Philadelphia International Airport has once again landed at the bottom of JD Power’s traveler satisfaction survey among similarly sized airports — for a sixth year in a row.
The biggest thing holding PHL back continues to be its aging building.
“They’re in dire need of new terminal facilities,” said Michael Taylor of JD Power, later adding, “The building needs to be renovated or replaced.”
“When you run out of space, that’s a very limiting factor,” Taylor said. “There isn’t much you need to do other than get more space.”
Last year, some 30.1 million passengers traveled through PHL — nearly 70% of them with American Airlines. While its ranking remained poor, its score on the JD Power survey improved by 26 points, to 596 out of 1,000.
JD Power surveyed 24,710 U.S. and Canadian travelers between July 2025 and July 2026. The survey asked about seven areas:
ease of travel through airport
level of trust with airport
terminal facilities
airport staff
departure/to airport experience
food, beverage, and retail
arrival/from airport experience
PHL competes among the large airport category, which includes airports that see between 10 million and 32.9 million passengers annually. America’s busiest airports, including LaGuardia Airport and Boston Logan International Airport, are in the next larger category, with at least 33 million passengers per year.
The top-ranked large airport was Tampa International Airport, with 715 points. Portland International Airport came in second, and Dallas Love Field came in third.
On Tuesday, ahead of the release of the JD Power survey, Mayor Cherelle L. Parker and PHL interim CEO Tracy Borda welcomed hundreds of attendees at the Convention Center in Philadelphia for an aviation industry conference and spoke to the media about PHL’s recent improvements.
“We know that there is more work to do at PHL,” said Parker, adding that an investment of nearly $2 billion in modernization is underway.
In a news release Tuesday, the airport acknowledged the expected JD Power report, adding that “JD Power has previously reported that passenger satisfaction rises when airports complete renovations and create a stronger sense of place.”
“PHL is in the midst of that work, not at the end of it, and the airport recognizes that construction itself can affect a traveler’s experience,” Borda said in the news release. “Each completed project, however, moves PHL closer to a more seamless journey and gives passengers new ways to experience the transformation for themselves.”
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What could be better at PHL?
PHL’s score increase this year can be attributed in part to the airport’s food, beverage, and retail options, which have historically been a bright spot for survey respondents.
PHL has a good selection of local businesses including La Colombe and Chickie’s & Pete’s that root customers in Philadelphia, Taylor noted, as well as other recognizable national brands.
But the airport suffers from small waiting areas for passengers and a lack of natural light, Taylor said.
High ceilings, natural light, and vistas can be found at the airports rated highest by consumers, he said.
Mayor Cherelle L. Parker and Philadelphia International Airport’s interim CEO Tracy Borda spoke at a news conference at the Convention Center on Tuesday before the JD Power ranking was released.Ariana Perez-Castells
Taylor says PHL wasn’t built to serve the number of passengers it does today.
O’Hare International Airport in Chicago, which ranked last among the mega-airport group with at least 33 million passengers annually, has a similar problem, Taylor said: “Too many people flying … to have a building that can accommodate them.”
PHL has been renovating bathrooms, adding lactation rooms, and spending millions on new landscaping, paint, tiles, and carpeting in terminals. At Tuesday’s news conference, Parker and airport leaders discussed how the airport is in the midst of a nearly $2 billion investment to upgrade the airport, which started a few years ago. The airport also appears to be adding square footage.
The Department of Aviation purchased a 441,000-square-foot property near the airport, at 8800 Tinicum Blvd, in July. The airport doesn’t yet have definitive plans for the $42 million building, but it could be used for the department’s headquarters.
PHL chief commercial officer Kate Sullivan said in a city hearing in June that compared to many of its “peer airports,” PHL has “very little room to grow,” given its geographic location.
“PHL is just incredibly land-constrained … we’re hemmed in by highways, by rivers, by towns,” Sullivan said. “Policy-wise, when an adjacent parcel comes available for us to look at, we at least want to have a conversation about it.”
Parker said Tuesday that she is hopeful about and looking forward to a “historic capital investment” that would lay the foundation for Philadelphia’s airport for generations to come.
But she didn’t elaborate on what that will entail, adding: “I won’t go into detail because the lawyers are somewhere going to be saying no, you’re going to go overboard, you’re not allowed to say that.”
The Trump administration has cut or frozen up to $177 billion in federal grants since the president took office for his second term, according to a tracking tool released Wednesday by a pro-democracy nonprofit and a group of researchers and scientists.
The cuts affected all 50 states and the District of Columbia, with health, nutrition, the environment, and disaster relief making up the largest share of cuts, the States United Democracy Center and Grant Witness organization found.
Among the grants that were eliminated, frozen, or delayed were ones related to maternal health in Michigan, education research in Mississippi, and assistance to minority farmers in Iowa, the researchers found. California, Texas, New York, Illinois, and North Carolina saw the highest amounts of interrupted grant money. The tracking tool is called Lost Funds.
“By bringing thousands of funding disruptions from the Trump administration together in a publicly accessible, verified database, Lost Funds puts the magnitude of their impact on full display,” Scott Delaney, co-founder of Grant Witness, said in a statement.
The $177 billion finding represents nearly 10% of federal discretionary spending, the groups said.
The tracker’s organizers said the disrupted grants were beyond the kind of cuts that typically happen when administrations change.
“Lost Funds shows the extraordinary scale and real human impact of these disruptions, and how states are once again on the front lines protecting their residents,” said Kelly Rader, States United Democracy Center’s research director.
In some cases, courts have ruled against the administration’s grant funding cuts.
The new tool, which is being made available for public use, relies on data from USASpending.gov, an open data source of federal spending information, according to the groups’ methodology. They said the tracker would be updated regularly as the administration takes new action and lawsuits move through the courts.
States United bills itself as a nonpartisan group dedicated to the rule of law and free, fair, secure elections. It was cofounded by Norm Eisen, an attorney who has been involved in prominent lawsuits against the Trump administration, including over the Kennedy Center. Eisen left the States United center in 2024.
Grant Witness is a group of scientists, researchers, and attorneys who document how funding is changing under President Donald Trump’s administration.
A message seeking comment on the analysis was sent to the White House.
LOS ANGELES — A motorist was arrested on murder charges after authorities say she slammed her SUV into a city bus in Los Angeles, killing at least two people and injuring six others in a prelude to a second deadly tragedy: the fiery crash of a TV news helicopter that was covering the collision.
