WASHINGTON — The House on Tuesday approved a Democratic bill aiming to fast-track contract negotiations between employers and newly created unions, after 20 Republicans defied their leaders to force it to the floor and push it to passage.
The measure, which passed on a 230-193 vote, faces a slim chance in the Senate and would be all but certain to be vetoed by President Donald Trump even if it were to reach his desk. Still, the vote was the latest reflection of Speaker Mike Johnson’s weak hold on his narrow majority, whose members have steered around him time and again and teamed with Democrats to win passage of legislation that he has toiled to block.
On Tuesday, a sizable bloc of Republicans, including several from competitive districts who are slogging through tough reelection fights, joined with Democrats to push through a pro-union bill. It would impose an initial 90-day deadline on contract negotiations for new unions and their employers, along with paths to mediation and arbitration if the parties reach an impasse.
Rep. Donald Norcross (D., N.J.), the sponsor of the bill, said he had written it to speed up workplace contract negotiations so that employers could not drag them out in the hopes of undercutting workers’ leverage.
“Union busting is illegal, and it’s wrong and it has been for generations,” Norcross said. “But with the dirty tactics of indefinite delays, many employers are working relentlessly to kill their employees’ unions.”
While several Republicans supported the legislation from the outset, party leaders declined to act on it. So Norcross turned to a procedural maneuver known as a discharge petition, which allows lawmakers to circumvent House leaders and force a bill to the floor if a majority of members sign on in support.
Seven GOP lawmakers did so and even more joined Democrats on Tuesday, in voting in favor of the legislation. Among the Republicans who banded together with Democrats to force action on the measure, several are seeking reelection in competitive districts, including Reps. Mike Lawler of New York, and Brian Fitzpatrick and Rob Bresnahan Jr. of Pennsylvania. Another, Rep. Don Bacon, who represents a center-leaning district in Nebraska, is retiring.
Some other swing-district Republicans joined them Tuesday night in backing the bill, including Reps. Derrick Van Orden of Wisconsin and Maria Elvira Salazar of Florida.
Historically, discharge petitions have rarely been successful, but this Congress has been an exception, as Johnson has been unable to stop Republicans from straying from the party line on a wide variety of issues. Democrats successfully employed the tactic to win passage of legislation directing the Justice Department to release files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, which became law, as well as another labor-related bill aimed at overturning Trump’s executive order stripping federal workers’ union protections, which has stalled in the Senate. Last week, they used it to win approval of a bill with new aid for Ukraine that also would impose new sanctions against Russia, defying both Johnson and Trump.
The trend reflects growing frustration among Republicans toward Johnson and party leaders as the midterm elections loom. Before the vote, Fitzpatrick wrote on social media that the tactic had succeeded so many times only because Republican leaders were shirking their responsibilities by blocking popular policies.
“A successful discharge petition is clear and direct evidence of a poorly managed House Floor — because it demonstrates that the will of the majority of the People is being thwarted by the privileged few,” he wrote.
The vast majority of House Republicans on Tuesday opposed the bill. Rep. Tim Walberg (R., Mich.) described the legislation as “a massive expansion of Washington’s power over American workers and job creators.”
“It is the latest attempt to put workers under the thumb of federal bureaucrats,” Walberg said.
Graham Platner, a military veteran and first-time candidate whose populist message resonated with voters in Maine, prevailed over the state’s governor to win the Democratic primary for Senate on Tuesday. Now, he will face Sen. Susan Collins, a vulnerable Republican incumbent, in one of the most consequential races in the country this fall.
Platner’s campaign has survived a series of scandals about his personal life, which Republicans began highlighting within minutes of his victory. And he used his speech Tuesday night to cast Collins as a tool of a political establishment that has let Maine down.
In other primaries on Tuesday, Democrats in Nevada picked Aaron Ford, the state attorney general, to oppose Gov. Joe Lombardo, solidifying the matchup in a competitive governor’s race in a key swing state. And Republicans in South Carolina showed their loyalty to President Donald Trump, supporting his preferred candidates in races for Senate and governor.
Here are three takeaways from the night of primaries.
Amid a barrage of scandals, Platner sought to shift to the fall
Platner, a Marine veteran who owns a small oyster farm, has been hampered for most of his campaign by scandal, including old, unearthed social media posts in which he made offensive comments about women and rape, and a tattoo resembling a Nazi symbol that he has since covered with new ink. The latest controversy came last week, when three women who had dated him told The New York Times that he had engaged in unsettling behavior toward them.
On Tuesday, Platner attempted to shift the focus to his general-election matchup with Collins, a battle-tested incumbent, while also acknowledging his stumbles. In a fiery speech, he said that members of the political establishment “keep looking for that one story, that one headline, that one moment in my life that they can define the campaign by.”
He added: “In trying so hard to understand me, they failed to understand that this is not about me at all. This is a movement about us, about the far too many, working far too hard and struggling far too much.”
Still, nearly 30% of primary voters cast ballots for other Democratic candidates, according to incomplete results early Wednesday, despite that fact that his main opponent, Gov. Janet Mills, had suspended her campaign. That suggested that some Mainers remained skeptical of him, and left him with the challenge of persuading voters in the general election that Collins’ shortcomings were greater than his.
In his effort to pivot, Platner blasted the moderate image Collins has cultivated, describing her as “only bipartisan when it doesn’t matter” and saying she had failed to protect abortion rights.
“If you are an independent voice, why do you vote with Donald Trump 95% of the time?” he said, addressing his opponent directly. “If you’re so bipartisan, why are you the deciding vote to put Brett Kavanaugh on the Supreme Court?”
Trump’s candidates advanced or were leading
Trump’s backing is usually the gold standard in a Republican primary, all but guaranteeing victory. His record suffered a rare blemish last week when the candidate he backed in the Iowa governor’s race lost the Republican primary.
On Tuesday, Trump returned to form, with candidates he supported winning their races, advancing to runoffs or leading challengers in races yet to be called. In South Carolina’s crowded Republican primary for governor, Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette, backed by Trump, led the field and advanced to a runoff with Alan Wilson, the state attorney general, who was close behind.
In Nevada, two of three House candidates the president backed — Carrie Buck and Marty O’Donnell — won their primaries. The third was too close to call early Wednesday.
Finally, in North Dakota, Rep. Julie Fedorchak easily fended off a primary challenge with help from Trump’s nod.
Lindsey Graham avoided the embarrassment of a runoff
Graham, an outspoken Republican who once clashed fiercely with Trump before becoming a staunch ally, has never been beloved by the MAGA base. He faced a serious Republican challenger, Mark Lynch, and a real chance that he could have been forced into a runoff by failing to earn more than 50% of the vote.
