With Eagles training camp drawing nearer, The Inquirer is taking a closer look at the more than three dozen new faces who are expected to report along with the rest of the team on July 28.
Player: Dontayvion Wicks
Position: Wide receiver
Age: 25
Previous experience: The Eagles acquired Wicks this offseason from the Green Bay Packers, the team that drafted him in the fifth round in 2023 out of Virginia. Wicks also signed a one-year, $10.5 million extension, keeping him under contract through 2027.
He overlapped for two seasons in Green Bay with Sean Mannion, the new Eagles offensive coordinator who served as a Packers offensive assistant in 2024 and the quarterbacks coach in 2025. But Wicks’ best season was his rookie year in 2023, when he racked up a career-high 581 yards and four touchdowns on 39 receptions.
Every year since has paled in comparison. He finished with 415 yards and five touchdowns on 39 receptions in 2024, and 332 yards and two touchdowns on 30 receptions in 2025. Wicks was, in part, a victim of the Packers’ deep receiving corps, as he never played more than 54% of the offensive snaps in a single season.
Dontayvion Wicks (13) faced Quinyon Mitchell (27) and the Eagles last season. Matt Ludtke
He also struggled with drops in 2024, registering the third-highest drop rate at 11.8% among wide receivers with at least 70 regular-season targets, according to Stathead.
Still, the 6-foot-1, 206-pound Wicks has had his standout moments, including his two-touchdown performance in the Packers’ Thanksgiving victory over the Detroit Lions last season. His drop rate improved in 2025, too, finishing with a career-low 4.3%.
Path to a roster spot: Wicks currently projects (depending on whom you ask) as the third receiver behind DeVonta Smith and Makai Lemon, although Hollywood Brown could contend with him for more targets. Wicks will have an opportunity to show that he’s capable of taking on more responsibility in the offense, especially one that traded away its top playmaker in A.J. Brown this offseason.
The Eagles are high on Wicks. Nick Sirianni likened his skill set to that of Keenan Allen, especially in terms of their shared ability to get in and out of breaks and their efficiency at the line of scrimmage. Wicks also has the versatility to line up in the slot (39.3% of his career pass snaps, according to Pro Football Focus) and on the outside (58.9%).
Fun fact: Wicks was a quarterback at Plaquemine High School in Louisiana, and a left-handed one, too. His arm came in clutch during his rookie season when he completed a 14-yard pass to running back Aaron Jones on a trick play against the Denver Broncos.
Quotable: “He’s a unique player in terms of some of the things that he’s able to do from a route-running perspective. He’s headed into Year 4, you’ve seen the growth, and I think you’re excited, because you still see that there are parts of his game that he’s still refining, like every single player. I think he brings toughness. Obviously you can see from watching the tape, he’s a talented guy. One thing I think with Tay is his mindset, he thinks the game in the proper way.” — tight ends coach Ryan Mahaffey, the former Packers receivers coach, on Wicks in June
Player: Jose Ramirez
Position: Outside linebacker
Age: 27
Previous experience: Ramirez was the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ 2023 sixth-round pick out of Eastern Michigan. He didn’t make the initial 53-man roster out of training camp that summer and subsequently was signed to the Bucs’ practice squad.
In 2024, shortly after his three-sack performance in the second week of the preseason against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Ramirez made the active roster out of camp. He appeared in four games that season (30 defensive snaps, 40 special teams snaps). The 6-2, 252-pound outside linebacker was waived at the end of training camp in 2025.
Ramirez continued his pro career in the CFL with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats last season. In three games, he registered one sack and four tackles. Ramirez was released in the offseason to sign a reserve/future contract with the Eagles in January.
Path to a roster spot: Ramirez has a shot at the practice squad, but it’s a long one. He will have to compete against veteran A.J. Epenesa and sixth-rounder Keyshawn James-Newby for one of the last spots on the active roster behind Jonathan Greenard, Jalyx Hunt, Nolan Smith, and Arnold Ebiketie. If the 27-year-old Epenesa is the early favorite to make the initial 53, James-Newby and Joshua Weru (International Player Pathway program; would not count toward 16-man limit) are the top candidates for the practice squad.
Fun fact: In four years at Eastern Michigan, Ramirez notched 20½ sacks, the second-greatest career total in school history. He had 12 sacks in 2022, making him the fourth player at Eastern Michigan since 1998 to notch double-digit sacks in a single season. That season, he was named the Mid-American Conference’s defensive player of the year.
Quotable: “I feel like my best attributes are my stab and my speed, just using my get-off to scare the O-lineman. But I feel like there’s a lot of things I need to work on. Even the things I’m good at, I feel like [there’s] still room to get to perfection. I feel like you can practice over and over and over, and there’s no such thing as getting to the end of it. There’s always time to get better.” — Ramirez in 2023 after the draft, via the Buccaneers
You’ve spent the last month engrossed in 104 soccer matches — and now that Spain beat Argentina to win their second ever World Cup, you’re wondering what comes next.
Soccer is a true global sport, so there are many options if you want to keep watching. Nearly every country on the planet has its own league to follow, including the U.S., with the Philadelphia Union right on your doorstep.