Bailee Lynn Rios, 36, of Simi Valley, was arrested Monday night and is being held at a Los Angeles jail with bail set at $4 million, police said. The case is being forwarded to the district attorney’s office, which will decide whether to file the charges in court or pursue different ones. Information on a lawyer who could speak on her behalf wasn’t immediately available.
The helicopter, which was used by NBC and Telemundo, crashed about two hours after police say Rios drove her 2004 Ford Expedition the wrong way down a busy avenue, ran a red light and struck a vehicle before hitting the bus. One passenger was fully ejected from the bus and another was partially ejected, police said.
NBC4 Los Angeles reported that two people aboard the helicopter — reporter Eliana Moreno and pilot George Marciniw — were killed when the chopper went down Tuesday in the Chatsworth neighborhood in the San Fernando Valley north of downtown. A person on the ground, identified as 29-year-old Edy Gutierrez Mejia, died in a parking lot, the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office said.
The crash happened as news crews were reporting on the collision.
There were no immediate details on what caused the helicopter crash, but an alarm could be heard sounding inside the helicopter’s cockpit as it lost altitude in the final seconds of video the crew broadcast before the crash.
Just after the beeping noise starts, a woman’s voice says “uh oh.” The helicopter moves quickly away from the bus crash site and starts losing altitude. The woman says “You can’t pull up?” before the video stops as the chopper nears the ground.
The helicopter, a Eurocopter AS350, went down near a large storage facility. At least four cars and two storage containers burned after the helicopter caught fire. NBC4 reporter Robert Kovacik was at the bus scene, saw black smoke, and rushed to the helicopter crash site.
News station identifies those on the helicopter
The station identified the helicopter crash victims as Moreno, a familiar voice for NBC4 and Telemundo 52 during the station’s aerial coverage, and Marciniw. Both were employees of Angel City Air, which operated the chopper for the station.
Moreno, born in Orange County, joined Angel City Air in 2010, the same year she earned a broadcast journalism and political science degree from Chapman University. She reported for several news outlets and began flying with Marciniw in 2023, the NBC4 website said.
Marciniw grew up in Southern California and graduated from Burbank High School in 1974.
“I think a lot of us are still trying to process what happened, this terrible loss,” NBC4 reporter Lauren Coronado told viewers early Wednesday as she stood near the crash site. A hazmat crew was cleaning up jet fuel, she said.
In a tribute to Moreno and Marciniw, the newscast referred to them as “the team in the sky,” saying Moreno would often post videos from her job and was in awe of the view.
In an interview with the station, Esteban Jimenez, a pilot, said he had known Marciniw since the 1990s. He said Marciniw had been his instructor.
“I just talked to him on Sunday. We were talking about the aviation business and retiring,” he said.
Expert talks about what may have caused the crash
Aviation safety expert Jeff Guzzetti said the alarm sounding in the helicopter’s final video sounds like the low rotor RPM warning horn that signals the main rotor is no longer spinning enough to keep the helicopter in the air.
“It just has all the earmarks of a potential loss of engine power and a dangerous decrease in the main rotor speed,” said Guzzetti, who used to investigate crashes for both the NTSB and FAA.
Guzzetti said the pilot appeared to be trying to perform an emergency maneuver to use the wind to force the rotor to spin again much like a breeze turns a windmill. Doing that can create a bit of lift that could help cushion the impact, but Guzzetti said there would have been little opportunity to do that because the helicopter had been hovering at a low altitude beforehand.
There are risks to news helicopters particularly in a major city like Los Angeles where multiple helicopters respond to an incident, but the pilots all coordinate closely over the radio to ensure they maintain a safe distance from each other. The industry also shares best practices to help keep these news flights safe.
Condolences for the victims and their families
NBC4 and Telemundo 52 Los Angeles said in a statement they “are deeply saddened” and extended “heartfelt condolences to the families, friends and colleagues of those who lost their lives.”
“Losing five Angelenos is very painful,” Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said. “And I know this community of Chatsworth, hit hard, will be grieving for some time.”
California Gov. Gavin Newsom thanked the emergency crews responding to both crashes and said in a post on X that “our hearts are with the victims and families.”
The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration said personnel will arrive Wednesday to begin an investigation into the cause of the helicopter crash.
As Ted Cruz spoke during the two-day Trumpapalooza (a.k.a. Republican midterm convention) in Dallas, each time he mentioned a Democratic politician, a voice from the sparse crowd yelled, “He should be shot!” Cruz’s reaction? Nothing. He just kept speaking, with no attempt to denounce or even acknowledge the outbursts. Three times. No pushback. Republican reaction, in general, has been muted. Neither Dave McCormick nor Brian Fitzpatrick nor Democrat John Fetterman has responded in any way to these calls for violence against political opponents. First, it was “Lock her up!” against Hillary Rodham Clinton. Now it has escalated to “He should be shot!” against Abdul El-Sayed, James Talarico, and Zohran Mamdani. The anemic-to-nonexistent Republican pushback to these calls for violence smacks of condonation and quiet, passive encouragement. Is any opposing Democrat now fair game?
In addition, in complete disregard for the Constitution, Donald Trump begged the attendees to pledge an oath to him, “the greatest president in the history of the United States, that loves us so much he can’t even breathe, that I will go out with my family, my friends, I’ll do it any way — I don’t care if I’m registered or not, I’m going to cheat like hell like they do.”
Cheat like hell. They should be shot. How did we get here?
This is a president and a conservative machine that knows they are on the ropes. The threat is real, and has been building for months. As others have said, Trump wouldn’t be working so hard to suppress our votes if our votes didn’t matter. The Dallas midterm convention is just the latest alarm bell tolling loudly and clearly, telling us in no uncertain terms that this November our vote matters more than ever.
Deborah DiMicco, Newtown
. . .
I am horrified at the response of “He should be shot,” which seemed to be directed at Democrats during Ted Cruz’s speech at the midterm convention in Dallas. But now I am more horrified that The Inquirer has not responded. We always count on you to validate our values of nonviolence. Your writing is so eloquent and true, and we know you are not afraid to stand up to violent threats or the people who normalize them. Please help us to condemn violence.
W. Walker, Philadelphia
No Kings
The 22nd Amendment, which was added to the Constitution in 1951 after President Franklin Delano Roosevelt was elected four times, states that “no person shall be elected to the Office of the President more than twice.” President Donald Trump, elected twice, affirmed that “there are methods” for him to win a third term and lead the country after 2028.
Unfortunately, Trump will continue to explore ways to stay in office. We need to stand in unison and demand an end to Trump’s unchecked power-grab. We cannot bring our democracy to the brink.
Ed Vreeswyk, Yardville
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.