But Graham, too, had Trump’s backing, and he managed to avoid that embarrassing outcome. After his campaign and allied groups raised and spent millions on his reelection bid, Graham posted a strong enough showing among South Carolina primary voters to earn a spot on the November ballot. In a deep-red state, Graham will be overwhelmingly favored to win another six years in the Senate.
Congress and the president are having a grand time spending taxpayers’ money.
Whether it’s the One Big Beautiful spending and tax cuts bill, funding for wars in the Middle East, deporting immigrants, or bailing out farmers, there seems to be unlimited resources.
Remember when tax-and-spending proposals were met with the question: How will that be paid for? Well, not anymore.
Unfortunately, for some programs, such as Social Security, the well is going to be dry soon, and neither Congress nor the president seem to be interested in dealing with the looming financial crisis
Social Security is facing insolvency
Social Security, which in some form or another provides funds for over 75 million people, has always been a program that pays for itself. That no longer may be the case.
Since 2010, the Social Security System has been running deficits, paying out more in benefits than it received in revenues. The so-called Trust Fund that built up for the first 75 years is starting to run dry.
Social Security payments are inflation-adjusted every year. Given the elevated inflation rates created by the Iran war, the adjustment for 2027 could be 4% or higher. In comparison, this year’s increase was 2.8%.
That could mean the day of reckoning gets pushed even closer.
A government bailout is doubtful
Though it would be nice to think the federal government can fund anything and everything, high and rising government debt and deficits make that unlikely.
The latest estimate for the current fiscal year’s deficit is roughly $2 trillion. That is up from the nearly $1.8 trillion level posted in fiscal year 2025.
It would also be the third largest deficit in history, exceeded only by the COVID-driven fiscal years in 2020 and 2021.
And the current deficit estimates will probably be adjusted upward. Costs of the Iran war are uncertain, and refunds for tariff payments are also unclear.
Heavier burden
Meanwhile, the national debt keeps ballooning and now exceeds an astounding $39 trillion.
To put it in perspective, the ratio of debt-to-GDP will likely hit 125% this year. It first broke the 100% mark in 2013. That is a 25% increase in just 14 years.
While the ever-growing national debt is a clear problem in and of itself, the true burden is the interest on the debt.
We will never pay off the national debt, but paying the interest on the debt is mandatory. A U.S. default would be catastrophic.
Consequently, the share of government revenues earmarked for interest payments, interest as a percent of total expenditures, and interest costs as a percent of GDP are all at or nearing historically high levels.
The huge interest payment burdens, coupled with massive tax cuts and spending increases, make it clear that the federal government has limited capacity to pay for interest costs and budgeted programs while also funding Social Security shortfalls.
Everyone hurt by a drop in Social Security payments
According to the nonpartisan (and they really are nonpartisan) Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, a failure to resolve the looming Social Security Trust Fund crisis will require a 24% — or about a $345 billion — reduction in benefits.
Though most benefit reductions will be felt by the nearly 60 million retired Social Security recipients, the resulting economic impacts will hit the economies of all states, as well as well as households at all income levels.
A high-income couple could experience as much as a $24,000 per year reduction in payments, a middle-income household could see their benefits fall by up to $18,000, and some low-income recipients might suffer $8,000 cuts.
Since a significant proportion of Social Security recipients spend most if not all of their benefits, there is likely to be a substantial reduction in the demand for goods and services.
Nationally, the reduction in benefits amounts to 1.1% of GDP. The resulting cutbacks in spending will multiply through the economy and yield an even greater decline in economic activity.
For businesses in lower income areas, where recipients tend to spend most of their checks, the impact on consumption could be significant.
Time is running out
The insolvency threat has been known for decades, but Washington has done nothing but help accelerate the process.
As a consequence, Social Security insolvency could be about six years away.
It will not be easy to find a solution that pushes insolvency back significantly. It will require taxing some people more, maybe even a lot more, altering the revenue base to include nonwage and salary compensation, and modifying and/or reducing benefits.
But there is a way out. The American public has not been heard from on this subject.
Budgets are political documents with economic consequences. The spending structure is supposed to mirror the wants and desires of the public.
The way those preferences are made clear is through the ballot box.
At this point, Social Security is not on the ballot.
For Social Security to be saved from insolvency, politicians must put it on the ballot. They will have to make it a campaign issue, and the voters will have to show that it is something they truly care about by electing those candidates.
🚨Inquirer Food Fest will return Nov. 14 with a new format and a hot lineup of chefs and experiences. Read up on the details and snag your early-bird discount now.
🏅The 2026 James Beard Awards are Monday night. Follow along on Inquirer.com as the seven Philadelphia finalists walk the red carpet and hope for glory.
Also in this edition:
La Famiglia: At age 50, the Old City Italian destination is still sharp.
The Inquirer Food team got the assignment: Choose the 76 dishes that define Philadelphia — the flavors, traditions, and creations that have shaped the culinary scene over the centuries. This week, we’re counting down, , day by day. The top 10 will appear Friday.
Where to watch the Philadelphia FIFA matches (aside from “Philadelphia Stadium,” né Lincoln Financial Field)? Beatrice Forman offers a roundup of 19 bars in the city and suburbs.
Vedge in Center City is offering what it says is the world’s first tasting course dedicated to bean-to-bar chocolate — and it’s all vegan. “It’s like a little bow that wraps up the end of a meal,” co-owner Kate Jacoby told Beatrice Forman.
Craig LaBan kicks it old-school for a visit to La Famiglia in Old City, which opened in 1976 on Front Street near Market. (At its front door right now is a project to cap I-95 to create a park. Fifty years ago, there was no I-95.) Craig came away from his review meals dazzled at the gilded room, enthralled by the legendary wine cellar, and impressed with the kitchen that still cooks on all burners.
International cheesesteak news
American cheese has disappeared from the shelves of Costco Japan, throwing Nihonbashi Philly, Tokyo’s Philly cheesesteak outpost, for a loop. Kiki Aranita has the report.
There’s better news out of South Korea. When Henry Jeong opened Wiir Philadelphia in Seoul in 2022, he said his cheesesteaks were “garbage.” Now Jeong’s restaurant is thriving, all thanks to traditional hoagie rolls he learned to make during a trip to Philly.
That sandwich shown above is the K-Town cheesesteak from Double Down Kitchen, which is soft-opening now at Ridge Hall in Ambler under Binoy Cherian and Nathan Baynes. It’s a luscious but zingy combo of ribeye, kimchi, grilled onions, four cheeses (Cooper, mozzarella, provolone, mild cheddar), and gochujang aioli on a seeded roll from Corropolese Bakery. They also do steaks with Indian and Middle Eastern spins.
Where have we gone to sup this week? To Rittenhouse for Northeastern Chinese specialties, to Queen Village for cheese-stuffed soft-shell crab parm, to the Wildwood boardwalk for stromboli, and to Cherry Hill for this corned beef and chopped liver on rye.
