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  • The poorest in the U.S. can’t find housing even as low-income units sit empty

    The poorest in the U.S. can’t find housing even as low-income units sit empty

    PORTLAND, Ore. — Mathew Davis, who lives in a homeless shelter in Austin, Texas, would love an apartment of his own. But with the little money he makes donating blood plasma, even a $450-a-month tiny home with no running water and a communal bathroom would be a stretch.

    Meanwhile, over 4,500 units the city classifies as affordable — nearly 16% — sit empty.

    “I don’t make enough money really to afford anything,” Davis, 49, said of the few hundred dollars he earns a month. “I just keep trying to swim uphill.”

    The poorest people in the U.S. face the most acute shortages of affordable homes. But the majority of low-income housing financed in recent years is for those earning 50% of an area’s median income or above, according to a survey of state housing agencies.

    Some cities are now seeing an uptick in vacancies as rents for these units approach market rates. The result: Apartments designated as affordable sit empty because the poorest of the poor cannot afford them.

    Meanwhile, some people are forced into homelessness and others into desperate circumstances to pay for housing they can’t afford.

    The poorest have few housing options

    There are only about 4 million affordable rental units available for the country’s 11 million extremely low-income renter households, according to the National Low Income Housing Coalition’s most recent annual report.

    These are people with annual incomes either below the federal poverty guidelines — just under $16,000 for a single-person household — or 30% of the median income in their area, whichever is higher. They comprise about a quarter of U.S. renter households, and include many people working low-wage jobs, seniors, and those with disabilities living on fixed incomes.

    About three-quarters of extremely low-income renter households pay over half their income on rent and utilities, the report said, leaving little leftover for other necessities.

    Yet homes set aside for these renters were only about 12% of the affordable housing units financed in 2024 by the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit — a federal program providing tax credits to developers in exchange for keeping rents low for at least 30 years, according to figures from the National Council of State Housing Agencies.

    The majority are for those earning at least 50% of an area’s median income, or AMI. In Austin, that’s a single person earning roughly $47,000 a year, as compared with an extremely low-income person earning under $28,000.

    The program has financed nearly 4 million affordable units nationwide since its creation 40 years ago. But some experts say it’s inefficient — and more costly than housing vouchers.

    “It’s enormously complex and bureaucratic, and it raises the cost of construction enormously because the rules are so complicated,” said Chris Edwards, an economist at the Cato Institute, a libertarian think tank, who told Congress the program’s complexity “spawned” an industry of law and accounting firms just to administer it.

    “If you’re going to subsidize affordable housing, you should give the money directly to tenants,” he said, referring to housing vouchers.

    Other experts say the two programs work together well because properties built with the tax credit are required to accept vouchers — while landlords of market-rate apartments in many states are not.

    Still, there’s a major federal funding shortfall: Experts estimate only one in four eligible families ever receive vouchers. Vouchers can help the poorest pay for housing that’s targeted to higher income groups, but the waitlist can be yearslong.

    Some affordable housing developers say that without vouchers, it’s not economically feasible to provide units for extremely low-income people.

    True Ground Housing Partners, an affordable housing developer in the Washington, D.C., area, gives an example: A unit for those earning 60% of the area’s median income — nearly $70,000 a year — brings in $1,715 per month in rent. But after $1,575 in mortgage and operating expenses, only $140 is left.

    “The math does not lie,” said president and CEO Carmen Romero, noting that an extremely low-income person would pay only half that rent.

    “Our expenses don’t make it really possible to create a 30% AMI unit, unless there was this extraordinary amount of subsidy that just doesn’t exist.”

    Affordable housing competes with market-rate rents

    Meanwhile, affordable housing rents for 60% AMI units are approaching those of market-rate apartments in U.S. cities like Austin, Denver, and Portland, Ore.

    As a result, some people are opting to pay a bit more for market-rate apartments with less income-verification and faster approval — leaving growing numbers of affordable units vacant.

    In Austin, the vacancy rate for all affordable housing is nearly 16% with over 4,500 vacant units, according to real estate data and analytics firm CoStar. A healthy vacancy rate is around 5%.

    LDG Development, an affordable housing developer, cited a 12% vacancy rate for its 60% AMI units in Austin. Chief portfolio officer Rebekah Fischer said LDG is “in direct competition” with the thousands of new market-rate apartments recently built in Austin.

    “I have to have every bank statement, every pay check, every bill, every Venmo transaction that you had with your friends,” Fischer said of affordable housing applicants.

    “When we’re almost going after the same renter, you can be approved within two minutes at a market-rate deal, where unfortunately in affordable housing … it takes time.”

    In Denver, there’s a 13% vacancy rate among 60% AMI units financed by the federal tax credit program — and a 21% vacancy rate for 80% AMI units, according to the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority. Meanwhile, there is far too little housing for the city’s poorest.

    In Portland, where there is also a housing shortage for the lowest income groups, there are over 1,700 vacant affordable units for an overall vacancy rate of 7.5%, according to the Portland Housing Bureau. Most are for those earning 60% AMI, or about $54,000 for a single-person household, with rent capped at $1,444 per month.

    That’s close to the average rent of $1,581 for a one-bedroom market-rate apartment, according to CoStar figures shared by the bureau.

    Portland resident Jaiden Barbee earns around 55% of the area median income and is on waitlists for affordable housing. But, he says, he’d pay more for a market-rate apartment to avoid the lengthy application process.