But the Union have the worst record in MLS, so we’ll forgive you for seeking a secondary option, and there’s no better place to start than the English Premier League — not only is it the most popular competition, but the games will be easy to find on American television when the upcoming season kicks off on Aug. 21.
Before you tune in, however, we recommend picking a team to support, which can be tough without geography to decide for you — unless you live in Chester County, which features its own Birmingham (Aston Villa), Coventry, and Nottingham. Answer these six questions and we’ll make it a little easier for you by recommending a team based on your results.
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Arsenal
Why you should support them
If you’re looking for a team that plays smart and can win it all.
What to expect
Last season, under the coaching of Mikel Arteta, Arsenal won the Premier League title for the first time in two decades. Their style of play heavily relied on set pieces and smart play, rather than trying to be entertaining. However, it’s tough to argue with the results.
Where to watch
Arsenal Philadelphia watch games at both Misconduct Tavern locations in Center City.
Recommended team
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Aston Villa
Why you should support them
If you’re looking for a sensible club on the come up.
What to expect
Aston Villa has bounced back from relegation in 2016 to become an under-the-radar, sensibly-run club. Under manager Unai Emery, the Birmingham-based club has finished sixth or higher in each of the last three seasons. As a result of this high league finish, the Villans will also play the best clubs from Europe in the continent’s most prestigious competition, the Champions League.
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Bournemouth
Why you should support them
If you’re looking for a small club punching above its weight.
What to expect
By any metric, Bournemouth shouldn’t be a Premier League side that finishes sixth, but last season, that’s exactly what happened. It was such a surprise that the coach who masterminded it all, Andoni Iraola, was poached by Liverpool. This leaves doubts whether Bournemouth can sustain the highs of last season with a new manager and additional weeknight football in Europa League. Fans of the club will rightly claim this isn’t the first time they’ve faced doubts though.
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Brentford
Why you should support them
If you’re looking for a team designed in a lab.
What to expect
Brentford successfully implemented a data-led transfer policy to make it to the top flight of English football. Despite the Premier League's lack of a salary cap (similar to Major League Baseball), a Moneyball approach can be even tougher in soccer. But the Bees are proving that theory wrong — this season will be their sixth since their promotion in 2021.
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Brighton & Hove Albion
Why you should support them
If you’re looking for every fan to be jealous of your club.
What to expect
It wasn’t that long ago that the Seagulls didn’t even have a stadium to play in. Since then, they’ve been transformed into the envy of all sides. They’re incredibly well-run, use a data-led approach to transfers, and Fabian Hürzeler is the youngest coach in Premier League history at 31.
If you’re looking to get in at the start of an exciting rebuild.
What to expect
Chelsea saw a historic run of trophies under former owner Roman Abramovic, who pumped a lot of money into the club. However, under new American ownership, fans are watching Todd Boehly learn on the job. It’s been a rollercoaster ride since Boehly took over in 2022, with a FIFA Club World Cup win but also several changes of coaches and direction. Fans of the West London club are hoping for a steadier season after hiring highly-rated manager Xabi Alonso.
Where to watch
The Philly Blues are scheduled to watch matches at Cavanaugh’s Rittenhouse.
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Crystal Palace
Why you should support them
If you’re looking for some E-A-G-L-E-S … EAGLES.
What to expect
Crystal Palace thrives on bringing through new talent from its youth academy and the lower leagues. World Cup talents like Michael Olise, Marc Guéhi, and Eberechi Eze all went on to join bigger clubs after first showcasing their talents at Selhurst Park, which may look familiar to Ted Lasso fans, who will recognize it as the home of fictional club A.F.C. Richmond. If a Philadelphian really wants a reason to root for them, their nickname is the Eagles — and they’re partially owned by Sixers managing partner Josh Harris.
It wasn’t long ago that Coventry City was amidst a financial crisis – in the fourth-tier of English football and without a stadium. In 2026, managed by former England and Chelsea legend Frank Lampard, the club returns to the Premier League for the first time since 2001. Their aim will be to avoid the bottom three spots in the league — and relegation back to the second-tier as a result. U.S. men’s national team forward Haji Wright and Co. will fight to make sure they remain in the Premier League for another season.
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Everton
Why you should support them
If you’re looking for a club with history.
What to expect
Everton has competed in England’s top league a record 119 times, winning it nine times. However, the club’s last title was at the tail end of the 1980s and it has finished near the bottom-half of the league each of the last five years. Last season, the Toffees looked doomed to finish in the bottom half and potentially face relegation to the second league. However, club legend David Moyes returned to manage, 12 years after his initial stint coaching the side, and pulled them back from the brink.
Fulham is a London-based club that nearly every fan likes because of their small stadium on the banks of the River Thames that houses a cottage built in 1780. There’s also a tiny part where other fans don’t see Fulham as a threat, but last season’s mid-table finish proves they have the ability to compete in the Premier League — not to mention the team features American Antonee Robinson, who starts regularly.
If you’re looking for a season where every point matters.
What to expect
A few seasons ago, the Tigers were nearly relegated to the third-tier of English football. Last season they defied expectations under coach Sergej Jakirović by finishing sixth in the EFL Championship and securing a Premier League berth after winning a playoff. That step up to the top-tier can be tough, but they’ll look to continue shocking critics by avoiding finishing in the last three places and facing relegation back down.