Scoops
Mixteca, a cantina out of New York backed by James Beard Award-winning bartenders, will join East Kensington’s burgeoning restaurant scene next month. It’s taking the former Martha space for an indoor-outdoor experience.
ANEU Kitchens, which deals in healthful comfort food, just signed a lease for part of the former Di Bruno Bros. space at the Ardmore Farmers Market in Suburban Square. Owner Meridith Coyle plans to open what will be her fourth location by July 1. As Brooke Schultz reported last week, ANEU also has a location on the way to Wayne, making it No. 5. Speaking of the farmers market: The Asian-fusion food stall Aziatischjust closed after 13 years, while lease negotiations continue for three new vendors, says broker Doug Green of MSC.
Restaurant report
Punch Buggy Brewing Co.’s long-awaited brewery in Spring City opens Saturday. Patrick Coyne’s first location opened seven years ago in North Philadelphia. He told Brooke Schultz that he’s learned something about Chester Countians since he moved there two years ago: They especially like sours and dark beers.
Barra Rossa, which opened at 10th and Walnut Streets in 2013 as Stella Rossa, has closed with the end of its lease. Owner Dave Magrogan said the building, owned by Jefferson Hospital, needed a complete overhaul. With the end of the season at the nearby Walnut Street Theatre, it was “the logical time to close,” he said. Magrogan’s first partner there was gift-store magnate Bernie Spain — “a great negotiator, businessman and mentor,” he said. “He was the reason I kept it open after his passing [in 2021], out of respect for him and our partnerships. A young and hungry operator will do well there.”
Sura Indian Bistro has left 1726 Chestnut St., and co-owner Patti Revathi says the partners are looking for a new location. Sura opened in April 2024 as a rebrand of Ancient Spirits & Grille, which had occupied the three-story space since 2021.
Briefly noted
Reading Terminal Market has transformed the 1100 block of Filbert Street into a pedestrian-only plaza featuring more than 15 local vendors, live entertainment, a bar, and expanded seating. Hours: 11 a.m.-7 p.m. daily through early August. Stephanie Farr has more here.
Philly VegFest returns Saturday for its sixth annual celebration of vegan food, plant-based living, and food justice. The free festival runs noon-7 p.m. at Girard College (2101 S. College Ave.) with more than 50 food and retail vendors, music, speakers, film screenings, a vegan beer and cider garden, and family activities. Headliners include former NBA star and vegan advocate John Salley, filmmaker John “Bad Ass Vegan” Lewis, physician Milton Mills, and wellness coach Gigi the Vegan Jones. Details are here.
Cocktail bar R&D’s new pop-up series, “South Goes North,” imports South Philly dive bars to Fishtown one Sunday a month from 6-10 p.m. Joining R&D beverage director Aaron Deary will be The Jim (this Sunday), South Philadelphia Tap Room (July 12), and 12 Steps Down (Aug. 9).
Medium Rare, the syndicated steakhouse in Fishtown, offers a comp Father’s Day brunch to first-time fathers on June 21. Proof of a 2026 birth date, such as a copy of birth certificate or similar documentation, is required. Booking is via OpenTable.
Do you know anything about a chain called Chicken Salad Chick? — Emily R.
There’s a franchise idea for everyone nowadays. Chicken Salad Chick is a fast-casual brand, founded in Auburn, Ga., in 2008, whose menu is based on a dozen varieties of chicken salad. With 45 store openings in 2025 alone, it’s now pushing into the Northeast U.S. Two Philly-area locations are in the works now. One is under construction at Airport Center, just outside of Allentown (late July-early August), and a second is being teed up for Providence Town Center in Collegeville (“Q3 or Q4,” the company told me). In other niche franchise news, the region’s first Graze Craze, which sells custom charcuterie boards created by Grazologists™, just opened in Blue Bell Village, 921 Penllyn Blue Bell Pike, Blue Bell.
📮 Have a question about food in Philly? Email your questions to me at mklein@inquirer.com for a chance to be featured in my newsletter.
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As students in Philly prepare to receive report cards and wrap up the academic year, some teachers are sounding the alarm on what they call an open secret.
When report cards go out on Thursday, the last day of the 2025-26 school year, some students will learn that they earned a passing grade.
But Philly schools reporter Kristen Graham heard from two dozen teachers who say they were pressured to mark them that way, even if those students performed poorly or didn’t show up. Some say they’ve given out failing grades that were overridden.
✏️ Notable quote: “There’s a push right after grades are due,” said one teacher, who noted that administrators will say, “‘Is there anything you can do to bump these up?’”
✏️ In being discouraged from flunking students, the teachers said they are concerned about the long-term implications for kids who are passed along without the necessary skills to advance.
✏️ One K-8 teacher, a veteran of district schools for three decades, told The Inquirer a “subtle shift” started since the early 2000s, the era of the federal No Child Left Behind Act.
In other Philly schools news: Olney High School stands to lose 17 staff because of budget cuts. At their graduation ceremony, some students included a protest against the looming losses.
The Justice Department is looking into whether Philly police violated the Constitution by improperly revoking people’s licenses to carry guns, officials announced Tuesday.
In the city, which has unique laws surrounding gun permits, the police department has broad authority to revoke them.
This comes weeks after five members of the Panthers, a Philadelphia-based armed Black citizens group, reportedly had their gun permits terminated. The Panthers’ leader called the move unconstitutional.
In other federal news: Three Philly hospitals are among 500 that have been warned by the Trump administration to provide the public with basic pricing information or face fines.
What you should know today
Councilmember Cindy Bass rejected a roll call vote and declared herself the winner of a Philly ward election. It might have violated party rules.
A new local improvement district may be needed to care for the Chinatown Stitch cap over the Vine Street Expressway, a city official said.
A man who called himself “the Beast” targeted defenseless Philadelphians, including his own mother. A jury has convicted him of all crimes.
Pennsylvania lawmakers could still deliver additional revenue to Philadelphia, even after City Council last week largely rejected Mayor Cherelle L. Parker’s proposed tax increases for the next fiscal year.
Lower Merion is advancing a policy to eliminate iPads and laptops for K-2 students after facing intense pushback from parents who say kids are getting too much screen time in school.
Plenty of Philly hotel rooms and Airbnbs remain available just days before the FIFA World Cup kicks off.
After 18 months and traffic snarls, Market Street improvements in Old City are complete. The transformation permanently narrowed vehicular traffic, added bike lanes, and built a new public plaza.
Past Present Future, the Main Line shop that owner Sherry Tillman calls “part gift store, part mini-museum,” is shutting its doors. She plans to sell the Lancaster Avenue building, and will stay open until all the merchandise is gone (“hopefully”).
🧠Trivia time
A delegation of Philadelphians, on behalf of the National Constitution Center, brought which of the following to Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican this week?