    “I’d rather spend the $200 extra just to get into a place easier that’s wherever I want” and doesn’t have “all these hoops,” he said.

    ‘I want to shut the door at night and sleep’

    Austin officials set a goal of building 20,000 units between 2018 and 2027 for extremely low-income people — 17% of the city’s households.

    Just 543 were built as of 2024, city documents show.

    Meanwhile, all 15,000 units planned for those earning between 60% and 80% of area median income were built.

    In response to questions from the Associated Press, the Austin housing department said it recognized the need to do more to produce housing for the poorest people and was taking steps to do that, including giving preference to funding proposals that include 30% AMI units.

    For Davis, who lived in his car for a year before getting a bed in the Austin shelter, the housing shortage for people like him is frustrating.

    “I want to shut the door at night and be able to sleep,” he said. “I really just want to find the right place.”

    Charlotte Kramon contributed to this article.

  • We made 10 Shore predictions for 2026. Here’s how we did.

    We made 10 Shore predictions for 2026. Here’s how we did.

    Things not on my 2026 Jersey Shore predictions bingo card: a canceled luau, and a dispute over live outdoor music featuring audio of 911 complaints posted to Facebook.

    But, at the start of the season, I did make 10 predictions on how the Shore summer would go.

    Here’s how I did.

    Full speed ahead for Icona in Wonderland. ✅

    I’m calling this a win (for my predictions score; people have very different views of the hotel). In June, Eustace Mita finally got his dream of a declaration that the old Wonderland Pier site at 600 Boardwalk in Ocean City is “in need of rehabilitation.”

    The Icona developer is now in negotiations with Ocean City about a hotel proposal, which he says will be a scaled-down version of his initial seven-story, 252-room plan that called for saving the Ferris wheel and historic carousel. City council is vowing to be guided by recommendations from a Boardwalk subcommittee. Meanwhile, council hired a lawyer to defend against a lawsuit by citizens’ groups.

    Eustace Mita talks about the construction of this beachfront Achristavest home on 116th Street in Stone Harbor on Tuesday, August 18, 2026.Vernon Ogrodnek / For The Inquirer

    Atlantic City’s Irish Pub will rise again. ❌

    Alas, not even the sale of the Irish Pub in Philadelphia appeared to jump-start any renovations in Atlantic City, where owner Cathy Burke has been in a stalemate with state inspectors over whether the iconic, beloved pub on St. James Place should be considered a high-rise. The pub has been closed since January.

    Will locals have their fish and chips and Guinness on Christmas Eve as per usual? You never know. Burke did not answer a text message seeking an update. Asked about the Irish Pub’s status, Atlantic City spokesperson Andrew Kramer said he had “nothing new from my end on this one.”

    But, in an upset, the city has begun paving Atlantic and Pacific Avenues, in a development Mayor Marty Small Sr. called “massive,” and said would be completed by year’s end.

    Fran Cann (left) helps Debbie Stiles (#9, right) get through the door, since she can’t see as well wearing a “St. Nick” Foles bag over her head, as they celebrates Bag Day at the Irish Pub in Atlantic City Monday, Mar. 18, 2024. The friends, from Berlin, N.J.were attending their first Bag Day. The tradition got started when a late-to-the-party patron showed up to the 24-hour bar a day after St. Patrick’s, then put a bag on their head.Tom Gralish / Staff Photographer

    Shore restaurants will tough it out, but struggle. ✅

    Restaurants were stressed this summer. As is usual in late summer, many lost employees as the season wore on all the way to Sept. 7, and had to cut back seating or hours. Others pleaded with their clientele for patience. Still, there were lines down the block for coffee places, and booked up reservations for favorites like Steve & Cookie’s and Cafe 2825. New places were opening deep into summer, like Culina Mundi in Ventnor and Sabrina’s Kitchen in Atlantic City.

    Bakeria 1010 owner and pizza savant Mike Fitzick posted a mock obituary for himself at summer’s end: “Welp that’s all she wrote folks. … Right from start I knew this season was gonna be rough. All the staff I tried to hire fizzled out and the staff I had last year were mostly gone. This summer was pretty treacherous in every aspect … June was trash, July was ok and we finally hit our stride in August. Better late than never, I guess. Unfortunately I have passed away due to self-inflicted cortisol poisoning. In lieu of flowers please donate to the Bakeria 1010 all winter. Jokes aside we WILL be open for lunch today…”

    Kylie Kelce adds some money to the cash register during the Shore Birds celebrity bartending event in Sea Isle.Courtesy of the Philadelphia Eagles

    Taylor and Travis will not honeymoon in Sea Isle, but…? ✅ ❌

    No, they did not honeymoon in Sea Isle, choosing instead Big Sky, Mont. (a lovely place), so that’s an easy one in my favor. But my leaving open the possibility that they would make an appearance in Sea Isle seems, on balance, ridiculous. Maybe they’re waiting for Jason and Kylie Kelce to finally make it off the waiting list for the Sea Isle Yacht Club. Maybe a celebrity bartending gig for Taylor at the Eagles Autism extravaganza next summer? Meanwhile, have fun in Ohio!

    Mike and Annamarie Carr of Ventnor, owners of Jagielky’s candy shops, with the e-bikes they love to ride. Ventnor won’t allow them on its own Boardwalk. The couple drove to Ocean City on June 2 and started and ended from there.Amy S. Rosenberg / staff

    E-bikers will be hauled off the boardwalks and fill municipal court Zoom hearings. ❌

    There was a lot of confusion over the new e-bike law in New Jersey.