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Ipswich Town
Why you should support them
If you’re looking for the unexpected.
What to expect
Ipswich, also known as The Tractor Boys, are tough to nail down. A few years ago they returned to the Premier League after a dominant season in the English second division. However, it didn’t go to plan and they were immediately relegated. Back for a second time in three years, Ipswich will be hoping for an improvement — but they know a tough season is ahead of them.
If you’re looking for a club on the rise with some local talent.
What to expect
Leeds United fell from grace in the 2000s as bets on big signings with the hope of Champions League qualification (and bigger prize money for its involvement) didn’t pay off. The following financial crisis saw Leeds relegated to the third-tier, a low for the Yorkshire club. The last decade has seen the club stabilize and return to the Premier League, where fans will feel they belong. Former Philadelphia Union midfielder and South Jersey native Brenden Aaronson will be hoping to guide the club to another steady mid-table finish this season.
If you’re looking for an exciting club with a history.
What to expect
Liverpool is historically one of the biggest clubs in England, tied with Manchester United for the most league titles (20). The most recent came a few seasons ago under Dutch coach Arne Slot. However, last year didn’t go to plan and Slot was relieved of his duties. He’ll be replaced by up-and-coming coach Andoni Iraola, who most recently brought his brand of exciting football to Bournemouth. Iraola’s first year at Anfield won’t be easy; he has to manage a squad in transition after the departure of Egyptian superstar Mohamed Salah.
Where to watch
Liverpool fans meet at Cavanaugh’s Headhouse for watch parties.
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Manchester City
Why you should support them
If you’re looking to watch superstar players.
What to expect
Recent investment from Abu Dhabi has transformed them from the “noisy neighbors” of Manchester United into a powerhouse. Former manager Pep Guardiola won six titles in ten years, making him one of the most successful managers in Premier League history. For the first time in a decade, however, the Citizens face uncertainty under new manager Enzo Maresca. Luckily for Maresca, he has a well assembled squad — including World Cup stars like Norway’s Erling Haaland and Spain’s Rodri — with which to work.
If you’re looking for a side with history and unpredictability.
What to expect
The Red Devils have struggled to compete at the top since legendary manager Sir Alex Ferugson left over a decade ago. Since, Manchester United has banked on its historical name to attract big players to Old Trafford with mixed results. Last season saw the club recruit smartly in the transfer market and finish third. This season, it could easily kick on and challenge for the title — or crumble and finish mid-table.
Newcastle’s new owner — the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund — was expected to make them title challengers. However, this season sees the Toon Army facing an uncertain future after key players like Anthony Gordon and Sandro Tonali have been sold to league rivals. The question will be whether they can wisely invest that money back into the squad.
Where to watch
Toon Army Philly meet for watch parties at Kite & Key, near the central library.
Recommended team
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Nottingham Forest
Why you should support them
If you’re looking for a scrappy club that always keeps things interesting.
What to expect
The unexpected. Nottingham Forest has spent four seasons back in the top flight of English football — narrowly avoiding relegation in three of them, but finishing seventh in 2024-25. It’s a club with high ambitions but one that can make questionable decisions to achieve them.
If you’re looking for a club that defies expectations.
What to expect
Last season was Sunderland’s first back in the Premier League since 2017, and the expectations were a lengthy relegation scrap. Instead, the club from North England turned a lot of heads by finishing seventh and securing European competition involvement. Whether the extra games in Europe will stretch the squad too thin is a big question. However, a large portion of the squad — 11 players in all — should have an extra confidence boost after taking part in the World Cup. If you want to see Sunderland in person, they’ll be playing Wrexham AFC at Subaru Park in Chester on Aug. 2.
If you’re looking for a perennial underdog with a glimmer of hope.
What to expect
Anything. Tottenham Hotspur have gone from challenging for titles in the 2010s under current U.S. men’s national team coach Mauricio Pochettino to winning a European trophy in 2024 to almost being relegated last season. The shock of a big side almost being relegated prompted the club to change the strategy from investment in youth to spending big to improve the squad for today. Under new manager Roberto De Zerbi, you can expect exciting football. Where that leaves them at the end of the season feels like a crapshoot though.
Corey McMillan, Luke Elrath, and Jeremy Stock were longtime friends. All in their mid-to-late-40s and all self-described “motorheads,” the South Philadelphia residents loved to spend their free time restoring old vehicles and, over the years, had come to amass a small assortment of trucks, cars, motorcycles, and bicycles.
It was a side passion, started as a way to save money on mechanic fees or escape — for an hour or two, at least — the stresses of daily life.
The issue was, this was Philly, where century-old rowhouses dominate the local housing stock and a home garage is notoriously difficult to come by. While they all owned at least one classic vehicle, none had a garage of his own.
Then, last spring, came a crazy idea.
What if we bought one ourselves?
Making do
Through the years, the three friends had done their best to make it work: They’d tinkered on sidewalks or rented out space in under-the-table — and sometimes dubious — commercial garages. Elrath was so desperate for spacethat, for a time, he used the living room of his apartment as a workshop for bicycle-related repairs.