Dolly is an Aries. She likes pink accessories, the feeling of freshly brushed hair, and morning coffee with friends. She also has to be the center of attention.
No, Dolly is not a teenage girl.She’s a three-month-oldHereford calf with a job: To snuggle up with as many guests as possible at Rose Bridge Farm, a Montgomery County animal sanctuary.
Rose Bridge Farm sits on almost 13 acres of land at 1314 Limekiln Pike in Dresher, once part of an estate owned by William Penn in the mid-1700s. When steward Kristin Sutch took over the property in 2013, she transformed it into a sanctuary for farm animals rescued from livestock auctions, dairy farms, and breeders.
The sanctuary has 50 animals at any given moment, Sutch said, most of them babies that eventually will be adopted out to private farms and other sanctuaries. About a dozen kids — baby goats, that is — clomp around the property, climbing on lopsided trees as if they were a playscape. Freshly rescued lambs doze together in a dimly lit corner of the farmhouse, while kittens play upstairs in a renovated loft.
Ava Cranshaw (left), a volunteer, and Diane Haggerty, of Doylestown, brush Teddy — a mini Highland cow — at Rose Bridge Farm sanctuary during a morning Cows & Coffee event.William Thomas Cain / For The Inquirer
Rose Bridge has always been open to the public, offering guided animal husbandry tours, birthday parties, and the once-trendy goat yoga to offset the cost of running the rescue. Sutch, however, struck gold with a novel idea: What if people could start their morning like she does, by drinking coffee in the company of baby cows?
“A lot of these animals are bottle babies, so they really enjoy companionship. They’re like your dog: If you leave, they get sad,” Sutch said. “Having the public come in … [the cows are] getting as much love, snacks, and cuddles they could hope for.”
Coffee cups with Highland cow decals from a Cows & Coffee session at Rose Bridge Farm and Sanctuary.William Thomas Cain / For The Inquirer
During the hourlong, $20 sessions (which run daily at 8, 9, and 10 a.m.), guests start in the barn’s loft with an unlimited self-serve drip and iced coffee bar that includes sugar, nondairy milks, creamers, and cold foam alongside seasonal sprinkles.
Next, one of Rose Bridge’s volunteers will lead the group to the farm’s pasture, where they can brush, cuddle, and bottle-feed Dolly and her friend Teddy, a five-month-old mini Highland cow with fringe bangs and a summer buzz cut that’s just starting to grow in.
The sanctuary’s sessions are so popular that Sutch started offering an evening version branded Cows & Cocktails, where guests can sip on alcoholiciced tea and lemonade made with farm-grown mint and lavender alongside Teddy and Dolly. They’re content with booze-free bottles of milk.
A goat eats a snack during a Cows & Coffee event.William Thomas Cain / For The Inquirer
The events’ success has helped Sutch begin to check off a laundry list of renovations to the nearly 300-year-old farm, such as an automatic fire system, new barn doors, and eventually, a rehabbed bottle room.
“Everything needs replacing,” Sutch said. “And you should see our vet bills, our feed bills, our hay bills. … It takes a lot to run this farm, so [Cows & Coffee] has really been a blessing.”
Cows and goats and kittens, oh my
It’s easy to feel chosen at Rose Bridge. When I attended Cows & Coffee on a recent crisp morning, it started with a tiny tuxedo kitten trying to climb inside my coconut cream latte. Outside, baby goats nibbled on the hem of my shirt at seemingly every turn. If I stopped petting Dolly under the chin, she’d moo as if she missed me.
Melissa Watters, of Elkins Park, brushes Dolly during a Cows & Coffee event at Rose Bridge Farm.William Thomas Cain / For The Inquirer
“You look at them, especially the fuzzy baby ones, and they just make you feel all warm,” said Sutch.
Rose Bridge caps Cows & Coffee sessions at 15 attendees, with a 10-and-up age minimum. Attendees are encouraged to brush Dolly and Teddy, and to let the calves suck their thumbs, sort of like a baby and their pacifier. For maximum bonding, Sutch recommends squatting down to the cows’ level and “talking to them like a friend.”
Diane and Grace Haggerty, of Doylestown, brush Dolly during a Cows & Coffee event at Rose Bridge Farm.William Thomas Cain / For The Inquirer
Dolly, who was dropped at Rose Bridge in April from the back of an SUV, wasn’t always a diva. Teddy, however, was always a ham.
“He’s a big kisser,” said Sutch, and loves to get his floppy bangs styled.
Rose Bridge also has a new cow in town: Lady A, a 1½-year-old mini Highland cow named after the country band. Since she’s the eldest, Sutch said, Lady A is still adjusting to socializing with the rambunctious Teddy and Dolly. But what she lacks in fans, she makes up for in friends.
A goat walks on a tree at Rose Bridge Farm & Sanctuary, an animal rescue in Dresher, Pa.William Thomas Cain / For The Inquirer
“She’s a little feisty,” said Susan Connolly, who drove nearly 50 miles to Rose Bridge from her home in Kendall Park, N.J. “I like that.”
Diane Haggerty and her daughter, Grace, were partial to Dolly. “She speaks her mind and actually lets you pet her,” said Grace, who went to Cows & Coffee for her 12th birthday. “This exceeded all my expectations.”
Admittedly, not everyone was sold.
“I don’t know how at peace I feel,” said Katrina Miciek of Havertown. “I’m too busy making sure the cows and goats don’t eat my shoes.”
Ella Skiles, a volunteer, kisses a lamb at Rose Bridge Farm & Sanctuary in Dresher, Pa.William Thomas Cain / For The Inquirer
Rose Bridge Farm Sanctuary, 1314 Limekiln Pike, Dresher, rosebridgefarmsanctuary.com; Cows & Coffee runs 8 to 10 a.m. daily.
One evening last week, City Council President Kenyatta Johnson stood on South Broad Street and greeted his fellow lawmakers as they arrived at Steak 48.
Johnson had invited them to the swanky Center City steakhouse to “reconnect, share conversation, and enjoy each other’s company outside of City Hall,” according to an invitation for the Sept. 9 “members only” event obtained by The Inquirer.
Council resumes for its fall session Thursday — and after the way things ended in the spring, the city’s legislators may have needed the opportunity to break bread together.
When lawmakers last met in June, they approved a $7.1 billion city budget that left all sides feeling dejected. Council turned away a series of tax proposals from Mayor Cherelle L. Parker, including a $1-per-ride levy on rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft, and ended up passing a budget that omitted a number of members’ own priorities and left unanswered how the city will help the Philadelphia School District navigate its funding crisis in the long run.