A) A bundle of Villanova swag
B) A replica of George Washington’s Acts of Congress
Cheers to Lars Weintraub, who solved Tuesday’s anagram: Five Below. The Philly-based discount retailer recently ditched an unpopular section of its store.
Boland and eight others were charged with trespassing after police dismantled a pro-Palestinian encampment at the college last spring.Alejandro A. Alvarez / Staff Photographer
👋🏽 Thanks for starting your day with us. Take care.
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To Ed Grose, the FIFA World Cup is not looking like a bust for Philly-area hotels.
Yet the president of the Greater Philadelphia Hotel Association said the matches, which start Sunday and end July 4, have not brought booming business.
“It hasn’t delivered what we thought it would in terms of hotel rooms,” Grose said Monday.
Some of Center City’s 14,500 hotel rooms remain available on game days and game-day eves, he said, though he declined to provide an estimated occupancy rate.
Grose’s assessment — based on conversations with local hoteliers, he said — exemplifies the tourism uncertainty that remains just days before kickoff.
Philadelphia has raised about $140 million in public and private funding to host the World Cup, according to Front Office Sports, and officials are heavily marketing the six South Philly games and other fan events across the city.
A FIFA World Cup banner hangs from an entrance of Philadelphia City Hall, as seen on June 3.Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer
The Wall Street Journal reported Monday that every U.S. host city except San Francisco was seeing hotel occupancy of 40% or less, citing a recent CoStar report. Host cities in Mexico and Canada saw slightly better hotel occupancy, though still under 50%, according to the Journal.
In Philadelphia, Google Travel searches show abundant hotel vacancies at prices under $300 or even $200 a night on some match days.
The region’s short-term rental market has seen some last-minute demand, with about 60% of local Airbnbs and Vrbos set to be occupied on game days and game-day eves, according to AirDNA, which analyzes the platforms’ booking data. In early May, fewer than half available rentals were booked on those days.
The inside of a South Philadelphia Airbnb was shown in early May, as its owner waited for last-minute World Cup bookings.Joe Lamberti / For The Inquirer
As of Monday, World Cup demand has helped drive a 15% year-over-year increase in the number of Philly-area bookings and an 8% increase in occupancy on game days and game-day eves, said Bram Gallagher, AirDNA’s director of economics and forecasting.
Those figures place Philly “right in the middle” of the World Cup markets, he said.
“Some places are doing very, very well and some places are seeing marginal benefits,” Gallagher said, noting that Mexican markets are doubling demand. “In Philly, Boston, Atlanta, we’re seeing respectable gains.”
Airbnb, which has partnered with FIFA, is still predicting that the World Cup will be “the biggest hosting event in Airbnb’s history — surpassing the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris,” according to a company statement, which noted “meaningful excitement for the tournament,” including among first-time guests.
Some Philly Airbnb hosts still wait for World Cup guests
Jenica Jones outside her South Philly Airbnb in early May. As of Tuesday, she said she has only gotten two World Cup bookings for a total of three nights.Joe Lamberti / For The Inquirer
A guest from the Dominican Republican reserved Jones’ South Philly rowhouse for two nights in June, Jones said, and the host was hopeful that World Cup demand would finally pick up.
It hasn’t.
The 42-year-old said she got just one other booking for a single night.
Her Airbnb has a perfect 5-star rating, sleeps seven people, and is less than three miles from Lincoln Financial Field, the site of Philly’s six World Cup matches.
The app’s dynamic-pricing tool had initially suggested she list the property for about $900 a night during the World Cup. Since then, she has dropped prices and offered discounts on some nights to entice soccer fans, she said.
“I was predicting being full the entire month of June,” Jones said Tuesday. “They’re just not coming in as I expected.”
Can World Cup fans get last-minute deals in Philly?
The Live! Casino Hotel Philadelphia (at left) is located in the stadium complex. As of Tuesday, it still had rooms available at high prices for some World Cup matches.Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer
Despite the sluggish demand, last-minute planners shouldn’t count on scoring World Cup deals in the Philly region, according to hotel and short-term-rental experts.
Gallagher, of AirDNA, said the most affordable Airbnb and Vrbo properties were the first ones to book up during the tournament. But individual hosts like Jones may choose to lower prices if their homes remain unbooked.
Grose, of the Greater Philadelphia Hotel Association, said guests will pay higher rates on average during the World Cup than they would on a normal summer day.
Yet on Sunday and three of the other five match days, many Center City hotels appeared to have rooms available for about $300 or less per night, as of Tuesday, according to Google Travel. Prices skewed higher and availability seemed more limited on the holiday nights of Friday, June 19, and Saturday, July 4, though rooms were still available across the city, including at the few hotels near the stadiums in South Philly.
Grose said he remains optimistic about the coming weeks, which includes not only the World Cup and America’s 250th birthday celebration, but also the MLB All-Star Game in July.
“Overall, the summer is still going to be a good summer for us,” he said.
This week in Philly music features Bleachers at the Highmark Mann, the Wayne Music Festival on the Main Line, the Indigo Girls in King of Prussia, Ryan Bingham in Fishtown, Tyler Childers in Hershey, Audrey Hobert at the Met, and Nick Jonas, Devo, and A Boogie Wit da Hoodie in Atlantic City.