“I’d roll back the [rug] and get to work on the hardwood floor,” hesaid.
Jeremy Stock (right) works on his 2001 Audi TT Roadster as Luke Elrath (middle) and Corey McMillan (left) chat in their South Philadelphia garage one evening earlier this month. The group bought the garage together so they would have a place to work on their cars, trucks, motorcycles, and bikes.Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer
As the years passed, they’d largely accepted this as the price of city living, making do however they could.
McMillan, 49, kept his 1970 Ford Truck at his family’s place in the Catskills, working on it only when he could make the trip up from Philadelphia. For the 2001 Audi TT Roadster he was restoring, Stockfound a cramped space over the river in Haddonfield that was “so small I couldn’t work on the car at all.” Elrath rented a spot in a garage that doubled as a storage unit for the Mummers — grateful to have even that.
“If that was all I had for the next decade, I’d consider myself at least lucky for that,” hesaid.
Then, one day this spring, McMillan — who by day works as a professor at the University of Pennsylvania — stumbled upon a curious Instagram post.
It was a property listing, for a sizable South Philly garage. 3,000 square feet. Brick walls and a reinforced concrete floor. Located on a narrow, nondescript residential street. Listed for $380,000.
Notably, it was located within a mile and a half of each of their homes.
‘Absolute heaven’
McMillan texted the listing to his two buddies, who over the course of the day traded a flurry of bemused texts — daydreaming of what they’d be able to do with a space all their own.
“It was a full day of talking about it like what would we do if we won the lottery,” said Stock, 46, who works in marketing technology for a pharmaceutical company.
It was all in fun, insists McMillan. “Just kind of like, Haha, isn’t this funny?”
Butwhen Stock woke up the next morning, there was something about the idea he couldn’t shake.
I just can’t get this out of my mind, he texted the group.
Neither could Elrath, it turned out. Or McMillan, who was already preparing for how he might broach the idea with his wife.
Jeremy Stock, a former detailer, (left) guides Corey McMillan as he restores the paint on his 1970 Ford F-100 truck nicknamed “Boone” in their South Philadelphia garage earlier this month. Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer
That weekend, the three of them went to look at the space.
It was a cavernous, nearly windowless structure. There was no heat or air-conditioning. A rusted beer fridge stood in the back. In one corner was a small bathroom, which was easy to find considering it had no walls — just a toilet and sink anchored to an elevated patch of concrete.
“Absolute heaven,” Stock said.
Gettin’ wrenchin’
Soon enough, the three were running the idea past their wives. And though it took a bit of getting used to — “Buying a second property was not on my 2026 bingo card,”said Danielle Burrows, Stock’s wife — everyone ultimately bought in.
Not long after, McMillan was meeting with a transactions lawyer, who helped navigate the three-way purchase, and, suddenly, they were signing the sale documents — the proud owners of a South Philly garage.
“It all happened so fast,” said McMillan. “It didn’t feel real. It still doesn’t.”
They began moving their things in early June, said Stock, “and immediately got to wrenchin’.”
Recently, McMillan brought his Ford Truck from the Catskills to the garage, and has begun working on it a couple times a week. Elrath, 49, who works as a subject matter expert investigating bicycle crashes, has three motorcycles and a slew of bicycles on-site, and tries make it over to the garage five days a week to tinker with them.
Stock is preparing to take ownership of a 1970 Triumph TR 6, a sporty British roadster in need of significant work, which, he says, will “be a nice multiyear project that we’re going to take on.”
“As the budget allows,” his wife quicklyadded.
From left, Corey McMillan, Jeremy Stock, and Luke Elrath in their South Philadelphia garage.Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer
Settling in
On a recent evening inside the garage, the three friends still seemed in awe that it had all come together so nicely. So far, they agreed, it’s been a revelation. Working side by side, they’re able to share tools and the technical know-how they’ve accumulated through the years. Maybe best of all, it’s been an excuse to see each other regularly. Their wives have begun using the hashtag “GarageWives” in the friends’ group chat.
A month and a half in, meanwhile, the place isstarting to feel like home. McMillan’s wife found a used espresso maker. Someone brought over some old speakers. There arerumors of a potential couch.
There isstill plenty left to do; there are plans to add a lift, and the rotting wood floor of the upstairs hay loft needs replacing.
On this night, however, they seemed perfectly content as they worked on their respective vehicles in satisfied silence — the only sound the clank of tools, the hum of a pair of floor fans, and the sweet crack of a fresh fridge beer.
At the dawn of the 19th century, Philadelphia, having served as the nation’s capital, was well established as America’s founding city.
The city stood strong as the center of American commerce thanks to Alexander Hamilton’s insistence that the first federal bank open its headquarters here. It was a global hub of science and innovation too, thanks to the country’s earliest universities, medical schools, and hospitals laying down their foundations here.
Then in 1805, 71 of the fledgling country’s leaders started a movement to turn Philadelphia into a leading arts city, adding culture to our list of wonders.
That group included Founding Father and signer of the Declaration of Independence George Clymer; businessmen Henry C. Pratt and Simon Gratz; and artists William Rush and Charles Willson Peale. On Dec. 26, the men signed a charter authorizing the creation of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, the nation’s first fine arts museum and art school.