    First the state Motor Vehicles Commission said Pennsylvania visitors shouldn’t sweat the new registration requirements, then they changed their mind and said visitors should start their week down the Shore with a trip to the DMV. Adding to the confusion, the MVC requirements explainer page that says out-of-staters should comply now also says, “This page is intended for New Jersey Residents.”

    In all, the MVC has issued a total of 13,850 e-bike registrations, according to commission statistics; 365 of those for out-of-state residents.

    But police were generally light-handed on enforcement measures for the new law, with departments focusing on safety issues, like helmets, and age restrictions, rather than registrations.

    Doug Bergen, a spokesperson for Ocean City, said no citations were issued there this summer under the new law.

    In Ventnor, Lt. Bryan Gaviria said between May 1 and Sept. 10, the department issued six curbside warnings to juveniles, 10 e-bikes on the boardwalk warnings, and one ticket for riding on the boardwalk.

    “We’re still in the education phase,” he said.

    Statewide, statistics show 628 total citations under the e-bike and motorized bicycle law for July and August, according to data supplied by the New Jersey Judiciary.

    Of those, just 77 were given for low-speed electric bicycles, 22 citations were for failing to have the registration required by the new law, and two were for drivers being under 15. The rest of the citations issued were for motorized bicycles, the higher speed classification.

    Retiring boomers will continue their takeover of Shore towns. ✅

    Yes, who else can afford to buy?

    Real estate prices remained mostly in rarified air, like this adorable yellow 760-square-foot North Wildwood cottage that sold for $1.7 million in mid-August. It’s a tear down, naturally.

    Or how about this 17,684-square-foot house in the Avalon dunes, built on spec by Eustace Mita (see above), with the distinction of being Avalon’s largest house and an expected price tag in the tens of millions.

    In related news, the home elevator, once considered a luxury, is now considered an essential amenity for new homes in Ocean City, N.J., among other towns.

    Rendering of a 17,684 square foot home being built as a spec house in the dunes in Avalon, at 5745 Dune Drive, by developer Eustace Mita. It will be the largest home in the borough.Courtesy Avalon Borough

    Wildwood boardwalk hours will again be expanded overnight, but all people will talk about are the electric Volvo SUVs driving the tram cars. ✅ ❌

    Wildwood spokesperson Alicia Deluca says the hours remained curtailed, with the boardwalk closing between 1 and 5 a.m.

    The grumbling over the new Volvo tram cars continued all summer, though. People do not like change. Meanwhile, though, Wildwood is preparing a 20-year redevelopment plan for its boardwalk that will see mixed-use projects, including hotels, apartments, condominiums, businesses, and centralized parking garages.

    A Sightseer tram car is pulled by a Volvo EX40 electric vehicle on the Boardwalk in Wildwood Tuesday, June 2, 2026. The Wildwoods Boardwalk Special Improvement District struck a deal with Volvo to provide three free electric vehicles in return for ads placed on the individual tram cars. Four of the older engines remain in use for now.Tom Gralish / Staff Photographer

    There will be a lot of complaining about changing parking regulations. ❌

    I didn’t hear much over the din of loud music from Gully’s, and Facebook groups seemed preoccupied with other things: flies, shaming noise complainers, and finding the best chicken Parm.

    The return of the day-tripper. ✅

    This prediction was a good one. Costs continued to rise, making shorter trips and day trips appealing. I predicted Atlantic City would get renewed attention, and it did, with groundbreakings for new housing developments, a container retail park close to opening, and the enduring appeal of a wide, free beach and a relatively inexpensive real estate picture.

    Obvious miss on the predictions front: Atlantic Avenue is finally being paved. The odds were very long on this one.

    The exterior of Bar 32 on Thursday, June 11, 2026 in Atlantic City, NJ. Bar 32 offers bean-to-bar chocolate, handmade desserts, and craft cocktails.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer

    The summer will seem verrrrry long. ✅

    So long. How long? Basically an extra week until the Sept. 7 Labor Day. Which left beach patrols, restaurants, and other business strapped for employees, and rewarded marathon beach lovers with two days of atrocious flies on the beach Sept. 4 and 5, worse than anyone had ever experienced, like, really terrible! See ya next year!

    Total score: 6/10. We’ll get ‘em next summer, hopefully over a plate of lollipop meatballs at the Irish Pub.

  • Letters to the Editor | Sept. 20, 2026

    Letters to the Editor | Sept. 20, 2026

    School parking problem

    Academy at Palumbo’s Home and School Association is disappointed by City Council President Kenyatta Johnson’s inaction regarding the school parking crisis highlighted in Kristen A. Graham’s recent article.

    Johnson’s spokesperson said that “… any discussion of changes to parking policy must consider the impact on the broader community.” For the past three years, we have repeatedly appealed to Johnson’s office for assistance. He has had plenty of time to conduct discussions, assess the impact, and propose a resolution.

    The irony is that Palumbo staff already use parking spots in the surrounding neighborhood during school hours. The immediate impact falls on our teachers and students. Teachers consistently face a choice: either disrupt instructional time to move their car every two hours or incur costly tickets. Academy at Palumbo’s working conditions are our students’ learning conditions. The parking crisis impacts working conditions.

