours — but it really shines in the fall. You can take your pick of over 50 miles of trails, all of which will give you Instagram-worthy views of falling leaves, but the 5.35-mile Forbidden Drive flat gravel path is the easiest on the knees. For more varied terrain, try the orange, white or yellow trails.

Tyler State Park

Here’s proof that you could spend a lifetime soaking up the fall foliage hikes at Tyler State Park. Photo via Flickr user Andy Thrasher.

Drive from Philly: 45 minutes

The name of the game here is hills. But you can take your mind off your screaming quads and gasping lungs by taking in the beautiful scenery, including the quaint covered bridge and pretty Neshaminy Creek. There are 10.5-miles of paved trails and four miles of gravel trails to explore at this Newtown spot.

Haverford College Nature Trail

Drive from Philly: 30 minutes

This lovely 2.25-mile loop is contained on the campus of Haverford College. Sections of it run through the woods, which makes it a lovely (and surprising) fall foliage-peeping adventure, right in the heart of the Main Line. And since it’s a loop, on both gravel and dirt surfaces, you can do as many (or as few) treks around to achieve your desired distance.

Wawa Preserve

Drive from Philly: About 40 minutes

The 98-acre Wawa Nature Preserve is tucked behind Wawa (yes, that Wawa) headquarters just off Route 1 in Media. The preserve features a mix of grassy meadows and thick woods, with four miles of unpaved trails to explore. Be sure to download the ExploreNLT app before you go to get your hands on detailed interactive trail maps, wildlife to look out for and more.

Bartram’s Garden

Nothing but blue skys and fall foliage hikes at Bartram’s Gardens. Photograph via Flickr user The West End.

Drive from Philly: 20 minutes

This tree and plant-filled botanical garden, nestled along the Schuylkill River in West Philly, boasts a number of walking trails that weave through the 45-acre property, taking you through everything from meadows to historic gardens to tidal wetlands — falling leaves always within eyeshot.

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Source: https://www.phillymag.com/be-well-philly/2018/09/26/fall-foliage-hikes-philadelphia/

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Alyssa & Pascual | Sixers Facility | Philadelphia, PA

The only problem with Alyssa and Pascual’s engagement session is that it set the bar so freaking high for the rest of the year. How many shoots start with a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon and end at the 76ers training facility?!  I was seriously spoiled by these two.  Their chemistry is contagious, the weather was great, and the locations were awesome.  A big thanks to our buddy Kevin for coming along and busting out the drone when he wasn’t holding up my softbox (some of his drone photos are in here). In all seriousness, Pascual, you can just email me the lifelong pass to the training facility. I promise not to abuse it for photography purposes in the future.

Notes: This session was shot by Chris Fuertes of Hoffer Photography. It took place in Old City Philadelphia and at the Philadelphia 76ers practice facility.

Source: https://hofferphotography.com/2019/06/04/alyssa-pascual-sixers-facility-philadelphia-pa/

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Popeye's offering emotional support chicken for travelers

Travelers will be packing the airports this weekend as they make their way to grandma's house.

And to help ease some of the stress that comes with traveling, there is a new, and very unique, feature being offered at Philadelphia International.

Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen is offering flyers its own brand of comfort while providing a good laugh.

It has launched an "emotional support chicken."

That means travelers passing through Terminal C can get a fried chicken meal in a specially designed, chicken-themed carrier box -- which is permitted to fly without any restrictions.

If you want one, you will have to request it when ordering.

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(Copyright ©2018 WPVI-TV. All Rights Reserved.)

Source: https://6abc.com/food/popeyes-offering-emotional-support-chicken-for-travelers/4948448/

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Gas Prices Continue To Rise In New Jersey, Across US

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TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — Gas prices continue to move up in New Jersey and around the nation due to crude oil prices above $55 and refineries in seasonal maintenance that can temporarily limit production.

AAA Mid-Atlantic says the average price of a gallon of regular gas in New Jersey was $2.49 Friday, up two cents from a week ago but below the $2.58 a gallon at this time a year ago.