Clymer was named its first president and Philadelphia’s arts and culture scene was born.
PAFA will fete their historic first status on Saturday, July 25 as part of the Philadelphia Historic District’s yearlong celebration of America’s 250th birthday. The birthday party, or firstival, will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at PAFA.
“As the young United States was finding its footing, a group of visionaries set out to give the new nation a cultural heart,” said Hoang Tran, PAFA’s director of archives, library, and collections.
PAFA opened to the public in the spring of 1806 on Chestnut Street between 11th and 12th. In 1845, that building was nearly destroyed by a fire. The museum and art school reopened in 1847.
By 1870, it had outgrown its space and leaders purchased land at Broad and Cherry Streets.
The Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts in 1876, shortly after it moved into its then new building at Broad and Cherry Streets.PAFA Archives
That building, designed by Frank Furness, opened in April of 1876, a month before America kicked off its centennial celebration. At the time, PAFA’s building was one of the city’s most ornate spaces and was touted as a centerpiece of the Center City landscape. (City Hall wouldn’t be finished until 1901.)
Newspapers reported that PAFA cost $400,000 to complete, $12.5 million in today’s money. Today, the Furness Building is also known as the Historic Landmark Building.
The Broad Street building increased PAFA’s shine. Early Americans often turned to Europe as their cultural North Star, but in the late 19th century, PAFA’s leaders began centering American artists like Thomas Eakins, Rembrandt Peale, and James McNeill Whistler in its galleries, forging and defining fine American art.
PAFA was groundbreaking in its inclusivity, allowing women students into its classes as early as 1844. In 1879, PAFA established the Mary Smith Prize, the first major American art prize established exclusively for women.
In 1855, eight years before President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, PAFA welcomed Black visitors. And in 1880, African American painter Henry Ossawa Tanner exhibited paintings in PAFA’s annual show. Tanner soon became an international arts sensation.
“We certainly weren’t perfect but we were definitely progressive,” Tran said. “Today that is a point of pride for us.”
Nearly every notable American artist has attended, taught, or had their work exhibited at PAFA. That long list includes Mary Cassatt, Cecilia Beaux, Robert Henri, Louis B. Sloan, Barkley Hendricks. Jacob Lawrence, Andy Warhol, and Kehinde Wiley.
From left, the newly renovated Furness and Hewitt building, Lenfest Plaza and the Samuel M.V. Hamilton building at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts Tuesday, May 12, 2026. “A Nation of Artists.”Tom Gralish / Staff Photographer
When Mayor Cherelle L. Parker faced questions about spending on Philadelphia’s Fourth of July concert, she promised a “fiscal impact report” that would help determine how the economic benefits of the concert and other major events in Philadelphia during 2026 compared with their cost to city taxpayers.
It turns out the city will have to spend a bit more taxpayer money to get to the bottom of that inquiry.
The finance department is looking to hire a consulting firm for up to $75,000 to provide “economic analysis services to better understand the economic and fiscal impact of Philadelphia’s 2026 events and related activity on the local economy,” according to a contract opportunity posted on the city’s website last week. Responses are due Aug. 5.
The contract solicitation calls for an evaluation of “event-related visitation, tourism activity, and associated economic activity” and estimates of “state and local tax revenues generated by event-related economic activity,” among other things. But it does not ask the consultant to produce an accounting of the city’s spending on those events.
Andrew Richman, a top attorney in the city law department, said the administration will also produce an analysis of the city’s spending related to the major events hosted in Philly during 2026, including the nation’s 250th birthday, FIFA World Cup games, and the MLB All-Star Game.
Fans celebrate after Mexico scores against South Africa while watching the FIFA World Cup opening match on a giant screen during the opening day of the FIFA Fan Festival at Lemon Hill on Thursday, June 11, 2026, in Philadelphia.Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer
“As a standard operating procedure in the Parker administration, there will be financial accounting that details every dollar and cent spent on 2026-related activities, analysis including all expenses, and economic impact of all activities and investments associated with 2026,” Richman said.
The mayor’s office did not respond to a request for comment on when that accounting will take place.
Parker instead hired ESM Productions, a for-profit company led by well-known concert producer Scott Mirkin, and renamed the event the “One Philly: Unity Concert for America,” a version of her slogan, “One Philly: A United City.”
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and Philadlephia Mayor Cherelle L. Parker at the One Philly: Unity Concert for America on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway on Saturday, July 4, 2026, in Philadelphia.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
The changes resulted in a much more expensive concert than in years past. The city agreed to pay ESM about $15.5 million to put on the show, The Inquirer reported after obtaining the contract. The previous year’s concert cost Welcome America about $3 million, a source with knowledge of the event told The Inquirer.
Those sums did not include costs related to city employees, such as sanitation workers and overtime for police officers who worked the event.
The city’s coming analyses, however, will include all of 2026’s major events, not just the concert.
Parker has said her administration will spend $120 million on this year’s celebrations, and she has pledged to ensure communities across Philadelphia, not just Center City, benefit from the investment, which includes beautification projects in neighborhood commercial corridors and funding for block parties and events across the city. The administration has not yet provided details on how much was dedicated to the concert or any other specific event this year.