In addition to representing a new low in Parker’s relationship with the legislative body of which she was once a member, some Council members also questioned their own negotiating team’s handling of the ordeal.
Councilmember Mike Driscoll noted last week that while he was not “pointing fingers,” Council could have added more money in the budget for line items requested by lawmakers, such as funding for community groups.
“I’m disappointed and pissed off at the way it played out,” Driscoll, who represents parts of Northeast Philadelphia, said in an interview. “Our priorities weren’t analyzed in a more thoughtful [way]. … We do the amendments. [Parker] doesn’t. We could have put money in.”
Councilmember Michael Driscoll in Philadelphia on April 23, 2026.Jessica Griffin / Staff Photographer
An Inquirer reporter saw at least 11 of Council’s 17 members at the Steak 48 event, meaning a majority, or quorum, of Council was present. The Pennsylvania Open Meetings Act, or Sunshine Act, requires legislative bodies to notify the public if a quorum is present for a meeting at which official business is discussed.
But Johnson said at the beginning of the dinner that would not be happening.
“Tonight we do no official business,” Johnson said in an interview. “Just social. Welcome back to City Council. Eat and drink and be merry. No policy on the table. No legislation on the table. Just having a good time.”
Johnson’s invite directed members to RSVP to a Council staffer’s city email address. Johnson said his campaign picked up the tab.
“Everyone facing reelection next spring knows they have to be able to point to real accomplishments on the important issues voters care about,” City Hall lobbyist John C. Hawkins said. “And this fall is their last opportunity for them to address the most pressing issues that were not fully resolved in the spring budget process.”
Budget fight hangover
When Council and the mayor in the spring failed to reach a deal over new tax revenue to plug a $48 million hole in the school district’s budget, Johnson said Council had helped identify one-time savings in the city budget to fill the gap for a year while vowing to explore new recurring revenue streams for the district.
Johnson has not yet scheduled a hearing on schools funding, and Council’s dissatisfaction with the district appears to have been mounting.
Mayor Cherelle L. Parker, Council President Kenyatta Johnson, and Superintendent Tony B. Watlington Sr. arrive for an announcement at the School District of Philadelphia Headquarters on Wednesday, June 10, 2026 in Philadelphia. Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
He said in a statement this week that Council will honor its commitment, but also alluded to finding that money in the district’s own budget, despite school officials saying they are navigating a $300 million structural deficit.
Johnson said Council is awaiting the results of a performance audit of the school district that is being conducted by City Controller Christy Brady. He said that report “will help Council identify any available funds to support recurring funding.”
New arena, who dis?
In the fall of 2024, Council wasconsumed by the debate over the 76ers’ proposal to build an arena in Center City.
Lawmakers spent much of the session debating the economic benefit of the project, while opponents cried out that it would displace businesses and residents in nearby Chinatown.
Despite Council approving it, that project was scuttled by the Sixers, who instead teamed up with Comcast, which owns the Flyers, to plot a different project: a joint venture that would bring a new arena to the South Philly sports complex. Earlier this month, they released the first renderings of what the Spectrum-inspired arena could look like.
There will likely be spirited discussions about it all in Council — at some point. But don’t expect a redux this fall of the all-out brawl that was 2024.
Protesters link arms as sheriff’s deputies attempt to remove them from Philadelphia City Council chambers as the council is scheduled to vote on final approval for the Sixers’ proposed Center City arena on Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024.Sean Collins Walsh / Staff
The stadium district falls in Johnson’s 2nd District, meaning it will be on him to introduce legislation that would green-light the project. And he has not been in a hurry to accommodate the Sixers’ timeline, which would be to approve the project as soon as possible so the venue can open by 2030.
Johnson said in a statement that “no zoning legislation is scheduled for introduction,” and that he is working to find consensus with the Parker administration and other Council members before introducing any legislation.
“I am focused on ensuring that any future legislation concerning the new arena addresses the interests and concerns of the community around the Stadium District and in Philadelphia,” he said.
When that legislation is brought forth, it is unlikely to be anywhere near as controversial as the 76ers’ Center City proposal, which drew opposition due to its proximity to Chinatown, so long as the teams uphold their promise to not seek public subsidies.
The Asian Pacific Islander Political Alliance, which led opposition to the Center City arena, released a statement earlier this month that signaled openness to the South Philly project.
“The people of South Philly should have a meaningful voice in whether and how this project moves forward,” said Will Gross, an API PA member who is rumored to be considering a run for Council. “And if it does, it should mean good union jobs, a strong community benefits agreement, and real benefits for the people who live and work in the neighborhood.”
Trash issue continues to burn
Councilmember Jamie Gauthier has spent the better part of the last year trying to whip up support for a bill that would ban the city from shipping off its trash to be burned at an incinerator in Chester, a longtime practice she and others say is poisoning residents of the city to Philadelphia’s south.
The Parker administration opposed the measure, saying it would limit the government’s ability to carry out its normal competitive bidding process and select the best-value contractor. Gauthier failed to get a majority of Council on her side, and she never called up the Stop Trashing Our Air Act for a vote.
This fall, she will try a new tactic.
Gauthier and her allies are attempting to kill the Parker administration’s effort to approve a new contract with Reworld, which operates the Chester waste-to-energy facility where the city sends about a third of its garbage. (The remainder is hauled off to landfills.)
Chester resident Zulene Mayfield, left, Philadelphia Councilmember Jamie Gauthier, right, and Chester Mayor Stefan Roots meet to discuss Gauthier’s “Stop Trashing Our Air Act,” which would ban the city from incinerating waste, during a visit with lawmakers and staff in Chester, Pa., on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025.Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer
In July, the Parker administration announced that it intends to enter into a new four-year contract for waste processing and disposal with Reworld, as well as two landfill operators, Republic Services and Waste Management. The terms of those contracts have not yet been made public.
Council must approve multiyear contracts, and Gauthier, who represents parts of West and Southwest Philadelphia, said she is planning a full-court press to get her colleagues to “block Mayor Parker’s dirty deal with trash incinerators.”
The question is whether she can get eight other members on her side to reach a majority of Council. She is likely to find support from three fellow progressives, and she is expected to be joined by Councilmember Isaiah Thomas, the Democratic majority whip, at a Thursday news conference calling on the city to end its contract.
Councilmember Mark Squilla takes his seat in chambers Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024, before a scheduled committee vote on Sixers arena related legislation was postponed,Tom Gralish / Staff Photographer
Meanwhile, Councilmember Mark Squilla said he has been working with the administration on a plan to build out a “circular waste” system that would replace incineration and landfilling over time with composting and waste “digestion.”