Wednesday, June 10
Ryan Bingham
Ryan Bingham has been making rough-cut traditional-leaning country music going back to his 2008 Mescalito debut, but it took him years playing a singing ranch hand on Yellowstone for him to gain a wide audience. Now that the show has run its course, the New Mexico-born singer and actor is back out on the road with his band, the Texas Gentlemen, touring behind his seventh album, They Call Us the Lucky Ones. 8 p.m., The Fillmore, 29 E. Allen St., thefillmorephilly.com
Jobi Riccio opens for Deer Tick at Underground Arts on Wednesday. Her new album is “Face the Feeling.”Rett Rogers
Audrey Hobert
Audrey Hobert co-wrote six songs on Gracie Abrams’ 2024 album The Secret of Us. And the former writer for Nickelodeon sitcom The Really Loud House — which was developed by her father, Tim Hobert — wrote or co-wrote all 12 songs on her 2025 Who’s the Clown? debut, which was produced by Ricky Gourmet. It features a song called “Phoebe” that is not about Phoebe Bridgers but Lisa Kudrow’s character in Friends. 8:30 p.m., Met Philly, 858 N. Broad St., themetphilly.com
Deer Tick
Providence, R.I., roots rock quartet Deer Tick digs into the history of its hometown on its stylistically varied new Coin-O-Matic. The album is named after the vending machine company that was the headquarters for notorious mobster Raymond Patriarca. Colorado-born opener Jobi Riccio’s sophomore album, Face the Feeling, is one of the best albums of the first half of 2026. Deer Tick also plays a WXPN Free at Noon on Friday. 8 p.m., Wednesday, Underground Arts, 1200 Callowhill, undergroundarts.org and noon, Friday, World Stage, 3025 Walnut St. xpn.org
Tyler Childers sings Sept. 24, 2025, at Freedom Mortgage Pavilion in Camden. He plays Hersheypark Stadium on Thursday.David Hernandez / For The Inquirer
Thursday, June 11
Tyler Childers
Country star Tyler Childers put on a thrilling show at the Freedom Mortgage Pavilion last September, and the “Snipe Hunt Tour” — for the Kentucky songwriter’s 2025 album, Snipe Hunter — is making one last pass through the area with a show in Hershey. “IDK S— About Cars” singer Evan Honer opens. 8 p.m., Hersheypark Stadium, 100 Hershey Park Drive, Hershey, hersheyentertainment.com
Philly songwriter Alex Savoth’s new album is “Midnight Sun.”Courtesy of the Artist
Alex Savoth
Stereo League, the Philly band that Alex Savoth leads with Dan King, is still a thing. But Savoth’s songwriting takes a more personal approach on Midnight Sun, his first solo album, which finds him moving in a warm-hearted, ruminative country-tinged songs direction, is produced by bassist Brendan McGeehan. Savoth stretches himself impressively as a vocalist on “Wild Sweet Love,” steel guitarist Mike “Slo-Mo” Brenner is all over the album, and the accordion on “Bound to Be” is played by Rob Hyman of the Hooters. Max Davey, who impressed at last month’s Bob Dylan Birthday Bash, opens, along with James Clark. 8 p.m., Johnny Brenda’s, 1201 N. Frankford Ave., johnnybrendas.com
Friday, June 12
Indigo Girls
In April, the Indigo Girls’ Emily Saliers announced that she’s been diagnosed with two movement disorders that have had a significant effect on her singing, making it impossible for her to hold the long clear notes that are a hallmark of her harmonizing with musical partner Amy Ray. The announcement made by Saliers, who made her entry into musical theater with Starstruck (which premiered at the Bucks County Playhouse this winter), has been met with support from fans, including Brandi Carlile. “To say that we have Emily’s back is the understatement of the century,” Carlile posted on social media. Brian Dunne of Fantastic Cat opens. 7 p.m., Concerts Under the Stars, 175 Valley Forge Road, King of Prussia, concertsunderthestarskop.com
Robyn Hitchcock
Surrealist British songwriter writes clever and catchy songs that put his vivid imagination into play, and he mixes psychedelia with garage rock and a fixation on fish. His most recent album is 2024’s 1967: Vacations in the Past, a collection of covers from that year. He’s touring with an electric band that includes Philadelphia drummer Patrick Berkery. Emma Swift, whose set will likely include some Bob Dylan songs from her 2020 album, Blonde on the Tracks, will open and sing with Hitchcock. 8 p.m., Ardmore Music Hall, 23 E. Lancaster Ave., Ardmore, ArdmoreMusicHall.com
FILE – Gerald Casale, (from left), Josh Hager, Mark Mothersbaugh, and Bob Mothersbaugh of Devo perform Jan. 22, 2024, in Park City, Utah. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello, File)Chris Pizzello
Devo
Devo is one of those bands that keep threatening to retire, and happily haven’t done so. Two years after the Mark Mothersbaugh-led Ohio band known for “Whip It” and “Wonderful World” kicked off their “50 Years of Devolution” farewell tour, the band known for wearing jumpsuits and flower pots on their heads is back in Atlantic City. 8 p.m., Event Center, Borgata, borgata.mgmresorts.com
Saturday, June 13
Wayne Music Festival
This year’s headliner at the free fest in downtown Wayne is Cracker, David Lowery, and Johnny Hickman’s rock band, which scored hits with “Low” and “Euro-Trash Girl” in the 1990s. Music will happen on three outdoor stages, plus inside 118 North. Highlights are likely to include John Faye, viral a cappella sensations the Tonics, and Philly bands Nik Greeley & the Operators, Roberta Faceplant, and Lazy Villains. Plus, Oklahoma hotshot guitarist Johnny Mullenax. 1 p.m., North Wayne Avenue, Wayne, waynemusicfestival.com
FILE – Jack Antonoff from the band Bleachers performs on NBC’s “Today” show on July 4, 2024. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP, File)Charles Sykes
Bleachers
Jack Antonoff is producer to the stars — Taylor Swift, Lorde, Sabrina Carpenter, Lana Del Rey, St. Vincent, and Kendrick Lamar among them. The New Jersey singer-guitarist and former member of Fun also fronts Bleachers, whose fifth album Everyone for Ten Minutes, was released last month. Their song “The Van” contains a sample of Philly soul band Blue Magic’s “Just Don’t Want to Be Lonely.” In March, Antonoff charmed in a one-man Bleachers Free at Noon show. Hovvdy open. 8 p.m. TD Pavilion at Highmark Mann, 5201 Parkside Ave., highmarkmann.org
Sun Ra Arkestra
In the Orbit of Ra, a new Mural Arts Philadelphia artwork, will be unveiled Saturday between noon and 3 p.m. at 6353 Greene St. in East Germantown. That’s not far from the Morton Street house where Sun Ra moved the Arkestra in 1968 and where 102-year-old bandleader Marshall Allen still resides. Then on Saturday night, the band will celebrate with a show at City Winery. Noon, 6353 Greene St., muralarts.org and 8 p.m., City Winery Philadelphia, 990 Filbert St., citywinery.com/philadelphia
Marshall Allen (second from right), performs with Sun Ra Arkestra at the Union Transfer on Friday, May 24, 2024.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
A Boogie Wit da Hoodie
A Boogie Wit da Hoodie was born to be an artist. Quite literally: The Bronx rapper’s given name is Artist Julius Dubose. He’s the Father’s Day weekend main hip-hop attraction at the Shore, where he’ll headline Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall in support of his new EP, Before Artistry. Openers are Hunxho and JI the Prince. 8 p.m., Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall, 2301 Boardwalk, Atlantic City, boardwalkhall.com
Nick Jonas in New York, May 19, 2026. With a starring role in “Power Ballad” and ambitions across mediums, the 33-year-old is carving a singular path. (OK McCausland/The New York Times)OK MCCAUSLAND
Nick Jonas
Last weekend, due to an interruption in Amtrak service, Nick Jonas made an unexpected stopped at Bardea in Wilmington for a meal. On Saturday, he’ll make a planned visit to Atlantic City to finish off his “A Night With Nick” tour in support of his new album, Sunday Best. 8 p.m., Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena, 1000 Boardwalk, Atlantic City, casino.hardrock.com/atlantic-city
Philly band Flight of Mavis play 118 North in Wayne on Saturday. Their new album is “Mavis Sings Mavis.”Courtesy of the Artist
Flight of Mavis
Frank Brown has been writing jangly, wistful, and immediately memorable power-pop songs for a variety of Philly bands for decades now. That list includes the likes of Buzz Zeemer and Travel Lanes. The first of those, Flight of Mavis, last released an album in 1989. But now there’s a terrific new one called Mavis Sings Mavis, with an album cover that nods to Harry Nilsson’s 1970 Nilsson Sings Newman. It reunites Brown with drummer Ken Buono, bass player Dave McElroy, plus guitarist John Cunningham. The quartet plays a show — it’s a matinee! — in Wayne ln Sunday. 2 p.m., 118 North, 118 N. Wayne Ave., Wayne, 118NorthWayne.com
Punch Buggy Brewing Company’s Spring City outpost will open Saturday, June 13.John McGuire
A Philadelphia brewery is getting ready to open its new outpost in Spring City. After a year in the works, Punch Buggy Brewing Company will debut its second location at 77 N. Main St. this Saturday, taking over a former hardware store.