“At the end of our celebration, you will be able to see an accounting of how that $120 million was spent,” Parker said at a July 1 news conference.
Jill Scott takes to the stage for One Philly: Unity Concert for America on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway on Saturday, July 4, 2026, in Philadelphia.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
Economic impact analyses produced by paid consultants often include rosy estimates that public officials use to justify priorities. Academics who study their work for years have cited issues including inflated assumptions for visitors’ spending and understated or omitted opportunity costs for economic activity displaced by a large project or event.
“Most economic impact studies are commissioned to legitimize a political position rather than to search for economic truth,” John L. Crompton, a professor at Texas A&M University, wrote in an influential 2006 paper published in the Journal of Travel Research. “Often, this results in the use of mischievous procedures that produce large numbers that study sponsors seek to support a predetermined position.”
This year’s July Fourth concert was supposed to be headlined by Christina Aguilera, but the pop star ended up not taking the stage after the city paused the event around 9 p.m. due to the storm. The show resumed shortly after midnight, pushing the fireworks to about 2:30 a.m. July 5.
All other scheduled performers went ahead with their sets, including the Roots, Jill Scott, Meek Mill, DJ Jazzy Jeff, and Will Smith, who said Parker reached out to him personally to ensure he came back after the weather delay.
Uber and Lyft helped flatten the taxicab industry. Now they are joining forces.
Last month, Boston became the latest city where drivers of licensed taxicabs can respond to rideshare trip requests, using apps that are integrated with the Uber and Lyft platforms.
But don’t expect to see this change in Philadelphia, even as the city’s taxi business continues its free fall.
Curb, the leading app company for cabs, and Uber petitioned the Philadelphia Parking Authority, which regulates taxis in the city, to allow coordination of rides on a pilot basis but eventually withdrew the proposal.
Pennsylvania law strictly separates licensed cabs and transportation network companies like Uber, said Christine Kirlin, deputy general counsel for the PPA and former head of its Taxi and Limo Division.
“It was a handful of regulations that just couldn’t be integrated,” Kirlin said, adding that state law would need changes for it to work.
For instance, she said, taxi fares in the city are set by the PPA and cab operators are not allowed to flex prices, as rideshare companies do during periods of high demand. Drivers also need a commercial license, and taxi vehicles are subject to safety inspections — and regulatory fees — that rideshare is not.
In other cities, referrals from rideshare companies account for 30% to 60% of total taxi trips, said Dorel Tamam, vice president for mobile business at Curb.
He is in charge of Curb Flow, an open API platform that aggregates available rides from multiple sources, including Uber and Lyft, direct hails from taxi apps, fleet dispatches, and taxi ranks.
“This program is helping actually reduce idle time, increase the overall trips, giving drivers the add-on opportunity to earn more,” Tamam said.
Curb Flow is being used in 17 U.S.cities, including Newark, N.J.; Seattle; Los Angeles; New York; Reno, Nev.; and Charlotte, N.C.
Taxi rides dropped 88% from 2015 to 2025, PPA data show.
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Fewer cabs are available. In 2010, a monthly average of 1,600 taxis were on the road. In 2025, there were 674, reflecting a 58% drop.
As of June, 633 taxis were active in the city, suggesting a continued decline.
“Things have not really improved. There’s less people out there driving,” said Ron Blount, president of the Taxi Workers Alliance, who believes the number could be even smaller.
“A lot of drivers do both taxis and [rideshare] switching back and forth, trying to make it work,” Blount said.
He said that Curb Flow would lead to more trips for drivers here, but that it was unclear how much their net incomes would improve.
And the average sales price for a taxi medallion, a license required for each cab to operate in the city, fell to an average of $12,857 last year.
The average price was just over $500,000 during several months of 2014, according to PPA numbers.
“We really hope one day to bring it to Philadelphia,” said Tamam, the company vice president in charge of Curb Flow. ”We’re open to further collaboration with the regulators.”
U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick posted a photo on social media with the caption, “Every child deserves a healthy start — and no family should have to navigate outdated barriers to access the nutrition and care their children need.” As a 28-year Bucks County resident, I found Fitzpatrick’s statement hypocritical.
Fitzpatrick initially supported the OBBBA — despite its deep cuts to benefits for low-income families and children. All his fellow Pennsylvania Republicans — including Reps. Ryan Mackenzie, Scott Perry, and Daniel Meuser — voted for Donald Trump’s bill and its huge cuts to SNAP and Medicaid. Fitzpatrick was only able to vote against the final bill because the Republicans in Congress could pass it without his aye.
Fitzpatrick has shown he can do photo ops but cannot do the right thing for the families and children of Bucks County.
Stephanie Bariahtaris, Wrightstown
Get on the bus
I was pleased to read your article about how state lawmakers were able to find money in the budget to support a prison bus program. I worked for a nonprofit that transported children every two months to their mothers at the Muncy Prison. They had done so for several years — funding 50% from their endowment and 50% from the state. It was year-to-year state funding. We had a part-time social worker and a part-time psychologist working with the children and the guardians. A social worker and a full-time social worker, who volunteered without pay, accompanied the children on the bus to the prison. They also provided counseling to the mothers. Around 2010, the state rescinded the funding, and the program had to stop because the state also cut back on other programs. The agency’s endowment could not cover the differences. Years ago, an accountant for a children’s mental health facility told me that it took three years to get fully reimbursed by Pennsylvania. They were only able to keep running because other states sent their children there and paid promptly. Many good programs for children are regularly abandoned due to inconsistent state and federal payments and funding.