“The incinerator bill …. doesn’t solve a problem we have: to reduce our waste,” Squilla, whose district includes parts of Center City, South Philadelphia, and the river wards, said in an interview. “If we can reduce our waste by going to composting and digestion and other forms, we then eliminate all of our trash. Therefore end up with the result of what the goal should be, [which] is to get as close as possible to zero waste.”
Squilla’s proposal, which would involve “a long-term contract to attract providers to be able to build out a possible digester to decrease the amount of food waste,” could make it easier for Council members sympathetic to Gauthier’s goals but skeptical of her incinerator bill to approve the administration’s contract with Reworld while committing to a long-term solution.
The business tax, revisited
Separate from the school district revenue, some Council members are hoping to advance measures that would provide tax relief to businesses.
Council two years ago approved a 13-year schedule of rate cuts that would dramatically reduce the business income and receipts tax. But at the same time, Parker moved to eliminate a tax break that primarily helped small businesses after its legality under the Pennsylvania Constitution was challenged in court.
The elimination of the tax break — which excluded from taxation companies’ first $100,000 in revenue — has forced thousands of small firms and sole proprietors that make less than that threshold to begin paying a tax from which they had been effectively exempted.
Driscoll worked with tax experts to find a workaround that could pass legal muster — exempting certain types of businesses, such as sole proprietors, from the tax entirely — and he is planning to call up for a vote his bill this fall.
Thomas, meanwhile, said he will introduce a resolution Thursday to hold hearings this fall on the feasibility of reducing the net income portion of the business tax “much sooner” and more “aggressively,” meaning an acceleration of the tax cuts already scheduled.
The measures are likely to spark opposition from more progressive members of Council and could be tricky to navigate for Parker, who wants to make Philly more business-friendly but may not want to forgo additional revenue.
Members eye priorities as election looms
With next year’s election looming — and all 17 members indicating they intend to seek new four-year terms — the fall session is also likely to see movement on a myriad of issues championed by individual legislators.
Majority Leader Katherine Gilmore Richardson said she will propose bills to “protect communities from harmful nuisance businesses and improve processes around code violations,” continuing her efforts to crack down on businesses that neighbors say attract crime.
Councilmember Rue Landau, who represents the city at-large, said she is “tackling the impact of emerging technologies, making Philadelphia more affordable for working people, and ensuring equity remains at the center of how we serve our LGBTQ+ communities.”
Landau said she also plans to introduce a resolution calling on the state to ban automated license plate readers like Flock cameras.
The Philadelphia Council members inside the caucus inside City Hall in Philadelphia, Pa on Thursday, June 11, 2026.Aidan T. Gallo / Staff Photographer
And Councilmember Kendra Brooks will propose new protections for temporary workers and tenants facing eviction, according to her spokesperson, Kathleen Melville.
Brooks, a progressive who represents the city at-large, will also fight for additional funding for reproductive healthcare providers, a priority of hers that was left out of the budget following Council’s impasse with Parker, Melville said.
“That was her biggest focus going into the budget,” Melville said. “She had the same experience as every other Council member in that none of her budget priorities made it into the budget.”
Several members have also said that they want to bolster the city’s property tax relief offerings after the administration this summer released its citywide assessments that will mean higher taxes for thousands of homeowners.
The most likely move would be for Council to amend the city’s tax code to increase the popular homestead exemption, which currently exempts the first $100,000 from a home’s taxable value if the owner lives in the dwelling as their primary residence.
Johnson said Council “will review all tax-relief options” this fall.
It’s that time of year again. No, not the return of football, the leaves changing color, or weekend trips to the apple orchard. On Thursday, it’s officially time to “do that hockey,” as the Flyers assemble for the start of training camp.
On the heels of the Flyers’ first non-COVID playoff appearance since 2018, the team enters 2026-27 with serious expectations and excitement for the first time in almost a decade. Can Rick Tocchet’s team live up to the hype and build on last season’s breakthrough? Here are five story lines to watch for as camp opens at the Flyers Training Center in Voorhees.
The biggest question surrounding the Flyers’ offseason was whether Matvei Michkov would take his training seriously and show up in better shape after getting behind the eight-ball from the onset last season.
We probably won’t have a definitive answer until the games begin for real on Sept. 30, but the early signs have been promising. Michkov, 21, notably participated in a training group for Russian players run by Artemi Panarin this summer, and also facilitated a visit from Flyers training staff member Lorne Goldenberg to his homeland. Time will tell if that work will translate to on-ice production, but he appears leaner in social media pictures and videos. In a recent interview in Russian, the winger took accountability for showing up out of shape last season and claimed he has lost 29 pounds since then.
Interesting, introspective conversation here with Matvei Michkov discussing his weight and fitness. Says he’s down about 30 pounds from where he was a year ago. Seems like he’s in a good headspace. I’m excited to watch him play this year. pic.twitter.com/gL0H4YlSiN
General manager Danny Brière said Tuesday that since returning to the area earlier this month, Michkov has “a different swagger” to him. “He’s got a pep in his step. He feels good. He looks good. So I’m excited about Matvei’s season,” the GM said.
Tocchet said he’s anticipating a “vengeance tour” this season from Michkov, who will need a new contract at season’s end. Showing up in shape would go a long way in setting himself up for a breakout Year 3.
Numbers game
With the new 84-game schedule and condensed training camp, young players and roster bubble guys will have fewer opportunities to make an impression. Add in that the Flyers bring back a young and relatively unchanged core, and barring injury, there aren’t many obvious roster spots up for grabs.
With 20 virtual roster locks by my count, plus defenseman David Jiříček, who is no longer waiver-exempt and thus almost assured a place to start the year, that leaves two spots for the bubble guys to compete for. The Flyers could elect to keep 14 forwards or eight defensemen, with forwards Nikita Grebenkin, Carl Grundström, and Zach Aston-Reese, and defensemen Oliver Bonk, Ty Murchison, Hunter McDonald, and Helge Grans essentially battling for two spots.
Defenseman Oliver Bonk is one of the players who figures to be right on the roster bubble to open the season.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
Bonk’s training camp will likely decide whether the Flyers go with seven or eight defensemen. With seven defensemen already ticketed for the roster, the 2023 first-rounder will have to blow the brass’s doors off to make the team, especially since he isn’t subject to waivers. The Flyers won’t want the 21-year-old sitting long, so if he isn’t going to have a pretty regular spot in the top six, he’ll likely be headed for Allentown to log big minutes for the Phantoms.