    Businesses and residents can apply for parking permits through the Philadelphia Parking Authority. Why can’t a similar permit system be established for school district staff? It’s time for leadership to stop stalling and come up with a plan to support our educators.

    Julie Kaeli, former president, Academy at Palumbo Home and School Association, and Alex Du, president, Academy at Palumbo Home and School Association, Philadelphia

    Raising leaders

    An African proverb asserts, “The ruin of a nation begins in the homes of its people” — an expression that offers profound commentary on recent events in Center City, in which large groups of teenagers were involved in confrontations with the police. Diverging from a broader national frame, an examination of the Philadelphia community reveals acute challenges regarding youth engagement in destructive behaviors. This reality necessitates a rigorous inquiry into behaviors that border on juvenile delinquency, marked by a lack of structural boundaries, the erosion of respect for authority, and a diminishing moral compass during sporadic social media gatherings. Many of these gatherings lead to vandalism and open acts of aggression toward authority figures.

    It is also important to recognize that these negative behaviors are not indicative of all children, as many youths demonstrate socially healthy and responsible behaviors during meetups with peers. However, because of social media, these events typically lead to generalizations about children, thereby influencing policy.

    Investigating these dynamics requires analyzing content, the extent and efficacy of parental and caregiver involvement, alongside efforts to reconstruct and adopt a newfound lens of social values and expectations within the community. A fundamental question arises concerning the precise level of responsibility borne by parents and primary caregivers. It is imperative that households actively instill prosocial virtues prior to a child’s entry into the public sphere. Ultimately, while fostering individualism and character, in-home adults must maintain accountability for conduct that borders on juvenile delinquency, ensuring youth positively represent both the family and the wider community.

    We realize it is not solely on the family to achieve this aim; it also takes a healthy community. Likewise, city administrators need to think outside the box when investing in and creating educational, recreational, and vocational opportunities that align with children’s interests. This must include a 21st-century approach to devising a solution to this dilemma.

    Darin Toliver, vice president, cofounder, Black Men at Penn Inc.

    Eyes closed

    Recent accounts of Washington’s lukewarm response to the artificial intelligence crisis are chilling. The leaders of tech companies have said AI could end humanity as it grows so powerful it can’t be controlled. So how does the president of our country respond? He calls it a “hoax,” which is what he calls everything he chooses not to believe. His position is that we cannot fall behind China in AI development, so he will just ignore the very real consequences. Unless a change in policy or direction benefits him, he is not interested.

    So will our congressional leaders step up and do the right thing?

    Senate Majority Leader John Thune thinks we should address the AI problem with a “light touch.” Apparently he, too, does not take the opinions of the experts seriously.

    Meanwhile, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson is promoting Donald Trump’s plan to give $5,000 to every American adult if the Republicans hold the House and Senate on Nov. 3. Never mind that this is clearly a bribe that will never be paid.

    Johnson also does not seem to recognize the urgency of the AI situation, or simply does not care.

    The lack of an appropriate response from our Republican leaders is just further evidence they need to be removed from leadership positions — all of them.

    Kathleen Clements, Philadelphia

    City-owned censorship

    The recent decision to forbid the rapper Macklemore from performing at Lincoln Financial Field because of his criticism of the situation in Gaza is an utter embarrassment. While it is becoming unfortunately common for those in power to censor views and voices that are critical of them, this is a particularly egregious example made worse by the stadium operators’ lack of transparency.

    Why can’t they give us an answer about how the owner of the New England Patriots, of all people, was allowed to deliver an ultimatum to Ed Sheeran (whom Macklemore was set to be the opening act for) on behalf of our publicly owned stadium here in Philadelphia? Regardless of your opinions on Macklemore’s comments, everyone should condemn this assault on free expression that utilizes a city-owned asset.

    Tim Schautz, Philadelphia

    . . .

    Perhaps today’s era of oversensitivity that Jonathan Zimmerman describes in his recent column also applies to the situation in Gaza. These days, when you are critical of the Israeli government, you are subject to being called an antisemite. Don’t believe it? Rapper Macklemore was removed as an opening act for Ed Sheeran’s tour because he said two words: “Free Palestine.” He also said: “To all of my Jewish brothers and sisters: Criticism of Israel, criticism of apartheid, being against genocide in no way is criticism of you. My message is for peace, love, and for all human beings to be treated with dignity, respect, and equality.”

    It’s a shame that in America today, criticizing another country’s government can get you canceled. What about our First Amendment rights?

    Roy Lehman, Woolwich Township

    Greenhouse gas limits

    As the Environmental Protection Agency goes rogue, ignoring the growing toll of climate change on humanity and canceling climate pollution limits, states are called on to step up. Pennsylvania, the nation’s second-largest producer of natural gas, has a special obligation to rein in its industry’s emissions of methane, a highly potent climate pollutant and threat to public health. This is all the more critical with the data center stampede let loose here, threatening to add massive new gas-fired power.

    Gov. Josh Shapiro and the state Department of Environmental Protection have announced plans for new state limits on methane emissions. They need to make those rules the strongest possible. Seeking a weaker path palatable to the gas industry would fail Pennsylvanians’ health and welfare.

    Robin Mann, Rosemont

    Join the conversation: Send letters to letters@inquirer.com. Limit length to 150 words and include home address and day and evening phone number. Letters run in The Inquirer six days a week on the editorial pages and online.