The new location will serve Punch Buggy’s brews, which range from IPAs and lagers popular with the Philly crowd, to sours and dark beers, which have gained popularity locally thanks to the brewery’s foray into the farmer’s market.
In addition to beer, Punch Buggy will partner with Deezy’s Famous Cheesesteaks for food, and host live music on select nights.
Bob and Bonnie Dettore in the garden at their Berwyn home. Allie Ippolito / For The Inquirer
After purchasing their Colonial-revival split-level in Berwyn in 1987, Bonnie and Bob Dettore set about transforming the home, inside and out.
Owned by seven people before them and full of old growth trees and bare ground, it was once “dark and damp all the time,” Bonnie said. That’s no longer the case thanks to Bob’s handiwork.
The inside of the home has been overhauled and in the past four decades, its grounds have been transformed to showcase year-round color, thanks to showy rhododendrons, redbuds, ironwoods, magnolias, dogwoods, spring bulbs, and yellow witch hazel.
Chester County remains in a drought warning as the hot summer months approach. Officials are asking residents to voluntarily reduce water usage by 10% to 15%.
An April Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruling in favor of West Chester University may have ripple effects beyond the borough. Judges ruled that the tax-exempt university didn’t have to pay for stormwater treatment after considering it a tax, not a fee. Now numerous Pennsylvania communities might see higher stormwater bills as a result, The Inquirer’s Anthony Wood explains.
Some 32,000 Main Line Health patients insured by UnitedHealthcare could face service interruptions and providers going out of network if the insurer and the health system, which owns Paoli Hospital, don’t reach a deal by June 30. The two organizations are currently in negotiations.
There was another black bear sighting over the weekend, this time in East Goshen and Willistown Townships. In April, residents reported spotting a black bear in West Vincent Township. Residents are advised to take precautions and report sightings. (6abc)
West Chester-based home shopping giant QVC is among the largest companies in the U.S., ranking No. 433 on the latest Fortune 500. The company reported $9 billion in revenue last year before filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy earlier this spring.
West Vincent Township’s board of supervisors is scheduled to consider Toll Brother’s proposal to build 46 single-family homes along five properties on South Chester Springs and Conestoga Roads, about 60% of which is preserved open space, at its meeting Monday at 7 p.m.
Last week, Willistown Township’s board of supervisors voted to approve creating a township sewer authority, which it will now file with the state.
West Whiteland Township’s board of supervisors will discuss adopting a new comprehensive plan, which includes goals of improving public transit services, pedestrian and bicycle access, and conservation. The board will meet at 6:30 p.m. tonight at the township building, as well as on Zoom.
There’s a public open house on Monday at the Caln Township building to discuss the Lincoln Highway corridor. Residents can weigh in on safety improvements, access, and preliminary designs.
🚧 Roadwork to watch out for
Coatesville and Caln, Sadsbury, Valley, and West Caln Townships: There will be an overnight lane closure on Route 30 westbound between Airport Road and Kings Highway from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. through Friday.
East Coventry Township: A monthslong project to update the bridge on Ellis Woods Road over Pigeon Creek got underway this week and will continue through October, during which time the bridge will remain closed.
East Nottingham Township:Woods Road between Pugh and Hickory Hill Roads will be closed today from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. for pipe repairs.
London Grove Township: Resurfacing work begins today on Clay Creek Road between Garden Station Road and the Avondale Borough line, as well as on East Avondale Road between Clay Creek and Rose Hill Roads. Work is expected to continue through June 22 with daily road closures.
Wallace and West Nantmeal Townships: Creek Road between Fairview and Manor Roads will be closed on weekdays from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. through next Thursday.
Warwick Township: Work continues on Harmonyville Road next week, with a closure between Hopewell and Saint Peters Roads on Monday and Tuesday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
West Chester: Both South Church Street between University Avenue and Price Street and Sharpless Street between High and Darlington Streets will be closed from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. through Friday.
Willistown Township: Milling and paving work began this week and is expected to continue for the next three weeks on roads throughout the township. See which ones will be impacted here.
🏫 Schools Briefing
Great Valley School District’s board approved its 2026-27 budget earlier this month, which includes a 3.49% property tax increase.
Registration for Phoenixville Area School District’s Power Up for School program is now open. During the July 30 event, families can learn about programs and get vaccines or physicals for their children. Registration must be completed by July 17.
West Chester Area School District has approved its 2026-27 budget, with a 3.3% real estate tax increase for Chester County residents.
🍽️ On our Plate
Looking for a spot to watch the World Cup? The Inquirer’s Beatrice Forman rounded up bars to catch the game, including Kildare’s Irish Pub in West Chester, which is hosting a 21+ watch party Friday when Team USA takes on Paraguay.
Twin Valley Coffee has opened a location at 4043 Main St. in Elverson, with a “homecoming weekend” taking place Friday and Saturday.
Asad’s Hot Chicken is opening a location in Malvern this Friday at 490 Lancaster Ave. in the Frazer Shopping Center. To mark the occasion, it will offer free food from 3 to 6 p.m. The Philadelphia-born fast-casual eatery specializes in halal fried chicken.
Parlor Doughnuts is opening in Berwyn this Saturday and will give away donuts from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Located at 602 Lancaster Ave., the Indiana-based donut chain is known for its sweet and savory layered donuts with flavors like buffalo chicken, pepperoni, maple pecan, and bourbon caramel. It also offers vegan- and keto-friendly options.
Herr’s released the winning chip flavors for the 2026 spin on its “Flavored by Philly” competition this week, but instead of a single winner, the Nottingham chip company is releasing three in honor of the nation’s 250th birthday. The “Taste the 250” winners are Freedom Loaded Cheese Fries, Liberty Hickory Barbeque, and United Jalapeño Cream Cheese and will be available throughout the summer.