New Jersey Boosts Hourly Minimum Wage To $15 As Lawmaker Warns It Could Lead To Residents Pumping Own Gas In State

The national average gas price Friday was $2.46 a gallon, up four cents from last week but also below the national average of $2.53 a year ago.

Analysts say drivers can expect pump prices to keep rising in coming weeks due to increased demand and diminishing gasoline stocks, with the nationwide switchover to summer blend gasoline by May 1 also a factor.

Source: https://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2019/03/09/united-states-gas-prices-increase-new-jersey/

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Halloween Tot Parade back on Osage

November 1, 2018

A lot of little (and not-so-little) ghosts, ghouls and goblins paraded up Osage Avenue in the Spruce Hill section of West Philly yesterday for the annual Halloween Tot Parade.

As usual, the parade culminated with a party on Little Osage Avenue. Thanks to the folks on Little Osage for the hospitality. Check out more photos and a video below. Here are some photos from Tot Parades in years past. 

Source: http://www.westphillylocal.com/2018/11/01/halloween-tot-parade-back-on-osage/

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9 Places to Get Great Ramen in Philadelphia

Guides

From shoyu to tan tan, these are the best spots to slurp a warming bowl of ramen in Philly.

Cheu | Facebook

There are few foods that feel as nourishing and foundational as a long-simmered bowl of ramen. And if you grew up slurping one-dimensional, MSG-laden Top Ramen or Cup Noodles from the package, entering the world of real ramen — in all its long-simmered, pork belly-laden glory — is like going from black and white to Technicolor. Philly has its share of authentic spots (with more on the way) serving a variety of styles, so there’s no reason not to try them all, one delicious bowl at a time. Here are some of our favorite spots in the city to get a warming bowl of ramen.

Nom Nom Ramen | Facebook

Hiro Ramen House, Washington Square West Hiro is known for not cutting corners with its long-simmered, house-made broths. For an extra-spicy, sweat-inducing bowl, get their Best of Philly-winning Gates of Hell ramen, made with pork belly, bean sprouts, and bamboo shoots in a spicy broth spiked with “intense” chili oil.

Terakawa, Chinatown and University City Long considered Chinatown’s destination for ramen, Terakawa expanded with a big new location on the Penn campus earlier this year — all the better to get their bowls built around savory, long-cooked stock made in-house.

Nom Nom Ramen, Center City This spot at 18th and Market specializes in Hakata-style ramen, typically made with a pork bone broth — but you can get these Best of Philly-winning bowls built around chicken or veggies, too.

Morimoto | Facebook

Morimoto, Washington Square West Stephen Starr’s Japanese outpost does contemporary Japanese from sushi to katsu curry to ramen. Get a steamy bowl made with chicken, pork, or veggie-based broth.

CoZara, University City Their deep menu of Japanese classics includes ramen bowls based on chicken, pork, and seafood — and you can get them at lunch or dinner.

Cheu Noodle Bar, Washington Square West and Fishtown Shawn Darragh and Ben Puchowitz’s flagship — and its big, shiny sister on Frankford Avenue — gives ramen the Asian fusion-Jewish diaspora treatment the duo are known for with a version loaded with brisket, matzo balls, and kimchi.

Rayaki | Facebook

Rayaki, Cherry Hill This spot, which opened last year in the relative ramen desert of South Jersey, has anime and comic book characters painted on its walls and a hefty list of ramen options. Try bowls spiked with black garlic oil or loaded with New York strip steak, salmon, or a shellfish trio.

Ai Ramen, Center City This spot in the Shops at Liberty Place serves a tight but tasty slate of ramen in flavors like miso garlic butter as well as more traditional styles, along with a few bao buns and sushi rolls for good measure.

Yamitsuki, Chinatown This spot at 11th and Arch — just look for the giant Iron Man robot in the window — does ramen all day long. But you can hit them up for their lunch special, which gets you a great deal on a bowl and a bao Monday through Thursday. Step up the heat in your bowl with a “spicy bomb,” but use caution — it’s not for amateurs.

Source: https://www.phillymag.com/foobooz/2018/11/06/best-ramen-philadelphia/