  • Horoscopes: Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026

    Horoscopes: Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026

    ARIES (March 21-April 19). In relationships where emotional safety is the norm, you’ll care less about how you’re being perceived and more about a lot of other things, like what you’re giving, how much joy is circulating and the other opportunities that might be present.

    TAURUS (April 20-May 20). How you love busy people! They do, however, require you to make plans in advance, so those whirlwind lives have a chance to meet up at the same place and time. Put it on the books — the anticipation will be sweet.

    GEMINI (May 21-June 21). People who like the usual way of doing things may have opinions about your method. Hear them out if you want to, and expect to be amused and in no way obligated to change. Bottom line: what works, works.

    CANCER (June 22-July 22). Other people may judge by shallow things, like who gets attention or has the fanciest stuff. You use your own ideas instead: Did I enjoy this? Did I do a good job? Was I kind? It’s more fun without watching yourself from the outside.

    LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). They learned some facts, read up, and yet they are stuck in the task because some things make sense only after you do them. That’s where you come in. You’ll share what you’ve learned from experience. You’ll be the hands-on guide.

    VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). When something interests you, you often meander through the land of “maybe” before you decide yes or no. But today, you’ll see something that’s an immediate “yes, please,” and it’s nice to just know. This one checks all the boxes.

    LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Just because you’re checking flights doesn’t mean you’re taking off, but the mere idea of adventuring will be a kind of vacation from the usual stressors. So fantasize. “Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.” — Helen Keller

    SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Friendships really blossom when you’re at your best, giving the effort, fun and attention only you can give. Good friendships can also survive the late reply, the long story, the bad mood. You’re here for it all.

    SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Remember when you gave way more than you wanted to just to get out of any possible confrontation? It made sense then, but things are different now. You’re brave enough to take on unpleasantness in the name of fairness.

    CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Unfamiliar activities beckon. When you’re new at something, you don’t pretend you know any more than you do about it, and that’s just the humble stance that will endear you to those who can teach you more.

    AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Emotional healing usually means the memory remains, but it stops being the only thing you think about. Your body stops reacting as though it is happening again. You may have feelings about it, but they don’t stop you from choosing what’s next.

    PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). You’re full of ideas today. Some amuse you for a minute and disappear. But there’s this one that sticks around. It’s tucked in the back of your mind all day and makes its way to the front by night. It could even keep you up.

    TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (Sept. 20). You will play a card nobody expected in this your Year of the Wild Card. A choice that looks odd at first will make more sense as the game goes on. And the best part is, it comes intuitively to you, and you make moves sometimes before even knowing the grace of your own strategy. More highlights: Your charm attracts friends, makes sales and lands you in novel and interesting places. Family additions. Serene personal time. Scorpio and Taurus adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 5, 44, 39, 2 and 6.

  • Dear Abby | Good neighbor learns inclusivity has limits

    Dear Abby | Good neighbor learns inclusivity has limits

    DEAR ABBY: I am a single woman in a friendly neighborhood. Every month, I have the neighbors over for dinner and a movie. I like to be inclusive — bring the kids, bring the dogs! One couple recently had their elderly mom move in, and I installed a ramp so she could join us. Babies cry, dogs bark, women breastfeed, but all are welcome. I put sleeping bags on the floor for the kids to sit on while grownups sit on the couches. Cleanup is a bear, but every squished meatball on the floor reminds me how much I love everyone.

    Recently, a new couple moved in, so of course I invited them and their 6-year-old to join us. They warned me that he has severe autism, but I told them everyone is welcome, that he wouldn’t be expected to be quiet and that the house is thoroughly kid-proofed. When the family showed up to join us, their child was horrible, even by my nonexistent standards for kiddo behavior. He screamed, threw food, bit, spit and hit the other kids and the dogs for an hour. Finally, everyone started to leave before the movie was over. The boy’s parents really did try their best, and I was genuinely sympathetic. They apologized the next day and said that if they were welcome in the future, they would alternate one parent staying home with their son while the other joined us. That sounds reasonable, but I don’t like it. I can’t be inclusive just when it suits me. They have since invited me to their home for dinner, and their son was just as bad there, banishing my thoughts that maybe it was just a strange house he was reacting to. I don’t know what to do with all this. I’m looking for a magic wand. Any suggestions?

    — NEIGHBORLY IN THE EAST

    DEAR NEIGHBORLY: You are a caring, lovely person, but there is no magic wand that will make that child’s severe autism and behavior problems go away. Because you are determined to entertain the entire family, the practical solution would be to invite them and their son over on another evening when other children and pets won’t be at risk of injury. Your movie night will be history if it is disrupted like that again. While I commend you for wanting to befriend the family, I think the parents had the right solution.

    ** ** **

    DEAR ABBY: I’m 70 now, and many of my friends and family spend our time together complaining about their various ailments. I, too, have had some problems but do not make them a part of our visits unless I’m asked about them. How can I rethink how to make these times more positive for everyone involved?

    — POSITIVE IN OREGON

    DEAR POSITIVE: Sometimes, people of a certain age talk about their health problems because they have become less active and can find little else to talk about. To keep the energy flowing in a more positive direction, help your friends find hobbies and other interests to discuss. Even if they have medical issues, most people can manage quiet activities like board games, card games, a book club or a knitting circle. If all else fails, you can always ask them about their families as a change of subject.