🎳 Things to Do
🎙️ Sound of Summer Free Concert Series: The annual concert series returns for the season, featuring a performance by Coatesville’s classical soul, funk, and jazz outfit The Sermon! There will also be food trucks. ⏰ Wednesday, June 10, 6:30-8:30 p.m. 💵 Free 📍 Anson B. Nixon Park, Kennett Square
🎹 Tredyffrin Township Summer Concert Series: This year’s concert series kicks off with a performance by the Tim Williams Band. ⏰ Thursday, June 11, 7 p.m. 💵 Free 📍 Wilson Farm Park, Wayne
🎨 Phoenixville Art Street Festival: Now in its ninth year, the festival will feature over 70 artists, including live performances. ⏰ Saturday, June 13, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. 💵 Free 📍 Downtown Phoenixville
🍇 Mainstreet on the Vine: There will be wine, live music, vendors, and ice cream at this afternoon event. ⏰ Saturday, June 13, noon-5 p.m. 💵 Pay as you go 📍 Wayvine Vineyard, Nottingham
☀️ Downingtown Summer Jam: There will be live music, food trucks, and drinks at this family-friendly event. ⏰ Saturday, June 13, 4-9 p.m. 💵 Pay as you go 📍 Kerr Park, Downingtown
🍷 Kennett Summerfest: Sample sips from over a dozen local and regional wineries, cideries, and meaderies at this 21-and-over event. There will also be music, vendors, and food to purchase. Non-alcohol tickets are also available. ⏰ Sunday, June 14, 2-6 p.m. 💵 $46.35-$103 📍 100 block of South Broad Street, Kennett Square
The home’s family room features vaulted ceilings and a floor-to-ceiling stone fireplace.Paul Ingram/PCI-Pro | Courtesy of The Stagliano Team
A three-bedroom carriage house-style home in a converted farmhouse that dates back to the 1850s is on the market for the first time. Part of the Greenbank Cottages, the home is located in what was once the defunct Upattinas School that was converted into five residences. This one spans three levels and has stone on the interior and exterior. The main level features a living room with 30-foot ceilings anchored by a stone fireplace, original beams, and several chandeliers. Other features include a lounge area with a wet bar, an office, a courtyard, and a primary suite with a built-in closet system. There’s an open house Friday from 4 to 6 p.m.
By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.
This suburban content is produced with support from the Leslie Miller and Richard Worley Foundation and The Lenfest Institute for Journalism. Editorial content is created independently of the project donors. Gifts to support The Inquirer’s high-impact journalism can be made at inquirer.com/donate. A list of Lenfest Institute donors can be found at lenfestinstitute.org/supporters.
A regular at Yoga Habit in Fairmount, Allison Langer was curious about the four-story apartment building next door, the AF Bornot Dye Works Lofts. Her husband, Mark Paulson, was also intrigued, but at the time, the building was fully occupied.
“We are drawn to historical preservation,” recalled Langer, a developmental psychologist. “The windows caught our eye from the street, and I told Mark, if an apartment in that building opened up, I would love to move there.”
Six months later, in April 2024, their wish came true. Their two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment has 11-foot-high ceilings and an open floor plan.
The exterior of the AF Bornot Dye Works Lofts building, which Langer and Paulson had admired before moving in.Erin Blewett / For The Inquirer
“The combination of the windows, really high ceilings, and exposed ductwork makes it feel so airy, open, and spacious, even though it’s only 1,250 square feet,” said Paulson, a data analyst.
The windows are the couple’s favorite feature. The western exposure means they can enjoy daily sunsets, and Frankie, the 6-year-old orange shorthair domestic cat they adopted from a local shelter, can sunbathe on one of the large windowsills all day.
The open floor plan is perfect for the couple, who enjoy cooking and entertaining.
The living area is bathed in sunlight on a May evening.Erin Blewett / For The InquirerThe apartment’s kitchen also features a large window.Erin Blewett / For The Inquirer
“When we have friends over, everyone can be in one space,” Langer said. “The kitchen is the spot in the home with the most western-facing windows so we can watch the sunset as we’re cooking.”
An avid baker, she has a dedicated corner for preparing her sweet confections. That’s where the KitchenAid mixer her mother-in-law gave her sits, alongside a photo of her grandmother baking with her when she was young.
Fridays are typically pizza night when Paulson and Langer make homemade pies. They also enjoy board game nights with friends, including Magic: The Gathering — a game Paulson has played since he was 5 years old. They also play Settlers of Catan, Wingspan, and Nertz.
The building is a historic landmark originally constructed in 1901 as the headquarters of the AF Bornot Dye Works Co. In July 2014, MM Partners acquired the property, and following an extensive renovation, completed construction in June 2016.
“The exterior still beautifully harbors the old Parisian style of this historic, adaptive reuse property,” said William K. Ayassou, regional manager at MM Partners. The project earned the 2018 Preservation Alliance Achievement Award.
Paulson and Langer’s cat, Frankie, a fan of the apartment’s ample sunlight, rests by the living room window.Erin Blewett / For The Inquirer
Langer and Paulson are inspired by mid-century and Scandinavian design and Japanese minimalism, focusing on a decluttered, yet warm look. They celebrate the modern style that incorporates the building’s historic features with natural wood tones and mid-century furniture.
Most of their furniture has come from secondhand stores.
“Philly is such a great city for secondhand furniture and people do a great job of keeping everything in great condition,” Langer said.
The dining room table was a Habitat for Humanity Restore find, and as the first piece they bought together in their previous apartment it carries a lot of sentimental value.
They also collect lamps in various shapes and sizes. With so much natural light in the apartment, they appreciate the glow of the lamps scattered throughout, from the mushroom to the orb to the orange doughnut shaped Ikea Varmblixt LED model that went viral on TikTok and Instagram in 2023.
The dining room features a table the couple found at Habitat for Humanity Restore.Erin Blewett / For The InquirerAn orange donut-shaped Ikea lamp is a model that went viral on social media several years ago.Erin Blewett / For The InquirerA painting of Frankie the cat, made by Paulson, is on display in the apartment.Erin Blewett / For The InquirerThe front hallway features one of the couple’s distinctive lamps, and a round wall mirror.Erin Blewett / For The Inquirer
“The overhead lighting is minimal, so we’re really able to indulge our lamp collection,” joked Langer.
Bursts of color are found in textiles and artwork. Paulson, who makes art as a hobby, takes classes at Philly Art Center near their home. One of the couple’s favorite pictures — an acrylic painting he made in class from a photo of Frankie awash in a sunbeam — sits on the desk between the living room and dining room.
“I enjoy dabbling, and the Art Center is another way in which we engage with the Fairmount community,” Paulson said.
The desk also holds the clay Bok building replica their friend Keeley gave them for their 2024 wedding, which was held at the Bok. Other wedding mementos can be found in their primary bedroom, including the photo of the sky taken by Philadelphia-based wedding photographer Elizabeth Blanco, which hangs above their bed.