While the Flyers didn’t make a ton of offseason moves — their big swing for Leo Carlsson didn’t connect — there will be some new faces this week in Voorhees.
Backup goaltender Joseph Woll, who owns a .906 career save percentage, and depth defenseman Simon Benoit were acquired from Toronto in a trade that sent Emil Andrae and Sam Ersson north. The Flyers also signed former Pittsburgh Penguins grinder extraordinaire Noel Acciari to a two-year contract to elevate the team’s much-maligned fourth line.
Newcomer Joseph Woll should represent a significant upgrade to Sam Ersson as the Flyers’ backup goalie.Connor Hamilton
Forwards Aston-Reese, Danila Klimovich, Jack Studnicka, Nolan Foote, and Riley Thompson, as well as defensemen Jiříček, Jackson Edward, Andrew Perrott, and Toms River’s Cam Dineen are the other newcomers who will make up the numbers at camp. Towering 2026 first-round pick Maksim Sokolovskii will also be present, although he is expected to be returned to London of the Ontario Hockey League at some stage.
Power-play progress?
It’s a fool’s errand to place too much stock in preseason NHL games, but the Flyers’ dormant power play could really benefit from some experimentation — and, fingers crossed … momentum — leading up to the opener against Pittsburgh.
The unit, which has been the Flyers’ Achilles’ heel dating back to when Achilles roamed the earth, has finished dead last in the league four of the last five seasons, including a paltry 15.7% mark a year ago.
With Trevor Zegras, Michkov, Porter Martone, and others in tow, the excuse can no longer be we just need more high-end talent. And if that is the excuse, why did the Flyers elect to run it back with the same cast of characters and not look to add a power-play specialist on the blue line or someone to man the front of the net?
Brière said Tuesday that Tocchet and power-play coach Jaroslav “Yogi” Svejkovský spent a lot of their summer dissecting the power play and trying to figure out where it went wrong from an operational standpoint. That’s all grand, but we’ve heard that before.
The Flyers acquired David Jiříček from Minnesota last March in part because of his booming shot and power-play potential.Bailey Hillesheim
The Flyers are betting that a fitter Michkov, a full season of Martone, and Jiříček’s big shot from the point will be enough to yield better results. In what should be a tight Metropolitan Division, that calculation could be the difference between making or missing the playoffs.
Finding some continuity, flow, success, and confidence with the extra man in the four-game preseason would do wonders for a young team that seems burdened by the team’s recent struggles in that area.
September surprises
As much as the Flyers’ roster seems set, there seems to be someone every season who comes out of nowhere in training camp to push for a spot.
Last year, long shots Rodrigo Ābols and Adam Ginning earned their way onto the squad, while in 2024, an 18-year-old Jett Luchanko shocked the entire league by making the team just a few months after he was drafted 13th overall. Back in 2023, the Flyers kept three goalies, and a year earlier, a murderer’s row of Hayden Hodgson, Tanner Laczynski, Wade Allison, and Ronnie Attard all survived the chop.
That brings us to Bonk, who leads this year’s list of breakout candidates and seems to be the player in the best position to force his way onto the roster with a good camp. The consensus top defensive prospect in the organization, he has regularly showcased a poise and calm on the puck beyond his years.
Bonk is also highly motivated, as his chance to make the team last year ended before it started thanks to an upper-body injury in rookie camp that ultimately kept him out until December. After a strong showing — and nifty assist — in the Rookie Series, Bonk seems destined to play more than the one NHL game he got into last season. But will he be able to do enough in a short camp to convince the Flyers to keep eight defensemen out of the gate?
🚨 GOAL! 🚨
Denver Barkey gets the game’s first goal off the feed from Oliver Bonk! Jett Luchanko had the other helper.
The other roster dark horse is rapidly rising center/wing Cole Knuble, whose dad, Mike, played for the Flyers. Knuble, whom the Flyers have gone out of their way to praise for a few years now, has turned heads whenever he’s attended a prospect camp, with player development head Riley Armstrong telling The Inquirer he was his biggest standout at the recent Rookie Series. The 22-year-old, who played three years at Notre Dame, is a high-IQ, high-motor forward who keeps improving and always seems to be in the right place at the right time. While there isn’t an obvious roster spot open for him, if Grebenkin’s injury lingers or someone else gets dinged up in camp, Knuble could pounce.
Murchison, 23, is a third name to watch, as he caught Tocchet’s eye with his combination of physical strength and smooth skating during an impressive three-game stint with the Flyers in December. The Californian, who missed the second half of last season with a shoulder injury, was also notably picked to captain the Flyers in one of the games at the Rookie Series.
Former fourth-round pick Cole Knuble is a player the Flyers think is close to challenging for NHL playing time.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
Landon Dickerson stepped into a South Philadelphia sports bar Monday night and started answering questions, and anyone there who cared to understand the reality of professional football should have stopped chowing down on cheesesteaks and crab fries and listened closely to him.
Dickerson didn’t break any news about his health or his status as the Eagles’ starting left guard. The Inquirer’s Jeff McLane took care of that, revealing that the team was placing Dickerson on injured reserve because of bone bruising in his right knee.
For at least four weeks, Dickerson will be out of the lineup, and backup Drew Kendall will probably replace him, and the easiest, coldest reaction is for Eagles fans to cheer that change and celebrate that their favorite team’s running game has a chance to be functional again. At best, they might laud Dickerson for acknowledging publicly what everyone who watched him could see: that he was nowhere close to 100% physically, just as he was a less effective player throughout last season after undergoing knee surgery and suffering through a host of other injuries, and that he shouldn’t have suited up Sunday at all.
“Honestly, to address the elephant in the room, I played like [poop],” he said during an interview on WIP 94.1. “I was a complete liability [Sunday], and again, that was my fault. I know I said earlier in camp I shouldn’t be out there until I feel healthy. A few weeks ago, got rolled up on in practice. I thought as weeks went by, it would get better, and it didn’t.”
Eagles offensive lineman Landon Dickerson learns he's being placed on IR on the air. Dickerson admits he played like “s**t and was a complete liability yesterday.” pic.twitter.com/xTXOVZz7A6
His stint on injured reserve, he said, might allow him to “have a good stretch at the back of the season as opposed to what happened last season, which was go out and limp it through for 18 weeks. I don’t think anybody wants to see that again because that was just ugly. I don’t want to do that again because that was just some B.S.” But his admissions only raise the obvious questions: If Dickerson was so compromised, why was he out there? Why not simply let Kendall start?