  • Penn kicks off milestone season in dominant fashion with season-opening win over Bucknell

    Penn kicks off milestone season in dominant fashion with season-opening win over Bucknell

    Penn football kicked off its 150th season against Bucknell in Lewisburg, Pa., on Saturday night.

    The game was one of firsts, with new Penn head coach Rick Santos opening a new chapter for the program after Ray Priore’s departure and freshman quarterback Miles Teodecki making his debut on the collegiate field.

    On Bucknell’s Family Weekend, Penn won 20-7, with two touchdowns in the first quarter.

    Penn (1-0) won 33 of its last 38 games against Bucknell (1-3), which is also entering the season with new head coach Jeff Behrman. The Quakers have won 10 straight against the Bison since 2003, with their latest matchup being in 2024.

    In the first game under Santos’ leadership, the team showcased its renewed offensive line with Teodecki at the helm and a defense built on speed.

    Teodecki settles into role

    The freshman quarterback made a strong collegiate debut, showcasing his ability to run and roll out of the pocket or throw long passes.

    “Getting your first college win is always special,” Teodecki said, adding, “I got to see my parents for the first time in a couple [of] weeks so that was awesome.”

    Teodecki focused on his rush game in the first quarter, setting off on a 36-yard run, using a fake handoff play that he used again at the 1-yard line to secure his first touchdown. But the quarterback got loose, flinging a 37-yard pass to freshman wide receiver Mason Page to secure Penn’s second touchdown at the end of the first quarter.

    “Props to the offensive line for playing their [butts] off all game,” Teodecki said, “Obviously, we did some good things, had some success in some aspects, but we’re a couple plays away from scoring 14, 21 more points in that game.”

    Teodecki showed poise and excellent vision. On a third-and-20 in the second quarter, he took his time before seeing sophomore wide receiver Luke Johnson to complete a 25-yard pass and get a first down.

    But the freshman Teodecki still looks to improve, saying, “I think I can just be a little more comfortable in operating the offense,” he said, “getting them comfortable and making sure they’re good with their alignment, assignment.”

    Defense stifles Bucknell

    As senior defensive back Josh Narcisse said, Penn’s defense was “fast, violent, relentless.” The defensive line quickly collapsed onto the opponent, blocking Bucknell’s attempts to run the ball.

    “That’s something we really harped on all fall camp is that we were going to be the most physical team it could be,” sophomore linebacker Luke McIlhon said.

    The defensive line used its speed to pressure Bucknell quarterback Chris Dietrich, who was sacked onthe first drive of the game. The Bison eventually sent in freshman quarterback Emmett Dowling to replace the junior Dietrich at the start of the second half..

    “We didn’t really care who was in the game,” McIlhon said, “We were gonna play the same regardless.”

    In the first half, the Bison had only one first down to Penn’s 12. Penn kept Bucknell to just 40 rushing yards compared to the Quakers’ 170 and only 1 of 14 third down conversions to the Quakers’ 9 of 19.

    McIlhon made a key interception in the third quarter that cemented the defense’s prowess.

    “[I] saw the ball come at me, right to my hands, got the pick,” McIlhon said.

    When his teammates surrounded him after the play, celebrating the interception, he said, “I’ve never seen so much juice like that. It was so cool to be in the middle of that. It’s really cool how much juice our team has brought, and how much energy we have on the sidelines.”

    Teodecki said, “This one’s great. We’re gonna go celebrate, but on to the next one.”

    Up next

    Penn will play its first home game against defending Patriot League champion Lehigh at 1 p.m. next Saturday. In their last matchup, Penn lost 30-44 on Sept. 27, 2025 at Goodman Stadium.

    Follow the Inquirer’s complete coverage of Penn athletics right here!
  • Temple found itself on the losing end of a nail-biter against Toledo. Next up, a Friday night fight against Army

    Temple found itself on the losing end of a nail-biter against Toledo. Next up, a Friday night fight against Army

    TOLEDO, Ohio — Temple’s 14-point fourth-quarter lead had disappeared. Its first road game had stretched into overtime. Yet after Ajani Sheppard escaped a sack and ran 25 yards for a touchdown, the Owls stood one play from taking it all back.

    K.C. Keeler kept the offense on the field for a two-point conversion that would decide the game. Sheppard’s pass sailed over Peter Clarke in the back corner of the end zone, allowing Toledo (2-1) to complete a 49-48 comeback victory over Temple (1-2) Saturday at the Glass Bowl.

    The failed conversion capped a reversal that began after Sam Brown’s third touchdown gave Temple a 42-28 lead with 6 minutes, 43 seconds remaining. Toledo scored, recovered the ensuing onside kick, and scored again to force overtime, where Connor Walendzak’s touchdown left the Owls chasing the game once more.

    Sheppard changes the plan

    Keeler entered the week expecting Jaxon Smolik to direct most of Temple’s offense, with Sheppard appearing when his mobility suited a particular package. That plan lasted one possession.

    Smolik opened the game with a three-and-out. Sheppard entered after Jaylon Joseph forced a fumble on Toledo’s first offensive snap, although Temple failed to gain a first down and settled for Carl Hardin’s 40-yard field goal. Smolik later went to the locker room and eventually returned to the sideline, but Sheppard remained behind center.

    Temple’s Jaxon Smolik missed a portion of Saturday’s game after suffering an apparent leg injury. Matt Slocum

    “Jaxon went out with a foot issue,” Keeler said. “By the time he was ready to come back in, we were in the throes of things. We put a lot of points on the board with Ajani, and he did a good job.”