John Marquess,retired auditor and nonprofit accountant, Haddon Heights
Bamboozled
What a prime example of voter fraud! Mike Lindell, endorsed by Donald Trump to run for governor of Minnesota, is registered to vote in Texas.
Karel Kilimnik, Philadelphia
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.
ARIES (March 21-April 19). You gathered information. You explored possibilities. You changed your mind three times. Now it’s time to pick. You’ll gain more useful information from action than from another week of deliberation.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). What starts as a curiosity or possible source of entertainment will escalate and transform into something much more substantial and emotional. It could even change you. So be careful what you dabble in now.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). You don’t have to sort through the noise because the signal is coming through loud and clear. The important information separates itself from distractions and competing narratives. You know what matters and what to do next.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). You’ve spent enough time identifying problems. Now you can focus on what you’re making instead of what you’re fixing. You’re really building something useful here, and this is what will open exciting possibilities.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). You’ll have what you need, and that changes everything. Instead of trying to control every outcome, you’ll find yourself responding naturally to whatever the day brings. It’s a peaceful, easy feeling.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). You see a puzzle from an entirely new angle. You are no longer searching for a missing piece because this is a full picture just as it is. If there’s an opening, consider it a feature, not a flaw — a window of sorts.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). You’ll do your best work from a relaxed but intentional state. It’s easier to maintain when you’re focused on the moves you’re making, not on whether you’re winning. To play with valiant intentions and handle the struggle with grace is the real triumph.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Discussions, brainstorming and speculation have taken you as far as they can. You’re through talking. Lay the groundwork with a purchase and/or commitment. It won’t be long before this takes on a life of its own.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). You feel like you could solve your situation if you just saw it for what it is. What would an outsider notice? A child? The simplest questions often uncover the biggest blind spots and point the way.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Cherish your key witnesses today. Without a witness, even significant moments can feel surreal — like you’re not sure if they even happened. But when you share the experience, it somehow becomes easier to believe and harder to forget.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Sometimes you push boundaries just for fun. Today it’s the kind of fun that can lead to a key development. Things fly up and then land back down and settle in an arrangement that works better.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Instead of giving a detailed account of how you arrived here, you keep it brief, ask for what you want and tell them what you’d like to happen next. Your direct communication style will simplify everything.
TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (July 23). It’s your Year of the Soul Stew in which you are comforted, nourished and fortified by your favorite “ingredients,” including funny friends, affection and adventure. More highlights: New hobbies and interests to explore. A positive turn in your finances. A leadership opportunity lands in your lap. Healthy changes become easier to maintain, and before long you’re feeling stronger than you have in years. Virgo and Leo adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 13, 6, 15, 22 and 50.
DEAR ABBY: My boyfriend, “Adam,” and I have been together for four years. We are very much in love and share similar views on most things. We agree that a marriage license is just a piece of paper and our relationship is already a marriage, so we don’t need one.
We have also discussed the idea of having children in the future, and we agreed we didn’t want any. I have never had the drive to be a mother, although I have been told I would make an excellent one. Even Adam has said it. But we both have been adamant that we don’t want children. We love our freedom way too much (or at least I do), not to mention the finances involved, and we want to travel a lot. Because I can no longer take birth control, I have been considering tying my tubes. Adam volunteered to get a vasectomy because he said he doesn’t want me to go in for surgery. Well, this week he confessed that he hasn’t gone through with it because he’s scared and he still might want a baby.
Adam has flip-flopped back and forth over the last two years about having or not having a child, while I have stayed firm on not wanting any. Should I consider having a child if that’s what he wants? I love him. He’s the man I see myself growing old with, and I don’t want to break his heart.
— PERPLEXED IN CALIFORNIA
DEAR PERPLEXED: Parenthood is a joy that should be embarked upon because you sincerely want a child, not to please your boyfriend. The truth is that motherhood is a lifetime responsibility. It doesn’t end when the child turns 21. I implore you not to make such an important decision to please anyone but yourself, because if something happened to Adam, you would have to raise that child alone.
There are other options besides birth control medications you should discuss with your doctor. Unless you are absolutely certain you want to become a mother, you should utilize them religiously.
As to a marriage license “just being a piece of paper,” let me point out that it is much more than that. It entitles a spouse to participate in medical decisions if a husband or wife becomes incapacitated, and it also guarantees rights of inheritance if, heaven forbid, something should happen to either of you. Yes, I know there is such a thing as common law marriage, but a marriage certificate is better — trust me on that.
** ** **
DEAR ABBY: We have a morbidly obese 30-year-old grandson (at least 300 pounds) coming for dinner along with family. We don’t have any chairs that will accommodate him. We are concerned that he will be embarrassed. Can you help us in handling this dilemma?