This, of course, is where pro sports generally and the NFL specifically get tricky and uncomfortable, especially for those who want to close their eyes and plug their ears and root for their team … and who don’t want to contemplate the potential cost of that victory. Dickerson felt an obligation to be on the field, sure, not just because he owed it to his teammates but also because he owed it to himself. It’s how he perceives himself. He’s 27. Football in high school. Football in college. Football as the only job he’s ever known.
If he’s not lining up across from a defensive tackle or end and trying to pancake that guy, if he’s not in the huddle or on the sideline, if he’s not testing himself as an individual, if he’s not sharing in the camaraderie and common mission of his teammates, then who is he?
“We’re football players,” Dickerson said. “That’s what we do for a living. When you take that away from us, when you’re not doing what you know you can do, it hurts. It’s just kind of like taking your identity away from you. It’s one of those things where you keep fighting for it. You’re like, ‘I’ve got to keep doing this until somebody pulls me out on a stretcher or something else.’ But then you’ve got to look at it and say, ‘Is it about you? Or can we put somebody else out there right now who is going to do better?’”
That’s an admirable, unselfish approach for Dickerson to take. But it’s likely cut with another, more practical perspective: that as accomplished and talented as he is, there’s no guarantee that, once he leaves the lineup, he’ll get his job back.
Landon Dickerson’s Pro Bowl citations do not guarantee him a place in the lineup when he returns from injury. Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
What if Kendall is a revelation at left guard? What if Dickerson’s knee doesn’t heal enough to allow him to play — or to play at the Pro Bowl level he did in 2024? Does anyone really believe that the Eagles or any NFL franchise would remain so loyal to someone in Dickerson’s shoes? And any fans suggesting that Dickerson has earned the right to return, regardless of the circumstances, should be honest with themselves:
If the Eagles are rolling, if the offensive line looks great with Kendall, how would you react if they removed him and reinserted Dickerson? Would you be so sympathetic to Dickerson then, or would you worry first and foremost about whether he’d be able to keep Jalen Hurts’ pocket clean and open holes for Saquon Barkley?
Would you tell him to keep his butt on the bench for the sake of your own hopes and happiness?
Were you all that sympathetic to him Sunday, when it looked like the Eagles might lose?
You ask why Landon Dickerson played against the Commanders, why in doing so he basically dared coach Nick Sirianni to make the difficult decision to bench him, why he was willing to damage the cohesion and performance of the Eagles’ offensive line, and the question answers itself. Next man up is a convenient cliche. Too many people forget or don’t give a damn about its corollary: First man, out. Sometimes for good.
STOYSTOWN, Pa. — There was almost no shade for the thousands who gathered Friday at the memorial plaza near the field where United Airlines Flight 93 crashed on Sept. 11, 2001. The sun was merciless as Red Cross and Salvation Army volunteers handed out water, and people sought refuge amid a few trees by the side of the road.
But along with the heat, attendees felt something that has become quite unfamiliar for many Americans 25 years after 9/11: unity.
While the spotlight was on larger events in New York City and Arlington, Va., they saw some of the conflicts we’ve all grown accustomed to. President Donald Trump refused to join his predecessors at ground zero, reportedly because he wouldn’t be allowed to speak. He opted for the Pentagon remembrance instead, where he and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth gave speeches trying to tie the Iran war to the attacks of a generation ago.
In Lower Manhattan, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani — who had called for current Mayor Zohran Mamdani to stay away from the event, claiming Muslims “want to dominate us” — at least had the courtesy to shake Mamdani’s hand at the ceremony.
None of that animus seemed to be present in rural Pennsylvania.
The speeches by senior National Park Service officials, Gov. Josh Shapiro, and Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum were civil and shared a common theme: The heroism of the passengers who fought back against their hijackers. Flight 93 never made it to its intended target, believed to be the White House or the U.S. Capitol. Instead, it crashed into a desolate field about 90 minutes outside of Pittsburgh.
There was no ego on display, no inflammatory rhetoric — Democrat Shapiro and Republican Burgum even stood together at the wreath-laying ceremony in a rare show of political unity. The only comment that could be read as political came from Stephen Clark, superintendent of the National Parks of Western Pennsylvania and thus responsible for the Flight 93 memorial, when he reminded people that “history is shaped not only by the powerful, but by everyday individuals who decide to act with courage.”
Gov. Josh Shapiro (second from left) and Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum (center right) walk past the Wall of Names during a wreath ceremony at the Flight 93 National Memorial on the Sept. 11 anniversary in Stoystown, Pa., Friday.Hannah Beier
In keeping with that sentiment, it wasn’t just those on stage who kept a unifying tone, as people from all walks of life, diverse ages, and across political persuasions came together in Stoystown to mourn and remember.
I spotted a lone MAGA hat, and spoke with a woman who claimed 9/11 had been an “inside job,” arguing it was only logical because “the CIA killed JFK, too.” However, there were no loud political outbursts, and in talking with people, the same sober sentimentas from the official speakerswas evident.
Tom and Ryan, who preferred not to share their last names, were among the millions of Americans who learned of the attacks in school and watched the second plane hit the south tower in their grade-school classrooms. While they said they consider themselves conservatives, they felt strongly about not making the memorial a political battleground.
Speaking to other visitors, a few made comments about the president or Democrats, but the major sentiment surrounding the remembrance stayed clear. They were not there to argue about politics. People were there to remember those who perished on 9/11, particularly the heroes of Flight 93.
Stoystown was not just a contrast to what we regularly see across the U.S.; it also reminded me how difficult it is to come together even in times of tragedy. In my native Germany, recent terror incidents include the 2016 attack at a Berlin Christmas market by an Islamic extremist, a similar attack in Magdeburg in 2024 by a Saudi Arabian refugee (who described himself as an “ex-Muslim” and expressed far-right sympathies when questioned by authorities), and, most recently, an attack on the Berlin Pride parade in July, this one again being linked to Islamic terrorism.
While decried broadly, none of these events managed to create the unity I felt in Stoystown. On the contrary, every incident in Germany seems to spark new debates about former Chancellor Angela Merkel’s policy of welcoming migrants during the refugee crisis of the mid-2010s. Even years later, populist parties and their supporters make it mostly about Islamophobia and dividing rhetoric instead of uniting to mourn as one people.
These ugly, divisive sentiments are present in the U.S., of course, but at least for one day in a field in Pennsylvania, the memory of 9/11 still strengthens a bond that has not been erased by terror, populism, or party politics.