    Sheppard rewarded that decision by throwing touchdown passes to Joey Schlaffer and Brown before delivering his most emphatic response. His fourth-quarter fumble gave Toledo possession at Temple’s 32-yard line and led to Walendzak’s touchdown reception, which put the Rockets ahead, 28-27. On Temple’s next possession, Sheppard answered with a 69-yard touchdown pass to Colin Chase and a two-point conversion to Clarke.

    The rotation was over. For better and, ultimately, for worse, Temple’s offense belonged to Sheppard.

    Sam Brown: A monster of the Midwest

    Brown did not ease into his Temple debut. His first two carries gained 15 yards, immediately giving the Owls another powerful option alongside Keveun Mason. His receiving ability also provided Sheppard with an outlet when Toledo crowded the line of scrimmage.

    Brown scored once as a runner and once as a receiver before halftime, but his biggest contribution came with Temple protecting a seven-point lead. He broke through Toledo’s defense for 50 yards, carrying the Owls to the Rockets’ 15-yard line, then finished the drive with a two-yard touchdown run. His third score appeared to put Toledo on the brink.

    Instead, the Rockets erased the deficit before regulation expired.

    Temple cannot close the door

    After Brown’s third touchdown, Temple needed to protect a 14-point lead for 6:43. Instead, Toledo attacked the weakness the Owls had spent much of the afternoon surviving.

    John Alan Richter found CJ Miller in the flat for a touchdown, and Toledo recovered the ensuing onside kick. A completion to Terrel Crosby moved the Rockets to Temple’s 22-yard line before Richter connected with Daryl Barnett Jr. for the tying score. Given 50 seconds to answer, Temple had a potential 50-yard completion to Chase ruled out of bounds before Sheppard was sacked as regulation expired.

    Temple’s Saboor Karriem, seen here in a game earlier this season, and the Owls, saw a lead slip away against Toledo on Saturday. Matt Slocum

    Toledo then needed two plays to score in overtime, with Walendzak following Sam Lee’s gain to the 1-yard line with a touchdown run.

    “We definitely didn’t play very clean defensively,” Keeler said. “There is some improvement that needs to be made on the defense. We can’t let up that many points.”

    Temple forced Toledo to punt for the first and only time with 10:41 remaining. The Owls never stopped the Rockets again.

  • Ed Sheeran addresses Gaza and Macklemore controversy at Philly tour stop

    Ed Sheeran addresses Gaza and Macklemore controversy at Philly tour stop

    At his first concert since controversy roiled his North American tour, Ed Sheeran said he is “deeply worried” by venues influencing performances after opener Macklemore was fired from the concert lineup for making pro-Palestinian remarks on stage.

    “I’ve had to take and make difficult decisions, and I am making mistakes, and I am so, so sorry,” Sheeran told the crowd Saturday night at Lincoln Financial Field in South Philadelphia. Earlier in the evening, before the 8 p.m. concert, dozens of pro-Palestinian activists protested outside the Linc for what they called censorship.

    Demonstrators descend on the Linc ahead of Ed Sheeran concert, decrying Macklemore’s removal from the tour for his pro-Palestinian comments

    The British singer-songwriter said he’s never wanted to disappoint fans or be an “activist musician,” but he’s been thrust into the middle of “important and passionate argument about freedom of speech and the most complex political issue on the planet.”

    Earlier this month, the supporting act, “Thrift Shop” rapper Macklemore, performed his 2024 protest song, “Hind’s Hall,” which is about pro-Palestinian demonstrators at Columbia University. During the show, Macklemore chanted “Free Palestine” and a screen behind him showed footage from the war in Gaza. In both the song and his statements to the crowd, Macklemore implied he believes the conflict is a genocide.

    Afterwards, Macklemore said he had been fired after venues told the tour’s promoter they would prohibit the rapper from performing because of his comments. Sheeran said that venues threatened to “pull” upcoming shows if Macklemore stayed on the billing because of how he “conveyed part of his message.” Both artists attributed those statements to Robert Kraft, owner of Gillette Stadium where Sheeran’s “Loop Tour” is scheduled to stop later this month.

    People gather for a protest near NRG Station, outside the Ed Sheeran Concert at Lincoln Financial Field Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in Philadelphia.Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer

    “I am deeply worried about the idea that venues could pre-approve content and performance,” Sheeran said. “This happens in so many places that I perform around the world, but it should never happen in the free world.”

    Sheeran, who has been an apolitical pop figure, acknowledged the Hamas-led attacks on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, saying it was “horrific and compounded centuries of Jewish pain.” He also said what’s happening in Gaza is “catastrophic and unjustifiable and disproportionate” and that the “systemic injustice we’re seeing unfold in the West Bank cannot be overlooked.”

    Throughout the more than two-minute speech, a seemingly emotional Sheeran said that he wants his concerts to be a “safe space for everyone”:

    “This concert is still a place where everyone is welcome and everyone here can stand beside people that have opposing views, and everyone here can stand by people that they don’t agree with on everything,” he said, “but they can all agree on singing these songs.”