— HOSTESS IN CALIFORNIA
DEAR HOSTESS: I’ll try. Go online or start calling around to furniture rental companies or catering companies that may have chairs you can rent that will accommodate your grandson. If that isn’t an option, consider buying something sturdy, perhaps from a secondhand or thrift store, to have available for him during family gatherings.
After a 59-day break for the FIFA World Cup, the Union picked up their first home win of the season behind a 3-1 final over Eastern Conference rival Red Bull New York at Subaru Park on Wednesday night.
Milan Iloski opened the scoring for the Union (2-10-4, 10 points) in the ninth minute. Indiana Vassilev scored the second, and 6-foot-6 defender Neil Pierre scored off a pinpoint set-piece header in just his second career game for the first team.
Cade Cowell scored the lone goal for New York (6-6-4, 22 points) in the 38th minute.
In his return from six months at England’s Birmingham City, Kai Wagner was instrumental in creating Iloski’s goal and was credited with the assist on Pierre’s. Wagner took his familiar spot at left back five days after the Union announced his return to Chester.
The Union’s win over New York was their second win of the 2026 season, and their first league win at Subaru Park in 269 days. Before Wednesday, the Union’s most recent home MLS win was a playoff victory over Chicago Fire FC on Oct. 26, 2025.
Union interim head coach Ryan Richter celebrates a win in his first team debut. Isaiah Vazquez / For The Inquirer
It also marked a win in the first team debut as interim manager for Ryan Richter. Richter, the longtime Union assistant and former player earned the role after the club parted ways with Bradley Carnell in May.
“It’s a good way to start, but it’s one game,” Richter said. “But it is nice to get some positive momentum going in to the second half of the season.”
Quinn Sullivan made his return from a torn ACL, coming on for the first time in 10 months, to replace Vassilev in the 73rd minute. It was Sullivan’s first match since September, when he suffered the injury in a 6-0 win over D.C. United.
“I’m just really thankful for everyone involved and happy to be back out on the field,” Sullivan said of his return. “Hopefully [I will] get a little bit more sharp and not get pushed off the ball as much. But it was a good start tonight. I was happy with my performance.”
Wagner’s impact was felt before play started on Wednesday. He was welcomed with raucous cheers from Union fans during the introduction of the team’s starting 11.
Kai Wagner gets a loud welcome back to Subaru Park:
In the ninth minute, Wagner sent a cross in from the left flank that Red Bull goalkeeper Ethan Horvath tried to catch out of midair.
Horvath collided with a New York defender inside the 18-yard box and spilled the ball to Iloski, who capitalized on the error with a right-footed blast to put the Union up, 1-0.
Milan Iloski opens up the scoring for Philadelphia! 🤿
It was Iloski’s team-leading eighth goal of the season across all competitions.
Cowell pulled New York level with a goal in the 38th minute. Ronald Donkor made a run through the center of the Union defense before passing to Emil Forsberg near the top of the 18-yard box.
Forsberg laid the ball off to his right, sending Cowell in behind the Union’s defense. Cowell finished the chance with a right-footed shot that beat Andre Blake and tied the match at one.
Combination through the midfield, and Cade Cowell finishes it 😮💨
The Union nearly reclaimed their advantage in the 44th minute, but Bruno Damiani was unable to finish a one-on-one chance against Horvath, who stopped the striker’s shot at close range.
— Red Bull New York (@NewYorkRedBulls) July 23, 2026
Cavan Sullivan created the Union’s first chance after halftime, launching a curled shot from the right side of the 18-yard box that Horvath tipped onto his left post.
Blake made a crucial save in the 54th minute to keep the match even, coming up with a save against Julian Hall after the 18-year-old forward sped past Nathan Harriel.
Richter’s first substitution came in the 56th minute, when Pierre replaced Japhet Sery Larsen at center back. Pierre spent the first half of the 2026 season on loan at Danish club Lyngby.
Vassilev put the Union up, 2-1, with a goal in the 57th minute. Frankie Westfield played a cross to Vassliev from the right wing, and Vassilev tucked away the chance with a left-footed shot that snuck past Horvath.
It was Vassilev’s second goal of the MLS regular season.
As for Pierre, the 18-year-old homegrown player used all of his 6-6 frame to score his first goal with the Union from a corner in the 66th minute to give the Union a 3-1 lead.
Wagner whipped a cross toward the back post from the left corner flag, and Pierre rose above a crowd of Red Bull defenders to slam a header past Horvath. With his family watching on from the stands, Pierre called scoring his first goal for the Union “a dream come true.”
Richter made his final changes in the 85th minute, bringing Ezekiel Alladoh and Jesús Bueno on to replace Cavan Sullivan and Iloski.
The Union picked up their first home win of the season on Wednesday.Isaiah Vazquez / For The Inquirer
The 3-1 score line held through nine minutes of stoppage time, and the Union broke an eight-game, 102-day winless streak.
“It’s so important for us to start this in the right way,” Richter said. “But, again, it’s one game. We turn around and play again in a couple days, and we have to approach with that same fighting spirit in the next game. But for the first game, for me, it was all positive.”
Up next …
The Union will return to Subaru Park to face the Seattle Sounders on Saturday (7:30 p.m., Apple TV).