“We got very lucky with a cloudless day and a beautiful sunset during our ceremony on Bok’s roof,” Langer said. “The photo captures and reminds us of that moment.”
A clay replica of the Bok building, where the couple married, is on display in the apartment.Erin Blewett / For The InquirerA photo taken by Elizabeth Blanco on the roof of the Bok building at Paulson and Langer’s wedding.Erin Blewett / For The Inquirer
Langer loves her home’s proximity to Yoga Habit and the rest of the Fairmount community. Some of the couple’s favorite hangs include Musette, Aiyah (and its monthly art markets), and Sandwich Corner Market.
“It’s such a central location, close to the Broad Street Line and great cafes, restaurants, and small businesses in Fairmount,” she said.
Is your house a Haven? Nominate your home by email (and send some digital photographs) at properties@inquirer.com.
The school board faced pushback recently after one of its members suggested dropping an African American history course requirement amid a budget crunch, which was later withdrawn. Here’s what to know. Also this week, a township resident will become the next artistic director of an area theater, two local spots will be streaming World Cup games, plus, the Radin’s Deli sandwich our reporter loved.
P.S. The Inquirer is launching a new South Jersey morning newsletter next week. Staring Monday, you might see the free daily edition in your inbox. Not already signed up? Get it here. Get to know newsletter editor Taylor Allen and her South Jersey essentials here. And don’t worry, we’ll still be coming to you with Cherry Hill-specific news every week.
Cherry Hill will maintain an African American history course graduation requirement after a board member suggested making it an elective.Tom Gralish / Staff Photographer
Cherry Hill Public Schools will keep its African American history course as is after a school board member suggested dropping it as a graduation requirement amid budget woes.
The suggestion last month to instead make the course an elective got pushback from students and the community alike, ultimately prompting board member Renee Cherfane to withdraw her proposal.
In 2021, Cherry Hill was the first New Jersey district to require such a course for graduation.
Cherry Hill resident Amina Robinson has been named the next artistic director of Theatre Horizon in Norristown. Robinson gained acclaim in 2018 when directing The Color Purple, for which she became the first Black woman to win the Barrymore Award for outstanding direction of a musical. The Inquirer’s Rosa Cartagena spoke with her about the new role and her passion for theater.
World Cup matches are kicking off tomorrow, with local games at Lincoln Financial Field starting Sunday. Don’t have tickets? Soccer Post Cherry Hill will be streaming games on its seven TVs and later this summer it’ll host a youth soccer camp with a mock-World Cup tournament. AMC Theatres on Route 38 will also have viewings of select games with Spanish-language broadcasts.
Applications are open for qualifying residents interested in living in Hampton Square, the newly built affordable housing community at 614 Hampton Rd. Qualifying applicants will be put on a waitlist for 45 available units and then randomly selected. Hampton Square offers studio and two- and three-bedroom units for those with very low, low, and moderate incomes. Applications are due by Aug. 7.
The township has made changes to its household appliances and metal pickups. Starting this week, the township will collect appliance and metal items on Thursdays. Residents must make an appointment for pickup by 3 p.m. on Wednesdays.
Four people and two dogs were potentially exposed to a rabid bat in a Cherry Hill home recently. On Monday, a state lab confirmed that the bat found was positive for rabies. The dogs were up to date on their vaccines but will be confined for four months.
Heads up for drivers: Work continues on Kresson Road, which will have a partial closure westbound between Springdale and Cropwell Roads from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. through Friday. Starting today, Kenilworth Avenue will be closed between Chapel Avenue and Route 38 from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. through Friday. Cooper Landing Road will also be closed between Georgia Avenue and Route 70 overnight from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. through Friday.
Appliances Outlet is hosting a grand opening from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday for its new Cherry Hill location at 1811 Route 70.
The former Cherry Hill Diner, which closed in 2023, was demolished last week to make way for a new car wash. The Courier Post captured photos of it coming down.
🏫 Schools Briefing
As the school year winds down next week, there will be elementary clap-outs on Tuesday and middle school graduations on Wednesday. Next Thursday are the high school graduations, and it’s also the last day of classes for the school year. See the district’s full calendar here.
Cherry Hill Public Library will have a pop-up graduation photo spot set up in the lobby starting tomorrow and running through next Saturday, complete with props.
6abc recently profiled the Domenica Foundation, a South Jersey organization supporting underserved communities, including by providing scholarships for students to attend Catholic schools. The foundation recently celebrated the graduation of its class of 2026 from Camden CatholicHigh School in Cherry Hill. See the segment here.
🍽️ On our Plate
One of the best things an Inquirer reporter ate last week? A hot corned beef sandwich at Radin’s Deli. Kicking it up a notch, reporter Beatrice Forman added chopped liver to the famously massive sandwich at the Evesham Road spot, which she said gave it “multi-dimensional flavors.” She added: “Don’t knock it ‘til you try it.”
A new burger joint is now open in Cherry Hill. Located at 906 Route 70, Slap Burger serves smash burgers, chicken tenders, chicken sandwiches, hot dogs, loaded fries, and milkshakes.
La Cita Authentic Mexican Restaurant is one of the best spots for Mexican food in the state, according to a recent list from NJ.com, which ranked the Marlton Pike eatery No. 13. It’s known for its tacos, but also offers other classics like fajitas, enchiladas, burritos, and quesadillas.
🎳 Things to Do
🎶 Twilight Concert Series: Max Weinberg’s Jukebox, which specializes in old-school tunes, headlines this week’s event. ⏰ Thursday, June 11, 8 p.m. 💵 Free 📍 Cooper River Park Jack Curtis Stadium
🏊♀️ Youth Splash and Dash: Kids ages 7 to 12 can compete in three age-specific divisions in this running and swimming competition. ⏰ Sunday, June 14, 1-3 p.m. 💵 $32.80 📍 Katz JCC
🗓️ VinChelle’s Juneteenth Celebration: The drag show ahead of the holiday will celebrate Black culture. ⏰ Sunday, June 14, 2:30-5 p.m. 💵 $19.03 📍 Vera
The home has a covered front porch and a two-car garage.Virtual Vista | Courtesy of Jackie DiAntonio/Keller Williams – Main Street
Located in the Springdale neighborhood, this four-bedroom home has multi-level living thanks to its layout. The main level features a foyer, living room, dining room, and eat-in kitchen with granite countertops and stainless steel appliances. There are four bedrooms on the upper level, including a primary suite with a walk-in closet, while the lower level has a family room with a brick fireplace, a full bathroom, and a bonus room. There’s also a finished basement and a fenced backyard.
By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.
This suburban content is produced with support from the Leslie Miller and Richard Worley Foundation and The Lenfest Institute for Journalism. Editorial content is created independently of the project donors. Gifts to support The Inquirer’s high-impact journalism can be made at inquirer.com/donate. A list of Lenfest Institute donors can be found at lenfestinstitute.org/supporters.