  • ‘God ordained it’: Maple Shade showed love at Prayer & Praise event held for boy struck by baseball

    ‘God ordained it’: Maple Shade showed love at Prayer & Praise event held for boy struck by baseball

    The Kenny Karcher Jr. Memorial Field at Woodlawn Sports Center in Maple Shade, N.J., was filled by more than the standard nine players on Saturday evening as friends and family in the community filled the infield and the bleachers in a prayer and praise event for Xavier Taylor.

    Taylor, a 12-year-old Maple Shade Youth Baseball player, was injured four months ago when he was struck with a baseball before a game on May 26. He was airlifted to Cooper University Hospital.

    Prayer tents lined the first-base line as those in attendance on Saturday prayed that one day they’d see Taylor once again running around the bases.

    Supporters gather at a prayer service for 12-year-old Xavier Taylor, a Maple Shade baseball player who was hit in the head by a ball over the summer.Mia Messina / Staff

    His father, Gregory Taylor, told 6abc on Friday that Xavier is still on a ventilator but has shown signs of improvement, including gaining weight, regulating body temperature, and moving from the hospital to a short-term care facility.

    Family, friends, and community members in attendance offered prayers of thanksgiving for the improvements Taylor has made, while continuing to petition for further healing. Most wore blue and yellow “Xavier Strong” shirts with his jersey number, 6, on the back.

    Sarah DiPhillipo, a family friend who has organized past events for the Taylor family, helped orchestrate the Night of Prayer & Praise, which featured speakers and worship performances, and words from family members. One of Taylor’s teammates battled emotions as he spoke about the person Taylor is and led the group in prayer.

    DiPhillipo said she and Taylor’s mother, Mai-Lin Taylor, were in the hospital room two weeks ago when they both mentioned feeling called to hold the event. Mai-Lin Taylor said she wouldn’t be able to organize it, so DiPhillipo took the lead.

    Supporters gather at a prayer service for 12-year-old Xavier Taylor, a Maple Shade baseball player who was hit in the head by a ball over the summer.Mia Messina / Staff

    “God ordained it. God put everything together,“ DiPhillipo said. ”It just fell in our lap.”

    Gregory Taylor offered a few words of thanks for the people who came to the event. He also spoke about the All Things Foundation founded in honor of Xavier to “spread the Word of God through baseball,” which includes a clinic scheduled for Oct. 8 in Maple Shade.

    Saturday’s mission was similar, sharing their faith through Taylor and his recovery journey.

    “The turnout was amazing; it’s just so touching,” DiPhillipo said. “It’s just really showing me what God is doing through all of this one boy. One little boy. Look at what God is doing through his life, and I cannot wait for Xavier to see it.”

    DiPhillipo added: “It’s extremely touching to see all the support and love for Xavier and the Taylor family, and we just pray for a move of God.”

  • There was a possible measles exposure at Philadelphia International Airport

    There was a possible measles exposure at Philadelphia International Airport

    Philadelphia health officials are warning travelers of a possible measles exposure at Philadelphia International Airport early this week.

    The Philadelphia Department of Public Health is notifying travelers and others who may have been exposed. This incident is unrelated to the recent measles exposures at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, the department said in a news release.

    CHOP’s measles exposure shows the growing danger of Pa.’s outbreak, experts say

    The airport exposure occurred in Terminals B and F, and in areas connecting to Terminals C, D, and E, on Sunday, Sept. 13, from 7:25 p.m. to Monday, Sept. 14, at 12:05 a.m.

    A person with measles was traveling through Philadelphia and stayed in the airport, according to the health department. Officials are encouraging anyone who may have been exposed to check their vaccination status and monitor symptoms.

    “Anyone who is not immune, is unsure of their vaccination status, is an infant, is pregnant and not immune, or is immunocompromised should contact a healthcare provider as soon as possible,” the department said in the release on Saturday, adding that some people may still be eligible for treatment that can prevent the disease or reduce its severity.

    Officials are urging anyone experiencing symptoms to call ahead before visiting a healthcare facility and notify the provider about the exposure.

    “This week’s measles exposures are a reminder of how important it is for all of us to be up to date on our vaccinations,” city Health Commissioner Palak Raval-Nelson said in the statement. “Every Philadelphian who is fully vaccinated has little to fear from the situation at CHOP and the airport. Even more importantly, every one of those people is doing their part to help protect our most vulnerable from measles.”

    Raval-Nelson is encouraged residents to visit the city’s website, phila.gov/measles, to learn more about measles and the MMR vaccine.

    Pennsylvania’s measles outbreak, the largest in the nation this year, has sickened more than 760 people. The state has confirmed four measles-associated deaths, the most seen in the nation in more than three decades.

    The state’s outbreak is centered in Lancaster County, right outside of the Philadelphia region, and measles is actively spreading in suburban Chester County. The widening outbreak has affected more than half of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties.

    Two doses of the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine have proven 97% effective at preventing the disease, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says.

    Nine in 10 unvaccinated people exposed to measles will acquire the disease.

    Typical measles symptoms include a high fever, a cough, runny nose, red, watery eyes, and a rash. Measles can cause severe complications, especially in young children, including pneumonia and brain swelling. While deaths are rare, about three in 1,000 children who contract measles will die.

    Measles, long considered eradicated in the United States, is resurging amid declining vaccination rates. Scientists say that about 95% of a community should be vaccinated to prevent spread.

    In the Philadelphia region, at least 40% of kindergartens were vulnerable to an outbreak as of last school year, up from 33% the prior year, according to an Inquirer analysis of school immunization data widely used to assess community protection levels.