Wim Orth is a journalist with WELT in Berlin and an Arthur F. Burns fellow at The Inquirer.
Vigilante Jack Reacher's shadowy dealings spilled out across Philadelphia for the Reacher’s fourth season, which is now available in full on Amazon Prime. Starring actor Alan Ritchson as the hulking retired Army investigator, the series was spotted filming around town in 2025.
Based on Lee Child's 2009 novel Gone Tomorrow, the fourth season of Reacher has its titular character facing off against he CIA, federal agents, and international mercenaries following a woman's suicide. And while much of the on-screen action appears to have been filmed elsewhere — namely Toronto, which looks a lot like Philly, but with space — the City of Brotherly Love does show up quite a bit.
Here, we've rounded up all the Philly spots we could identify in season four. Check out the map below for where Reacher and his cohorts went in the city.
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Seen in episode 1
City Hall
Michael Bryant / Staff Photographer
Reacher's fourth season immediately sets the scene with a shot of the William Penn statue atop City Hall as a nightscape of Center City shines in the background.
Seen in episode 1
Uptown Beer Garden
Erin Blewett / For The Inquirer
We catch our first glimpse of our hero, Jack Reacher (Alan Ritchson), as he exits Uptown Beer Garden, walking out of the establishment silently with a beer in hand.
Seen in episode 1
LOVE Park
Michael Bryant / Staff Photographer
Reacher speaks for the first time this season, ordering a "wiz wit" from a nondescript food truck in Love Park.
Seen in episode 1
Avenue of the Arts
Jessica Griffin / Staff Photographer
Here, Reacher strolls down the sidewalk on the west side of Broad Street, chomping on his cheesesteak. Canonically, it is just after 2 a.m., and the street is deserted as he descends into the Walnut-Locust entrance of the B line, which runs along Broad Street.
Seen in episode 1
Walnut-Locust Station
Alejandro A. Alvarez / Staff Photographer
As he enjoys his cheesesteak, Jack Reacher (Alan Ritchson) heads down into the Broad Street Line at this Center City station. Several interior shots of the station are shown, including one in which a rat munches on a hot dog.
Seen in episode 1
Benjamin Franklin Bridge
Thomas Hengge / Staff Photographer
Philly is shown off in all its nocturnal glory in episodes one, and seven with a low-light shot of Center City from the Ben Franklin Bridge. Episode five features a skyline shot from the bridge, showing the One Water Street Apartments building.
Seen in episode 1
Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Tom Gralish / Staff Photographer
For the first time in the season's first episode, the sun rises on Philadelphia. And it does so in this stunning aerial shot showcasing many of the Ben Franklin Parkway's gems — Logan Circle, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the works.
Seen in episode 1
Parkway Central Library
Tom Gralish / Staff Photographer
We get a great glimpse of the exterior of the Parkway Central Library before heading inside, where Jack Reacher (Alan Ritchson) and Jacob Merrick (Christopher Rodriguez-Marquette) do research on Congressman John Sampson (Marc Blucas), a North Carolina representative who is launching a presidential bid.
Seen in episode 1
Parc
Courtesy of HughE Dillon
Parc briefly plays host to Reacher, Lila Hoth (Agnez Mo), and Jacob Merrick (Christopher Rodriguez-Marquette) as the trio settles in at an outdoor table to evade police.
Seen in episode 3
Walt Whitman Bridge
Tom Gralish / Staff Photographer
Reacher and his cohorts travel back into Philly via this bridge after escaping Washington, D.C. In the background, the old Southwark Generating Station is clearly visible.
Seen in episode 3
Schuylkill Expressway
Tom Gralish / Staff Photographer
As Reacher and his crew traverse Philly at night, the action leads to a shot of the west end of Center City near 30th Street Station from the Schuylkill Expressway.
Seen in episode 3
Schuylkill Expressway
Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
Here, we get another nightscape shot of Philly's skyline, again from I-76 near 30th Street Station looking east. In the foreground, Locust on the Park is lit up green and is featured prominently.
Seen in episode 4
Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
The Philly skline is again featured in a sprawling shot from the Parkway. In the lower left, the Parkway House is visible.
Seen in episode 4
City Branch tunnel
Ed Hille / Staff Photographer
Fresh off a victory over some goons following a battle in the subway, Reacher makes his way back above ground here as he evades police.
Seen in episode 5
Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens
Margo Reed / Staff Photographer
While on the run from the police, Reacher and Tamara take refuge here, only narrowly avoiding capture in the Gardens' maze-like interior.
Seen in episode 5
The Rail Park
Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
Reacher and Tamara continue to evade capture, cutting through the Rail Park before dangling from its side to hide.
Seen in episode 6
12th and Market Streets
Alejandro A. Alvarez / Staff Photographer
Reacher and Tamara's mugshots appear on a screen at the corner of 12th and Market, which they see after passing by the Hard Rock Cafe.
Seen in episode 6
Italian Market
Alejandro A. Alvarez / Staff Photographer
Yet another Philly skyline shot, but this time from South Philly. If you look closely, you can see St. Paul Parish, as well as the seating area for the Di Bruno Bros. 9th Street Bottle Shop.
Seen in episode 7
56th and Market Streets
Kate McCann / Staff Photographer
This skyline shot looks east along the Market-Frankford El line, with one of Steve Powers' "A Love Letter For You" murals clearly visible.
Seen in episode 7
Highmark Mann Center for the Performing Arts
Jessica Griffin / Staff Photographer
The Mann becomes a plot point as a potential demonstration site for a toxin being sold on the dark web thanks to an orchestral concert of movie scores.
Seen in episode 8
Schuylkill Expressway
Tamara, Reacher, and Jacob travel along I-76 in South Philly, with a clear view of Kindy's Christmas Factory Outlet in the background. Reacher and his cohorts continue their journey on I-76, getting off at exit 349 and crossing over Packer Avenue. If you squint, you can just make out the Chickie's & Pete's sign in the background.
Seen in episode 8
Philadelphia Museum of Art
Tom Gralish / Staff Photographer
We get another aerial shot of the Parkway zooming into City Hall, but this time the camera travels over the roof of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. The building's bronze winged horses and griffins are the stars of the shot.
Seen in episode 8
45th and Market Streets
The season closes out on, you guessed it, an aerial shot of Center City. This one looks east from West Philadelphia as Reacher rides the subway to parts unknown, Drexel University's Vidas Field barely visible to the left.
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That was every location we could spot in this season of Reacher. Explore the map of all locations featured. Tap onHover overa pin to learn more.
Staff Contributors
Design and Development: Garland Fordice and Sam Morris
